MEDIA ALERT - SPORTS MINISTER REVS UP FOR IPSWICH ECONOMIC INJECTION
6 June 2011
Queensland Sports Minister Phil Reeves will enjoy an up close and personal experience with the dynamic sport of professional drag racing on Tuesday June 7, as ANDRA Top Fuel Championship leader Darren Morgan’s 8000 horsepower dragster starts up in front of Parliament House.
The 44th Castrol EDGE Winternationals is expected to inject millions into the Ipswich economy - which is still getting back to it's feet after the devastating January floods.
The event will bring more than 510 racers and around 40,000 spectators to South-East Queensland over the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend - Friday June 10 to Monday June 13.
WHEN:
10.00am SHARP
Tuesday June 7, 2011
WHERE:
Driveway of Queensland Parliament House
Corner of George and Alice Streets
Brisbane
WHO:
• The Queensland Minister for Sport, Hon Phil Reeves
• The local member for Ipswich West, Wayne Wendt
• Cr David Morrison – Ipswich City Council (representing Mayor – Cr Paul Pisasale)
• Willowbank Raceway Managing Director, Steve Bettes
• ANDRA Top Fuel Championship leader, Darren Morgan
WHAT:
Queensland Minister for Sport, Hon Phil Reeves will join with Member for Ipswich West Wayne Wendt and Ipswich City Sports Parks and Recreation Chairperson Cr David Morrison on Tuesday June 7, 2011 to celebrate the upcoming Castrol EDGE Winternationals – the largest drag racing event held outside of the US.
Minister Reeves will be sitting inside Darren Morgan’s 8000 horsepower Championship leading Top Fuel dragster in front of Parliament House while it is started up.
All participants will be available for interview about the event and its importance to the Ipswich community and it's continuing efforts to get back on its feet after January's floods. All will be available for photos and file footage following the start-up.
PLEASE NOTE: due to a number of factors, the Top Fuel dragster will be started once only for a period of strictly 30 seconds, so attending media need to be prepared to capture what they need during this time frame.
TOP FUEL FACTS:
-Top Fuel dragsters are the fastest accelerating machines on planet earth
-A Top Fuel dragster has covered the equivalent of four lengths of Suncorp Stadium before you’ve finished reading this sentence.
-With 8000 Horsepower from the V8 engine – a single cylinder develops more power than a V8 Supercar
-Each run is around 4.6 seconds duration, costing nearly $10,000 per run.
-The g-forces experienced by the driver at the beginning of a race are higher than those experienced by astronauts during a space shuttle launch.