PARRY LOOKING TO BE ON THE MONEY IN BENARABY
16 July 2012
Benaraby Raceway regular Tom Parry will be looking to be ‘on the money’ come 21 July when he heads to the drag strip for round two of the 2012 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series.
Parry, who is currently tied for second in the Ice Slushee Super Sedan category for the series, says the JP Racing Eighth Mile Racing Series presents unique challenges for the racers.
“The Eighth Mile Series presents a great chance to enjoy more laid back racing, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a challenge – personally I think it is harder to win in eighth mile racing than it is on the quarter mile!” said the Autobarn Bundaberg store manager.
“You really have to be on your money to win when it comes to eighth mile racing, there is half the distance to travel, but that is half the distance to get in front and you have no time for mistakes!”
The 43 year old Parry of Bundaberg has been racing for more than 20 years at race tracks around Queensland, but he calls Benaraby home.
“While I am based in Bundaberg, I have always thought of Benaraby as my home track, I have been racing there for nearly 20 years, starting out in a LJ Torana before moving up to my full chassis LC Torana around four years ago,” said Parry.
“Benaraby was the site of my roll-over in February of 2011, while I was unhurt it was thanks to the help of the locals who enabled us to completely rebuild the car in just four weeks.
“We have been racing for a long time, and for a lot of years we concentrated on going fast and I think now it is about time we started winning some championships.
“We weren’t able to compete in all of the rounds of the championship (Eighth Mile and Benaraby Track Championship) last year due to work commitments but this year we have planned things out and plan to compete in all of the rounds this year.
“I have to say a thank you to my sponsors Autobarn Bundaberg, Nulon Oils Australia and Vibe Car Audio, and of course to my crew – I couldn’t go racing without them, this isn’t just a driver operation, they are a very important part of my racing and they make us win or lose races as much as I do at the wheel – we all make the decisions together and I couldn’t prepare for each event without them.”
The 2012 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series is in its third year and will play host to Diamond T Products Junior Dragster, Queensland Nameplate Group Modified Bike, John Williams Auto Sales Super Street, Ice Slushee Super Sedan, RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified and the FJ Loy and Sons Earthmoving Old School bracket.
The Series kicked off at Willowbank Raceway on 21 April, and will head to Benaraby Dragway for round two on 21 July. Warwick Dragway will then step up to the plate on 25 August due to reconstruction work at Ironbark Raceway in Roma , before the final round gets going at Warwick Dragway on 10 November 2012.
For more information on the 2012 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, including information on rules, how to enter and the points system, please visit to www.willowbankraceway.com.au
2012 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series
Calendar:
· Round One – Willowbank Raceway – 21 April 2012
· Round Two – Benaraby Dragway – 21 July 2012
· Round Three – Warwick Dragway – 25 August 2012
· Final Round – Warwick Dragway – 10 November 2012
Racing classes:
· Diamond T Products Junior Dragster
· Queensland Nameplate Group Modified Bike
· John Williams Auto Sales Super Street
· Ice Slushee Super Sedan
· RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified
· FJ Loy and Sons Earthmoving Old School