NIGEL JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN AT WILLOWBANK NOSTALGIA DRAGS
17 February 2014
Fifty six year old Nigel Elsmore of Helensvale on the Gold Coast knows what he wants from this Sunday’s Willowbank Raceway’s Nostalgia Drag Racing event (Sunday 23 February) – he just wants to have fun.
The first Nostalgia Drag Racing event of 2014 for the Raceway comes hot on the heels of the weekend’s opening round of the Queensland Drag Racing Championship – for full event results from that event, please see further in this press release or click here.
Elsmore is a long time hot rod enthusiast and will compete as part of the Hot Rod bracket – open to pre 1949 hot rods - of the popular Nostalgia Drag Racing event, which celebrates the vehicles of yesteryear both on and off the track.
“The best thing about the nostalgia scene is the laid-back atmosphere, everyone is friendly and at the end of the day they just want to have fun – which is really what it should all be about,” said Elsmore, who is the current Secretary and a past President for custom car and hot rod club the Redneck Scroungers.
“Because of the type of cars we run it also means that who wins comes down more often to the skill of the driver, rather than the technology of the car or the weight of the drivers’ chequebook!
“For all of these reasons nostalgia racing and in particular hot rodding is a real passion of mine, and so Willowbank Raceway’s nostalgia events are a natural place for me as they celebrates the culture which I love.”
While fun may be the name of the game for the Parts Manager and his distinctive self-built HAMBster hot rod, for Elsmore the allure of an event win will also be a strong motivator after three runner-up results.
“I have been the bridesmaid a few times, I want to be the bride for once!” laughed Elsmore, who is supported on track by close friends Murray and Kim Pearson as well as his wife of 32 years Kerry.
“So far I have lost three Nostalgia Nationals events in the final round, each time by red-lighting at the start line – the worst part is that each time I have beat my opposition to the finish, so if it hadn’t been for that red light I would have taken the win!
“We have made some changes to the car since the last time we were on-track, so we are hoping to set a personal best out there this weekend and hopefully take the event win while we are at it!
“Either way I will be out there doing my best and having fun – really it is all about just getting out there and going as fast as you can, feeding the bug that you get once you are into this sport which drives you to keep on getting out there and giving it a red hot go.”
Joining Elsmore and his Hot Rod compatriots on track this Sunday will be more than 110 racers across the Top Eliminator, Quick Eliminator, Gas, Vintage Gas, US Muscle, Aussie Muscle, Retro Bikes and Nostalgia Super Stock categories, with all the action set to kick off with qualifying from 9.00am and racing from 1.00pm. Spectator tickets are available at the gate for $25 for adults and $20 for students with ID, while children aged 13 and under gain free entry. For full event information, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
This weekend’s nostalgia festivities follow hot on the heels of the opening round of the Queensland Drag Racing Championship held at the Raceway on Saturday 15 February. During that event racers from the Modified, Super Sedan, Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster and Super Gas battled it out for QDRC points, with Matt Loy (Modified), Jason Hammelswang (Modified Bike), Darren Doeblien (Super Sedan), Andrew Stathis (Super Street), Tim Barron (Junior Dragster) and Simon Isherwood (Super Gas) taking victory. For full event results, please click here.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information including a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
EVENT INFORMATION: NOSTALGIA DRAG RACING AT WILLOWBANK RACEWAY: 23 FEBRUARY 2014
Racing from Top Eliminator, Quick Eliminator, Gas, Hot Rod, Vintage Gas, US Muscle, Aussie Muscle, Retro Bikes and Nostalgia Super Stock categories
Schedule:
- Gates open 6.00am
- Qualifying from 9.00am
- Racing from 1.00pm
Tickets:
- Adults - $25.00
- Students with ID - $20.00
- Children 13 and under gain free entry