EASTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL SHANNONS QLD AUTOSPECTACULAR
8 April 2014
With the weekend’s Shannons Queensland Autospectacular now successfully delivered, the final countdown to Willowbank Raceway’s Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race event, presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes (April 18-19) is well and truly underway.
Sunday’s Autospectacular provided the perfect precursor to the upcoming Easter bonanza, which will bring full fields of Top Fuel and Top Alcohol racers to Queensland’s premier drag racing facility across Good Friday and Easter Saturday.
The two national championship brackets will be joined on-track by exhibitions from Top Fuel Motorcycle and Top Doorslammer competitors - including local legends Victor and Ben Bray - as well as heads-up racing from Pro Street and three fixed-index brackets (Super 6, Super 7 and Super 8) amid a flurry of on-track light and audio-visual theatrics.
Six-time back-to-back Top Doorslammer champion Victor Bray said he wouldn’t miss the chance to run at his home track during Easter for the world.
“Willowbank Raceway is our home away from home, both Ben and I love any chance to get on-track and we couldn’t pass up the chance to be part of this exciting event,” said Bray.
“When it was introduced in 2013 it was at the forefront of this emerging new format (the three round format for Top Fuel and Top Alcohol) and over the past 12 months we have seen this approach rolled out at tracks all across the country.
“While we will be running exhibition passes, I know the atmosphere is going to be electric each night thanks to the entertainment-focused short and sharp race program, so as always Ben and I will be doing everything we can to put on a brilliant spectacle for the fans.”
Willowbank Raceway CEO Tony Manson said the Easter Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race event was all about providing drag racing fans with fast and furious entertainment.
“With a range of racing entertainment packed into a short and sharp five hour schedule each evening, we are looking to really wow everyone on-track with edge-of-your-seat entertainment run after run,” said Manson.
“The three round format allows us to deliver more on-track time from the national championship brackets, while our exciting support categories ensure the entire race schedule is one of riveting action.
“Tickets are on sale now via the Willowbank Raceway website – www.willowbankraceway.com.au – with special pre-purchase only two day passes available until the 16th of April, and as always, children aged 13 and under gain free entry.”
The Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race, presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes, will come to Willowbank Raceway for Good Friday (April 18) and Easter Saturday (April 19) in 2014. The second running of the event will again feature two rounds of ANDRA championship racing each for the brackets of Top Fuel and Titan Cranes Top Alcohol in the emerging ‘three-round’ format, with the Top Fuel pilots also set to once again fight it out for the added honour of the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy.
Each night from 5.00pm to 9.30pm (approximately) these national show-stoppers will be supported by a fast-paced and action-packed program of entertainment including Top Fuel Motorcycles, Top Doorslammers, Pro Street and three closely-matched categories amid a flurry of on-track light and audio-visual theatrics. For information on the race formats, please see the ‘event information’ further in this release or click here.
Spectator tickets for the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes are now available at www.willowbankraceway.com.au with tickets starting at just $35.00 for adults and $30.00 for students/concession card holders with ID, while children aged 13 and under gain free admission. A special pre-purchase only two-day admission pass is also on offer until 16 April 2014. For more information, 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
UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION: SANTO’S SUPER 3 EXTREME DRAG RACE, PRESENTED BY UPLIFT CRANES AND TITAN CRANES – 18 and 19 April, 2014
Featuring racing from: Top Fuel, Titan Cranes Top Alcohol, Pro Street, Fixed index categories – 8.9 seconds, 7.9 seconds and 6.9 seconds, plus demonstration racing from Top Fuel Motorcycles and Top Doorslammers
For more information, full race schedules or to purchase tickets please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Spectator entry -Please note: Concession = age and disability pension holders only
Good Friday – 18 April 2014
- General Admission (Adult) - $35.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) - $30.00 – must show ID
Easter Saturday – 19 April 2014
- General Admission (Adult) - $35.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) - $30.00 – must show ID
Two day passes (available for pre-purchase via www.willowbankraceway.com.auuntil 16 April 2014 only)
- General Admission (Adult) 2 day pass - $60.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) 2 day pass - $50.00 – must show ID
Schedule
Friday and Saturday 18 and April 2014 (All times approximate and subject to change):
- Gates open to public – 3.00pm
- On track action from 5.00pm until approximately 9.30pm each day
Race format
Top Fuel and Titan Cranes Top Alcohol
The Super 3 Extreme Drag Race concept will operate on the idea of two individual championship rounds in one event, with a winner to be crowned on both the Friday and the Saturday of the event. Racing will begin with the first pass for all cars at approximately 5.00pm followed by an elimination round for all cars later in the evening. From this round, the third and fourth quickest winners will proceed to the ‘B Final while the two quickest winners battle it out in ‘A Final’, as per the Special 3 Round Format ratified by ANDRA in 2013. Once the winner is crowned on Friday, the full field for each bracket will get ready to do it all over again on Saturday.
All other categories
All support categories will complete three qualifying passes on Friday 18 April, before Saturday 19 April sees all support brackets run a Chicago Shootout format with all competitors to race three rounds with the two best performing racers to make it into the final. At the completion of the bracket rounds, a count back will be made to establish the finalists.
The Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race
The Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race is open to all Top Fuel competitors at the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race event and is in honour of Top Fuel driver Louie Rapisarda, son of Santo Rapisarda, who passed away in 1990. The special commemorative trophy will be awarded to the Top Fuel driver who at the end of Saturday’s racing has the highest accumulative points across Friday and Saturday’s proceedings. If there is a tie, the Trophy will go to the driver in the tie with the lowest elapsed time of the event. In 2013, the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy was awarded to local Top Fuel veteran Steve Read of Raceview, who also emerged victorious on both the Friday and Saturday of the event’s ANDRA championship rounds.