Drag Archive

BUT WHO WAS CROWNED DRAG RACING GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL?

Sunday was Mother’s Day but there was the mother of battles going on at a certain Airfield in Co Fermanagh. It was the first round of the Irish Drag Championship and just in case you’re unfamiliar with drag racing I’ll explain. I don’t want anybody conjuring up any weird images of men dressed up in women’s clothes doing the 100 metre hurdles. Drag racing is a quarter-mile track set up in a straight line where two cars race along side each other from a standing start to see who’s the fastest. The weather was very un-Northern Ireland like because the sun shone all day and it didn’t rain once.

As this was the first drag race of this year it didn’t take long for St Angelo’s Airport to fill up with racers and spectators eager to get their first fix of adrenalin for 2010.

As well as the drag racing event organiser Wayne Owens of Sideways-racing had prepared other attractions to keep the crowds entertained in the form of trade stands, car clubs, show- and-shine evente and even bouncy castle and slide to keep the wee ones happy.

A total of 120 entries were received for the drag racing and the strip was soon buzzing. On each of the runs competitors were up against other competitors in their class. This makes sense as there is nothing worse for someone to be in a 1.3-litre normally aspirated car and be racing alongside a 3.0-litre 600bhp single turbo monster. Not much fun for the driver in the slower car or the spectators watching.

As always the Hondas were out in force – I can’t remember seeing as many V-TECS at one event before. They were doing battle against the little turbo Toyota Starlets and some very impressive times were being set.

It was nice to see some old school cars. The MK1 Fiesta caught my eye, I used to own one and wish I had of been able to keep mine. There were some nice MKII Escorts and an Opel Manta with a 2.0-litre Nissan SR20 engine was a very tidy car a sounded well.

Another old-school surprise was a Ford Granada or Grandad as they were affectionately know here. To the untrained eye this car looks normal enough but a closer inspection reveals bonnet vents and front mount intercooler. Owner Stevie Ross – Stevie Turbo as he’s known – has fitted a 6.3litre LS1 Supercharged V8 engine and this became apparent when he let this monster loose down the strip for the first time. The big Granada catapulted down the track in a whirlwind of noise, wheelspin and burning rubber.

Another treat was the motorbikes. Huge respect goes to these guys, especially Jack Frost and the Hole-shot racing team. Jack holds the UK land speed plus world wheelie record and didn’t fail to impress us on his 700bhp turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa with times of eight seconds and top speeds over 160mph.

Another biker worthy of mention was Anrdrius Vasilenko. On his last run he popped a wheelie almost the whole length of the track and crossed the line on his back wheel at 97mph.
Next up was the American Muscle cars to eh… flex their muscles. The American Muscle Car Ireland club put on a good show in their big V8s and the slice of American pie was a nice change from the Japanese menu.

A late arrival was Ernie Skillen. No, I haven’t just made that name up, Ernie Skillen was in Enniskillen to take part in the drag racing – and he saved the best until last turning up in two cars.

Not just any old cars though. He arrived in his Nissan R35 GTR and his 676bhp Toyota Supra both in gun-metal grey colour. It’s well for some to have not one but too Japanese supercars to bring to an event. Moi jealous, well just a little bit but Ernie is such a nice guy and I’ve lined up a feature with him about what it’s like to own a GTR in the real world. I might have to quizz him about his Supra while I’m at it as his is probably one of the best Supras in Ireland.

Ernie’s friend John Curstain of East Coast Customs drove the Nissan and just pipped Ernie in his Supra over the line. Not bad for a standard production car. Well it does have a 3.8-litre twin-turbo with a 475bhp V6 under the bonnet, although knowing Ernie his GTR has probably been tweaked to give more bhp.

Stevie Turbo was the winner of Class 2, was the fastest car on the day and so was presented with the trophy for overall winner of Round 1.

Jack Frost set the fastest time and terminal speed of the day but as the championship is primarily for cars he only got the trophy for fastest bike.
So another drag race over and home I went with a permanent smile and nostrils full of burning rubber smoke.

Thanks, Wayne, for another great event – roll on Easter Sunday for the next one.

You can read my column every Friday in the Daily Mirror, although it’s only printed in Northern Ireland. I list up and coming events in N.Ireland. I list local car clubs and forums too and if your club not there then get in touch and I’ll put it in the paper. I was running a weekly Readers’ Cars section but have sidelined this for a while due to lack of space and I’m running out of cars to list so by all means get in touch to have your pride and joy featured in a national newspaper for all to see.

I’ll keep you up to speed on all the rallying going on in N.I and events like the North West 200. I also have a monthly test drive and will always run as much high-octane car related stories as I possible can without getting sacked. You contact me on d.liggett@mgn or dazliggett@yahoo.co.uk with any information or ideas.

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By Darren Liggett: daily mirror northern ireland motoring editor