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.

Results

By Darren Liggett: daily mirror northern ireland motoring editor

This year, with the way we have planned our calendar of events, with Drag Championship rounds every OTHER month, we are able to host special events such as this one. We have been asked to settle the long standing feud between Honda & Toyota runners (in particular Starlets / Glanzas).

For this we were willing to take special measures and add Drag racing to one of the UDC (Drifting) championship events. On 4th April (Easter Sunday) Bishops Court will be the place to settle this score!

DRAG Entry fee: £40 driver & 1 passenger.
Unlimited drag runs + 1 track session.
Passengers allowed in track sessions only.
Licence & Helmet essential.

Schedule

AMA Drift Practice_________9.30 – 10.30
UDC Practice ( Fig 8 ) ____________10.30 – 11.30
AMA Drift Practice & Qualifying __________11.30 – 1 pm
UDC Practice & Qualifying ( Fig 8 ) ______________1 pm - 2 pm
AMA Drift top 4 Battles____________________________2 – 2.15 pm
FUN RUNS (UDC Non-Qualifiers & AMA Drivers)___________2.15 – 2.45 pm
UDC Top 16 Battles_______________________________________2.50 – 3.40 pm

Great 8 Show Case (BURNOUT DISPLAY!) 3.40 – 3.45 pm

DRAG RACING: ______4 – 7 pm
Track Sessions: _________7 – 7.30 pm
Drag Trophy Presentations: __7.30 pm

Maximum DRAG entry: 50 cars. – Don’t miss out! Click here to book online

Here are the long awaited details folks!

Sideways-Racing have finally secured what is regarded as one of Ireland’s most desirable venues for motor sport events.
The 2010 Irish Championship is the ONLY series that will bring you the FASTEST machines in Ireland, guaranteed!
This event will be everyone’s first chance to see the current champions in action and I for one can’t wait to see their newly improved machines back in anger after the Winter lay-off.

Entry numbers will be very much limited to ensure that all drivers get a certain value for money.
(No-one wants to spend all day in a massive queue-athon!)

ENTRY FEES (No hidden charges):
Advance entries: £50 (Incl Driver + 1 spectator Free, incl Paypal fee)
On-the-Day entries: £55 (Incl Driver + 1 spectator Free)
Spectator Admission: £10 (Includes Free Entry to Show ‘n’ Shine)

Websites and Car Clubs welcome. Trophies for best Web / Club displays.
* Race Entry is open to Bikes as well as cars.

I remind you all again that entries will be limited on this occasion.
Entries can be reserved here: http://www.sideways-racing.com/book_online.html
…OR by posting a Chq to: SWRC, PO Box 25, Saintfield, BT24 7WY

Race Classes:

DRAG CLASSES Classes 1 – 4 are for production cars that are, or have been available on general sale to the public, including foreign imported models.
Any non-compliant vehicle (such as a racing special) will automatically be graded in the ‘MODIFIED’ category.
A factor of 1.5 will apply to the capacity of forced induction rotary engines.
EG: 1300cc Rotary Turbo x 1.5 = 1950cc Turbo (Class 2)
TYRE CHOICE IS FREE IN ALL CLASSES:

CLASS 4 STREET. Minimum ET 15.3 sec
CLASS 4 PRO STREET. 15.299 sec and under
(EG: CRX, Saxo VTS, Corsa GSi)
<1600cc 16v / 1800cc 8v Naturally Aspirated…<1000cc Turbo / SC… 2wd only
Excludes all space frame chassis,
Excludes all TDi engines >1400cc

CLASS 3 STREET. Minimum ET 14.3 sec
CLASS 3 PRO STREET. 14.299 sec and under
(EG: Honda Civic R, Mini Cooper S, Starlet Turbo)
<2980cc N.A…<1600cc Turbo / SC……. 2wd only –|– (TDi engines < 2900cc, 2wd & 4wd)
Excludes all space frame chassis.
Nos permitted on all NA cars and Forced Induction <1500cc.

CLASS 2 STREET. Minimum ET 13.3 sec
CLASS 2 PRO STREET. 13.299 sec and under
(EG: Silvia, M3, RX7, Skyline GTST)
4wd cars <2980cc N.A…<1800cc Turbo / SC.
Any 2wd passenger vehicle with any engine.

CLASS 1 STREET. Minimum ET 12.5 sec. (Any passenger vehicle with any engine and transmission configuration. EG: Evo, Sub, GTR)
CLASS 1 PRO STREET. 11.500 – 12.499 sec

MODIFIED CLASS: 10.500 – 11.499 sec (Any non-road based car or purpose built drag car will automatically enter this class)
PRO MODIFIED: 9.500 – 10.499 sec
PRO ELITE: Any car having recorded a time <9.5 seconds