John Taverna Classic ~ Calder Park
The inaugural JTC event was run last Saturday to kick start the Melbourne Drag Race calendar for 2014. 118 competitors were led by a field of six Pro Stock cars and a field of Victoria’s finest Super Comp, Outlaws, Super Sedan, Modified, Modified Bike, Super Gas, Super Street and Junior Dragsters. This is a race meeting everyone hopes will be the season opener for many years to come in memory of John Taverna who was a large contributor to Drag Racing in Melbourne and Australia.
The day’s competition started well for local Pro stock racer Bill Kotsias, laying down a 7.18 first pass in Pro Stock which set the pace for the rest of the day. Jason Hedges played it safe running strong to halftrack, with Nino Cavallo, Ian Brown and Richard Cavell trying to tune around the conditions while Hugo Dianvincenzo filled sixth spot in his GXP. Kotsias and Hedges faced off in the final, and Hedges’ debut meeting paid off well winning the $5,000 kitty as Kotsias drifted right off the hit.
Super Comp had a few highs with DD/GA racer Daniel Camilleri going way under the DD/GA national record @ 7.63, and Shane Baxter running strong all day to take the win over Mick Simic’s Camaro.
Supercharged Outlaws consisted of a small field running a Chicago Shootout format to give everyone an opportunity. The final was a tight race between Michael Braggs and John Brunner’s Monaro. Braggs crossed the line first after both drivers did some pedalled at the end of the night.
Super Sedan had a field of 42 tough competitors as usual. The no 20th qualifier Rob Taylor in his immaculate LJ Torana met George Hatzi in his wheels up Charger. Unfortunately for Hatzi he was a little anxious to start the race and red lit giving the win to Taylor.
Modified featured a field of ever consistent racers fighting it out to the final which saw Leanne Braggs and Craig Baker line up in the final. A perfect run for Baker (Mr Perfection) saw him run 8.70 on an 8.70 dial in and take the win from Leanne who also an ever consistently throughout the event.
Mod Bike had a strong field of racers (two of them usually race Pro). But it was the experience of DYO racers Shane Walker and Brendan Sanders that saw them face each other on the business end. Shane got the win over Brendan by winning at the lights and running 9.72 on a 9.65 Dial in vs 11.15/11.14.
Super Street looked like it wouldn’t have the numbers to run, but late entries pushed it to a 16 car field and it was an all Ford final with Anthony Barbara running a brilliant 11.29 on a 11.29 pushing Chris Naughton to break out by .07 seconds.
As the home of Super Gas racing, a field of 11 cars showed how perfect they can be with a strong Adelaide contingent of racers. Bruno Romeo’s Top Qualifying spot showed everyone how to do it, but unfortunately he didn’t make it to the business end of the night. It was Matt Forbes and Adrian McGrotty lining up at the end, with Forbes going 9.90 vs a breaking out 9.88 — what a final.
Junior Dragster has returned to Calder Park for the first time in over 13 years. In typical winning fashion Jake Cartledge took the win over Brodie Tedesco running 8.45 on an 8.39 DI.
Although the weather kept the crowd down a little, the inaugural JTC event was run and won as the excitement of local competition and the start of the Melbourne season had everyone on a huge high. The meeting finished on time, with everyone all prepared and itching for the April Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock round less than 4 weeks away.
