15 February 2011
In front of his home crowd last meeting, reigning ANDRA Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia competed in the local Top Comp bracket and performed some solid runs in difficult conditions to prepare for the next round of the Pro Series Top Doorslammer event at the Perth Motorplex Westernationals.
“We tried a few innovations this meeting and were pleased with the results” said Champ Zap, “The weather was a challenge for most teams over the weekend, so it was still an equal playing field. We now have data in the system for those conditions.”
“Craig Pedley is still happy for me to run his car, as he is busy running around the globe building his Striker Crushing and Screening business. I am more than happy to be running this state of the art race car”.
Friday night qualifying saw the Procomp Motorsport Monaro lay down a 5.986 pass at 244.56mph straight pass off the trailer. “I got held up on the start line and ended up deep staging and running a 1.10 sixty foot time, but we were pretty happy with that pass as it could have been a low 5.9 or better”
Second qualifier on Saturday saw the timing system give an erroneous time, and then the third qualifier gave Zap a 6.012 @ 241.24mph timesheet. “That was a good run on a very sticky track, considering the heat and humidity. Our data showed us we had never run in that much humidity before”. The 5.986 slotted Zap into seventh place in the qualifying order – 0.415 under the 6.40 index.
Zap drew Anderson in the BB/G Torana for the Eliminator, and won with a 5.951 @ 243.24mph to Anderson’s slowing 8.961. “We stepped the car up in every area for this pass, and considering the conditions we were very happy with the result”. The win put the Procomp Motorsport Monaro sixth in the win list, not enough for a B Final.
“This is a good lead into the Westernations in March. We are confident this year, after winning last year’s event – the first ever in all my years racing in Perth. We are hungry for the win, and to set ourselves up for our team goal of another Championship”.
“I am also confident given the right weather conditions, of being the first door car to run a 5.7 pass in the country. The Perth Motorplex has got the track very sticky lately, and my developments on the race car in the last few months will all help in maybe pulling off the quickest pass. We already are the quickest in Australia, being the National Record Holder with a 5.805, but we always want to do better”.
“Thanks to our local Western Australian sponsors and supporters, who came to the last meeting to offer their support. Having so many people involved is a great morale booster for us all, and makes all the hard work we do worthwhile”.
For more details, photos and videos go to www.zapsrat.com.au
Naming Rights Sponsors
Procomp Motorsport and Procomp Electronics
Major Sponsors
Striker Crushing and Screening, Beta Spuds, Southside Engine Centre, Mickey Thompson, Noonan Race Engineering and PPG Automotive Refinish.
Supporting Sponsors
Santhuff, Victory1, B & J Racing Transmissions, Mi Camcorders, Current Trendz, Veem, Crow Cams, Force Tools Australia, Aero Group – Avtrac Maintenance Tracking, Legend Boatbuilders, Taylor Tyres, Kounis Metal Industries, Bravo Resources, CIC High Performance Coatings, Aurora Bearings, and Track-Meter.