Andrew Sutton might be anxiously awaiting the chance to get his Top Doorslammer back on track after a lengthy rebuild process, but that isn’t stopping the Vice President of Alice Springs Inland Dragway from enjoying some drag racing action.

While he waits for the opportunity to get his 1953 Chevy Corvette onto the strip for the first time since its 2016 crash, Sutton has been competing in a HG big block Holden Ute which he recently completed the build for in ASID’s CADRA track championship and also at events such as the Red Centre Nats.

Already he has tasted success in the new car – taking out the Red Centre Nats 11 second bracket victory and leading the Super Street CADRA Championship chase with just two rounds left to run (October 25 and October 31).

“We were all set to take the Doorslammer to Darwin for the NT Titles but then that was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19, so we continue to wait for an opportunity to get that back on track,” said Sutton.

“When we do, that will be the first time it has gone down the strip since the crash in 2016. We took a few years to repair it while also concentrating on the business, and as so often happens things just got very busy and then COVID-19 came along!

“We are very keen to get it on the track, but in the meantime, it has been good fun to be racing in the Super Street class for the CADRA Track Championship and also at Red Centre Nats.

“It is certainly a lot less hectic running the HG Ute, you can drive it back from the end of the run and it doesn’t take a lot to turn it around ready for the next one!

“I feel also that it is important to be supporting the track and the more that people compete at their local tracks we hope the more it will encourage others to give it a go.

“We would love to see more people getting out there and supporting their local drag racing tracks across the country and it is good to see that more and more locally-based events are starting up again after the COVID-19 shutdowns.”

When Sutton took out the Red Centre Nats victory in the HG, it was with what was a brand-new build.

“It was the first time we had the car out on the track as we had only just finished building it,” Sutton explained.

“It was an unexpected victory and a very pleasant surprise to win. The car went pretty well all throughout the event and then we went to the final against Allan Applebee in his Holden Commodore.

“Allan is a very strong competitor and more often than not heads home with the win, so we were pretty thrilled when we managed to beat him on a hole shot.”

While his Doorslammer is now repaired and his HG Ute is complete, Sutton has not been sitting idle. On the contrary, he has just finished another race car build.

“At the 25 October event we will be testing a new blown big block Camaro that we have just built. It is more of a Supercharged Outlaws style car and hopefully we will be able to do a couple of runs in that at the same time as racing the FG in Super Street,” Sutton said.

As he prepares for the upcoming events at his home track, Sutton has a few people he would like to single out for recognition.

“I would like to thank my sponsors Centrepoint Cars and Goodyear Auto Alice Springs as well as my family for putting up with me while I am doing all of this,” he said.

“I also want to recognise all of the people at Alice Springs Inland Dragway, the track prep guys, the event volunteers, the firies and the ambos – we couldn’t race without their great efforts to make these shows happen.”

The final two rounds of the CADRA Championship will be held on back to back weekends at Alice Springs Inland Dragway across October 25 and October 31.

For more information, visit www.cadra.com.au