I trust everyone had a good Christmas and New Year, and welcome to the 10th year of the VWMA Drag Racing Series. Quite a journey, hey?
The series kicks off on Saturday February 21st at the Sydney International Dragway. Registrations are now open, and if Henry Spicak's registration speed is anything to go by, he may be the man to beat this year. Henry has the title of #1 registration for 2015.
1. The Friday night Pizza cruise has been changed in favour of having Dino's mobile Pizza vans at the track on Saturday evening after the racing. There will also be a band to play through until late.
2. After the fun of the VW engine pull at Warwick last year, Sydney will have the VW Bug Push. I already have two teams (the winners of the engine pull and one team from the Flat 4 club). I would like to have at least six! The heats will be run at lunch and the final before the Twilight Cruise.
3. On the Sunday, Sydney will be running their popular Offstreet Drag meet. I have been asked to extend an invitation to any VW drivers staying overnight at the track to enter and be a part of the racing. Normally reserved for street registered cars, Sydney management will allow ANDRA and non-registered VWs who were a part of the VWMA day to also run if they wish.
4. Check out the great HILTI Power Tools Australia giveaway.
These regular email updates will also be posted on the VWMA facebook page (Update Your Browser | Facebook) and various forums. The VWMA twit account will also be activated again
See you on the track.
Cheers
Craig Hughes
Editor / Part Time Drag Racer
VWMA
ps Inevitably there will be a keen VW racer who claims he never heard about the event, so please feel free to send or post this information where more can be reached.
Last edited by VWMAT5; 06-02-2015 at 05:00 PM.
Reason: Change to event status
In typical VW racer fashion, the topic of engine lids for Volkswagen drag cars always pops up on some social media channel. One VW competitor did the right thing and contacted me directly (I know - the phone of all things), and the following paragraph is from Colin Brassington ANDRA Technical Officer:
Ordinarily sedan type vehicle regardless of cooling or engine location would need an engine lid of some sort. And this will continue to be the case at events at championship level or any other normal event.
However given the unique challenges of this event/series of events, we would be accepting of air cooled, Super Street style cars running with engine lids either propped open or removed altogether. However preference remains that engines have at least partial coverage.
We’ll monitor the event and competitors, and try and put something permanent in place for next year.
Moving on - camping at the track is available for competitors and crew only on both Friday and Saturday night. There is no need to inform me prior to the event that you will be staying at the track, but I encourage all competitors and crew to arrive before 10pm Friday to help with managing the security of the gates. On the Friday evening the impromptu RC VW cars will be doing their usual stunt/racing thing, so bring your RC along to make good use of the plentiful bitumen. There will be both RC circuit and drag racing happening.
These regular email updates will also be posted on the VWMA facebook page (Update Your Browser | Facebook) and various forums. The VWMA twit account will also be activated again
See you on the track.
Cheers
Craig Hughes
Editor / Part Time Drag Racer
VWMA
ps Inevitably there will be a keen VW racer who claims he never heard about the event, so please feel free to send or post this information where more can be reached.
There has been one change to the programme for the Sydney drags. Due to a catering issue, the Pizza Party on Saturday night has been shifted back to the normal Pizza Cruise on Friday night. We will be meeting at the Shell Servo at 611 Great Western Highway at 7pm and cruising on down to Glenmore Park for a show'n'shine in the shopping centre forecourt, pizzas, giveaways, etc. On Saturday evening, instead of the planned Pizzas, Volkswagen Genuine Parts will host a free German BBQ for drivers and crew, and there will still be a band and entertainment. So still plenty happening.
I need a few more Bug Push teams to be a part of the fun during lunchtime. Please email me asap with the team name. I am sure if you do not have a registered bug to push that we can convince a show'n'shine contestant to be a part of the giggle Don't forget team colours. The rules are posted on the VWMA website.
Trade and swap are welcome this year as I have the help and assistance of the Flat 4 Club to organise spots. The swap is the normal gate fee entrance of $20 per person and trade can contact me for rates.
See you on the track.
Cheers
Craig Hughes
Editor / Part Time Drag Racer
VWMA
After a meeting with Sydney Dragway this week, the new management presented revisions to hire charges and associated costs for running the VW drag event. Although some concessions were offered for the late notice, the fee increase was substantial. Along with the hike in fees, a number of restrictive conditions was also outlined. With everything taken into consideration, the VW drag event at Sydney has become unviable, unaffordable and far less attractive to both competitor and spectator alike. Although the new management passed the buck to errors made by previous management, it was clear that small, niche drag meets are no longer encouraged at Sydney Dragway.
I have no choice but to cancel the event in Sydney indefinitely. Refunds, etc will be organised soon. The positive out of this debacle is confirmation of how much better rural tracks such as Warwick are in supporting and growing the sport of drag racing in this country. In the future, all my efforts and resources will be devoted to making the October VW event in Warwick stronger and better. VWMA and I will always be 100% committed to VW drag racing in Australia.
Cheers Craig Hughes Editor / Part Time Drag Racer VWMA
This is sad to hear. Sydney has become such an expensive place for grassroots motorsport. Thanks for organising this event while it was still viable, I hope in the future we get another chance.
Shameful on sydney dragway management, there've been like this in the past with other organisations and it seems the new manager is a even bigger ass.
Hopefully they see what there really doing to the Motorsport industry and it's back on next year.
Sucks, even though I live 5min from there and can attend the weekly drag days, I find it more enjoyable to race my fellow vdub enthusiast.
I was really looking forward to entering into next years one
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