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After the teams successful outing at Willowbank in March, we packed up the winner’s trophy and the altered to head off to Sydney Dragway to do it all again for the Nitro Champs. The forecast wasn’t looking promising and since Sydney Dragway has struggled to complete a race meeting this past season, it would be vital to finish this event for the track and all the competitors for their championship campaigns. Friday scheduled 2 qualifying sessions for supercharged outlaws. The first one was slotted in before the rain came and cancelled the 2nd session. This run saw Matt run right on the money with a 7.066, continuing the consistent runs from Willowbank Raceway. Qualifying session 2 was run on Saturday and this run had the team scratching their heads when the altered ran a 7.73 ET. Back in the pits the crew went over the car and found a spark plug had come loose and caused the altered to run on 7 cylinders thus slowing the altered down. After qualifying was complete the GWM team was in 7th position. Luck was riding with the team when 1st round opponent Doina Day’s dragster broke in qualifying and was unable to front up for eliminations. The automatic win to Matt and also giving the team a chance to see if the altered had its performance back. No one would believe opponent Les Rodgie also broke and wouldn’t be able to front up for round 2 of eliminations on Sunday. Again the solo run allowed for some more testing and Matt ran a 7.02 ET @190 MPH. In round 3 of eliminations finally someone to race and Matt would pair up against Paul Stephens. Stephens jumped the start automatically giving the win to Matt who’s altered was consistent with a 7.06 ET. The leprechaun on the side of the car is definitely showing us the way when round 4 is a bye, giving the team an easy run into the finals. Matt tests his reaction and is on the ball with a .029 reaction. 2 meetings in a row and 2 finals for the GWM team. Final time and its Matt and John Trinder pairing up. Matt would give the head start with his 7.15 dial in to Trinder’s 7.40. A very close run and it was right down to the line but Matt was slightly out reacted (.033 to .099) on the start line and the altered runs too quick with a 7.13 ET. Unfortunately this meeting we go home with the Runners Up trophy. A win and a runner up this season has Matt at the top of the point’s ladder, leading into the championship finale at the Winternationals. May the leprechaun stay with us................... |
