NEWS

NEW SEASON TEST SUCCESSFUL

October, 2002

Kwinana Beach, Western Australia. Perth Top Doorslammer racer Robin Judd and crew are happy with their preparation for the 2002/2003 dragracing season. The team showed up at both pre-season test and tune meetings at Quit Motorplex held over the last two weeks. The outings had mixed results.

The first test session on September 29 saw the car wheel standing wildly for the first 100 feet as Judd and his crew wound too much power into the ’53 Studebaker. Judd had to lift or risk hitting the wall then hit the throttle once more only to find the burst panel let go at 1100’ stopping what would have been otherwise a quick run. The Moonshine bandit never the less recorded the respectable time of 6.82 @ 205.

“The bandit was on a mission”, Judd said. “We were trying Hoosier tyres for the first time and had the wheelie bar set a bit higher than normal. The launch was awesome. I hadn’t felt that many G’s for a long time. The track had some bite and we were trying to use it. The 175mph speed at half track was pretty good considering I had to pedal it. We just over did the tune up a bit.”

The last test and tune session was held on Saturday October 12. Corrected altitude hovered between 100’ to 500’, typical in Perth at this time of year. Unfortunately, the track conditions didn’t match the good air with Judd’s car turning the tyres In each of the three runs with a best effort being the last run of the day, a very straight but soft 6.58 @ 211. The team is looking forward to the first meeting scheduled for October 26.

Judd commented on the testing sessions by saying, “We’re in good shape for the start of the season. I think the gremlins have been sorted out so we can now concentrate on running quick and consistent numbers. The track will be better for the opening meeting and the air should be good. We want to do well this season and I think by putting in the effort we can get back on top of the heap.”

Round 1 of the ATDC is scheduled for November 16, with Round 2 only two weeks later. Both these rounds are at Kwinana, Judd’s home track. The team hopes to win these rounds as a great start to the championship however, they realize the competition has intensified and the numbers of competitors increased.

Judd said “There’s more cars competing for 8 spots. It’s bad enough with the likes of Bray, Kapiris, Stevens, Phillips, Koops and Searle breathing down your neck. Now we have a few more wild cards thrown in. I am told that up to 22 cars could be running at the Nationals. It’s great for the sport but scary for the competitors.”

The full schedule of rounds for the ATDC can be found at www.andra.com.au