NEWS

There's A New Top Doorslammer In Town June 1998

Robin Judd's Murray Anderson built 1953 Studebaker is one of the more unique vehicle's to arrive into Australia's popular Top Doorslammer class. Judd's is the original and first Studebaker built by the world renowned Anderson. IHRA World Champion Scotty Cannon had his Studebaker built from the original pattern of Judd's car. Apart from a different rear end suspension and a height difference on the nose, the two cars are almost identical sisters, with Cannon's car now one of the fiercest doorslammers in the world to beat.

Racing back at the '96 Nationals, the original owner, George Classby later sold the crowd favourite Stude to Raff Pironti. In a bizrre twist, Judd was looking at going racing when he saw the vehicle advertised for sale. After some discussion with Pironti, Judd made the deal happen, transporting the car to its new home of Perth shortly after.

Contacts were then made with Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in America to go and see which power plant he would prefer to slide between the chassis rails. After some fifteen passes and successful completion of Hawley's School in both Super Gas and Super Comp, Judd decided to have some passes in the School's Alcohol funny car. Netting a best 6.60 at a slowing 180 mph, Judd's decision to import a serious blown engine to Austraila became permanent and itchy.

Next was to find an engine suitable for the ride on Judd's American trip. After some discussion with Brad Anderson at his family run drag racing Engineering Company, a contact was given to Judd by the name of Frank Manzo who races the Kendall alcohol funny car. In 1997, Manzo was deemed the NHRA Federal Mogul Funny Car Champion. On appointment of the two meeting, Judd proceeded to venture into Manzo's racing operation and purchased one of Manzo's test engine's which had run as quick as 5.8 seconds at over 250 mph. Judd proceeded to venture into Manzo's racing operation and purchased the motor complete, minus blower.

Having the handle on his new car quickly at Ravenswood, Cannon knew the perfect combination to recommend Judd for his new toy. A complete Scotty Cannon 16-71 blower was purchased with a complete fuel system to bolt onto the new K.B. Having run his fastest ever speed at Ravenswood at over 226 mph and as quick as 6.35, Cannon also recommended the rest of the combination for the Sudebaker's package. Judd then also purchased a brand new fine spline Lenco with some top secret gear ratio's, and the diff was also upgraded to a fourty spline centre with axles.

Robin Judd is a Chartered Accountant by practice. He liked the look of Top Doorslammer from the hill at Calder Park a few years back, conicidentally at one of only a few meetings that Clasby raced the Stude. After some long and tedious planning with Crew Chief Lee Brailsford, the car is now complete and ready to race with help from crew members Eric Gaudieri and Phil Blondel.

The car debuted at Ravenswood back in May. On the debut runs, the car performed well in two burnouts, though oil pressure problems plagued the team both times and the car was shut off. Some more testing was carried out recently and more data gathered toward the teams licensing due in September this year.

Written by Phil Blondel - Phone 041 993 4126.