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WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY Dragster Australia Article

ROBIN JUDD - A couple of years ago, when Robin Judd first began competing in his Studebaker Top Doorslammer, Victor Bray said to this writer, "Watch out for this guy. He's got the ability, the motivation and the wherewithal to really go places in this eliminator."

I took note of that comment because, with the exception of optimistic estimates about his own imminent weight loss, most of the experienced race's predictions come close to the mark.

The 2000 Nightfires certainly confirmed that original comment. So how could a man with no 'history' in the sport achieve so much, in such a short time?

Judd is an accountant and his commitment to drag racing shows the influence of his profession where sloppy or second-rate work will mean you are in lots of trouble and the numbers just won't stack up at the end of the day. He has surrounded himself with an exceptional crew, and prepared for his venture into the straight-line sport by tapping into the best equipment an advice in the world. You can't go wrong with a Murray Anderson car, and his driving apprenticeship at Frank Hawley's Drag Race School in the US gave him impeccable credentials before stepping into the quickest sedan category in the world.

"That was a good grounding, because to get into one of these is suicide (without proper training)," Judd said. "Ken Lowe has a drag race school here and I would recommend anyone going into drag racing to go to a course like that."

The decision to go with a Rootes blower came after IHRA Pro Modified champion Scott Cannon invited Judd to his home in South Carolina.

"In early 1998, I didn't know whether to go Rootes or PSI. There was a debate going about which was the best and I saw how well Scotty went with one and it seemed to make sense to go that way.

"I bought a motor from Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Frank Manzo, and ordered the blower and fuel system through Cannon."

"Then Victor Bray introduced me to John Scialpi and he came out here for a couple of rounds. The car was too aggressive and he tamed it down, cooled the temperatures with just subtle changes, and we got a runner-up at the 99 Westernationals.

"We tried the single-plug, single-magneto combo to run AA/AP in Perth and when we went quicker, you didn't need to be Einstein to figure cut we could develop it further from there"

Meticulous attention to detail is obvious among the Judd crew. "These are great people," Judd said of his crew, "but there are no egos here. We are from the outside, which means we started with little experience, but sometimes that can also mean you are not carrying baggage with you into a venture.

"We've learned a lot and have concentrated on all the things we've identified as important."

The articulate Judd was at once ecstatic and sombre about his ascendancy, being conscious that he had usurped the category's founder and previously unchallenged performance leader.

"It's terrific to do it in style but Victor Bray is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and while its a great day for us its a bit sad to see the big fel[a's been knocked off," a gracious Judd said after accepting his first win trophy. "So that's what one looks like," he said as he looked at the first of what may be many such awards.

"We love being part of the bracket where people get on pretty well and it's an exciting eliminator."

Describing the record-setting 6.24 passes, Judd said: "Everything hooked up. We recorded equal to our best 330s and our two quickest 660s. On the 6.29 the 660 was a 4.045 but I don't know why I clicked if off early - must have misjudged the finish, as all the sectionals were quicker than on the 6.24 runs. That ET would have been interesting."

On the quickest pass of the night, Judd said the car shook a little at the top of first gear and ended up a near-perfect pass because of his focus on the shift points and the car's lack of shake.

"Sometimes you go out there after having tyre shake problems and you expect it and virtually anticipate the shake and you end up short shifting it - a self-fulfilling prophesy."

Judd said the momentous times at Willowbank had made the 'Moonshine Bandit' the quickest alcohol four-link car, and the third quickest Pro Mod-T/D-legal car in the world.

Dragster Australia May 19, 2000