NEWS

Judd Studebaker Makes First Appearance At Street Meet May 1998

Robin Judd officially debuted his Murray Anderson built 1953 Studebaker today. It was a brief but important exercise to start sorting the car. No passes were made due to the unsuitability of the track conditions and an oil pressure glitch. Valuable data was obtained to work on over the winter prior to the new season beginning.

The car is welcomed into the popular Top Doorslammer class and has all of the latest American technology to help get the sleek machine down the quarter mile with times expected around the mid six second range approaching 220 mph.

Underneath the Littlefield 16-71 Scotty Cannon prepared blower, which was flown over direct from America with a complete Cannon fuel system and tune up, is a long 511 cubed Keith Black engine which carries a set of the latest Brad Anderson 'fat' heads. The engine was also flown over and was purchased from current NHRA record holder Frank Manzo who runs the Kendall alcohol funny car in the American Federal Mogul Funny Car bracket. After a complete freshen up, the engine has already run 5.8 seconds and should propel Judd's Stude' to some pretty competitive times once sorted.

As for Robin Judd, he is a Chartered Accountant by practice and liked the look of Top Doorslammer from the hill at Calder Park one year and enquired about going racing. After some long and tedious planning with Crew Chief Lee Brailsford, the car has now come together with help from various friends, and crew members Eric Gaudieri and Phil Blondel.

Judd has also successfully completed Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School in America and is licensed for NHRA racing in both Super Gas and Super Comp Dragster on completion of some 15 passes. License passes toward an NHRA Alcohol Funny Car license was also undertaken and netted a best of a 6.60/180 mph back off pass.

With licensing and some more testing being completed as this goes to press, car and driver should be ready to race for the first October drag meet.

In appreciation of making this car happen, Judd would like to thank the following people and sponsors; Lee Brailsford, Eric Gaudieri, Bob and Peter Lush Applied Automotives, Ian Brown, Gary Miocevich, Peter Pike, Franz Mozer GSA Automotive, Richard Bowman Caltex/Havoline, Simon Gunson, Eddie Daw, Grant O'Rourke, Wayne Keys, Ray Treasure, Peter Veersma, Mark Thrift Engineering Dynamic Consultants, Alan Armstrong Auto Pro Belmont, Rob Herridge Maximum Motorsport and sponsors William Buck, Toolmart, Caltex/Havoline, Applied Automotives, GSA Automotive and Myaree Trimmers.

Studebaker Racing Co want to compete at as many of the 1998/1999 Top Doorslammer rounds as possible around the country. If any corporate sponsors are interested in registering their interest with this unique racing operation, please contact Robin on 0419 921 882 or Lee on 0419 242 689. Mailed interest can be registered to;

Written by Phil Blondel - Phone 041 993 4126.