NEWS

$2 part costs Judd chance in final Round 1 Kwinana November 16, 2002

Perth based Top Doorslammer racer Robin Judd qualified 6th in the first round of the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship. Judd ran a steady 6.419 to secure himself in the 8 car event in one of the toughest fields yet seen in Australia.

In the first round of eliminations Judd came up against his old rival, reigning National Champion, Peter Kapiris. Judd had a score to settle with the Kapiris. For the period June 2000 to December 2001, Judd had the quickest car in Australia with an ET of 6.179. It all changed when the Melbourne fruiterer ran a world record 6.07. To make matters worse, it was at Judd’s home track.

“We were on top of the heap for a while then PK came along with the PSI and his Inky valve thingy and changed the face of dragracing as we knew it. We used to kick his butt most outings before then.” Judd said.

The scene was set for a great showdown. On launch reaction times were almost identical but 100 feet out Kapiris, the favourite, shook the tyres, peddled and was forced to play catch up to Judd’s flawless 6.414. Kapiris’ made up a lot of ground in the second half of the track but his 6.498 was not good enough. Judd said after the race, “Doorslammer racing is so unpredictable – you have to always expect the unexpected”.

Unfortunately Judd did not get to contest the second round after the clutch fork (proverbial $2 part) broke, straight after the burnout. His opponent, Marcus Chambers, was able to have an easy solo and went on to win the event in fairytale fashion after Victor Bray broke his transmission in the final.