Do The Stomp!
Street Machine Magazine|March 2021
Larger than life, John ‘Stomper’ Winterburn did big things for aussie drag racing
Lex Swayn
Do The Stomp!

FOR A man who was not a participant himself, the late John ‘Stomper’ Winterburn had an enormous impact on the sport of drag racing. Put simply, Australian drag racing would not have been as successful if not for his unceasing efforts behind the scenes.

Stomper is the longest-serving official in Aussie drag racing, with a total of 54 years spent in the service of the sport. He served at Surfers Paradise International Raceway from 1966 until 1987, with 15 of those years spent as meeting director. When Willowbank opened in 1985, he was meeting director for both tracks, and when Surfers closed in ’87, he remained Willowbank meeting director until 1999.

Fate brought John Winterburn and drag racing together in 1966, when he agreed to take his brother Bob’s FJ to an Easter show ’n’ shine held by the Holden Car Club at the Ski Gardens, across from the newly built Surfers Paradise International Raceway. The show also featured some of the visiting US cars for the Dragfest event that was to open the race track on Easter Sunday. SPIR manager Bill Pickett came over to ask if any of the car club guys would like to help as officials.

“That’s where I came in,” Stomper said in a 2006 interview. “I don’t really remember much about the event. I recall there was dirt everywhere, because it was a new facility, and I ended up covered in it because I was running all day from the tower to the startline and back. It was all new to me; I had no real idea about drag racing.”

It was a fortuitous introduction, as we now know that Dragfest was the catalyst that led to Australia becoming the largest drag racing stronghold outside North America.

This story is from the March 2021 edition of Street Machine Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2021 edition of Street Machine Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM STREET MACHINE MAGAZINEView All
TRADE SECRETS
Street Machine Australia

TRADE SECRETS

> DAVE CARNELL’S HQ TONNER RUNS NINES, MAKES 780HP AND COMPLETED DRAG CHALLENGE WITH A CHEAP-AS-CHIPS TURBO LS!

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
OUTER CRUST
Street Machine Australia

OUTER CRUST

DALE GRIDLEY WEDGED 426 CUBES OF MODERN MOPAR INTO AN UNSUSPECTING SURVIVOR AP5

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
HAVING IT ALL
Street Machine Australia

HAVING IT ALL

STREET MANNERS, A SHOW-QUALITY FINISH AND SEVEN-SECOND POTENTIAL MAKE FOR A SPOT-ON VS!

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
THEM'S THE BREAKS
Street Machine Australia

THEM'S THE BREAKS

HAS YOUR BROKEN-DOWN RIDE GOT YOU HOT UNDER THE COLLAR? HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO HELP GET YOUR CAR CHARGED , COOL AND BACK ON THE ROAD

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2024
NIPPED AND TUCKED
Street Machine Australia

NIPPED AND TUCKED

JAMES BULLIONS'S SLAMMED MAZDA R100 MAY LOOK SIMPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT HARBOURS MIND-BOGGLING ENGINEERING UNDER THE SKIN

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
WAY OUT WEST
Street Machine Australia

WAY OUT WEST

ONE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S MARQUEE MODIFIED CAR EVENTS, THE 38TH EDITION OF MOTORVATION SAW ACTION APLENTY

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Minor MIRACLE
Street Machine Australia

Minor MIRACLE

IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF CAR TO STAND OUT, JUST A LOT OF WORK, AS RHONDA AND AL MAGRITZER DISCOVERED WITH THEIR BLOWN AND CONTINENTAL-KITTED MORRIS MINOR CUSTOM

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
TICKLED PINK
Street Machine Australia

TICKLED PINK

ASHLEY BELL'S XA FAIRMONT WENT FROM GRANDPA-SPEC TO A WILD PLUM STUNNER IN UNDER 12 MONTHS!

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
ROMPER STOMPER
Street Machine Australia

ROMPER STOMPER

JOE BAUER'S 3000HP DODGE CHARGER TOOK ON STREET MACHINE SUMMERNATS 36 AND EMERGED AS GRAND CHAMPION

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
LAPS OF LUXURY
Street Machine Australia

LAPS OF LUXURY

RICCARDO PONTONIO PLANS TO RUN LAPS AT DRAG CHALLENGE 2023 IN ONE OF THE SLEEPIER ENTRANTS LINING UP FOR THE EVENT - A 1980s MERCEDES WAGON WITH AN LSA AND TWIN TURBOS!

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2023