YES, it finally happened. After more than two years of delays thanks to COVID and massive Victorian flooding, Drag Challenge 2022-23 finally kicked off on Monday 30 January. Some 139 entrants rolled through Heathcote Park Raceway on scrutineering day, locking up their transport vehicles, hooking on trailers and stickering up their cars in readiness for a week of drag-anddrive glory.
The more-than-three-year gap between our last five-day DC event meant there were plenty of newbies (both people and cars) turning out, alongside a strong roster of seasoned veterans hoping to take home the choccies.
Big contenders included DC 2019 champion Harry Haig and the Haulass Garage boys, back in the mighty POP666 HQ following a more relaxed Drag Challenge Weekend ’22 campaign in their HG; and Luke Foley, hungry for a maiden win in his seven-second VH Commodore. Dan Szabolics, who holds the record for the quickest and fastest DC pass, was also back for another go in his incredible HQ Monaro, while Robert Giangrave’s twin-turbo big-block XR ute rolled up in suitably large fashion aboard a huge excavator trailer towed by a tip truck!
DAY ONE
HEATHCOTE PARK RACEWAY
CENTRAL Victoria switched on the summer charm for Day One of racing at Heathcote Park, with eight classes ranging from the big tyre and slick-wearing GJ Drivelines Outlaw Aspirated and Turbosmart Outlaw Blown categories to the bumper Vibrant Performance Dial Your Own pack. The first pass was made by John Ricca’s eight-second Lamborghini Huracan and Bruce Christian’s Chev-powered FJ40 Land Cruiser in an awesome show of race-car diversity.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Street Machine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Street Machine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
JAPANESE STEEZE MEETS AUSSIE ICONOGRAPHY IN JAY DUCA'S GENRE-HOPPING VL
BIG-BUCK BURNOUTS
SUMMERNATS ANNOUNCES MASSIVE NEW PRIZEMONEY AND A BRAND-NEW BURNOUT SERIES
RETURN OF THE KINGS
WITH SOME OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST ESTEEMED CAR BUILDERS SET TO DEBUT CARS, THIS YEAR'S MEGUIAR'S MOTOREX IS SET TO BE A CRACKER
YACHT ROCK
PRO STREET luxury cars may as well be a religion unto themselves in Victoria.
THE LONG ROAD
A 20-YEAR ODYSSEY SAW JASON MACKENZIE’S CAMARO TRANSFIGURED FROM BURNOUTBRUISER TO SHOWSTOPPING BOULEVARD CRUISER
KICKSTART MY HEART
TWO HEART ATTACKS JOLTED JASON HANNAM TO HOME-BUILD HIS SL/R 5000-STYLE HOTTIE
DOUBLE ACTION
THINK BUILDING AN ELITE CAR IS TOUGH? TRY DOING A 1700RWHP HQ MONARO STREETER AT THE SAME TIME!
Mission BROWN
TWIN BROTHERS YOUNAN AND EDDIE KHAZI SET OUT TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS WITH THIS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BARRA TURBO XE GHIA BUILD
HELL YEAH
HOW DO YOU IMPROVE ONE OF THE BEST-LOOKING MUSCLE CARS EVER? GIVE IT TO RINGBROTHERS, OF COURSE!
DIY DREAM
MONIQUE O'GARR'S EH WAGON WAS THREE DECADES COMING, BUT AN ELITE HALL DEBUT MADE IT ALL WORTHWHILE