Second drag racing event in Malta
WWW.GREEKDRAGSTER.COM
by Holger Camilleri (Malta)

The Malta Drag Racing Association organized it's second official event of the season between April 22 and 24 at the Hal-Far Raceway. This event was characterized by very good weather, although with strong head winds which kept the participants away from improving further more their times. The track conditions were wonderful as the MDRA used a new 'Grip Juice' compound. This new product is the VP-LC6 which was brought over by Mr. Lee Child of Shakespeare County Raceway in Warwickshire, UK. This helped the competitors to have better traction all over the track, and every one was more then happy with it.

Friday 22nd was test day for everyone. Many participants took this chance to make their latest tune-ups and settings, all looking forward to improve more their engine’s performance. Many where those who clocked very good times. The track was also open for non-participants and street modified cars or enthusiasts who wanted to try out their vehicle's reaction, elapsed time, 60 feet and top speed.

The Elbors Top Methanol Dragster, preparing for the burnout

On Saturday the qualification and dial-in runs took place with all the competitors being placed in their respective classes and brackets. On Sunday (eliminations and finals) the scene was once again stolen by the Competition Altered class. Alan Zammit of Zoqdi Racing Team won the Open 3 when driving Emanuel Magion's 2.1Ltr Cosworth. The Altered Escort clocked its best ever elapsed time of 7.858sec with nitro.

Emanuel Muscat in his Cosworth Cortina with nitrous was the winner of the CA5 class when running 8.994sec in the final. This to the delight of tuner Joe Catania better known as 'il-Ginger'. Muscat also registered a personal best elapsed time of 8.5seconds. The CA6 class was won by an 8.217sec run of Paul Pace while driving his Modified 'Wonderer' Sierra fitted by a Chevy 454.

Joseph Tabone of Sieheb Racing Team won the SS4 class with a run of 10.488seconds with his Red ‘Sniper’ Escort powered by a 2Ltr. Pinto Engine with NOS. The 10.500sec to 10.999sec bracket racing was won also by Tabone with a 10.509 second run in the finals race.

Alan Zammit performing a burnout, registering his best ET of 7.858 sec

Another driver of the Sieheb Racing Team is Rodrick Pulis. Driving his superbly sprayed ‘Time Bandit’ Escort, Pulis came second in the Open 2 class which was won by Chris Polidano with Pippo Borg’s Cosworth Escort. Pulis also came second in the bracket racing when he clocked 9.063sec. This final was also won by Polidano by clocking 9.070, a very breath taking race I have to say. It’s good to say that Pulis made an impressive 60 feet of 1.23sec. Well done Rodick!

The Elbros Racing Team participated in the DTA class after a year and four months of absence. The Top Methanol Dragster driven by John 'Banzai' Ellul, clocked an elapsed time of 6.053seconds. The Elbros Team, although competing, was making some new tuning on new parts brought over from the US for the Fontana V8 Big Block engine. For the next event Mario Borg of Borg Brothers Top Methanol Racing Team, will be next to the lights with John Ellul. This will be a very much expected race, as now it has been a long while since two dragsters raced against each other at the Raceway.

Scale models exhibition by the Malta Slot Drag Racing

In this event there were plenty of exhibition runs which entertained those present. New comers Cerra Racing Team, headed by driver Frankie Grech while testing clocked an elapsed time of 10.7sec. Team member and tuner Victor Grech said that for the testing period the fogger nitrous system won't be used. The ProStock powered by a Chevy 454 Big-Block will now be submitted for more tuning and settings. This as the team is looking forward to improve the engine's performance for the upcoming night event.
Mr. Whippy, Joe Carabott with his Blown Chevy dragster ran 7.5seconds while various exhibition runs. Carabott is improving more his racing abilities as time goes by and also with the help of tuner Manty Bugeja of Power House who is improving the engine's performance race by race.

Meanwhile the Malta Slot Drag Racing organized a very interesting exhibition in the paddock area. Many spectators stopped to give a look at the detailed 1:24 scale models which attracted many spectators. This especially when two Funny Cars scale models simulated a tire burnout and a small quarter mile race. The next Malta Drag Racing Association event will be the first night event of the season and will be held at the Hal-Far Raceway between Thursday 9th and Saturday 11th of June.

O 2ΟΣ ΑΓΩΝΑΣ DRAGSTER 2005 ΣΤΟ HAL-FAR RACEWAY - MΑΛΤΑ

Στις 22-24 Απριλίου ολοκληρώθηκε ο δεύτερος αγώνας Dragster στη Μάλτα που διοργανώσε η MDRA στο Hal-Far Raceway. Οι καλές καιρικές συνθήκες καθώς και η πολύ καλή προετοιμασία της πίστας βοήθησαν τους οδηγούς, απ' όλες σχεδόν τις κατηγορίες, να πραγματοποιήσουν πολύ καλά περάσματα. Παρ’ όλο που ο καιρός ηταν καλός, οι δυνατοί ανέμοι που επικρατούσαν δεν επέτρεψαν την καταρρίψη ρεκόρ όμως αρκετοί από τους αγωνιζόμενους βελτίωσαν τους προσωπικούς τους χρόνους.

Αναλυτικότερα, ο Alan Zammit οδηγώντας το Emanuel Mangion's Modified Ford Escort Cosworth της Zoqdi's Racing Team σημείωσε 7,8 δευτ, ο οποίος μετά την βοήθεια του βελτιωτή Charles Camilleri έχει γίνει ιδιαίτερα ανταγωνιστικός όπως άλλωστε ήταν και την προηγούμενη χρονιά. Επίσης, ο Paul Pace της Felulu Racing, έκανε ένα εντυπωσιακό πέρασμα 8,5 δευτ. με το καινούργιο του Sierra V8.

Ένα ακόμα εντυπωσιακό πέρασμα ήταν αυτό του Emanuel Muscat της Ginger Racing Team, όπου οδηγώντας το Cortina Cosworth σημείωσε 8,5 δευτ. Το συγκεκριμένο αυτοκίνητο βελτιώνεται συνέχως σε κάθε event και σύντομα αναμένεται να σπάσει το φράγμα των 8 δευτ.

Ύστερα από ένα διάστημα απουσίας από τους αγώνες, ο John Ellul (Banzai) επέστρεψε οδηγώντας το Fontana Dragster της Elbros Racing Team. Ο John έκανε 3 περάσματα κατα τη διάρκεια του event και όλα ηταν 6αρια, με καλύτερο χρόνο τα 6,0 δευτ. στο τελευταίο πέρασμα. Μετά την ολοκλήρωση του αγώνα ο αδερφός του John, Carmel, ανέφερε πως δεν πίεσαν αρκετά, αφου ήταν οι μοναδικοί αγωνιζόμενοι στη κατηγορία (DTA Class). Επίσης δοκίμαζαν κάποια καινούργια εξαρτήματα που έφεραν απο την Αμερική για τον κινητήρα του Fontana. Το επόμενο event πάντως, θα έχει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον αφού θα συναγωνίζεται το Mighty Small Block Dragster της Borg Bros Racing Team με οδηγό τον Mario Borg.

Όσο αναφορά τους υπόλοιπους οδηγούς, ο Rennie Zammit νίκησε στην κατηγορία Classified Altered 2, και πραγματοποίησε τον καλύτερο χρόνο (απ' όλα τα υπόλοιπα οχήματα της κατηγορίας). Ο Jason Camilleri ήταν νικήτης στις κατηγορίες Classified Altered 3 και Bracket. Άλλος ένας οδηγός που πραγματικά εντυπωσίασε ήταν ο Paul Fenech όπου νίκησε και στις 3 κατηγορίες που συμμετείχε.

ΣΧΟΛΙΑΣΤΕ ΤΟ ΑΡΘΡΟ ΑΥΤΟ - COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

Article by Holger Camilleri, MALTA
Photos by Holger Camilleri, MALTA
Greek translation by Alex Papadopoulos