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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
DRAG racing, one of the biggest motorsport events in Zimbabwe, returns to Donnybrook Raceway today for the penultimate round of the 2013 Telecel DragPro Club Series.
The fight for overall honours in this series hots up in this latest round of the drags in which most of the country’s top drivers will be in action as they aim to set the fastest times in both vehicle and motorbike sections.
And there will be plenty of nervous tension in both sections as the battle of the drags hits town today in front of another bumper crowd at Donnybrook.
In the bikes section, it will be interesting to see who will once again set the fastest time to beat those set by local champion rider Angelo Pereira who always records times under 10 seconds, mounting his Suzuki Hayabusa GSXR 1 300.
Pereira has been a dominant force in the local drags since 2004, winning almost all the races he has competed in at Donnybrook either riding the Suzuki Hayabusa GSXR 1 300 or a Yamaha R1.
The 33-year-old rider competes mainly in the 1 000cc and 1 400cc classes where he usually takes on veteran rider Phil Archenoul, a former motor rally navigator.
In fact, Perreira was the first biker to beat the late Patrick O’Hara and has the fastest times on the track, clocking 10 seconds but he has been slower of late, as he was last timed in at 10.4 seconds.
But Pereira told The Herald yesterday that he is looking at improving his times and was hoping to clock 9.8 seconds “in one of these fine days”.
“I’m now fixing my bike to make it go faster and I want the organisers of the event to put some money on the table so that we (the riders) challenge each other and see who beat my times… I also don’t mind putting my own money for this.
“So, I’m more than willing to take on anybody on the track and it will be ‘bhora mugedhi’ all the way,” said Pereira, who has been drag racing since 2004.
Pereira, however, feels that he was not getting enough or stiff competition in Zimbabwe and was now looking at racing in South Africa.
“In fact, I’m preparing my bike to go and drag race in South Africa where I’m hoping to do a few runs there before the end of the year. I’ve been invited to race in South Africa by my friend who races for Suzuki… There are some good cash incentives in drag racing there and competition is always stiff,” said Pereira, who also has a bike branded in his name.
Meanwhile, some close battles are also expected in the vehicle section today where Bulawayo’s Terry Allberry will be raving up the fans in his Cobra but will be having veteran Basil Barnes, also in a Cobra, to contend with.
Susan Zevgolis, the secretary of the DragPro Club who run drag racing in Zimbabwe, said yesterday that they were hoping to see three or four of the very popular AC Cobras in action today.
“Terry Allberry has confirmed he will be coming up from Bulawayo. Basil Barnes (who has been involved in motorsport for many many years) will be coming with his yellow Cobra. Alan Cacace is also expected to come in his Cobra.
“There will be four to five Skylines competing in various classes. Adam Saiyad will hopefully be returning after missing the last event with his very impressive Skyline (one of the fastest cars competing at the moment). Tyrone Ferreria in his ‘Black Mamba’ Skyline, Mano (Zevgolis) in the red Skyline and Libor Jira in the impressive four- wheel drive Nismo Skyline will all be there at Donnybrook this Saturday,” Susan Zevgolis said.
Several Subarus are also expected to be in action today and they include one which will be driven by regular enthusiast Raihaan Kerbelker.
In addition, it is hoped that there will be a range of other vehicles – some seen on the track previously and some newcomers.
Entertainment has also been lined-up for today and it will see Blaze Thomas (Trailblazers) and Jamie Whyte (TT Motorcycles) putting on a Superbike display.
There will be Sound Off – BEPROUD2BELOUD (with Audiocity, Spraytech, Pepsi and Zimtorque.com).
And from 12pm till 2pm there will be trial runs and tests.
Official competition begins at 2pm till 3pm while prize-giving will be at 3:15pm. Winner of each category will get a shield, T-shirt, under car lighting and full valet while the loudest car will get a 15-inch subwoofer and a shield.
There will also be donuts, rolling wheelies, endos and wheelies in the afternoon. Entry fee today has been pegged at US$5 per person and racing starts at 11:30am.
There will be a full bar and catering.
Online Reporter