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Sports Reporter
MOTOR racing fans, start your engines! This Saturday will see the staging of this year’s sixth and final event of the 2013 Telecel Drag Racing Series at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare. With next year’s series set to start at the end of the rainy season at the end of March or early April, this Saturday is the last opportunity for drag racing petrol heads to take to the track before the sport takes a four-month break.
This Saturday’s event promises to offer a good mix of competitors as usual, with top cars and bikes fighting for pole positions in their respective classes to end the season on a high note, and with over US$2 500 worth of prizes up for grabs in the 11 different classes, there’s a lot to fight for!
The separate 10-second car and nine-second bike cash prize challenges laid down by Dragpro Club sponsors earlier in the year have yet to be won, leaving competitors one last chance to bag big cash prizes for the first car to run into the 10-second and the first bike to run into the nine-second brackets respectively.
The late Patrick O’hara’s legendary 10-second yellow V8 Buggy beast, which has not raced since its engine failed late last year, will be making a grand return to the drag racing scene at this final event with its new owner.
The ever popular Nitrous Oxide breathing yellow buggy promises to carry on where it left off – terrorising its fellow competitors and pleasing the crowds. This event promises some stiff competition for the top runners as drivers and riders alike have been tweaking their rides to the maximum behind closed doors hoping to surprise their opponents.
“Competition is hotting up and we expect to see several cars entering the tough 11-second bracket for their first time this weekend,” commented Tyron Ferrerai from Dragpro Club. “The racing this Saturday is expected to be more competitive than ever. With a spinning/burn out display by Fat Cat and Co, and a Sound Off competition by Zimtorque, Saturday promises to be a great day out for all.”
“Dragpro Club would like remind first time drivers/competitors of the half-hour training session available to them between 11am and 11:30am before actual racing starts. Qualifying racing starts at 11:30am and racing concludes at the end of the elimination event at about 4:30pm just before the spinning demonstration and prize giving,” stated Dragpro Club’s Adam Saiyd.
Drag racing has retained its crown as the countries’ most popular motorsport event for the second year running. Looking forward, plans for the 2014 series are already underway with more South African competitors, more classes and entertainment on the cards.
“Some very good news is that we are delighted to report that Castrol/hp lubes, Easyparts, Turbo Solutions Africa, Autobusiness Magazine and Fingaz have so far confirmed their ongoing sponsorship for the 2014 Series. The remaining sponsors from our current Series have not yet confirmed their positions. We are still waiting for a response from them before inviting any new sponsors who may have conflicting interests. However, we would like to make competitors aware that we will be looking for sponsorship for the 2014 Series, so if any competitors would like to discuss coming onboard, then please do get in touch with the Dragpro Club committee. Finally, we would also like to provide an update on the challenge laid down by Turbo Solutions Africa offering a US$500 cash incentive to the first car to break into the 10-second bracket and US$500 to the first bike to break into the nine-second bracket, at the final event remaining in the 2013 Telecel Drag Racing Series.
“We are delighted to announce that Absolute Aqua have offered to ‘top-up’ the 10-second car challenge by adding a further amount of US$200 to the existing US$500. US$700 cash – a good incentive to anyone who thinks they can achieve a 10-second quarter mile time in a car! A reminder though, if you think you are a contender and may have competition for either prize, racing starts 11:30am – prize goes to the ‘first’ car and ‘first’ bike on the day to achieve these times,” said Susan Zevgolis, the secretary of the Dragpro Club who run drag racing in this country.
Zevgolis also said that the Sound Off competition will be called “Loudly Zimbo Sound Off” and they will also be presenting a prize to the “Best Looking Car”.
“DHL have just come onboard with a cash contribution to be allocated throughout the 35 prizes awarded on the day (1st, 2nd and 3rd in 11 classes) including the prizes of Top Eliminator Car and Top Eliminator Motorcycle, bringing the total value of prizes to US$4 000,” she said.
The Programme of Events
Gates open to public -10:30am
Drivers registration – 10:30am-2:30pm
Drivers briefing/training – 11am-11:30am
Racing (grudge matches/qualifying) – 11:30 am-3pm
Eliminations – 3:15pm
Prize giving – 4:30pm (or as soon after racing as possible)
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