Drag racing fans that missed attending the NZDRA Northern Nationals event at Fram Autolite this Sunday should at least keep and eye on TV3 News tonight to see a glimpse of what they were missing!

The quickest pass in NZ drag racing history by Antony March and many side by side 5 second Top Alcohol runs by the other competitors will confirm these Century Batteries Power Series events are a must to attend.

Fans have reported the best Drag Racing show so far this season was the order of Sundays racing with the above mentioned Castrol Edge Top Alcohol division putting on a fantastic display of speed, skill and race craft.

With all competitors running within tenths of a second, reactions from the start where going to be an all important part of eliminating your opponent and runner up Shane Lodge proved that when he defeated the Digga Dragster of John Neilan, with a .063 reaction and 5.936 ET to Neilan’s .171 reaction but quicker 5.896 ET Lodge took the win.

Ten other divisions put on some unbelievable racing for the appreciating spectators. Footage of their finals and hard fought battles will air on TV 3 with the main program later in the season. (date’s to be advised).

With only one crash taking less than half an our and a light shower for 15 minutes later in proceedings the entertainment was well in hand with, the on track antics of motorcycle stunt man Nic Krouse of Stunt NZ, and from burnout master Burnout Barry in his 351 Windsor power Morris Minor gaving the fans something to fill the short down time, and the Drag slick basket ball game kept the kids entertained with plenty of giveaways  of Castrol, Teng Tools and other assorted prizes for the budding Tall Blacks.

Photos and event results will be up shortly.

Mike Ashton Photo

With a fresh combination of equipment in the LG-TengTools-Hauraki top alcohol funny car and just a handful of high speed runs completed, Hamilton’s Morice McMillin has both the confidence and desire to take on the big guns at the Century Batteries Power Series, the three-round national drag racing championship.

The first round at Fram Autolite Raceway, midway between Auckland and Hamilton, takes place on 6 February and sees the 24-year-old fully prepared to take another step closer to the highly experienced and well funded racers leading the Castrol Edge top alcohol division.

McMillin signed with LG Motorsport this season, bringing the well-known brand imagery of LG Electronics and Radio Hauraki to sit alongside the logo of his team’s major sponsor TengTools on the Dodge Avenger funny car.

“Competing in New Zealand’s fastest motorsport certainly has its dangers and challenges,” says the talented young racer who started racing at the age of eight in junior dragsters.

“But we take things very much in our stride. Compared to several other teams, we’re all pretty young, up against guys who have been racing at this level for 20-plus years. Every season we keep learning fast and, this year, we’re out to catch some of the bigger names of the sport, that’s for sure.”

McMillin finished third in the national championship in his debut season and secured a new quarter-mile national record for the funny car class with his best time of 6.66 sec, which saw him hit a top speed of 339 km/h (211 mph).

“We have always been behind horsepower-wise over the last two years, so with some new equipment this year we hope to make that gap smaller. We know there is a lot of hard work in front of us, but I also know the team is more capable of making our mark in the championship hunt!”

Over the past decade, McMillin has quickly gone from a self-described annoying young teenager asking all the questions to a respected competitor in the class.

“I do have to pinch myself sometimes when suiting up to race guys who I have looked up to for years. All we need to do now is beat them!”

For more information about McMillin and the LG-TengTools-Hauraki funny car go to the LG Motorsport website, www.lgmotorsport.co.nz. 

ENDS/

2011 Century Batteries Power Series Round 1: 6 February, Fram Autolite Dragway

Round 2: 5/6 March, Masterton

Round 3: 19/20 March, Fram Autolite Dragway