Aussie bike racer dies in off-track accident

Local Modified Bike racer Darren Shepherd suffered a fatal accident after racing in the track championship at Western Sydney Dragway. Shepherd was found to have suffered an accident outside the WSID competitor gate on the exit to Ferrers Road, but we don’t have any more information as yet. The accident proved to be fatal for a racer who was not only a Rocket Allstars Points leader and prior venue track champion but Darren Shepherd was regarded as one of the most generous, pleasant and passionate racers to ever participate at Western Sydney Dragway. Darren’s passion for the sport was clear for all to see, having recently won a National Round after travelling 3800 kms to Mackay in Queensland and back for the Sunstates event there. “Shep” rode his bike across to Perth, Western Australia, for an event before racing the same bike down the quarter mile and then riding his Harley Davidson ‘Deuce’ back home again to Sydney.

The Shepherd tragedy followed a nasty racing-related incident involving Super Sedan racer Allan Ostey. Ostey’s Porsche car suffered a rear axle failure at high speed during the track championship event.
Ostey’s plight resulted in multiple hard impacts into the WSID safety wall. Due to the nature of the accident, a determination was made by the on-track Paramedical services to have Ostey cut from the car and was then transported to Westmead Hospital. Ostey is in a stable condition and in good spirits despite injuries to his ribs and vertebrae, and a punctured lung. (Jon Van Daal file photo) [11/4/2009]

NHRA Pro Mod update

Roger Burgess informs us that NHRA will allow 20 cars per race (the exact number at each race will be announced later) and any eligible team will be able to sign up directly with NHRA as soon as the process is put in place and announced.

The entry fee was cut in half and will be $500 in 2010. Each race purse is $37,000 broken down as follows: $10,000 Winner; $5,000 R/U; $2,500 Semi Finalists; $2,000 Quarter finalists; $1,000 First Round Losers; and $1,000 # 1 Qualifier.

The championship purse is $100,00 with $50,000 going to the points winner. Each race winner will receive a Wally, and a Championship Wally will go to the Series points winner.

There will be a separate 30-minute TV show on ESPN2 tape delayed for one to two weeks. The schedule will be announced when it is finalized.

The NHRA Class is now eligible for contingency prize money from those
manufacturers that choose to participate. The Series can have its own Hospitality Area in the pits and can have its own T-Shirt trailer on the midway.

In addition, Pro Mod stats and results will be listed on NHRA.com and in the National Dragster next year. [11/4/2009]