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| Talking of drag racing dynasties, the McNiff family also had a great day at the event. Geoff McNiff running a six cylinder Chrysler Valiant ended up winning the Australian Muscle Car bracket while his son, Brett was the victor in the Gas class. He runs a 426 Hemi-powered 1970 VG Valiant while Brett’s mom, Patricia was also competing in the Aussie Muscle bracket with a 318 Mopar-powered Cortina. | |
While Australia has yet to see full fields of nitro burning front engined dragsters, every race seems to bring out another new car or two.
Peter Cashin was one of several competitors who had trouble staying out of their own coolant – fortunately it happened on the burnout.
Peter Bucholtz gets his Windsor-powered XT Falcon right out of shape on a burnout.
| RESULTS Junior Fuel - Chicago Shootout format W: Brett Robertson, Bantam Altered best 8.891@142.81mph RU: Greg Smith, Bantam Altered best 8.55@157.65mph Slingshot - Chicago Shootout format W: Bob Sinclair, 208 Holden FED best 10.597@124.09mph RU: Mick Borg, 207 Holden FED best 9.876@130.44mph Gas - Chicago Shootout format W: Brett McNiff, 1970 Valiant coupe best 10.393@130.63mph RU: Sam Khoury, 1970 Ford Capri best 10.338@130.23mph Hot Rod - Elimination format W: Luke Griffiths, 1932 Ford coupe qual 2nd 11.525@115.08mph RU: Phil Retford, 1933 Ford coupe qual 3rd 11.730@114.88mph American Muscle - Elimination format W: John Kerr, 1964 Mercury Comet qual 18th 12.846@106.92mph RU: Stuart Smith, 1968 Chevelle qual 20th 13.278@101.40mph Australian Muscle - Elimination format W: Geoff McNiff, 1962 Valiant qual 13th 11.893@111.61mph RU: Carmelo De Maria, 1962 EJ Holden qual 5th 11.373@121.73mph HAMBster - Chicago Shootout format W: Ben Gatt, Ford V8 HAMBster, 16.623/16.50 @ 72.58mph RU: Joe Formosa, Ford V8 HAMBster, 15.666/15.00 @ 83.33mph |
Sam Khoury ran consistently in the Gas class to make it to the final in his Chevy-powered Ford Capri only to fall to winner, Brett McNiff.
Garth Bell had this unique “old Skool” high and mighty Dodge Dart running in the American Muscle bracket.
Cliff Phillips’ silver front engined dragster was a sight for sore eyes but didn’t figure in the final results.
 Peter Wilson was part of the Junior Fuel Chicago Shootout format and went to the final, where he was taken out by Brett Robertson. |
 Talk about a unique piece of history – Bruce Windred had this ’48 Chev pick up running into the eleven-second zone. |