Australian drag racing can hold its head up high after the recent ANDRA 2008 Summernationals at Western Sydney International Dragway. Some four hundred racers from all over Australia as well as New Zealand put on a superb show. A combination of record times, close racing and large fields of competitors produced an event that many veteran pundits are calling the finest Australian event ever.
While Pomona could only muster sixteen local top fuel dragsters and one from Europe it looked like 12 entries might make an appearance prior to the Summernationals race. In the end ten cars greeted the starter and put on a show that this scribe hasn’t seen in many a decade. Usually with three qualifying sessions half the entries would only make one or two passes but it seemed at least eight were out for each session.
Phil Read was the early favourite when his Snap On/Auto One fueler was the top qualifier with a 4.585/309 pass.
Following the first session Steve Read in the Force Tools dragster was number one with a 4.85 to lead Luke Shepherd in the Santos’ Cranes digger on a 4.96. In the second session it was the Snap On Tools/Auto One dragster of points leader, Phil Read that headed the roster thanks to a none too shabby 4.585/309 mph pass. Close behind were Darren Morgan in his Wicked Quick dragster on a 4.612 slightly ahead of Martin Stamatis with a 4.696. After the third session Stamatis had improved to a 4.616 that still left him in third while Steve Read was shunted down to fourth.
Top qualifier, Phil Read (far lane) lights the tyres at third track while Amanda Shepherd loses a blower belt in winning the pairing.