A pensive Stuart Bishop was waiting to fire up for his turn in Top Doorslammer qualifying when the rains came. In the end the world’s fastest jeweller could not make the 6.10 cut with a best that was over two tenths off that mark. He was joined by the likes of for Australian champions, Steve Stanic and Victor Bray.
Australia’s number one driver/rider, Brett Stevens was one busy boy taking part in three separate brackets and this very talented racer ended up making the final of all three – Top Bike, Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol (where he not only took the race but also the Australian championship). To ensure he could make it to the staging lanes for each he used this Harley to get back to the startline. Stevens is soon to announce a new driver and rider for two more team members that he will be fielding (in addition to the seven others at the moment) next season – I wonder who the sponsor could be?
Top Fuel Final
As with the Nitro Champs the month before the final of Top Fuel at the Winternationals saw Jim Read Racing team members, Phil Read and Martin Stamatis face each other for the gold. Read had earlier garnered the ANDRA national record (at 4.563) but on this run his Auto1/Snap On entry had the candles go out at half track leaving Stamatis to take his second straight win over the biggest field of the new millennium with a 4.799 at a slowing 244 mph. Fred Dwyer photo.