Words and photos by Jon Van Daal

The Winternationals is always the largest event on the ANDRA calendar as teams from all over Australia (and a few from New Zealand) come to the warm winter climes of Queensland – Australia’s Florida. This year was no different with 530 entrants across the board that broke some twenty records and were watched by a large crowd of fans. Apart from rain on three of the four days and numerous oil downs, crashes and the like the event went into the books as a barn burner as JON VAN DAAL reveals.

In addition to competing for a traditional bracket win competitors also come to the Winternationals to vie for Australian Championships. It is in fact our version of the World Finals (well our little world that is) and a number of Australian championships went right down to the wire. Case in Point – the 2008/09 Top Alcohol Championship. Going into the event Steve Reed had a five point lead over 12 time Aussie Alky champ, Garry Phillips with his wife, Debbie a further twenty points behind.

The Australian Top Alcohol title was won and lost in an instant in the final of the bracket when Reed hit the wall after a wheelstand against a red lighting Aaron Hambridge.

Debbie Reed top qualified with a 5.60/248.34 ahead of husband Steve in fourth on a 5.679 and Phillips’ in fifth with a 5.748 from his Lucas Oil Products Chev Monte Carlo. As it turned out Steve and Gary Phillips faced each other in a first round duel and when Steve smoked the tires off the line it was Phillips who prevailed. Debbie had a .710 light against Dennis Byth but luckily she drove around the silver digger to record a 5.689 to 5.948 victory. The semis saw Mrs Reed and Mr Phillips against each other and thanks to a hole shot Debbie took the win with a solid 5.604/250.42 - Phillips’ ran low ET/Top speed of the meet in an effort to catch the little lady with an otherwise tough 5.57/255.10.

While this three way points battle was going down, Aaron Hambridge was having a solid weekend as well after qualifying third with a 5.624 and then he used a 5.67 to out sprint Wayne Newby’s dragster in the first round and a 5.614 to turn back Steve Ham’s funny car in the semis. Mrs Reed was obviously on a mission and Hambridge knew it but he tried too hard and red lighted a win away with a .354 light, but hold the phone. In the other lane Reed had gone into a wheelstand that saw her black dragster pivot on its rear tyres and go directly for the wall and about three seconds later she collided with it.