The first semi final in the Top Doorslammer bracket featured the two Westralians, John Zappia in his Holden Monaro (far lane) and Murray O’Connor in his Ford XM Falcon. Both cars did eighth mile burnouts, backing up and then coming into stage. Zappia lit the first bulb and then built the revs up while O’Connor moved towards the beams. The Falcon driver ended up being dragged through the beams and just took off. Zappia (who’s car is hard to look out of at the best of times) heard his opponent leave and took off in hot pursuit, however as the tree wasn’t activated ANDRA disqualified BOTH drivers, hence only one car in the final.

Top qualifier, Peter Kapiris in his ’59 Dodge Saratoga (far lane) took on fifth qualifier, Mark Belleri here and after top qualifying with a 5.792 and a first round single of 5.845, on paper at least Peter Kapiris looked set to appear in yet another final – well things don’t always go to script. Firstly Kapiris fell asleep on the start-line leaving some three and a half tenths after his opponent and then at the other end the car fell off its five second pace with a fading 6.062 that just couldn’t catch Belleri’s winning 5.974.

Reigning Top Doorslammer champion (for the last five years straight) John Zappia was one racer who, after making to the semi-finals of the bracket, went away from the event dispirited after being disqualified for leaving before the Xmas tree was activated. After qualifying in second spot with a 5.855 and taking out Stuart Bishop’s 5.934 with a 5.900 he looked to be in the box seat but in his semi final race with Murray O’Connor both drivers left before the tree was even activated and ANDRA ruled he was in the wrong. After the event Zappia is now nearly 100 points behind points leader Peter Kapiris and a sixth straight championship is now looking harder to get.