X IS FOR XTREME

Words and photos by Jon Van Daal

After decades of being run as the Nitro Champs, Sydney’s newly named 2014 X Champs delivered a race that came close to being the most Xtreme I’ve seen in the last 44 years. This saw strong cross strong winds, a number of racers crash, a cold track and on Saturday morning – driving rain but through it all emerged a race of pure class.

A field of eight fuel cars greeted the starter but it was a field that didn’t include current multi-Australian Top Fuel champion, Darren Morgan. With two cars from the Rapisarda Motorsport International and Lammatina/Fuchs teams it was no surprise to see one from each in the final. While each team saw them qualify one and two (Damien Harris top qualified with a 4.67 followed by Phil Lamattina) both went out in the first frame. Here Phil’s brother John (near lane) faced RMI’s Allan Dobson with John taking a couple of hundred’s off the line. As they made their way down the track both went off song with Dobbo’s 4.928 outlasting a 6.122.

This sequence saw Phil Read (in the right lane) up against Phil Lamattina who caught fire not far off the line in the first race of the first round. Despite this he kept his foot into it and as they approached the finish-line it paid off as his opponent lost a blower belt in the lights.