Follow Mark’s travels in the NHRA!

By now most will know that Santo Rapisarda and the team are venturing to the USA to run a couple rounds in the NHRA Full Throttle 2010 series. The team have packed up the car they purchased from David Baca earlier in the year and have sent it on it’s merry old way back across the pacific.

The man selected to drive for the team in the states is recent ANDRA gold Christmas tree recipient Mark Mariani. To say that Mark is ecstatic about being given the opportunity to compete against the best of the best in the world of drag racing is an understatement! Mark will front to the line against the likes of current Full Throttle top fuel points leader Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, Cory McClenathan and Aussie expat Dave Grubnic!

Mark will be photoblogging his travels and experiences exclusively for 1320.com.au over the coming months as he and the team make the trek to Las Vegas for the NHRA Nationals October 28-31 and then off to the Autoclub SoCal NHRA finals in Pomona, California November 11-14.

Unfortunately the team will miss the second round of ANDRA Pro Series at Sydney Dragway.. Mark will just have to get a couple of round wins to make up for it!

So stay tuned to 1320.com.au this season!!!

Covers set to fall from Lamattina Top Fuel Dragster!

Lamattina Top Fuel Racing is set to unveil its 2010/11 Championship fighter, pulling the covers off the new livery of the Fuchs Top Fuel Dragster at the Fuchs Australian Nationals.

The team’s new sponsors Useasparky.com.au and Monster Energy Drinks will be prominent features in the new livery for the upcoming Season Launch.

The Team is energized and ready to get down to business September 10-12 at Sydney Dragway after completing a successful test day at Willowbank Raceway Tuesday August 17.

More Cowin Updates…

Graeme and Andrew Cowin were again at Queenslands Willowbank Raceway for more testing today in their Rocket Industries top fuel dragster, fitting in between some sport compact cars also testing for this weekends Jamboree!

Andrew tells us there isn’t too much to tell today except for their last pass which showed some stout incrementals until the blower belt decided it had enough and ‘coasted’ through the beams at 4.83 seconds so it would seem that the Cowin’s are set to stamp their authority on the 2010/2011 ANDRA Pro Series Championship!

Here is a bit of a tease shot courtesy of Casey Dhnaram (thanks mate!)

Cowin on fire for ANDRA return

It’s no secret that Graeme and Andrew Cowin are returning to Top fuel in Australia…

Today the boys did some testing at willowbak raceway and the results are absolutely astounding!

Here’s a grab from Andrews twitter page

Rapisarda Racing – first funny car pass!

Here it is.. The first pass of Rapisarda Racing’s nitro funny car from Dobbo’s perspective

A basic rundown, the car uses basically the same engine combination as one of their 4 second dragsters in a shorter, fatter chassis with a Chevrolet Monte Carlo styles fiberglass lid over the top! Add one super crazy driver and you have a nitro burning rocket ship on wheels! The car is ex Don Prudhomme Racing from the USA and used to bear the ‘SKOAL” sponsorship.

Dobbo aborted this pass after he felt the tyres lift off the surface a little but an epic .9 seconds to the 60 foot beams on the first lap is moving at killer pace and a sign of good things to come in the future for this team and this car. … Continue Reading