​200mph Barrier Smashed By Outlaw Nitros

​200mph Barrier Smashed By Outlaw Nitros

By Mark Humphrey

Portland, Vic/Aus. 22^nd February 2016. Simply awesome is one thought that comes to mind when describing the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car event at Portland’s South Coast Raceway over the weekend. For the huge provincial crowd that packed the hill the memory of what they witnessed will surely be with them for years to come.

Celebrating their 10 year anniversary, South Coast Raceway had decided what better way to celebrate their milestone than with the Graeme Cowin backed Outlaw Nitro Funny Car show and boy did they deliver.

Twelve months ago the Nitro Funny Cars were rattling the South Coast Raceway with the 200mph barrier seemingly within reach. Rick Gauci had come close to the magical barrier in round 1 going 197+ mph but unfortunately the weather closed in which put a halt to the remainder of the program. Gauci had commented that he was chasing down that magical 200mph mark and was disappointed that he didn’t get another opportunity to have a crack. Turn the calendar forward to February 20^th 2016 and the scene was set for the Nitro boys to once again chase down that magical 200 mark.  As is custom with the Nitro series the drivers select an envelope that contains a number which is used for seeding the drivers. Gauci pulled out #5 meaning that 4 drivers had the opportunity to grab the 200mph mark before Gauci.

First up was the pairing of Daniel Schultz and Aaron Russell with Russell taking the win. Schultz had to pedal the car mid track and come home strong going through the traps at 191.46mph. The track was fast and it wouldn’t be long before the crowd would witness South Coast history. Up next was the pairing of Darren Fry and Shane Olive. What a race with the first 3 second side by side pass for the South Coast Raceway. Olive got the job done with a 3.701 @ 198.70mph  to set a new track record. Fry in his first time out posted a very tidy 3.937 @ 186.64mph. That was the first chunk of history and heat 3 would provide the next. It was now Gauci’s turn to have a crack at the 200 mark and after coming so close last year you could feel the anticipation in the team on the start line of what was to come. Gauci rolled into stage to take on Jake Donnelly from the well credentialed DBS Motorsport team. Gauci was away first and blazed the track to post a scintillating new track record of 3.652 @ an amazing 209. 61mph. He had done it! The first driver in the history of the South Coast Raceway to break the 200mph barrier and what a way to do it.

What a year the South Coast Raceway has had with Matt Forbes creating history in round 3 of the Summit Sportsman Series by winning 2 brackets on the same day and now Rick Gauci being the first person to crack the 200mph barrier. No matter what transpires in the future, the record books will show that Rick Gauci was the first driver to break the 200mph barrier at South Coast and like the feats of Forbes will be etched into history forever.

There have been numerous claims circulating that South Coast Raceway is the fastest 1/8 track in Australia and although some may have differing opinions the facts are that currently South Coast Raceway boast 13 National Sportsman records, more than any other track 1/8 track in Australia and it also was the first time in the history of the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car competition that one of their cars has reached 200mph over the 1/8^th distance. Those facts can’t be disputed and it’s a credit to Andrew Smith and his team down at the seaside racetrack for producing a superb racing surface.

With Gauci going into that magical barrier one could be forgiven for thinking the day would simply roll through barely providing a highlight to match the moment that was Gauci. The next pairing to wind up round 1 had Paul Messineo up against Justin Walshe. You couldn’t wipe the smile off Messineo’s face and you just knew that this guy was loving life with the Outlaws Nitros. In what was another cracking race Messineo took the win with a 3.827 pass @ 201.50mph to Walshe’s 3.908 @ 184.25mph. What a moment for Messineo as he became the second person into the South Coast Raceway 200mph club. I’m not sure if South Coast Raceway has a 200mph club as they hadn’t needed to worry about it in the past but after the Outlaws had finished with the track Saturday afternoon there were no less than 5 new members for the club sharing 10 passes in total that dipped into the 200mph bracket.

Round 2 was dominated by Shane Olive who come so close to setting a new track record when he took the heat win with a 3.687 @ 207.91 mph making him #3 into the 200mph club. The run was enough to get past Schultz who had posted a 5.976 pass in the Dukes style Dodge. Gauci had a solo and backed up his first run with a wild 3.671 @ 203.49mph. Walshe and Fry combined to put down the fastest ever side by side pass at South Coast with Fry becoming #4 into the 200mph club tripping the traps @ 200.05mph. Fry took the win posting a 3.731 ET @ 200.05 mph to Walshe’s 3.750 @ a faster 204.66mph. Walshe became the 5^th entrant into the 200mph club with that losing pass. Russell found the going tough in the next heat cruising through the traps at just 41mph. Messineo took the heat with another 200mph pass posting a 3.797 pass @ 201.40mph.

Round 3 had Walshe and Schultz going head to head with Walshe posting another 200mph pass this time slightly down on his round 2 venture posting a 3.724 @ 202.96 to take the win from a slowing Schultz. Shane Olive threatened Gauci’s track record with a solo pass posting a 3.674 @ 206.37 mph to sit in the #1 spot. Fry and Russell were up next with Fry getting the job done with a slick 3.742 pass to Russell’s 8.630 pass. The last race of the event had Gauci paired up against Messineo with both drivers undefeated and needing to firstly take the win and secondly post a quicker time than Olive’s 3.674. Gauci had set the car up for something special but an extended wheels in the air run put paid to his chances posting a losing 4.163 @ 146.45mph to Messineo’s 3.757 @ 205.63mph. Although it was another blistering run by Messineo it wasn’t fast enough to dethrone Olive from top spot with the smiling assassin having to settle for 2^nd spot. What a day for Messineo though. Like Olive he posted 3 wins for the day and was the only driver to go 200+ on every run posting 201.50, 201.40 and 205.63mph respectively.

So after 3 rounds Shane Olive was declared the winner from Paul Messineo with first timer Darren Fry in 3^rd spot. What a day it was down at South Coast Raceway, one that the huge crowd will long remember. As for Graeme Cowin, what a show. The whole experience is centred on providing the fans with a drag racing spectacle like no other in Australia and it certainly did that. From the opening parade and start up to the final pairing of Gauci and Messineo, the spectators were treated to an experience un-matched in Australian drag racing. 14 passes in the 3’s with the 200mph barrier breached 10 times. Not bad for a 1/8 mile track.

As per usual South Coast Raceway was well supported by the sportsman racers with plenty going on over the event. Shane Baxter went under the National Index 3 times and is feeling super confident about the ANDRA Finals at AIR in April. Gavin Dohnt posted 3 Pb’s Friday night during testing with even more action on race day while Mario Baker was also dipping under the national record. Doina Day debut her new Supercharged Outlaw dragster and was on the money from the get go. Doina faced off against Jason Keily in the final with Jason adding another South Coast victory to his collection. The Sherry’s had the sedan ranks sewn up with Lisa taking the win in Super Street and Bob getting the chocolates in Super Sedan with the help of the Russo boys. I managed to catch up with Bob after the meeting to talk drag racing and the return of drag racing to the AIR with the interview to be aired in the lead up to AIR. Leanne Braggs stepped out of her dragster to give Craig Baker a run and he went all the way to the Modified final coming a close second to Jess Turner who is having a great season. Lots of other highlights with the burnout boys putting on a tyre frying show Friday night. Brett Parker returned to the Wilful Damage pad picking up the win from Taylor Henley in the Merc with Dutchy (Greg Holland) having a ball in 3^rd place. A couple of heavy hitters in Cleary and Peek missed out on the podium but nevertheless put it killer skids to keep the crowd riveted.

Well that’s a wrap on what was a magical weekend of Australian drag racing. Once again South Coast Raceway has delivered and must surely be rated as one of if not the best 1/8 mile tracks in Australia. As for the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars, what a blast and a must see event when the Cowin circus rolls into a town near you.

Australian Pro Street Association kicks into gear this weekend with round 1 of the 2016 series firing up at Calder Park Raceway. Head to Calder Park Drag Racing for more info. The ANDRA Summit Sportsman Series heads over to Whyalla for the March long weekend with Calder Park Drag Racing hosting Group 1 ANDRA drag Racing the same weekend. South Coast Raceway has more action lined up for the 2015/16 season with details at South Coast Raceway.

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