Raceway hosts first drag racing series of the year
Cosworth-powered Escort closes in on Competition Altered class record
The Malta Drag Racing Association (MDRA) organised its first event of the year between February 25 and 27 at the Hal Far Raceway. The event, though in February, was characterised with some fine weather even though those present had to contend with an occasional downpour during the weekend.
The three-day racing series started on Friday, test day, with mechanics making their final tests on vehicles and drivers looking to clock better times.
On this particular day, many were the Street Car enthusiasts who made their way to the track to analyse their engines' true power.
Qualification runs in all categories were reserved for the second day of the meeting. The track was in good condition with a fresh layer of grip-juice waiting to get 'blazed'.
The Competition Altered class again drew attention. Edmond Azzopardi, in his Sunbeam, Alan Zammit, in Emanuel Mangion's Altered Escort, and Emanuel Muscat, in his white Cortina, stole most of the limelight.
There was also Gary Curmi's debut in his brand new Toyota Supra Dragster. During testing, he was assisted by Joseph Tabone, of Sieheb Racing Team.
On Sunday, it was the time for elimination and final runs. Competition Altered class racing was again to the fore.
Azzopardi, his Sunbeam equipped with a 2.2-litre T6 Turbo Lotus, confirmed his best elapsed time with an 8.4-second run.
The Zoqdi Racing Team of Charles Camilleri, who tunes Mangion's 2.1-litre Cosworth-fitted Escort, were all over the moon when Zammit blasted his way to a best ever elapsed time of 7.807 seconds with nitro.
Zammit was only 0.1 of a second away from the Competition Altered class record. At present, this belongs to Chris Polidano in a 2.2-litre Cosworth Escort.
In Open 1 class, Polidano registered 8.6 seconds in Pippo Borg's Escort which is powered by a T6 Turbo Cosworth engine and tuned by Manty Bugeja of Power House Racing Team.
Driving an Altered Cortina, tuned by Joe Catania, Muscat clocked an impressive personal best elapsed time of 8.6 seconds in the Open 3 class with nitro.
Karim Cassar was the best driver in the SS2 class with his Street Legal Escort powered with a 2.1-litre Pinto. He registered an 11.4-second run.
Mario Attard, in his Volvo, won the Trucks Open class final in 13.3 seconds. In the handicap category, Attard had a personal best of 13.2 seconds.
Joe Carabott (Mr Whippy), in his Chevy 454 Blown dragster, registered another personal best time, with a 7.4 quarter-mile run. Curmi's Supra dragster clocked a best elapsed time of 9.3 seconds with only 10psi of turbo boost.
As the season progresses, Curmi's team intend to power the Custom T76 Turbo with a boost of 40psi. They are hoping to run mid seven-second figures for the next MDRA series next month.