BENNY ALMOST GOT HIS BIRTHDAY WISH

Ben Bray became the 3rd only driver in Top Doorslammer to run a 5 sec pass on all 3 ANDRA Group 1 approved drag strips. With a 200 point deficit going into the Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex, Ben Bray (who turned 25 on pack up day) had a birthday wish of a combination of John Zappia & Robin Judd losing in the 1st round and an event win for himself.

After the 2nd qualifying session finished all 3 Team Bray cars were solid in the field with Victor taking up 6th with a 6.289/227.27, Mathew Able in 4th with a 6.272/204.54 and Ben's 5.971/243.24 (Top mph for the meeting) left him the 2nd. It looked very much like he was about to get more then he had hoped for his birthday, as John Zappia had still not qualified due to a engine failure in the 1st session and missing the 2nd. Plus Robin Judd was just hanging on to the final position in the field with a 6.443 (well off his national record pass).

Come the third and final qualifying session Victor came out 2nd with a very straight 6.150/231.95 to improve on his earlier time. Then it was time for the 2 west Aussies, with the rest of the doorslammer field watching with anticipation to pressure was on high for Zappia and Judd. But Zap who just gets better under pressure came out and showed everybody, once again he is still the bench mark and moved into the number one spot with a 5.946/242.58 and Robin Judd moved into 4th spot with his 6.036 / 241.28. Last out was Ben on a solo and just as he crossed the line to record a 5.976/240.64 down came the rain.

Clear skies greeted the teams and fans for race day.

Round one Ben was given his first ever (most probably last) gift from Gary Phillips. On the start line Phillips moved into the pre-stage beams, brought the revs up and edged into full stage. The car then rolled the beams and moved forward bringing on his first very red light at the Motorplex. Victor's old sparing partner Peter Kapiris's 6.022/229.00 was too good for his tyre shaking Castrol Edge 57 Chev. Mathew Able with a new personal best 6.218/226.13 did the Team proud in his Karcher 57 Chev; holding out John Zappia to 3 quarter track but under pressures of Top Doorslammer racing, missed his shift point from 2nd to 3rd and Zapp flew on by.

Semi-final time brought Ben up against the newest member to the 5 second club, Peter Kapiris and the big question going around the grand stands was - is the Perth Motorplex about to produce Australia's first ever 5 second side by side Top Doorslammer pass?

Both drivers who had driven faultlessly all week-end moved straight into stage keen to get on with it. Ben fought a hard battle off the line but a gear box failure on the 1- 2 shift stopped Benny in his tracks and denied him a birthday present.

"John Zappia, is still the man to beat has run so many 5 sec passes it's not funny, I am very happy now that I have a car that has run a couple 5 second pass at all the tracks the Top Doorslammer championship goes to".

"Even though we lost the semi-final, we had a great weekend's racing. We have ironed out some little problems we have been having and making 3 full passes qualifying with 2 of them being 5's and the other a 6.0 that is not a bad day out. And it's not over yet!! We have 6 weeks between now and the Tin Tops Titles at Willowbank and Dad has plenty R&D he would like to do we already have some test days booked. Dad's car is almost on the minimum weight so we will get him back on the tread-mill as soon as we get back to Brisbane. If the conditions are right, fingers crossed we will have a good result. But I'm sure the rest of the Top Doorslammer field has the same aim so we'll be looking forward to getting it on." Ben said.

Following the Westernationals, all 3 Team Bray cars are in the top eight in the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship Series.

Results from the week-end are available on victorbray.com web site .....here

To View updated Championship points table click .....here

Team Bray are now heading across the ditch to New Zealand for the Castrol NZ Beach Hop in Whangamata 26-30 March....click here for more details