The 200mph mark was well and truly blown away at last weekend's Masterton Motorplex Central Nationals, an event that attracted Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer entries from around the country.
Six cars exceeded the magic mark, the fastest, a dragster from Gore, hitting 224mph.
Five other cars exceeded 200mph, and three of
them were around the 220mph mark.
Put it all down to traction.
Events organiser Bob Wilton said before the recent imports and test and tune meet Masterton Motorplex brought in a team of experts to scrub the launch area back to bare concrete. "What had happened was that rubber and VHT (a glue-like substance sprayed onto the track) had built up unevenly. It was blistering in places, so we decided to start again."
The smooth concrete was sprayed with VHT again, and the test and tune day began the process of building up a rubber deposit.
The cost and effort paid off last weekend with the fast times and close competition.
The meeting was round two of the national championship for Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer cars and round three for the rest.
The successful meeting is a good omen for the two upcoming meets, the Christmas competition meet on December 29 and 30 and the Trust House nationals her on February 2 and 3.
One car burst into flames on the track. The driver, with the cabin full of flames, steered off the course and bailed out, leaving the blazing car to keep rolling.
The vastly-improved traction brought problems for some. Rod Benjes, of Upper Hutt, pulled a huge wheelie in his 1600hp front-engined dragster, so big that his rear wheels buckled under the pressure and the front of the car was damaged when it crashed back onto the track.
One car burst into flames on the track.
The driver, with the cabin full of flames, steered off the course and bailed out, leaving the blazing car to keep rolling.
It suffered considerable damage. And another competitor, starting in the right-hand lane, veered to the left, hit the wall, and then roared back to the right.
Great entertainment for the crowd, basking in brilliant sunshine.
