The start of something big

POISED: Alan Hartley of Auckland waits for the green light.

Masterton Motorplex Drag Racing Club president Bob Wilton has long believed that once the surface on their new drag strip is "broken in" it will be the fastest in the country - and he was even more enthusiastic after the first day of racing at the Trust House Central Nationals meeting there on Saturday.

"Give the track a few more meetings and we could see New Zealand records going off on a regular basis," Wilton said, "The big boys are going to love it."

The Central Nationals attracted an entry of 153 and they were divided into about a dozen categories with drivers chasing crucial qualifying points for the nationals finals to be held at Taupo next month.

Setting the standard times-wise was Aucklander John Neelan in his dragster. He wrote himself into the history books by becoming the first driver to post 5.9secs for the 400m on the Masterton track.

Stratford's Wayne Curry also left a huge impression in the "unaltered" section by registering times around the 6secs mark and there were others who posted personal bests.

A good-sized crowd enjoyed the warm conditions and Times-Age photographer CHRIS KILFORD was on hand to capture some of the action.