Wairarapa dragstrip sets records

OPEN: Bob Wilton, left, and Craig Cooper after cutting the ribbon to officially open the track.

Masterton Motorplex Drag Racing Club president Bob Wilton got his wish.

Speaking before the opening of his club's new state-of-the-art drag strip on Saturday Wilton's hope was that it would have the "Wow Factor" and he need not have worried, it had that and more.

A crowd estimated at 4000, but very probably more, were kept thoroughly entertained as 216 competitors from all over the country - plus a handful from overseas - entered in a variety of different sections. Street cars, motor cycles, super sedans, juniors and dragsters strutted their stuff as they sought to qualify for the main programme of racing the next day.

The entry was, in fact, the biggest for any event hosted by Masterton Motorplex, easily beating the 180 for the New Zealand nationals in 2008 and completely eclipsing the 130 which had taken part in the "test and tune" meet on the new track a few weeks earlier, and it spoke volumes for the efficiency of the equipment and the administrative groundwork done by the local club that everything ran smoothly.

"Honestly, it couldn't have been better, you always have it in the back of your mind that something might go wrong but there were basically no hassles at all, it was exactly how we wanted it," Wilton said. "It's a huge credit to our committee, they have worked their butts off for this to happen.".

Fastest time on Saturday was returned by Burt King of Upper Hutt who covered the 400m in a blistering 6.3secs giving him a speed of around 212mph but that effort was expected to be comfortably bested yesterday as the drivers became more familiar with the intricacies of the track. "We told them beforehand they should get to know the track before really letting loose and they pretty much did that, "Wilton said. "It's early days yet, once this track has been properly broken in it will be electric, I'd hate to think what times they will do then."

The fastest woman racer in New Zealand, Karen Hay from Tauranga, was a popular attraction but unfortunately her Evil II dragster had some mechanical problems and, consequently, her times were well below what she had anticipated. She was hugely impressed with the track and facilities and was keen to have better luck the next day.

At 20m the Masterton drag strip is the widest in New Zealand and it also contains the longest concreted launch pad at 155m, something which gives competitors the benefit of extra traction and improves their chances of achieving fast times. A unique feature is the one per cent gradient which helps drivers to slow down once they have reached the finishing point and there are concrete barriers running down both sides of the track for 850m, thereby keeping cars confined and reducing the chance of multiple rolls.

Happily they did not come into play on Saturday with no accidents occurring.

The actual opening of the new track was performed by Craig Cooper, representing major funders Trust House, and Bob Wilton, with Cooper also doing his usual brilliant job as MC during the official proceedings.