ANDRA was saddened by the news of the passing of Australian drag racing legend Mick Atholwood.
Atholwood was a pioneering figure in the nitro funny car ranks (shown in the picture at left, thanks to Steve Thomas) during the early days of the sport. In more recent times, Queensland drag racing fans in particular might remember the Atholwood and Smith Top Fuel dragster which won the 2000 Nationals and even ran a four second pass with the unique Sainty engine combination.
ANDRA's sympathies go out to Mick's family and his many friends.
Top Doorslammer racer Victor Bray sent us his tribute to Atholwood who was an integral part of his team in its formative years.
“Like all Australians, I was saddened to hear of Mick Atholwood’s death on Saturday. I find it hard to believe that a man who was such a consummate professional at and away from the drag strip is no longer with us, my family and all of Team Bray extends our condolences to Mick’s family and friends,” he said. “I considered Mick a mate; he was my crew chief for many years.
“Among the many great memories of Mick is one I will never forget. I was competing at the 1992 Nationals at Calder Park Raceway in Melbourne and had made the final against the heavy hitter of Donna Sizmur. Mick told me before the final that we had to take some chances to try to out run Donna as she was well under the index at the time. Instructions from Mick were that he had given the car some more power and a little more travel in the front end and if the front end came up higher than normal not to worry and if you lose the horizon simply shift into second gear and the front will come down smoothly and sail on down the track. I did what I was instructed to do by Mick but it didn’t quite go to plan. When I left the start line, the front did actually come up and I did lose sight of the horizon but when I shifted into second the front continued to rise until the car was vertical on the race track and the rear bumper was scraping the ground. Mick said later he knew something was wrong when he saw the whole injector hat from the start line.
“Australian drag racing will never be the same now, gone but never forgotten; vale Mick Atholwood.”