Local Ipswich resident Rick McBroom will get the chance to tick off a major bucket list item in just over two weeks at Willowbank Raceway.

The Invisions Staffing & Party Hire owner will finally get the chance to race in his first ever FUCHS Winternationals June 5-8, 2014.

“I am really looking forward to competing in my first Winternationals,” he said. “This is something I have looked forward to for many years but has just been one of those ‘one day’ things.”

“The Winternationals brings a great boost to our local economy and is one of Ipswich’s great events. Everyone knows about it and looks forward to it. It is a great event every year and attracts spectators of all ages and lifestyles from far and wide.”

“There is also a lot of first time spectators that attend this event as their first view of drag racing and this can only be good for our city and the sport alike.”

“With the help of Sue McBroom (wife, crew chief, boss, owner) and Matt our son, we are hoping to be competitive in June.”

Like many Super Street racers, the vehicle McBroom drives on the road doubles as his race car. The ute was originally bought to replace the delivery van used for his business with the intention of racing and using the sport as a promotional tool.

“When we first bought it we tested it and could only get a 14.91 over the quarter mile at Willowbank. After some mechanical work, bits and pieces, time under the car as well as in it, we now have a PB of 12.34 with 5.7 naturally aspirated running a six-speed transmission (one of the few manuals running super-street) and a Tru-Trac 4.11 rear on MT ET streets.”

This set up allows McBroom to drive to the track, change the wheels and exhaust pipes, accept the green and away he goes. But as any competitor in the same situation knows, it comes with risks.

“Because our race car is our work horse for our business making all of our deliveries and towing a trailer most of the time, we need to keep the ute street legal and streetable,” explains McBroom.

“This can become hard when trying to increase horsepower, alter suspension, lose weight and lower times as the foremost thing we need to think about is we still have to use it for deliveries on Monday.”

“When we race we are racing in a full weight road car. We drive the car to the track, change wheels and exhaust pipes and we’re ready to race, change back again after racing and we drive home with the race tyres in the back.”

The FUCHS Winternationals will be held across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (Thursday 5 June to Sunday 8 June 2014), with 430 racers from all across the country and New Zealand to compete in front of approximately 30,000 spectators across the four days.

For full information and ticket prices please click here.

Image courtesy: Dragphotos.com.au