For Peter and Luke Veersma, making a 3000k trip from Perth to South Australia is about as close to a perfect family road trip as you could get.

The trip had already been pre-planned prior to the Westernationals in their chase for the 2016/17 ANDRA Junior Dragster Championship and some 30 hours on the road gave the pair plenty of time to talk and plan.

The Westernationals didn’t quite work to plan for Team Veersma. They came into the event with 250 points and were hoping to do well and grab as many points as possible. Unfortunately Luke went red in the first round, however his opponent went too quick with a 7.89 ET, putting Luke back in under the first or worst rule.

In Round 2 Luke met Jackson Perri, however he cut a bad light and then broke out, therefor ending his weekend.

“It just wasn’t our weekend. But at least we picked up 20 points and now enter Whyalla on 270 points. We would have liked to have gone further in the competition, but hey that’s racing”, said Peter Veersma

“But best of all we are on a road trip, seeing the sights and having some father and son fun. Luke is only 14 and he races against a lot of 16 year olds, so at least this trip will give him some big meet experience. Their brain matures that fast at this age, and the more events he runs the better he becomes as a driver.

“After we do this round at Steel City, we’ll leave the car in South Australia race ready, fly home and then fly back for the Summit Racing Equipment Drag Racing Grand Finals at Adelaide International Raceway at the end of the month.

“Driving back and fourth just takes a lot out of you. At least this way we will be fresh and race ready. We don’t get these championship opportunities every day so we are going to give it our best shot; it is what it is.

While this trip’s priority is about drag racing and winning the championship, at the same time we both get to spend quality time together, and for me that’s always a bonus. “There are a lot of quality kids out there and dial-your-own racing is pretty tough. I’ve raced Group 2 all my life, but this Group 3 dial-your-own racing is a lot harder that Group 2 in my eyes.

“While Joel Burns hasn’t entered for Whyalla we still have some very tough competition from the Donnelly sisters and also Daniel Carranza. They are all banked up behind us, and looking for the same results. Fingers crossed it goes our way”, smiled Peter Veersma

“I’d like to thank my sponsors – Creative Driveways n Fencing, Engel Fridges, Armadale Mower World, Fineline Signs, Welshpool Automatics.

image by Phil Luyer High Octane Photos

 

Gates open at 9am with qualifying starting at 10am

Spectator Ticket Prices

Adults – $20

Kids – (12-15) – $10

Kids Under 12 Free when accompanied by an Adult

Full canteen and beer booth available and NO BYO

 Head to www.steelcitydrags.com for more info