22 February 2011
Twenty-nine year old drag racer Andrew Loy will be looking to go one better in the Queensland Street Car Magazine Eighth Mile Drag Racing Championship Series this year, as the series embarks on its second year of competition this weekend at Willowbank Raceway.
The Modified competitor from Warwick narrowly missed out on claiming the championship for his category during the Series’ inaugural year, and with a new car now in action he is determined to claim the top honours in 2011.
That effort will start this weekend, with round one of the 2011 Championship to take place at Willowbank Raceway (utilising the eighth mile distance) on Saturday February 26.
“In the 2010 series we were runner-up for the Modified bracket, after winning the first event at my home track in Warwick, and then after that the car kept playing up at each of the rounds, but we managed to win two out of three races at Roma and then one out of three at Willowbank and Benaraby,” said Loy.
“With the points for taking part in each round and the Warwick win we were able to make it to the runner-up spot, and it was great to travel – I had never been to Roma or up to Benaraby to race before, and it was really enjoyable and by the end of the series we had all gotten to know each other which was great.
“We have since found out what was wrong with the car but we now have a new car for the 2011 series – we have had it for a while but with the eighth mile series starting up last year we didn’t want to run one round and then change cars, so we left it in the shed.
“My Dad Alex has been working tirelessly on the car, throwing all his effort and money at it, so I really have to say thanks to him for making it possible for us to have this new car for this year.
“Also Brett Benz at Warwick Panel and Paint have been a big help, painting the car, while Tim Murphy has also spent long nights wiring all the components together.
“It looks great and I am really excited to get into the new eighth mile series with the car. It is a Ken Lowe dragster with a big block as opposed to the small block we ran last year, and it seems to react a lot quicker than the old car which is promising.
“I am feeling pretty confident, and hopefully we can start off the campaign to go one better this weekend at Willowbank with a event win!”
Joining Loy and his fellow RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified racers on track at Willowbank Raceway will be competitors from the JP Racing Super Sedan, John William Auto Sales Super Street, QLD Numberplate Group Modified Bike, Diamond T Products Junior Dragster and FG Loy & Sons Earthmoving Classic classes.
The Queensland Street Car Magazine Eighth Mile Series will include three rounds of racing plus a Grand Finale, hosted by each track on a rotational basis year by year.
Following this weekend’s opening round at Willowbank Raceway, round two will head to Warwick Dragway on the 14th of May, before round three takes place at Benaraby Dragway on the 9th of July. The Grand Finale will then take place at Ironbark Raceway on the 24th of September 2011.
Special winner and runner-up trophies will be available for each bracket at each round, with the Grand Finale to see a special winner trophy plus $750 prizemoney awarded to the highest point score of each bracket, and a special runner-up trophy and $250 prize money to go to the second highest point scorer of each bracket.
For more information on the 2011 Queensland Street Car Magazine Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, including details on how to enter and race rules, visit http://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/
2011 Queensland Street Car Magazine Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series Calendar:
Round One – Willowbank Raceway – 26 February, 2011
Round Two – Warwick Dragway – 14 May, 2011
Round Three – Benaraby Dragway – 9 July, 2011
Grand Final – Ironbark Raceway – 24 September, 2011
Racing Categories:
FG LOY & SONS EARTHMOVING CLASSIC
RD WILIAMS EXCAVATOR PARTS MODIFIED
JP RACING SUPER SEDAN
JOHN WILLIAM AUTO SALES SUPER STREET
QUEENSLAND NAMEPLATE GROUP MODIFIED BIKE
DIAMOND T PRODUCTS JUNIOR DRAGSTER