A minor mechanical glitch was perhaps all that was between Russell Pavey and his first event win in Top Doorslammer following the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.

After completing his first round burnout the clutch would not release and meant he was unable to race against Mark Belleri, who would go on to win the event with two solos due to strange circumstances in other races.

“It takes a thousand things to go right and none to go wrong to win a race, unless you are just lucky,” Pavey said. “Luck has never been our associate. We have danced with luck, but we never get to take her home after the party.”

It was hard for the United Tools team not to question what could have been had things gone more their way in that first round.

“Two things had happened, one the vibration of the burnout had allowed the poppet in the charge solenoid to allow the CO2 to pass and charge the lock up cylinder, and the lock up cylinder had been adjusted incorrectly as well,” Pavey said. “As we watched that final the typical thoughts passed through our heads. Wow, look what one little mistake can cost.”

There was plenty of good news for the budget team however including a personal best 5.89 second run from the Corvette during qualifying.

“It was a clean, straight run, the launch was right, all the gear changes were right and for our efforts we got a 5.89 at 245mph time slip,” Pavey said. “That pass was a thing of beauty to behold. It was sheer poetry.”

The team are now looking towards their home event, the Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway where there could even be improvement on that new personal best.

“This is a home-built car with an all-volunteer crew and Ken Lowe says that there is more in the package yet to be released,” Pavey said. “Even though the car only has one burnout on it since the last maintenance there are just a few things to check before the Fuchs Winternationals.

“We will look at the valve springs again and check the clutch to see if it has changed after the burnout. I want to take the cover off the diff and have a look at the new ring and pinion just to make sure everyone is happy.”