The Return to Calder Park

Australian Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia is heading to the Australian Nationals at Calder Park this weekend to face seven other Top Doorslammer teams. The event is Round 4 of the ANDRA 2015/2016 Championship and the first time the Nationals has been held at Calder in fifteen years.

"Calder Park has strong memories for us at Zappia Racing," said Zappia. "We travelled to Calder back in the early 1990s because the crowds were huge and Doorslammer racing was new to this country. It is good to be going back to race the full quarter mile with an upgraded track."

In 1995, in front of 55,000 spectators, Zappia took the final from Brendan McSweeney by running the edge of the track at Calder in the original Zap's Rat.

"That was a memorable race, and it has drawn attention over the years. We were running mid-six-second passes back then with some rough chassis cars by today's standard. The Fuchs HQ Monaro is a state-of-the-art chassis with the latest components."

Power and Reliability

"The horsepower has increased dramatically, even over the last year or so, with Noonan Engineering manufacturing their own hemi heads that are bolt-on power. We have found more power, and through testing many different combinations, have reached a level of reliability that allows 10,500 rpm regular racing with few problems."

"We are looking to set a few more records this weekend. No Top Doorslammer team has run a five-second pass at Calder yet, and the track record is open. Getting all the new power to the ground is the challenge for all race team tuners."

Season Form

"We are aiming to improve all aspects of our racing this meeting. With a break over the Christmas period, my mind is fresh and focused on a few key areas."

"We top-qualified at the last Top Doorslammer event in December at the Perth Motorplex with a 5.829 at 251.05 mph, but had a clutch problem on the start line in Round 1. My 5.864 at 249.63 mph was beaten by Priolo's 6.074 at 238.64 mph after a late light. We have fixed that problem and will return to regular racing."

Championship Standings

Zappia leads the 2015/2016 ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship on 311 points after winning Rounds 2 and 3. His closest competitors are Grant O'Rourke on 213 points and Mark Belleri on 202 points - both teams running consistent five-eights.

"It is hard to predict who will win this round. Six of the eight have won Top Doorslammer rounds before. It will probably come down to who can read the track and weather conditions best and adjust their tune accordingly."

"We welcome new major sponsor Dananni Hotshots to the team, and hope their freight business gets exposure across Australia from their investment in our team and the sport of drag racing."

Zappia Racing fans are welcome in the pit area to watch over the crew and the Fuchs Monaro, and to get their merchandise personally signed.

Event Details

The Australian Nationals will be live-streamed via the ANDRA website: www.andra.com.au

Tickets and information: www.calderparkdragracing.com.au

Race Schedule

Q1 - Saturday 23rd, 3:14 pm EST

Q2 - Saturday 23rd, 6:33 pm EST

Q3 - Saturday 23rd, 9:26 pm EST

Round 1 - Sunday 24th, 1:33 pm EST

Semi - Sunday 24th, 4:18 pm EST

Final - Sunday 24th, 6:18 pm EST