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Top Doorslammer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Top Doorslammer is a professional (Pro) class of Australian drag racing. It caters to full-bodied racing sedans which are replicas of Australian or US production vehicles. The class uses 514 cu. in. displacement (8.5-litre), mechanically supercharged V8 engines which are fueled by methanol. The minimum weight break for these vehicles is 2700 lbs (1225 kg). It is similar to the Pro Modified class as defined by the NHRA.

Top Doorslammer is regulated by ANDRA, and is considered a Group 1 or professional category. It is the fastest sedan based category in the world, using replicas of front-engined production sedans, coupes, station wagon and utility vehicles usually produced by Holden, Ford, Dodge, Studebaker and Chevrolet. As its name suggests, these cars have operational doors, therefore Funny Car style bodies are not allowed in this class.

Some notable drivers competing in this category are John Zappia, Peter Kapiris, Victor Bray, Ben Bray, Gary Phillips, and Maurice Fabietti. During the summer months, because of rules similar to Pro Modified, such stars in the United States frequently appear during the North American winter during the International Hot Rod Association 400 Thunder series currently. For example, during the 2017-18 IHRA season, Texan Frankie "Mad Man" Taylor drove a second Bray Racing car when the drag strips closed for the winter.

Top Doorslammer originally started out as an exhibition class called Wild Bunch with notable pioneers John Zappia and Victor Bray. After a number of successful years of running the class, ANDRA recognised the class worthy of a professional bracket. By 1996 Top Doorslammer was officially recognised as a Group 1 class, and has since grown into one of the most successful brackets.

Television broadcasting

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Top Doorslammer Championship is on SBS Speedweek and the new SPEED Channel on Foxtel.

2010/2011 ANDRA Pro Series Championship calendar and results

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Round 1: Fuchs Australian nationals 10–12 September, Sydney Dragway, NSW
Runner Up: Maurice Fabietti Winner: Robin Judd

Round 2: Goldenstate Titles 3–4 Dec, Perth Motorplex, WA
Runner up: John Zappia Winner:Mark Belleri

Round 3: 40th Westernationals 5–6 March, Perth Motorplex, WA
Runner up: Maurice Fabietti Winner:John Zappia

Round 4: ANDRA Pro Series 18–19 March, Sydney Dragway, NSW
"RAIN OUT"

Round 5: 2011 Nitro Champs 29 April – 1 May, Sydney Dragway, NSW
Runner up: Peter Kapiris Winner: John Zappia

Round 6:

Round 7: 2011 Castrol EDGE Winternationals Willowbank Raceway, QLD RAIN OUT FINAL Finalist:Mark Belleri and Peter Kapiris

2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Championship calendar

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Round 1: 2011 Fuchs Australian nationals 9–11 September, Sydney Drag way, NSW WINNER: Peter Kapiris

Round 2: 2011 40th Annual Goldenstate Titles 18–19 November, Perth Motorplex, WA
WINNER: Peter Kapiris

Round 3: 2012 41st Westernationals 3–4 March, Perth Motorplex, WA
WINNER: John Zappia

Round 4: 23–24 March, Sydney Dragway, NSW WINNER: John Zappia

Round 5: 2012 Nitro Champs, 4–6 May, Sydney Dragway, NSW WINNER: John Zappia

Round 6: 2012 45th FUCHS Winternationals 8–11 June Willowbank Raceway, QLD

2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Championship points Top Ten

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Position Driver Points Wins Poles
1 John Zappia WA 370 2 1
2 Peter Kapiris VIC 348.5 2 1
3 Robin Judd WA 334.5 2
4 Mark Belleri NSW 163.5
5 Martyn Dack WA 146
6 Victor Bray QLD 138
7 Ben Bray QLD 107
8 Maurice Fabietti NSW 106
9 Andrew Sutton NT 85
10 Gary Phillips 160

Points Allocation

Winner- 100

Runner up- 80

Semi Final lose- 60

Quarter Final Lose- 40

Non Qualifier- 20

Low Elapsed Time- 5

Top Speed- 5

  • 50% bonus for points scored at Championship rounds in Western Australia

Top Doorslammer drivers

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Driver Sponsors Car Engine
John Zappia Procomp Motorsport / Strikercrushing.com / Fuchs 1971 Holden HQ Monaro Hemi 514
Mathew Abel Abel Tiling Services 1957 Chevrolet Belair Hemi 511
Geoff Gradden Sigra Dodge Saratoga Top Doorslammer
Stuart Bishop Wallace Bishop Jewelers / Stuart Bishop Racing 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Hemi 511
Ben Bray Team Bray/sidchrome 2005 CV8Z Holden Monaro BAE 511
Shane Catalano Catalano Family Racing 1953 Studebaker Champion
Victor Bray Team Bray Racing/Sidchrome 1957 Chevy BAE 511
Tony De Felice Vicios Rumour 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Riolo Racing 511
Maurice Fabietti Holden Trade Club / Holden Genuine Parts 2006 CV8Z Holden Monaro KB 511
Brett Gillespie BHe Electrical Contractors 1934 Chevrolet Coupe
Robin Judd Aeroflow 1959 Studebaker Champion KB 511
Peter Kapiris Kapiris Bros. Racing 1959 Dodge Seratoga BAE 521
Gary Phillips Lucas Oil 1953 Studebaker Commander BAE 511
Mark Belleri Narrabeen Smash Repairs 1967 Chevrolet Camaro TFX 522
Sean Mifsud PPG 1941 Willys
Andrew Sutton Sutton Motorsport 2005 CV8X Holden Monaro
Russell Pavey United Tools 1963 Chevrolet Corvette BAE 521
David Simpson Hidden Valley Eco Spa Lodges & Day Spa 1967 Ford Mustang BAE 511
Scott MacLean S&M Racing 1953 Studebaker Commander
Pino Priolo Team Budget Forklift 1937 Chevy Coupe KB 526
Murray O'Connor Penrite 196- Ford XM Falcon BAE 511
Daniel Gregorini Scratch & Match Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro BAE 521
Marty Dack Auto One 200- Ford Falcon BA Hemi 520
Phillp Glendenning All State Shopfitting 200- Ford Falcon BA BAE 521
John Cannuli PowerCruise / Wash It Australia / Crossroads Racing 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Rino D'Alfonso Metro Holden 2010 HSV Clubsport VE Commodore KB Hemi 521
Peter Blake Racetech Steel 1970 Ford Mustang Hemi 511

ANDRA National records

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Elapsed Time: 5.693 seconds John Zappia, 7 June 2015, FUCHS Winternationals, Willowbank Raceway

Speed: 258.42 mph (415.89 km/h) P. Kapiris, Sydney Dragway, May 2013.

Track records

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Perth Motorplex

Track ET Record - 5.683 Seconds John Zappia, 6 February 2016

Track Speed Record - 253.86 mph (408.55 km/h) John Zappia, 6 February 2016

Top Doorslammer 5 Second Club

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The Top Doorslammer 5 Second Club is a group of drivers who have run a quarter-mile in the 5 second range. Only 12 drivers have ever managed to run a 5-second time. John Zappia was the first in the world to run a legal Doorslammer 5 with a 5.967 second pass at 241.97 mph, on 17 September 2005, in his Rentco Monaro Top Doorslammer at Western Sydney International Raceway, NSW.

Driver Time
John Zappia 5.683
Deno Brijeski 5.956
Robin Judd 5.822
Gary Phillips 5.939
Maurice Fabietti 5.84
Peter Kapiris 5.809
Ben Bray 5.880
Russ Pavey 5.898
Stuart Bishop 5.98
Matt Abel 5.981
Mark Belleri 5.902
Aaron Lynch 5.973

Pro Series sponsors

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Official sponsors

  • Fuchs
  • Sidchrome Official tool

ANDRA Pro Series tracks

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Past champions

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Year Name
1995-96 Victor Bray
1996-97 Victor Bray
1997-98 Victor Bray
1998-99 Victor Bray
1999-00 Victor Bray
2000-01 Victor Bray
2001-02 Peter Kapiris
2002-03 Ben Bray
2003-04 Brett Stevens
2004-05 Ben Bray
2005-06 Steve Stanic
2006-07 Gary Phillips
2007-08 John Zappia
2008-09 John Zappia
2009-10 John Zappia
2010-11 John Zappia
2011-12 John Zappia
2012-13 John Zappia
2013-14 John Zappia
2014-15 John Zappia
2015-16 John Zappia

References

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  1. ^ "Home". motorplex.com.au.
  2. ^ "Home". sydneydragway.com.au.
  3. ^ "Home". willowbank-raceway.com.au.
  4. ^ http://www.hiddenvalleydrags.com www.hiddenvalleydrags.com