Round Three of the Rocket All Stars Racing Series was held at the picturesque Palmyra Dragway in northern Queensland. Situated on the outskirts of the city of Mackay, approximately a thousand kilometers north of Brisbane, Palmyra Dragway has been operating since 1968 and the 2009 Sunstate Nationals will go down as one of the very best events to feature on the track’s calendar. Held over two days, October 2 and 3 2009, the RDP Sunstates featured a 140-strong entry list with teams travelling from all over the country from as far as Western Australia as well as South Australia and Victoria.
In RARS Competition it was local hero Phil Otto who powered to victory over fellow Queenslander Greg Leahy in an all-altered final in which both drivers achieved identical reaction times. Leahy defeated Mackay local Danny Tuelstrup in the semis whilst Otto booked into the final with a solo run. Victorian Jason Maggs still heads the points however, ahead of Otto and Frawley.
Current Top 5
J Maggs (VIC) - 180 points
P Otto (NA) - 140 points
G Frawley (SQ) - 120 points
J Walshe (SQ) - 100 points
G Leahy (SQ) - 80 points
Two of the class’ best performers made it to the final round of RARS Super Stock with Omar Sedmak facing off against West Australian, Graeme Simms. Omar made the final count and took the victory, thanks in part to an amazing .008 reaction time. Simms took his 80 points courtesy of a victory over Sizmur in the semis. Both finals competitors head the championship points ahead of South Australian Alex Panagiotidis and seasoned campaigner Nino Cavallo.
Current Top 5
O Sedmak (SQ) - 200 points
G Simms (WA) - 160 points
A Panagiotidis (SA) - 120 points
N Cavallo (VIC) - 120 points
I Brown (VIC) - 80 points
RARS Super Compact wasn’t contested at the RDP Sunstate Nationals and so Dib Taouil remains at the head of the points with George Marcevski and Damien McKern in second and third respectively.
Current Top 5
D Taouil (NSW) - 100 points
G Marcevski (NSW) - 80 points
D McKern (SQ) - 60 points
T Wedlock (SQ) - 40 points
J Signorelli (NSW) - 40 points
There was no racing in RARS Competition Bike in Mackay, the points remain unchanged with Homes and Kempe tied at the top ahead of Pennington.
Current Top 5
S Homes (SQ) - 140 points
G Kempe (NSW) - 140 points
B Pennington (SQ) - 120 points
D Rundmann (SQ) - 100 points
C Scholes (VIC) - 100 points
RARS Supercharged Outlaws was arguably the standout bracket at the Sunstate Nationals event with a huge field containing some of the best vehicles in the class. Last year’s champion, Christine Steffens won the event, which also means that Christine takes the maximum, 200 points with her into the Castrol EDGE Winternationals. The final promised so much but Steffens was forced into running a solo after the HQ Monaro of Garthe McIntyre refused to fire. McIntyre had until then performed faultlessly, desposing of Russell Mackay and Nathan Pierano enroute. The other Pierano, Zac, made the semis, where he fell to the dragster of Steffens.
Current Top 5
C Steffens (SQ) - 200 points
B Fletcher (SQ) - 100 points
N Peirano (NA) - 100 points
L Rodgie (SQ) - 80 points
G McIntyre (NA) - 80 points
Andrew Musgrave has rocketed up the RARS Modified points list thanks to his win at the RDP Sunstate Nationals. Musgrave’s big block Chev-powered T-Bucket was too good for Rockhampton’s Dave Ferrick’s small block dragster after the latter went slightly too quick and broke out in the final. South Queenland’s Kelly Corbett still tops the points with 180 with Musgrave now 120 heading White and Ferricks, both on 100.
Current Top 5
K Corbett (SQ) - 180 points
A Musgrave (NSW) - 120 points
A White (NSW) - 100 points
D Ferricks (NA) - 100 points
P Zelo SQ (80) - points
RARS Super Sedan boasted on enormous entry list and the tightly contested bracket was eventually taken out by Queensland racer, Vinny Borg. Borg’s perfect 9.30 on a 9.30 dial-in made it difficult for finals combatant, Ashley Wanchap to overcome. Wanchap managed to beat the amazingly consistent Steven Fowler in the semis and not surprisingly, all of those names feature towards the top of the RARS Super Sedan points standings.
Current Top 5
D Doeblien (SQ) - 200 points
A Wanchap (NA) - 120 points
S Fowler (NSW) - 120 points
V Borg (NA) - 100 points
T Whyatt (SQ) - 80 points
RARS Modified Bike is arguably one of the hardest categories to win and at the Sunstate Nationals, Darren Shepherd used his Harley Davidson to good effect, taking the event win and drawing level at the top of the points standings. Shepherd defeated Peter Grant in a tight final, but it was Grant that defeated joint championship leader Brian Vernon in a semi final showdown.
Current Top 5
B Vernon (NSW) - 140 points
D Shepherd (NSW) - 140 points
D Schuster (SQ) - 100 points
A Buxton (SQ) - 100 points
W Smith (SQ) - 80 points
Terri Sander has again piloted ‘Mama’s Toy’ to the winners list with a win in RARS Super Street, this time at the Sunstate Nationals. Sander got the win over another star of Super Street, Paul Dilley, when the Falcon driver went too quick in the final. Sander, Williams, Wagener, Holz and Curran are locked closely in the battle for the championship.
Current Top 5
T Sander (SQ) - 140 points
D Williams (SQ) - 120 points
K Wagener (SA) - 100 points
L Holz (SQ) - 100 points
M Curran (NA) - 100 points
Boasting the second largest entry list of any category of all of the categories at the Sunstate Nationals, RARS Junior Dragster featured an all girl final when top qualifier Holly Mills of Hervey Bay defeated Brisbane’s Dakota Ward. Rebekka List and Jakim Wong both bowed out at semi final stage but their results have elevated them both into championship contention.
Current Top 5
O Ward (SQ) - 120 points
C Grohn (SQ) - 120 points
R List (NA) - 120 points
H Mills (NSW) - 100 points
D Duffy (SQ) - 100 points
Toowomba’s Dale O’Dwyer took the win in RARS Super Gas and has closed the points gap slightly to event runner up and points leader, Neil Maxwell. O’Dwyer’s .008 reaction time helped him secure the victory in the final after beating New South Welshman, Rick Dudek in the semi finals.
Current Top 5
N Maxwell (SQ) - 160 points
D ODwyer (SQ) - 120 points
D Fardella (NSW) - 100 points
G Spencer (VIC) - 100 points
M Bailey (SQ) - 80 points
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