West Aussie Top Doorslammer rookie Brodie Zappia has pulled off a major upset and the first win of his short career so far in taking out the prestigious 54th Electrical Group Training Westernationals at his home track the Perth Motorplex recently.
The exciting newcomer wheeled his Zappia Racing Max Plant Monaro to a stunning upset over a stout thirteen car field in front of huge crowds over the two nights in balmy conditions to also now vault into fourth place in the NDRC national points standings.
Despite a slightly spooky cross up in the burnout the 19 year old Zappia took the A-Final victory over the also impressive Steve Aldridge’s Plymouth Barracuda in a weekend of upsets.
The former Australian Junior Dragster champion graduated from Supercharged Outlaws in the Camaro last year to this season’s Max Plant Monaro and made the transition beautifully with an A-Final against Russell Taylor at the Goldenstates late last year (which he lost) but made up for it big time on Westerns weekend to take home his first ever Slammer Gold Christmas Tree.
Aldridge, the Bullsbrook based expat Englishman from Lincolnshire, put in a ripping run in the gorgeous purple Crown Security ‘Cuda’ but was a little slow at the lights with a .23 against Zappia’s 0.05 which certainly didn’t help matters but still managed a 5.81 at 397kph in the right-hand lane against the victor’s 5.89 at 385kph.
“This is my first Gold Christmas Tree with a Door Slammer on top of it I’ve got so I’m shaking, I can’t believe it,” the young winner grinned, “this is a dream come true.”
John Zappia set the Crow Cams #1 qualifier mark with a 5.67 just one tenth of a second quicker than series leader Russell Taylor’s 5.68, Daniel Gregorini in third with 5.76, Maurice Brennan with a 5.79 for fourth and Steve Aldridge’s 5.81 making him fifth.
Crow Cams Australia Qualifying Order:
John Zappia 5.67
Russell Taylor 5.68
Daniel Gregorini 5.76
Maurice Brennan 5.79
Steve Aldridge 5.81
Brodie Zappia 5.84
Matt Abel 5.94
Jeremy Callaghan 5.95
Frank Taylor 6.17
Shane Catalano 6.24
Mark Chapman 6.76
Lisa Gregorini 12.54
Peter Kapiris 12.91
The racing was marred in Round One of the weekend by a spectacular rollover and roof slide for the once pristine Moits Motorsport 70.5 Camaro of Jeremy Callaghan who suffered a rear suspension failure that caused him to veer hard left and get upside down behind the fortunately already further down the lane Matt Abel.
Callaghan emerged unhurt in the accident and was already planning repairs and a return to competition at The Bend in April once the team had assessed the damage.
Upsets on the night included Peter Kapiris taking down the defending Australian Door Slammer champion and current points leader Russell Taylor in Round One (Taylor later admitting he just didn’t have his act together at the tree) and Lisa Gregorini taking down John Zappia in Round Two to prevent Zappia from making the A-Final against his nephew Brodie.
Round One Battles:
Matt Abel (WIN: 5.95) v Jeremy Callaghan (crash)
Brodie Zappia (WIN: 5.87) v Frank Taylor (7.16)
Steven Aldridge (WIN: 5.80) v Shane Catalano (6.19)
Maurice Brennan (WIN: 7.55) v Mark Chapman (9.08)
Daniel Gregorini (WIN: 5.83) v Lisa Gregorini (NS)
Peter Kapiris (WIN: 5.93) v Russell Taylor (5.79)
John Zappia (WIN: 5.73) – SOLO
ET of that round John Zappia’s 5.73.
Round Two Battles:
Maurice Brennan (WIN: 19.28) v Matt Abel (NS)
Shane Catalano (WIN: 6.32) v Peter Kapiris (10.20)
Brodie Zappia (WIN: 5.85) v Frank Taylor (6.14)
Mark Chapman (WIN: 6.12) v Daniel Gregorini (DNS)
Russell Taylor (WIN: 5.70) – SOLO
Lisa Gregorini (WIN: 5.77) v John Zappia (5.76)
ET of that round Russell Taylor’s 5.70.
Round Three Battles:
D FINAL: Mark Chapman (WIN: 6.31) v Daniel Gregorini (NS)
C FINAL: John Zappia (WIN: 5.72) v Lisa Gregorini (14.11)
B FINAL: Russell Taylor (WIN: 5.68) SOLO
A FINAL: Brodie Zappia (WIN: 5.89) v Steven Aldridge (5.81)
ET of that round Russell Taylor’s 5.68.
Points at the end of the fourth round now are:
Russell Taylor 475
Lisa Gregorini 346
John Zappia 345
Brodie Zappia 313
Daniel Gregorini 244
Matt Abel 191
Peter Kapiris 174
Steve Aldridge 163
Maurice Brennan 145
Shane Catalano 117
Ronnie Palumbo 113
Mark Champman 100
Andrew Cole 98
Frank Taylor 55
Adam Tassone 53
Pat Carbone 45
Jeremy Callaghan 10
The fifth round of the NDRC Australian Top Doorslammer Championship is scheduled for the Riverbend Nationals at Dragway at The Bend on April 4-6 before heading on to the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway on May 2-4.
