Drag Racing Grand  Finale at Donnybrook

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
ALL roads tomorrow will lead to the cathedral of local motorsport — Donnybrook Raceway in Harare — as hundreds of motor racing enthusiasts make their way to this famous venue to watch the final event of the country’s most popular and exciting motor racing competition – the 2018 hp/lubes Castrol Drag Racing Series.

This is the last chance for drag racing competitors to settle “scores” with fellow competitors or improve personal best times in what has proven to be a highly competitive drag racing season.

Tomorrow’s event will determine the final point scoring, not only for the 2018 Sables Dragpro Club Championship, but will also decide the winners of the “Nationals” competition event which was introduced at the start of this year for the more serious competitors.

The National event, which is run under a different set of competition rules, was established in an effort to level the playing field and encourage competitors, who normally would not have a chance of beating the handful of top cars, to participate against them in the handicap style  event.

The 2018 Drag Racing Season has welcomed dozens of new competitors, some who have already established themselves as serious players in this motorsport competition which continues to grow in popularity from one event to the next.

Drag racing elapsed times continued to improve in spite of track conditions which are far from international standards and the impressive “Sables Dragpro Top Ten Fastest” motorcars list reflects the endeavours of competitors to improve their vehicles and challenge adversaries.

Terry Allberry of Bulawayo fulfilled his promise of last year and has brought his Drag Racing Rail to the 2018 Series, posting a fastest-to-date time which has proven unbeatable so far.

Whilst the Dragster Rail and the hp lubes/Castrol MR2 have dominated the drag racing scene for the past year, the recently introduced “Nationals” event has allowed many other competitors a taste of victory at the finish line against these potent vehicles.

The Nationals event, which is run on a “Protree” start system and requires drivers to provide their own “dial-in time”, leaves little room for error for drivers, whilst providing exciting and sometimes unpredictable results for spectators.

Adding some spice to the upcoming event, young Zac Dufty (who represents Zimbabwe internationally in go-karting), will be doing exhibition drag runs in his Shifter kart, which is expected to run in the 14-second bracket, equating to performance normally associated with 3 litre vehicles!

Mercedes “guru” and regular competitor, Calstain Sibanda, is in the process of building Zimbabwe’s second drag rail.

Whilst it won’t be ready for the upcoming event, this vehicle promises to further shake up the competition in the 2019 Drag Racing Series.

As competition continues to grow, the power struggle intensifies and 2019 may be the first time that a car will break into the 9-second bracket!

Drag racing continues to be Zimbabwe’s most popular motorsport and with the current interest shown by competitors and racing fans alike, it seems set to retain this crown.

Drag Racing will take a break after this Grand Finale event, over the rainy season, returning in 2019 for what is sure to be another action packed year.  2019 dates will be announced soon.

Racing tomorrow starts at 11am and entry fee for the spectators has been pegged at $5 per person while children under the age of 12 will get in for  free.

There will be full bar and catering as well as entertainment for the kids.

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