DENSHAM: 11TH AUSSIE VISIT
Fri, 2009-01-02 09:00
Willowbank Raceway will be full of action tonight and tomorrow for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year 
Series,
featuring the Nitro Funny Cars USA vs AUS showdown as well as Top
Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycle action from the
Australian professional ranks.
With the professional racing action set to kick off from 5.00pm tonight, US Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham was at the track today with Australian rookie Mark Sheehan, with the pair sounding each other out before their first runs tonight.
“I have been involved in Nitro Funny Cars since just after they started back in the 1960s, and this is my 11th trip to Australia with my first trip at Christmas time of 1974, and I just really love coming back here,” said Densham. Willowbank Raceway will be full of action tonight and tomorrow for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year
Series, featuring the Nitro Funny Cars USA vs AUS showdown as well as Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycle action from the Australian professional ranks.
With the professional racing action set to kick off from 5.00pm tonight, US Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham was at the track today with Australian rookie Mark Sheehan, with the pair sounding each other out before their first runs tonight.
“I have been involved in Nitro Funny Cars since just after they started back in the 1960s, and this is my 11th trip to Australia with my first trip at Christmas time of 1974, and I just really love coming back here,” said Densham.
“I would love to keep coming down here, what Willowbank Raceway has done to create this Event is just over and above for and both of these events are just going to be fantastic – ENZED and Willowbank Raceway have really stepped up to put on this show for the fans.
“Drag racing is really like a family, and I am really looking forward to lining up with the guys you have here in Australia.
“The thing I love about the racers here is that they have a real passion for racing and they just want to get in and do the best that they can, and obviously that is what we want to do as well.
“It is all friendly now but when the helmet goes on I don’t have a friend in the world – from burnout box to turn off we are extreme enemies, but the moment its over we are friends again and this whole sport is just about that – it’s a big family.”
While Densham is a well-known legend both here and in the US who has been invited to and visited Australia no less than 11 times since 1974 to show off his skills, Sheehan is one of the Australian Nitro entries which has ‘come out of the woodwork’ at the announcement of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series at Willowbank Raceway.
“You could call me a virgin when it comes to Nitro Funny Cars, I have only had the licence in these kind of cars for two weeks and had one competitive run so there is a lot in this category I haven’t experienced yet,” said Sheehan.
“Obviously with Gary here I will be trying to learn a lot from him and trying to watch what he does, and hopefully I can line up against him this weekend at some stage.”
“If I can keep pace with him I think I will be doing pretty well.
“It is all friendly at the moment, Gary came down here yesterday and touched base with all of us and offered his help with everything, although I don’t think he will be helping with the cars,” Sheehan laughed.
The ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series – held over two rounds January 2/3 and January 16/17 - boosts the number of events that these machines can be raced at in Australia, with Perth Raceway previously being the only venue they could take to the track.
Series,
featuring the Nitro Funny Cars USA vs AUS showdown as well as Top
Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycle action from the
Australian professional ranks. With the professional racing action set to kick off from 5.00pm tonight, US Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham was at the track today with Australian rookie Mark Sheehan, with the pair sounding each other out before their first runs tonight.
“I have been involved in Nitro Funny Cars since just after they started back in the 1960s, and this is my 11th trip to Australia with my first trip at Christmas time of 1974, and I just really love coming back here,” said Densham. Willowbank Raceway will be full of action tonight and tomorrow for round one of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year
Gary Densham (left) and Mark Sheehan test each other out ahead of tonight's racing action (Angus MacMaster)
With the professional racing action set to kick off from 5.00pm tonight, US Nitro Funny Car legend Gary Densham was at the track today with Australian rookie Mark Sheehan, with the pair sounding each other out before their first runs tonight.
“I have been involved in Nitro Funny Cars since just after they started back in the 1960s, and this is my 11th trip to Australia with my first trip at Christmas time of 1974, and I just really love coming back here,” said Densham.
“I would love to keep coming down here, what Willowbank Raceway has done to create this Event is just over and above for and both of these events are just going to be fantastic – ENZED and Willowbank Raceway have really stepped up to put on this show for the fans.
“Drag racing is really like a family, and I am really looking forward to lining up with the guys you have here in Australia.
“The thing I love about the racers here is that they have a real passion for racing and they just want to get in and do the best that they can, and obviously that is what we want to do as well.
“It is all friendly now but when the helmet goes on I don’t have a friend in the world – from burnout box to turn off we are extreme enemies, but the moment its over we are friends again and this whole sport is just about that – it’s a big family.”
While Densham is a well-known legend both here and in the US who has been invited to and visited Australia no less than 11 times since 1974 to show off his skills, Sheehan is one of the Australian Nitro entries which has ‘come out of the woodwork’ at the announcement of the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series at Willowbank Raceway.
“You could call me a virgin when it comes to Nitro Funny Cars, I have only had the licence in these kind of cars for two weeks and had one competitive run so there is a lot in this category I haven’t experienced yet,” said Sheehan.
“Obviously with Gary here I will be trying to learn a lot from him and trying to watch what he does, and hopefully I can line up against him this weekend at some stage.”
“If I can keep pace with him I think I will be doing pretty well.
“It is all friendly at the moment, Gary came down here yesterday and touched base with all of us and offered his help with everything, although I don’t think he will be helping with the cars,” Sheehan laughed.
The ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series – held over two rounds January 2/3 and January 16/17 - boosts the number of events that these machines can be raced at in Australia, with Perth Raceway previously being the only venue they could take to the track.
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