John Zappia ran a 5.887 elapsed time at 244.56mph during qualifying at the Perth Motorplex on the weekend, and two further fives to pick up a B Final win in a very high class Top Competition field. The event was a chance for the Striker Monaro to test some new parts in preparation for Round 6 of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship at Willowbank in April. John Zappia ran a 5.887 elapsed time at 244.56mph during qualifying at the Perth Motorplex on the weekend, and two further fives to pick up a B Final win in a very high class Top Competition field. The event was a chance for the Striker Monaro to test some new parts in preparation for Round 6 of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship at Willowbank in April.
 
“Top Comp is very hard to win in Perth” said Zap, “We have the quickest blown alky cars in the country here, and my 5.887 time was only good enough for seventh in the field of seventeen teams.”
 
“It was great to run another five eight, to keep up with speedster Robin Judd who ran a personal best of  5.861, 245.90mph. But to run another two fives and win a final shows our racing has evolved into a winning combination”.
 
First elimination pass was up against rookie Jeffrey Clark in his BB Dragster on a 6.75 index handicap to Zap’s 6.46 index. Jeff had the hole shot, and Zap had to take a big pedal to keep the Striker Monaro straight, but went around the outside of the dragster with a 5.991, 243.24mph win over a 6.491, 211.76mph.
 
In a complex formula to determine A and B Final teams, the Striker Monaro ended up pairing with local Top Alcohol Dragster team of Aaron Deery in the B Final. But a nice straight pass and a 5.972, 243.90mph was too good for the shaking, tyre turning Deery in the next lane who still managed a 5.932, 209.30mph.
 
“The meeting was a good one for us – the Rat is in top condition and the new components ended up working well, despite a small problem in the first qualifier. The Zappia Racing crew were onto the problem very quickly, and bounced back with a five eight in the next run”. The run was just a fraction under our PB of 5.882, 243.23 and also below our record setting MPH of 247.66 set at Willowbank in January.
 
“We have one more event here in Perth - the Grand Final, then head off over East to run Rounds 6, 7 and 8 and hopefully collect our second Top Doorslammer Championship trophy if all goes to plan. I certainly don’t forget the years of testing and hard work that went into getting the Striker Monaro to this consistency, and to enjoy the fruits of our labour is very satisfying”.

“Fuchs Lubricants have proven to have extremely reliable products and have been a big factor in getting the motors performing at their optimum, with minimal servicing between runs”.

“The crew and race day helpers have been fantastic all year round and always step up whenever the need arises. We are hoping to reward all the Sponsors, supporters and helpers with a back to back Top Doorslammer Championship over the coming months”.