Australia’s Pro Street scene has been alive for over 2 decades, with the metamorphosis of tough, daily-driven street machines into full-on race weapons attracting a certain type of competitor to the lure of heads-up drag racing glory. Stifled by various ownership changes throughout its lifespan, and rule interpretations that varied from state to state, the 2010 reincarnation was met with nation-wide enthusiasm. When racers John Habib, Simon Kryger and Johnny Wilson decided to take the reins, their lead-from-the-front mentality attracted a healthy throng of like-minded racers, all keen to live out their ‘Pro Street Dream” under the A.P.S.A, or Australian Pro Street Association banner. Armed with their trio of nitrous-sniffing Bib Block Torana’s they set out along the East Coast of Australia to enlist all that wanted a piece of the action. This season saw a total of 5 rounds held at venues such as Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway, Sydney Dragway and Willowbank Raceway in Brisbane.
Australia’s Pro Street scene has been alive for over 2 decades, with the metamorphosis of tough, daily-driven street machines into full-on race weapons attracting a certain type of competitor to the lure of heads-up drag racing glory. Stifled by various ownership changes throughout its lifespan, and rule interpretations that varied from state to state, the 2010 reincarnation was met with nation-wide enthusiasm. When racers John Habib, Simon Kryger and Johnny Wilson decided to take the reins, their lead-from-the-front mentality attracted a healthy throng of like-minded racers, all keen to live out their ‘Pro Street Dream” under the A.P.S.A, or Australian Pro Street Association banner. Armed with their trio of nitrous-sniffing Bib Block Torana’s they set out along the East Coast of Australia to enlist all that wanted a piece of the action. This season saw a total of 5 rounds held at venues such as Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway, Sydney Dragway and Willowbank Raceway in Brisbane.
Fast forward to the 2012 Grand Final meet recently held at Sydney Dragway, and the story remains a successful one. Industry heads are abuzz with the amount of business they have accumulated from the APSA series. The traditional categories of Pro Street, Modified Street and True Street remained strong with a nationally published quickest Top Ten, whilst the addition of Outlaw Radial and Outlaw 10.5 classes have only added fuel to the passionate fire that’s burning in a demographic who doesn’t mind spending their hard-earned to front with some muscle. And the muscle is made up of not only the traditional Aussie Holden Torana and Ford Capri, but basically anything with wheels is being turned nasty with nitrous, turbos and supercharged mills. Cubic inches varied in 2012 from Micheal Baghdadi’s world’s quickest (6.84) 134 cube Nissan 4-banger outlaw 10.5 200sx to the Kryger/Wilson 864 cube 68 Camaro in the same category. Engine builders, chassis shops and tuners are all benefiting from the variety in horsepower expression that these racers crave. Throw in Radial God Kevin Fiscus and Rotary pioneer Abel Ibarra as crew chiefs at the Sydney round, and you’ll get the hint that these guys are serious.
The Heads-up, Chicago Shootout racing format is also providing excitement for both racers and spectators alike. On more than one occasion a bigger dog bites his own tail, whilst the new pup just turned up to see if he can grab a piece of the Pro Street bone. Take the 2012 finale for example. Out of the 7 APSA-specific categories, 6 first-time winners went down in history as getting to the stripe first. Unpredictability is something that seems to happen nearly every single time an APSA event is held, and the 2013 season promises more of the same.
With a never-ending number of cars being completed for an APSA debut in 2013, all eyes will be on who fronts up with what, ready for more of the same white-knuckle tin-top action that is Aussie pro Street.
Pro Street Blown: Adam Smoulders took his first APSA win with his nitrous small-block Ford Capri.
Pro Street Unblown: Sydney’s Chris Stevermuer and his 505-cube Holden LJ Torana scored the championship with deadly .00 lights and consistency over much faster opposition.
Modified Street Blown: Joe Gauci’s twin-turbo 372 cube Cortina again was the baddest MS/B car on campus, running nearly 200MPH terminal speeds along with a big trip into the gravel trap.
Modified Street Unblown: Wayne Lear scored his first APSA win when a red-hot Danny Sharban overpowered the start line.
True Street: Peter Haravitsidis’ tough small-block Ford XYGT Falcon launched himself into the winners circle for the first time in Sydney.
Outlaw Radial: Daniel Nunziante changed his twin-turbo Windsor and slicks during 2011-12 and debuted on radials with a 632-cube twin-turbo engine and Kevin Fiscus in his corner. His winning 7.00/220mph final round pass was the baddest radial pass in Aussie history, plus being the quickest and fastest Ford Cortina in the world.
Outlaw 10.5. Matt Grubisa debuted his brand-new 622-cube twin-turbo Camaro only a week before the Sydney round, and all eyes will be on what he does in 2013 with more sorting. His victory was one of 6 first-time winners in Sydney.
Series Winners:
Pro Street Blown: Melbourne’s Craig Brewer took the 2012 belt with his nitrous big block powered Holden HR Panel Van.
Pro Street Unblown: Sydney’s Chris Stevermuer and his 505-cube Holden LJ Torana scored the championship with deadly .00 lights and consistency over much faster opposition.
Modified Street Blown: Brisbane’s Michael Arnold clinched the championship at the death with his single-turbo small-block Holden utility.
Modified Street Unblown: Melbourne’s Danny Sharban and his 622-cube big-block Chev powered Capri scored the championship with some of the quickest passes in the category’s history. Rumours have Sharban going twin-turbo in 2013.
True Street: Brisbane’s Janelle Scott clinched back-to-back True Street championships with her street-driven, 9-second small-block powered Torana Hatchback. Good lights and consistency over quicker opponents make her second championship even sweeter.
Outlaw Radial: Brisbane’s James Horan used a home-built Toyota pickup and 240-cube twin-turbo Toyota V8 to claim the Outlaw Radial championship with 7-second timeslips.
Outlaw 10.5. Aptly named “Mister 10.5”, Sydney’s Frank Mamone uses 471 cubes of Hemi in his black Nova to stun all in attendance whenever he turns up. His championship will be one hard to defend in 2013 with more machinery set for debut.
All articles and photography published in CompetitionPlus.com are protected by United States of America and International copyright laws unless mentioned otherwise. The content on this website is intended for the private use of the reader and may not be published or reposted in any form without the prior written consent of CompetitionPlus.com.
