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2014 FUCHS WINTERNATIONALS WRAP-UP


Coming off the back of our recent 6.35 PB and 221mph blast in Sydney the Pac Performance crew was very much hyped up for the annual pilgrimage north for the FUCHS Winternationals; the largest drag racing event on the Australian drag racing calendar.

Last year's event saw the team take back the rotary World record and this year we were working hard to make it happen again as the Mazda6 SP battled it out with some of the toughest Sport Compact in the world in Factory Xtreme.



Although it was a somewhat slow start for the field, competition was fierce and really heated up as day one progressed. With several cars fighting it out for world records including quickest rotary, four cylinder and outright quickest sport compact there was not a moment of slacking off happening in any of the Factory Xtreme camps this meeting.



With record crowd numbers in attendance each and every team was eager to put on a good show and that certainly delivered some quality racing.



Our first run of the event in the Mazda6 SP resulted in a 6.66@208, the clutch slipping the entire track. Not an ideal pass but it did give us a good base line to go off.



Our second qualifier of the day was cut short after the factory gearbox extension housing once again split in two. In this instance we had previously swapped gearboxes over to trial a different ratio, leaving the stock housing in place thinking that it would hold for a while but alas it didn't go down that way; the housing not even lasting one pass.



As a precaution the gearbox was removed from the car and checked over by the crew before replacing the extension housing with our bulletproof billet item.



Once back together the lovely Factory Xtreme promo girls were on hand to give the box a once-over, cleaning it up like new before it was re-installed into the car...



Back on the track for the first competition race the car got out of the hole strong however George would back off the throttle mid run with the car getting skatey and nearing the centre line in the deep-end; a mixture of a cold track surface and too much bite in the clutch.



Clutch settings at this level can make or break how the car performs on the track an during the event small changes were made after each run to try and get the car down the track cleanly and quickly. Getting the settings just right for power delivery and track conditions can be a bit hit and miss at times but with the data from each previous pass on hand it gives you the best possible chance of getting it right.



Day two would see blue skys once again greeting racers, with the grand stands chock-full to the brim.



Sitting in the staging lanes we were joined by some real 'horse power', this pair of four-legged law enforcers towering over the little Mazda6 SP.



The first two passes on Saturday saw the car bust out blistering 0.96 sixty-foot times, the second resulting in a 6.45@211; George short-shifting and driving the car along the left side wall before buttoning off early and rolling across the line for the win and a spot in the final. 



As we prepped for the last pass of the event the pit area was inundated with spectators, drawn in by the 20B's roar.



The merchandise stand also saw a last minute rush with Pac performance jackets, a Winternationals favourite flew off the hangers as the temps dropped substantially.



With Factory Xtreme running after Top Fuel it would usually be the perfect scenario with the rubber and heat put down by the Group One racers working in our favour however, a substantial break from racing due to an oil down would see that quickly fade.



The Factory Xtreme final would see us line up against Malcolm Glassett and his 2JZ Toyota Solara, Piston vs. Rotary, NSW vs. Queensland...



As the Pro Tree lights dropped George uncharacteristically red-lit, busting out of the hole to another solid 0.97 sixty-foot before the Mazda6 SP pulled right towards the centre line. With Malcolm on his tail George tried his best to pull the car back into line however after clipping a timing block and skating along the centre line for nearly 100 metres the car stepped out right again, straight into Malcolm's lane and George proceeded to drift left to right in an effort to keep the car off the wall before hitting the chutes and settling the car. An amazing drive that had to be seen to be believed!



Even though we didn't walk away with the win, we made it into the finals in a tough field and the car and the team is safe and in one piece which is just how we like it. We came, we raced and we had a good time which is what it's all about. Smiles all-'round!



We would like to send out a huge thank you to our sponsors and loyal supporters that came out to cheers us on, we were overwhelmed with the positive feedback over the weekend and had an absolute ball putting on a show and interacting with everyone!

Thanks as always to Cackling Pipes for the race shots...


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