Swan Hill Nitro Drags
2nd March 2019
2nd March 2019
It was always gonna be a hot day. With the forecast of 38 degrees for Bendigo, 40 and higher was more than likely for Swan Hill. The dragstrip is located a few k's west of town, so the possibility of wind and dust added in for good measure would make for an interesting day. We were planning on camping overnight so had driven the work van to the Allies Pub for a 9.30 departure. This was never going to be a huge Club event - I know it's a 2 hour drive, I know it's a hot day, I know people are busy with their own stuff - but disappointingly only six cars turned up. 5 daily's and Darren in his XC Fairmont. No air-con Darren? - that's gonna hurt.
You would never say the drive to Swan Hill is pleasant either, and on this occasion you'd be right. Straight, flat and boring. We stopped in Kerang - some for a pie and coke - Darren to fill his improvised air-con - a hand held water spray bottle. Good work mate, that's workin' a treat!
Someone in our small convoy probably should have looked at how to get to the drag-strip, as we went straight though Swan Hill while only one - Neil - correctly turned left at the clock in the main street. A few phone calls later and we all met at the entrance to the strip. $35 entry per person - not cheap - but its gonna be a great day! As we drove in, we passed the "not much of a camping ground" on the left and Nathan and I realised immediately we were not going to stay there for the night - no shade, no grass - heaps of dust and sun. Nice, just what you'd need after being out all day in the dust and sun. Decided then that tonight we'd find a lake somewhere and spend a peaceful night under a willow tree on the waters edge.
But for now it was finding a carpark, finding a spot by the fence and putting up the gazebo so we didn't all end up dead from the heat. Luckily we grabbed pretty much the last spot along the fence at half track, then settled back for an afternoon of nitro action. There were numerous street registered and Club permitted 10 second cars and eight Aeroflow Nitro funny cars putting down some impressive high five second, over 200mph passes. As well as supercharged outlaws and modified bikes. The best time of the day went to Anthony Begley in his nitro Plymouth Arrow with a 5.699 at 253.39mph - racing right alongside his daughter Emma posting a 6.985 in her nitro Mustang. How cool is it to be rich?
There were plenty of opportunities to get up close with all the cars in the pits and chat to the owners and mechanics. We ate pizza, we ate dust and we breathed nitro until the last race was run. Pretty much everyone was travelling back to Bendigo with the exception of Greg, Ruth and the kids who were staying at Lake Charm in their caravan for the night. We were heading to Kangaroo Lake and it should have been only 25 minutes to the lake, but in the dark it took us a lot longer to find any tracks leading down to the water. The only vehicle access we found turned out the next day to be a walking track around the edge of the lake. We parked in an awesome spot, had a couple of coldie's and hit the sack. The next morning there was a sensational orange sunrise across the lake, with several fish (I hope they were fish) leaping out of the water to catch their breakfast. This was just the best camping spot ever! We couldn't believe there was no-one else around. Then in the daylight we saw the signs up on the road saying "No Camping", "No Cars" and "Walking Track Only". Well technically we weren't in a car, but we were definitely guilty of camping and using the walking track as a road. There were now several people riding past on the walking track and driving past on the road, so rather than push our luck, we packed up and headed over to Lake Charm and caught up with Greg for breakfast. Their Weber was already hot and the bacon and eggs were soon sizzling. Thanks to Greg and Ruth for the invite for brekkie. A nice end to what had been a great Club event.
Lookin' forward to the next!
You would never say the drive to Swan Hill is pleasant either, and on this occasion you'd be right. Straight, flat and boring. We stopped in Kerang - some for a pie and coke - Darren to fill his improvised air-con - a hand held water spray bottle. Good work mate, that's workin' a treat!
Someone in our small convoy probably should have looked at how to get to the drag-strip, as we went straight though Swan Hill while only one - Neil - correctly turned left at the clock in the main street. A few phone calls later and we all met at the entrance to the strip. $35 entry per person - not cheap - but its gonna be a great day! As we drove in, we passed the "not much of a camping ground" on the left and Nathan and I realised immediately we were not going to stay there for the night - no shade, no grass - heaps of dust and sun. Nice, just what you'd need after being out all day in the dust and sun. Decided then that tonight we'd find a lake somewhere and spend a peaceful night under a willow tree on the waters edge.
But for now it was finding a carpark, finding a spot by the fence and putting up the gazebo so we didn't all end up dead from the heat. Luckily we grabbed pretty much the last spot along the fence at half track, then settled back for an afternoon of nitro action. There were numerous street registered and Club permitted 10 second cars and eight Aeroflow Nitro funny cars putting down some impressive high five second, over 200mph passes. As well as supercharged outlaws and modified bikes. The best time of the day went to Anthony Begley in his nitro Plymouth Arrow with a 5.699 at 253.39mph - racing right alongside his daughter Emma posting a 6.985 in her nitro Mustang. How cool is it to be rich?
There were plenty of opportunities to get up close with all the cars in the pits and chat to the owners and mechanics. We ate pizza, we ate dust and we breathed nitro until the last race was run. Pretty much everyone was travelling back to Bendigo with the exception of Greg, Ruth and the kids who were staying at Lake Charm in their caravan for the night. We were heading to Kangaroo Lake and it should have been only 25 minutes to the lake, but in the dark it took us a lot longer to find any tracks leading down to the water. The only vehicle access we found turned out the next day to be a walking track around the edge of the lake. We parked in an awesome spot, had a couple of coldie's and hit the sack. The next morning there was a sensational orange sunrise across the lake, with several fish (I hope they were fish) leaping out of the water to catch their breakfast. This was just the best camping spot ever! We couldn't believe there was no-one else around. Then in the daylight we saw the signs up on the road saying "No Camping", "No Cars" and "Walking Track Only". Well technically we weren't in a car, but we were definitely guilty of camping and using the walking track as a road. There were now several people riding past on the walking track and driving past on the road, so rather than push our luck, we packed up and headed over to Lake Charm and caught up with Greg for breakfast. Their Weber was already hot and the bacon and eggs were soon sizzling. Thanks to Greg and Ruth for the invite for brekkie. A nice end to what had been a great Club event.
Lookin' forward to the next!
We'll see you on a cruise somewhere!
