17 MAR 2011 - Judd looking for third Sydney Dragway title win

Perth-based Top Doorslammer pro drag racer, Robin Judd, likes racing at the Sydney Dragway.

At the last four (Australian National Drag Racing Association) ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series events held at the Sydney venue, Judd has won back-to-back Australian Nationals titles (September 2009 and 2010) and reached the semi finals at the past two Nitro Champs (May 2009 and 2010).

This weekend (Friday and Saturday, March 18 and19), Judd will be looking to put his Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck Studebaker into the third final in four ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship events at the Sydney track.

Judd is also looking to get his Australian Top Doorslammer championship aspirations back on track as well.

After winning his second successive Nationals’ title, Judd left Sydney leading the 2010-2011 Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series, but by his own admission, lost his way at the next Top Doorslammer series event, the Goldenstates Titles at his home track, the Perth Motorplex last December.

“We won the 2009 Goldenstates, but the first round loss at the 2010 event saw us slip from leading the championship to second place. It was a disappointing event and we should have done better,” Judd said.

At the next Pro Series Doorslammer round, the Westernationals, also held at the Perth Motorplex earlier this month (March), Judd reached the semi final. On that run, Judd’s car overpowered the track, which saw him wrestle the Studebaker away from the safety wall in his lane, then the wall in his opponent’s lane. Not reaching the final resulted in Judd slipping to fourth place in the championship race. 

“We made significant gains with our Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck ’59 Studebaker at the Westernationals from where we were after the Goldenstates. It was an important race to do well in due to the bonus points awarded at Perth events to attract the racers from the east coast. Those that reached the final were able to capitalise on the points. 

“It would be fair to say that in an effort to go faster, the changes we recently made to the car did not really work out, so now we have gone back to the baseline we had for the Nationals last September. Our objective is to get back to running consistently in the 5.80-second zone.

“The Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck team has run pretty well at the last few Sydney events and we hope to continue that form.

“If we can get back to our old form in Sydney, we should be right in the mix to win the event, which means gaining valuable points to put the Aeroflow/Mickey Thompson/William Buck team right back in the championship hunt.” Judd said.

In the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer championship series, Judd has 295 points, 33 points behind leader John Zappia (328pts). Second is Mark Belleri (323pts), followed by Maurice Fabietti (317pts).

-Ends-

Robin Judd quick facts

Quickest-ever pass; 5.822sec at Perth Motorplex, October 31, 2009.
Fastest pass, 249.31mph (401.13kph) at Willowbank, January 3, 2009.
Won Top Doorslammer at the 2009 and 2010 Australian Nationals (Sydney Dragway) and 2009 Goldenstates (Perth Motorplex), Adelaide 2001 and 2000 Tin Tops (Willowbank).   
Former Top Doorslammer National Elapsed Time record holder – 5.868sec set at Perth Motorplex, November 16, 2008. 
Has held the National Elapsed Time record on three occasions. 
Has recorded 55 five-second Top Doorslammer passes, including 22 in the 5.8sec zone.
The first Top Doorslammer racer in Australia to run a 6.1-second pass – 6.179sec at Willowbank, June 9, 2000
The fifth Top Doorslammer racer in Australia to run a 6.0-second pass – 6.095sec at Perth Motorplex, December 3, 2004
The sixth Top Doorslammer racer in Australia to run a five-second pass – 5.947sec at Willowbank, June 7, 2008.
The first Top Doorslammer racer in Australia to run a 5.8sec pass – 5.868sec at Perth Motorplex, November 16, 2008. Only four racers have recorded 5.8sec passes in Australia.
One-half of Australia’s first-ever side-by-side five-second pass (Judd 5.946/242.20 – John Zappia 5.858/246.58) at Willowbank, April 19, 2009.
One half of Australia’s fastest side-by-side Top Doorslammer pass (Robin Judd, 249.21mph – Mark Belleri, 249.07mph) at Willowbank, June 12, 2010
Competed in 73 of the 79 championship series events staged to date.
One of only four racers to compete every year since the Australian Top Doorslammer championship series started in 1999.  
Second on the all-time Top Doorslammer Championship point’s ladder with 4431 points.
Three-time winner of Willowbank Raceway Best Paired Run by an Out of Division Racer.