By Michael Esposito
NORTHERN Territory drag racer Matt Abel is sure to stun crowds in his new souped-up machine at the True Blue event at Calder Park this weekend.
The Darwin-based racer will compete in the Australian Eighth-mile (201m) Doorslammer Championship in his 1957 Chevrolet Belair Top Doorslammer.
It will be only his third race with the car, having last tested it at the Spring HorsePower Challenge in November.
While that event was only the second outing for the former US-built Pro Modified Chevrolet, which Abel bought in June last year after seeing it for sale on a US internet site, he is looking to start the New Year with a win.
Abel bought the Chevy from Andy McCoy Race Cars in Washington, Missouri. The car arrived in Australia in August last year.
“The car was built by Andy (McCoy). It was his personal race car. One of my friends saw it for sale on the internet and told me about it. The price was reasonable, so I phoned Andy and did the deal,” Abel said.
“Since the car arrived in Australia, we have spent the past five months sorting it out. Every time we take it to the (race) track we make improvements, which was the case when we raced at Calder in November. I think it will be a quick car at Calder Park this time around.”
While the car was built in the US, the 1957 Chevrolet Belair body was moulded in Australia.
“Andy said it is the best looking ’57 body for a Doorslammer race car in the world, which is why he bought the body,” Abel said.
Joining Abel at Calder in the Eighth-mile championship is fellow Top End Doorslammer racer Scott McLean, driving a 1953 Studebaker.
Also racing at the True Blue event are two new generation high-tech drag race cars, a turbo-charged Toyota Aurion and rotary turbo-charged Mazda 6.
Qualifying is on Saturday from noon to 10pm, and racing is on Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm.
To book tickets, call 9091 0800 or visit www.calderpark.com.au
