Welcome and thank you to all who attended the last meeting.

For all those ANDRA Members who voted for the recent changes your support was appreciated.  ANDRA sent letters out to all full members with voting forms and pre paid return envelopes.  Of the 3000 letters sent to full members only around 400 members voted.  As stated in the recent Dragster Australia there was a mandate given to change the ANDRA structure to a Company.  This decision by the 400 members who did vote will affect all the members and those who never bothered to vote should not complain about anything that may happen with ANDRA over the next few years. 

Well Willowbank finally had a chance to complete a race meeting; the Top Fuel Championships had great weather and a great vibe.  Walking around the pits everyone was looking forward to having a skid and a good weekend.

As usual the SPDRA was well represented with most members competing or just walking around.  We had scheduled a club BBQ for the Friday night however with some commitment changes it had to be postponed.  We will have a full wrap up from the members who competed at the upcoming meeting. 

 After racing was over  most of the competitors and crew were walking around just catching up and having a drink and a laugh, it was then that I wandered past Boothy having a drink with Cannuli so I called in, Cannuli had sent most of his crew home after he torched an engine, it was then I heard Boothy, after many drinks, telling John "come on lets change the engine, you got spares".  After 20 minutes all hands on, lets pull it out and put the spare in, so Darren took charge.

You should have seen him he loved it, working on the heads, block, box and clutch.  It was about 1.30 when I snuck off, but Darren stayed till the end.  John would have been happy with Darren's decision  because he made the final Comp against Craig Geddes.  If I was a betting man I would not be surprised to see Darren in a funny car one day.

 Mark Hancock tells us that at the Top Fuel meet at Willowbank the Hancock Racing Team set two new modified bike national records and one track record.  Stepping the A/Mb records to ET 7.79sec and 168mph.  They were also top qualifier.  Well Done Mark.  Mark would like to give a big thank you to the whole team Shane and Jess Brown, Wayne Clark and Katrina Hancock, for their hard work.

As some of the club members overlook the closing dates for race meetings this is for you - the closing date for the Nitro Champs is Midnight Wednesday 13th April - that's this Wednesday.

 Willowbank had a car show on last weekend and from all reports it was big. Things must be getting close with the Nitro Funny Car as it was on display and very close to testing.  I bet Christine is very excited.

 For those who don't know it we are about a week away from completing the Mustang, Chop and I are looking forward to getting to the track.  We are looking at hiring Willowbank on Friday 20th May.  This is the day before Willowbank's next round of the Track Championships.  If you are interested in testing on the same day please contact me a.s.a.p.

 Please make note that the Annual General Meeting is on next month, nominations open on 13th April and close at 5pm on 27th April.  Nomination forms will be available at the next meeting.  If you think you would like to have a go at one of the exciting positions available please come forward and make yourself and your interested position known.  We will be looking for President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  A new Sub Committee will also be appointed, it's members assist the Committee with the BBQ, Raffles, Newsletter and the Bar.

 The club calendar is at the printers and I will have the draft copy at the meeting, Christine will have invoices for all the advertisers that may not have paid as yet.  Please look at the draft and check your information as we will be printing it by the end of the week.

For those members that have not been mentioned in this newsletter it is up to you or your mates to send some info or just call and we will be only too pleased to add your info.

 Thank You

  Robert Coleman

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