Drags start this weekend

THE hugely-popular Import Shootout kicks off the drag racing season at Hood Aerodrome on Saturday.
The so-called "boy racer" cars imported from Japan initially weren't take all that seriously, but in the past few years they have become really serious contenders, given track time in their own right.
As Masterton Motorplex event co-ordinator Bob Wilton points out, some of these four-cylinder cars are running times and speeds ? up to 170mph ? that could blow many V8s into the dust.
The Import Shootout runs from 10am - 4pm on Saturday, followed by the webstar Smokefest burnout competition from 6pm through to 9pm.
Sunday is a test and tune day for everybody.
Wilton said last year's Import Shootout, which attracted around 8000 fans, gave the club finances a big boost, allowing the purchase of new timing gear.
"Everything we make, we put back in," he said.
The club will put profits from this year's shootout/burnout meet into a $30,000 concrete pad that can be used for burnout events and as a pit area for international entrants.
The pad, on the town side of the start area, will also be used to keep the crowds entertained during any major delays in competition on the track proper. Work on it will begin soon after this weekend's meeting finishes and it will be in use for other meetings this summer.
Wilton said burnouts stripped the sticky coating of the launch area, carefully built up over a long period, and that impacted on the drag racing. This Saturday night's burnouts were not such a concern because Sunday is a test and tune day rather than full-on competition.
That said, there's still going to be plenty of exciting action.
Wilton said the Masterton Motorplex organisation had, during the off-season, adopted a five-year plan, given the nod by both Masterton District Council and the airport users group, that will see them eventually move to a purpose-built drag strip.
The club is also working hard to project a professional image ? including uniforms for officials ? and to continue growing the sport in this area.
It's even getting some of the flavour of international motorsport events with the signing up of four blonde "pit lane bunnies", who will be involved in documentation as well as public relations ? running lolly scrambles for the kids as well as posing for photos.
"We've got to put on a show," said Wilton. "You look at things like Bathurst, GP bikes and Formula One ? they all have their glamour.
"We want to get away from the black jacket cowboy image."
The club is also putting more money into the sport. The season is starting and finishing earlier this year, to fit in with the nationals in Auckland in March, and that allows the club to run a competition for sponsorship. Two drivers, one in a DYO (dial your own time) car and one in a competition car will have their expenses for the nationals ? around $1500 each ? met. The cars will carry Masterton Motorplex signwriting.
Wilton said the club will also take a bus up to the nationals, creating as big a splash as possible for the local club.