The track on Taupo Quay is an 1/8th of a mile long. Photo / Lewis Gardner
The track on Taupo Quay is an 1/8th of a mile long. Photo / Lewis Gardner
The 35th Anniversary Whanganui Street Drags, put on by the Whanganui Street Rodders, will be hitting Taupo Quay this Saturday.
Organiser Raj Patel said the annual event began life on Heads Road, but as the speed of the vehicles increased, the decision was made to move to Taupo Quay inthe early 2000s.
"There was a little bit of a kink at the end of the track there (Heads Road), and as time progressed, cars were going faster and faster and faster," Patel said.
"We ended up moving locations and coming to a safer track.
"It's more central as well, and that means it's easier to get to."
There would be more than 75 cars (the event's second-highest ever) hitting the 1/8th of a mile track this year, Patel said, slotting into a variety of different categories.
Organiser Raj Patel and his 1970 Ford Falcon will be in action this Saturday. Photo / Bevan Conley
"We have bikes, import cars, and the V8 classes.
"Aside from that we have the fastest lady, fastest club member, and the fastest local. There are a lot of prizes to go for.
"This year we are doing it without competition cars, because our entries are that strong we feel like we just won't have the time. The crowd does love them though, so what we're going to do is have a display of a couple of competition cars and a do couple of start-ups during the day.
"The crowd can come and breathe in a bit of methanol and explode their eardrums."
Patel said cars were getting so quick that there was now a cap on how fast they were to permitted to finish.
"They're not allowed to do the 1/8th of a mile in less than six and a half seconds, and if they do, they'll be put on the trailer and told to go home.
1000 or more people are expected to be in the crowd for Saturday's drags. Photo / Lewis Gardner
"Anything that goes down quicker than an 8.0 (seconds) must have a roll cage as well. If they go down faster than that, once again, they'll be asked to leave.
"It's all to keep up with safety, and we're sanctioned by NZHRA (New Zealand Hot Rod Association). It's just in keeping with the rules."
Patel, who will be taking his 1970 Ford Falcon down the track again this year, said there were only two other clubs in New Zealand that ran street drags, with one in New Plymouth and one in Wellington.
"Without our local sponsors this just wouldn't be possible, and we also want to thank all the business owners on Taupo Quay that allow us to do it.
