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Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Zap smokes it up at Barbagallo Raceway

At the invitation of the WA Sporting Car Club, the Zappia Racing Team presented the "Crusher" Procomp Motorsport HQ Monaro Top Doorslammer at Barbagallo Raceway for demonstration runs at the Supercharge HQ Nationals to the delight of the local HQ racers and fans.

"Grant from WASCC rang me wanting the HQ Monaro to do some burnouts in front of the crowd at this big event", said Zap, "and I am always up for doing burnouts! We used to do burnouts at the Motorplex in the old Zap's Rat HQ, and always had a ball doing that with a specially built big block chev Southside Engine Centre put together."

"The Crusher was still in full Top Doorslammer trim from the Round 1 ANDRA Pro Series meeting in Sydney, so we left the car as it was with the 3,500 horsepower Hemi."

Instead of the traditional warm up in the pits, Zap decided to do a lap of Barbagallo Raceway to get the big Hemi warm enough to complete some burnouts.

"It was a little hard to drive that slow, with it bucking like a bronco and spinning the slicks with a tap on the throttle. I lined up on the main straight, and dropped the clutch in second gear and it absolutely boiled the tyres instantly - so I hit top gear and it did the same."

The Zappia Racing Crew refueled the HQ and Zap headed out for another go. "That was too much fun not to give it a second go. I was thinking of my mate Victor Bray who cruises around the Gold Coast F1 track doing burnouts - how cool would that be!" On the second go at a burnout I tried to match up my big black lines I left on the main straight, and pulled the shoots at the end for a little extra stopping power, and again thick white smoke billowed from the tyres."

"Thanks to the WASCC for their hospitality, and for all the fans who purchased merchandise and showed good interest in the new Procomp products we had on display."

Fans can get a real taste of the awesome power of Drag Racing when we compete at Kwinana Motorplex on the 30th October for the Grand Opening of the Perth season.
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Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Nationals a challenge for Zap
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Nationals a challenge for Zap
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Nationals a challenge for Zap

The 2010 Fuchs Nationals held last weekend at Sydney Dragway proved to be a challenge for three times National Champion John Zappia, when he failed to qualify in the ANDRA Top Doorslammer field. This was the first time in four years that the team failed to qualify.

“A small fitting failure in the clutch system cost us a place in the field” said Zap, “But as a team we acknowledge that our power levels did not match the track conditions this time of year, and a little more work is required to manage that situation.”

Most teams struggled with the conditions, with unrepresentative passes, and engine failures common place during the event. Fellow West Aussie racer Robin Judd went on to win the event on a solo from Maurice Fabietti, who was unable to make the start due to damaging his engine and car in his semi final win.

“We were pretty confident going into the event. After blowing the tyres off on the first two qualifiers, we backed the Procomp HQ Top Doorslammer down even more for the final qualifier and suffered the fitting failure on the hit of the throttle – essentially locking the clutch up one to one. If you watch the video of the run, after I pedaled, the HQ took off hard and was wheelstanding for most of the run. I could not see much out the windscreen – this car is making so much power now it’s unreal”.

“We tested the car on the Sunday, and managed a very tidy 5.837 @ 245mph with the tune backed off heaps and soft. This run would have top qualified us and if the air fitting didn’t snap we could have been contesting the final – but as they say “anything can happen in racing” “

“The event was disappointing from a winning perspective – we are used to being in finals. But the season is early, and another back to back Championship is still within reach – we won last year from behind and there are still six rounds to go to make up ground on Judd and Fabietti. We have started each of the last two years with a crash and recovered to win the championship, so to non qualify with a sound car and tune up gives us confidence going into the rest of the season.”

Round 2 of the Pro Series Top Doorslammer Championship will take teams to Perth in December for the Goldenstates Titles. Zappia Racing will present the Procomp Monaro at two local events prior to this event, where they will compete in the much coveted Top Comp blown alcohol championships.
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Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Zap all set in Procomp Monaro Top Doorslammer
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport ~ Zap all set in Procomp Monaro Top Doorslammer
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport
Zap all set in Procomp Top Monaro Top Doorslammer

Three times back-to-back Australian Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia has secured new Naming Rights Sponsors for the new 2010/2011 ANDRA Pro Series, ready for the opening Round at the Fuchs Nationals in Sydney, Australia.

“Procomp Motorsport have come on board as our new sponsor” said John Zappia this week in Perth, “we will be showcasing the uniform Procomp Motorsport Tear-Off Logo on the Craig Pedley’s ‘Crusher’ HQ Monaro Top Doorslammer for the coming season, in which I will drive and tune”.

Procomp Electronics | Motorsport, established in 1980, is an Australian owned international company, who pioneer in manufacturing and wholesaling a diverse range of performance parts for the automotive industry. The company has rapidly expanded with huge sales and distribution worldwide.

I am excited to be working with Procomp this year, and appreciate them joining our winning team. They are no strangers to the sport of drag racing, currently sponsoring our mate Lindsay Strassburg from B & J Racing Transmissions in their NHRA Top Fuel Dragster, as well as other successful teams. I have been dealing with them for over a year or so, using their high performance parts on my street car, and now I am looking forward to further innovating and developing their products. In doing so, Zappia Racing and Southside Engine Centre is Western Australia’s Authorized Dealer.   

Zappia os confident that we will see a “five seven” (5.7 ET) this year. When we ran the 5.805 National Record at the Winters it still had some left in it. We have a disadvantage over more modern cars in the field with the brick like front end of the HQ, but we may do some aerodynamic work with the car to get some higher speeds”.

“But winning Championships is our major focus, and that means having a consistently quick car with the depth of data, inventory and experience. We have all those and it’s hard to beat, and that is something all our sponsors and supporters enjoy so much” said Zap.

“The crew and I just can’t wait to go drag racing again. Putting on a good show for our fans is something we enjoy. Smoking those big Mickey Thompson slicks in huge long burnouts still gets me going”.

For more information visit www.zapsrat.com.au
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Procomp Electronics | Motorsport and John Zappia Partner
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport and John Zappia Partner
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport and John Zappia Partner

Procomp Electronics | Motorsport would like to congratulate John Zappia on his third consecutive ANDRA Pro Series – Top Doorslammer Title and welcome him to the 2011 team line-up. With three successive ANDRA Top Doorslammer championships under his belt, the Procomp Electronics | Motorsport Team are looking forward assisting Zappia with his attempts of making it four.

However, what makes the partnership exciting is the “shared commitment to strive for higher outcomes each time and do so from strength to strength” said the Procomp Motorsport - Chief of the Racing Development Program. As both teams have a long-term view of constantly contending for the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Pro Series CROWN.     

About John Zappia:
John Zappia has a long history of crushing his opposition with achievements such as 1990 Drag Racer of the Year, 1995 Top Doorslammer Champion, the World's first Super Stock car in the sevens, the first doorslammer in the sixes and the second racer in the 200mph club. John Zappia has defended West Australian honour against the Eastern States and America on many occasions. In the 1989-90 season Zappia won every time he staged the car. Serious domination! Zap's Rat was the 1990 National's winner and top qualifier in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1995.

John Zappia’s Latest Achievements:
  • 2009/2010 Australia ANDRA Top Doorslammer Champion
  • 2009/2010 Winternationals Top Doorslammer Winner
  • 2009/2010 Winternationals Top Doorslammer Top Qualifier
  • 2009/2010 Karcher Tri-state Shootout Winner
  • ANDRA Top Doorslammer National Record Holder 5.805
  • 2009/2010 Perth Motorplex Top Comp Champion

Procomp Electronics | Motorsport and John Zappia Partner
Procomp Electronics | Motorsport and John Zappia Partner
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