32 fastlane
NITROUPNORTH
SETS COMPETITIVE SPIRIT ALIGHT
An enthusiastic crowd soaked
up two days of Nitro Up North
racing at the Hidden Valley Drag
Strip in July (13-14), with the
popular event officially opening
the 18/19 Summit Racing
Equipment Sportsman Series.
Day one was all about who would take out the
top qualifying honours. By the end of an epic
day and night of racing action in Darwin, it was
Jake Berias (Summit Racing Equipment Junior
Dragster), Leith Darrach (Modified Bike), Gavin
Pocock (Super Street), Ashley Smith (Super
Sedan), Chris Farrell (Modified), Adam Murrihy
(Supercharged Outlaws) and Darren Saliba
(Top Sportsman) who laid claim to the fastest
qualifying times for their respective brackets.
In recognition of their Top Qualifying
efforts, each of the racers were presented
a Top Qualifiers Medallion thanks to TileCo-
TheShowerPeople as well as a 25 percent off
RRP voucher for any KC Tools outlet, and a
Summit Racing Equipment pack.
Come Saturday, it was time for the racing to
get serious. When all was said and done, it
was Jake Berias (Summit Racing Equipment
Junior Dragster), Mark Tattingham (Modified
Bike), Theo Karamanidis (Super Street), Peter
Tzokas (Super Sedan), Jess Voigt (Modified),
Mark Hunt (Supercharged Outlaws) and Jason
Arbery (Top Sportsman) who would hoist their
ANDRA Christmas Trees to great applause. McGregor (Rosbery, NT) and his Holden Rodeo
booked their spot in the final round by taking
on and defeating last year’s event winner Tim
Bryan in the semi-final with that win coming
hot on the heels of victory over Sarah-Mae
Bates in round one.
Also celebrated at the presentations were
runners-up Aiden Abel (Summit Racing
Equipment Junior Dragster), Heath Costello
(Modified Bike), Craig McGregor (Super
Street), Dave Todd (Super Sedan), Glenn Bull
(Modified), Paul Stephen (Supercharged
Outlaws) and Rick Smith (Top Sportsman). To find out what Karamanidis had to say
about it all, click here.
To the delight of the spectators, NT locals were
well represented in taking the qualifying,
runner-up and outright victory honours, with
Pocock, Darrach, Smith, Murrihy, Karamanidis,
McGregor, Tattingham, Costello and Abel all
calling the Territory home.
In the Super Street bracket, a maiden ANDRA
Christmas Tree win came on a poignant day
for Beat the Heat NT racer, Theo Karamanidis.
He found himself in the final aboard his
Holden VY Commodore after taking a bye in
the semi-final following on from victories
against Justin Neck (round two) and Top
Qualifier Gavin Pocock (round one). Runner-up
For Arbery, the Nitro Up North results
represented back-to-back success at the
event and a perfect start to his Top Sportsman
title defence.
The 2017 John Storm Memorial Winner from
South Australia took on Victoria’s Smith in the
final after dispatching Eddy Tassone (semi)
and Vlado Turic (round one) earlier in the
night. Smith meanwhile had faced off against
Top Qualifier Darren Saliba (semi) and Daniel
Johnston on his way to the final match-up.
“It couldn’t get any better, I am really happy
with the results. To come up (to Darwin) last
year and win was huge for us and I didn’t
think in my wildest dreams that we could
back it up this year and we have,” Arbery said
while thanking sponsors Komatsu Forrest,
Henley Chassis and Trident Tyre Centre.
“I am extremely proud of the boys, a lot of