Dirt
TOOLBOX TALK
The 11th annual Race & Performance Expo, held in Schaumburg, Illinois, February 25-26,
attracted droves of attendees who showed up to visit with manufacturers, shop at the
swap meet and do a little bench racing before the 2017 season kicked off. In addition
to displays and seminars from industry insiders and leading manufacturers, the Expo
featured autograph sessions and dozens of cars on display, including a special section
from the Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association. Make plans to attend next year’s show,
scheduled for February 24-25, 2018.
IHRA Achieves
Mil estone in Australia
Numbers trending upward
in the land Down Under
By Jeff Birchfield
I
RG Sports + Entertainment recently
announced that the International Hot Rod
Association (IHRA) Australia has achieved
a milestone of issuing more than 2,000
competitor licenses in just seven months.
As a proud partner and sanctioning body of
the 400 Thunder Australian Professional Drag
Racing Series and the 400 Thunder Australian
Sportsman Championship Series, IHRA Australia
has experienced tremendous growth over the past
several months.
“By every measure of how you achieve success
in business, our movement into IHRA Australia
has been an outstanding success under the guid-
ance of IHRA President Mike Dunn and Maurice
Allen, Managing Director for IHRA Australia,”
said Chris Lencheski, vice chairman and CEO
of IRGSE, parent company of IHRA Australia.
“If you’re achieving more than 2,000 member-
ships in less than seven months, you’re doing
something right.”
Maurice Allen, Managing Director for IHRA
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I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Australia, added, “It’s a terrific milestone in such a
short period of time. It demonstrates a common-
sense approach to the licensing structure which
was required. What is most pleas-
ing are the 2-3 year licenses with
the competitors which shows their
support for IHRA Australia and a
fresh, new start. It’s also a chance to
thank our stewards and tech experts
in their support of the racers.”
IHRA Australia races at mul-
tiple sports venues including Wil-
lowbank Raceway, which
hosts the City of Ipswich
Winternationals, the
second largest drag rac-
ing event in the world.
Other venues include
Springmount Raceway
and Wide Bay Motor
Complex in Queensland,
and Sydney Dragway in
New South Wales.
“To have that kind of
membership and that
kind of support, it’s
huge for IHRA moving
forward,” Dunn said. “Since it is the International
Hot Rod Association, we have a strong interna-
tional presence and Australia is key to those plans.”
Issue 119