Mark Bardsley wins P & I Pascoe Cartage Top Doorslammer at the 2014 IHRA NZ Nationals
March 16, 2014
Mark Bardsley top qualified with a 6.684 at 203.52 in his 68 Camaro. [Photo by Popeye Pics]
Seven competitors fronted for the P & I Pascoe Cartage Top Doorslammer bracket at the 2014 IHRA NZ Nationals. Saturday was completely rained out and the decision was made to try and run the whole meeting on the Sunday. The first qualifying session was lead out by Barry Plumpton in his 2005 Monte Carlo and Rod Benjes in the DB Racecars 92 Beretta. Barry recorded a 7.513 at 175 mph while Rod recorded a 7.213 at 198.58 mph. Craig Brown was unable to start the newly rebuilt 55 Chev, after it was started successfully in the pits, and was out for the day. Trevor Smith then had a solo pass in the 75 Statesman and went to the top spot with a 7.211 pass at 200.17 mph.
The second session saw Trevor improve with an engine smoking 7.059 at 194 mph and he withdrew from competition. Mark Bardsley then took over the top spot with a 6.684 at 203.52 mph in the Rislone 68 Camaro. Ross taylor had tyre shaking first pass with an 8.372 at only 117 mph. Barry Plumpton improved by 2 thousandths of a second with a 7.511 at 177.58, in the Focus Construction Interiors Monte Carlo. Rod Benjes did not improve upon his 7.213 as he recorded an 8.16 after throwing a blower belt. Wayne Yearbury came out for his first qualifier, damaged the starter dog, and could not start the KC Tools 53 Studebaker. This meant that he would start at the bottom of the field and face the top qualifier, his good friend Mark Bardsley, in the first round of eliminations.
The only pass for Ross Taylor was a tyre shaking 8.372 in the second qualifying session.
[Photo by: Ralph Smith]
Trevor Smith qualified second with a 7.059, but withdrew with engine problems. [Photo by Popeye Pics]
Barry Plumpton qualified fourth in the nitrous 2005 Monte Carlo. [Photo by Popeye Pics]
| 1 | Mark Bardsley | 68 Camaro | 526 KB | Manukau | 6.684 | 203.52 |
| 2 | Trevor Smith | 75 Statesman | 540 BB | Beachlands | 7.059 | 200.17 |
| 3 | Rod Benjes | 92 Chev Beretta | 532 CI | Whitemans Valley | 7.213 | 198.58 |
| 4 | Barry Plumpton | 2005 Monte Carlo | 632 | Massey | 7.511 | 177.58 |
| 5 | Ross Taylor | 57 Chev Sport Coup | 511 TFX | Pukekohe | 8.372 | 117.5 |
| 6= | Wayne Yearbury | 53 Studebaker | 526 KB | Papakura | NTR | |
| 6= | Craig Brown | 55 Chevrolet | 572 Chev | Waiuku | NTR |
Yearbury decided to swap the supercharger from his funny car into the Studebaker and it was finished with Wayne strapped into the car, while being called to staging. It was to no avail as the Studebaker developed an oil leak, during the first round burnout, and was shut down. Mark Bardsley then took an early shutoff 7.323 single at 133 mph, to advance to the final. The other first round race was between Rod Benjes and Barry Plumpton. Rod improved with a 6.994 at 186.64 to defeat Barry, who also improved with a 7.296 at 173.56.
Rain again intervened and, with daylight running out, the final was postponed until April 5.
The finals were successfully completed on April 5, thanks to great co-operation with Bay Rodders who were conducting their Club Champs meeting. Rod Benjes was unable to return leaving Mark Bardsley to solo for the P & I Pascoe Cartage Top Doorslammer title. The Rislone Camaro broke a blower belt and Mark recorded a 9.541 at 83.03 which was not how he wanted to win his third nationals title.
With Rod Benjes unable to return, Mark Bardsley soloed to the bracket win with a blower belt breaking 9.541 to win his third nationals title. [Photo by Popeye Pics]
After a frantic supercharger swap, the first round burnouts was as far as Wayne Yearbury got in eliminations. [Photo by Ralph Smith.]
Rod Benjes advanced to the finals after defeating Barry Plumpton. [Photo by Popeye Pics]