Top Doorslammer is a professional (Pro) class of Australian

drag racing Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...

. It caters to full-bodied racing sedans which are replicas of Australian or US production vehicles. The class uses 514 cu. in. displacement (8.5-litre), mechanically

supercharged In an internal combustion engine, a supercharger compresses the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to produce more power for a given displacement. The current categorisation is that a supercharger is a form of forced induct ...

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gen ...

s which are fueled by

methanol Methanol (also called methyl alcohol and wood spirit, amongst other names) is an organic chemical and the simplest aliphatic alcohol, with the formula C H3 O H (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated as MeOH). It is a ...

. The minimum weight break for these vehicles is 2700 lbs (1225 kg). It is similar to the

Pro Modified Pro Modified, also known as Pro Mod, is a class or division in the sport of drag racing used in the NHRA and FIA (quarter-mile) and the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) (eighth-mile). It is similar to the Top Doorslammer class as defi ...

class as defined by the

NHRA The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorspo ...

. Top Doorslammer is regulated by ANDRA, and is considered a Group 1 or professional category. It is the fastest sedan based category in the world, using replicas of front-engined production sedans, coupes, station wagon and utility vehicles usually produced by

Holden Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own marque in Australia. In its last thre ...

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

Studebaker Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers M ...

and

Chevrolet Chevrolet ( ), colloquially referred to as Chevy and formally the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Company, is an American automobile division of the American manufacturer General Motors (GM). Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941) and ous ...

. As its name suggests, these cars have operational

doors A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security b ...

, therefore

Funny Car Funny Car is a type of drag racing vehicle and a specific racing class in organized drag racing. Funny cars are characterized by having tilt-up fiberglass or carbon fiber automotive bodies over a custom-fabricated chassis, giving them an appea ...

style bodies are not allowed in this class. Some notable drivers competing in this category are

John Zappia John Zappia is a drag racing competitor from Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% o ...

, Peter Kapiris, Victor Bray, Ben Bray, Gary Phillips, and Maurice Fabietti. During the summer months, because of rules similar to Pro Modified, such stars in the United States frequently appear during the North American winter during the

International Hot Rod Association The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is the second-largest drag racing sanctioning body after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The Carrier Era 1971-1987 The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Througho ...

400 Thunder series currently. For example, during the 2017-18 IHRA season, Texan Frankie "Mad Man" Taylor drove a second Bray Racing car when the drag strips closed for the winter. Top Doorslammer originally started out as an exhibition class called ''Wild Bunch'' with notable pioneers John Zappia and Victor Bray. After a number of successful years of running the class, ANDRA recognised the class worthy of a professional bracket. By 1996 Top Doorslammer was officially recognised as a Group 1 class, and has since grown into one of the most successful brackets.

Television broadcasting

Top Doorslammer Championship is on

SBS Speedweek SBS may refer to: Broadcasting * SBS Broadcasting Group, Belgium, formerly many countries * Talpa TV, formerly SBS Broadcasting B.V., Netherlands ** SBS6, Dutch television channel ** SBS9, Dutch television channel * Special Broadcasting Service, A ...

and the new SPEED Channel on Foxtel.

2010/2011 ANDRA Pro Series Championship calendar and results

Round 1: Fuchs Australian nationals 10–12 September, Sydney Dragway, NSW
Runner Up: Maurice Fabietti Winner: Robin Judd Round 2: Goldenstate Titles 3–4 Dec,

Perth Motorplex Perth Motorplex is a motorsport venue located at Kwinana Beach, Western Australia. It caters mainly for drag racing and speedway, although other events are held there regularly. Over 275,000 patrons attend the venue each year to many varied events ...

, WA
Runner up: John Zappia Winner: Mark Belleri Round 3: 40th Westernationals 5–6 March,

, WA
Runner up: Maurice Fabietti Winner:

Round 4: ANDRA Pro Series 18–19 March, Sydney Dragway, NSW
"RAIN OUT" Round 5: 2011 Nitro Champs 29 April – 1 May, Sydney Dragway, NSW
Runner up: Peter Kapiris Winner:

Round 6: Round 7: 2011 Castrol EDGE Winternationals

Willowbank Raceway Willowbank Raceway is a drag racing facility located off the Cunningham Highway, Willowbank, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately 30 – 45 minutes drive west of Brisbane. It is part of the Ipswich Motorsport Preci ...

, QLD RAIN OUT FINAL Finalist:Mark Belleri and Peter Kapiris

2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Championship calendar

Round 1: 2011 Fuchs Australian nationals 9–11 September, Sydney Drag way, NSW WINNER: Peter Kapiris Round 2: 2011 40th Annual Goldenstate Titles 18–19 November,

, WA
WINNER: Peter Kapiris Round 3: 2012 41st Westernationals 3–4 March,

, WA
WINNER: John Zappia Round 4: 23–24 March, Sydney Dragway, NSW WINNER: John Zappia Round 5: 2012 Nitro Champs, 4–6 May, Sydney Dragway, NSW WINNER: John Zappia Round 6: 2012 45th FUCHS Winternationals 8–11 June

, QLD

2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Championship points Top Ten

Points Allocation Winner- 100 Runner up- 80 Semi Final lose- 60 Quarter Final Lose- 40 Non Qualifier- 20 Low Elapsed Time- 5 Top Speed- 5 *50% bonus for points scored at Championship rounds in Western Australia

Top Doorslammer drivers

ANDRA National records

Elapsed Time: 5.693 seconds

, 7 June 2015, FUCHS Winternationals,

Speed: 258.42 mph (415.89 km/h) P. Kapiris, Sydney Dragway, May 2013.

Track records

Track ET Record - 5.683 Seconds

, 6 February 2016 Track Speed Record - 253.86 mph (408.55 km/h)

, 6 February 2016

Top Doorslammer 5 Second Club

The Top Doorslammer 5 Second Club is a group of drivers who have run a quarter-mile in the 5 second range. Only 12 drivers have ever managed to run a 5-second time. John Zappia was the first in the world to run a legal Doorslammer 5 with a 5.967 second pass at 241.97 mph, on 17 September 2005, in his Rentco Monaro Top Doorslammer at Western Sydney International Raceway, NSW.

Pro Series sponsors

Official sponsors * Fuchs * Sidchrome Official tool

ANDRA Pro Series tracks

Kwinana Beach, WA *

Western Sydney International Dragway Sydney Dragway, also known as WSID for its former name, Western Sydney International Dragway, is a $30 million, purpose built quarter mile drag racing facility that opened in February, 2004. WSID is based on international specifications and combi ...

Eastern Creek, NSW Eastern Creek is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Creek is located west of the Sydney central business district, in the Blacktown local government area and is part of the Greater Western Sydney regi ...

Ipswich, QLD *

Adelaide International Raceway The Adelaide International Raceway (also known as Adelaide International or AIR) is a permanent circuit owned by Australian Motorsport Club Limited under the auspices of the Bob Jane Corporation. The circuit is located north of Adelaide in So ...

South Australia *

Hidden Valley Raceway Hidden Valley Raceway is part of the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex, located at 171 Hidden Valley Road, Hidden Valley, from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex includes a 1 km drag racing track ...

Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin ( ; Larrakia: ) is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. With an estimated population of 147,255 as of 2019, the city contains the majority of the residents of the sparsely populated Northern Territory. It is the smalle ...

http://www.hiddenvalleydrags.com www.hiddenvalleydrags.com

Past champions

References

{{Class of Auto racing Drag racing classes Motorsport categories in Australia