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Press Release bought to you by Fuchs Lubricants Australasia Media and graphics by Velocity Sports Design For a few heart-pounding seconds, the Dananni Hotshots/FUCHS Monaro looked unstoppable in the A Final of the Summer Slam on Saturday, December 7th at Perth Motorplex.  John Zappia driving the Dananni Hotshots/FUCHS Monaro John Zappia had the lead, the car was pulling away incrementally, and the crowd was ready to erupt. But just past 1,000 feet— boom —the burst panels let go, cutting short what could have been a statement win. In the other lane, Lisa Gregorini edged through with a 5.74-second run to John’s coasting 5.97, taking the victory. Meanwhile, in the B Final, Brodie Zappia was crafting his own comeback story behind the wheel of the MAX Plant Monaro. After a challenging start to the night, the young driver delivered a composed and gritty performance, closing out the night with a confident pass and a well-earned victory. THE ROAD TO THE SUMMER SLAM FINALS John Zappia started the night true to form. His 5.78-second pass at 246 mph during qualifying set the bar high, locking in the number one spot.  "It was a good, clean, safe run," John said. "We put down a strong number to start, and that gave us a great foundation for the rest of the event." On the other side of the pits, Brodie’s start to the night was anything but straightforward. The team opted to skip the non-compulsory qualifier, knowing the hot track heat would not give us any valuable data.  "The track was quite hot (120 degrees F) for that early session," Brodie explained. "If we had gone out, we might’ve overpowered the track and not seen what it really had in the later session. So we left the car alone and came out for the compulsory qualifier at 5:30PM." But when the MAX Plant Monaro finally hit the strip, trouble struck almost immediately.  "Unfortunately, we banged a blower as soon as it shifted into second," Brodie recounted. "We came back to the pits and found out that one of the cylinders gained 250 degrees in 0.2 of a second, which caused it to go bang. We fixed the problem, richened up a few cylinders, and came out for E1." "We found a couple of spark plugs that looked a little hot—like they could’ve been glowing," John added. "A glowing spark plug ignites the incoming charge, and that’s what makes the supercharger go bang. It doesn’t take much." The Zappia Racing crew, never one to back down, sprang into action. Bearings were replaced, cylinders were checked, and aluminum blower studs (Thanks to High Speed Engineering) were swapped out. "We didn’t find melted pistons, but Brodie’s car had a few bearings that were squashed, so they were replaced and re-torqued the caps," John said. "We also replaced the aluminum blower studs, which are designed to break in such situations to prevent further damage. After checking the cylinders with a leak-down test, we made sure everything was healthy before heading back out." ROUND 1 John’s first elimination pass was the statement run the team was looking for. The FUCHS/Dananni Hotshots Monaro launched hard and charged down the track to a 5.70-second pass at 249 mph, the quickest run of the night.  "We tweaked the tune-up and put more in off the line to get the car to leave harder," John said. "The first run had a 0.990 60-foot time, but this one was a 0.953—considerably faster. The front wheels were up, and it felt really good." Meanwhile, Brodie lined up against Daniel Gregorini for his first elimination round, knowing the challenge ahead.  "I asked John if I could turn it up a little, and I turned it up a lot," Brodie admitted. "It worked up until 60 feet, but then it started shaking the tires at about 1.2 seconds because it had too much wheel speed and was trying to drive over itself. I pedaled it and went through for a 6.05 at only 238 mph, which showed just how rich we made it to prevent it from hurting itself again. Fortunately, we got the win, as Daniel had electrical gremlins." FINAL ROUND DRAMA The A Final pitted John Zappia against Lisa Gregorini in a matchup the crowd had been waiting for. When the tree dropped, John was razor-sharp, cutting a 0.004-second reaction time and taking the early lead.  "We were a hundredth quicker at every increment," John recalled. But just past 1,000 feet, disaster struck. "Boom—the burst panels blew, and I coasted through for a 5.97, while Lisa ran a 5.74 to take the win," he said. For Brodie, the B Final against Matt Abel brought its own kind of drama.  "This was our third time matching up," Brodie said. "After I did my burnout, I started backing up and saw he wasn’t moving. I thought, ‘That’s not good.’ I just saw him idle down the track, and at that point, I knew I’d won. I wanted to make a clean pass and give the tree a red-hot go. I went double-0-seven red and went through for a 5.91 at 242 mph." Even with a small spark issue keeping the car on seven cylinders for part of the run, Brodie still took home the B Final win.  "Reviewing the data showed we were on seven cylinders for one and a half seconds before the eighth cylinder kicked in," he explained. "It’s nothing major, and we still came away with the win." Reflecting on the race, John said, "In hindsight, maybe a touch less would’ve made the difference. You’re always walking that fine line between improving and overstepping the mark."  Despite the setback, the team remains in a strong position in the Direct Mining and Industrial Summer Slam Series points standings. For Brodie, the B Final win was a testament to his rapid development as a driver.  "He’s learning a lot," John said. "He’s getting the car down the track, pushing the boundaries, and figuring out when to pedal, when to back off, and how to manage tyre shake. The results are speaking for themselves." John also highlighted the challenges of fine-tuning the MAX Plant Monaro’s handling. "Right-hand-drive cars can sometimes want to turn right if the suspension isn’t dialed in perfectly," he explained. "But Brodie’s handling it well and hasn’t had to abort a run because of it. He’s eager, he puts the hours in, and he’s improving every time out." BRODIE’S REPORT CARD For Brodie, the Summer Slam was another important step in his growth as a driver. "I feel like I’ve adapted to the car pretty well," he said. "I’m reacting to what the car needs and wants at the right times on track and pedaling the car just before it blows the tyres off when it’s shaking." His crew, including his father and uncle, have been quick to recognise his progress. "Dad, Uncle John and Aaron (Deery) watched the video of my run against Daniel and said, ‘Oh, you could’ve driven through that.’ But I caught it before they even saw the tyres start to chatter. It turns out it wasn’t going to drive through it whatsoever," Brodie said. Brodie Zappia driving the MAX Plant Monaro LOOKING AHEAD With the Summer Slam in the books, Zappia Racing now prepares for 2025. The Dananni Hotshots / FUCHS Monaro will undergo a motor refresh at Applied Automotives, while the A1 motor is being readied for its return at the NDRC Doorslammer round on January 4th at the Perth Motorplex. Brodie will also compete in a blown alcohol event on December 27th, continuing his rapid development. "We’re constantly learning and pushing forward," John concluded. "The goal is to stay ahead of the pack, and we’re ready to bring everything we’ve got into the next round." For more information, visit Zappia Racing's official website and follow their social media for updates and behind-the-scenes action. Website:   www.zappiaracing.com    Facebook:   Zappia Racing   YouTube:   www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing NAMING RIGHTS SPONSORS BOTH DRIVERS Dananni Haulage FUCHS Lubricants Australasia MAX Plant   MAJOR SPONSORS BOTH DRIVERS Striker Australia Pty Ltd Summit Racing Equipment Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Pedders Suspension and Brakes (Booragoon) JP Pallets Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Callies Performance Products Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) Hoosier Racing Tire CP-Carrillo High Speed Engineering MoTeC NGK Spark Plugs Noonan Race Engineering SUPPORTING SPONSORS BOTH DRIVERS Kounis Group AVTRAC Sander Engineering Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Zappia Racing Alky Pro ADR Engines CIC Ceramics Ty-Drive Santhuff's Suspension Specialties Applied Automotive Performance Engines Victory 1 Performance, Inc. SpeedFlow Final Drive Engineering Damiani Racing Total Seal Piston Rings Klik Creative Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Windrush Motorsport Composites Specialty Metals Velocity Sports Design

Media by Velocity Sports Design The whispers, the hints, the social media buzz—it’s all true! The iconic Zap’s Rat is roaring back to life, and at the helm will be Brodie Zappia, ready to make his mark in the world of Top Doorslammer racing.  Under the mentorship of his uncle, the legendary John Zappia, Brodie is stepping up to join a formidable two-car Zappia Racing team, set to compete in the Direct Mining & Industrial Perth Top Doorslammer championship season, which includes three rounds of the NDRC Top Doorslammer Championship. While Brodie may be new to the ferocity of Doorslammer racing, he’s far from a rookie when it comes to drag racing, with 11 years of experience at the age of 19. The national drag racing champion from Western Australia has racked up an impressive list of accolades: 2021/22 Australian National Junior Dragster Champion, three-time Junior Dragster WA Track Champion, and the 2022/23 WA Rookie Driver of the Year. But now, he’s ready for his biggest challenge yet, stepping into the ultra-competitive Top Doorslammer ranks with the MAX Plant Monaro, fully aware of the steep learning curve ahead. With MAX Plant—a leader in Mobile and Modular Mineral Processing Solutions—as his Naming Rights sponsor, Brodie’s ride brings together the raw power of drag racing and cutting-edge mining tech. Based out of Henderson, Western Australia, MAX Plant’s dedication to precision and power makes them a natural fit for a sport where every thousandth of a second counts. “This is a huge moment for me,” said Brodie Zappia. “I’m incredibly excited to drive the MAX Plant Monaro and line up alongside Uncle John on the track. Zap’s Rat has such a rich history, being the first Doorslammer to run a 5 second pass, and also the car Uncle John won his first championship with. To be the one bringing it back to the strip is a dream come true. I’m very thankful to have MAX Plant on board as my naming rights sponsor; their support is invaluable, and I can’t wait to represent them this season. I’m also very grateful to my sponsors who have stayed with me from last season. Thank you Dananni Hotshots, JK Construction, Pedders Booragoon, Crow Cams, JP Pallets, High Speed Engineering, Tony’s Auto Wreckers and ADR Engines.” John Zappia, a name synonymous with success in Doorslammer racing, is excited to see Brodie take on this new challenge. “Brodie’s been following my racing and supporting me for years. I’ve watched him progress through Junior Dragster, to Super Sedan, to Supercharged Outlaws, winning numerous State and National Championships and meetings in the process, so it’s great to see him step up to drive the MAX Plant Monaro. We’ve got a lot of potential here, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together this season,” said John. For fans of Zappia Racing, the wait is nearly over. Brodie’s debut in the MAX Plant Monaro begins with testing at Perth Motorplex on Sunday, October 27, setting the stage for his official race debut on November 2nd in the Blown Alcohol Allstars followed by his Doorslammer debut at The Goldenstates on November 22-23. Zap’s Rat is back, and the next chapter of this legendary story is about to be written! Stay tuned to Zappia Racing’s social media channels and official website for all the latest updates. NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR MAX Plant MAJOR SPONSORS JK Constructions Pedders Suspension and Brakes (Booragoon) High Speed Engineering Tony's Auto Wreckers JP Pallets Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) Crow Cams SUPPORTING SPONSORS Fuchs Lubricants Australasia ADR Engines Sander Engineering Kounis Group Klik Creative Taylor Tyres

Media by Velocity Sports Design John Zappia proved once again why he’s a force in Top Doorslammer, piloting his Dananni Hotshots/FUCHS Monaro to a hard-fought B-Final victory at the NDRC Spring Nationals season opener. Celebrating his 45th year of racing, the veteran racer showed that his passion and skill are as strong as ever, fighting his way to crucial early-season points and laying down a performance that sets the stage for an intense championship run. Rolling into Tailem Bend with a fresh setup, including a new Ty-Drive (thanks to Todd Tutterow), and no pre-event testing, the big question was: how would the Monaro perform? “We changed a lot of stuff on the car, so there were a lot of unknowns,” Zappia said. “We went out there for a test run on Saturday but that first pass was anything but smooth—overpowering the track, the Dananni Hotshots/FUCHS Monaro snapped left and nearly kissed the wall. “We looked at the data and took lots of power out off the line,” he added, and in Q1, the car responded with a solid 5.72second pass. In Q2, the Monaro left the line on seven cylinders but still thundered through the traps at 5.718 seconds and 254.36 mph. “One cylinder was really cold and took a second and a half before it picked up,” explained Zappia. “But at 254.36 miles per hour, we knew the power was back.” Sunday brought no shortage of high-stakes drama.  Round 1 saw Zappia matched against Mick Mahoney, and the iconic ‘71 Monaro was on a mission. With a blistering 5.693 at 252 mph, Zappia claimed the win and lane choice. “The weather was warmer, so we didn’t try to overstep the mark, but we got it from A to B, and everything looked good,” he said.  Round 2, however, delivered a sting—Zappia red-lit against Adam Tassone, ending what should’ve been a comfortable victory, wasting a 5.705second lap. “I pushed too hard and pre-empted the tree,” Zappia admitted. “It was disappointing, but that’s the pressure we’re under in Top Doorslammer competition.” But the weekend was about to finish on a high.  In the B Final of Top Doorslammer, it was an all-Western Australian showdown against Daniel Gregorini. Zappia was ready to seal the deal, and with the tune-up in a solid window for the track conditions, he delivered—launching off the line with a razor-sharp 0.024 reaction time and powering through to a 5.656 at 253 mph, Gregorini trailing with a 5.73. “That run against Gregorini, it was game on. We pushed hard, and the car responded,” said Zappia. “That 5.65 felt great, and it showed we’re on the right track. We underestimated the track which kept improving and was very well prepared, producing some tight and record setting runs.” The weekend was about more than just racking up wins; it was about getting the setup right for the season.  “To finish in the points above Russell Taylor was huge,” Zappia emphasized. “It sets us up for a good start.”  With valuable data now in hand, the team is fine-tuning the setup, getting the car ready for the next three championship rounds in Perth. Hopefully we can step up our performance and push for the Crow Cams top Qualifier prize money. “We'll analyse the data and see where the improvements can be made and change some ratios around in the B&J transmission to improve our overall performance.” None of this would be possible without the incredible support behind the scenes. “A massive thank you to our co-naming rights sponsors - Dananni Hotshots and FUCHS Lubricants, and welcome back to Striker Crushing and Screening as a major partner. And thanks to our supporting partners for all you do to get us to the start line,” said Zappia. The NDRC Top Doorslammer Championship now heads to Perth Motorplex for the Goldenstates on November 22-23, where Zappia Racing will look to build on their solid outing in Tailem Bend. For more information, visit Zappia Racing's official website and follow their social media for updates and behind-the-scenes action. Website:   www.zappiaracing.com     Facebook:   Zappia Racing   YouTube:   www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing NAMING RIGHTS SPONSORS Dananni Haulage FUCHS Lubricants Australasia MAJOR SPONSORS Striker Australia Pty Ltd Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Callies Performance Products Hoosier Racing Tire CP-Carrillo High Speed Engineering MoTeC NGK Spark Plugs Noonan Race Engineering SUPPORTING SPONSORS Kounis Group AVTRAC B&J Racing Transmissions Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Alky Pro CIC Ceramics Ty-Drive Santhuff's Suspension Specialties Applied Automotive Performance Engines Victory 1 Performance, Inc. SpeedFlow Final Drive Engineering Damiani Racing Total Seal Piston Rings Klik Creative Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Windrush Motorsport Composites Specialty Metals Velocity Sports Design

John Zappia endured a somewhat cursed Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, with his Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro Top Doorslammer encountering problem after problem. The event began with a bad omen, as Zappia’s car broke a blower belt right on the start line during the first qualifying session — a rare occurrence. The team replaced the belt and returned for Q2 where they unleashed a super-quick 5.65 pass.“I had to use up the whole lane, from the wall to the centre line,” Zappia said. “That 5.65 was the number one qualifying pass and took out the Crow Cams Top Qualifier Award. The bad news was that when the car got to the finish line I felt the motor vibrate and I knew something had gone wrong.” The team decided to skip the third qualifying session so they could dive into the high-horsepower Noonan motor. With more damage than could be repaired overnight, the B motor was called into service. A first round solo would allow Zappia to get some valuable data and set his weekend straight. At least, that was the plan.“We came out for the run and I realised the auto shift box had no power,” he said. “We only had first gear. I decided to do a first gear burnout and then do what I could on the run. The car left well, it revved up through first gear and then I got off it and coasted, knowing I had no more gears.” After the pass, the team found a power wire had been pulled out of the crimp. The same issue was likely what caused the engine damage the previous night.“We were up against Jeremy Callaghan in the second round of racing. He’s also got a Noonan engine and all the right equipment to run quick. We hadn’t seen what he was capable of until our race when he went 0.007 on the tree and 5.69! I was slower on the reaction times and even though we ran 5.66 we wouldn’t get the win light. We were happy with the performance of the B motor but it was certainly a lost opportunity.” In the final round, Zappia was hoping to salvage some championship points, but the event remained cursed as a transmission leak saw the Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro shut down on the start line. With that, all there was left to do was to return to Perth to begin the turnaround process ahead of a trip back east for the Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.“It was always the plan to come back to Perth, we just have more work than we planned on,” laughed Zappia. “We got everything out and we are going through the A motor now, along with changing all the seals and o-rings in the Ty-Drive and torque converter. “We are now 24 points behind Russell Taylor in the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship, which is going to make it tough. It’s his championship to lose right now, so we just need to put the pressure on and make no mistakes from here.” “Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters who are there for us at every meeting, whether in person or cheering for us watching live on Seven Plus (7+). We will be giving the Championship our best shot at Willowbank Raceway (June 6 – 9) and hope we can make our sponsors and supporters proud.” Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: Zappia Racing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Joint Naming Rights Sponsors Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) FUCHS Lubricants Australasia Major Sponsors Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Noonan Race Engineering MoTeC Hoosier Racing Tire Striker Australia Pty Ltd NGK Spark Plugs Callies Performance Products CP-Carrillo High Speed Engineering Supporting Sponsors Santhuff B & J Racing Transmissions Avtrac Maintenance Tracking Kounis Metal Industries Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Alky Pro Klik Creative CIC High Performance Coatings Final Drive K Craft Bullbars Speedflow Total Seal Piston Rings Victory Valves Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Applied Automotive Damiani Race Parts Specialty Metals

One of the greatest Top Doorslammer events of all time saw John Zappia defeat Russell Taylor in the final round of a record-filled Riverbend Nationals at The Bend Motorsport Park. Near perfect weather conditions, a capacity crowd of spectators and tremendous racing from all four National Drag Racing Championship categories combined for an event many have declared one of the best ever seen in Australian drag racing. Zappia approached qualifying with a conservative mindset before gradually powering up the Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro Top Doorslammer to take advantage of near-sea level air. “We were looking at 600 feet of density altitude and 53 water grains in the air which are excellent numbers,” he explained. “We used a safe tune to start with, similar to what we used in Perth at the Westernationals, and we went 5.67 straight away. We chose to skip the second qualifying session, which saw the competition close in, as Russell Taylor went 5.67 as well. “We put more of a tune-up in for the third qualifying session. Ahead of us we watched Daniel Gregorini go 5.65 to take the top spot, but then we came out and went 5.642! That held for number one qualifier and earned us $1000 thanks to the Crow Cams Top Qualifier Award.” Conditions continued to improve for race day. With most of the field deep into the five second zone and personal bests falling in almost every race, Zappia Racing was fortunate to have a bye run in the first round to nail the setup.“Overnight we put some valve springs on the motor as they were a little low. The air was now down to 500 feet and 49 water grains, so pretty powerful. We watched Russell Taylor go 5.63 ahead of us. Our bye run left hard, then it went right so I had to drive it back to the groove but it corrected out to the left. We got to the end despite the not-so-straight run and then they told me I had just gone 5.606 at 256mph! That was motoring. The crowd was going wild as the numbers just kept tumbling with every pass they saw.” Between rounds, the Zappia Racing team noticed one of the new valve springs was not performing as well as the others, which had caused a couple of valve train mishaps including a broken pushrod. With time against them, Zappia decided to drop the shift point by 200rpm to reduce stress on the valve train.“We fixed it up as best we could with the time we had,” he said. “We had Adam Tassone in the second round. I lost my head on the tree and had a terrible reaction time — over half a second after the green. Adam was so far in front it looked as if we didn’t have a hope, but the Noonan horsepower in our Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro got us there with a 5.601 to his 6.055, taking the stripe by just a few hundredths of a second in what I’m sure was an entertaining race for the fans. That was our quickest time ever at a national round.” With time to now tackle the valve spring issue, once again the Zappia Racing team was under the pump.“We pulled a cylinder head off to change the springs properly and put all new intake springs on along with one exhaust spring. As we were torquing it up we were running out of time and one of the head studs pulled the thread out the block on cylinder one! I couldn’t get it to nip up at all and so we had to tighten the rest and hope for the best.” Zappia would be taking on Taylor (who had just run a 5.598 pass to take the national record) in an important final round with big championship implications. “The issue with the head stud was weighing on me. I took a moment as I was suiting up to really observe where the fire extinguisher was, just in case the motor torched a head gasket. We added some fuel to that cylinder to be safe but it was still a potential issue. As the lights came on in the final Russell got out on me by seven hundredths and it was on. I saw him at first, but then I didn’t see him and we powered through for a 5.602 to his 5.707 for the win. It was an amazing race, an awesome way to top off one of the best events we have ever been to. It was like we had a bracket car. As we were throwing more at it, the track was getting better and better. They did an amazing job at prepping the track. The air stayed consistent through the weekend too, enabling us to really dial in the car. The Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro was running on song all weekend.” "A huge thank you to our sponsors who have stood by us all these years and the hundreds of supporters who came to the pits to say hello, buy merchandise and give us their support. We look forward to being back at Tailem Bend in October for the start of next season." Zappia will return home to Perth Motorplex this weekend to take part in the Blown Alcohol Allstars class as part of the WA Grand Final. Even though he has wrapped up the WA Top Doorslammer Championship, Zappia said he wants to be at the final event of the WA season to put on a show for sponsors, fans and the Perth Motorplex management and staff who support us throughout the year.“We’re going to race against guys like Craig Glassby and Nigel Johnson in their Top Alcohol cars which is pretty cool,” he said. And as for that lost national record? Don’t be ruling out the Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro just yet.“When someone else takes the record it just gives us the motivation to go after it once again. We’ve been five-fifties before and I’m sure we can get there again. I love the chase.” Photography: Cackling Pipes Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: Zappia Racing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Joint Naming Rights Sponsors Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) FUCHS Lubricants Australasia Major Sponsors Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Noonan Race Engineering MoTeC Hoosier Racing Tire Striker Australia Pty Ltd NGK Spark Plugs Callies Performance Products CP-Carrillo High Speed Engineering Supporting Sponsors Santhuff B & J Racing Transmissions Avtrac Maintenance Tracking Kounis Metal Industries Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Alky Pro Klik Creative CIC High Performance Coatings Final Drive K Craft Bullbars Speedflow Total Seal Piston Rings Victory Valves Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Applied Automotive Damiani Race Parts

The learning process is not yet over for Brodie Zappia, but he’s certainly a lot closer to graduating from the drag racing equivalent of the School of Hard Knocks after finding a vital component malfunctioning during Saturday’s Nitro Max event at Perth Motorplex. A season full of engine dramas has kept Brodie working tirelessly, but mercifully relief looks to be on the horizon. The JK Construction Camaro began qualifying with similar troubles to how it ended the Westernationals, but through a process of elimination and observations during runs, Brodie believes he has the bug identified. “The first run’s burnout on the weekend was just like the Westernationals, cutting out after the burnout,” he said. “Once again we dived into the ignition system and we discovered two loose plug ends on the bulkhead between the coil and the distributor. As I was tightening the one on the coil itself it snapped right off and I could see corrosion around there. Massive thankyou to Curtis Spadaro who went home to pull a brand new coil off his race car so I could use it for the rest of the meeting.” The team returned for the compulsory qualifying session only to find problems still present. This time Brodie coasted down the track at quarter-throttle, during which he noticed his RPM gauge moving around rapidly, but also showed the ignition box and MSD Grid lights still operational. A look at the data showed the air-fuel ratio readings all over the place. “I gave George at Race MAX Direct a call, he took time to help out even though he was racing in Sydney at the same time. He said to pull the fuel pump apart and make sure everything was working right inside the pump. We went to take the pump off the car and saw there was no keyway on the driven cog for the pump.” Needing to make a quick repair, Brodie ground up a piece of steel to fit as a keyway, and resorted to zip ties and electrical tape to keep the cog from falling off the shaft and went out for the race round against Kasey McClure. The burnout was strong and finally, Brodie was able to go into stage with a chance. After a 0.006 light to Kaseys 0.028, the JK Construction Camaro shook violently, then blew the tyres off at 60ft — but that helped the team learn even more. “That was my first time ever overpowering the track and we think that the brand new coil helped the engine make a lot more power. It wasn’t just a little change, it was a lot. I needed to put a timing curve into the MSD Grid for the first time, which Uncle John was able to help with. As we were getting ready to head out for the B-Final against Vince Belladonna, we noticed some material in the oil filter, and given our experiences from what happened last time, we decided to be cautious. I simply staged for the B Final and turned the car off.” While there were no full runs, Brodie is now confident that after a quick check over all the bearings the team will be able to come out confidently for the last race of the season. “It’s a tricky problem to find because it would only occur under load. We think the belt tension on the fuel pump would keep the cog and shaft spinning together at idle due to friction, but once it came up on boost, it would drain the bowls and the cog would spin on the shaft, before leaning out and dropping rpm. We have newfound confidence with this new coil that we should be able to do well at the final event of the year.” Not one to rest on his laurels, Brodie intends on finding the performance he knows the engine is capable of.
“We’re going to put on a bigger bottom pulley to get the blower spinning to its max rpm and we will have our good cam back from being repaired at Crow Cams after it was damaged at the Westernationals. The championship is run and done, with Kasey McClure's consistent Rear Engine Dragster wrapping up the WA Supercharged Outlaws championship a round early. Our goal at the last meeting is to get the car to a new personal best. If it happens, all good, if not — we have next season to go fast.” Brodie’s t-shirts will be available for the final meeting of the Perth Motorplex season on April 13th. Come down and see Brodie and get a t-shirt and have him sign it, or just to say hello. You can also purchase his t-shirts online at the Zappia Racing Shop Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: @zappiaracing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Naming Rights Sponsor: JK Construction Major Sponsors: Dannani Haulage (Hotshots) Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon Jacked Supplements JP Pallets Supporting Sponsors: High Speed Engineering Tony’s Auto Wreckers Allfast Torque Converters Crow Cams Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance CP Carrillo Rods and Pistons Klik Creative ADR Engines Kounis Group Race MAX Direct Advanced Product Design (APD) FUCHS Lubricants NGK Spark Plugs Mr T Racing B.L. & S.G. Lake Brick Cartage Social Media & Marketing by ROBMEDIA

John Zappia has returned to the championship fold of Top Doorslammer with his first WA series win since 2021, as the Dananni Hotshots/FUCHS Monaro defied a drama-filled Nitro Max event at Perth Motorplex on Saturday. After choosing to skip the first qualifying session, a messy compulsory qualifying session saw Zappia left in last place entering the race rounds — but that would be enough to clinch the championship. “Our starter motor died when we went to fire up for the qualifier," Zappia said. “We were rushing around to swap batteries and the starter motor and then I was so flustered about getting into stage that I got on the two-step without realising that Jaydee Dack in the other lane hadn’t even gone into stage yet. I was out of my routine and panicking, but the main thing was that we qualified". With the title in hand, Zappia now wanted to win the event. A second round 5.721 win against Jaydee Dack’s 6.300 would be quick enough to put Zappia into the final against Daniel Gregorini. “The car rattled a little and went right, so I muscled it back left and got too far out of the groove,” Zappia explained. “I had to pedal in high gear which is unusual, so to still go a 5.72 made us pretty happy, especially as we were running our ‘B’ motor.” Zappia went into the final against Gregorini, but with cooling conditions made things unpredictable.“Daniel got the hole shot but then he started rattling the tyres,” Zappia said. “We were going nice and straight with strong increments and then — boom! The car backfired the supercharger with a big flame and I was coasting. I kept waiting to see Daniel’s Camaro fly past but he had shut off after the shake, and so our 6.285 took an unlikely win.” Zappia Racing will now have a week of maintenance and a few days off for Easter before towing east to The Bend Motorsports Park for the next round of the National Drag Racing Championship. “Applied Automotive have given our ‘A’ motor the once over so that we are as prepared as can be for Tailem Bend,” Zappia said. “That motor did five consistent runs at the Westernationals and so it makes us confident to have it back in the car.” Zappia currently leads the national points, with a slim 17-point margin to second-placed Russell Taylor. “There’s still three events to go in the championship, so it’s really anyone’s championship to win or lose right now,” Zappia said. “We’re going to concentrate on A to B runs, but even those should be pretty quick if the conditions are what we expect. I think the winner will have to be clocking 5.6-second passes.” The Zappia Racing Team are looking forward to seeing Sponsors and supporters at Tailem Bend and they will have their merchandise available at the Merch tent. Head down to the pits and say hello and get photos and merch signed by John Zappia. Photo by Phil Reeve - Sports Photographer Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: Zappia Racing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Social Media Management: ROBMEDIA Joint Naming Rights Sponsors Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) FUCHS Lubricants Australasia Major Sponsors Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Noonan Race Engineering MoTeC Hoosier Racing Tire Striker Australia Pty Ltd NGK Spark Plugs Callies Performance Products CP-Carrillo Supporting Sponsors Santhuff B & J Racing Transmissions Avtrac Maintenance Tracking Kounis Metal Industries Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Alky Pro Klik Creative CIC High Performance Coatings Final Drive K Craft Bullbars Speedflow Total Seal Piston Rings Victory Valves Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Applied Automotive Damiani Race Parts

Despite not securing a victory in Brodie Zappia's last race at the 53rd Annual Westernationals, the all-night effort and making it to the semi-finals are significant achievements to celebrate for the talented Supercharged Outlaws racer. The journey leading up to the event was filled with positivity, highlighted by the thrill of achieving a personal best time of 6.851 during testing. This stellar performance infused Brodie with confidence as he geared up for Western Australia's premier drag racing event. “We received a new Crow Cam with a custom grind to try and optimise the power to where we need it,” he said. “Between events we ground out my heads and made my new pushrods from Race MAX Direct fit so I could get the motor higher into the RPM range. We also put stiffer valve springs in and fitted a bigger bottom blower pulley. Combined with my new hybrid mechanical fuel injection system, everything came together.” The JK Construction Camaro also received a different tyre compound, and a change in the diff gears. All the changes continued to pay off as Brodie entered qualifying for the Westernationals, clicking off a 6.854 despite less conducive weather conditions. “We were still really rich in terms of fuel and timing, so we were able to pull some fuel out and still be safe in qualifying,” he said. “We repeated our testing pass and that made us very happy. Unfortunately in the second qualifier we came unstuck as the car surged at the top of first gear. At first I thought the intake pipe had blown off, but when I got out of the car I saw it was still attached... Back to the pits, we found pushrods sitting in the valley and rockers free-floating on their shafts.” Brodie has truly mastered the art of disassembling a motor this season, showcasing his expertise and dedication. Once more, it was an opportunity for everyone to come together and get their hands dirty, delving into the big block Chev to diagnose and resolve any issues. “Eventually we narrowed it down to lifter failure. I needed to make some runs back and forth to the workshop to find replacement parts and we decided that we would need to pull the heads and completely remove the rods and pistons to clean the bores.” Amidst the full-scale rebuild, Brodie squeezed in a mere hour of sleep beneath the car after diligently tightening rod bolts. Supported by his dedicated crew members Lachlan, Adam, Darren, and Stu, along with invaluable assistance from the ZR1 team and Aaron Deery, they collectively achieved yet another remarkable mechanical feat. Making the first round was still touch and go as the team buttoned up the car and Brodie drove it to the lanes. “We had Cliff Brockwell in the first round and we were the first pair. I rushed to get there, as Cliff was waiting to fire. The officials told us to slow down as they would wait for me to get properly suited up and ready. We went out there not knowing if the car would hold together but I went 0.027 on the tree and ran 7.16, getting off the throttle at 1000ft so as not to break out and we got the win. Everyone was very emotional after that run, seeing as we had almost a whole day involved in getting it rebuilt and ready to go. Thank you to Cliff and crew for waiting patiently for me to be ready”. The second round saw Brodie take on long time Zappia Racing friend Vince Belladonna. Once again Brodie was sharp on the tree and a 0.032 light plus a 7.04 (off the throttle early) on a 6.96 dial-in produced victory. That left the semi final against Norbert Claite where an intermittent electrical issue cost Brodie the race. “As I came up on RPM in the burnout the car shut off. All my lights were still on, so I knew it was not battery related. The car started up again and I went to do a second burnout and the same thing happened. My crew looked over everything as Norb backed up and eventually we just had to put it into the staging beams. I went .030 on the tree but about 20 feet out it died and stopped. I was able to re-fire and reverse the car out, and drive back to the pits. We found the positive coil wire from my MSD8 ignition box was a quarter turn loose on the screw, so it had vibrated loose. I was devastated, but relieved the car was still running and in one piece.” Although the Westernationals trophy didn't find its way into Brodie's hands, he continued to shine brightly, leaving an indelible mark on sponsors and team supporters who witnessed his unwavering dedication and remarkable performance. “We spent the weekend in the Dananni Hotshots tent and it was great to be able to celebrate the wins of my uncle John Zappia in Top Doorslammer and Benny Stevens in Top Fuel Motorcycle.  This season has taken a toll on me physically and financially, especially over the Christmas holidays. I don’t think I saw my parents for a couple of weeks even though I live with them! My number one priority is getting the car onto the track to meet the expectations of my valued sponsors and everybody who gets behind the team.” Brodie extends his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported him throughout his debut season in a blown car, with special appreciation to all the sponsors whose generous support has made it all possible. NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR JK Construction MAJOR SPONSORS Dananni Haulage Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon Jacked Supplements JP Pallets SUPPORTING SPONSORS High Speed Engineering Tony’s Auto Wreckers Allfast Torque Converters Crow Cams Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance CP Carrillo Rods and Pistons Klik Creative Kounis Group Race MAX Direct Advanced Product Design (APD) ADR Engines FUCHS Lubricants NGK Spark Plugs Mr T Racing B.L. & S.G. Lake Brick Cartage #procharger #dragrace #dragracer #brodiezappia #zappia #zappiaracing #johnzappia #motorplex #motorsports #australia #westernationals

Brodie Zappia’s season of thrashing is not yet over as his JK Construction Supercharged Outlaws Camaro suffered more engine damage during racing at the Slinglift Summer Slam last weekend. Just getting to the track had been an epic effort for Brodie, the nephew of Australian Top Doorslammer legend John Zappia, after his engine sustained damage just two weeks previously at the Goldenstates Championship. “We picked up a second hand crank the week before racing and got it off to Applied Automotive Engineering to get the rotating assembly balanced,” Brodie said. “Meanwhile we had ordered some Callies Ultra Enforcer rods to replace the two we couldn’t salvage from the Goldenstates. The other rods were resized and together with a new set of bearings we re-assembled the motor.” It was all hands-on deck among the Zappia Racing team. With John’s Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Top Doorslammer already prepared for the Summer Slam, Brodie’s Camaro got some love under the close eye of some of the most experienced crew members in the game. “We had all the crew helping on Thursday night before racing to get the crank in,” Brodie said. “It’s finicky and hard, so it was great to have them helping out and showing me the way.” Given the extent of the engine problems at the Goldenstates, it was an incredible feat to be ready again to keep fighting for the Supercharged Outlaws championship. Having the car started at 12.00pm the day of racing, after spending all night working on it, then to pack up and make the first pass at 3.00pm was a credit to Brodie’s never say die attitude. Something in the Zappia genes that John and Brodie inherited. Qualifying began well, with the JK Construction Camaro descending into the six-second zone once more thanks to a 6.999/201mph pass. “After the run we checked the filter for bearing material,” Brodie said. “There were a few more specks but that was to be expected with brand new bearings. John advised that I should probably drop the timing back down given the better air conditions.” Despite bringing the engine down to an even safer horsepower level, it surprised both Brodie and the team with a 7.04 in the second qualifying session. “With lowered timing we expected to go much slower, but we were very happy. The oil pressure and everything looked good on the run.” A routine inspection of the oil filter after the pass revealed some concerns. More metal was found and Brodie began asking the brains trust in the pits what their thoughts were. “Some people were telling me to pack it up, some people said you might get away with it. I decided to pull the sump with minutes to go. I checked a couple of bearings, but in retrospect I didn’t check one that was likely hurt. I showed Uncle John and a few people around the camp and the consensus was I probably shouldn’t run it. But I took a little bit of hope from other inputs and gave it a go. It was a coin-flip decision but unfortunately what was to come proved that I was wrong.” In the burnout for eliminations, Brodie felt the car start to harmonic. He looked at the gauges and saw there was zero oil pressure — not to mention smoke coming from the top of the motor. “We took it back to the pits and took off a very full nappy, revealing a hole in both sides of the sump and a rod out the side. Obviously, we were devastated. We pulled it down Monday, and then found that the number seven rod had kicked, damaging number eight in the process. One of the pistons rotated 180 degrees in the bore. The rear crank journal is black, dented and bent at the big end and there’s a few chips and cracks out of sleeves in the block. The cast iron block is cracked aswell. We also destroyed the intake and exhaust valves on number seven, the rocker and lifter, and the cam is bent as well.” The cause of the failure is not yet obvious to the team. “We haven’t found a reason just yet. We will continue to diagnose it and see what we can find so hopefully it doesn’t happen again. It wasn’t a result of the rush, because we triple-checked everything and had a lot of people looking over the motor as it went back together.” Once again, Brodie is staring down another intense few weeks as he works to get the motor back together. “It’s getting parts that is tough. Hopefully we can get new valves from the States in time. The only other option would be to sit out and wait until parts get here. But that’s not something I want to do. I haven’t been short of trying and it is not going to stop now even with plenty of curveballs. Somehow and some way we will be back out to fight for that championship”. Brodie and the team wish to thank all our sponsors and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New year, and hope to catch up with as many of you as possible in 2024. Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: @zappiaracing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Naming Rights Sponsor: JK Construction Major Sponsors: Dannani Haulage (Hotshots) Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon Jacked Supplements JP Pallets Supporting Sponsors: High Speed Engineering Tony’s Auto Wreckers Allfast Torque Converters Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance CP Carrillo Rods and Pistons Klik Creative Kounis Group Race MAX Direct Advanced Product Design (APD) FUCHS Lubricants NGK Spark Plugs Mr T Racing B.L. & S.G. Lake Brick Cartage Photo Credits: On The Limit Photography and Phil Reeves Sports Photographer Social Media & Marketing by ROBMEDIA

John Zappia’s Christmas will be more enjoyable with another trophy added to the collection and lots of new fans after an appearance at the Dananni Hotshots Christmas party. The Dananni Hotshots/Fuch Lubricants Monaro has been in high demand recently, with Zappia and his team invited to the opening of Dananni’s new premises in High Wycombe. Zappia fired up the supercharged Noonan engine several times to the delight of Dananni’s staff and guests, giving them just a taste of the 3500 horsepower on tap. “Dananni Hotshots are now one of our longest and most committed partners to Zappia Racing so it was great to be able to show a lot of people what Top Doorslammer racing is all about,” Zappia said. “There were people who had never seen a car like this before, while others were long-time fans, and it was a pleasure to join them all for a great evening.” With the festivities completed, the focus of the team turned to the Summer Slam last Saturday night, where the third round of the WA Top Doorslammer Championship took place. With mixed results so far this season, Zappia turned the situation around with a strong performance that saw him top qualify and power through to the winner’s circle. “We decided to skip the first session of qualifying in the afternoon and focus our energy on the compulsory qualifying session,” he said. “It was the right decision as we were able to hit a 5.781 right off the bat. The speed was a little down, but that was because I got the parachute out slightly early". "The weather conditions were the best we’ve seen so far this season, meaning it would be important to stay on top of power levels in the Noonan engine. More power can be good, but only if it can be harnessed on the track". “We had a solo run for the elimination round, and after a 1.04 60 foot time in qualifying we needed to launch harder. We got that with 0.969 60 foot time but then it rattled the tyres further out. I pedalled for a 5.85 spot which earned a spot in the A Final". ”The density altitude and water grains continued to improve, with just 700 feet of air as the final against Frank Taylor’s Chevelle approached". “We were watching the weather closely and we decided to tame the motor because the air was getting better, it can actually get too good. We were keeping the engine in the safe zone but it still took off in the final! It went 0.958 to the 60 foot marker and it kept on pulling. A 5.666 at 407.58kmh was a tremendous pass, and combined with a 0.007 reaction time we really had some numbers". "Congratulations to Frank on making it to the final and we hope to see his car back in the fives really soon". ”Zappia Racing will now complete a full maintenance routine on the Dananni Hotshots/Fuchs Lubricants Monaro before sending it east for the next round of the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship at Tailem Bend". “We have a full rebuild coming for the motor with some fresh CP-Carrillo rods and a few more goodies going in,” Zappia said. “We’ve gone back to an MSD Pro Mag so we can make sure we have good supplies of spares. It’s going back to what we know in some ways, but it’s mainly about making sure we have reliability and the depth of spare parts rather than being at the bleeding edge.” "May all our sponsors, supporters and fans have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year". "Looking forward to seeing many sponsors and fans at Tailem Bend Dragway in the New Year (13-14th January) with a big field of Top Doorslammers, Top Bike and Top Fuel". Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: Zappia Racing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Social Media Management: ROBMEDIA Joint Naming Rights Sponsors Dananni Haulage (Hotshots) FUCHS Lubricants Australasia Major Sponsors Crow Cams Australia Pty Ltd Tony's Auto Wreckers W.A. Suspensions Noonan Race Engineering MoTeC Hoosier Racing Tire Striker Australia Pty Ltd NGK Spark Plugs Callies Performance Products CP-Carrillo Supporting Sponsors Santhuff B & J Racing Transmissions Avtrac Maintenance Tracking Kounis Metal Industries Taylor Tyres Pty Ltd Alky Pro Klik Creative CIC High Performance Coatings Final Drive K Craft Bullbars Speedflow Total Seal Piston Rings Victory Valves Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance Applied Automotive Photo Credit: On The Limited Photography and Phil Reeves Sports Photographer

Brodie Zappia has joined the six-second and 200mph clubs in rapid succession with stunning runs at Dragway at The Bend and Perth Motorplex to open his racing career with the updated JK Construction Camaro. During the off season, Brodie added a blow-through Carburetted F3 ProCharger combination to the naturally aspirated Big Block Chev motor he used last year, with new custom designed pistons from CP Carrillo, and Ultra Enforcer Steel Rods from Callies. The APD Billet Enforcer 1200CFM carburettor was supplied by Race MAX Direct to deliver the fuel mixture, allowing for a significant boost in horsepower. Another addition to the car was the “Zappia style wing” which was supplied and made by Dave at Kounis Group. Getting the combination onto the track required plenty of troubleshooting, with Allfast Torque Converters helping to get the gearbox and converter into shape during testing with Sandro Principe at SCM Race Engines and Performance's dyno. “We found the rocker gear had lifted off the cylinder head and caused the motor to backfire, blowing the hat off the carby during our second run on the dyno.” Brodie explained. “We had planned to be testing on track that day, but instead we just had to go back to the drawing board to get the car running and load up to take it to Tailem Bend for the Spring Nationals“. With so much added power, the Zappia Racing team kept finding weak links. The driveshaft was next to fail, snapping on the hit of the throttle for Brodie’s first run at Dragway at The Bend.
 “A few phone calls were made and we were able to get a new driveshaft made in Adelaide. Big thanks to Hardy Spicer for the short turnaround time, and to Mum and Dad for doing the three and a half hour round trip to Adelaide and back. I was able to get back in the car and complete my half-track familiarisation pass before making my first full track pass, a 7.21/203mph, followed by a 7.22/210mph pass“. “The first full track pass found another breaking point, as the windshield imploded and landed in my lap. Thanks to Rob Taylor who supplied some polycarbonate sheet to make a two piece windscreen to get through the rest of the event“. Thankfully, the issues settled down from there and Brodie was able to clock a 7.01/214.55mph personal best to finish off his weekend. While eliminations racing was scrapped due to scheduling issues in Tailem Bend, Brodie returned to Perth optimistic about what was to come. The team had the gearbox checked over and the converter tightened up by Allfast Torque Converters to produce more even acceleration, while a broken valve spring was also found and replaced in a mad thrash the night before the morning of race day. One might think Brodie had found nearly every problem, but after his first pass at Perth Motorplex there was something new to fix.
 “On the non-compulsary qualifier we shook the tyres, pedalled and went 7.33/194mph, then the chutes ripped out the back of the car, in almost a mirror image to Uncle John's chute incident in 2020” he said. “Fortunately I was on the brakes and I pulled up with plenty of time to spare, as made the corner. We found the rear of the chassis had cracked and snapped through where the parachute mounts were. Thanks to Tony Wood from Tony Wood Fabrications who came to the rescue to make some new mounting points, which were lower on the chassis and worked well for the remainder of the meeting”. The next run saw another milestone, with a 6.97/206mph pass resulting in celebrations on the start line from the whole Zappia family and crew. It was then time for eliminations, where Brodie took on Kasey McClure in the first round. A -0.003 red light from Kasey to Brodie’s coincidental 0.003 green light saw him take his first Supercharged Outlaws round win.
 That set up the A-Final against Frank Taylor. Brodie was stellar once again on the tree with a 0.007 giving him the early advantage. From there a 7.05/187mph backing off, on a 6.93 dial-in produced victory as Frank blew a burst panel towards the end of his run.
 “I was stoked, after all the trouble we faced and all the issues we overcame it was worth it,” Brodie said. “The many hours that myself, Lachlan, John, Mum, Dad and everyone else around us put into the car to get me to the track all paid off. We definitely weren’t expecting a win this early, but it made all the time, money and effort worth it”. “The thank you list is long and I want to thank all the following people who have helped in various ways: Uncle John and Zappia Racing for welcoming me to the Zappia Racing Team and for all his knowledge, assistance and long hours in building this combination – also the help of all his crew who all contributed on crew nights. Lachlan Vanderwel who, with myself, has spent upwards of 900 hours in the workshop in the last since April and co-drove the car and trailer to The Bend with me. Mum and Dad for all the support and many late nights helping and feeding us. Simon “Gonzo” Travaglini for the Powerglide and 258mm Bolt together converter assembly, and the countless hours and overnighters he spent developing the combination to take the extra power in time to race at The Bend. Tony Wood from Tony Wood Fabrications for the many late nights welding and strengthening the chassis. Brendon Luke, for kindly taking his personal carby off his Altered, driving a two hour round trip to Race MAX Direct, so I could borrow his APD Billet Enforcer carby after discovering the one I had wouldn't deliver enough fuel. George Bukureshliev from Race MAX Direct, for sending the carby and spare parts to get us up and running after the dyno mishap. Sandro Principe from SCM Race Engines and Performance for the use of the dyno and his assistance in organising the carby from George. My boss, Dennis from High Speed Engineering, for dropping everything and machining essential parts that I needed. All the boys at work, Andrew, Cam, Marshall, Matt, Sara, Gary and Tom, for their help and teaching me with designing, machining, programming and laser cutting my own parts on their own time. Aaron Deery from ADR Engines for his help assembling the motor. Applied Automotive for machining the block, heads and balancing the rotating assembly. Geoff Simpson for help with the rear end set up. Jeremy from Klik Creative for the graphic design and the many hours spent getting the car looking as good as it does. Adam from Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon who also came to the workshop to help get the car ready for race day. All this would not be possible without the many sponsors who have come on-board for the 2023-2024 season making all of this possible for an 18 year old apprentice. Naming Rights Sponsor: JK Construction, thanks to Luke and Natalie. Major Sponsors: Dannani Haulage, thanks to Danni Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon, thanks to Adam Jacked Supplements, thanks to Paul JP Pallets - Your Pallet and Steel Cage Experts, thanks to Jason Supporting Sponsors: High Speed Engineering Tony’s Auto Wreckers Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance CP Carrillo Rods and Pistons Klik Creative Kounis Group Race MAX Direct Advanced Product Design (APD) Fuchs Lubricants NGK Spark Plugs Mr T Racing Scruffy

Brodie Zappia’s first season in Supercharged Outlaws has been one of near constant work to produce results, and nothing changed at the 49th Annual Goldenstates Championship when engine dramas saw him forced to miss the final round. The lead up to the event was positive, with a personal best 6.94 run in testing for the JK Construction Camaro. Changes to the suspension helped cure tyre shake problems from the last few events, while the shifter relay was also changed to prevent early gear changes. Come qualifying, things were still on track. A 6.961 put Zappia third on the list and set up a first round race against Norbert Claite, who was returning to racing with his gorgeous ’70 Camaro. “We dialled safe and I concentrated on getting a clean, green light to make sure we got the win,” Zappia said. “I didn’t want to go red or break out in the first round by putting too much pressure on.” In the semi final, Zappia took on Greg James, where things started to veer off course. “As I was backing up from my burnout I noticed my oil pressure dropping to around 30psi,” he explained. “The pressure would come back as I revved the motor, so I didn’t think anything of it. As the race began I left with the holeshot, 0.087 to 0.284, and I knew I had a big margin because I could hear Greg’s car leaving the line a while after mine, yet we only had 0.006 difference in our dial-in. My run was good until I felt the car start to labor at half track. I watched the RPM drop, Greg drove around me and backed off, where I was then able to drive back around him, and even though I got to the finish line first I was worried about the motor. But, it started again in the deep end so I didn’t think anything more of it.” The team conducted their usual maintenance in the pits and found a shorting battery terminal, which might have explained some of the issues, but then discovered bearing material in the oil filter only a few minutes before our scheduled run. “We drained the oil and it looked like metallic paint,” Zappia said. “At that point we had no other option but to just try and stage the car. We put new oil in and I was able to start and drive it around to the lanes.” When the fire-up signal was given for the final round of Supercharged Outlaws, Zappia’s engine refused to start. What would have likely been another fantastic race against Kasey McClure was denied. “Eventually I just had to stop trying, get out of the car and congratulate the McClure family. I was really confident in the car and how it had performed to that point. Every time Kasey and I race it comes down to the wire and I would really have liked to have been in one of those races again. Kasey was only 0.017 off her dial-in, so even if I did make it to the start line it would've been a tough race to win!” Following the event, the team took a deep dive into the motor and discovered many things not to like. Three rods had no bearings left, while the rods themselves along with the rod bolts had been subjected to extreme heat, turning gold, purple, blue and black. The crank also looked questionable. “It looks like we will need a whole new bottom end to go in the car,” a disappointed Zappia said. “But we’re not giving up. I’m aiming to be racing again in two weeks. We got the crank checked out at Applied Automotive and they determined it is unusable. I've found another crank locally that'll do the trick. From there, we will need to order new bearings and see what rods we can get, perhaps some more Ultra Enforcer Steel rods from Callies.” “This motor is not a big budget deal. It is supposed to be basic and affordable, though it is getting pretty expensive. But we are going to work hard to be back to represent our sponsors and continue our quest for a Supercharged Outlaws championship.” Website: www.zappiaracing.com Facebook: @zappiaracing YouTube: www.YouTube.com/@zappiaracing Naming Rights Sponsor: JK Construction Major Sponsors: Dannani Haulage (Hotshots) Pedders Suspension and Brakes Booragoon Jacked Supplements JP Pallets Supporting Sponsors: High Speed Engineering Tony’s Auto Wreckers Allfast Torque Converters Impact Heavy Equipment Maintenance CP Carrillo Rods and Pistons Klik Creative Kounis Group Race MAX Direct Advanced Product Design (APD) FUCHS Lubricants NGK Spark Plugs Mr T Racing B.L. & S.G. Lake Brick Cartage Photo Credits: Always An Adventure Photography and Phil Reeve Sports Photographer Social Media & Marketing by ROBMEDIA