THE FIRST QUARTER

WARWICK DRAGWAY CHRISTENS ITS NEW QUARTER-MILE SURFACE WITH A BIG DOSE OF NITRO!

- SIMON TELFORD

WARWICK Dragway has long been one of the Street Machine team's favourite tracks to race and spectate at. Only 100km down the road from Willowbank, Warwick has a relaxed country charm that's kept us coming back regularly 20-odd years for events like Dragfest, the Six Banger Nats and our own Drag Challenge Weekend.

In 2020, the State and Federal governments announced the track was to receive $1.9 million in funding for upgrades, which would include an extension of the track from an eighth-mile to a full quarter.

What followed was a stack of hard work, punctuated by COVID-related dramas and months of inclement weather. Track volunteers mave poured their passion and energy into the project over the long haul, overcoming countless obstacles to have the venue back in action late last year in eighth-mile form for the third Junga Bunga No-Prep event.

The new quarter-mile has now been christened at the track's Grand Opening event in March, sponsored by 1320 Motorsport. Saturday was qualifying, with the addition of the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars and wheelstanders as headliners, and Sunday was race day!

The formal proceedings saw Federal National Party leader David Littleproud, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi, Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley and Councillors Stephen Tancred and Andrew Gale join forces with Warwick Dragway stalwarts John and Chris Loy to officially open the track. Before the ribbon was cut and the nitro action got underway, Littleproud gave a short speech: