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, mos ...

. 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. It is a form of forced induction that is mechanically powered (usually by ...

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 ge ...

s which are fueled by

methanol Methanol (also called methyl alcohol and wood spirit, amongst other names) is an organic chemical compound and the simplest aliphatic Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol, with the chemical formula (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often ab ...

. The minimum weight break for these vehicles is 2700 lbs (1225 kg). It is similar to the Pro Modified class as defined by the

NHRA The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a 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 motorsport sanction ...

. 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. Founded in Adelaide, it was an automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter that sold cars under its own marque in Australia. It was ...

, Ford,

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 Man ...

and

Chevrolet Chevrolet ( ) is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM). In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks. Due to the promi ...

. 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 secu ...

, therefore Funny Car style bodies are not allowed in this class. Some notable drivers competing in this category are John Zappia, Peter Kapiris, Lance Larcombe, 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 in North America after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The Carrier Era 1971-1987 The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larr ...

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 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, WA
Runner up: John Zappia Winner: Mark Belleri Round 3: 40th Westernationals 5–6 March, Perth Motorplex, WA
Runner up: Maurice Fabietti Winner: John Zappia 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: John Zappia Round 6: Round 7: 2011 Castrol EDGE Winternationals Willowbank Raceway, 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, Perth Motorplex, WA
WINNER: Peter Kapiris Round 3: 2012 41st Westernationals 3–4 March, Perth Motorplex, 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 Willowbank Raceway, 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 John Zappia, 7 June 2015, FUCHS Winternationals, Willowbank Raceway Speed: 258.42 mph (415.89 km/h) P. Kapiris, Sydney Dragway, May 2013.

Track records

Perth Motorplex Track ET Record - 5.683 Seconds John Zappia, 6 February 2016 Track Speed Record - 253.86 mph (408.55 km/h) John Zappia, 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

* Perth Motorplex Kwinana Beach, WA * Western Sydney International Dragway Eastern Creek, NSW * Willowbank Raceway 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. The city has nearly 53% of the Northern Territory's population, with 139,902 at the 2021 census. It is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly of the Australi ...

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

Past champions

References

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