Update: New dates for Drag Challenge 2022/23

Update, 4 November:

We’re pleased to announce the new dates for Street Machine Drag Challenge 2022/23:

• Monday 30 January: Rego Day, Heathcote Park Raceway
• Tuesday 31 January: Day One, Heathcote Park Raceway
  
• Wednesday 1 February: Day Two, South Coast Raceway
• Thursday 2 February: Day Three, Mildura Sunset Strip
• Friday 3 February: Day Four, Heathcote Park Raceway
• Saturday 4 February: Day Five, Heathcote Park Raceway

We realise the new dates may not suit everyone. If that is the case for you, please email scott.taylor@wheelsmedia.com.au and ask for a refund by Wednesday 9 November at 5pm. Please give the name of the account and the full amount.

No refunds will be offered after this date, so get cracking! Refunds could take over a week to come through, so please be patient. Refunds are the only option; we are no longer able to offer roll-overs.

Thanks to all our entrants and sponsors; we’re pumped to see you all at Heathcote Park on 30 January!

Update, 13 October:

Street Machine Drag Challenge 2022, due to run 25-29 October, has been postponed until early next year.

This week’s crazy weather in Victoria, on top of all the rain we’ve had in the past few weeks, has meant we would now be unable to deliver a safe and satisfactory event for our entrants.

We would like to thank Heathcote Park Raceway, South Coast Raceway and the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association, all of which have gone above and beyond to help us pivot with each challenge thrown at us.

We would also like to thank our entrants, as well as our incredible sponsors who make the event possible: Haltech, Turbosmart, Tuff Mounts, Speed Pro, Pacemaker Headers, GJ Drivelines, Kool Wrap Heat Protection and Vibrant Performance.

At the moment, we are looking at new dates for late January, and if that is the case, rest assured it will still be considered the 2022 running of Drag Challenge; we’ll also have a 2023 Drag Challenge event later in the year.

The story to here:

The biggest Street Machine Drag Challenge in the event’s history is set to go down in Victoria, 24-29 October.

With our sold-out 2021 hit-out disrupted by COVID, we already have almost 300 of Australia’s toughest street cars ready to rock for the ultimate drag & drive test.

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UPDATE, 1 OCTOBER

Due to a very wet winter, South Coast Raceway will be unable to host Drag Challenge on Wednesday 26 October.

Unfortunately, the pits are water logged and it looks like they are not going to be dry any time soon. We thank South Coast Raceway for keeping us informed of the situation, which has allowed us to make alternative arrangements.

The new plan looks like this: Drag Challenge 2022 will start on Tuesday 25 October at Heathcote as previously planned, then we will travel the Mildura for a night round on Wednesday 26 October, followed by a day round, again at Mildura, on Thursday 27 October.

We will then return to Heathcote for a night round on Friday 28 October, with the event winding up at Heathcote on Saturday 29 October.

This means two night rounds this year, which should be very cool. For those who feel they will be short changed in terms of kilometres, never fear, we will extend the routes to and from Mildura. The night racing will give you plenty of time to complete the route and the mandatory stops.

Note: For those planning on camping at Heathcote Park, be aware that the pits are quite damp and it may be wise to have a plan B for your accommodation.

DRAG CHALLENGE 2022 DATES

• Monday 24 Oct: Rego day, Heathcote Park. Gates open 8.00am, registration from 9.00am
  
• Tuesday 25 Oct: Day one, Heathcote Park. Gates open 7.00am, driver's briefing 8.30am, racing from 9.00am to 3.00pm
• Wednesday, 26 Oct: Day two, Sunset Strip. Racing 4pm to 10pm
  
• Thursday, 27 Oct: Day three, Sunset Strip. Gates open 7.00am, racing 9.00am to 3.00pm
  
• Friday, 28 Oct: Day four, Heathcote Park. Gates open 2.00pm, racing from 4.00pm to 10.00pm

• Saturday 29 Oct: Day five, Heathcote Park. Gates open 8am, racing from 10.00am to 4.00pm

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The spirit and the rules of the event stay as they have been since our first hit-out in 2014 – street cars driven from track to track, under their own steam and without support vehicles.

Winners in most of the classes are determined by adding together each racer’s best time from each day’s racing. The racer with the lowest number at the end of the event wins!

The exception is Vibrant Performance Dial Your Own, which works differently to the usual format. At DC, each DYO racer submits the timeslip of their choice on Day One and then aims to get as close to that over the next four days. The racer with the smallest spread between their times is the class winner.

NB: If you would like to change classes, you can do so when you check in on rego day.

And if this is your first Drag Challenge, check out the video above.

LICENCE INFORMATION

Racing at Heathcote Park Raceway is under IHRA accreditation, while Sunset Strip operates under ANDRA. All the usual rules for your car apply at Drag Challenge, but here is a quick guide if you're unsure what licence and tech you need:

Note:

• 12.00 = 7.643 on the eighth mile
• 10.50 = 6.688 on the eighth mile
• 10.00 = 6.369 on the eighth mile

1. Does your car have a modified floor pan? This includes floor, rear wheel wells or boot floor and/or any alteration to ADR safety items, but does not include rust repairs. If the answer is yes and the car runs quicker than 12.0 on the quarter, it will require ANDRA or IHRA licence and tech. If the answer is no, go to question 2
2. Is your car equipped with OEM (factory-fitted) four-wheel discs and OEM driver’s airbag? If yes go to question 4, if no, go to question 3.
3. Is your car quicker than 10.50 over the quarter mile? If the answer is no then all you require is a compliant helmet, along with long sleeves, long pants and enclosed shoes. If the answer is yes you will require an ANDRA or IHRA licence and tech.
4. If your car has OEM factory fitted airbags and OEM four-wheel discs you can run down to 10.0 on the quarter mile. If it is quicker than 10.0 it will require ANDRA or IHRA licence and tech.
5. If you have an IHRA licence and tech you will need to download the ANDRA event licence to race to your full potential at Mildura. This will cost $50 and be the responsibility of the racer to organise pre-ee. ANDRA will accept IHRA medical, but ANDRA will require an ANDRA technical inspection. Failure to organise an event licence may see you limited to slower times at Mildura. Failure to obey those limitations may result in disqualification from the event. Download the ANDRA event licence here.
6. There is a free ANDRA tech day for Victorian entrants on 1 October at at PowerPlus Race Fuels on 118 Swann Drive, Derrimut in Victoria, from 10am to 2pm. More info here.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Spectators are welcome at all five days of racing. Tickets are available on the gate at each track, $25 for adults, kids 13 and under free.

A five-day pass will be available for $100 on day one, which includes a free-shirt.

With 300 entrants, it is vital we leave room in the pits for the racers, so please park your car in the car park, not the pits.

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DRAG CHALLENGE 2022 CLASSES

SPEED PRO SIX-CYLINDER
HALTECH RADIAL BLOWN
TURBOSMART OUTLAW BLOWN
TUFF MOUNTS 235 BLOWN
KOOL WRAP 235 ASPIRATED
PACEMAKER RADIAL ASPIRATED
GJ DRIVELINES OUTLAW ASPIRATED
VIBRANT PERFORMANCE DIAL YOUR OWN

Thanks to our entrants and incredible sponsors, we couldn’t do it without you!