A 16-Car “Wild Bunch” Experiment At Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles

Axle Weiss

Apr 12, 2008

Original ‘Wild Bunch’ forerunner Camp Stanley is headed to Australia for next weekend’s Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway, which, for the first time, will feature 16-car fields in Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock alongside an action packed support program.

As a founding member of Australia’s Top Doorslammer category (known as Pro Mod in the US), Stanley has seen its evolution and will have a close eye on the sport as it takes it’s next step at the Queensland quarter mile next week.

“The original ‘Wild Bunch’ concept was a great way to create and be paid to race many different types of vehicles,” said Stanley.

“And I am happy to say I have been able to watch it grow and evolve from those very beginnings, and it indeed has been wonderful to behold!

“By allowing (Top Doorslammer) to grow and not stagnating it with too many rules, while still keeping it in check safety wise, I think the class has nowhere to go but up. And this 16-car experiment has the ability to see it do just that.

“I have heard all of the pros and cons being voiced by some of the competitors, but to be honest I think it is a perfect concept – there are more than enough cars to fill a 16-car field at any of the National Points Rounds, and just look at the quality of cars in that “B consolation bracket” at Western Sydney International Dragway in February!”

According to Stanley, the evolution of the qualifying format is integral to the growth of the sport as a whole.

“If we keep going along in this direction, I see Drag Racing continuing to grow at a nice and steady pace for years to come,” he said.

“Just looking at the crowds at drag races today will tell any sane person that the rest of the world loves our sport as much as we do. So I only see it growing and expanding as more and more corporate money recognises its high visibility factor.”

While Stanley resides in the United States, he spends plenty of time overseas, watching the growth from “humble beginnings” first hand. And he couldn’t be prouder …

“From our humble beginnings the growth of this sport and our category has been phenomenal,” said Stanley.

“When we started out we ran the gamut from Utes, as you know them, to what at the time were sleek race cars, such as the Datsun 300x – and it still gives me great pleasure to be recognised as one of the forerunners of Australia’s Top Doorslammer and the US’s Pro Mod classes.

“In watching it grow I have been fortunate enough to attend international drag races featuring these kinds of cars for almost 20 years now!