Australian Drifting Grand Prix

5 South Aussies in the top 10, including some of our very own...

The first round of Australia's new national drifting championship was held at the Calder Park Thunderdome on September 24th and 25th. Drivers from all over Australia came to put on a show. A handful of south aussies, including our sponsored driver Simon Michelmore and Garage 7's co-owner, Declan Walsh.

The track layout put the clipping points on two concrete walls. This made for some serious carnage throughout the event.

Saturday's qualifying saw 5 SA entrants make it into the top 10 spots:

1. LUKE FINK
2. ANDREW PARASKEVAS
3. TOM MONKHOUSE
4. ANTHONY CECE
5. SIMON MICHELMORE
6. CHRISTIAN PICKERING
7. SHANE BERESFORD
8. DECLAN WALSH
9. DANNY VAHOUMIS
10. NATHAN WEISSEL
11. JOHN PAPADOPOULOS
12. MARK URE
13. NIGEL PETRIE
14. MATT RUSSELL
15. HAYDEN BUCKHAM
16. NICHOLAS VEN-GEEST

On sunday competitors battled it out in the traditional manner. SA drivers Simon Michelmore, Hayden Buckham, Tom Monkhouse, Christian Pickering, and Declan Walsh, all made it into the top 16.

With Declan's more serious track car still deep in the build, he drove the Garage 7 workshop track hack/missile. Its very basic but reliable setup performed flawlessly all weekend.

Simon was eventually knocked out battling Luke Fink for a spot in the top 4. Luke then also knocked out our trusty missile in the battle for the final.

Initially we were stoked to have even qualified and we ended up placing fourth in a car worth less than a nice push bike. Not a bad weekend at all.

Congratulations to Luke Fink for taking the win!

Results for round 1

1. LUKE FINK
2. TARQUIN “DARKHORSE” VAN ROOYEN
3. ANDREW “AGGES” PARESKAVAS
4. DECLAN WALSH
5. SIMON MICHELMORE
6. CHRISTIAN “THE CORPORAL” PICKERING
7. HAYDEN BUCKHAM
8. MOHAMED ELHAOULI
9. ”TURBO” TOM MONKHOUSE
10. DANNY VAHOUMIS
11. NATHAN WEISSEL
12. NIGEL PETRIE
13. MITCHELL JEFFERY
14. MATT HAMBRIDGE
15. RYAN “SLIDE” CUMMINGS
16. STEPHEN PEMBURY
17. ANTHONY CECE
18. SHANE BERESFORD
19. JOHN “PAPA” PAPADOPOLOUS
20. MATT RUSSELL
21. HAI-DANG LE
22. MICHAEL PROSENIK
23. ROBBIE MCLAREN
24. ANDREW PARISSIS
25. CHARLIE JACKSON
26. DAMIEN CROXON
27. MATT PORTER
28. NIC WILSON
29. JIM TURNER
30. SCOTT “IRON” MAIDEN
31. JOE “WAGGAS” WAGHORN
32. NICHOLAS  ”BANGER”VAN GEEST

A huge thanks goes to the hard working boys and girls at Track Battle for putting on a fantastic event!

More info on the Australia Drifting Grand Pix can be found here...