Dean Gunson has tasted plenty of success at his local Alice Springs Inland Dragway, including taking the Desert Nationals Modified Bike win at the 2021 running of the event.
Now the 2022 CADRA Club and Modified Bike Champion is looking forward to having another tilt at it this weekend, with the 24-25 August running of the event to mark the first round of the new 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship.
“The Desert Nationals is always a really good and well organised event and I won the first one that I entered, so it is a favourite,” Gunson said.
“I had been out there to watch for a few years and decided to have a crack – this year will be my third time taking part.
“The Modified Bike bracket is really competitive and a great bracket with a great bunch of guys to race with and against – I always go to any event with the approach of just having fun, and a win is even better. I find I have a better mindset when I go in without expectations, but anytime you get the win it is definitely the cherry on top!”
As an Alice Springs local, it is no surprise that 50-year-old Gunson has plenty of nice things to say about his local track and the club that runs it.
“It is an awesome facility, I think we are exceptionally lucky to have it here,” Gunson said.
“The CADRA (Central Australian Drag Racing Association) works tirelessly at it, especially the President and Secretary; it is primo.”
In addition to this weekend’s Desert Nationals, Gunson and his 2017 Kawasaki ZX14 might be spotted at other ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship events this season as well.
“I ran at Mildura last year and I wouldn’t mind heading over to Perth to experience a new track, we will see how things go,” he said, while thanking his sponsors Fast Ass Couriers, Moto Worx Alice Springs, James Heenan Painting Service and Duo Plumbing and Gas for their support.
The Desert Nationals will officially open the new ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship across August 24 and 25, 2024. For event information, visit www.cadra.com.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
2024/2025 ANDRA REGIONAL SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP DATES
Round one – August 24-25 – Alice Springs Inland Dragway – Desert Nationals
Round two – September 21-22* – Mildura’s Sunset Strip – Sunset Nationals
Round three – November 22-23 – Perth Motorplex – Goldenstates
Round four – December 7-8* – Portland’s South Coast Raceway – South Coast Nationals
Round five – February 8-9** – Dragway at The Bend
Round six – February 14-15 – Mildura’s Sunset Strip – Twilight Nationals
Round seven – March 15-16 – Whyalla’s Steel City Raceway – event name TBC
Round eight – TBC – Dragway at The Bend – ANDRA Grand Final
*track will host an optional test day on the Friday
**event will double as a track championship round
The Australian National Drag Racing Association Ltd, or ANDRA for short, is the drag racing sanctioning body of Australia. The organization was created in 1973 from a more drag racing oriented faction of the Australian Hot Rod Federation. Today ANDRA sanctions races throughout Australia and throughout the year at all levels, from Top Fuel to Junior Dragster, on everything from temporary regional tracks to international standard facilities in capital cities. ANDRA and its members make drag racing a family-friendly, safe sport. So come along as a spectator or bring your street car to an “off-street” event and enjoy the excitement that is Australian drag racing. www.andra.com.au
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