Extreme would be the only word to describe The International Top Fuel Challenge at Western Sydney International Dragway on the weekend.

Heat, rain, hail, shine and a ridiculous amount of humidity brought out the very best in the Darren Morgan Wicked Quick/Hi-Tec Oils team.

New race partner High Roller Energy drink could not have come at a better time for the still new DMR team who appreciated a refreshing and tasteful means of combating the heat.

After an all night drive in the Wicked Quick Crew Bus, Friday was set up day for the Mildura based team. It was early to bed after a Sydney thunderstorm left the team doubting whether the event would even begin on Saturday.

Saturday dawned hot and humid and it was left to new tuning ace Terry Sparrow to work out the calculation that would allow the 8000 horsepower engine to get enough oxygen to burn the 100 gallons a minute of nitro methane.

"Humidity and track temperature will play a huge part in the outcome of this race" commented Terry prior to getting his driver into seventh qualifying position for Sunday's eliminations.

Saturday's qualifying sessions proved again that this team will become a major player for a championship in the future. A burnt head gasket is not usually considered a major problem. Under normal circumstances this requires only a good dose of CRC and a bunch of rags to clean up the aftermath.

This was not the case as the stunning black tattoo inspired dragster pushed a head gasket out causing a small fire which burnt through a fuel line, not a nice thing to have happen. The resulting conflagration had taken its toll on every wire, fuel line, and parachute and body panel from the driver’s seat back.

Luckily the huge rear wing which provides the enormous down force at 300 miles per hour had not suffered any heat damage.

The decision was made that the dragster would not be running the final qualifying session. "We had to make a call, one car could have bumped us out of the field but to run this car without checking every aspect would be craziness" commented team Crew Chief Col Beasley.

The cool and collected Col, with his black Akubra took control of the "pit thrash" which can tests teams with many more years of experience than this one. The DMR guys were put through their paces in a baptism of fire.

"These guys are great, they stripped the car down to its socks and undies. They re-wired, re-plumbed, changed computers and performed the normal maintenance. We were in bed by 3am Sunday" smiled the Mildura property developer.

"We are qualified and heading into the first round against Phil (Read), we were not going to let a fire stop us from racing" a confident Darren Morgan was heard to say several times during Saturday night.

Team tuner, Terry "Captain Jack" Sparrow's headaches were not over as the fire had caused the computer to short out, no computer, no race! It looked like "Morgs" was going to be a no show. No way, was the cry from the team, we are here to race and the search was on for a replacement "brain".

With a "couple" of cans of the High Roller Energy Drink under their belts, the team packed up and headed for a well earned sleep before Sunday's eliminations.

Former team mate, Jeremy Searle picked up the necessary hardware and flew from Melbourne to Sydney on the 6am flight. With the ever helpful Matt Philpin from Kelly & Young Transport at Wetherill Park getting up early to ensure the computer and Jeremy made it out to the track. "It's great to have people like that, which will help out at the last minute. Both Jeremy and Matt understand what we're doing, and what it takes to win. Thanks guys," Darren said "from me and the team."

Behind the scenes of a Top Fuel team is quite amazing; most people will never see or experience the little things that make up the big picture. Even the team mates, because of their own pressures, only hear of the incidents which make up a day.

What happened Sunday in the space of a few precious hours and minutes could fill a book. The little things like team photographer, Travis Beasley slicing one of his fingers on a fan and requiring medical attention, the tow vehicle refusing to start 5 minutes before first round, the frustrations of deliveries arriving late and lower end technician Dave Thornton noticing a leak in the manifold with 15 minutes to tow out.

Wicked Quick/Hi Tec Oils dragster became a centre of attention when Scott Broad, who, less than one hour prior to the first round proposed to his startled girlfriend Sam while she was sat in the driver’s seat. Luckily for him she said yes and all was captured on film for prosperity.

The team thrashed and thrashed hard, with three new crew members, this was their initiation process. The car was ready for the first round against current Top Fuel Champion Phil Read.

Had any part, fastener, cable or electronic piece been overlooked in the course of the day? The answer would be found out on the fire up, tense moments in the staging lanes as the car fired first time, no oil leaks and no electronic hiccups. The team had proved itself worthy.

After a strong burnout and launch, Darren pedalled the car five times in a fight to get traction. It was close for a while, however Read took the first round battle and it was home time for the Morgan team.

"I can’t thank the team enough, the engine held together. I was waiting for the bang but it never came, these guys are as good as you can get"

The ups and downs did not stop. A huge hail storm caught everyone off guard. With hail the size of cricket balls battering the trailers and cars it was hard to imagine that moments earlier the track temperature was at 59 degrees.

That’s the joys of racing - bring it on.

Till next time.....

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