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ARC Customers Have Horror Weekend at Nitro Champs

May 08

John & Mick Trinders much anticipated racing debut at the Nitro Champs, ended in tears after a high speed accident left the new car severely damaged. In what looked like being a dream debut, the car had qualified on only its 3rd full pass with a 7.61 et @ a booming 180 mph. Johns impressive driving skills had seen the car reach the final round of Supercharged Outlaws against Mal Gower. After an almost heads up start in the final, the Trinder car began to dump what appears to have been transmission fluid. John lost control and heavily impacted the left guardwall at about half track, before spearing uncontrollably across track and hitting the right hand wall head on. The impact knocked John out and from there on he was a passenger as the car veered back across track, hitting the left hand wall again near the finish line, before finally coming to rest in the braking area. John was still unconscious when rescue crews reached him. He was transferred to Nepean Hospital for X-Rays and observation before being released at around 1.30 am the following morning. Mark Flowers venerable Austin ute also suffered extensive damage, after the chute became entangled with the wheelie bars and lifted the rear end off the ground after a 7.60 @ 176 mph blast, causing the car to impact the concrete guard wall heavily. As of today both drivers are OK, although both are sore with extensive bruising.
Both cars, although looking much the worse for wear are not as badly damaged as was first thought. The Trinder car needs a complete new body (which apparently has already been donated to the boys), new wheels all round and front halving from the firewall forward. Both the ARC struts appear to have survived, with minor damage being reported to the right hand one only. Surprisingly considering the impact, the drivers compartment appears to have survived unscathed, including undamaged tinwork! The lack of severe damage speaks volumes for the SFI spec. especially in the driver area. Mark Flowers car will also need front halving (courtesy of Somoracz Race Cars who has Flowers old chassis jig), and Mark will be undertaking the long awaited update of panels by fitting a one piece f/glass front to replace the destroyed steel one. Luckily Mark had taken a mold of the front a couple of years ago. The car will also be fitted with ARC supplied Strange medium duty struts. Along with the light weight struts and f/glass front, the Austin should get a whole bunch lighter with the removal of the 200lb of ballast that the car has been carrying in the rear to balance the weight of the heavy steel front and steel doors (which have already been replaced with fibreglass items).
We wish both racers well.

Related Galleries: Go to Gallery/Customer Cars and scroll down to view details and photos of each car.

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