Tow truck Trev takes gold in Perth

Ipswich drag racer Trevor Davis with the Gold Christmas Tree he won driving his “Jaffa” Cortina in Perth.

Sarah Harvey

AFTER just two years racing, Trevor Davis was thrilled to win his first Gold Christmas Tree title at the recent Western Nationals in Perth.

However, the first major victory for Davis and his Ipswich support team meant so much more when the driver revealed what they had to endure.

“I’m stoked,” the Leichhardt- based competitor said, having raced his 1963, V8-powered Cortina to victory in the Super Street bracket.

“I had a lot of support and help from friends and people I work with. It all come together (in Perth) and we did well.

“The whole trip over there wasn’t too bad. The trip back was very challenging. I’m still recovering from the long trip home.”

On the way to Perth, the five-vehicle convoy collected two flat tyres and a fire in one of the truck engines.

After fixing those problems, worse was to come on the trip home across the Nullarbor, via Broken Hill.

“We ended up with another nine flat tyres and we lost the back brakes in the bus so we had to temporarily repair those so we could get home,” Davis said.

“We lost two complete wheels off the trailer towing the cars and we had to change the axel from one side to the other.

“By the time we come home, our spare wheels had run out well and truly.

“We had a door on the bus blow off and one of the guys caught it just in time. It was pretty eventful trip home.”

Asked if all the travel dramas were worth it, Davis left no doubt.

“Absolutely. And I’d do it again.”

In Perth, Davis had to guide his Cortina – named Jaffa – through a series of qualifying and final runs in the 41-car field.

The Super Street category is conducted on a handicap system which requires competitors to run consistently close to their nominated handicap time with lightning startline reactions.

“My best time over there – I did two consistent runs of 11.157 and 11.153,” he said.

“What got me to victory in the end was the teamwork, the consistency and the tactics that we had set up for the weekend.”

Davis works for Bluestar Towing, a long-time sponsor of drag racing at Willowbank.

“I didn’t see myself racing when I was out there,” he said.

“One day I thought I’d give it a go and I got hooked. It’s a lot different behind the wheel.”

Davis said his latest success was due to a number of supporters. He thanked brother Rodney, wife Tina, mum Yvonne, Ipswich motorsport enthusiasts Wayne Clark and Michael Watkins, Bluestar Towing and Westside.

The Ipswich racer is already plotting success in future events, including the Top Fuel Challenge at Willowbank, Nitro Championships in Sydney and the Australian championship at the Winternationals (Ipswich) in June.