CALENDAR

Some may think it’s the equivalent to taking a knife to a gunfight, but despite the odds, running a small block powered dragster in Pro Alcohol has proven to be a successful combination over the years. For Frank Intini - who will be attacking round two of the NDRC Pro Alcohol championship at Dragway At The Bend (Feb 8/9) – it will be the continuation of a lifelong challenge in a dragster that boasts an impressive pedigree.

“I'm 63-year-old living a childhood dream of drag racing to the best of my ability,” said Intini. “I first raced my EH Holden at AIR in 1978 and its all I've wanted to do ever since. To be able to turn a small block Chev as hard as we do in Pro Alcohol along with the fantastic guys and girls in the category is my happiest place.”

Longtime followers of drag racing will instantly recognise Intini’s Pro Alcohol Dragster as it still essentially wears the same livery when it was owned by Adrian Pozzebon and driven by Mark Brew when the pair were terrorising Top Alcohol in the 90s. Intini purchased the car not long after, but as the story goes for so many South Australian racers at the time, the loss of local racing opportunities was a difficult hurdle to negotiate.

“I purchased this current car the same year AIR closed, as a positive, it opened the opportunity for us to travel around our beautiful country as a team, we gained much required experience and cemented friendships. However, eventually the costs to do so were more than I could afford, after 11 years I’d lost the dedication as it was so far out of reach,” lamented Intini.

Racing returned in drips and drabs in the 2010s to AIR, this was enough to keep Intini interested, with dream and push for a new purpose-built facility would be along actively taking place.

“When Rino D’Alfonso re-opened AIR the spark ignited and still burns today,” said Intini. “Others and I devoted some of our time to supporting other groups keen to build new tracks and sat on a few committees to help any way we could. It wasn't looking good until about 2021 or 2022 when the official word came out, Sam Shahin had started moving dirt for our brand-new state of the art dragstrip, today’s Dragway at the Bend.”

“Our new home track is sensational, the group assembled to build this icon track were second to none, I still have to pinch myself when I'm there and feels like I'm interstate or in the US.

“This state-of-the-art facility will continue to grow and improve as time goes on, the Peregrine Group have built an oasis in what was baron dry bushland, far exceeding my wildest dreams. To have this facility in our home state is fantastic for family, friends and fans to travel and hour or so to witness the spectacle of drag racing is so special.

“Also, importantly I feel racers can proudly approach and attract potential sponsors and develop partnerships with the venue's stature.”

Age has not wearied the dragster, Intini has dropped in a few more cubic inches with a new setup he built up over the down time, and now finally has a place to test its worth.

“The car is a 260" Bob Meyer dragster purchased from Adrian Pozzebon in 1999 upon seeing an ad in Dragster Mag the very same week a mate showed interest in my WB Ute I’d raced in Wild Bunch, so I decided it was the most cost-effective way to go fast, so I did the deals. The car was driven by Mr Mark Brew to a best of 5.87 at 237mph when Adrian owned the car,” recalled Initini.

“We spent years racing our 23 degree 388ci combo making around 1600-1800 hp running a best of 6.032 at 226mph. About 10 years ago I decided it was time to get serious so I started piecing together the current 396ci small block Chev engine, a task that would take a total of 8 years - I sold many prized possessions to make it a reality.

“The car itself is still in great condition for its age, a one off, 7/8th scale car specifically built by Bob for an SBC powerplant and a dream to drive.”

Ambition is not lacking in the team with the blown alcohol small block World Record firmly in the crosshairs eventually.

“Our goal for the inaugural Pro Alcohol event at Dragway at the Bend is having a running engine at the end of the event, not that we're going to take it easy,” said Intini.

“We'd like to better our previous numbers with this combo of 5.889 and 241.46mph and ‘try to’ better the current world records for an SBC Alcohol powered car. Rick Santos currently has the World Record for ET at 5.67, a record that has stood since 1997 - an amazing accomplishment considering the available technology and track prep in the 90s. The speed World Record of 242mph(?) held by Mark Sheehan in the early 2000s. Having only two passes that were significant, we're yet to have a full pass with the combination, so I look forward to seeing how our SBC performs.

“Somethings personal for me would be to run over 200mph at the 1/8th (196mph best) and a sub .900 sec 60' time. Ultimately, we're chasing reliability before we twist too many screws - maybe.

Initini is certainly relishing the chance to finally put on a Pro Alcohol show in front of a parochial South Australian home crowd against a field of interstaters.

“This opportunity is huge for us as a team, we get to show our passion in front of a home crowd filled with fans and families, tomorrow's stars on mum and dad’s lap glued watching us just as we did many decades ago,” beamed Intini.

“There’s something special about racing in my favourite category in front of what I hope is a huge South Australian crowd, and I'm confident Pro Alcohol's close and quick races will make a memorable impression on all the fans, young and old.

“If you see our car in the pits at Dragway at the Bend Feb 8-9 please drop by and say ‘Hi’, I have some sticker packs for the first four littlies who can tell me how many cubic inches our engine is.”

In such a long endeavour Intini has many people he would like to recognise helping him achieve his dreams.

“I’d like to thank my crew who have stuck by me for so many years, any person racing is only as good as the help they have, and I have the best, so thank you for keeping me safe guys and gals,” said Intini. “Paul Topping (Data, Tuning), Dan Van Gasteren (Too many duties to list, and Ford Guy #1), Garry Mutton (Clutch and chutes), Shane Brouwer (Tools, General hand, and Ford Guy #2), Glen Lovell (Air bottles and general hand) and Jacqui Mackay (BUG).

“To have half a chance at grasping success there are so many people behind the scenes who put in so many hours of their time, flooded with expertise and talent; Brenton Basset, Johnny Maiolo, James CNC, Blake, Garry and Kim, Matt (Farmer) Wehr.

Theres no way I could get this all to come together without these guys, not a hope!

“Our fantastic sponsors who fund all the parts and infrastructure required, Thank you all so much; BTWE Electrical, Rayton Electrical, Just Heads Performance, Specialised Engine Services, Johnnys Custom Engines, KAT Motorsport, Macs Automotive, Frank Intini Race Engineering.”

The PDRC are not just bringing Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle to Dragway At The Bend but also see for the first time ever see Pro Alcohol, Pro Mod and Pro Import – Feb 8/9 2025.

General Admission tickets are available NOW at https://www.outix.co/tickets/event/summit2425-tcs4 – and remember KIDS UNDER 15 FREE!