Racewars 2020 - The Holy Grail of Grassroots

Returning from RW2020, it is hard to describe the events that unfolded over the course of three days. Attending Racewars 2020 as both a spectator and media, I am fortunate enough to witness the immense work that goes on behind the scenes, the safety measures in place, the passion of volunteers and crew and the intense burning desire from drivers to send a car down the runway at its maximum velocity. Its why this event is so special and is so treasured by its loyal fan base and competitors.

So to give you an insight to what Racewars really means, here is my breakdown from a truly epic weekend.

For those unfamiliar to the event, be sure to check out our wrap up from last year; but the agenda kicks off early Saturday morning, where Albany Airport is closed for the weekend and transforms into a bustling motorsport haven for all things speed. Everything from time attack cars, drifters, draggers, gassers, muscle, JDM, rally, SUVs & supercars arrive on site at 7.00am, keen to take on the tarmac of the 1800m Airstrip. Saturday morning’s events include 400m & 800m rolling runs that usually act as an opportunity for drivers to test & tune their rides prior to going full noise down the runway with the 800m standing-start sprint.

With perfect conditions of sunny skies and an unusually mild breeze, the track was open for all and immediately, 2020 was shaping up to be an intense nail biter as new and improved heavy hitters entered the arena, testing for Sunday’s 1000m standing-start VMAX. The 400m & 800m rolling racing is considered to be a bit more about lighthearted racing, showdowns and grudge matches between mates and this year there was no shortage of characters that lined up for a skid and dash down the runway.

But perhaps the best aspect about the 400m & 800m runs is the diversity of cars that show up. Everything from class-winning 900hp MR2s to a Rolls Royce sporting an air conditioned minibar in the back. Anything can be sent down the runway if you are game enough to. This results in some truly epic battles between boosted Supras and highly tuned Honda CRXs, rally legends like the Subaru GC8 WRX and Evo III showdown, and old Ford Escorts going up against big block American muscle cars. It may not be the big speed VMAX event, but for those wanting to see a Roller be fired down the runway until the 6 ¾ L V12 spews, there is no other event like it.

However the real intensity for Saturday peaked with the return of ‘Cash Days’ hosted by Jordan Leist. Basically old school fast-paced 1/8th mile street racing bought to a runway. I have never experienced proper drag racing before, nor have I witnessed a ‘Cash Days’ event, but the rules are simple. Buy-in with $100 to race, and each round is a knockout. If you stall, too bad, if you miss a gear too bad, if you’re late off the mark and lose, too bad. You’re out. No refunds.

Although the buy-in is affordable for all to attend, the competition and stakes immediately and exponentially increase with each pass, and the competition is hot. Like the 400m or 800m events, the diversity is epic, with big blown muscle cars to modern hyper-SUVs. Even a couple of agricultural vehicles get an ECU tickle to have some fun. Just when you think a certain car has its opposition licked, the tables turn and unlikely heroes move to the next round. Unfortunately as the finals drew closer, an added element of rain saw cash days come to a close, but with winner Simon Rushton in his tuned Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk splitting the prize money with other top finalists. A true mark of sportsmanship and what the event stands for.

Waking early Sunday, this was the big ticket event with the 1000m VMAX locked in. Ed Tassone had already set the bar with a 348kmh pass on the final 800m run on Saturday, so everyone was ready to see what he could achieve given an extra 200m to stretch his Australian-record holding HSV GTO, now sporting a cataclysmic 3000HP for the 2020 round. But unfortunately, after much deliberation with major stakeholders of event staff, AASA, Albany airport and the town of Albany, Sunday’s racing was cancelled due to extremely poor weather conditions compromising the safety of the event.

Which couldn’t have been a better decision. No matter what the online response is whether it be negative or supportive, the reality is the ones that were grateful for the events' cancellation were the drivers and their family and friends. As a spectator when you step away from the trackside action and down to the pit area, you can see what the drivers have to do to psych themselves into the moment. Motorsport is a dangerous sport, and to quote Racemaster Jon Murray ‘a cruel mistress.’ The stakes were made evidently clear from 2019’s event, but it’s a sport that many are passionate and live for.

Watching drivers like Steve Jones or Ed Tassone mentally prepare themselves to get behind the wheel of a +1,000hp car to max out down a runway with a crosswind was like watching fighter pilots prepare to take on untested aircraft in a dogfight… there is a small window where the mask or persona of the racing comes off and you can see the intensity it requires to line a car up. For some it is easy, for others it takes some focus to ready themselves all in pursuit for a few seconds of speed. As a spectator it is an eye-opener seeing these stars of the sport show glimpses of humility before lining up, and it’s a quick reminder that these cars aren’t just toys, they are serious, engineered instruments of speed that require absolute focus and skill. 

And for that reason alone that is why Racewars is one of the greatest motor sporting events you can attend. These are real everyday people pushing themselves and their cars to a whole new level. 

The Racewars team, AASA & City of Albany need to be commended in how they have handled Safety this year. This is grassroots racing, and not everything always works out, but one thing is for sure we will be back for 2021 and we will be bringing our own contenders this time. 

So where does that leave us for Sunday? Well, we went to the pub for some deliberation and were lucky to book a few shoots with competitor cars during the break in racing. We’ll be featuring these online over the coming weeks.