Narre Warren North speed demon Nino Cavallo won the Super Stock Australian National Drag Racing Association championship in his Dodge Avenger this month. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Marc McGowan
CASEY has a new Australian champion after Narre Warren North’s Nino Cavallo claimed his first Australian National Drag Racing Association title this month.
Cavallo, 49, and his $100,000 Dodge Avenger took out the Super Stock category with victory in the final of the Winter Nationals at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland.
“We did go there to get a good result, but I didn’t think we’d get the title,” he said.
“I’ve been involved for 20 years, but I’ve only had this car for three years.”
Cavallo’s brother Bruno won the same title in 2006 before finishing runner-up last year.
Bruno took a back seat in this campaign to support his sibling as part of a three-man pit crew.
Cavallo entered the fifth and final round of the annual series – which began in September – in second place and was crowned national champion when rival driver Geoff Chaisty was beaten in his semi-final match-up.
Multiple winner Colin Lloyd led the championship heading into the Winter Nationals, only to be defeated in round two of eliminations.
To compete at the elite level in drag racing requires a vast investment, with Cavallo estimating he spends up to $40,000 a year maintaining his power-packed machine.
But the local star said it compared favourably with other forms of motor sport.
“It is very hard money-wise, but as far as motor sport goes it’s one of the cheapest to get into,” he said.
“There are all different types of brackets you can race in. You can start in a street car and work your way up and have a $20,000 car if you want.”
The exhilaration of drag racing is an experience Cavallo believes nothing can match.
“It’s like a rollercoaster ride – on the way down,” he said.
“But there is really nothing to compare it to.
“I’ve driven fast road cars, but it’s not the same thing … you just go like a slingshot.”
Cavallo does concede that drag racing can be a dangerous pursuit.
“You go from standstill to 100km/h in just over a second,” he said.
“You take off and hopefully it goes straight down the track and you beat the other guy.”
The next step for Cavallo is to step up to the Group 1 Pro Stock class – drag racing’s version of V8 Supercars.
“A Pro Stock car nowadays is between $250,000 to $300,000,” he said.
“I’ve won the championship, so my next goal is to do it again next season and then I plan to go to Group 1.”
