Life’s a Drag…

Belinda Clenton – Marketing Manager (Hydraulink Rutherford)

“When I got the chance to tag along to the Nitro Nationals with Hydraulink, I figured it’d be a great opportunity to grab some marketing content for the Hydraulink franchises under Sullivans Mining & Industrial. A few blokes warned me to “brace for the shock,” but I laughed it off. After years in a past life working alongside international touring artists and stage crews, I thought I’d seen (and heard) it all.”

“Let me tell you, shock doesn’t even come close. Nothing on this planet trains you for the raw, full-body beating that is Top Fuel drag racing.”

“I arrived at Eastern Creek with no clue about cars, engines, let alone the science behind these mechanical beasts. I headed directly to the Hydraulink hospitality pit marquee, grabbed a cold drink, grateful to be escaping the 33-degree heat. Here I could openly observed the Jim Read Racing team do what can only be described as mechanical magic, piecing together an entire engine right before my eyes, like it was just another day at the office for them.”

“Phil Read himself appeared and gave us a rundown on what goes into a single race. Answering questions from the crowd without bias or judgement. Turns out, EVERYTHING gets replaced. Bearings. Spark plugs. Pistons. Rings, belts and discs. And a jaw-dropping 80 litres of nitromethane for just one quarter-mile run. The sheer precision behind every pass down that strip blew my mind. But that was nothing in comparison to the mind-blowing that was to come.”

“It was the moment of truth, with the waiver signed, breath test done, ear plugs secure, and adrenaline spiking as we made our way to the start line. When the engine started, it felt as if the air around us exploded. The earth convulsed beneath my feet, and my chest felt like it had been punched by thunder. The noise was beyond just sound; it was a physical energy that pounded through every cell in my body.”

“When the lights went green, the car unleashed 11,000 horsepower in a blur of fire, fury, and a pulse so violent it rattled my bones. The shockwave blasted through me, and I uncontrollably lurched backward, words that have never left my mouth before came spewing out as the disbelief at what I’d just witnessed was wrecking my brain. In less than a few seconds, it was over. Well the race was over, but my heart was still pounding like I’d been hit by a bolt of lightning. I was covered head to toe in rubber fragments, eyes watering from fumes and my body trembling so much I could barely hold my phone, BUT... I was hooked!”

“Once I stopped swearing, I was already looking at the watch to see how long I had to wait until the next onslaught to my senses. I was excited to see the footage I captured on my iPhone video. but all I captured was a flash of sky, grass and a whole lot of audio of me swearing and laughing. To be fair, it summed up the experience perfectly!”

“Top Fuel drag racing isn’t just something you witness, it’s something you survive. The heat, the noise, the ground literally shaking beneath you, it’s chaos, perfection, heaven and hell all at once.”

“I went in as an observer and came out a convert. Fan or not, if you ever get the chance to experience it, take it. My words don’t do this experience justice. If anyone ever gets an opportunity to do this and skips it, honestly they’re  a bloody mug.”

“Thank you Hydraulink and Jim Read Racing for an earther shattering, mind blowing life experience I will never ever forget.”