Jenny Pollard, The Buloke Times

The engines roared, tyres smoked and the volume soared as the first North Central Victorian Drag Racing event sped across the Charlton airstrip for three days last week.

From Thursday, 13th to Saturday 15th November, die-hard drivers with classic machines showed that responsible drag racing can be a fun, controlled and family orientated sport – far removed from the concept of hoons doing burnouts on city streets.

While this was the organisation’s sixth event (others have been held in Mildura, Ballarat and Heathcote), Charlton ticked all the boxes for event co-ordinators, Dave and Nadine Curtis, who, along with their supportive team, worked hard to get the event in tip-top shape and bring a positive flow-on effect to the Charlton community.

Dave’s already established association with the town helped the initiative, and as his daughter, Nadine explained, it’s also a case of trying to find airstrips which can be used for this type of event.

“Many are now closed or aren’t suitable,” she said. “Here in Charlton, it’s not close to housing, so residents aren’t being affected by the noise or the crowd.”

The community had also thrown its support behind the event, Nadine said, and that also opens up opportunities for businesses and the community as a whole.

“Unprepped”

With the Charlton airstrip being classified as “unprepped” (i.e., not graded or otherwise tinkered with), did that “rawness” create any problems?

“Well, the feedback on the track has been positive,” Nadine said. “Drivers have said it’s provided a good challenge and that a different surface has made them use other driving skills to keep the vehicles on the track.”

While the perception of drag racing can be “boys and their toys”, this event sees those ideas are being replaced with a more inclusive outreach. While the lure of speed and slick machines is still the attraction, the sport has other things to offer.

“This event is about giving people the chance to get their beautiful machines out of the shed and have a chance to drive them,” Nadine said. “Drag racing is often seen as a guy’s club, but this has been inclusive right from the start. There’s respect, and people feel comfortable about bringing their families along.”

Unique event

And as Dave Curtis added, “The event is unique, in that the racing is achievable for any car and any driver capability.”

There’s more emphasis on getting women involved in the driving, with a stock car provided for the Ladies DYO.

“Perhaps a woman doesn’t feel confident about driving her partner’s more powerful vehicle, so this is a way of providing entry and the ensuring the experience is a good one,” Nadine said. “It also creates opportunities for learning how to control a car at speed, and these skills can then be carried over into normal driving situations.”

The context of the racing is timed sprints on a 200 metre track where the individuals race against their own time.

“Test and tune”

Day One (Thursday) was the “test and tune” where each entrant records a set time which they need to try and match over the next two days. An upper speed limit of 170 kms was set for the Charlton course and pairs of contenders do “passes” (race) in each of seven brackets (categories). These included Men’s DYO, Ladies DYO and a number of timed categories from 9.50 seconds down to 7.00 seconds.

On Saturday afternoon the novelty 20 second run was conducted where drivers used stealth tactics and ingenuity to complete the course in the “slower” time. A number of participants chose to drive in reverse, while others started slow then accelerated closer to the finish line.

Poker Run

And the three days weren’t just confined to the track. In an effort to profile the town and wider district, Friday afternoon was devoted to the Poker Run, taking in a visit to Kooka’s in Donald, the Wooroonook Lakes, the Charlton Golf Club and the Vale of Avoca, before evening meals and then heading to The Rex Theatre for the Aussie road classic “Running on Empty.”

Attracting 62 entries (the quota was filled weeks before the event), participants travelled from Adelaide, Tasmania, Queensland, Forbes, plus Victorian locations including Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Traralgon, Warrnambool and Horsham. Interest has been strong, continuing with the group’s Facebook page clocking up almost 91,000 views in the immediate lead up to, and running of, the event.

Involvement

The involvement of the local community has also been widespread with Charlton Lions, OASIS and Charlton College Year 10 work experience students providing meal options on site over the three days. The students’ cause also received a generous donation from the organisation. Accommodation outlets have also been boosted. Charlton Car and Vehicle Club, “Wheels on A79”, worked the gate, and the Yeungroon Fire Brigade manned its truck on site for the duration of the weekend.

Locals also had the opportunity to experience the thrill of chase, taking a seat with the experienced hands to speed down the airstrip track. Charlton resident, Mark Windsor (a serious car-lover himself) was a passenger with Dave Curtis in his white turbo-charged VN Commodore (1350 at the fly wheel) commented that Dave’s vehicle “had some serious power!”

As the Saturday afternoon racing wound down, organisers thanked participants, the crowd, sponsors and the Drag & Drive team for their support, commitment and enthusiasm. All are hoping that there will be further opportunities to run the event here again.

The weekend concluded with a dinner at the East Charlton Hotel where trophies and awards were presented.

See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 18 November 2025.