Tony Astell

Best time 8.09 sec and 173 mph or 278.42 kph

Tony started Dragbike racing in the U.K at Santapod in 1962 and ran a 1957 Norton Dominator 99 in street class. His best time was 15 seconds at 115 mph for the quarter mile.

He arrived in New Zealand in 1972. From 1975-1983 Tony favoured stock car racing, but the love of motorcycles was still strong so in 1983 he purchased a C/DB from Ron Phillips. Ron had originally built this 500cc Honda 4 for his daughter Robyn to ride which she did. In 1985 Tony broke the National C/DB record on this bike,  11.890 sec and 112.35 mph.

In 1984, encouraged by the support and inspiration from longtime friend and Crew Chief Allan (Mad Mac) McCormick and  fellow racers Steve Burton and Willy Ponting, Tony went to New Zealand frame builder Ken Mackintosh, commissioned a rolling chassis with an 80 inch wheel base and his assault on the A/DB record began. Once this was taken the bike was moved up a class to AA/DB with the addition of Nitrous Oxide in 1987. In 1991 Tony broke Ray Peterson's long standing record of 8.463 sec and now holds the current National record at 8.09 sec at 167 mph for the standing quarter mile.

                    Bike Specifications                 

       Freinds & Crew from left to right

      Gary Williams                Chris Hogg            T.A.    

       Robert Patterson         Allan McCormick

This picture courtesy of Alistair Davidson at Petrolhead Magazine

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