Arabian Drag Racing League round 1
when: January 10-11, 2014
where: Qatar Racing Club in Doha, Qatar
story by Tim Hailey, photos courtesy of Khalid Saif Al-Mesalam
Yaqoub Alali and the DAS ‘Busa get the jump on performance king Mishari AlTurki
Eric Paquette may not have the DAS supercharged ‘Busa running as quick as Mishari Al Turki’s record setting turbo ‘Busa yet, but in the eighth mile it’s close enough—with a little help from his rider. Yaqoub Alali left the tree with a healthy advantage over Al Turkiin the Super Streetbike final of Round 1 of the Qatar Racing Club’s Arabian Drag Racing League 2014 season, and held on for an exciting win. Paquette and the DAS bike have been playing catch-up ever since arriving, stretching wheelbase and switching to a small slick. After dropping two to Al Turki and his Fahad Al Hamoud-tuned bike in Bahrain, the QRC win shows that the ragingly loud MIRock contender is in the game.
“Thanks to the Drag 965 team for the chance to be here,” said Paquette. “We still have lot to do to get the bike right but it’s going well. The driver did a good job to pull off that win vs a bad-ass, well set-up machine.”
SUPER STREETBIKE Eliminations Results
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
L |
1 |
MASHARI AL TURKI |
KSA |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
||||
W |
2 |
YAQOUB AL ALI |
KUWAIT |
09 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.562 |
4.491 |
166.15 |
|
L |
7 |
KADHIM ABDULLAH |
KUWAIT |
05 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.377 |
5.668 |
128.43 |
|
W |
3 |
BADER HAMAD |
KUWAIT |
SUZUKI GS |
.150 |
5.023 |
158.67 |
|
L |
BROKE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W |
5 |
MOHD AL DARWISH |
QATAR |
03 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.526 |
7.023 |
127.22 |
|
L |
BROKE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
2 |
YAQOUB AL ALI |
KUWAIT |
09 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.152 |
4.514 |
168.32 |
|
L |
3 |
BADER HAMAD |
KUWAIT |
SUZUKI GS |
.106 |
4.868 |
157.82 |
|
W |
1 |
MASHARI AL TURKI |
KSA |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.382 |
4.343 |
178.68 |
|
L |
5 |
MOHD AL DARWISH |
QATAR |
03 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.460 |
6.708 |
124.42 |
|
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
2 |
YAQOUB AL ALI |
KUWAIT |
09 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.057 |
4.509 |
168.81 |
|
L |
1 |
MASHARI AL TURKI |
KSA |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUSA |
.172 |
4.402 |
174.01 |
Yaqoub Alali, Eric Paquette and Kuwait’s Drag 965 team enjoy the QRC winners circle
SUPER STREETBIKE QUALIFYING
1. MISHARI AL TURKI, KSA, 4.364 at 171.38 mph
2. YAQOUB AL ALI, KUWAIT, 4.509 at 160.86 mph,168.87
3. BADER HAMAD, KUWAIT, 5.010 at 148.66 mph
4. AHMED BIN BELAL, KUWAIT, 5.098 at 129.70 mph
5. MOHD AL DARWISH, QATAR, 5.399 at 101.64 mph,126.03
6. AHMAD ALHAMAIDAN, KUWAIT, 5.484 at 132.46 mph
7. KADHIM ABDULLAH, KUWAIT, 5.704 at 138.13 mph
In Pro Bike, TT Jones’ trip started off poorly with this testing blow and never got much better
Meshal Al-saber (far lane) lit the redeye in the Pro Bike final against Terry Schweigert
PRO BIKE (PB) Elimination Results
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
1 |
MOHD BOURASHID |
KUWAIT |
12 SUZUKI GS |
.011 |
4.144 |
171.53 |
|
L |
8 |
BILLY VOSE |
USA |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.036 |
4.242 |
169.15 |
|
W |
2 |
TERRY SCHWEIGERT |
USA |
12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.117 |
4.141 |
171.38 |
|
L |
7 |
AHMED AL NUKHILAN |
KSA |
10 SUZUKI GS |
.145 |
5.678 |
84.21 |
|
W |
5 |
MESHAL AL SABER |
KUWAIT |
12 SUZUKI GS |
.031 |
4.158 |
170.56 |
|
L |
4 |
MOHD AL DARWISH |
QATAR |
09 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.024 |
4.202 |
167.95 |
|
W |
6 |
TT JONES |
USA |
12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.045 |
4.235 |
163.43 |
|
L |
3 |
MOHD ALAWWAD |
KUWAIT |
04 SUZUKI GS |
.089 |
6.199 |
124.61 |
|
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
5 |
MESHAL AL SABER |
KUWAIT |
12 SUZUKI GS |
.018 |
4.153 |
170.39 |
|
L |
1 |
MOHD BOURASHID |
KUWAIT |
12 SUZUKI GS |
-.007 |
4.221 |
171.23 |
|
W |
2 |
TERRY SCHWEIGERT |
USA |
12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.110 |
4.094 |
172.59 |
|
L |
6 |
TT JONES |
USA |
12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.023 |
4.266 |
162.70 |
|
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
2 |
TERRY SCHWEIGERT |
USA |
12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.037 |
4.123 |
172.63 |
|
L |
5 |
MESHAL AL SABER |
KUWAIT |
12 SUZUKI GS |
-.001 |
4.170 |
170.71 |
Terry Schweigert at speed on the DTM/Q80 Suzuki
PRO BIKE (PB) Qualifying for 8 entries
Low ET 4.102 2 MOHD BUORASHID
Top Speed 171.88 9 TERRY SCHWEIGERT
1. MOHD BUORASHID, KUWAIT, 4.102 at 171.58 mph
2. TERRY SCHWEIGERT, Canada, 4.105 at 171.88 mph
3. MOHD ALAWWAD, KUWAIT, 4.134 at 170.13 mph
4. MOHD AL DARWISH, QATAR, 4.217 at 167.47 mph
5. MESHAL AL SABER, KUWAIT, 4.224 at 167.24 mph
6. TT JONES, USA, 4.235 at 159.89 mph
7. AHMED AL NUKHILAN, KSA, 4.248 at 166.52 mph
8. BILLY VOSE, USA, 4.271 at 168.89 mph
Schwiegert, Al-saber and Dan Wagner in the all-Q80/DTM winners circle
The Pro Bike final was an all-DTM/Q80 affair between Terry “The Milkman” Schweigert and Meshal Al-saber .The week started with some controversy over the Q80 (think Kuwaiti) sponsorship on Schweigert’s bike, which was invited and had it’s expenses paid for by Qatar’s QRC. But the QRC’s Don Greenbaum should have known that, since Schweigert’s bike ran the Q80 stickers at the ADRL finals at Rockingham. Al-saber was able to smooth over the issue with the QRC, but the locals must have been stung when both Q80 bikes made the final. “We really want to thank the QRC for having us over and giving us such nice acomadations,” Dan “DTM” Wagner was quick to say after the win.
“Great way to start off over here,” chimed in Schweigert. “You can’t make this stuff up—a dairy farmer from Canada, tuned by an American, invited by the country of Qatar, and sponsored by Kuwait. I’m very fortunate and extremely grateful to here. The track is excellent, prepared by the Traction Twins. Being able to test and race four or five days a week, and riding our new bike, records will be broke. I’m feeling a little more comfortable and confident every pass, and with Dan’s tuning we hope to get in the threes over here.”
As for Kuwait’s MRB team, Mohammed Bourashid lost to Al-saber with a -007 redlight in the semi after taking out teammate Billy Vose in round 1.
…and the spotlight on Schweigert
Khaled Al Fouzan (near lane) took the Street Bike win over Ibrahim Al Joufi’s .223 light
STREET BIKE (SB) Eliminations Results
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
13 |
FAISAL AL HAREES |
KUWAIT |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.291 |
5.570 |
136.25 |
|
L |
4 |
YAQOUB AL ALI |
KUWAIT |
06 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
||||
W |
3 |
BADER HAMAD |
KUWAIT |
99 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.269 |
5.570 |
133.26 |
|
L |
0 |
|||||||
W |
9 |
DAWOOD AL SHARSHANI |
QATAR |
.198 |
5.516 |
133.28 |
||
L |
8 |
MUSA AL BALOOSHI |
KUWAIT |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.158 |
5.676 |
130.78 |
|
W |
10 |
RASHID AL HAJRI |
QATAR |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.251 |
5.849 |
132.39 |
|
L |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W |
1 |
MOHD BOURASHID |
KUWAIT |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.236 |
5.244 |
142.00 |
|
L |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W |
6 |
IBRAHIM AL JOUFI |
KSA |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.176 |
5.281 |
140.21 |
|
L |
11 |
MOHD AL AWWAD |
KUWAIT |
04 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.184 |
5.845 |
129.89 |
|
W |
5 |
KHALED AL FOUZAN |
KUWAIT |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.535 |
5.382 |
133.54 |
|
L |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
5 |
KHALED AL FOUZAN |
KUWAIT |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.199 |
5.442 |
135.95 |
|
L |
13 |
FAISAL AL HAREES |
KUWAIT |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.456 |
6.533 |
117.08 |
|
W |
6 |
IBRAHIM AL JOUFI |
KSA |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.141 |
5.258 |
140.58 |
|
L |
3 |
BADER HAMAD |
KUWAIT |
99 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.152 |
5.561 |
135.08 |
|
W |
1 |
MOHD BOURASHID |
KUWAIT |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
-.032 |
5.371 |
141.05 |
|
L |
9 |
DAWOOD AL SHARSHANI |
QATAR |
-.242 |
5.996 |
126.85 |
||
W |
10 |
RASHID AL HAJRI |
QATAR |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.246 |
5.551 |
132.27 |
|
L |
2 |
MISFER AL MISFER |
KUWAIT |
.172 |
5.763 |
135.01 |
||
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
6 |
IBRAHIM AL JOUFI |
KSA |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.139 |
5.550 |
134.32 |
|
L |
10 |
RASHID AL HAJRI |
QATAR |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.191 |
5.708 |
134.23 |
|
W |
5 |
KHALED AL FOUZAN |
KUWAIT |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.129 |
5.383 |
132.22 |
|
L |
1 |
MOHD BOURASHID |
KUWAIT |
10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.184 |
5.366 |
140.58 |
|
W/L |
CAR # |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
5 |
KHALED AL FOUZAN |
KUWAIT |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.161 |
5.429 |
132.40 |
|
L |
6 |
IBRAHIM AL JOUFI |
KSA |
08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA |
.223 |
5.374 |
139.27 |
Kuwait’s Al Fouzan hoist the flag in the QRC winners circle
STREET BIKE (SB) Qualifying for 15 entries
1. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, MOHD BOU RASHID, KUWAIT, 5.291 at 138.27 mph,140.96
2. MISFER AL MISFER, KUWAIT, 5.342 at 136.22 mph,136.65
3. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, BADER HAMAD, KUWAIT, 5.399 at 131.88 mph,134.50
4. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, YAQOUB AL ALI, KUWAIT, 5.404 at 135.04 mph
5. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, KHALED AL FOWZAN, KUWAIT, 5.426 at 134.06 mph
6. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, IBRAHIM AL JOUFI, KSA, 5.448 at 136.98 mph,137.15
7. KHALID AL DOSSARY, KSA, 5.484 at 136.18 mph
8. SUZUKI HAYABUSA, MUSA AL BALOOSHI, KUWAIT, 5.491 at 136.19 mph
9. DAWOOD AL SHARSHANI, QATAR, 5.496 at 133.01 mph
10. ’08 SUZUKI HAYABUSA, RASHID AL HAJRI, QATAR, 5.678 at 131.28 mph,131.82
11. ’04 SUZUKI HAYABUSA, MOHD AL AWWAD, KUWAIT, 5.825 at 130.95 mph
12. ’09 SUZUKI HAYABUSA, TALAL AL SHARSHANI, QATAR, 5.943 at 126.67 mph
13. ’10 SUZUKI HAYABUSA, FAISAL AL HAREES, KUWAIT, 5.975 at 127.53 mph,133.74
14. ’11 SUZUKI HAYABUSA, BAYBAY YARBROUGH, USA, 6.099 at 121.66 mph
15. SHAHID MUNIR, PAKISTAN, 6.322 at 121.68 mph,121.74
Alex Hossler (far lane) took one for the home team in the Pro Extreme final
Hossler in the QRC’s long shutdown area
Billy Stocklin (far left), Hossler (second from right) and Frank Manzo (far right)
PRO EXTREME Elimination Results
W |
1 |
ALEX HOSSLER |
USA |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.035 |
3.587 |
214.25 |
|
L |
5 |
BRANDON SNIDER |
USA |
63 CHEVY CORVETTE |
-0.016 |
3.623 |
211.39 |
|
W |
6 |
ERIC DILLARD |
USA |
69 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.028 |
3.647 |
211.73 |
|
L |
2377 |
VON SMITH |
USA |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.066 |
3.627 |
210.41 |
|
W/L |
CAR# |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
1 |
ALEX HOSSLER |
USA |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.059 |
3.589 |
214.35 |
|
L |
6 |
ERIC DILLARD |
USA |
69 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.022 |
3.704 |
208.75 |
Mike Castellana (near lane) nailed a .001 bulb on Khalid Al-Balooshi in the Pro Nitrous final
Castellana hangs out the laundry
W |
4 |
BADER KHOURSHEED |
KUWAIT |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.095 |
5.098 |
98.86 |
|
L |
3 |
STEVIE JACKSON |
USA |
69 CHEVY CAMARO |
-0.002 |
3.831 |
196.27 |
|
W |
2 |
KHALID AL BALOOSHI |
UAE |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.017 |
3.848 |
196.82 |
|
L |
5 |
MAHANA AL NAEMI |
QATAR |
12 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.053 |
3.851 |
195.22 |
|
W |
1 |
MIKE CASTELLANA |
USA |
12 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.021 |
3.788 |
199.61 |
|
L |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W/L |
CAR# |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
2 |
KHALID AL BALOOSHI |
UAE |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.147 |
3.812 |
197.71 |
|
L |
BYE |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
||
W |
1 |
MIKE CASTELLANA |
USA |
12 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.011 |
3.813 |
197.65 |
|
L |
4 |
BADER KHOURSHEED |
KUWAIT |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.062 |
3.882 |
192.58 |
|
W/L |
CAR# |
DRIVER |
COUNTRY |
YR/MAKE/MODEL |
R/T |
ET |
MPH |
|
W |
1 |
MIKE CASTELLANA |
USA |
12 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.001 |
3.801 |
199.2 |
|
L |
2 |
KHALID AL BALOOSHI |
UAE |
68 CHEVY CAMARO |
0.02 |
3.814 |
197.68 |
Castellana (far lane) also beat Mike Stavrinos (driving Mike’s old Firebird) in Pro Modified
Both Castellana Al-Anabi cars in the QRC winners circle
Castellana hogging the hardware
View of the QRC from the tower
Like most public events in Qatar, the QRC includes lots of activities for families and children
Tareq Al Quedeeri (near lane) took the 4.5 Index final over Ali Hassam Haji
Yousaf Ali (Firebird in the far lane) streaks away from Turki Al Humaidi for the Outlaw 10.5 win
Steve Jackson (near) took the Super Street 8 battle of Mustangs win over Hassan Yousaf
Chad Morgan and his Supra left Mohammed Haji’s ’92 GTR nailed to the tree in Super Street 6
Qatar’s Nasser Al Suwaidi ousted Mohammed Ali Muhail in the Dragster final
Not much time for rest at the QRC, as Round 2 qualifying is Friday