THE Street Machine Drag Challenge came and went for the South Coast Raceway last Friday, as wet conditions caused by overnight showers forced organisers to call off their leg of the competition.

However, while it was a disappointing day for the Portland drag racing community as a whole, one local racer enjoyed a great week on the track.

Zac Shepherd, who raced his Holden LJ Torana in the Tuff Mounts 235 Blown class, ended up finishing second in his class and 19th overall in a field of over 200 entrants.  

Shepherd said the result well and truly “exceeded expectations,” as he said going into it, he would’ve been happy to merely finish out the event.

“To go through the full five days without any mechanical issues with the car… I was definitely happy with that result,” Shepherd said.

“We’re stoked with the result.”

Shepherd said he has owned the Torana since he was 14 – he’s now 27 – and has worked on it since day one.

“My old man bought me the shell for 800 bucks and yeah just been working away at it, it’s a good little project and it’s something to do to keep myself busy,” he said.

“(The Drag Challenge) is the true test of a street car really, not only do you have to build something which can do a quick time on the strip, but it also needs to be able to make the long journey between venues.

“It’s a real challenge but I guess that’s what’s attractive about it.”

The drag challenge has seen racers begin at Tailem Bend in South Australia, followed by Mildura’s Sunset Strip, then Heathcote Park Raceway so far this week.

Shepherd said it was disappointing to not be able to race on his home track, but he used the opportunity to do some checks before hitting the road back to Tailem Bend.

“I stopped in at Portland Exhaust to do some last checks before the last leg of the trip, it ended up working out ok,” Shepherd said.

The South Coast Raceway’s next opportunity to see some action will come in the form of a Test and Tune on November 4, before the South Coast Nationals go ahead in December.