Latest news with #dragRacing
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Drag racing-loving teen Katie Iti dies from flu complications
Katie Iti's passion was drag racing. Photo: Supplied The father of a Lower Hutt teenager who died in hospital with flu symptoms says she had only been unwell for a few days. Shayne Iti said his 15-year-old daughter Katie Margaret Iti died on Saturday in Hutt Hospital from complications of influenza B. "She fell ill probably Tuesday last week and just was getting slightly worse over the few days - we were just monitoring her at home," he said. "And then I woke up early Saturday morning to hear her moaning and groaning and I was like 'I can't see my baby like this anymore, let's go to the hospital'." Iti said Katie was seen by a cardiologist and a surgeon, and tests found fluid around her heart. He thought she appeared to improve over the day and another scan confirmed the fluid had not increased. But 13 hours after her arrival, Katie suddenly deteriorated and her heart stopped, Iti said. "She was gone. I was with her right up until the end." Iti said Katie's passion was drag racing and she had completed her first season of racing her own car. She became interested in the motorsport after she and Iti began helping his boss build a drag racing car. After that Katie was hooked, going to 'the drags' as often as she could, an enthusiasm also supported by mum Jamie Halse. "She started getting quite friendly with all the junior drag racers because it's quite big - the scene," Iti said. "She always wanted her own car and started jumping into people's cars and sitting in them and dreaming about having one, one day." When it became known that Katie wanted to 'go down the strip', 2022 New Zealand Super Street Champion Cindy Mendoza took her for the ride. "It spiralled on from there because she wanted to do it herself," Iti said. "I used to say to her 'No, you can't have one, we can't really afford it' but then she'd go round the pits talking to all the other adults telling them to 'Go tell my Dad to get me a drag car' and, of course, everyone was always in my ear about getting her a car so we made it happen." Iti taught Katie to drive the manuel racing car when she was 14, starting off on grass and then in a carpark. Once she mastered it, the then-Year 10 Naenae College student competed in her first race in October, racing the entire season. Katie's car. Photo: Supplied Though Katie had no siblings, Iti described her as "a sister to everyone" and said the drag racing community had been hard hit by her death. "They're all struggling. Everyone's trying to lean against each other just 'cos they're all struggling," he said. "Everyone's in complete disbelief. I'm still in disbelief. I'm still expecting her to jump out and give me a fright. "We can't even stay in our own house at the moment because it just feels so empty." Iti said the drag racing community would take cars to Katie's funeral in Wainuiomata on Thursday and there would be a tribute to the teen's love of the sport. Online tributes had been flowing with descriptions of Katie as a "beautiful soul" who was always happy, smiling, respectful, fun and entertaining. A girl with a passion for drag racing and life, one person wrote. "In life and in our sport you meet lots of different people , some leave a lasting memory when they are gone and Katie Iti was one of those," another person wrote on the Wild Bunch New Zealand Facebook page. "Her raw passion and enthusiasm was genuine and unwavering and her love of our sport and those in it knew no bounds. "Personally thank you Katie for all the messages and gifts and for just being yourself in amongst a sea of testosterone and competitiveness you proved the sport is so much more than that..." Online tributes had been flowing with descriptions of Katie as a "beautiful soul" who was always happy, smiling, respectful, fun and entertaining. Photo: Supplied Iti said some online reports that Katie had died in a drag racing event were incorrect. "The season's over. It has been for quite some time." He said Katie had the best safety equipment possible and they had never had any incidents while racing. Iti said Katie's driving partner Azaliya would continue her legacy, and keep racing the number 109 car. Health New Zealand said without a privacy waiver it could not confirm if Katie's death was referred to the Coroner or if Hutt Hospital was conducting a review. Iti said Katie's initial symptoms appeared to be routine - an achy body, runny nose, and cough - and his message to other families was to get vaccinated. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Associated Press
28-06-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Qualifying
1. Justin Ashley, 3.752 seconds, 330.88 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.755, 333.33; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.755, 327.11; 4. Brittany Force, 3.784, 331.77; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.789, 324.59; 6. Dan Mercier, 3.813, 327.82; 7. Spencer Massey, 3.816, 319.37; 8. Josh Hart, 3.818, 325.37; 9. Clay Millican, 3.823, 324.20; 10. Shawn Reed, 3.847, 322.42; 11. Steve Torrence, 3.858, 326.56; 12. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.895, 305.29; 13. Doug Foley, 3.912, 305.29; 14. Will Smith, 3.997, 283.85; 15. Doug Kalitta, 3.997, 270.32; 16. Lex Joon, 6.317, 112.11. Not Qualified: 17. Scott Farley, 10.120, 49.76. Funny Car 1. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.890, 318.39; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.900, 331.28; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.908, 325.06; 4. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.913, 321.35; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.926, 329.67; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.960, 327.11; 7. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.972, 322.50; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.997, 321.50; 9. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.005, 314.97; 10. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.040, 317.19; 11. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.061, 322.50; 12. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.072, 311.56; 13. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.087, 312.57; 14. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.127, 276.75; 15. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.150, 299.86; 16. Paul Lee, Charger, 4.229, 230.17. Not Qualified: 17. Bobby Bode, 4.386, 205.19; 18. Julie Nataas, 5.037, 157.28; 19. Joe Morrison, 5.248, 147.04; 20. Mike McIntire, 5.617, 108.60; 21. Chris King, 6.759, 100.09. Pro Stock 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.594, 206.76; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.596, 207.15; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.604, 207.21; 4. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.613, 206.73; 5. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.619, 205.57; 6. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.626, 206.57; 7. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.630, 206.95; 8. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.631, 207.82; 9. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.631, 205.66; 10. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.632, 206.89; 11. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.639, 207.05; 12. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.652, 207.59; 13. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.653, 204.35; 14. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.677, 207.08; 15. Derrick Reese, Ford Mustang, 6.721, 203.98; 16. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.747, 204.73. Pro Stock Motorcycle 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.824, 200.68; 2. John Hall, Beull, 6.832, 199.35; 3. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.874, 197.88; 4. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.888, 195.59; 5. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.902, 196.73; 6. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.906, 196.79; 7. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.935, 199.08; 8. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.964, 191.84; 9. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.966, 194.55; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.990, 194.72; 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.047, 192.63; 12. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.385, 181.89; 13. Odolph Daniels, Suzuki, 7.483, 178.02.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cory McClenathan Not Closing Door on Return to NHRA Competition
All-time racing great Cory McClenathan is still active in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Sure, the 34-time NHRA Top Fuel winner and four-time season championship runner-up hasn't raced in the category since losing his ride in 2020. And, sure, McClenathan is 62 years old. But that doesn't mean he doesn't still check his phone and his emails for a call asking him to get back in the game. These days, the closest McClenathan gets to the cockpit of a race car is through a five-year partnership of his current business—Reno, Nev.-based RevChem Composites—with Kalitta Motorsports. McClenathan was at Kalitta HQ in Ypsilanti, Mich., this past Thursday to participate in a Business-to-Business Summit with fellow Kalitta Motorsports Partners. "I last raced in 2020 during Covid," McClenathan said. "We did like five races at Indianapolis that year." The two-time U.S. Nationals winner would love to get back out there. "I try to keep my ties," McClenathan said. "It's not like I'm too old to drive a race car. If something was to come up, I think I'd do it. But really, I got tired of chasing the money myself, trying to do it all myself." In a perfect world, McClenathan says he'd love to find a partial-season ride. He's not interested in going to a new team or helping a fledgling team figure it out. "At first, I was going to people who had new teams," he said. "Let's get the car figured out. A guy like me could help. That got old after a while, and I finally decided that unless I'm doing three or four of five races in a row or in a year type of thing, I wasn't interested. "There's no way I could go back to it full time. I have a house, I have a job, I have a daughter, my mother. If the right thing came along and came up and it was the right deal, I'd take it. "I still have the competitive spirit. I can still drive one. I'm not too heavy to get into a dragster. So, for now, the drag racing fix will have to be as a business partner to Kalitta Motorsports. "I enjoy this," he said. "I can see my friends. I get to see all the sponsors. Scott Kalitta and I were really good friends. I have a lot of friends here." McClenathan says that if he did get another opportunity, there's still room for guys like him in the sport. "Kids with money, kids with parents with a lot of money, are the ones coming into the sport," he said. "Some eventually end up getting sponsors. Fans like seeing some of the good rookie drivers that have come up, but for the most part, a lot of people miss us old guys." And McClenathan misses the action. "I got replaced by a guy—Spencer Massey—that could leave the starting line and who had money in his pocket," McClenathan said. " I'm one of those guys who could be back at any time if the right thing happened. "It's nice to see guys like me come back for five, six races. It brings my old fans back and it gives the NHRA something to talk about." In the meantime, McClenathan keeps checking those messages. "Always, always," he said. "I never let that go."
CTV News
25-06-2025
- CTV News
Windsor police to crack down on loud vehicles
Drouillard Road is a prime example of being a favourite spot for noisy and illegal drag racing, according to residents. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor Summer is here and so are the renewed efforts to clamp down on excessive noise from all vehicles. In Windsor, revving engines and squealing tires could cost you more than just a polite warning. On the books are bylaws that target unnecessary motor vehicle noise, especially during normal quiet hours between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. One such bylaw (6716) prohibits 'unnecessary motor vehicle noise.' The rules apply around the clock in residential areas. Police are on the lookout for revving engines, squealing tires, and loud music from a vehicle's sound system that can be heard from a distance. Police enforce the bylaw through patrols and an online complaint system on the Windsor police website. Offenders will face fines ranging from $50 to $200. If left unpaid, violators could face up to 60 days in jail. For resident Sean D., the loud, over-bearing cars on Drouillard Road can be heard racing down the street at all hours but especially late at night. 'It's crazy,' said Sean. 'Sometimes they're sitting there drag racing. They think it's there (Drouillard Road) because it's like a mile long or more. They think it's their dragstrip and they just want to fly up and down the street. And it only takes one person not paying attention, or a kid running in the middle of the road, and you're going to kill somebody.'
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How Fast Can The Suzuki Hayabusa Really Go? Here's What Riders Have Clocked
Few motorcycles have earned the kind of legendary status that surrounds the Suzuki Hayabusa. For over two decades, the 'Busa has been the go-to name when you're talking straight-line speed and contemplating buying one for cheap to make your friends say, "You sure about that?" It didn't just set the bar for performance when it launched — it obliterated it, claiming to be the fastest production motorcycle in the world. With its aggressive, swooping bodywork, a stretched stance, and the kind of power that made the liter class nervous, the Hayabusa built a cult following across drag strips, and among top speed chasers, and the back corners of the internet where turbo builds roam free. It wasn't just fast for its time, it was simply fast by any measure. This wasn't a motorcycle you rode to flex specs. It was one you rode to find out what your helmet's top vent tasted like at 190 mph. So how fast can a Hayabusa actually go? Depends on the year, the mods, and your nerve. Read more: These Are The Cars You'd Buy If They Were $20,000 Cheaper When it launched in 1999, the first-gen Suzuki Hayabusa (GSX1300R) clocked a mind-bending top speed in excess of 190 mph, making it the fastest production motorcycle in the world. Suzuki didn't hold back on that first model — no limiter, no electronic leash, just a 173-horsepower, 1,299cc inline-4 sending power through a six-speed gearbox. Then came the "gentleman's agreement" in 2000 between manufacturers to electronically limit top speeds to 186 mph. So while the second-gen Hayabusa (2008–2018) had a beefier 1,340cc engine making up to 191 hp, its top speed was capped at around 186 mph unless you removed the limiter. Those were factory specs. In the real world, though, fully derestricted 'Busas with turbo kits have been known to produce 345 hp and push well beyond 250 mph. More famously, in 2023, Jack Frost of Holeshot Racing set a verified standing mile clocking 274.9 mph on his in-house turbo-Busa. This topped former Isle of Man TT racer Guy Martin's 2019 record of 270.9 mph for a standing mile on a whopping 819 hp streamlined turbocharged Hayabusa. It's not just about the top speed -- the Hayabusa is also a rocket off the line. The original '99 model could do 0–60 mph in about 2.8 seconds. Quarter-mile times? Around 9.8 seconds bone stock. The second-gen version (2007-2018) with its revised motor shaved a few tenths off that, clocking 2.7 seconds for a 60 mph run from a standstill and dispatching a quarter-mile in 9.7 seconds. Launched in 2021, the current-gen Hayabusa is more refined, boasts 188 hp, and gets more electronics nannies than ever before. Despite the slightly less top-end power, it still claims to clock 0–60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Still fast enough to outrun your excuses for not getting one. The speed story of the Hayabusa is as much about evolution as it is about revolution. Gen 1 was raw and unfiltered. Gen 2 brought more power but also electronic limits. Gen 3 (current) refined the platform with advanced rider aids, better brakes, and smoother power delivery, but it no longer chases the outright top speed crown. Motorcycles like the 321 hp Kawasaki Ninja H2R are in a whole different league with forced induction and a top speed of 250 mph, but they're also not road-legal. On the street, the formidable 'Busa still remains a street-legal mix of brute speed and long-haul comfort that few motorcycles can touch. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
