As an 18 year old, Graeme started racing his EH Holden station wagon at Heathcote in the mid 70's. During this time he developed a real need for speed and owned and raced a series of 55 and 57 Chevys.

After his initial stint in drag racing, work and family commitments put his racing aspirations on hold while he developed a successful building and construction business and raised three children.

But once a drag racer, always a drag racer, Graeme returned to competitive racing with the purchase of his current 57 Chevy back in 2000. Originally setup for a blown big block, the 1/2 chassis car was fitted with a naturally aspirated 490 cube big block Chev and glide. This combination powered the all steel 57 to 10.30s down the quarter mile.

In 2005, the bug to go faster had bitten and Graeme decided it was time for an update to the old girl. Out came the 490 to be replaced by a 540 cube BBC, topped with twin 750 Holleys sitting on a Weiand tunnel ram. In an effort to lose some weight, the front end was removed and replaced with a tube chassis from the firewall forward, the addition of coil overs and a lift-off fiber glass front. With the increased horsepower and a little less weight Graeme's best time improved to a 9.28 @ 147 mph.

With the new combination in place Graeme has seen all his hard work return dividends with back to back Ballarat Dragway track championships (2004/2005 & 2005/2006), 2005/2006 club champion, car champion and most improved racer.

Not one to rest on past successes, Graeme is looking forward to new season and will be attempting to back up his track and club championships for another year. And with the need for more speed ever present, we may see Graeme hit the track in a tube chassied 55 with a blown big block for some super charged outlaws action in the not too distant future.

(All images courtesy of www.burnoutsunlimited.com)

VEHICLE TYPE	57 Chevy
TEAM NAME	TUFF 57 Racing
ANDRA CLASS	Super Sedan
ANDRA #	2794
BEST ET & MPH	9.28 / 147mph
BODY / CHASSIS SPECIFICATIONS	57 Chevy, 3/4 chassis, steel body and original glass. Lift-off fiber glass front.
DRIVE LINE / SUSPENSION	Ford 9 inch with 4.11 gears, ladder bars, coil overs front and rear.
ENGINE	540 BBC, twin 750 Holleys on a Weiand tunnel ram. Brodix rectangular port heads, JE pistons (14:1), Carrillo rods, billet steel crank and Merlin block.
TRANSMISSION	Power glide with 1.80 first gear.
ELECTRONICS / ACCESSORIES	MSD 7AL2 ignition, MSD billet dizzy, shifter solenoid and Dedenbear delay box.
WHEELS / TYRES	Convo Pros all round, 32 x 14 on the back with Good Year Eagles, 26 x 5 on the front with Good Year Front Runners
FAVORITE TRACK	Ballarat City Dragway of course.