During our trip over to Australia this winter LMLCMedia did have the privilege of an intersect with the owners and operators for one of the most unique circuits within all of world wide drag racing — the Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Car Series.

As a sport, drag racing is demanding for all participants and no one will ever deny that.   But that notion is exemplified for this series which has been around since first formation back in 2013.  Because Australia is truly a very vast continent — to race a series within it successfully does require some even higher degrees of specialization and one of that countries most legendary figures — Graeme Cowin — is at the helm.

Graeme (and his wife Wendy) are truly proponents for the sport in Australia.  After founding and building their now multi-million dollar and cutting edge Rocket Industries from the ground-up to market leader — they are in fact now giving back to the sport they love and support though a very creative product.

(Iconic Australia drag racer Graeme Cowin (the founder of Rocket Industries) is the creative mind behind the concept for the Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Car Series)

Their Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Car series does provide a new level of drag racing entertainment, employing a formula that had not been seen before in Australia.  Since inception and very steadily, their ideas have emerged and morphed into a very significant factor and attraction for drag racing overall — for the market down under.

We were able to visit the Western Sydney-based headquarters and race shop for Graeme’s Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars series, and their Manager (New Zealand-native Morice McMillin) graciously took the time to explain the concept for the circuit which is very much a model of self sufficiency and creativity.

“Our series itself owns, operates and maintains 14 active nitro cars,” confirmed Morice McMillin, who in addition to managing the series is also one of its most popular circuit drivers (“One Bad Kiwi” Firebird). 

“A few years ago Graeme saw a hole in drag racing in Australia which he set out to fill.  Not only were Funny Cars themselves very rare here — he identified a void in fan entertainment.  Traditional events were often just too long with racing with downtime and not enough entertainment.  Graeme’s brainchild has now turned into something we’re all very proud of.”

(Morice McMillin — is not only the Series Manager — he is also one of the circuit’s most popular drivers in his “One Bad Kiwi” Firebird – below)

To categorize the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car series might be to meld some of the most positive aspects of NHRA’s co-production Hot Rod Heritage Series with the Feld Entertainment’s Monster Jam within North America.  A notion like that has then been specially tailored in a number of ways — with efficiency and entertainment always being of the highest priorities.

Long Distance Logistics

A typical Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Car series event will see transport of some 10 race cars and with all supporting equipment themselves — all usually self contained in three company owned haulers.  Understand that to go drag racing pretty much anywhere within the continent of Australia is a daunting task in itself.  For the most part competent drag strips there are both limited in number and often separated by vast distances.  

(Based from Sydney — the Aeroflow Outlaw Funny Cars Series features a very modern 100% self sufficient race car shop and facility that houses everything — including premium transportation equipment.)

Example — the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Series, which has had a high number of highly successful and sold out events to its credit since inception, did experience something unforeseen earlier this season.  Their annual event scheduled for the fabulous Perth Motorplex – located out in far west coastal Australia — was forced into cancellation.

“That event (for Jan. 4th) was sold out — well in advance,” Morice explained.  “The track is 4500 KM from our operations in Sydney — so we had to leave about 7 days in advance.  We got to about 1200 KM from the track but were then forced to stop by all the problems with bush fires this season.  Our drivers waited for 3 days there before it was determined we could not get though on the direct route.  So unfortunately it became unfeasible – and they turned around and had to drive over 3000 KM back.”

Morice then revealed that just a few days after that unfortunate circumstance and returning to Sydney — work had to immediately begin for the next two scheduled events which were happening in New Zealand.  All of the race trucks, equipment and containers had to be prepped and customs cleared for that trip over by boat (5 days each way) and basically for a two month exercise overall there and back.

Both illustrate just some of the extra magnitude of logistics that the Aeroflow Nitro Funny Car series must manage through, can and must face. “Planning well in advance and logistics is a very big part of our operations,” Morice confirmed.

Race Car Salary Cap! 

The race cars themselves within this circuit have a very real commonality to them.  For the most part they are Pleuger-chassied cars that were imported from the USA over time and which have been gone over extensively by New Zealand native and former NHRA FC class racer Grant Downing.  Between the frame rails, each engine features a custom Graeme Cowin mindset.

(There is an important tune-up and engine configuration commonality for all Aeroflow cars — which has already proven to serve the circuit well.)

“To make this all work for our fans — a huge focus is for these cars to be very reliable with no breakage,” Morice continued. “So there is a real combination commonality to all our race cars and a huge emphasis at our shop before and after on everything mechanical. That reliability is something we all pride ourselves on.”

“Graeme has implemented an engine design and tune-up accordingly — these motors are overall in a very happy place,” he added.  “They are different then what is run usually over in North America (ie: NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series) — we run a bigger fuel pump and more mag spark — but never on the ragged edge.   To give you an example — at our last three races into total — 8 cars each — we had to pull the heads off once on one car.  All of our cars are designed for fast turnaround and get back to the staging lanes.  They make a lot of power — do big burnouts and make great header flames at night and that is a big part of our show.   And don’t get me wrong — they are fast — think somewhere between a NHRA ‘big show” car and” nostalgia car”.  In our circuit (1/4 mile) cars have run in the 5.3 secs zone at 275 mph.”

Fanfare A Priority 

The Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car series’ primary mission is however fan focus and the future.  They present events — not just a drag race.  The identification with fans is paramount to all their event experiences.  Their shows include a corral like pit display that is specifically designed for fan interaction and that often includes a number of innovative twists.

“Our shows have a very heavy family focus,” Morice emphasized.  “We run a tight show with a set schedule but before that and in-between rounds there is an ongoing pit party.  Face painting for the kids, music, cartoon characters etc.  There is very direct access to the race cars too.  In fact for some kids just 30 minutes after they have sat in a race car — they can watch that very same actual car go down the race track.   Needless to say something like that can create quite a connection to a new race fan — and we’ve seen that happen a lot.  Our events are shorter and sharper by design compared to traditional long days of drag racing.  We strive to suit the needs of a more time constrained modern day family — give them good entertainment for their dollar – send them home happy — and then welcome them back next time. We’ve most definitely seen that formula work with our crowd sizes increasing since the conception of our series.”

(The Aeroflow Series puts a very high priority and focus on individual race car team identification and positive fan fare.)

A cool dimension for the series is some hard facts for all the race car teams.  That starts with, much like Monster Jam, all teams involved must have a motif or theme.  

“All of our cars are intended to be relatable,” said Morice.  “Every team car has a name or a character — Star Wars – Transformers – Super Hero, etc.  It’s really not all about the individual driver themselves — it’s the car itself that the fans can cheer for.   We are however very proud of all the drivers we have involved.  There is a great mix of talent both ladies and gentlemen.  We provide a place where motivated individuals can graduate up to and actually get their Funny Car racing licence.”

There is also some “standing marching orders” for all drivers.  Because of the desire to present close and side by side racing — drivers are instructed to peddle the cars when required and get it to the finish line — and that does work because the reliable tune-ups are designed to allow for it.

The racing formula for each and every Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car event is simple and easy for the novice race fan to understand.   All cars entered run all three rounds of competition.  Drivers get 3 points for a win light and 1 point for a loss.  The racer with the most points at the end of the evening is declared the event winner and with that he or she can accumulate points towards the season ending championship title.  

Adding to the Mix

In 2020 the Aeroflow Nitro Nostalgia Funny Car Series has entered year six of existence.  Over the past couple season’s Graeme’s series has began to include some exhibition wheel stander Funny Cars into the mix and in 2019 he did create a new parallel circuit exclusively for AA/FA cars.  That group — Aeroflow Nitro Hot Rods — is also gaining momentum and is destined to be more of a future focus too.

(A more recently added dimension is some AA/FA cars that are intended to further expand the Aeroflow name within Australia’s motorsports market.)

Morice concluded.  “What Graeme and Wendy are doing for the future of drag racing here is massive and honestly it’s not like anything else in the world.  They are for sure two of the most passionate and remarkable people you could ever meet and simply put Australia drag racing fans are fortunate.”

For more information and to follow the series — click on the logo below:

Post and photos by Bruce Biegler