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Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies are all very well, but it was the noise, smoke and exhilaration of drag racing that provided the real treat for motor sport fans in Roma over Easter. Roma's popular Easter in the Country Festival included a comprehensive motor sport program, with the drag racing roaring into life on Easter Sunday.

Qualifying started on Saturday afternoon with the performance of some bikes pointing to an action packed day on Easter Sunday. With perfect weather and a well prepared strip, the vehicles reacted well achieving great times.

The drags attracted 92 competitors from as far away as Brisbane, Clermont, Tara, Gladstone, Biloela, Maryborough and Cessnock in NSW and included ten Screaming Eagles and four Pro Gas Harleys. Additional motor bike brackets were added to the program at the request of enthusiasts.

The bikes in the Morgan and Wacker sponsored Screaming Eagles bracket were a hit with the crowd and the SWDRA is keen to make them a part of future meets.

The popular ladies only bracket, the Powder Puff, was another feature of the program which was watched by around 2,000 appreciative fans. The SWDRA president's wife, Viv Moore won the bracket defeating Linda Patterson in the final.

All racing was conducted under a Chicago Shootout DYO format over three rounds with a final. The meeting ended in a series of grudge runs and trophy presentations.

Despite all the action, the track record of 5.48 seconds, set last year by Lionel Durre in a twin turbo SB Chevrolet powered Pontiac, remains intact.

With no-one achieving the 0.400 perfect light, this will be worth $300 when competitors return for the 2005 Easter in the Country meet.

Although problems with the track surface breaking up caused a delay, drag fans in the south west Queensland town weren't put off. Club officials have since met with road surface specialists to develop a plan to further upgrade the strip. The latest planned improvements will make Roma's Ironbark Raceway one of the best in regional Queensland.

Winners and runners up received trophies and cash prizes ranging from $50 to $300. The 2004 Easter in the Country meeting was sponsored by Gas Drive Systems, Castrol Australia and South State Fuels (Ampol).

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