Adelaide Jamboree 2025
After a two-year hiatus, the Garrett Jamboree made its highly anticipated return to Dragway at The Bend, and it was nothing short of spectacular. On October 18th, fans from across Australia flocked to the world-class facility, eager to witness the intense heads-up drag racing action that Jamboree is famous for. The staging lanes were packed, the grandstands filled quickly, and the atmosphere was electric as the racing went on.
Recently completed in 2023, Dragway at The Bend provided the perfect stage for Jamboree’s comeback in Adelaide. The day kicked off with qualifying runs, and in true Jamboree fashion, there was no shortage of drama. The crowd was treated to a mix of blistering side-by-side passes, massive wheel stands, and close calls that had everyone on edge. Unfortunately, a few teams saw their weekends end early after some tough breaks and on-track carnage, but that’s part of what makes Jamboree racing so unpredictable and exciting.
The weekend was packed with emotion as teams chased personal bests and national records. Among the standout performances was the Mitro Racing [FUBARA] VF GTS, driven by Sheriff Tawaf, which ran an impressive 8.111 to become the fastest VF GTS in Australia. Jay Sadek also made headlines in [Saloupa], his 20B Pac Performance powered Factory Xtreme car, clocking a record-breaking 6.174 at 223 mph for Sadek Motoring Group and Sadek Racing claiming the title of the fastest Automatic 20B in the world.
As the day went on, the Show N Shine filled with some of nicest cars on display along with rising temperatures that made track conditions tricky, but competitors continued to push the limits until nightfall, setting the stage for some of the most intense finals in recent memory. The battles were incredibly close, with photo finishes, major upsets, and several Melbourne teams taking home the prestigious Billet J trophies.
Class winners included Keith Hards, who piloted the Dandy Engines powered FAIRXW to victory in the J275 Final against Alex in the FG Ute WPNXR. In ST289, Corey Hunter took the win in his Gemini over the SIK100 Racing Mazda [FAKJNR]. The DYO (Dial Your Own) class was claimed by Adriana Cartledge in the Prostreet Towing Dragster, while Factory Xtreme went to Rob Marjan in “Zeus,” the Croydon Racing Developments–built machine. The most anticipated showdown of the night saw John Ricca face off against drag racing legend John Zappia in Outlaw Pro Mod. Ricca unfortunately red-lit with a -.001 reaction, handing the win to Zappia, but the pair still delivered a jaw-dropping side-by-side five-second pass, with Ricca recording a 5.4 and Zappia a 5.5.
The success of Jamboree’s return to Dragway at The Bend proved that the event remains one of Australia’s most exciting drag racing fixtures. With the 2026 Jamboree J Series now officially announced on social media, fans can already start counting down to the next installment of high-octane action.
