This weekend at Sydney Dragway, motorsport fans will have the chance to see the Ex-Polito Ford Cortina, driven by Owen James, return to the track for the Day of the Drags in the Nostalgia Pro Stock class. James, who regularly competes in Top Sportsman and Super Sedan, has only recently started racing the Cortina, marking an exciting new chapter for both him and his team.
At 58 years old, James is ready for the challenge of Nostalgia Pro Stock, but his journey with the Cortina is still in its early stages. With the team continuously setting faster times, walking away with a trophy from the event is definitely on the cards. The car, originally raced by Joe Polito from 1985 to 1990, has a deep connection to Australia’s Pro Stock history. Polito essentially constructed the car himself in the early ’80s, with Mario Corona handling the panel work. The project started as a bare chassis, which Polito carefully fitted with a Cortina body, assembling it in his own garage. This DIY spirit and craftsmanship marked the car’s humble beginnings, quickly making a mark in Pro Stock circles.
James purchased the car from Polito in 1990 and raced it until 1996, winning several events, including the Holden vs. Ford challenge and a number of minor events, primarily at Oran Park. After a six-year layoff, James brought the car back for two more events at Wakefield Park, followed by its final drag racing appearance in 2002 at Oran Park before being put into a 22-year hibernation in a chicken shed. Now, the car is back on the track, and James is determined to see it reclaim its racing glory.
While Owen hasn’t yet achieved major success with the Cortina in recent years, each outing brings new learning experiences and opportunities to tune the car to its full potential. The Ford Cortina is powered by a Ford Cleveland engine, built by Pro Flo Performance and OAC Engineering, and James is slowly getting to grips with how to extract the best performance from it.
With a personal best ET of 8.638 seconds at 155.96 MPH, James is focused on refining the car’s setup and dialling in consistent performances. However, for James, it’s not about chasing accolades or trying to win “Best Showman.” His goal is simple: to go down the track as fast as possible and enjoy the close, side-by-side racing that Pro Stock is known for. “Good, close racing is what I love about Pro Stock,” he says. “It’s all about the thrill of the competition.”
While James doesn’t intend to race the Cortina full-time in the Nostalgia Pro Stock class, his involvement in the series is a tribute to the rich history of Australian Pro Stock. Supported by a dedicated team, including Adam James, Dylan Goldfinch, Richard Smith, and Aaron Betts, James is determined to make the most of every opportunity to race and learn more about the car.
Be sure to catch Owen James and his historic Ford Cortina at the Day of the Drags at Sydney Dragway, as the car continues to find its feet in the Nostalgia Pro Stock class. This is an event where history, passion, and raw speed come together, and Owen James is proud to be part of it.
