STRAIGHT line motor racing in Ballarat is about to get a whole lot faster.And drag racing fans will also be better catered for at Ballarat City Dragway.These are the major outcomes of a Ballarat City Council grant of $70,000 announced yesterday to fast-track a Ballarat Drag Racing Club upgrade.The funding will enable the club to begin construction of a new concrete starting area as early as December and develop a permanent spectator viewing area.Club president Darren Staszek, track development liaison officer Doug Penna and Australian National Drag Racing Association chief executive officer Tony Thornton were on site with Ballarat City Learmonth ward councillor John Phillips at Ballarat Airport for the announcement.The project is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000.Penna said the grant was a massive boost for the upgrade, which will take drag racing in Ballarat to a new level.He said the club had been working toward the development for the best part of 20 years."I can't thank the City of Ballarat enough," Penna said.The new starting area will be an extension of the existing one-eighth mile drag strip, which is located at the end of a runway.The development means the majority of the racing surface will be concrete instead of the existing bitumen.Banked grass spectator areas will be constructed on each side of the starting area - a marked improvement on temporary tiered seating which the club uses.Penna said, as well as facilities being more appealing to spectators, better quality racing would also act as a bigger drawcard.He said the improved track would mean faster classes of cars.The club has had drag meetings over the past two weekends and will again be back in action on Sunday with the Monaro Nationals.