Rippin’ Up The Strip

By Ed Evans

The Daily News

The smell of burning rubber and the sound of high compression motors are all part of the sights and sounds as the 2007 Northwest drag racing season launches this weekend at the Terrace/Kitimat Airport. The first of four races at the airport this year, the weekend will also bring back the popular “Street Series Shootout”.

Racing will start Saturday at 10 a.m. with “King of the YXT” and “Gamblers”. After the racing day is over, the second crew of volunteers will come in and run the “Saturday Night Street Series”. Open to all street legal cars, this race will culminate at the end of the season where a final “Street Series Champion” is crowned. According to the website:

Vehicles must pass safety tech inspection and they must be street legal, not just race cars

with exhaust and lights. If the street legal definition gets pushed we will get out the Provincial Vehicle Inspection manual.

-Helmet required.

-Elimination’s will be divided into street tire and drag tire classes.

-There will be no cheater slicks or drag radials in street tire class. New comers will find street tire classes have more room for error. Veterans will probably bring slicks and enjoy the consistency, very tight competition, and the bigger payout of drag tire class.

Radial tires will be allowed in drag tire class, for those with experience and/or no traction issues with street tires (ie. all wheel drive or traction controlled vehicles).

Tech will start @ 6:00 PM

Drivers meeting @ 6:45 PM

Time trials start at 7:00 PM hotlaping OK, grudge match’s welcome.

Elimination’s start at 8:00 PM .

Sunday the racing will again start at 10 a.m. with regular classes. A first for this season will be a points series for the four Terrace races and the Houston race. The points will be awarded in four classes: JR Dragster, Bike/Sled, Pro and Super Pro. The points will take place on Sunday in bracket’s only, not Saturday. Each person who enters will automatically get 20 point’s. Each round earned will get 10 point’s. Trophies will remain being handed out as well as cash per event & at the year end, the winner will receive a larger cup/trophy and a jacket per category.

So it appears there will be something for everybody, from fans to racers, this year. For more information or to check out the photo’s see the websites www.terracedrags.ca or www.princerupertautoclub.com

This column appears courtesy of the Prince Rupert Daily News