Ed Evans

Everybody was headed to the ‘Hot August Nights’ race last Sunday and Monday at the Terrace Regional Airport.

Racers came from Prince George to Prince Rupert. The ‘Feature’ act came all the way from Kelowna with their 2000 horsepower ‘AA Altered’. They even brought with them, a former Northwest racer Mike Lemky. The Prime Minister of Canada was even rumoured to have been in a helicopter that flew low over the track Monday

But the most unusual way to travel to the race was by Prince Rupert’s Kham Shantz. Shantz was out on his crab boat. Leaving his crew to work, he traveled the 60 plus miles back in to Rupert on a Jet Ski. “ I had to stop halfway back and warm up, laying on a beach.” Shantz said

He must have really wanted to race. After a red light elimination in the first round Sunday, Shantz came back Monday and mowed down the competition to take $1700 for the ‘Quick 8′ race.

The ‘Feature’ Vehicle was Gary Hough and Clara Weber from Kelowna. Driving his 2000 horse power ‘AA Altered’ and using most of his lane, Hough ran a weekend fast 4.51 @ 161 mph. This was not fast enough to break the track record of 4.08 set by Gary Ormsby Jr. at last years ‘Hot August Nights’. It did however put Hough in the ‘YXT 4 second club’, joining Gary Ormesby Jr., Hugh Ridley and Paul Soares.

Results

Sunday August 3

Junior Dragster Class

1^st Place – Lou Ribeiro

2^nd Place – Gage Duriez

3^rd Place – Tanner Daum

Pro Class

1^st Place – Mike Weinharat

2^nd Place – Lissa Bie

3^rd Place – Aaron Baverstock

Super Pro Class

1^st Place – Bruce Daum

2^nd Place – Harold Daumont

3^rd Place – Chris Barnett

Sled/Bike Class

1^st Place – Jim Braid

2^nd Place – Shelly Hanson

3^rd Place – Peter Gunanoot

Monday August 4

“Quick 8” Class

Quick 8 winner – Kham Shantz- $1700

2^nd Round winner – Tony Demelo – $700

1^st Round winner – Bruce Daum – $200

1^st Round winner – Mike Mcneice – $200

Quick 8 “Top Qualifier” – Paul Soares – $200

King of the YXT – Chris Bie

Junior King of the YXT – Natasha Ray

On the Regional Show & Shine circuit, Prince Rupert’s Gord Hidber’s 1955 Chevrolet continues to collect all the silver. Hidber won his 4^th ‘Peoples Choice’ award at the Skeena Valley Cruizers Riverboat Day’s Show & Shine. Hidber also won ‘Best G.M Vehicle’ and ‘Best Hot Rod’.

To check out the photo’s see the websites: www.terracedrags.ca or www.princerupertautoclub.com ..

Next Up:

The 2008 12^th annual Houston Drags August 15-17 at the Houston Airport. For more information on Houston check out the website: www.bvdra.com

Photo:

Gary Hough and his AA Altered announced a run with loud smoky burnouts

Ed Evans Photo