By Molly McNulty – Terrace Standard

Published: October 28, 2008 11:00 PM

DAVE SAUNDERS, a well known drag racer from Kitimat, passed away on
October 7, succumbing to kidney cancer.

Saunders had been racing in the northwest for 33 years with his 1965
Beaumont, the “Purple Pig”.

Saunders raced in the Super Pro Class, Super Street Class, and Super Gas
in the United States, and three different provinces.

For almost 10 years, The Terrace Drag Race Association’s (TDRA) home has
been the Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat.

Throughout that time, Saunders and the Purple Pig have been a present
force on the track.

Blake Bedford of the TDRA says that Saunders had been with them since
1994 when the club began.

“We have four a year (races) and he is at every one of them,” says
Bedford. “From what I’ve seen he’s been very competitive his whole
life..and he’s taken home lots of our trophies.”

“He was a seasoned racer,” added Bedford.

It was here in Terrace, August long weekend, that Saunders had his last
race.

On October 11, a procession of drag cars followed his Purple Pig, driven
by his friend Bruce, to his funeral.

In Saunders’ honour, Bedford says that the TDRA will be doing a memorial
plaque. The plaque will have Saunders’ portrait, with a border for
adding the points and winners from each year.

Bedford is in the process of getting it together, starting with this
year’s point winners on the plaque, which will be presented at the year
end banquet on November 1.

Photo:
PROCESSION OF drag cars following the ashes of Dave Saunders in his “Purple Pig”. His good friend Bruce drove his car to Saunders’ funeral on Oct.11. contributed PHOTO”