Bike Wars Photo’s Album August 28-29 2010
http://prautoclub.com/gallery2/v/Terrace+Drags+Aug+28-29+10/
Photo copyright Ed Evans
By Ed Evans
This is it, the final race of the 2010 Northwest Drag racing season.
Bike Wars will bring out the fastest bikes in the Northwest this weekend to battle for the year long bragging rights. Thats right Bikes only! No cars or sleds. But don’t fear, Sleds and cars can race each other in “King of the YXT” and Sleds are welcome in the “Sled/Bike” Class
Photo copyright Ed Evans
The season long points series wraps up this weekend too and the battle continues….
“Super Pro” has Kris Barnett in the lead with 201 points. Clint Della Vecchia is behind the leader by 65 points.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
“Pro” class is led by Chris Bie with 253 points. Doug McFadden and Harley Bell follow, 76 and 77 points behind Bie.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
“Sled/Bike” leader is Kevin Enmark and his sled with 180 points, followed by John Symes (63 points behind) and Al McFarlane tied with Jim Braid (63 points behind)
Photo copyright Ed Evans
“Jr. Dragster” is led by Tanner Daum with 234 points with Chris Cook following behind him by 83 points. Good luck to all participants.
Don’t miss all of the fun at the final race of 2010 here in the Northwest. See you at “Bike Wars”!
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
By Ed Evans
The only smoke came from the burnouts as the 2010 Houston Drags ran at the Houston Airport last weekend. Fires were rampant in the area with two of them burning in the Houston region. The Friday night burnout contest did however, press home the seriousness of the whole situation when a Helicopter was vectored in to the airport to check out all of the smoke after Chris wood’s burnout. Chris did not win the “Burnout Contest” however he was hot all weekend, taking home a second in “King of the Hill” and a First in “Pro” Sunday.
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
The “Feature vehicle” was “Smokin’ Gun” a 12 second 1968 Kenworth which is Canada’s first and fastest Diesel Drag Semi. Powered by a Detroit Diesel 8V92, Twin Turbo, Supercharged, and Inter-Charged with a 1200 hp shot of Nitrous Oxide. “Smokin’ Gun” makes 3100 hp to move 9500 lbs down the 1/4 mile in less than 12.5 seconds, and through the traps at over 120 mph!
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Belching black smoke as the turbo’s spooled up and running a full 1/8 mile burnout, this monster ran at over 100 MPH each run down the quarter mile track. A huge crowd pleaser, “Smokin’ Gun” had all of the racers in the pit’s watching each run too.
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
The “Pro Outlaw” class pits Saturday’s winner against Sunday’s winner in the 1/8 mile race. Local Houston racer Nuno Deteves was hoping to repeat last year, where he took “Pro Outlaw” Saturday and won the final on Sunday. Deteves did his part taking Saturday “Pro Outlaw” but could not stop the hard charging Paul Soares, who met Lee Thompson and his 63 Corvette in the Sunday finals. Soares and his Grande Prix, powered around Thompson in the most exciting final in years.
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Sunday the Saturday winners of “King of the hill” Bikes and “King of the hill” Car/Truck met in a winner take all final and surprise, the car won. Mike Wienhardt of Vanderhoof took out Leyland Hoveland and his Bike.
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
“Bikes and sleds” winner was…..who else Shawn Enmark and his slippery sled.
Other winners were not available when this column was posted.
A thank you goes out to the organizers, sponsors and especially the volunteers, A great time was had by all who attended and we cannot wait for next year.
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Next Up:
Bike wars this weekend August 28, 29 at the Terrace Airport featuring Jeff Knowles and his Nitro Harley. Watch for a Preview Friday
Houston Drags 2010 Pictures: http://prautoclub.com/gallery2/v/Houston+2010/
All photo’s copyright Ed Evans
By Ed Evans
The third weekend in August has been a great weekend for Drag racers and fans in the Northwest for the past 13 years. The Houston Drags run on the third weekend of August and from the first year it was the place to be.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
There has always excitement at the Houston Drags, the first year we had Paul Soares in his Blown Small block Grande Prix.
The car sent up a roar that echoed off of the surrounding mountains, sounding like some rampaging beast.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
In other years we have seen lots of huge air, due to the concrete launch pad. Gord Hidber and his Altered, Ryan MacDonald’s ’34 Ford Coupe, Lee Thompson’s Beamont, Kham Shantz and his 34 Ford Roadster and Prince George’s “Nitrous Boss” Doug MacKenzie and his ’55 to name a few.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Local Northwest racers brought some great rides. J.L. and his Top alcohol Rail or his Pro-Mod Nova , Monty’s Blown Alcohol Altered, Racers such as Roger Manson and his Blown four cylinder 9 second Jeep have all added to the excitement.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
There have been some exciting feature cars, Rob Murphy and his Pro Mod, his wheel-stander “Wheely Fun”, coincidentally, it was driven by “Nitro Mike Kuntz”. Kuntz was the feature last year with his wheel-standing PT Cruiser “ Walking Tall”.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
This year will prove to be no exception as the Feature Act this year will be “Smokin’ Gun”, Canada’s fastest ¼ mile Diesel Semi. This 1968 Kenworth has run a best time of 11.98 seconds and a best ¼ mile speed of 120.70 MPH.
Photo courtesy website: www.smokingunracing.com
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Cars have come from all over to race at Houston. Beside all of the Northwest racers, cars have been noted from PG , Alberta, Ft St John, Chetwynd, Whitehorse, Mission and Ashcroft to name a few.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Now a 1/8 mile race for the fast “Pro Outlaw” class and a full ¼ mile for all of the other classes, Houston offers something for everybody. Don’t miss this weekend of fun, as it still says on the side of “Walking Tall”….. “Houston Rocks”.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
If you want to see more about the Houston Drags, click on the ‘ Houston Drags’ link. If you would like to see more pics of previous year’s click on ‘pictures’. See ya in Houston!
Smokin’ Gun in 2003 at Drag Wars in Grande Prairie
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
Canadian and United States
Diesel Drag Racing Association
1/4 Mile Speed Record
August 25, 2007
Best 1/4 mile Speed 120.70 mph*
Best 1/4 mile Elapsed Time 11.98 seconds** (New Personal Best 2009)
Best 60′ Time 1.71 seconds
0-60mph in less than 4.0 seconds!
*Race City Speedway **Firebird Raceway
Calgary, Alberta, Canada Boise, Idaho, USA
1968 Canadian Kenworth Diesel Pro Rig
Canada’s first and fastest Diesel Drag Semi
Powered by a T-N-T Detroit Diesel 8V92
Twin Turbo, Supercharged, and Inter-Charged
1200 hp shot of Nitrous Oxide.
Makes 3100 hp to move 9500 lbs down the 1/4 mile in less than 12.5 seconds, and through the traps at over 120 mph!
From website: www.smokingunracing.com
Smokin’ Gun in 2003: The cop car had a hard time seeing where he was because of the black smoke
Photo Copyright Ed Evans
See all the action June 20, 21 and 22nd at the Houston Airport for more information click on the link
Hey, did you buy some parts from Ribero?
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Celebrities at the track
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Great looks and air too
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Uhhh… about your dial in time
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Mike found out Sunday, that the flames won’t show on Alcohol
Photo copyright Ed Evans
And then there were three
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Kris Barnett took over 1st in Super Pro and gets nice launches too!
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Exactly how much air do you have in there Clint?
Photo copyright Ed Evans
He bought the optional engine package
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Yes, I can count, but it takes more than 8 photo’s to show a little of Hot August Nites 2010. Great Show as always.
Watch out for the annual Houston Drags next weekend August 20th to 22th. Watch for my column next week!
Photo copyright Ed Evans
By Ed Evans
‘Hot August Nites’ lived up to it’s billing …..Hot weather, Fast cars and excitement on the track. The weather was stupid hot all weekend. This created a scorching hot track combined with the large amount of Trac_Bite put down for the “Feature act”, The Wheel-standing PT Cruiser of ‘Nitro Mike’ Kuntz, made for some spectacular wheel-stands on the weekend.
‘Nitro Mike’ and ‘Walking Tall’ had no problem making spectacular 1/8 mile (and further) runs on his back wheels. On the return road after his two runs up and one back he would thrill the crowds with flames shooting out of the zoomie tubes of his Blown Injected Chrysler 440.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
The Wheel-stander and the hot sticky track seemed to have an effect on the rest of the racers as huge wheel-stands were the norm on the weekend. Racers Terry Frizzell, Kris Barnett, Norm Schwengler yanking the tires 2 to 3 feet feet at times. You don’t see traction as good as that even on the Big permanent tracks, never mind a temporary Airport track. Kudos should go out to the all volunteers who worked hard to prep and set up the track.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Photo copyright Ed Evans
The super sticky track did have it’s own demons though, as there was an enormous amount of red-lights as racers found there was little if no spinning from launch, reducing their reaction time. A sticky track and parts breakage go together and this weekend was no exception as everything from motors and tranny’s to rear ends and u-joints suffered from the pain of breakage
Sunday morning Drag bike racer Ian Berrisford spilled fluid on his front tire and ended up putting his Drag bike on its side on one run. “ I looked over and could see him on his side sliding down the track, trying to turn the wheel to get it up” said his racing opponent Terry Frizzell. It destroyed the handlebars and Berrisford suffered a few cuts and bruises, but his bike was repaired and he was back on Monday.
Prince Rupert’s Kham Shantz running his first race back in two years, ran on Sunday like he never missed a beat, before he too ran into a Red-light in Eliminations. Monday though was a different story as Shantz went down with a toasted transmission. Shantz’s transmission has been repaired as he went up this weekend to Prince George to participate in the opening race at NCMP.
Sunday was the Points series with the ‘Pro’, ‘Super Pro’. Bike/Sled’ and ‘Jr. Dragster’ classes:
Sunday
JR
Tanner Daum
Lou Ribeiro
Chris Cook
Snow / bike
John Symes – also Riverboat days champ
Robin Kilgren (first time on a sled)
Jim Braid
Pro
Chris Bie
Doug McPhadyen
Mike Gregory
Super Pro
Kris Barnett
Rick Lundrigen
Paul Soares
Monday dawned to clouds early in the morning, but it didn’t stop the heat when the sun finally peeked out. King of the YXT and Gamblers was run along with another feature race the ‘Quick 8′. These are the fastest 8 cars in the field running off against each other. Paul Soares and his Grand Prix was ‘Quick 8 Qualifier’. That’s the fastest car in time trials, but Bruce Daum and his Corvette hung on for the win.
‘King of the YXT’ final was a meeting between Houston’s Rick Lundrigrin and his Malibu and Terrace’s Harold Daumont in his Firebird. Lundrigan, Sunday’s ‘Super Pro’ second place winner took out Daumont to win it. ‘Gamblers’ finalist was John Wreggitt, who was running in his first race in 30 years.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
The Daum’s cleaned up on the weekend as the ‘King of the YXT’ winner was Tanner Daum taking home his second win of the weekend to add to his dad’s ‘Quick 8′ win.
Monday
Quick 8
Paul Soares -Quick 8 Qualifier
Bruce Daum- winner
Gamblers – John Wreggitt
King YXT – Rick Lundrigrin
King YxT JR. - Tanner Daum
All in all it was a great show and we can’t wait for next Years ‘Hot August Nites’.
Photo copyright Ed Evans
Racing was not all that was happening in Terrace last weekend. The race was a part of the Terrace Riverboat Days celebration and the Skeena Valley Cruizers put on their annual ‘Riverboat Days Car Show’. Held in the Terrace Arena, this annual show always brings out the best cars in the Northwest and this year was no exception, with several Barrett-Jackson cars in attendance. Included in the show was Alice Coopers ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ and a beautiful Blown, flamed ’57 Chevy. The first annual ‘Valve Cover Races’ was held outside the arena, with colourful racers built from valve covers. A great weekend for sure!
Next Up:
Racing continues this weekend in Prince George , with the first race of the season at the NCMP raceway. The track has been closed for several years except for ‘Friday Night Street Drags’. New owners have finished renovations and this race is loosely based on the ‘Pinks’. Called ‘P.G. All Out’ this race will attract cars from all over with the $10,000 in prizes. Great to see the track back!
August 20-22 marks the 14th Annual ‘Houston Drags’. This great race features 1/8 mile and ¼ mile racing, a burnout contest Friday night and a ‘Show and Shine’ all weekend. The feature vehicle this year is ‘Smokin’Gun’, a 12 second Kenworth.
Check out our links for more information on these events. You can also click on pictures to see photo’s of both events.
