Kris Barnett yanks his tires on his run against Paul Soares in the “Quick 8” final for Cars Saturday. Barnett outran Soares to take the win.

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

TheNorthern Connector

The Terrace Standard

August 31, 2011

The final race of the 2011 Drag racing season was run on the weekend. This race was Billed as “Bike Wars and the Bikes and Sleds were the feature race as well as a “Quick 8” class for cars that was not run at the “Hot August Nites” race, due to a track oil down.

Also this weekend was the final round of all classes for the yearlong points series at the Terrace regional Airport.

With rain again threatening the race, the plan was to run off all of the class races Saturday in case it rained on Sunday. This would mean at least the points series was finished and there would be no need to use the “Rainout Weekend”. As Saturday was supposed to be the nicer of the two days, we were all disappointed to wake up to overcast skies. Overcast actually was the wrong name for it as we were in a cloud until 11:00. However patience was the saving grace as race organizers held off and the racing got underway at 1pm.

Sunny skies broke put and the racing was fast and furious as all of the classes were run off including the two “Quick 8” Bike/sled and Car classes.

In “Bike and Sled” Al McFarlane in his bike outran Shawn Enmark and his sled in the final. Enmark did take home enough points to retain his lead in the point’s series, for the second year, in “Bike/Sled”

In “Junior Dragster” Maddy Amado outran Chris Cook to take home First Place. Lou Ribeiro brought home Third Place and took home the Points series for 2011.

Dana Amado Took home First Place in “Sportsman” by outrunning Doug Ribero. Dana was the 2011 Points Series winner.

In “Pro” class Shane Calkins took home first winning the final race against Laurence Wilkins who came all the way from Queen Charlotte city. Mike Wienhardt from Vanderhoof took home the 2011 points series.

In “Super Pro” Bruce Daum took first place in a close race with Paul Amado. Harley Bell claimed first place in the Points series.

The two “Quick 8” races were exciting with Top qualifiers in each class making it to the finals. In “Quick 8 Bikes” Shawn Enmark, went down to John Symes and his bike.

In “Quick 8 Cars” Paul Soares could not run down Kris Barnett in his Altered. Points Series winner was Harley Bell.

That wraps up the 2011 season, as rain cancelled the Sunday “King of the YXT”. There will be no rainout day as all of the classes were run on Sunday. A big thank you goes out to all of the race organizers and volunteers who made all of this happen.

Wade Sjostrom in his 1957 Chevy Bel-air burn up the track at Houston Drags on the weekend.

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

August 24, 2011

The weekend was predicted to be overcast on Saturday and Sunday for the 15^th Annual Houston Drags. On the trip up from Rupert Friday, it rained all the way to Smithers, after that we didn’t see any rain in the daytime for the rest of the weekend.

The Friday races and burnout contest clicked off with no problems, with Harley Bell winning the Burnout Contest with his shop truck. I think that the flashing lights won it for him though.

Saturday’s action started off a little slower with a slick track. The cars ran time trials as it was too slick yet for the fast feature cars.

After the time trials, the West Coast Door Slammers made their first appearance. The cars put on quite a show, doing long, loud, smoky burnout’s, some of them a full 1/8 mile in length. But it was hard for them to get traction past the 60 foot mark. Wade Sjostrom in his 1957 Chevy Bel-air seemed to have it figured out first and after tuning out 300 horsepower, he ran a blistering pass, but was running on the 1/8 mile timer not the ¼ mile timer. It was still a quick pass of 4.88 seconds in the 1/8^th mile. The other cars like Reg Deforest and his 1923 blown altered also seemed to find traction later in the day, but he did spin through most of the ¼ mile track.

However it did rain hard Sunday morning and there were concerns that the Sunday race might be cancelled. But it was decided to wait until 10 am to make the call. At 9:30 the skies cleared up and even though it was overcast, the full slate of racing was run. The West Coast Door Slammers had to call it a weekend though as the rain took off whatever rubber that there was for a sticky track.

Next up: Is this weekend as the final race of the 2011 season in Terrace. The Bike/sled drag race is called Bike Wars. So if you have a bike or a track ready sled this is your opportunity to make some runs down the track for bragging rights. There will be all of the other exciting class racing, as racers compete for the year long points series.

Norm Swengler Yanks the tires at last years Houston Drags

      Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

Aug 17, 2011

The Houston Drags are always one of the Northwest drag racing highlights of the year and this year will be no exception with The West Coast Door Slammers making an appearance at the 15th annual Houston Drags, August 19th-21st.

The Door Slammers are a group of six second ¼ mile Feature cars. According to their website :

All Cars must have:

a) Two operating doors

b) Front and rear suspension

c) Left hand steering

d) Roof

Coming to heat up the Houston track this weekend are:

Outlaw Racing from Carbondale, Alberta

Wade Sjostrom in his 1957 Chevy Bel-air. It has a 525 cu. In. Chevy with a 14.71 ssi supercharger and a 3 speed Lenco, The Chassis is a Carl Spearing “LOW DOWN CHASSIS” best E.T is 6:63 @ 209 mph

KD MOTOR RACING from EDMONTON ALBERTA

Reg Deforest and his 1923 blown altered with a 509 cu.in. Chevy, 14:71 super charger, 2 speed Powerglide. His best ¼ mile E.T. is 6.79 @199 mph. Deforest is noted for his CRAZY BURNOUTS

DALE BRISTOW from  EDMONTON ,ALBERTA

Bristow has a 2005 Bickel Chevy Cobalt with a 813 cu.in. Sonny’s Hemi which is a Rickie Smith ex-NHRA Prostock car. It’s best E.T is 6.70 @ 206 mph

PERRY THYR RACING from DRAYTON VALLEY, ALBERTA

Thyr has a 1996 Chevy Camero on a Tim Mcannis chassis with a 786 cu.in. Buck Racing engine, 4 stages NOS and a 4 speed shifted Lenco. Thyr’s best ET is 6:42 @ 211

This is all in addition to all of the great class racing that will be running on the weekend. Racing will start Friday night at 5pm. with the Toni Madison Memorial night race and the Burnout contest. Saturday and Sunday racing will run from 9am to 6pm. Pro Outlaw cars and Jr. Dragsters will run the 1/8 mile and Sportsman, Bike, Sled, Pro and King of the Hill classes will run the ¼ mile.

It will be a great weekend for racing. Don’t miss this race at the Houston Airport on the far side of Hungry Hill. See you at the Houston Drags!

Here is the Jet Corvette that made the only good run of the weekend with a 4.448 second run down the track at the Northwest regional airport

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern Connector

August 5th, 2011

It was a tough weekend for race organizers, as the 2011 Hot August Nites race was run this weekend. First off, there was the torrential rains that fell Friday and Saturday. Sunday morning opened to a cool overcast day, with rain threatening to come down at any time. It didn’t at first, look as if we would be able to race, as the track was wet. As race organizers struggled to see what could be salvaged, the skies cleared and a full schedule of class racing was run after the cars made some runs down the track to dry it up.

The two Jet cars from Prairieland Motorsport made their first appearance about 1pm and the Jet Corvette ran a 4.448 second run. The Jet Mustang’s run was a whole lot of smoke and no speed. The next time they came out the Corvette would not start and the Mustang put down so much smoke, you couldn’t even see the car. It was another slow run too. The crews worked the rest of the day and early the next morning to fix the problems. Sunday’s first run determined that the Corvette would not start, as the new starting motors they just bought were wound backwards. The mustang made a run that was again slow and covered the whole track with smoke.

The Jet Mustang, who’s Fibreglass body was from the former Prince Rupert Funny Car “The Greek Torch”, tried to get a good run for the crowd, but blew a fuel line and put down a thick layer of super slippery Bio-Diesel the full 1/8 mile track. This spill took a hour out of the day to clean up and it canceled the “Quick 8” race, as the fast cars had no traction in the right lane.

It was a tough time for the hard working race organizers and volunteers, but all in all it was a great weekend of racing! Thanks guys you did great job.

Hot August Nites 2011 winners:

Super Pro

1. Harley Bell

2. Harold Daumont

3. Kris Barnett

Pro

1. John Wreggett

2. Mike Weinhardt

3. Mardy Campachini

Sportsman

1. Dana Amado

2. Ed Hall

3. Chris Roesel

Bike /Sled

1. Dakota Woods

2. Seth Harmer

3. John Symes

Junior Dragster

1. Lou Ribero

2. Delany Ribero

3. Tanner Daum

King of the YXT

Paul Amado

Jr. King of the YXT

Lou Ribero

Next up the Houston Drags August 19-22. To see more photo’s check out the website www.prautoclub.com or www.terracedrags.ca

A wet empty parking lot was what greeted racers in Kitimat, as the Dave Saunders Memorial Hill Climb was rained out on the weekend
Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

July 6th 2011

You can’t drag race in the rain and proof of that was this weekend, as disappointed organizers of the Kitimat Hill Climb had to cancel both the race day and the rainout day because of inclement weather.

The event has been rained out for one day before, but there were always runs up the hill as weather cleared for the rainout day. This year Kitimat was socked in both days.
For drag racing fans there is nothing left to do but wait until August, as the Vanderhoof Drags were also cancelled earlier in the month. This race was scheduled for later in July.

August however, promises to be one of the best ever with “Hot August Nites” in Terrace, bringing in two Jet Funny cars July 31st and August 1st and the Houston Drags, August 19th-21st are bringing in ‘The NorthWest Doorslammers” and four six second ¼ mile cars.

For more information check out the websites: www.terracedrags.ca or www.houstondrags.ca

Pierre Amado has a hard launch in his Challenger. Amado outran Terry Frizzell in the finals to take home “King of the hill” last year

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

June 29,2011

This weekend racing reverts back to where racing began in B.C.’s Pacific Northwest, with “The Dave Saunders Memorial Hill Climb”.

This race is the third reincarnation of the “Kitimat Hill Climb”. The first race was a single lane, quarter mile race up Haisla hill in Kitimat in the late 70′s.

Ed Trudeau from Kitimat with his “Wild Canadian” Hemi Cuda made some breathtaking runs and Prince Rupert’s Hans Andeeson’s “Rupert Elephant”, set the track record of 12.00 seconds.

All of the cars raced up a highway hill, situated in a residential area.

It was scenic view, watching a free race on grass that was shaped like green bleachers sloping down to the track.

The “Kitimat hill climb” faced a big problem then that it still faces ……… Speed. Or rather the higher speed put on by the faster cars.

The cars of the time were getting faster and faster. Cars like Andreeson’s fire breathing Hemi Pinto put the speeds up over a hundred miles per hour, much too fast to go around the bend at the top of the hill on slicks.

The second version of the “Hill Climb”, in the late 80s, was a 1/8 mile run.

Cars came from Prince George to Prince Rupert to compete . A second race was put on to run against the four fastest entries for the “King Of the Hill”.

Again speeds the fast cars ran, were getting too high again. The last 1/8 mile version of the “Kitimat Hill Climb” was run in 2000.

This third version is dedicated to local Kitimat racing pioneer Dave Saunders.

The “Dave Saunders Memorial Hill Climb” brings racers back to kitimat to run one of the favourite races.

The speeds are still a looming problem so the race is run at 400 feet. This is over half the 1/8 mile race. But the request was brought up by the faster cars.

Race organizers remind us that “Dave” Saunders said that the hill was “Only good for 400 feet”.

The race is still a great fun run and also a great race to watch. You don’t get a view of the cars running at any track, like you will see at this race.

See you on the hill Saturday, July 2nd. Time Trials begin at 10:00 am Eliminations at 1:00 pm.

The ever popular Kitimat Show & Shine will be held Saturday July 1^st in the Tamitik Arena. These are all great reasons to visit kitimat this weekend.

Missing Results

Last week’s Terrace “Summer classic” results did not include the Bike/Sled Class, so here are the winners:

1^st – Shawn Enmark

2^nd - Jim Braid

3^rd – John Symes

Norm Swengler in his Mustang and Mike McNeice in his ’69 Camero yank their tires on a heads up run Sunday

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

June 22/2011

The skies were overcast both days as the second of four Drag races at the Terrace Regional Airport was run last weekend. It was billed as ‘The Summer Classic’ and the temperature was hot and muggy on Saturday as ‘King of the YXT’ and ‘Gamblers’ classes were run.

All of the classes had great final runs with Harley Bell taking down Chris Bie in the ‘King of the YXT’ final. In the ‘Gamblers’ class final, Doug Mcphadyn in his ’55 Chevy outran Brandon Roth in his S10 pickup truck. The ‘Jr. King of the YXT’ final race was an all Kitimat final with Lou Ribero winning over Tanner Daum.

Sunday was a different day with the weather turning cold. It felt like it was the ‘Winter-nationals’ not ‘The Summer Classic’ as the rain threatened to come down several times in the day.

‘Sportsman’ class was an all female final, as Dana Amado outran Ivy Sorensen, to take the win. Ed Hall in his van put in a good effort and took home third place.

Branden Roth ran his s-10 pickup past Craig Baker in ‘Pro Class’, to bring home his second trophy for the weekend. Roth was running his first race in the pickup truck. A First and a Second place finish on the weekend, pretty good for the first time in a new ride. Shane Calkins in his Monte Carlo blew his transmission Saturday and replaced it at the campsite Saturday night and made off with a Third place finish in the ‘Pro’ class.

The large ‘Super Pro’ Class came down to Kris Barnett

taking on Saturday’s ‘King of the YXT’ winner Harley Bell. Barnett’s little yellow ‘Altered’ outran Bell and his Plymouth Valiant in the final.

Norm Swengler in his wheel-standing Mustang took home the third and final spot in ‘Super Pro’.

In the ‘Junior dragster’ class Lou Ribero and Tanner Daum once again met in the finals and Ribero again took down Daum in a close contest. Chris Cook brought home the third place win.

Saturday Winners

King Of The YXT – Harley Bell

Jr. King of th YXT – Lou Ribero

Gamblers – Doug Mcphadyn

Sunday Winners

Sportsman

1^st – Dana Amado

2^nd – Ivy Sorensen

3^rd – Ed Hall

Pro

1^st – Brandon Roth

2^nd – Craig Baker

3^rd – Shane Calkins

Super Pro

1^st – Kris Barnett

2^nd – Harley Bell

3^rd – Norm Swengler

Bike/Sled

1^st – Shawn Enmark

2^nd – Jim Braid

3^rd – John Symes

Junior Dragster

1^st – Lou Ribero

2^nd – Tanner Daum

3^rd – Chris Cook

A great weekend of racing was had by all. The Sunday race had an additional perk. After the Show & Shine at Canadian Tire there was a cruise up to the track and the cars lined up on the track as spectators and racers were invited out to check out the rides. The TDRA handed out plaques for a winner and a runner up. A great Show, special thanks to all of the Volunteers who worked hard to make it happen.

Next up

The Kitimat Hill Climb and Show and Shine is next up. The Show & Sine is on Friday, July 1^st and the the ‘Hill Climb’ is Saturday July 2^nd .

For more information or to check out the photo’s , check out the websites www.prautoclub.com or www.terracedrags.ca .

Kris Barnett yanks the tires against Paul Soares at the May 28-29^th races in Terrace

Ed Evans Photo

By Ed Evans

The Northern View

June 15/2011

With the wrap up of the “Seafest Show and Shine”, our attention now turns towards Terrace this weekend. This will be the place to be for all motor heads with the Skeena Valley Cruizers annual ‘Fathers day Show and Shine’ at Canadian Tire, Sunday June 19^th 10am to 3pm. This is one of the bigger Show & Shines in the Northwest and attracts cars from all over the region.

This weekend also marks the second of four Drag racing weekends at the Terrace Regional Airport, Saturday June 18th and Sunday June 19th. Racing begins daily at 10am and Eliminations will begin at 1pm. An added attraction will be a car show at the strip. Cars from the Fathers Day Show & Shine, will cruise out to the airport line up along the track and hold another Show& Shine, with awards presented by the Terrace Drag Racing Association.

It’s a great weekend for Dads, so make the drive to Terrace, take in the events and have a great time.

For more information check out the websites: www.prautoclub.com , www.terracedrags.ca or www.skeenavalleycruizers.com

Crowds cheer on the contestants at last years ‘Burnout contest’

Ed Evans photo

It’s time to dig out the car washes, waxes and polishes. Seafest weekend is here! Shine up your ride and bring it to the Napa Seafest Show & Shine. There are lot’s of plaques including ‘Best Truck’, ‘Best Bike’, ‘Best Original’, ‘Best Of Competition’, ‘Long Distance’, ‘Peoples Choice’, ‘Best Of Show’, ‘ Presidents Choice’, ‘Best Body and Paint’, ‘Best Engine’, ‘Best Import’ and ‘Best Ongoing project’. So bring out your pride and joy. Remember it’s not a Car Show, it’s a Show & Shine. Held on Third Ave. right after the parade on Saturday. You can enter across from 7-11. The Napa Show & Shine will run until 4 pm with Judging at 3:30 pm.

Don’t forget to pull out those old tires from the basement too!

From 4pm to 6pm there will, once again, be tire smoke billowing out of our second ave location, behind the Credit Union. The ‘Burnout contest’ will once again be one of the more popular Seafest events. A new feature this year, will be a concrete Burnout Box. This will make sure there is no pavement damage, as the cars and trucks burn their tires to the ground at the new ‘West Fraser Burnout Box’.

So polish up your ride and make sure your tires are ready! Seafest 2011 is here this weekend! Rain or Shine we will …. See you at Seafest!

Kris Barnett launches off the starting line in the inaugural race of the 2011 at the Terrace airport last weekend

Ed Evans photo

By

Ed Evans

The Northern View

June 1st 2011

Hot and sunny skies greeted racers and fans for the inaugural race of the 2011 Northwest drag racing season. This was the first of four races this season at the Terrace Regional Airport.

Racing was hot and heavy even though the car count was down. This may have had a lot to do with it being Grad weekend. There were even a few prom dresses noted at the track on Saturday.

Kitimat’s Randy Baker took home ‘King of the YXT’. Saturday. It was Bakers weekend, besides winning Saturday, he took home a 3^rd in ‘Pro’ Sunday and also won the 50/50 draw Sunday.

The finals in ‘Gamblers’ on Saturday was a good showdown with Terrace’s Bill Boutilier, in his S-10 pickup, lined up against Jim Braid and his motorcycle. Braid is a fearsome opponent in ‘Bike/Sled’ class as he always is a super consistent racer who always gets a good light and runs his dial-in time. Braid red-lit and gave the win to Boutilier.

‘Junior King’ was settled with Kitimat’s Lou Ribero taking home his first of two wins on the weekend.

On Sunday there were many firsts. In the new ‘Sportsman’ Class, the first ever winner, was a racer running his first race ever. Marcus Wilmen, driving the Caledonia High school car, took home the first place finish. In second place was Andrew Calkins. Andrew dropped down to this class after his ‘Super Pro’ Camero broke on Sunday. He then ran his tow pickup to take second Place. There was a second Calkins in the winners circle, as his brother, Shane Calkins, overcame Saturday motor problems to take home third place.

In ‘Super Pro’ Mike Wienhardt of Vanderhoof, ran down Haida Gwaii’s Laurence Wilkens duster for the first place finish. It also marked Wilkins first placing in the winners circle. Randy Baker could not repeat his Saturday nights first place in ‘King of the YXT’ Baker red-lit to take home a third Place. Still pretty good weekend for Baker.

In Bike/Sled Shawn Enmark and his sled, started the season right where he left off last season, with a first place win over Leland Hoveland.

‘Super Pro’ Had a Kitimat feel as Harley Bell took down Bruce Daum in the final.

Jr. Dragster was also a Kitimat final as Lou Ribero took home his second first place in two days with a win over Tanner Daum. First time racer Massimo Dallavecchia took home a third place

Sunday

Super Pro

1.Harley Bell

2.Bruce Daum

3.Russ Gutknicht

Pro

1.Mike Wiehardt

2.Laurence Wilkens

3.Randy Baker

Sportsman

1.Marcus Wilmen

2.Andrew Calkins

3.Shane Calkins

Snow/Bike

1.Shawn Enmark

2.Leland Hoveland

3.Al MacFarlane

Jr. Dragster

1.Lou Ribero

2.Tanner Daum

3.Massimo Dallavecchia

A great weekend was had by all. The next race is in Terrace June 18^th and 19th. For more information or to check out the photo’s check out the websites: www.terracedrags.ca or www.prautoclub.com