Burning up the Track
August 7th, 2010
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.
Trailing sparkes Mike Kuntz wows the crowd in Houston last year
