Ed Evans
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’ on Saturday and a third spot finish in ‘Pro’ on Sunday.
Then topped off a big weekend by winning Sunday’s 50-50 draw.
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. But this time he 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 running his first ever race - Marcus Wilmen, driving the Caledonia high school car.
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 overcame Saturday motor problems to take third.
In ‘Super Pro’, Mike Wienhardt of Vanderhoof ran down Haida Gwaii’s Laurence Wilkens’ duster for first place.
It also marked Wilkins first placing in the winners circle.
Randy Baker could not repeat his Saturday night first place in ‘King of the YXT’ - he red-lit to take third.
In Bike/Sled, Shawn Enmark started the season right where he left off 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 beat Tanner Daum while first time racer Massimo Dallavecchia finished third.