Despite a slow start in the rain and frequent technical difficulties throughout the day, Aug. 9 Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA) event was a roaring success.
One hundred and fifteen racers from the Coast, Powell River, the Lower Mainland and Washington turned out on Sunday to compete in five categories for trophies, pride and friendly bragging rights.
SCDRA president Wayne Taylor said the event, now in its 11th year, has become one of the biggest draws to the Coast.
"This weekend is the biggest thing on this whole Coast and its one of the top motor events in Western Canada," he said. "It's strictly what we started it to be -grassroots, what it used to be back in the '50s and '60s. We're trying to keep it affordable and fun, not only for the racers but the people who come here. It's become a big family picnic. The fact that we race cars is almost secondary now. It's turned into that big of a deal."
This year's winners included Vinny DiVincenzo in the street machine class, Mike Jackson in the super street class, Bob Baxter for street rods and Dave McRae for hot rods.
Highlights this year included two wheel standers -Wheelie Fun, a 1957 Chevy Cameo pickup truck with a 1,500 horse power hemi engine, and Standing Tall a PT Cruiser mounted with a 448 cu. in. Chrysler engine. Both vehicles served only as exhibitions for the crowd but clearly were a hit as their engines boomed and they would run the entire 1/8-mile track on their back rubber.
After having to delay the start of the races to 10 a.m. due to rain, the day was further hampered by trouble with the timing and start system.
"It's a brand new system that we bought and it's just not working the way we want it to work," said Jac Cawsey, media liaison and chief announcer for the event.
Cawsey said, despite troubles with the timing system, the event was a success with much thanks owed to the volunteers from the Gibsons Paddle Club who were on hand to help with the gate and crowd.
"The volunteers are wonderful. Without the volunteers, we couldn't run this event," he said.
This was also the inaugural year for the Vic Dubois Memorial Trophy, named for one of the club's charter members who is credited with many of the improvements at the Sechelt Airport. This year's trophy was awarded to Sally Dubois, Vic's widow, marking her uncommon commitment to the SCDRA and to running the event every year.
"She's always been there for us," Taylor said.
When asked what keeps the crowds coming back every year, Taylor said: "It's loud, it's fast ," a wheel stander then roared down the track, drowning out conversation, and the crowd responded with hooting and awe.
Taylor laughed, "Need I say more?"
