It was a sizzling Sunday at the Sechelt Airport as the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA) hosted the Hot Sum-mer Showdown Aug. 10.
The heat didn’t stop the fun as the 75 registered cars put on a fine show. There was an array of big smoky burnouts, great competition, lots of noise and, as always, a fun, family atmosphere.
In the street machine final it was Levi Stanley-Clarke of Wilson Creek in his 2010 Challenger and Dennis Leis in his cool 1977 Dodge pickup. Stanley-Clarke dialed in a 10.5 and Leis a 9.9. Leis found himself spinning a bit too much off the line and ran a 10.66. Stanley-Clarke took the win with a 10.74 at just over 67 mph.
Veteran racers Jim Pashniak in the Laverne’s Grill 1968 Impala and Tom Sealy in the 1969 Grand Prix met in the super street final. Both drivers were running super consistent all day, and a close race it was. Pashniak dialed in an 8.9 and Sealy a 9.7. Both beat their dial-in with Pashniak crossing the line with an 8.882 for the win. Sealy ran a 9.645.
Glyn Rose of Sechelt made the jump to the street rod class at the June races, and has his 1968 Mustang running pretty much the way he wants. Rose has a significant volunteer role at each race, but still found time to reach the final.
On the other side of the tree was Mike Jacksons’ 1968 Charger. Jackson had Rose in the early going of the race, but Rose reeled him in by the long end. Rose came ever so close to breaking out as he ran a 7.803 with a dial in of 7.80, which was just a bit too good for Jackson to match.
David Crombie won a bye to the final in hot rod and this left Brian McLennan and Jimmy Oshvalda in the semifinal. As was the case earlier this year, McLennan jumped at the start to red light and Oshvalda had minutes to prep his Western Accessories 1962 Dodge Dart for the final. Crombie dialed in a 7.3 and Oshvalda a 7.47. With a couple nice burnouts to ready the cars, the stage was set. The bye didn’t help Crombie as he red lighted and Oshvalda ran the 1/8 mile at 7.622 at 93.82 mph.
During the lunch break there was the grudge race between Sechelt Mayor John Henderson and Sechelt First Nation councillor Randy Joe.
Henderson has been at the track numerous times with his super quick and quiet electric Tesla. Joe, a novice, was ready for the big race. Both racers had a couple good head-to-head practice runs as Joe worked to launch the 570hp 2012 Camaro using the race mode setting and appeared to have the edge.
The crowd was silent as both racers staged and waited for starter Colin Stracker to engage the tree. The lights ran the sequence and both cars were off and down the track. A quick glance back at the tree and the red light was on in Henderson’s lane, indicating victory for Joe.
The valve cover races were run during the noon hour as well with most of the cars having challenges running a straight line. Kai Hilderbrant of Halfmoon Bay had it figured out and took home a nice trophy.
Ron Berg from Port Moody was given special recognition and awarded the Spirit Award. Berg has attended each event for the last 14 years and is a valuable hard working volunteer.
David Kipling was given special recognition for his 15 years of dedication and support of the SCDRA.
