Another successful Festival of the Rolling Arts came to a conclusion this past Sunday, Aug. 9 as the Sunshine Coast Drag Racing Association (SCDRA) hosted their 17th annual event at the Sechelt Airport.
With the driest summer on record, event organizers were concerned the dry weather might actually lead to cancellation of the event. Local drag racers were looking for rain to fall prior to the Aug. 9 race. Numerous showers early in the month and several days before the event provided enough moisture to give the SCDRA the green light.
Race day was perfect, with clouds in the morning, clear skies in the afternoon and a light breeze to reduce the heat. Close to 1,000 spectators and 70 racers were treated to a fabulous day.
On the track, the action heated up early. George Morice of Gibsons and 2015 Chatelech Secondary grad Bailey Gibson survived five rounds of eliminations, and were the combatants in the Street Machine final. Morice had his 93 GMC short box running just right and dialed in a 10.3. Gibson, with his fuel-efficient 3.8L 94 Mustang, was shooting for an 11.98. Morice jumped at the start and got the red light. The 18-year-old Gibson’s time of 12.21 was good for the win on his first-ever day of drag racing. Earlier in the day, Gibson ran a personal best 11.95.
Super Street was a solid class with 14 cars competing. Grant Gunn from Roberts Creek in his 5.0 powered 1973 Ford F-100 and another local favourite, Tom Sealy from Pender Harbour, were the finalists. Sealy had his 1969 Grand Prix dialed in for a 9.8 and Gunn an 8.55. Sealy knew he was in trouble when Gunn had a .603 reaction time at the start. Both cars were side by side all the way down the track and Gunn finished with an impressive 8.598 for the win. Sealy broke out with a run of 9.751.
Another competitive class was Street Rod. Tim Rieck in his 1980 Monte Carlo with new 3.73 gears and Cory Mottishaw running his big block 460 Mustang were lined up for the final. A nice .570 reaction time for Rieck was the difference as he hustled down the track. Rieck crossed the finish line at just over 80 mph to win by a margin of .237 seconds.
With a field of 19, the most in half a dozen years, the big power cars in Hot Rod put on an impressive show for the fans. Surviving the stiff competition were Jay Brooks from Langley and Roberts Creek resident Russell Anderson. Brooks had his little 1982 Chevy S10 dialed in for a run of 7.9 and Anderson was going for quicker 7.16 pass in the 1969 big block Camaro. In a great final, the traction issues earlier in the day were somewhat mitigated as both racers broke out. The win went to Anderson with a run of 7.157 at 100.27 mph.
In Exhibition, Roger Manson was up from Burnaby with his alcohol fuelled 600 hp 200 cubic inch inline four cylinder Rapid Fire. The engine block is half a 389 out of a John DeLorean designed early 1960s Pontiac Tempest. Roger put on a great show and his best run of the day on the 1/8 mile track was a 6.1 at 117 mph. The fastest Rapid Fire has run was 205 mph a few years ago at Bonneville.
During the presentations, club president Tony Petula presented several awards to club members.
The Vic Dubois Memorial Award is presented to a member of the SCDRA who volunteers and demonstrates continued dedication to the club, and the community. The 2014 recipients were Allison Liddicoat and Justin Henderson for their efforts to ensure the success of the Elphinstone Secondary drag racing program and their roles as organizers of the tech component of each event.
The 2015 award went to another respected member, John Jefferies. Jefferies volunteers at all events and unselfishly helps racers when they have mechanical issues. Most recently he championed an important club project to design, source, and maintain a cost-effective sound system, which is now used at each club event.
Ted Meldrum Memorial Spirit Award is presented to a Sunshine Coast high school student who demonstrates a mechanical aptitude, dedication to motorsport, volunteers in the community and is supportive of school programs.
For 2015 there were two winners. Ryan Macdonald from Pender Harbour High School is entering Grade 12 this fall; he is keen about his opportunities in the automotive field and volunteers for the local fire department. Ryan put in a lot of hard work building the Frankenstein motor in the high school drag car.
Matthew Bentley, a 2015 Elphinstone Secondary graduate, was enrolled in the ACEIT automotive technology program and is working towards a level one apprenticeship in automotive tech. Matt also volunteers in tech at SCDRA events.
