SpeedZone coverage sponsored by......

June 28, 2010

Sunday weekend wrap-ups

IHRA pro class reports are here.

Castrol Raceway Pro Class reports are here.

Galleries are here:

ProStalgia Funny Car, Top Fuel, Pro Fuel, Pro Mod, TAFC, Pro Nostalgia Funny Car, Sportsman, People, Bike, Jets

Nemeth Prostalgia Racing Edmonton Weekend Wrap up

im and Nancy Nemeth and the Nemeth Funny Car capped off a great weekend at The Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton. The first run on Saturday saw the team get in a sold run, a 6.12. In run two they got more aggressive and the car responded with a career best 6.04 at 242 mph. "That second run was real good, Tim stated Sunday evening. It took off strong and pulled right through the 1320. I knew it was on a good lap when I pulled the chutes, it really pulled hard on the belts. On Sunday we left the tune-up similar to the run Saturday night, but the car fell off a bunch. Upon further inspection, we found a few issues that would explain some of the lost power, but we won't know for sure until it is completely taken apart". Because of the issues, Tim and the team decided to opt out of the final round.
"We want to know for sure what the issue was and we have four weeks before our next race at our home track Mission Raceway".
Tim and Nancy thank their sponsors TDN Constructors Group, Barry Hamel Equipment and Hodgson Heavy Duty.

Verenka Racing Edmonton Weekend wrap up.

The first weekend of the season for the Verenka Racing Pro Fuel dragster gave the team new data but not the performance they were hoping for at the Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals this past weekend in Edmonton AB.
Ed and the team are putting a number of new parts on their family A/ Fuel Dragster in preparation for Daughter Crystal to get behind the wheel later this year to start her licensing process. Ed plans on moving up to Top Fuel in the near future, and Crystal will race in A/fuel. The team was unable to get the car ready for the first run Saturday evening, but came out for the 'Night of Fire" session at close to 11:00pm Friday Night A huge crowd was Castrol Raceway for the Rocky Mountain's and the team was excited about making their first lap on the season. He would face another Edmonton driver Keith Falconer. Ed ran a cylinder dropping 6.21 in his first run of the season. "This was actually the first run with a combination more in line to the lower nitro percentage the NHRA compete at, and we know it will take some time to get it sorted out. I (along with my daughter who is so keen on learning this deal) tune the car myself, and since we have not run very much in the last couple years, it will take a few runs to get a handle on it. In the first round Sunday we broke the starter and were unable to make a lap. We did not get our starter fixed but we got one from our Saturday competitor so we got in a run Sunday in the final round. It was very warm and the corrected air was much higher, and the changes we made to adjust for the different conditions did not go the way we expected. It is a learning curve for sure, and making more runs is the only way to get a handle on it".
"We did learn a bunch and look forward to getting back on the track (later in the year) to get Crystal licensed. Having my daughter in the car is a dream for Sharon and me, and of course a dream for Crystal. I can't wait"
Ed's and wife Sharon would like to thank the team this weekend including Rex Jones, Peter Brodeur, Nolan Brodeur, Phil Seguin and Kathy Seguin.

Mill Road Boys racing weekend wrap up

Week two of the road trip of a lifetime ended Sunday at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton Alberta.
After the trash on Friday to get the hemi back in the car, the first run Saturday was designed to be a soft set-up and make sure everything was good for Saturday night. The car ran a soft 6.24 and everything came back looking good so crew chief Ray Zeller put in a monster tune up. The car literally flew off the starting line and was on what should have been the best run ever with the hemi. At half track the header flames were up to the side windows and it was hauling, but the car was moving slightly to the right guard rail. At 1000 feet the incrmentals show a low 4.9, that would net a high 5.80 or low 5.90 pass but Steve was getting too close to the barrier and he had to lift around 1050 feet. The car coasted through to a 6.01@ only 208. "Man it was on a run for sure, but it kept drifting right and it would not get back into the groove no matter how hard I steered it, I had to lift", Steve stated after the run.
On Sunday, we put basically the same tune up in the car, and hoped the heat of the day would not affect it too much. It ran great, but did not run the "5'" we were hoping for. It went 6.04@236. Unfortunately for us, two others went quicker than us so we did not get into the final round. In the final we stepped it up just a hair as we did not want to smoke the tires. The car stuck, and did improve but only by .01 and one more mph. It was still a great weekend, four solid laps and no mechanical issues. We now have a good handle on the tune-up, and we hope the rest of the season sees tracks as well prepped as the one here up in the great white North. The fans were great and the stands were packed.
Steve really wants to thank the team Ray, Robert, Jeff and Shawn for their extra effort this weekend to rebuild the hemis. They worked their butts off, and the companies that went out of their way to get us the parts wee needed after the Salt Lake damage. Brian (GRP), Dan (Olson Pans), Alan Johnson, John at Bullet Cams, Race Tech, Ackerly and Childs and others.

Paradise RV Racing wrap up.

Craig Anstad and the Paradise racing team capped off a great weekend at the Rocky Mountain Nationals at Edmonton
Craig's son Cody was racing in the Pro Nostalgia Funny Car class after getting licensed in the teams' new Camaro Funny Car.

To say they had a great debut is an understatement! He qualified #3 with a 7.41 on the 7.20 index. In the first two rounds of eliminations he got the win light and improved his ETs getting closer to the 7.20 index. Cody went through the field and made it to the final round. He took on series founder and veteran Darrell Webb in the final and ran his best run of the weekend, a great 7.24 on the 7.20 index. Unfortunately for Anstad, Webb got a hole-shot and took the win light.
The two Paradise Top Dragsters did not have quite the same luck. Richard Yamata qualified #10 with a 7.30 in his blown dragster but he broke and could not make the round one call. Cory Schmucker who qualified #14 with a 7.49, went to round three (1/4 finals) and lost to regular NHRA competitor Dustin Hentges by .01 at the stripe.

All Cody could say after the weekend was he wants to go faster.

 

 

 

June 25-27, 2010

Saturday June 26, 2010

Steve Nichols and the Mill Road Boys Racing

Steve Nichols and the Mill Road Boys Prostalgia Funny Car team have had a wild last week drag racing in West . They competed at Salt Lake for the first time last weekend for that city's inaugural Nitro Jam. Running in over 7000 feet of air it was a test of metal, mettle, patience and everything in between. They wounded their all new hemi combination on Friday and had to thrash overnight to install the trusty Chevy bullet to get ready for Saturday.

They accomplished their goal and went out and ran well to end the weekend. Then the dilemma started. Would they be able to get the hemi fixed in time (the team always like to have a spare for any event. And both the spare for the hemi and the Chevy were in for repairs already) for the race the following weekend at Edmonton, all the while in transit. It was not like the team could do all the necessary shipping from their home base, since it is 3000 miles away in Delaware. Steve with the assistance for Crew Chief Ray Zeller, had repaired blocks shipped, damaged pieces sent to the repair shops, new Cams ground, new rods machined and all of it was sent to Great bend just on the South side of the US ? Canadian border by Thursday morning. "Without the dedication of crew Chief Ray we would have never made the Edmonton race, and it is a race that I committed to right at the beginning of the season, stated Steve when he arrived Thursday evening. I wasn't about to back out, but it was touch and go for a while. Steve really wants to thank Lee Jennings for the parts he helped out with, Brian and his team at GRP connecting Rods, John at Bullet Cams, Race Tech, Ackerly and Childs and Dan Olsen Pans for all their hard work to get the necessary parts back to us for this weekend's event at EDMONTON. The Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals is an event we have heard about for a couple years, and we definitely wanted to make sure to attend this race. We are leading the points so, that added to the pressure for us to make the race".
When the team arrived at Edmonton Ray and the crew Robert Raymond, Jeff Moore and Shawn Gealy thrashed to get the hemi built and put between the frame rails
It has been a bit of a learning curve with the hemi but we are so close to making it haul the mail that we feel it is important to keep on refining the tune-up on it. It is funny to say getting back to a more normal elevation like Edmonton, but when you compare the 2000-3000 feet of air at Edmonton vs the 7000+ at Salt Lake to is like getting back to normal. The hemi will be in the car for Friday night for sure and we can't wait to perform for the fans in the Great north. We put on over 2500 miles in the last five days picking up parts making detours to get to this race and we want to finish the West coast swing off in style.

Verenka Profuel dragster

Home town guy Ed Verenka is out for the first time in 2010 competing in the newly formed Pro Fuel class at the Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals. Ed and Wife Sharon have competed sporadically in the North West for the last decade and a half competing with a BAD for the first few years, and then in A/Fuel since 2000. This year, Ed has planned a bit more energetic schedule beginning this weekend at the Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam. The Pro Fuel class is in essence A/Fuel Dragster with little or no rules. They have no percentage restrictions; they can run a clutch management system similar to Top Fuel. Ed has run in the Top Fuel class at prior events here at Edmonton and has run very well. In fact he has the quickest ET for an A/Fuel car (5.34) in competition prior to the introduction of the new Pro Fuel class. Ed's goal for this season is to get a solid baseline for the A/Fuel car and have his daughter Crystal get behind the wheel and get licensed by the end of the season. He will then work on putting together his new Top Fuel car and have that ready for next season. Being from Leduc Alberta, Ed knows how important this weekend's event is, and he is looking forward to competing against cars that are similar in performance. In the past he has always raced against the Top Fuel cars at Edmonton, and it was like a Ferrari racing a VW. His run could be perfect but you know even an average run by the TF car will result in Ed heading home early.
With three other A/Fuel cars and two BADs to race, it is a much more level playing field and may the guy with the best tune up win. "We are really looking forward to racing here this weekend in front of our fans. We have a real good car that we think can compete against anyone". We'll see by Sunday afternoon who had their car dialled in the best".
"That being said for as much as I am looking forward to competing this weekend, I am really looking forward to having my daughter get behind the wheel and get her license. She puts in so much time working on the car and has shown a keen interest and knowledge that she is the natural choice to step into the car". The team is trying a few things this weekend that adapt to the new Top Fuel as well as A/Fuel, which will give them data once they get that car together.
Ed's team this weekend include Rex Jones, Peter Brodeur, Nolan Brodeur, Phil Sequin, and Cathy Sequin.

TDN Prostalgia Funny Car

Tim Nemeth is very excited about this weekend's Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals at Castrol Raceway. This is Tim's first foray into IHRA drag racing, and he gets to debut in the province where he grew up. This weekend's event will see Tim debut his brand new Mustang Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car in the Prostalgia class. After a year of testing in 2009, he ran a number of 6.0's at over 230 mph, so his car is certainly competitive.
Tim, for the last two decades, has been competing in the North West in a competitive Top Alcohol Funny Car, but when the Nostalgia craze hit the floppers, he made the decision to build a 69 Mustang with an Alan Johnson Hemi. He and wife Nancy still have their TAFC, but they put it in the shop and concentrate on NITRO for at least this year.
Running against some of the best Nitro floppers this weekend will be a great test of their team's ability. Five of the cars this weekend have run in the fives, and two of those are multiple winners in the IHRA already this season.
"We know we have tough competition this weekend, but we also know we have the parts and tune up information to compete. We will fit right in and will likely surprise a few people. We are here to put on a show for our friends from southern Alberta and all the fans this weekend. I can't wait to get my first hit down this race track", stated Tim after his warm-up Friday afternoon.
Tim and wife Nancy would like to thank his crew, Dale, Fred, Pete, Mike, Greg, Lance and Kole. The team receives corporate support from TDN Constructors group, Barry Hamel Equipment and Hodgson Heavy Duty.

 

MFR Communication
June 26, 2010
Contact Jay 780 719 5749
Or jay@nitrofunnycar.ca

Home town racer Mageau and his " Prospector" Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car hoping to add to Iron Man collection at Edmonton's Nitro Jam.

Mageau Family Racing's " Prospector " ' 78 Corvette Stingray AA/FC is gearing up for The IHRA Edmonton Nitro Jam June 25 - 27.

This is the first IHRA event for the team competing for a Iron Man as a nitro car. The home town favorites have previously won Iron men in 2003, 2005, and 2006 in the nostalgia alcohol funny car class called Thunderbolts, and later PNOS . The team's car was then a crowd favorite 57 Chevy funny car.

" We ran the IHRA nats a few years back on nitro against Terry Capp in his Bubble Up funny car as a demonstration deal" states "Prospector" driver Jay Mageau. "We are thrilled the IHRA saw the promise of the class and to see it grow into a regular feature at all the Nitro Jam events really pleases us. We knew the fans would love these cars! "

The team is coming into the event up against some big hitters, but hope the hometown advantage helps. " Our new "Prospector" Stingray is pretty slippery compared to what we ran in the past, we hope it hauls the mail!" Says Mageau "But most importantly, we want to perform well, and really put on a show for IHRA and the Edmonton crowd. "

Friday June 25, 2010

Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars (courtesy IHRA)

Hometown racer Jay Mageau and his “Prospector” Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car are hoping to add another Ironman to their collection at Edmonton’s River Cree Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals at Castrol Raceway this weekend.

And he isn’t alone.

Mageau will be competing alongside several more locals in the professional classes during this weekend’s huge event including Edmonton’s own Tim Boychuk. While Boychuk has been making a name for himself in Top Fuel over the past few years, Mageau has traveled a different route to fame.

Mageau Family Racing’s “Prospector” ‘78 Corvette Stingray AA/FC is gearing up for Canada’s biggest race having already taken home an Ironman in various classes over the years.

This is the first IHRA event for the team competing for an Ironman in a nitro car. The hometown favorite had previously won Ironman trophies in 2003, 2005 and 2006 in the nostalgia alcohol funny car class and later Pro Nostalgia. During Mageau’s reign of terror he drove a crowd pleasing ‘57 Chevy Funny Car.

“We ran the IHRA nationals a few years back on nitro against Terry Capp in his Bubble Up car as a demonstration deal” said Mageau. “We are thrilled the IHRA saw the promise of the class and to see it grow into a regular feature at all the Nitro Jam events really pleases us. We knew the fans would love these cars.”

The team is coming into the event up against some heavy hitters, but they hope the hometown advantage helps.

“Our new ‘Prospector’ Stingray is pretty slippery compared to what we ran in the past, we hope it hauls the mail,” said Mageau. “But most importantly, we want to perform well, and really put on a show for IHRA and the Edmonton crowd. “

Mageau will be going up against a loaded field that will include local star Boychuk, riding the momentum of a runner-up finish in Salt Lake City last weekend in addition to a win in Vegas earlier this year. Boychuk will be pulling double duty this weekend, driving a Top Fuel Dragster as well.

"We are really excited to be back in Edmonton for the River Cree Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals driving both the Prostalgia Funny Car and the Paton Top Fuel car," Boychuk said. "We are fresh off a win in Vegas and a runner-up in Salt Lake City.

"We battled 'Mr. Explosive' Mark Sanders in two of the closest races of the year. It was the highlight of my year so far, but we will not be such a pushover for 'Mr. Explosive' at our hometown track."

Also competing this weekend will be point leader Steve Nichols all the way from Delaware and the hottest driver on the tour coming into this weekend Mark Sanders. Sanders, aka ‘Mr. Explosive,’ won both Nitro Jam events in Salt Lake City last weekend in dominating fashion and comes into Edmonton the clear favorite.

The group will be joined by several other Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car teams in one of four nitro classes competing at this weekend’s national event at Castrol Raceway.

West Coast Pro Mod Preview (Courtesy IHRA Communications)

In addition to a huge assortment of nitro machines, bikes, funny cars and exhibitions at this weekend’s River Cree Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals, one of Nitro Jam’s oldest and most prestigious classes will return to competition for the first time in 2010 as the stars of the West Coast Pro Modified Association give quarter-mile doorslammer fans something extra to look forward to at Castrol Raceway.

Formed one year after the IHRA invented the class in 1990, the West Coast Pro Modified Association is one of the oldest Pro Mod groups in the nation. It features the quickest Pro Modified doorslammers in the Western half of North America and has a very strong following in Canada.

“We are very much looking forward to this event at Castrol Raceway. We all enjoy having an event there and this year it will be even more exciting with the new Nitro Jam race,” said WCPMA competitor Tommy Johanns. “This, along with a race held at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City, is one of the biggest events of the year. It is always a good time to have the stands full of spectators. It makes you feel better as a driver to see the facility full of great drag racing fans.”

Like their counterparts in the east, there is a unique mix of car types and power adders that makes this series one of the most exciting in the nation. Johanns, who finished runner-up to Joe Delehay in the 2009 championship standings, drives a ’53 Corvette with a blown 526 inch Brad Anderson engine and says there is quite a bit of diversity in the class that makes it fun to watch and be a part of.

“Members of the WCPMA extend from Canada to California to Colorado and the races stretch from Edmonton to Arizona. Along with the diverse racers and tracks the WCPMA also has great diversity with the blown cars versus the nitrous cars,” Johanns said. “It is a real family experience for all the teams and many friendships are built within the association. It seems that any team is willing to help any of the other teams out. Basically we are all friends until we get to the starting line, then it is war.”

Another member of the Pro Mod group, Ross Hogenson, is on the other side of the Pro Mod power battle and competed at this event one year ago. He drives a ’63 Corvette with an 801 cubic inch nitrous motor and set his personal best time and speed at Castrol Raceway last year. After qualifying fifth in 2009 Hogenson went one round before being eliminated by ’09 IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang and has high hopes of going even farther this season.

“This group has a little bit of everything thrown in and we love racing at the events that continue to draw large crowds such as Castrol Raceway, Salt Lake City and Spokane,” Hogenson said. “We are greatly looking forward to the competition this year among this close group of racers. I can’t wait.”

Currently there are 24 members of the WCPMA and many of those drivers will be making the haul to Edmonton this weekend for Canada’s biggest drag race at Castrol Raceway.

Nitro, Nitro, Nitro

The annual River Cree Resort and Casino Rocky Mountain Nitro Jam Nationals presented by MOPAR and E3 Spark Plugs is known for providing three days of thrilling drag racing action.

From nitro racing to fast doorslammers to incredible sportsman competition, the spectacle at Castrol Raceways always lives up to its reputation as the biggest drag race in Canada. And this year that fact will be even more evident as the series pushes the envelope farther than ever before.

A grand total of 18 different classes will be competing over the course of the weekend, blending the old national event structure with that of the new Nitro Jam show. And of the 18 different classes – half of which are professional categories – over two dozen cars will be lighting up the Edmonton sky as some of the best nitro machines on earth travel to Canada this weekend.

Four nitro classes will be a part of the SMS “Night of Fire” Friday and Saturday night highlighted by the world’s fastest race machines in Top Fuel. The other nitro classes include Pro Fuel Dragsters, Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars and Nitro Bikes. The SMS “Night of Fire” will also include the Canadian debut of side-by-side jet trucks in addition to the non-nitro classes in Alcohol Funny Car, Pro Nostalgia, Pro Modified, Pro Mod Bikes and Canada’s fastest sportsman racers.

Another new piece to this year’s event is the blended entertainment structure. While Nitro Jam’s regular classes of Top Fuel, Pro Fuel and Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car will continue to compete under the new structure, with a new winner each night, the additional five professional classes will revert to the old structure of qualifying on Friday and Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

The new look will make for one of the most unique events in drag racing history as a blend of regular eliminations and Chicago-style competition will provide an exciting weekend of racing action.

Don’t miss Canada’s biggest race and one of the most diverse collection of race cars ever assembled in once place this weekend at Castrol Raceway. For more information visit www.castrolraceway.com or call 780-461-5801.

Top Fuel

Speedzone preview:

I had a chance to talk to Rob Reeves last Friday on the Edmonton Rocky's this coming weekend. It will be good! He has spent a lot of time to ensure this will be THE best Show in the IHRA again. And again the fans will likely come out in force to continue to make this the largest event in the sanctioning body. THis guy knows what it takes to put on a good show. He has double what most of the other events in the series host. The list of feature cars include:

Top Fuel: Bruce Litton, Bobby Lagana Jr., Del Cox Jr., Spencer Massey, Tim Boychuk (Paton car) and Ed Verenka in his strong running A/Fuel car.

There will be nine Nostalgia Nitro Funny Cars including last weekend double up winner Mark "Mr. Explosive" Sanders. Top three point earner in the IHRA, Steve "Mill Road Boys" Nichols, Tim Boychuk, Terry Capp, Todd Lesenko, Tim Stevenson (Andy Beauchemin driver), Jay Mageau, Tim Nemeth, and Jack "The Sheriff" Harris.

TAFC: 8 car field including, John Evanchuk, Ken Webster, Nathan Sitko, Roger Bateman, Trevor Lebsack, John Childs, Scott McVey and Team Ace driver Rob Atchison.

The Pro Fuel class will have only two A/Fuelers, Jeff Hamelink and local Keith Falconer.

Two BAD's will race the A/Fuelers and they are Ashley Bart and Greg Sereda. The West Coast Pro Mod association will battle for and 8 car field on Sunday.

A dozen Pro Mods will battle it out Friday and Saturday for the 8 car field Sunday. They include Ross Hogenson, Rick Di Stefano, Joe Delehay, Perry Thyr, Tom Meheden, Wayne Hofer, Dan Vogt, Tim Vogt, Vern Mills, Wade Sjostrom, Perry Krinnet and Colorado's Tom Johanns

The two local Nitro Funny Car drivers, Randy Bykowsky and Jason Duschene will likely put in a few laps as well.

The biggest class will be the 6.99 - 7.50 class of Funny Cars.

The original IBAA group has split into tow assoc. The Rocky Mountain Nostalgia Funny Car assoc. (the larger more active group), and the IBAA original that has 4-6 funny cars in it. There will be an "A" and a "B" group with the 8 quickest running a 6.99 index and a 7.20 group running 7.20.

For more Nitro, Reeves has also brought in the Nitro Harleys. A dozen will battle for an 8 bike field as well. A Pro Mod Bike class will also compete in an 8 bike field as well.

Finally a couple Jet trucks and wheelstanders will round out the feature cars.

Close to 70 cars will highlight Friday night and Saturday night qualifying as well as Sunday eliminations.

The biggest Sportsman classes (beside the box and no box classes) will be Top Dragster and Top Sportsman. Both will be 32 car fields and will include an elite 8 shoot-out as well.

The IHRA schedule for the Rocky's is here.