Canada’s thriving Pro Mod class contingent has received another significant boost this season centred from the province of Saskatchewan…..
Mike Gondziola, who has been a long time Pro Mod class enthusiast – both as a crew member and a driver — has debuted what currently may very well be Canada’s most dramatic class machine yet.
The owner and operator of Saskatoon-based and highly successful Extreme Transmissions made a major leap forward for 2016 both financially and commitment wise when he unveiled a truly stunning Jerry Bickel-built C7. Mike’s machine, which is built to race both 1/8th mile and 1/4 mile venues features pretty much the very best equipment a Pro Mod racer can buy and topped off with car show quality finish.
“To be honest I’ve sparred no expense building this car,” Mike affirmed. “It has all the best stuff available from Bickel and every titanium option he had. When I made the decision, I told myself last year that if I was going to do this — I was going to pretend I won the lottery and do everything absolutely right.”
Mike traded in the nitrous-injected Chevy Camaro he ran very successfully the past three seasons and made his deposit for the new car with Bickel last fall. He then took delivery of his Corvette in April and first debuted it at the PDRA’s event in Tulsa.
This Corvette features a truly massive EFI controlled nitrous-injected 959 CID motor program from Sonny’s. Mike is convinced that when completely sorted out it will be a contending car wherever it is entered.
“I really like the way the car drives and also the improved visibility it offers,” Mike continued. “I’m running an automatic transmission which is a lot smoother to race with too for me. I’ve only had the car out twice – but it’s already gone better career numbers — so I know it’s going to be fast!”
While Mike plans to take in a few PDRA 1/8 mile events this season – he did confirm that his focus for the car will be within Canada this season.
“This car is not NHRA legal with the lock up torque converter we run,” he added. “So I don’t have any plans to go there. Instead we are going to race where it makes sense for us and mostly in Western Canada at Mission and Edmonton – including the upcoming IHRA national event race there.”
Mike’s machine is 100% independently funded and he is assisted by a great supporting crew that includes David Scott, George Scott and Boris Kotyk.
Post and photos by Bruce Biegler
( News Flash! — Mike’s machine was the Pro Mod winner at the WDRL “Doorwarz” event at Mission Raceway last Sunday! That race report is coming very soon to DragRaceCanada)