Igor Plays in All-Stars Game!

The race-within-a-race Jegs Sportsman All Stars event during NHRA’s event at Joliet last weekend included some first time Western Canadian racers….

While the very dedicated Competition eliminator of Rob Harrison and Al Lougheed (from British Columbia) did not win the event, they gathered some valuable experience during their furthest Eastern racing venture yet.

British Columbia's feared "Igor" Comp car was at NHRA Joliet

 Rob and Al qualified for the highly prestigious Jegs race for the first time in their careers when last May they dominated action during the LODRS event at Boise Idaho.  After they won that race and set both ends of the NHRA national record with their J/Altered Ford Escort, their slot was assured and they then put together a plan to attend.

Rob Harrison & Al Lougheed with "Igor"

“To be honest at first there just was no way we could have hauled our rig and stuff all the way out here,” admitted Rob Harrison the team driver.  “But we hooked up with another divisional racer (Chris Cannon – Division 6 S/G champion) and he was able to bring our car in his trailer — while we flew out.”

 “It’s a real honor to be here – there is nothing but tough racers that we respect,” Rob added.  “We are meeting many of them for the first time – but it’s almost like seeing some long lost friends again.  Everyone has been over to say Hello.”

Unfortunately the team’s racing weekend at Joliet ended early on both fronts as they lost in round one of both the Jegs All-Stars and the Route 66 Nationals event competition.

Rob was however still very impressed with the facility and also the infamous Route 66 racing surface.

“We did have the car tuned up to go fast and do well,” he reflected.  “But this track is so good that the car drove through the clutch in all gears which is something I’ve never experienced.  It seemed like the shift light came on and never turned off.  That was a surprise to me – but from what I hear now — that’s Chicago!”

 “For our team it was a great experience and I certainly hope we can come back in the future,” Harrison added.

The probability for exactly that — is very high.

 (Bruce Biegler Photos)