Historic Stratford Ontario continues a reputation for being a “hot bed” for Pro Mod racing for Canada….
Spencer Hyde
Coming just one week after a major race team revelation from Scott Wildgust’s (Blown Wages Racing) — details are emerging for a second and equally aggressive class effort from across town Stratford rival – Spencer Hyde.
Spencer, is well regarded as a fast track emerging racer within Canada. A graduate of Junior Dragsters, Spencer has had driving stints in both TD and TS cars that were followed by 4 years of Canadian regional Pro Mod racing. But in 2020 he is now taking the next logical step for his aspiring career.
During the past off season, he and his father Peter, orchestrated the acquisition of a very high end Pro Mod car to replace their supercharged Chevy Camaro which they had raced for four seasons. This new Camaro is 5 years newer than their previous car which does offer up some obvious higher tech advantages. With this new car they are planning some bigger things this season — including a first time experience within NHRA’s highest echelon E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series.
“We have made some significant changes to our program for 2020,” Spencer affirmed. “We purchased a Jerry Bickel-built ’69 Camaro from Roger Henson — that was formally driven by Jason Scruggs in both NHRA and PDRA. We also purchased a Noonan Hemi (4.900 bore) from Raymond Commisso and have built a second new Noonan engine as well. Our new combos are 522 CID motors compared to our 477 CID run previously. Al Billes, who we’ve been working closely with over the past two seasons is overseeing our supercharger program and I have also brought on Mark Savage to help my Uncle (Ron Hyde) with the crew chief duties for our new set up.”
Spencer Hyde’s new ride was formally raced by Jason Scuggs in both NHRA and PDRA Pro Mod class racing.
“Our team is very excited about going to the next level in the Pro Mod class,” Spencer continued. “I’ve been wanting to go NHRA racing for a couple years — it’s the pinnacle for drag racing, and ultimately, if you can run there, you can run anywhere. In fact our previous combination the last 2 seasons was pretty close to NHRA legal so we have been gaining relative data for awhile for when/if this opportunity came along. Then when the Real Pro Mod Association announced that NHRA would take over the class for 2020, and open up the field — we saw our opportunity — and now we are here.”
Sitting Pretty! Spencer Hyde’s new Ideal Supply Chevy Camaro sits fully primed for the 2020 racing season.
Spencer confirmed that the car is now completely 100% assembled and they are right on the cusp of getting their program going. In fact — as we post this — the team is travelling down to Florida to commence testing and also enter next weekends’s unique new Drag Illusrated World Doorslammer Nationals at Orlando. The weekend after that — Spencer’s team has filed for entry for the NHRA’s Amalie Oil Gatornationals at Gainesville.
“Personally — I’m ecstatic,” Spencer grinned. “This is truly my dream and pretty soon it will be reality. I’m very excited to get my feet wet in the NHRA scene and see where we stack up against the best in the world.”
Spencer Hyde previously raced this Jerry Bickel built Camaro primarily within Canada – and with solid success.
After these two events in March — the rest of 2020’s racing schedule presently includes targeted plans to enter the NHRA national events at Charlotte NC and Richmond VA — followed by two Canadian appearances in July at Cayuga (Canadian Nitro Nationals) and Grand Bend (Stratford Days). A race at fabulous Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk Ohio in August will be followed by entry for the biggest drag race in the world – the NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals at Indy in early Sept.
Spencer’s team includes his dedicated crew Neil Harrison, Rod Brubacher, Greg Patterson, Bob Sackrider and Jack Hyde. Wily fellow Canadian drag racer Wes Goddard (Hell Billy Race Cars) is the team’s Car Chief to which Spencer cited significant support. ” Wes did all the safety updates on the car to make it fully comply with new NHRA rules — over 100 hours in total,” he expanded. “Also we owe a huge thank you for the support from Lee White.”
“Drag racing isn’t my full time job — we have a family construction business (Hyde Construction & Hyde Electrical) that we take a lot of pride in,” he added. “Fortunately that success has provided a path for us to this opportunity. I really have the most amazing people in my corner supporting me, including a long list of sponsors and also my Mom, Dad, Syd and Jamie — and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Marketing has certainly been a strength for Hyde Racing and that support continues with their latest project — thanks to valued associates including: IDEAL SUPPLY – HYDE CONSTRUCTION – NAPA AUTO PARTS – PENNZOIL – iLOOKABOUT – SOMMERS GENERATOR SYSTEMS – RONNOCO SALES LIMITED – DORDAN MECHANICAL – RAMSEYER EARTHWORKS + R&R Gravel – SCHULTZ PLUMBING – WILHELM CONCRETE – TAVI TRANSIT – SUTTON GROUP (Paul Graham) – RAEDON EXCAVATING – MONTEITH, RITSMA, PHILLIPS, MATHIESON & ASSOCIATES – ORR INSURANCE & Investment – COORS LIGHT (Jeff Carr) – HYDE ELECTRIC – WETTLAUFER CONTRACTING & HOME IMPROVEMENTS – KSA – ROY-LYN CABINETS Ltd
Posted by Bruce Biegler
