Stratford Spectacular Series Supplemental
Drag racing action during last weekend’s Stratford Spectacular produced both a familiar winner and a first time winner…..
The versatile event which also included the most recent rounds for the Ontario-based NAPA Auto Parts Quick 32 and Wiseco Performance Products PBSS saw significant wins claimed by Erin Staley (from Kalamazoo MI) and Dan Cryderman (Thamesville ON).
In Q32 some significant hurdles that included a broken blower belt, broken fuel pump, and flat tire in the end did not slow down Erin Staley, as the the Top Dragster driver won her first Quick 32 Sportsman Series event. Qualifying eighth, Staley defeated Dan Aitken Jr of Grand Pointe, Ontario with his Top Sportsman 1995 Mustang to win the event.
Driving her Bowen-chassised Top Dragster with a 540 Brodix powerplant, Staley posted a 6.575, 197.15 winning run over Aiken’s 7.136, 192.34.
“We were consistent all weekend,” said the grade-three school teacher after her win. “And the track was excellent,” adding she has been driving a Top Dragster for four years.
Q32 winner – Erin Staley
Staley took out number 13 qualifier Lyle Williams of Strathroy, Ontario in the Top Dragster final while Aitken shut down Bob Bauer Jr of Elma, New York in the Top Sportsman final.
Qualifying number in Top Dragster was Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ontario with a 6.025, 224.49, while leading the Top Sportsman ladder was Darryl MacMillan of Goderich, Ontario who posted a 6.752 201.11 with his 1963 Corvette.
Leading in Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, is Jon Schmid of Orchard Park, New York, with 711 points. Schmid was a semi-finalist in Top Sportsman. Top Dragster driver Tony Positano of Toronto, was taken out in round two, and is second in points with 696, followed by Glen Vardy of Burlington, Ontario with 659, Wildgust with 620, and the Top Sportsman team of Wilson & Gray from Ingersoll, Ontario with 597.
Last year’s PBSS champion, Dan Cryderman, returned to the winner’s circle at Grand Bend with a final-round victory over Ted Glinny. Cryderman, of Thamesville, Ontario, qualified his Pro Bike Suzuki second behind John Orfanidis of Toronto who lead the field with a 7.991, 160.42.
Glinny, from Milton, Ontario, qualified fifth with his Pro Bike Kawasaki, and in a close final, was taken out by Cryderman, who ran an 8.227, 158.20 to Glinny’s 8.373, 153.84.
“I love coming here,” said Cryderman after his win. “We used the same tune-up all weekend,” he continued. “The track was awesome and the bike was consistent.”
Despite this early demonstration on how not to ride a DragBike – Dan Cyderman settled down and found the PBSS victory lane.
Cryderman’s win came despite a very bizarre and truly unorthodox start when he nearly lost control of his machine right on the starting line during a round single on Sunday. (See photo above). But he was able to gather back his Bike, shake that incident off, and from then on it was smoother sailing for the remainder of the event.
Semi-finalists in the series race, presented by Wiseco Performance Products, were Pro Sled rider Bill Anderson of Seaforth, Ontario, and Pro Biker Sperios Lazarou of Mississauga, Ontario.
Cryderman leads the PBSS Championship Point Award Series with 740, followed by Glinny with 656, Mark Catanzaro of Kimball, Michigan with 633, Curtis Beck of Milton, Ontario with 617, and Orfanidis with 600.
The Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals was the fourth round of 2014 for both drag racing series. The next and final event is the Thunder by the Beach Weekend August 29-31 at Grand Bend.
Posted with files from Bruce Biegler & Tim Miller
Visit the DragRaceCanada Stratford Spectacular event photo gallery: HERE
