Fast door cars headline at Mission Raceway’s 2024 season-ending event….
It’s the last competition of the racing season at Mission Raceway Park before the rains kick in and the cold weather. The rain was definitely threatening this weekend so they pushed the schedule as hard as they could with test & tune as well as 1st and 2nd rounds of qualifying on the Friday. As we have seen in years past that isn’t always easy to get this all packed in, as all it takes is a few accidents and that could be in jeopardy. However, it all turned out very well and Saturday was an action packed day of non-stop hot rods screaming down the track.
Let’s start off with the main headliner of this event, and that is the West Coast Pro Mods. From what I understand there could be some major changes with Pro Mods out West as Keith Peterson has decided to move on from holding another series in 2025. I don’t think that will stop Pro Mods out West however, as rumour mill is swirling that drivers are organizing and that they are thinking of forming either another organization, or joining another.
This weekend there were 12 Pro Mods on the property. 10 made it to the elimination rounds as Scott Blake’s Camaro led the field in qualifying but he didn’t make it to the final 4. The final four was a battle of the ‘Steves’, with Steve Horne versus Steve Goddard in the copper coloured Pontiac. Steve Horne took that one with 3.982 @ 189.95 Mph at the 1/8th finishline marker, as Goddard suffered an engine issue. Tacoma Washington’s Garrett Richards got the bye run on the other side of the semi final.
Alberta’s Scott Blake paced the WCPM field in qualifying.
Both Garrett Richards and Steve Horne were running very consistent rounds all day and we surely expected a real battle between these 2 in the final. However, we did not get that at all as Richards took the win as his Camaro was the only car that made the green light as Horne suffered a mechanical issue at the start line.
Garrett Richards (from Washington state) was the winner in the WCPM event portion.
Outlaw X275 was next up and they never fail to cause excitement among Mission race fans. With 9 cars answering the bell at eliminations, Justin Gallant was going to be a force to be reckoned with as he broke the X275 record at Mission during qualifying with a pass of 4.2599 @ 172.55 mph on the 1/8th distance. It was a dominating performance by Gallant all year by winning every single X275 event at Mission Raceway this year. Including this one as his Lil’ Bruiser Mustang outran Curt Thompson’s 68 Camaro for the final victory.
Canada’s top-rated X275 class car racer – Justin Gallant — continued his domination at Mission Raceway.
The 2024 Western Canadian Top Fuel Nitro Bike Series had their 6th and final round of the year to determine the points race. Austin Christopher in his outstanding rookie season just had to stage the first round of eliminations to capture the Championship and did that without issue against Jim Schellenberg. Thereafter, it was a last round final against Pete Waugh and Christopher achieved the round 6 win with a 6.80 at 183.75 mph.
Austin Christopher clinched the Western Canadian Nitro Bike series title while winning the season ending event.
There was a battle of the Mustangs in the Limited Street class, as we saw top qualifier Max Nielson taking that win in the over Vanessa Richards who lost significant time with her wheels lifting up at the start line and could not get him at the finish line.
Door Slammers we saw Otto Schulte’s blue Chevy Cavalier (dialled at 7.44) in the final against Brad Powell (dialled at 8.39) as both battled their way through another deep 20+ car field at Mission this weekend. Otto got this win with a time of 7.42 @ 183 Mph versus Powell’s 8.36 @ 159.40 Mph.
Otto Schulte raced his Chevy Cavalier to victory over a tough D/S (Door Slammers) class field.
Electronics class saw Mike Bucky Stewart in his Chevy revving up against Cody Lewiski’s dragster. Mike didn’t get the reaction time he needed with a .083 vs Cody’s .017 as Cody took the prize in Electronics.
Electronics class winner – Cody Lewiski
Non Electronics had Randy Kuryk in the Oldsmobile up against Craig Johnson’s Mailbu Station Wagon. Randy Kuryk chased after Johnson and caught him at the line with a 10.415 @ 126.33 mph that nipped Craig Johnson at 10.637 @ 108.59 mph.
Super Shifter class we saw John Depourq battling Joel Smith. Both red lighted the final, but Smith (RT -.0181) was a little more red that Depourq’s black Camaro (-.0181).
Real Street class had a Ryan Ladret’s Blue Chevelle up against Rob Munro Senior in his 1931 Model A. Ladret must of had an issue as he drifted a little towards the end and Rob Munro muscled by him for the win.
Rob Munro Senior won in “Real Street: with his 1931 Model A.
Post and photos by Les Puchala
