One of Western Canada’s most popular class racing phenomenon resets…
While “index” Funny Car class racing has been a staple with drag racing fans for Western Canada for many seasons, this summer of 2026 does include a reorganisation.
The newly formed Western Canadian Nostalgia Funny Cars (WCNFC), under the direction of new President – Calgary’s Steve Harris – is a group determined to take things both into the future and to the next level.
“In 2010 a group of people that loved drag racing and funny cars in particular – first got together and decided to form an association,” explained Shane Reykdal, one of the concepts most dedicated racers (E-Town Hustler) and members. “They then put together their love for funny car racing and their need to have a competitive (and more local) series to race in.”
After that circuit racing did occur for a number of seasons under an evolving different association names.
“Just prior to forming the WCNFC — people were getting together to do some shows but there was no index and no point series. People would just line up and it didn’t matter if you won or lost. It’s that group that has now formed to become the Western Canadian Nostalgia Funny Cars – association.”
Rules for engagement are pretty simple and most certainly are designed to be both nostalgic and cost friendly for its series racers. For 2026 there are currently four events on the WCNFC season calendar.
“Our Funny Cars all have pre-1984 body types,” Shane continued. “There are not delay boxes, tranny brakes and minimum electronics. Most are clutch cars — really intended to be back to basics.”
“This group did start out running a 7.50 second index in the ¼ mile but quickly moved it down to a 6.90 second index. We all loved going a little faster and running in the six-seconds zone at over 200 mile per hour always sounded good to us too.”
The WCNFC is intent on building a next chapter.
“Through about 20 years we had success — racing mainly within Western Canada with the occasional race in the Pacific NW United States. At the height of the club I believe there were 14-funny cars as members plus a couple Pro Mod style door cars that were in the group. There were also a few “Chicago style” Shootout events – where everyone ran two qualifiers and the two quickest (closest to the index) cars came back for the title. Some seasons had points series and declared a champion.” 
Shane did reveal the COVID 19 pandemic most certainly did take a toll on the group — and forced some teams to park or sell off their operations. The truth is that circumstance has been slow to recover from, but now from a positive perspective the lapse has now injected some new players into the circuit equation.
“Finally the time came for a rebranding of the group,” Reykhal added. “The Western Canadian Nostalgia Funny Cars are recommitted to be crowd favourites wherever and whenever. We are all about, long burnout and close side by side 6-seconds/200 mph racing and putting on a family friendly shows. As a group we try to mix up things “match race style” — with Funny Cars against different opponents on every pass.”
The 2026 season will be contested on a non-points exhibition basis with the majority of races occurring within the confines of RAD Torque Raceway, just south of Edmonton*. WCNFC did book in their first appearance together recently at Medicine Hat (mid-June) and hopes to add appearances at Rimbey and Saskatoon tracks too.
(*Editors note: WCNFA will be included action for this coming weekend’s Rocky Mountain Nationals event – RAD Torque Raceway)
“Index” Nostalgia Funny Car racing within Western Canada is most certainly storied — including the well known names and machines of Cal Tebb and Joey Steckler.
For more information about WCNFC and scheduling visit their FB Official: HERE
Posted by Bruce Biegler
DragRaceCanada File Photos by Blair Alderton & Bruce Biegler
