Action in August « DragRaceCanada.com

Action in August

by editor on Aug.16, 2024, under Smokies Garage - Pro Mod Portal

An all Canadian mid-summer edition to our Smokies Garage Pro Mod Portal!!…

Grand Bend Motorplex’s recent WDRA Canadian Nationals (Aug 3-4) did include a 1/8th mile & independently run Pro Mod program.

The event which attracted seven cars to the grounds produced a first time class win for highly determined Canadian driver Claude St Maurice.

St. Maurice, who is based from Montreal, collected three win-lights racing his supercharged Firebird on Sunday, after qualifying 4th with a run of 3.952 secs at 188.68 mph.

Montreal’s Claude St Maurice had a nice & first score in Pro Mod — winning at the WDRA Canadian Nats.

Claude topped reputed local Ron Bankes in round one with a 3.987 secs which was followed by a 2nd round 3.918 secs decision over Sal Cammisuli — to advance to the final round versus #2 qualifier Mike Everitt.

Mike and Ken Everitt showed a solid rebound with a R/UP placing at Grand Bend Motorplex with their cool turbo Chevy Nova.

In the money round it was Everitt gaining a starting line advantage (.069 to .091) driving his now fully refurbished & procharged Chevy Nova from Stratford ON. However St. Maurice was able to just run him down with a superior 3.885 to 3.909 secs ET — (.002 secs) margin of victory.

The Pro Mod eliminator at GBM was paced by “Big Sal” Cammisuli who is now racing the former “Smokies Garage” Ford Mustang purchased from Scott Wildgust. Sal, from Markham ON., did clock a career best 3.877 secs during that accomplishment and his 197.54 mph was also top speed of the meet for the class breed.

A long time veteran within Ontario’s drag racing scene — “Big Sal” Cammisuli – set low ET/Top speed GBM’s Pro Mod event.

The Edmonton area’s one-day wonder annual event — “Hot August Night” at RAD Torque Raceway — once again drew a packed in sellout crowd, as fans filled the grandstands and lined the fence for the evening’s action held Aug 14th.

The race included the latest scheduled round for the WCPM group, some of who were in attendance running a Chicago-style shootout event.

Tom Reithmayer brought out his fan favourite Ford-powered Mustang after suffering an unfortunate parts failure at last month’s Rocky Mountain Nationals. While repairs and replacement parts had originally expected to sideline Tom’s plans for the event, he received parts earlier than expected and was able to compete. Tom had some encouraging passes during testing before a head gasket failure ended his day prematurely.

Tom Reithmayer campaigned this very popular ’71 Ford Mustang at Edmonton’s WCPM circuit stop.

The number one qualifier in the event was Pro Mod rookie standout Sander Spelt, in the “Bunker Junker” 1957 Chevy.

Fresh off that impressive $5,000 win against Street Outlaws standout Ryan Martin last month, Sander managed a career best 3.908 at 191.82 MPH. His stout performances landed him a spot for the finals — before electrical issues prevented him from making the call.

Thus it was longtime and hometown Pro Mod class racer Wade Sjostrom who prevailed overall driving the former-Carl Spiering owned supercharged 1957 Chevy. Wade found himself in and benefited from a single in the final to claim a 2024 Hot August Night event championship.