Canadian “Street Smarts”

By:       Bruce Biegler

The 2010 Canadian Street Car Nationals last weekend at Cayuga Dragway played out pretty much to all pre-event expectations.   The event which was originally conceived by and continues to be choreographed by Toronto’s Joe DaSilva (DaSilva Racing), has over the years steadily built itself up quite a reputation…..

This year’s event edition was no exception solidifying itself as arguably one of the most significant and independent events anywhere on the annual Canadian drag racing calendar.

Over 250 race cars towed through the gates for competition in some 15+ different eliminators.   There was hardly a dragster to be seen anywhere on the premises – this weekend was almost the exclusive domain for door-slammers.

Prized Matco Tool Box!

With solid backing from major sponsors like Matco Tools and Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, along with strong associate support from a myriad of other visionary companies, the on-track racing product was full on and highly entertaining.  Make no mistake, this genre of drag racing, while maybe as not as well understood as it should be by the more casual fans of the sport, is about as intense as it can get.

The event did attract an international cast of players with the main attractions being competition in Pro Mod, Super Street and EZ Street eliminators. 

Sunday’s winning line-up included New York’s Mike Stawicki in Pro Mod, who continued his class domination in the province of Ontario this summer driving the G-Force Race Cars sponsored Pontiac Firebird.

Mike Stawicki continued his Ontario PM class domination

Stawicki, after struggling somewhat during qualifying, (7th) managed a rebound on Sunday defeating Canada’s Sam Andreacchi in the final round.

The field of Super Street 10.5 cars put on a great show with Mississauga’s Rob Galli emerging victorious.  Galli, who qualified #8 also found his stride on Sunday and carved out three low 7.0 second elapsed times to win it.  He ran a final round 7.071 secs at 205.90 mph driving his 2002 Camaro which defeated Tony Presto’s immaculate supercharged Chevy II.

The EZ Street class, which is considered by many a necessary stepping stone to the Super Street 10.5 category, was won by Nino Meglio’s 1980 Corvette.  Meglio (from Toronto) ran a final round 7.849 secs at 178.07 mph to take the title while opponent Noel Borg broke.

EZ Street Winner: Nino Meglio

Fast Street Car category titles were also won by John Oake (Pro Comp), Butch Kemp (Pro Stock), Larry Dean (8.90), Sue Cooper (9.90), Andrew Stirk (10.90), Glenn Tovey (11.90) and Jim Edwards (12.90).   Mark Menicanin (from Binbrook) in his 1970 Acadian was the Open Comp champion.

The CSCN event was supplemented too by great action from within the Smith Performance Specialties Can-Am Stock/Super Stock and TNT (10.90) Super Series circuits, both of which held “double header” events over the weekend.

Driving Chevy Camaros, Al Louzon and Rob Becker scored in Can-Am Stock/Super Stock action while Roy Lister and Dave Surmatchewski earned top honors within the Joe’s Transmission-sponsored TNT Super Series events.

The event opened and closed with some terrific competition within a couple of very cool added features.  On Friday night, Grimsby Ontario’s Gary Potyok won the “King of the Street” runoff behind the wheel of his ’69 Nova.  Sunday’s schedule closed with Saturday’s Can-Am Stock/Super Stock winner Al Lozon prevailing over all other CSCN category winners in special shootout.  He scored in the event’s concluding “Super Bowl Shootout” by running the closest to his dial-in overall.  Lozon ran 10.091 secs on a (10.09), and with that picked himself up a truly great prize, a Matco Tools toolbox valued at $7G…. (!)

Super Street 10.5 Winner - Rob Galli

To view our Canadian Street Car Nationals Photo Gallery click:  HERE
 

(Bruce Biegler Photos)