Some of the latest happenings from within the thriving Canadian CMDRA and PBSS circuits….
CMDRA Badlands Nationals Report
The Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association kicked off its 2015 National Points Series on June 6th and 7th at the MHDRA Drag Strip in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where competitors in the Screamin’ Eagle Pro Dragster class made sure that race fans were kept on the edge of their seats for the entire weekend.
After qualifying number one in the eleven bike field, reigning CMDRA Pro Dragster Champion Al Miles and his FFR racing team found themselves lined up against Evan Barsness of Berzerkerz Racing in the semi finals. Barsness, who ended Miles’ long running winning streak during the 2014 season finals, was once again up to the challenge. Despite Miles’ quicker ET of 7.675 seconds compared to Barsness’ 7.698, Bareness won the battle at the light with a 0.118 second reaction time, giving him a 0.15 second advantage and the win. In the finals, Fort Saskatchewan’s Doug Casson ran an ET of 7.771 seconds at 158.6 mph, to defeat Barness and take home his first trophy of the 2015 CMDRA season.
Doug Casson, Winner in Screamin’ Eagle Pro Dragster at Medicine Hat
Local racers, and fan favourites, Kristen Ashby and Gerald Beatch added to the excitement. Ashby, the only female in the highly competitive Blackjacks Roadhouse Pro Modified class, qualified first overall with a run of 7.743 seconds at 161.97 mph, before losing to Spencer Johnson in the finals by less than 0.1 of a second. In the Pro-AM Motorsports Street class, Beatch dominated throughout the weekend, capping it off with a 9.978 second ET in the finals against a 9.97 second dial-in.
Up next for the CMDRA is a turn further west to Mission Raceway Park for the Pacific Coast Nationals on June 20th and 21st.
Full Bore Sponsorship Returns
The Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association announced on June 2nd that Full Bore Marketing will once again sponsor the Super Street Class in 2015.
Full Bore will be awarding a Shinko rear tire to the winner of each Super Street event during the 2015 racing season. In addition the 2015 CMDRA Super Street Champion will receive an Arai helmet.
Full Bore Marketing is a Canadian distributor of quality motorsport apparel, parts and accessories which are sold by motorcycle retailers across the country. For more information on Full Bore and their complete line of products visit: www.FullBoreMarketing.ca
New Cat for The Psycho Princess!
A new sled for 2015 will be getting Pro Bike & Sled Series racer Jessica Tourloukis down the quarter mile a lot quicker this year.
Now in her third year of PBSS presented by Wiseco Performance Products competition, Tourloukis, known as the Psycho Princess will be riding a 2015 Arctic Cat ZR 1100 Turbo, powered by a 1056-cc Suzuki engine which will provide about 320 horsepower at 7800 rpm at full boost.
This power will be transmitted to the 136-inch Proline track, and the sled features a Vipec electronic engine control.
“With a weight of 725 pounds with me on board we’re expecting runs in the low eight-seconds at 150 mph once everything is sorted out,” said Tourloukis, somewhat quicker than her old sled, a Thundercat which could post laps in the mid-nines at 140 mph.
She added that the Thundercat, which is a 2002 model with a 1000-cc 200-horsepower two-stroke engine, is getting an engine rebuild and will be used as the team’s back-up machine.
When asked if she would like to get off the sled and race a car, Tourloukis said she really doesn’t have any aspirations to do so.
“My Mom would like to see me in one, she said about racing on four wheels, but I really like the sled so I’m going to stick with that for a while, however I would like to one day make a pass in a jet car.”
The team is known as the Psycho Princess, and Marvin Godfrey is the team’s crew chief. Other team members include Sam Britton, Patty Tourloukis, Chris Tourloukis and James Tourloukis. Sponsorship is provided by Warlock 1320 and Godfrey Racing.
The team is a colorful and popular sight when they come to the line to race in their Psycho Princess uniforms. Tourloukis explained how the unusual clothing and name began:
“Actually we were trying to come up with a name and my Mom was the one to suggest it, she said. They have always called me a princess and she added that I’m psycho so she called me to see if I liked the name Psycho Princess and I loved it. Right away I told the girls and we decided to fully commit so that’s how the whole tiara, socks and tutu deal came about.”
Tourloukis, based Innisfil Ontario, plans on competing in the 2015 PBSS schedule, adding the events are not only competitive but enjoyable.
The team and I love racing with PBSS, she noted. Everyone is wonderful and always helpful. You couldn’t ask for a better group of racers and they accept us even though we are a little crazy.
The PBSS presented by Wiseco Performance Products, www.PBSS.ca now in its fifth year of operation, competes with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca providing an exciting and colorful package of drag racing action.
Posted with files from: Patrick Lambie & Tim Miller
Photos by: Patrick Lambie & courtesy of PBSS
