Hobby Injection!

By:  Bruce Biegler

When Don St. Arnaud’s wife Shelly mentioned one day that her hard working husband should get a hobby, the end result was that she may have gotten a bit more then she bargained for!…..

Don St. Arnaud is Canada's newest A/FD racer

Fast forward to year end 2010, Alberta’s Don St. Arnaud has evolved into one of Canada’s most impressive new drag racers.   During what was he first full year of campaigning a NHRA A/FD, the Edmonton-based Construction Company owner made some terrific strides.

“I am in the construction business and when I came home one night my wife was concerned that I worked too much and she suggested I needed a hobby,” St. Arnaud reflected.  “She was probably thinking fishing or golf – but that turned out differently and it all ended up here.  I feel fortunate because she is 100% behind my drag racing program.”

St. Arnaud first began to dabble with his 280 inch Hadman-chassied dragster during the 2009 season.  That in fact ended a 25-year hiatus from drag racing for Don who had previously raced (only) a 12-secs street car a quarter century ago.

In 2010, using a Brad Anderson engine program and then adding in new tuning advice  from Javid Marusich, his progression has been fast and impressive.

“We originally tried out the IHRA Pro Fuel deal out East but soon realized that was not really for us,” he admitted.  “We did run 5.27 secs at 277 mph on 100% nitro (in IHRA) but then shifted our tune-up to the NHRA TAD class.  So far we have clocked in a best of 5.36 secs at 270 mph – which came during the NHRA Finals at Pomona.”

Tuner Javid Marusich (left) with Don St. Arnaud

 To date St. Arnaud has now entered three career NHRA national events races including Las Vegas (2) last fall.  He also ran some select NHRA Division Six Lucas Oil events while building up valuable seat time. 

“We now have very good engine program – and our new tuner Javid has made a big impact,” Don added. 

According to our count Don St. Arnaud is racing Canada’s 4th injected nitro dragster –joining Daniel Mercier, Jeff Veale and Keith Falconer on that elite list.

His racing program is 100% financed by his A&J Construction company, which was named after his two daughters,  Amy and Jody.   A&J specializes in road construction and heavy equipment rentals based from Edmonton.

(Bruce Biegler Photos)

Don St. Arnaud ran career best numbers during the NHRA Finals