March Meet Marvel
The Canadian-based Troy Lee Designs Funny Car driven by Tim Boychuk earned what was arguably its biggest win ever during NHRA’s infamous “March Meet” held out at Bakersfield California last weekend….
Boychuk along with his team co-owner Ron Hodgson and a talented supporting cast that includes tuning legends Roland Leong and Bob Papirnick made history when they scored during NHRA’s 2012 season-opening Hot Rod Heritage Series event.
Boychuk, defeated a massive field which saw no less then 27 cars make qualifying attempts. After qualifying in the lucky #13 position (5.840 secs) Tim was consistently quick through Sunday’s final eliminations while beating Dan Horan Jr, Brad Thompson and Mike Halstead.
The Championship final round featured a showdown between two very similar 1977 Pontiac Firebird-bodied creations as Boychuk faced Chad Head (son to NHRA fuel FC driver Jim Head).
That showdown saw Boychuk clock his second quickest run of the event to win rather handily – 5.803 secs 243.06 mph to 6.007 secs 248.29 mph.
Boychuk, 49, was very quick to praise his crew, especially crew chief, drag racing icon Roland Leong.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win the March Meet,” he said. “I’ve been trying for three years. “We made it work though…all the way to the top.”
For Roland Leong, the win was also highly gratifying at the event for which he has been a participant for decades. “I really wanted to win here again,” he said. “It’s been eluding us for a while, but it was our turn.”
The win also impressed valued race team member Dan Brochu, who is automotive instructor at The Northern Alberta Intitute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.
“We are the first Canadian Team to win funny car at this prestigious race that dates back to 1954,” he stated proudly on behalf of the whole team. “That’s something that can never be taken away from us.”
Posted by: Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of: Marc Gewertz