The Spider Electric Canadian Championship Series held it’s initial race events in Medicine Hat last weekend…
The new series — established by accomplished Medicine Hat-based businessman Mark Simmons in conjunction with NHRA’s Pacific Northwest Division 6 — was designed to help Canadian racers isolated by the COVID pandemic to have a series to race within and also some championship glory to chase.
This two-day affair, hosted by the MHDRA Medicine Hat Drag Strip, featured some NHRA class car racing as well as a solid line-up of ET bracket classes.
Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle, racing his familiar GT-classed Oldsmobile Achieva continued his propensity for now being one of Western Canada’s top rated Super Stock racers. Sheldon prevailed in completion both days within his NHRA Combo eliminator, topping Darcy Clarke’s Mopar in the final on Saturday and then Norm Lapointe’s Chevy for Sunday’s honours.
Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle looked steady all weekend at Medicine Hat — winning both days in the NHRA Combo eliminator.
The NHRA Top Dragster/Top Sportsman class was run on a 1/8th mile format both days with wins going to Shawn Lachambre (Pilot Butte SK) on Saturday and then to Trevor Ritchie (Sherwood Park AB) on Sunday.
Shawn Lachambre (far lane) topped James Tracy for Saturday’s TD/TS Combo eliminator title.
The event also featured attitude adjusted index racing for NHRA Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street entries. Super Comp titles went to Rick Wagnaar and Len Mayer and Super Gas featured wins by Bill Cawsey and Dave Strobbe. In S/ST — it was Darren Pearce and Jason Kendel who prevailed.
Calgary’s Ken Mostowich drove this Ford Probe in S/G competition at Medicine Hat — the NHRA circuit regular was runner-up on day #1.
Hometown Medicine Hat racer Dave Toth was a winner in the Bike/Sled eliminator on his Kawasaki.
Saturday’s ET Bracket racing saw wins go to McKenna Bold (Super Pro), Rich Harder (Pro), Ryan Valk (Sportsman) and Dave Toth (Bike/Sled). The Junior Dragster winners that day were Kindi Opsal, Calum Kestner and Cole Caron while the Junior Street was won by Darian Dopp and the Non-Electronics Gamblers event by Janssen Aten.
Sunday’s ET Bracket program feature Rich Harder (from Saskatoon) winning in Pro again, Dave Senio (Super Pro), Lorren Buzunis (Sportsman) and Zack Toth in Bike Sled. Junior Dragster competition featured wins by Kiandra Gaetz and Isaac Stettner, and Justus Schaan took the Junior Street run off.
The next rounds for the NHRA Spider Electric Canadian Championship Series – goes down at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway – August 8th and 9th.
For more information on primary series sponsor Spider Electric Ltd. — click: HERE
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos Courtesy of Bernie Frey
