The Plaizier Plan! « DragRaceCanada.com

The Plaizier Plan!

by editor on Mar.28, 2022, under Hotzone

A very interesting new acquirement and more from one of Canada’s most dedicated index “target shooting” teams…

Alberta’s multi-car Plaizier Motorsports has morphed as it returns to activity within NHRA’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series circuit racing for 2022. For the team, that includes a stunning new addition as well as a rekindling of something fan favourite and familiar.

“It feels great to be back racing again (including the USA) after 2-years away due to the pandemic,” stated team founder and patriarch Eddy Plaizier. “Our plans are to run with 3 cars this season. I will drive my Anglia in Super Gas (9.90) and Casey and Frankie will race cars in Super Street (10.90). Frankie (a former NHRA Division 6 points champion) will drive the Firebird but Casey will have an all new ride – a ’56 Chevy.”

And it is that new ’56 Chevy that does draw the most immediate attention. Even if there is a more meticulous one in existance out there – it would be hard for it to match this!

“This car has a rich history in the Edmonton area, as it was owned by John Johnstone since the 1990s,” Eddy revealed. “Casey did actually make a couple of runs in the car back in 2007, when he was very close with John and his daughter Carrie. Unfortunately, John got sick in the mid 2010s and passed away 5 years ago, the car had sat in storage since.”

This stunningly prepped Plaizier Motorsports ’56 Chevy is new for 2022

“But Carrie was thoughtful enough to sell the car to us, allowing us to do a complete overhaul on it. We are going to dedicate this year running it to John’s memory.”

The show quality Chevy classic now features a Ryan Bell (FPS) aluminum 582 CID engine, a Steve Casner CRE transmission, and a FTI converter from the team’s former ’63 Corvette Super Gas (now sold off to Arnie Malcolm). Pretty much every single nut and bolt on the car was replaced, with exception being to the body, chassis, and rear end housing.

The ’56 now has a brand new Strange aluminum rear end, 40 spline axles, Strange front and rear brakes, and Penske air shocks (all courtesy of Adam Drzayich in Chicago, IL). The wheels are from RC Components, with electrical components from Racepak, Speedwire, MSD, and Digital Delay.

“It was wired by Randy McCarty — who has wired all of our cars since 1996,” Eddy confirmed. Then himself Eddy completed the interior which features full carpet and even custom seat covers.

The Plaizier Motorsports team’s return this year does include thier very famous and highly successful ’48 Anglia – which Eddy has owned since 1996. During the COVID downtime period – that car did receive a major “body-off rebuild”.

“It was time for a complete overhaul,” Eddy admitted. Curt Smith at Modified Welding & Fabrication (Stony Plain, AB) did some major chassis updates. Adam Drzayich spec’d out custom struts for the front and Penske air shocks for the rear. We added a Strange aluminum center section and 40 spline axles as well as 2-piece stainless steel brakes throughout.”

For the Anglia too the wiring was again completed by Randy McCarty. The engine was updated also by Ryan Bell — it is now a FPS built 408 CID – making an estimated 680 HP. That powerplant is now paired with a Steve Casner CRE Powerglide and FTI converter.

Eddy’s ’48 Anglia Super Gas car received a major “do-over” prior to the 2022 season.

While the team did start off the 2022 season (at the recent NHRA races in Phoenix) with basically two of the cars being untested — there is no shortage of optimism for going forward.

“We have every expectation to come out and get back into the winning groove – with all of our cars,” Eddy said confidently. “Some adjustments will be needed to get these cars as competitive as our other ones were. I think for this year, if we can each put up a win at a substantial event, we would consider that to be a great year.”

The racing schedule for the team does look busy and goes something like this.

“We plan to chase the full NHRA Division 7 schedule and including numerous National and Double Divisional events. We will race at Las Vegas, Mission, Seattle and Bakersfield and make a trip East for the Bowling Green Divisional and the US Nationals Indianapolis National Event. We are eyeing a few big dollar bracket races sprinkled in.”

“But we’re really excited to schedule racing back at the Rocky Mountain Nationals at RAD Torque Raceway in Edmonton this summer,” Eddy emphazised. “That will be first time back in a few years and we look forward to host a BBQ for our friends, family, and local sponsors.”

As has always been the case with Plaizier Motorsports team history – the supporting lineup of sponsors is and remains impressive.

The team is grateful for the continued support from all of their partners — including Thompson Construction Group, ACE Manufacturing (ACE Racing), RAD Torque System, Hoosier Racing Tires, GDT Trading, Stealth Graphics & Performance, The Iron Garage, Impact Powder Coatings, Burnewood Dental, Drzayich Sportsman Services, FPS (Ryan Bell), CRE Transmissions, and FTI On-Site.