The season lid-lifter for Southern Ontario’s drag racing scene took place at TMP over the Victoria Day Weekend…
The event, featuring the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series (a NHRA National Open) included a record field of Super Stock and Stocks along with Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Street, Super Gas, and Super Comp entries. 
Also on slate were the True North Gassers, Rick Ream and his wicked Stude Firetruck Wheelstander, the CJR HELL CATS, Neale Armstrong’s Northern Warrior Jet Dragster plus the NITRO Funny Car of Gary Kraus.
To fill out the program TMP ran a regular Bracket Program featuring Super Pro, Mod, Street, Bike/Sled, and Jr Dragsters.
60 cars made the first round call for Super Stock and Stock. After the sixth round, which was run on Sunday due to dew, Chris Lozon paired up against Louis Gill out of Quebec in a battle of SS GT/FA cars. Lozon went red, handing the popular victory to Gill.
The Nostalgia Super Stock Series made its debut at TMP with Ron Gallager in his HEMI Road Runner taking the Wally. In other action the crowd favorite True North Gassers wheel stood their way through several rounds to see the Tri Five Chevy of Bill Samons best the only Rambler on the property. Hardcore Harry Lewis earned runner up honours with his 64 American.
True North Gassers weekend circuit action featured a win by Bill Sammon’s ’56 Chevy
Top Dragster/Top Sportsman found the 37 Chevy TS of Mike Wagg scoring the gold. Bracket racket winners included KC “Killer” Kovacs in Super Pro, L Kendel in Mod, Cam Snapp took Street over his dad Sam, Brandon Satchell continued his winning ways in Bike and Sled. Conner Riddler wheeled his NITRO MONKEY to the Jr. Dragster crown.
Mike Wagg was a winner in the the TS/TD event on Saturday with his super cool supercharged Chevy.
Showtime revealed a twist with the Jet Dragster of Neale Armstrong facing the Nitro Funny Car of Gary Kraus. The flopper boiled the buns at the hit while the Jet streaked down the newly resurfaced quarter mile for the victory.
Western NY’s Gary Kraus brought his fuel-burning Mustang to Cayuga’s Victoria Day Weekend event!
Sunday found 56 cars in the lanes for the first round of SS/S. Six rounds later Bill Riley’s Chevelle took on the Firebird of Bob Bielaska with veteran DJ Raiser on the button. Riley ran Raiser under by a couple to take the win. Nostalgia SS found the HEMI Plymouth of Mopar Legend Lloyd Booker in the winners circle.
3rd generation driver Brooklyn Noakes (from London) won a NHRA “Wally” in Super Comp and also updated her licence for future T/D class competition.
Nova Scotia’s Bruce Riley scored the NHRA class Stock/SS title on Sunday.
The True North Gassers returned to wow the fans with their long burnouts and wheelstanding passes. Interesting Irving Patterson drove his perfect Prefect to the title over previous day winner, Bill Samons 56 Chevy.
The ultra slick GXP of Roch Beaudoin scored the Top Sportsman/Top Dragster title. The brackets saw the Super Pro cash go to the bank account of one Ian Hill who, along with crew chief Al, pushed Jamie Champ under to end his hopes. Ian has a stable of race vehicles this time using his S10 pickup. Vinnie Bombini faced the tough Drew Buchner in the Mod final with the Nova wagon of Buchner taking the win. The Snapp family is a racing family. Father Sammy turned the tables today relegating his son Cameron to second place in Street Eliminator. Brandon Satchell doubled up in Bike and Sled aboard his 1978 Suzuki and Conner Riddler also doubled in Jr Dragster taking the bucks back to London Ontario.
Brandon Satchell and Conner Riddler – both “doubled up” in Bike/Sled and Junior Dragster” class competition this weekend.
Post event — participating racers did tout the new improvements made to track surface during the off season and are looking forward to personal bests this season.
Posted by Rob Potter
Photos courtesy of Stacee Richards
