This weekend’s West Coast Pro-Mod Challenge has been an annual event for a decade and the fans who like door-cars, make sure they head to Mission Raceway.
Three classes of very fast cars are competing for close to $25,000 in prize money.
There are two main feature classes, the NorthWest Pro Mods and the Canadian Pro Street Association (CPSA).
The CPSA has its largest winner’s purse ever this weekend. The pro mods are typically the quicker of the two classes, but this year that may not happen. The two classes are similar in rules and car types, but tend to attract a different type of racer. The pro mods is one of the longest organized groups of racers racing fast cars, while the pro street group has offshoots for those who prefer the “outlaw” style of racing
Both classes have mountain-size engines up to 900 cubic inches, with either turbo or superchargers, and nitrous.
The pro mods will be represented by four-time series champion Joe Delehay. He has cut back his schedule this year, but wanted to make sure Mission was one event on the schedule.
Besides trying to win the race, his goal is to run an elusive five-second ET. Other cars entered this weekend are Mark Campbell from Edmonton in his new turbocharged ‘37 Chevy, Duane Grosart and his always-popular supercharged ‘55 Chevy, and Edmonton’s Wade Sjostrom driving his new ‘57 Chevy. Drayton Valley, Alta.’s Perry Thyr will compete in his number one car (he has two), a nitrous-equipped 2002 Camaro.
The pro street series will possibly have their best ever field this weekend. Mission Raceway has hosted the pro street racers longer than any other race track in the northwest. Racers entered for this weekend include the who’s who from the West Coast.
Dale Moznik, winner of the biggest pro street race in North America, and his brother, Roy, will run their nitrous-equipped El Caminos. Dale Pedersen form Dawson Creek in his awesome turbocharged Monte Carlo is one of the favourites. Langley’s Dal Sangha in his turbocharged Mustang has always done well at Mission. Seattle’s Garrett Richards with one of the quickest pick-ups in the world will also be here. Ken Sihota from Richmond has a very fast nitrous-powered Firebird, while two other brothers from Kelowna, Kerry and Darryl Stone, will be bringing out their turbocharged ‘68 Camaro and Chevy II. Steve Nicholson is set to debut his new nitrous-powered ‘63 Corvette.
Will Mission racer Jay Syvertsen have a car out this weekend? The popular pro street racer crashed his beautiful ‘53 Corvette just over a month ago, but he has one or two other cars in his arsenal, so he may be out. In all there should be at least a dozen pro street competitors trying to win the $4,000 champion’s purse.
Rounding out the weekend are the Canada West Doorslammers. This group with field close to 30 cars running from the six-second zone up to the mid eights. The driver to watch in this series is Rob Charlton from Pitt Meadows. He has been in every final round so far this year in five races.
Go to www.missionraceway.com for all the info for this weekend. Kids under 12 are free with an adult.
Dean Murdoch is the editor of SpeedZone magazine.