Hot Dogging At Western Speedway:
Langford BC, May 23Western Speedway hosted the Demo Series of racing Saturday night with a good crowd on hand to watch the Bombers, Figure 8s, Mini Vans, Demo Trucks, and the Demo Cars compete in Dashes, Heats, and Feature events.
Young Kail Beck showed signs of a seasoned pro as he garnered a clean sweep in the Mini Van series. He claimed the victory in the Trophy Dash, followed by a win in the Heat race, and then survived some tough hitting to claim victory in the Feature event of the night. Kail isn't old enough to drive on the highways but he knows how to get around Western Speedway.
J.J. Taylor survived a wild Figure 8 Feature as he worked himself from the back of the field to the front and the checkered flag. This race had many hard hits and takeouts from start to finish and Taylor used all of his skills to avoid all the crashes and obstacles to get around stalled cars, and hold off hard charging drivers in Cody Young and Sean Hitchings along with Sean Connaroe. Cody Young hung on for second while Brandon Young placed third.
Last season's truck champion, Aasen Baker, returned last night in the Demo Truck series bringing the count up to seven trucks. Keith Hanson won the Feature by a large margin. He definately had the superior truck and even a touch with the wall couldn't slow him down as he passed and spun out the competition on his way to the win.
Some drivers can be accused of coming to the track to race while others could be accused of "hot dogging". Such was the case with Dave Cates as he took the first ever hot dog race. The plan was for a two man team, from each class. The start would begin by running a short distance from Victory Square, eat a hot dog, spin five times with the head down, run back to Victory square to tag a team mate. The team mate would then run to their vehicle parked on the frontstretch, spin five times with the head down and then drive one lap to claim the victory. Cates was the first person to receive the tag, climbed into the #37 Demo Truck and took the win by a large margin. When asked how he made out Dave said, "It almost killed me. I am an old fat guy". Everyone seemed to enjoy another novelty race hosted by Western Speedway.
One of the most competitive races of the night had to be the Bomber Feature. On April 25th, Chris Broughton, Brian Wakelin, and Ron Keifert staged a great race with many a hair razing inside outside passing throughout with Wakelin coming through with the win. Last night these same three drivers found themselves starting at the back of a large field of cars and thirty laps to get to the win. The caution came out after only two laps for a spinning car. Broughton entered the pits with a flat tire and as luck would have it got back in the race and at the back of the pack before the field went back to green. As soon as the grid returned to green flag racing, Broughton started his march forward and often on the outside groove. With fourteen laps in the books, Broughton caught Rich Bensen and as they were racing for the lead, Bensen blew a radiator hose or tank and Broughton went by easily and into the lead. Over the remaining laps Broughton was almost untouchable. He took the checkered flag followed by Keifert and Wakelin.
Robyn Trotter started near the back of the field in the Demo Cars and survived the takeouts to win the Feature event. He was followed by Cody Young and Smokin Joe Liberatore. This race also featured many hard hits and lead changes throughout. Western Speedway took this occasion to announce that Showboat Gary Williams will attempt another bus jump slated for the August 7th and 8th "Weekend of Mayhem" event that will feature the Demo Series, a boat race, Total Destruction, and the Monster Trucks. This is a must see event as last year Gary had an amazing jump into a row of catch cars with the big bus. This was a first at Western Speedway.
Also the announcement was made that Williams will go after a Guiness Book of World Records by jumping a full sized limousine to be part of the action with the Demo Series and the Big Rigs returning to Western Speedway on August 22nd. The jump has already been registered with Guiness and the limo was on display at last night's show. Mark your calendars and come early for this one as the seats will go quickly.
BOMBER CLASS:
FAST TIME: #51 Ronnie Keifert 20:478 (New Track Record)
TROPHY DASH:
Brian Waklin; Danny Matthews; Ronnie Keifert; Brent Wildman
1ST HEAT RACE:
Gray Abbott; Chris Stone; Mike Dash; Denny Murdoch
2ND HEAT RACE:
Ron Begg; Brent Wildman; Rich Benson; Chris Broughton
MAIN EVENT (30 Laps):
Chris Broughton; Ronnie Keifert; Brian Waklin; Brent Wildman; Danny Matthews
DEMO CAR CLASS:
FAST TIME: #29 Brad Smith 20:732
TROPHY DASH:
Brad Smith; Cody Young; Joe Liberatore; Robin Trotter
HEAT RACE:
Robin Trotter; Dean Macney; Jeremy Gardner; Joe Liberatore
MAIN EVENT:
Robin Trotter; Cody Young; Joe Liberatore; Brad Smith; Dean Macney
DEMO TRUCK CLASS:
FAST TIME: #13 George Haywood 21:346
TROPHY DASH:
George Haywood; Richard Milne; David Cates; Keith Hanson
HEAT RACE:
Keith Hanson; David Cates; George Haywood; Richard Gearhardt
MAIN EVENT:
Keith Hanson; George Haywood; Paul Scotthorne; Richard Milne; David Cates
MINI FIGURE 8 CLASS:
TROPHY DASH:
Cody Young; Shawn Young; Shawn Conarroe; Jay taylor
1ST HEAT RACE:
Austin Robertson; Jeff Foley; Kyle Ridley; Sean Welsh
2ND HEAT RACE:
Cody Young; J.J. Taylor; Shawn Conarroe; Shawn Hitchings
MAIN EVENT:
J.J. Taylor, Shawn Hitchings, Cody Young, Austin Robertson, Brandon Young,
MINI VAN CLASS:
TROPHY DASH:
Kail Beck; Bill Anderson; David Dewitt; Larry Manson
HEAT RACE:
Kail Beck; Bill Anderson; Spencer Nichols; Larry Manson
MAIN EVENT:
Kail Beck; Peter Brozik; David Dewitt; Spencer Nichols
