DEMO CARS, CLAIMERS, DEMO TRUCKS, MINI FIGURE 8’s and MINI VANS
June 28th, 2008
Fireworks On and Off the Track:
Langford, BC, June 28, 2008:
Western Speedway hosted a full card of Demo racing and Canada Day fireworks for a capacity crowd at the Langford oval Saturday night. Some fans had to be turned away as warm summer sunshine brought out people in full force to watch the Demo Cars, Demo Trucks, Mini Vans, Figure 8s, and the Claimers demonstrated their own brand of fireworks on the track. Several cars and trucks flew the Canadian flag and even Trophy Girls Lauren and Alicia wore red and white for this special event.
David Dewitt became the first driver to roll his Mini Van as he got tapped as he was going through the tires and over he went. As soon as he had four tires back on the asphalt, he fired up the truck and continued the race. As the race took its toll on the other competitors, Dewitt grabbed the lead and went on to win the Heat. The toll was so great that only Dewitt and Robin Trotter were up to the challenge in the Main event. Trotter got the win with Dewitt second.
David Cates took a hard hit in the Demo Truck Heat slamming into the turn one wall head on after a hit from another driver. Cates suffered a shoulder injury as the seat belt became tight in the collision and he may be sore for a bit but fortunately nothing was broken. Mark Keeler returned to the Demo Truck class and promptly set fast time and a new track record, placed second in the Dash, won the Heat race, and the Feature event. He and his crew worked until close to midnight in order to get the truck ready to run. He stated that he will compete for the remainder of the season.
The Mini Figure 8 Series had Shawn Hitchings place first in the Trophy Dash and the Heat race. During the Feature, however, the attrition rate was so great that only a couple cars remained running at the finish. There was some confusion as to the finish order and it was determined that Wayne Jackson had several laps on the field and declared the winner with Brad Watkins taking the second spot.
Mike Noyce and Brian Wakelin started in the last row for the start of the fifteen lap Feature for the Claimer Series. Both drivers wasted little time going three wide trying to get to the front. Noyce battled side by side with Paul Verhagen for several laps before he got the edge and went on to win. Verhagen held on for second with Wakelin coming home in third.
The Demo Car Feature had its share of fireworks as cars and drivers were spinning five deep and on each corner. Several contenders had to pit for mechanical troubles and or tires that included Doug Richens and Kirk Peacey. When the dust settled after fifteen laps, Dr. Death Keith Hansen was the victor followed by Bill Koenders and George Haywood.
Five cars took part in a Total Destruction event with the last car moving was declared the winner. That honor fell on B.J. Veldt keeping the front end away from the big hits that can cripple and engine while dishing out punishing hits on the rest of the field.
The finale was the annual fireworks display and the fans were very appreciative for the fifteen minutes or so bringing the end to the early Canada Day festivities. The next race is another in the Thursday Night Thunder with the Hornets and the Bumblebees.
CLAIMER CLASS:
FAST TIME: #44 Michael Noyce 20:563
DASH: Brian Wakelin; Michael Noyce; Matt Verhagen;
Kevin Knight
1st HEAT: Jared Soberg; Erik Fournier; Ron Begg; Ali Thornton
2nd HEAT: Paul Verhagen; Michael Noyce; Sam Hunt; Bill Lushaw
MAIN: Michael Noyce; Paul Verhagen; Brian Wakelin;
Kevin Knight; Ron Begg
DEMO CAR CLASS:
FAST TIME: #15 Kirk Peacey 20:737
DASH: Kirk Peacey; Dean Mackney; Keith Hansen; Joe Liberatore
HEAT: Robin Trotter; Bill Koenders; Marty Hansen; Mike Makow
MAIN: Keith Hansen; Bill Koenders; George Haywood;
Marty Hansen; Joe Liberatore
DEMO TRUCK CLASS:
FAST TIME: #42 Mark Keeler 20:676 (New Track Record)
DASH: Barry Morrison; Mark Keeler; Bill Stidson; David Cates
HEAT: Mark Keeler; Barry Morrison; Andy Timms; Bill Stidson
MAIN: Mark Keeler; Aasen Baker; Bill Stidson; Richard Milne;
Barry Morrison
MINI FIGURE 8 CLASS:
FAST TIME: #77 Kyle Ridley 15:401
DASH: Shawn Hitchings; Kyle Ridley; Brad Watkins; Sean Welch
HEAT: Shawn Hitchings; Wayne Jackson; Jeff Foley; John Earl
MAIN: Wayne Jackson; Brad Watkins; Kyle Ridley; Sean Young;
Jeff Foley
MINI VAN CLASS:
FAST TIME: #28 Robin Trotter 24:529
DASH: Jeff Foley; Robin Trotter; Chris Devoe; Larry Mansen
HEAT: David Dewitt; Chris Devoe; Robin Trotter; Jeff Foley
MAIN: Robin Trotter; David Dewitt
TOTAL DESTRUCTION EVENT:
WINNER: #53 B. J. Veld
