|
Stratford Spectacular -- The Moose Breaks Loose!
Mark Ackert - July 18, 2007
One race that many fans, especially those coming from the Stratford area, always look forward to is the Stratford Spectacular that is held at Grandbend Motorplex religiously every season. The event has lots to offer whether it be the exciting classes in its drag racing program, shuttle rides back and forth to the beach or even live bands playing for the packed house. The Stratford Spectacular always delivers the goods.
Rain put a damper on things Saturday but with the possibility of clearing skies the show was delayed, not cancelled. By late afternoon the sky had cleared and the track staff were busy drying the track so the race action could continue. The rain did force the Big Dawg Quick 8 ShootOut as well as the CanAm Stock/Super Stocks to finish their programs on Sunday instead of just being a one day show on Saturday. The ERD Big Dawg ShootOut brought out some impressive iron trying to make the cut. Pro Mod/Outlaw Street competitors Ike Mair and Dave Earhart both had their wild Camaro’s ready to take a shot at the quick 8. Jeff Roth, Jerry Bowles, the list goes on and on of top quality race cars that this shootout brings out.
On Sunday when it was down to just two, the NitroMoose/Ajax Engines sponsored 57 Chevy driven by Scotty Wildgust and the Bad Ass Altered of Tim Martin would be competing for the event title. The 57 Chevy of Kirk and Maria Silbermann has been fast this season and with Wildgust behind the wheel the team has been seeing some success especially in the PMRA series as they are currently sitting in the #3 spot. Unfortunately a .133 reaction time would not hold up against Wildgust, who’s .044 would help his slightly slower ET of 6.29 at 223mph defeat the 6.13 of Martin who went through the line at 230mph.
The Stratford Spectacular seems to draw a lot of Top Sportsman competitiors out every year. Two regular GBM Top Sportsman racers Phil Sampson in his 69 Opal RT and Kevin Wicke in his 92 Lebaron RT would find themselves in the finals. Sampson had it in tough in the semi’s against the gorgeous Cavalier of Marvin and Darrin Grubb. With the help of Mike Dennis, these guys have been deadly consistent this season. With the semi fi nal appearance the team put themselves in the #1 spot in Thunder Series T/S points. Sampson however would be the one lined up against the crowd favorite Wicke, who hails from the host city, Stratford Ontario. With near identical reaction times the pair came through the big end together but Wicke would break out running 7.257 on a 7.26 dial. Sampson dialed in at 8.40 and stopped the clocks at 8.42 to take an impressive win.
Top Dragster also gets a large turn out of racers at the Startford Spectacular. Jeff Moser would be the w inner after running a 7.901 on a 7.90 dial against Jamie Bridge who could only manage a 7.39 on his 7.35 dial.
The CanAm Stock/Super Stocks make the Startford Spectacular an annual stop for their competitive series. The high flying action carried over to Sunday where Brian Clayton and his beautiful 84 Camaro defeated Chuck Nagy and his 03 GMC Sonoma.
The Diamond Jim Jet Funny Car was also on hand to put on a fiery show for the crowd.
Photos from this event can be viewed on the Mark Ackert Photo Gallery : HERE
| 
