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Canadian Cackle Story
Scott Barrett - April 30, 2008
BCCCCS Cacklefest Kicks of Western Drag Racing Season
 Forget about celebrating the birth of spring with the scent of wild-flowers and the lilting song of the Red-Breasted Sap-Sucker, in Western Canada they blow out any left-over winter-time blahs with the cackle of a blown hemi and the sinus-searing scent of Nitro.
Continuing a 12 year motor-sport tradition show organizer Richardt Scholtz along with the able-bodied assistance of Dave Johnstone, possibly the only living human that can boast the job title, “Director of NITRO” Dave Johnstone.
The 12th annual B.C. Classic and Custom Car Show included a weekend full of Cackle-fests featuring a hand-picked group of drag racing’s living legends.
What a line-up it was, both at the “Cackle” and at the front door as hot-rodders were lined up through the foyer, outside the door, around the building and then and only then through 6 laps of stanchions and it stayed that way for most of the day!
Saturday’s crowd is rumored to have smashed the Tradex facilities single-day attendance record.
It was definitely worth the wait however with 3 shows (2 and 8:30 on Saturday – 2 p.m. on Sunday) that started with the beautiful mid-60’s Junior Fuel recreation handled by the ever-personable Jerry “the Ruth” King. (No, that is not a typo … it’s a little nick-name I gave him)
Boasting only 305 cubic inches of small block Chevy, Jerry made an impression on the crowd by tipping the can and showing what 97% sounds like. Man, did it sound crisp! Snap! Crackle! And Pop!
Next to fire was the short bodied, 392 motor-vated 1966 front-motor car originally campaigned by Ron Gorans. Ron was a Northwest pioneer in the sport whose career ran from the early 50’s to the early 70’s when he was forced to retire due to the rising cost of racing.
Sadly, Ron passed away in November of 1996 but his memory lived on with his rail bringing plenty of smiles and “plugged ears” to his appreciative fans in Abbotsford.
Next to be heard was the throaty 354 Hemi car of Bakersfield native, “The Peregrine” Wayne King. This was the 1st car that Tommy Ivo ever built and back in 1963 held the #2 spot in the nation. Wayne and partners Charlie Doss and Del Clayton were feared competitors and put many of the best “back on the trailer.”
Wayne and the car are now based in Washington state, as apparently after 3 decades of drag-racing in Southern California you couldn’t find a person who hadn’t heard his stories and fewer yet who believed them so the “Peregrine” migrated north to greener, soggier pastures.
As Wayne’s wife has so eloquently stated, “Wayne, the older you get … the faster you went!”
Satisfying the Awful Awful Fuel Altered contingent was the legendary “Bradford’s Fiat” of the world’s coolest Grandfather Randy Bradford. If it seems like Randy has been piloting this beast forever you are correct as he’s been laying “white knuckles” on this same butterfly steering wheel since 1966!
Randy and his lovely, long suffering wife, ??? were stoked at taking home the first place award for Competition vehicle which included a huge trophy, framed Hot Rod art piece and a check for $500.
As you may know Randy is still running a heavy racing schedule with the car and hit 210 m.p.h. back at the CHRR which isn’t surprising when you hear it fire. His “hundred-inch handful” was loaded for bear and had the adoring mass howling for more … and they got it.
Let’s see, we had the Peregrine, the Northwest Terror and … and … the Randy?
 Hey, when you can man-handle a Fuel Altered you don’t need a nick-name as anyone in their right mind would simply refer to you as “Sir,” and what can you say about a Fuel-Altered? This car is so hairy Randy runs it on 88% Nitro – 12 % Nair!
Last up was a racer who needs no introduction … but since I never know when to shut up you’ll get one anyway.
Wrapping up the “Cackle” was the 1971 Woody car of the “Northwest Terror” himself, Mr. Herm Petersen. Herm and his partner Sam Fitz made a habit of terrorizing everyone from Jeb Allen to Dick Lahaie, Shirley, & Big not to mention the Division 6 powerhouses of Gary Beck, Terry Capp, Gentleman Hank Johnson, Ernie Hall, Palmer & Petty and of course, the nemesis of everyone, Jerry “the King” Ruth.
In those days the Division 6 Top Fuel ranks were as good or better than anywhere else on the planet.
Look up the word “stout” in your Funk & Wagnall and you’ll probably see a picture of ol’ Herm performing a Cackle! It was belching flames and every-time he’d whack it it’d blow the first few rows of bleacher bums a foot into the air.
As Herm put it, “My car will never run on less than 85% Nitro.”
On a sentimental note the short block was prepped by the late, lamented R. Gaines Markley who traded it to Herm for use in the restoration and as Herm puts it, “I plan to have Gaines cackling as long As I do.
Herm will now be heading north to Alaska where he plies the waves as the Owner/Skipper of “Barbecue Yacht Charters.” Nice to see that Herm has gone from catching “King Ruth” to “King Salmon.”
I suppose the he’ll be taking his well-deserved trophy for 2nd place – Competition Vehicles with him. Congratulations!
Note: He may be thinking of selling his fishing operation if you’re interested give him a call!
This show is billed as, Cars, Stars and Guitars and no one was disappointed. For Saturday nights Cackle, the star of T.V.’s, Overhaulin,’ the ever-gracious Chip Foose was in the seat of Bradford’s Fiat.
I don’t know who enjoyed it more, Chip or Randy who was still sporting an ear to ear grin on Sunday afternoon. Chip was stoked by the rare experience and let us in on the scoop that he’s the owner of an old Woody car that is going to be the subject of one of this seasons’ episodes.
On a side-note Chip and his gorgeous wife Lynn totally charmed the entire left coast of Canada and people are already asking when they can return. Fabulous people and Chip is cooler than the other side of the pillow!
 Canadian Idol finalist and Country music star, the fetching Karen Lee Batten got her first snoot-full on Sunday behind the wheel of Herm’s car and not to be out-done, the King of Kustomizers, George Barris settled into Jerry King’s Jr Fueler.
It’s hard to imagine but George had never, ever fired a “digger” but this, in fact was a first-time experience and he was determined to do his best Karamasines impersonation. Unfortunately I questioned his man-hood over the P.A. which prompted George to eschew the fire mask and breathers.
That’s a lot of swagger for a guy in his 80’s and we were duly impressed with his unwavering courage. Unfortunately his heart is stronger than his mucous membranes which took quite a beating from King’s snarling small-block.
What a weekend!
All 5 of these cars put on an incredible display, packed the stands for 3 shows and helped preserve the heritage of our sport while simultaneously introducing neophytes to the wonderful, world of Nitro. It’s a beautiful place to be … if only for a weekend!
As a bonus feature this year each Cackle was followed by a fire-up of the Warhawk Jet Funny Car … on the grass! The pilot, Richard “Machine Gun” Smith out burner-pops any car I’ve witnessed in the last 40 years. Incredible!
I’m Scott Barratt by the way and it was once again my honor and pleasure to M.C. and work with such a wonderful bunch of folks. These men and their crews are a credit to the sport and are definitely some of drag racing’s treasures, don’t miss next years 13th annual ear-drum torture test, “Always in April” watch for the 13th Annual BC Classic and Custom Car Show Cacklefest in Abbotsford B.C.
Don’t be a stranger, say, “Hi!” and let us know that you saw us on DragRaceCanada!
(Gerry Frechette Photos)
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