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Grand Bend's Nitro Invasion
Mark Ackert - June 20, 2008
If Nitro is your thing, Grand Bend Motorplex in mid-June was the place to get your fix.
 Friday's test session included some of the Nitro Harley’s who would be competing in the weekend’s Top Fuel race. Todd Paton’s Tim Horton’s sponsored Top Fuel dragster was also out testing with Tim Boychuk at the wheel on Friday’s session as well as a handful of other competitors which included the gorgeous Fuel Altered of Todd MacMillan. Saturday's weather started out wet but cleared up and turned out to be a great day for racing allowing competitors the rare chance to compete under blue skies. Saturdays action included, Nitro Harley qualifying, a Top Sportsman/Top Dragster make up race, CanAm Stock/Super Stock's as well as a full Thunder Series race.
 Joe Grabec from North Boxton would end up taking the win in Top Sportsman running 8.49 at 154mph on his 8.38 dial defeating Tom Stuart who ran 7.82 on a 7.75 dial. Top Dragster winner Jayde Atkinson of Bright's Grove, ON, ran a stout 7.92 on a 7.90 dial to defeat TJ Schippling who ran 7.69 on a 7.65 dial. CanAm S/SS would see a familiar face in the winners circle as Rob Becker stayed consistent all day running 10.04 on a 10.03 dial to take the win over Colin Wigle who ran 9.47 on a 9.38 dial.
Competitors in the Nitro Harley class were welcomed with enthusiasm from the excited crowd. During qualifying numerous runs in the 6-seconds zone got the crowd even more pumped up for Nitro. The rumble of Harley Davidson motorcycles could be heard Sunday morning as the gates would open up for the annual Rocky’s, Harely’s by the Beach. One of the more popular events of the year, people pack the stands to watch everything from a bone stock Sportster right up to the insane Nitro gulping Top Fuel Harleys. Along with all the racing action, there is also a large number of bikes competing in the show and shine which was eventually won by Mike Dennis and his beautiful Custom Harley Bagger. Most competitors in the Top Fuel ranks made the trek from Western Canada . Alberta and British Columbia have an abundance of racers in the Nitro ranks but very few from this area compete in the class. Rob Brown is one of the local racers that has been running a fuel bike for a while now. Last year, Brown debut his new Top Fuel Harley and has been working on getting the set up dialed in. While on a licensing pass, Brown was able to click off an 8.50 on his last run of the weekend. Still having some gremlins to work out, it is a step in the right direction for the team as they work to get things figured out. Kevin Boyer is one of the Western competitors that made the long journey to Grandbend to compete. His 2001 Puppet Chassis Fuel bike was originally built for the late Jim "The Judge" McClure. Boyer started out the long journey from Edmonton, Alberta by hitting a moose which damaged the front end of his hauler. Unfortunately for Kevin, he would not make it to the line for round number after one of the wheels came off of his wheelie bar while pulling into the burnout box. Relying so much on the bars to keep the bike under control, only having one wheel could have resulted in the bike making an undesired move towards the wall so he wisely shut it down. Still in good spirits, Kevin fixed the problem and came out to make a test hit after the second round was completed. Wanting to put on a good show, he even found time to wave to the fans in the beer garden while doing his burnout.
 A quick moving system came through the area dropping rain on the track which delayed racing action for a couple hours. While waiting for things to dry out, host of BikerTV, Heather Ireland could be seen wandering through the pits signing autographs for her fans. Heather was even nice enough to stop by Boyer's pit and hop on his Fuel Harley for a few pictures. When the track finally dried out, the Top Fuel finals would match up Ron Houniet of Mission, BC against Damien Cowden of Victoria, BC. The final would be a solo pass giving Houniet the easy win. Not wanting to damage any components on the bike, Cowden wisely chose to pass on the final round after noticing something strange while cracking the throttle before pulling into the burnout area. In the semi’s Cowden would run a stout 6.664 at 212mph but unfortunately he would experience brake fade that would not allow him to get the bike stopped in time resulting in him entering the sand trap.
The sand trap is in place at the end of the race track to stop a vehicle quicker in case such an incidence takes place. Sometimes the sand which is their to help in an emergency sometimes finds its way into area's of the vehicle that it shouldn't be in. All and all, the weekend was a great success with lots of great racing along with mostly cooperative weather. With each passing year, Rocky's Harley’s by the Beach increases in popularity so next years event should be one you make sure to check out.
Photos by: Mark Ackert
Thunder Series (June 14)
TOP
Champion – John Carter, Arva, ON – 67 Pontiac Acadian
R/U – Ed Smith, LaSalle, ON – 02 Undercover
STREET
Champion – Bob Orr, Bayfield, ON
R/U – Nick Brand, Crediton, ON – 98 GTP
MOD
Champion – Steve Doornbosch, Forest, ON – 1968 Firebird
R/U – Will Steckley, Milverton, ON – 80 Charge r
BIKE/SLED
Champion – Ian Washington, Sarnia, ON – 2001 Hayabusa
R/U – Randy Hope, London, ON
TOP SPORTSMAN
Champion – Joe Grabec, North Boxton – 81 Camaro
R/U – Tom Stuart, Blenheim, ON – 68 Camaro
TOP DRAGSTER
Champion – Jade Atkinson, Bright’s Grove, ON – 2007 Bos Red
R/U – T J Schippling , London, ON
S/SS
Champion – Rob Becker, Pt Colborne – 87 Camaro
R/U – Colin Wigle, Amherstburg – 05 Mustang
HARLEY ET
Champion – Paul Guerrieri, Kingsville – 03 V-Rod
R/U – Tim Burridge, London, ON
June 15 - Harley's By the Beach
BIKE/SLED
Champion – Randy Hope, London, ON
R/U – Brad Prong, Carlisle, ON – 03 Honda
HARLEY BIG TWIN
Champion – Dave O’Keefe, London, ON
R/U – Scotty McBride, London, ON – 89 HD Sportster
HARLEY DESTROYER
Champion – Mike Duncan, Arva, ON
R/U – #3, No Show
HARLEY ET
Champion – Nathan Wymenga, New Hamburg, ON – 08 Buell 1125R
R/U – Dave O’Keefe, London, ON – 2000 Electric Glide
NITRO HARLEY
Champion – Ron Houniet, Mission, BC
RT .136, ET 6.829, MPH 198.28
R/U – Damien Cowden, Victoria, BC
ODA HARLEY DEALER CHALLENGE
Champion – Steve Stone, Thunder Road Harley Davidson
R/U – Paul Guerrieri, Kingsville, ON – 2008 HD V-Rod
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