PMRA
Hinbest Racing returns to Quick 32 Series with two-car team
Courtesy of Quick 32
ORANGEVILLE, ON – When the Hinbest Racing Team takes to the track this year in Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts competition, it will be with a two-car drag racing effort.
Team driver Michael Hinbest will continue to race behind the wheel of his Top Dragster, but the team will be complimented with the addition of a second Top Dragster entry, driven by Katie Ward.
“We plan on running both cars in the whole series,” noted Hinbest, who placed 10th in the Championship Point Award Series last season. “Katie enjoys being in a male-dominated sport, and is not easy to intimidate.”
Hinbest’s Top Dragster will receive new cylinder heads on the supercharged ERD (Engine Research & Development) powerplant, but other changes will be few for 2011, noted Hinbest.
“We will be running a relatively similar package this year,” he noted. “We’re going for consistency this year rather than horsepower.”
Hinbest qualified number one for five of six events last year in Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and put together a string of eighth and quarter-final rounds. He added that this year the team will concentrate on consistency and each member of the crew will concentrate on their duties, while he works on his driving.
Grainy Brothers return to PMRA racing for upcoming season
Courtesy of PMRA
NORTH TONAWANDA, NY – After sitting out for a season, the Grainy Brothers are returning to the Pro Modified Racing Association drag racing series.
The Western New York team will be back with the familiar two-tone 1967 Camaro Pro Modified, but the G-Force Race Cars product will feature a new powerplant.
According to driver Jack Grainy, the team will be running a new 526-cubic inch Brad Anderson engine set up by Mike Janis. Fellow New Yorker and reigning PMRA champion Mike Stawicki will be on hand assisting the team with the new engine, which will feature a new PSI screw-type Supercharger. A Lenco three-speed transmission will sit behind the new engine.
Grainy said his team had to step up to keep pace with the competition.
Canadian NHRA Pro Modified teams preparing to head to Florida
Courtesy of PMRA
Gainsville, FL – Canada will be well-represented in the NHRA Get Screened American Pro Mod Series at the upcoming NHRA Gatornationals in Florida.
Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario, Raymond Commisso of Toronto, Ontario, and Ken Lang of Grand Pointe, Manitoba will all be making the trek to Gainesville for the second race in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tour.
The Pro Mod session at Gainesville will be the first of 10 such events at selected NHRA races this year.
“It should be interesting this year with the rules changes,” noted Maier, who will be driving his 1963 Corvette Pro Mod. “The most important change is the reduction in the blower drive, and a lot of teams will be struggling to get the right combination.”
G-Force Race Cars/MSR Performance Race Team competes against the best in Qatar ADRL series
Courtesy: Tim Miller, PMRA
Photo Credit: Khalid Abdul Karim
TONAWANDA, NY – The G-Force Race Cars / MSR Performance drag racing team was honored recently by Sheikh Khalid Al Thani of Qatar in taking part in an eight-race Arabian 
Drag Racing League series in the Middle-East nation of Qatar.
Invited to participate with the top teams in the Pro Extreme class, the reigning champions of the PMRA packed up their suitcases and 1968 Firebird for the desert country from their homes in Western New York.
G-Force Race Cars / MSR Performance team members Jim Salemi, Mike Stawicki, and Jon Salemi spoke about their experiences during the three-month racing sessions, which involved a cycle of three weeks of racing in Qatar, and then two weeks back home.
The events were sanctioned by the Arabian Drag Racing League, which began operations in 2009 in a variety of doorslammer car classes, including the Pro Extreme class in which the G-Force/MSR entry competed.
Total Two-Way Radios provide PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS with event radios
Courtesy of PMRA
TORONTO, ON – Communications between officials is essential during a race weekend, and the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series is pleased to have the involvement of Total Two-Way Radio as the official communications supplier for the three drag racing series.
“We’re thankful and pleased to have Total on board with us once again,” stated Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the three series. “Our operations people are in constant communication and are able to perform their duties at one of our events much better with the help of the two-way radios.”
He added that PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series officials including the starter, spotters, announcer, control tower, staging, fire/safety/rescue, operations, and media personnel will be equipped with the Motorola professional series radios.
Steve Legare getting geared up for upcoming PMRA season
Courtesy of PMRA
TROIS-RIVIERES, QUEBEC – After a season getting his feet wet in Pro Modified Racing Association action, Steve Legare plans on making his mark in the upcoming PMRA drag racing season.
“For the 2011 season we have made lots of changes, and we’ll be ready for the first race,” he said.
The Legare Racing Team campaigns a 1968 Chevy Camaro, and Legare noted there have been many updates to the green Pro Modified for 2011. The car, which came from Finland’s Hakan Nilsson and captured the FIA world title in its class for 2004, is a Tommy Mauney car powered by a 728-cubic inch Fulton Racing Engines powerplant. Legare added the engine has received not only new heads but a complete rebuild to the bottom end, along with a lot of tweaking to the nitrous system and the Braswell Carburetors.
An AFT four-speed Lenco sits behind the big engine, and this car will be one of a handful of non-supercharged entries in the PMRA.
Leaf Racewear continues to play vital role in drag racing safety
Courtesy of PMRA
LONDON, ON – Safety is paramount in the operation of the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, and Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment plays a vital role in this important
aspect as the preferred safety equipment supplier of the three drag racing series Safety Initiative Program.
“Our Fire and Rescue Team have an important job to do at our race events,” explained Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series. “We are very grateful to Leaf Racewear, who provides us with the best in protection for this integral part of putting on a race.”
When the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series stage an event, the fire and rescue safety crew is front and center during the racing action in the event of an emergency.
“Trevor Dell and Johnny Liadis head the Fire and Rescue team for all Series, and they are skilled in their field,” Mehlenbacher continued. “Our Fire and Rescue squad along, with all the Series Officials, do a great job and work closely with the teams and supplement the venue’s emergency and safety crew at each track we participate to ensure a proper safety and emergency plan is in place to the benefit of our teams and their families, the track, the series, the sponsors and our fans. The safety of our fans, drivers and crew members is a critical priority to the Series”.
New Pro Bike & Sled Series to participate with PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series in 2011
Courtesy of PMRA
CAYUGA, ON – This new drag racing series will provide a venue for motorcycle and snowmobile racers to compete on a professional and well-organized level, and showcase the popularity of these racing machines.
For the 2011 season, the PBSS has scheduled six events, with a substantial payout for each event winner, along with prize money for the yearly championship.
“We are excited about the addition of the PBSS that will participate with the PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series,” stated Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Pro Bike & Sled Series, the PMRA and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series.
Patio Passport returns in 2011 with incentives for Quick 32 and PMRA Racers
Courtesy of PMRA/Quick 32
WOODBRIDGE, ON – Patio Passport will return to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series for 2011, offering special bonus awards in the Championship Points Award Series.
Patio Passport is also involved with the companion drag race series, the Pro Modified Racing Association in providing awards for the PMRA’s Championship Point Award Series.
“We are very pleased Patio Passport has returned to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the PMRA for the upcoming season,” said Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for both of the popular racing venues. “With the valuable help of Paul Delicata we have been able to offer our competitors another aspect in our racing.”
PMRA competitors take part in snowmobiling weekend for ALS charity
Courtesy of PMRA
HUNTSVILLE, ON – Several Pro Modified Racing Association competitors took place in the recent Team Vincent Motorsports Ride 2011 in a weekend of snowmobiling at the Delta 
Grandview Resort in Huntsville, Ontario.
The event hosted 83 riders, including PMRA racers Gary Irving, Ike Maier, and Mark Nielsen.
This year’s ride was the 29th annual event, and was held in honor of John Massingberd, formerly of Raceline Radio and Snowtrax Television, who succumbed to ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in 2008.
The event was organized by the family and staff of Team Vincent Motorsports, including Karen Ross, who is the wife of Nielsen Motorsports crew member Dave Ross.
