It is official: winter is gone with the start of drag racing at the Grand Bend Motorplex
Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series are making last minute preparations for the 2014 opener.
This year the three series will kick off their seasons at the Grand Bend Motorplex for the RPM Magazine / Lucas Oil MAYHEM at the BEND Presented By Mickey Thompson Tires May 16-18.
It has been a long cold winter and we are getting ready for the opener, stated Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for all three series. Everyone has had enough of the winter and can’t wait to get on the track May 16.
The PMRA Pro Modifieds will celebrate a milestone when they take to the Grand Bend quarter-mile as this year marks their 10th anniversary. The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, will enter its sixth season, and the PBSS will mark its fourth year.
Running heads-up drag racing, the PMRA presents the popular Pro Modifieds in a wide variety of body styles and engine combinations with cars capable of quarter-mile recordings less than six seconds at over 240 mph. Two classes of cars, the Top Dragster, and Top Sportsman (door-cars) comprise the Quick 32 Sportsman Series with 16 cars on each side competing and then the two side eliminators running against each other in an event final through a dial-in, indexed format.
Cars of many shapes and sizes compete, with carburetor, turbocharged, or supercharged engines. Speeds can easily surpass 200 mph, but all cars must qualify with a minimum 7.95-second posting to make the field.
Comprised of Pro Bikes and Pro Sled machines, the PBSS, presented by Wiseco Performance Products, operates similar to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series with an indexed dial-in procedure and must produce a 9.99-second run to qualify. Machines are built solely for competition, and are capable of running down the quarter-mile in about eight seconds at 150 mph.
Three competitors who plan on racing opening day are the 2013 champions from each series. In the PMRA, Rocky Di Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario will be returning, as well as the Quick 32 Sportsman Series team of Wilson and Gray from Ingersoll, Ontario with their Top Sportsman entry. The third champion ready for opening day is Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ontario, with his Pro Bike entry.
Qualifying for RPM Magazine / Lucas Oil MAYHEM at the BEND Presented By Mickey Thompson Tires gets underway May 16 at three pm with two qualifying sessions scheduled.
Qualifying continues Saturday May 17 for two more sessions, complemented by runs of the Chicago Rush Jet Dragster and elimination rounds in the Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series.
Round one of eliminations for the PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and PBSS gets underway Sunday, May 18 at 11:15 am with final round eliminations to take place later at five pm.
4The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca enters its 10th season of popular Pro Modified racing this year, while the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca will begin its sixth season, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) presented by Wiseco Performance Products, www.PBSS.ca begins its fourth year of operation. Several times during the race season all three series compete at the same weekend events, offering a colourful, diverse, and exciting package of drag racing action.
The 2014 season for all three series opens May 16-18 at the Grand Bend Motorplex with the running of the RPM Magazine / Lucas Oil MAYHEM at the BEND Presented By Mickey Thompson Tires.
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PMRA.ca
Photo Credit: Brad Turk and Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com
