Medicine Hat's Colin Grimm prepares for a race in his 1971 Dodge Challenge at the local drag racing strip this weekend. -- SUBMITTED PHOTO BERNIE FREY
Hatters swept the podium in the pro and motorcycle classes at the NHRA Shootout, hosted this weekend by the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association.
Colin Grimm finished atop the pro class in his 1971 Dodge Chevell ahead of fellow Hatters Harvey Turner and Jayden Meyers, while Dave Toth rode his ’89 Kawasaki ZX10 to victory over Dennis Cotten and Zach Toth in the motorcycles event.
They weren’t the only Hatters to best their respective class. Rony Vanderberg won the sportsman event ahead of Coranchan’s Wayne Frayn, and Fort MacLeod’s Ted Buzunis. Gray Schaan defeated fellow Gas City product Kiandra Gaetz to finish first in junior thunder, and Dunmore’s Justus Schaan topped Cypress County’s Luke Munsch in junior street, followed by Medicine Hat’s Darian Dopp for third.
Redcliff’s Rick Wagenaar settled for second to Calgary’s Robbie White in the super pro event.
In other action, Calgary’s Ken Mostovich won in super comp, Regina’s Bill Cawsey took top spot in super, Manitoba’s Gareth Senkow finished first in super street and Sherwood Park’s Norman Lapointe won the ST/SST combo class.
Rounding out the weekend’s action, Calgary’s Dwaine Ringguth beat Leduc’s Reid Senio in the top drag/top sports final – while Medicine Hat’s Todd Fleck took third – Lethbridge’s Lloyd Bosch won the street car shootout, Saskatoon’s Brian Stephensen finished first in the no bar event and Maple Creek’s Kindi Opsal won in junior lightning.
MHDRA also hosted its Friday Night Street Legal races, with Hatters Gerald Beatch and Johnny Pentilla winning the bike and street events, respectively.
Beatch defeated Calgary’s Adam Hettler for the bike victory, while Pentilla bested Dunmore’s Tristan Wilk for the street win.
