PMRA to open season May 15-17 at Toronto Motorsports Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PMRA to open season May 15-17 at Toronto Motorsports Park

New teams, new cars, and a Massingberd tribute highlight two-day event

CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 10, 2009) – The fifth season of the Pro Modified Racing Association gets underway this coming weekend, May 15-17 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park, and the opening show will present some of the best in this popular drag racing division.

The Victoria Day Weekend Challenge is the first stop in the seven race tour for 2009. With speeds up to 240 mph and quarter-mile times in the low six-second range, the PMRA offers fans exciting and colorful racing competition.

Several of the PMRA teams will be competing with new cars, including 2008 Champion Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, with his 1967 Chevy Nova. Other PMRA members with new Pro Modifieds include Maple, Ontario’s Ralph Andreacchi with a 1963 Corvette, Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario also with a 1963 Corvette, and Jeff Roth of Kitchener, Ontario, with a 1941 Willys.

The PMRA will also feature several new teams in the series. Joining the tour at Cayuga will be Michigan’s Jason Kalso with his 1971 Barracuda, and Pete Farber of Massachusetts with a 1969 Dodge Charger.

The Waterloo, Ontario team of Al Hinds and Gary Irving will be back with their 2004 Corvette, as well as Eric Latino of Scarborough, Ontario with his 1938 Chevy coupe, Joe Boniferro from Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Grainy Brothers from North Tonawanda, New York and Mark Nielsen’s stout entry from Brantford, Ontario who holds the PMRA fastest speed record at 237.30-mph.

The PMRA will headline the two-day event, which will include racing in the new Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, which features dragster versus door-slammer action with quick six and seven-second cars, a round in the TNT Super Series, and a round in the popular Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series.

There will also be a tribute for the late John Massingberd, producer and host of Raceline Radio. John contributed greatly to the sport over the years, and a special ceremony in his honor will take place at Cayuga on Sunday, just prior to the start of final eliminations.

Also on hand for the Victoria Day Challenge will be Jet Cars, the Harley Davidson Destroyers, and Bracket Racing.

As one of the veterans in Jet Car racing, Al Hanna will debut his Firebird Jet Funny Car at Cayuga with Ken Hall at the wheel. Second-generation driver Rich Hanna and his “First Strike” Jet Funny Car will also be competing. This car has run at over 290 mph and is recognized as the fastest car in the class.

The track will also have a fireworks show to compliment the racing. A video DJ will also be on hand during the weekend.

Playing new rock along with the best of the classics, the group Trainwreck will perform May 16.

Qualifying for the two-day event gets underway Saturday, May 16, at 2:00 pm, with other sessions at 4:30 and 7:00 pm. Elimination rounds start Sunday May 17 at 1:00 pm.

The PMRA, www.PMRA.ca, will compete at several drag strips in 2009, including dates at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, starting with the season opener on May 16 and 17, June 13 and 14 and the season-closer on September 19 and 20, at St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta, Ontario on July 11 and 12, and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex at the 10th Annual MOPAR Canadian Nationals July 17 to 19, the Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts presents Hot August Nationals August 8 and 9 and on September 5 and 6.

Several of the PMRA events will be run in conjunction with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, offering fans a great show of drag racing.

For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher Bruce@PMRA.ca

About the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA):

The Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca, was organized late in 2004, started racing operations in 2005, and is entering its fifth year of operation in 2009. The PMRA is a self-governing organization with input from its teams, and adheres to the technical and safety rules as outlined by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The series has event venues in Ontario, Quebec, and New York State.

Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class is one of drag racing’s most exciting and colorful classes, offering a diverse group of race cars with different types of 2,500-horsepower supercharged, nitrous powered and turbocharged engines.

Combining classic body styles and modern equipment, constructors are permitted, within established rules and parameters, to modify and enhance the cars in both appearance and performance. The cars are fuelled by gasoline or methanol, propelling them down the quarter-mile in low six-second times at over 200 miles per hour. The PMRA provides drag race fans the opportunity to see, hear, and experience the popular Pro Modifieds, known as "the world's fastest door slammers".

Photo Credit: Mike Goodwin - www.mgdigital.ca