Stratford Spectacular event continues at the Grand Bend Motorplex

Stratford Spectacular event continues at the Grand Bend Motorplex

Local business and racers get together to present a solid weekend of drag racing

GRAND BEND, ONTARIO (July 30, 2009) – The tradition continues at the Grand Bend Motorplex August 8-9.

Since 1996, the drag racing community of Southwestern Ontario has teamed up with the business community in presenting some of the best in local racing, and this year’s Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex promises to be a memorable show.

“The concept this year is the same as other years,” said Sam Blowes, one of the event’s organizers. “But this year it will be a bigger show.”

Started in 1996 at St. Thomas Dragway, a group of racers joined up with local businesses, providing free tickets through the businesses for a day of racing. The concept has proven very popular over the years, as merchants get behind the event in promoting the sport.

“We had no trouble in selling it,” Blowes said about the event. “With free tickets from the merchants and sponsors, the tracks went for the idea, as it brought a lot of people into the stands.”

He added that the race, which has been held at the Grand Bend Motorplex for the past 12 years, is something that everyone looks forward to, and aside from the racing, there are other auto-related activities such as car shows and cruise nights which have enhanced the weekend.

“We’re going to see (race) cars at the Grand Bend Motorplex for this show that only come out once a year,” he continued. “We’ll get upwards of 500 cars. It will be the biggest show at the track behind the IHRA Canadian Nationals. People, both racers and fans, look forward to the weekend.”

Blowes said the business community has been behind the event 100 percent providing sponsorship and free ticket packages.

Sam Blowes, who himself races a 1951 Mercury truck in Top Sportsman, said that the intent of the show will remain as it was when it started, and that is to give recognition to all drag racers.

“Racers all have the same blood,” he said, “whether they race an 18-second car or a six-second car.”

And he was appreciative of all the help that goes into an event of this magnitude.

“There’s a lot of effort that goes into this, and it couldn’t be done without the local sponsors.”

And for 2009, the show will the biggest in the event’s history.

To be held at the Grand Bend Motorplex August 8-9, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals, the eighth-mile racing event will feature the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, a four car Alcohol Funny Car Match Race, a Jet Truck, a Supercharged V8 Drag Bike, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, the Grand Bend Motorplex Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Series, plus great racing action in the Thunder series and Junior Dragster programs.

Other auto-related activities such as car shows and cruise nights will also be held, along with a fireworks display.

Complimentary spectator event tickets are available at Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts locations across Ontario, at businesses in Stratford, or by contacting the Quick 32 Sportsman Series or the Pro Modified Racing Association.

General parking is $20 per car load, and weekend camping is available.

For information about the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223 or visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at 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.

The PMRA 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, 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 Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 8 and 9 and on September 5 and 6.

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".

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.

About the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts:

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, of drag racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a regular basis.

For 2009, dates include Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, starting with the season opener on May 16 and 17 and the season-closer “Double Header” on September 19 and 20, and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex on June 27 and 28, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 8 and 9 and September 5 and 6.

With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled cars (Top Dragster) and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series will feature the best in ET-style, dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman ladder and will pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race day final.

Competitors in this Ontario-based series must comply with the IHRA Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be 7.95 seconds for the quarter-mile.

This new venture is providing $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for the annual Championship Point Award Series champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will provide large fields of race cars.

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional atmosphere for its teams. It will also provide solid media and logistic support to ensure it becomes one of the most popular drag race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster race cars.

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts will compete several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, as well as selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing.

Photo Credit: Dale Bill Mehlenbacher Photography - www.nxphoto.com and Mark Ackert - Drag Race Canada - www.dragracecanada.com