NHRA National Open July 21/22 2001 Mission Raceway

NOTE: I used the wrong batch script for these photos. They are gifs not jpegs, so are a lot bigger than they should be. Prepare for a long download. Sorry, but this would take hours to fix...hours I just do not have.

Saturday pages start here

Sunday pages start here

A long day out at a muggy MRP as the track's NHRA National Open ran until almost 8pm. We have not yet received all of the official results, but we can confirm the following:

It was all Alberta in Top Comp this weekend as Mark Campbell showed his recent Federal-Mogul win was no fluke. The Spruce Grave AB shoe took the Campbell Automotive dragster to the win getting by Moe Trejillo in the final. The pretty red dragster ran .524/7.741/168 (7.73 dial) to Moe's .549/8.163 (8.13dial).

Combo Eliminator saw Rick Pike defeating Richmond BC's Wayne Darby in the former Buck Kinney Special 1972 Chevelle. The '56 Chevy SS/NA ran a .545/11.664 on an 11.67 whilce the SS/JA 396 ragtop went .533/10.753 on a 10.79.

Eric Stroh of Gig Harbor WA won Super Comp over Randy Johnson. Stroh's dragster went .451/8.96 to the Nova's (with a complete new engine combo FYI) .449/8.883

The amazing John Peterson just keeps rolling along in Super Gas as the now very familier Grand Prix is currently the hottest Super Gasser on the west coast. It's tought to beat a .423/9912 as Tod Sims found out when his fine .465/9.931 did not do it.

Arlyn Sraiger from Federal Way took Super Street driving his BB '68 Nova to victory with a win over Brad Powell. In a perfectly stellar drag race Powell's .502/10.938 was still not as good as a .500/10.918 package. Of note here is that this race marks the second anniversary of their devastating crash at this very event. Brad's father said "It started setting in about the semis. We could win this thing" he smiled. They didn't, but they proved without a doubt they are back as good as ever. Nice job guys.

MRS KOKOMOTION UPDATE: Irene had this to say in the hospital today: "Sure is cool I gotta backup ride eh?" speaking of the Nova 'Dream' car. On the fact she could hear this weekend's races from her room; "It's music to my ears" husband Bob told us directly. She should be home from the hospital in the the next day or so. She's bruised and battered, but it doesn't appear anything major is broken or damaged badly. Great news for a great family.

Back to today at MRP: Alberta was on top again in Super Pro as Ken Fraser got the bad luck goat off his back here at MRP with a win over Tye McCann. The Bentley AB Vega ran .605/9.230 (9.18) to the '78 Malibu's .518/10.409 on a 10.41.

MRP hitter Martin Rachel was victorious in Pro defeating another Mission 'name' driver Justin Winton. Rachel' s .579/10.671 (10.60) was better than an ultra close .467/12.529 (12.49)

The big green '72 Buick of Hope BC's Lorne Ridley won Sportsman over Surrey driver Jim Reddington in his '79 Camaro .663/15.296 (15.08) to a .466 13.325 (13.29).

That's eight classes...we gotta BUNCH more yet...

Al Omond brought one of his 'old' Wallys out when the event shipment never arrived. It was a 'loaner' for all the posed trophy pics. More than a couple of unknowing winners looked at it and went. I've just won...bike?" Well they didn't but the guy who brought the trophy did. No kidding, Al Omond got by a gearbox troubled Glenn Miller who had to shut down beffore half track. Omond coasted to the win.

The steady Chris Butler from Kelowna outlasted a great field of sleds that included a number of Alberta's best. His '99 ZR went .613/11.75 (11.80) to Chilliwack's Bill Bourdon whose 2000 Polaris ran .387 (red) to a .613/11.759 (11.80).

On a day when we saw 'Border Wars' each country claimed a piece of the Junior pie. Ferndale Wa's Levi Campbell took the Oakly-sponsored '94 Spitzer to a .660/11.233 ( 11.15) to Ryan Wilson's .608/15.983 (15.80). Lightening was won by Darren Barton of Langley who defeated Julianne Mellof .577 8.854 (8.88) to her .485/8.786 (8.77).

The remaining 'feature' class results will have to come from our video as we have no written results in any of them. We can tell you however in the Pro Street Boarder Wars Don Murray won over Glen Braid who broke a timing chain on the line. So far he's the only man in NHRA with TWO Pro Street Wallys. MUCH more tomorrow on this as well as...Roger Bateman who took the Alky Shootout... and so did two other drivers (this was kinda complex...) Serge Dion and Mike Brown.

I invite you to turn to Bob Wilson who, while we waiting for "something exciting to happen" up in the eyes, got pics of Vicki's truck as it was backing up on fire...the Legend of MOO continues at northernthunder.com.