The seventh annual Kam-busters Racing Association's Prairie Thunder Drag Races, held at the Yorkton airport climaxed the Yorkton motorsport weekend. When the event began seven years ago, says Kambusters president Brad Bloodoff, there were a couple of cars which ran in the six to seven second range. This year saw cars running in the four second range.
The event, which saw some 160 entries in the four base car classes, junior dragsters, bikes, sleds and feature classes.
The four base classes include the trophy class which is for the basic first time racers, street class, for serious competitors, the modified ET for the hard core racers and the the top comp class for the drivers who spend the most on their cars.
Yorkton's track is an eighth mile track, Bloodoff points out. "We call it airport racing. The guys love the eighth mile because it's quick," he says.
The annual event is typically held on the third weekend in July. It's tied in with the autosport weekend which starts with the Fox FM Cruise Night.
This year the Yorkton Kambusters boast about 25 members who are drag race enthusiasts. Some race only at the Yorkton race meet. Others travel to Minot, North Dakota, Saska-toon, Gimli, Mani-to-ba and other places to race their cars.
"It's been an amazing day. We've enjoyed the 24 degree temperature compared to the 35 stuff we usually have," Bloodoff closes.
For many attending the Prairie Thunder Drag races in Yorkton are more than simply a competitive sporting event. Racing also becomes social and family affair.
Leslie Borden, wife of Darrell Webb of Edmon-ton who campaigns a blown alcohol pro-nostalgia funny car, also participates in campaigning the car. Generally the duo race in Western Canada, including Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. This year they plan to add Manitoba and some of the northern U.S. races.
While she doesn't actually drive the car down the track, Borden is an important part of Webb's four person crew. All have their assigned responsibilities.
She packs the parachute for the car and buckles him into his seat before the race. "He very seldom gets me mad because I'm the one with the brakes," she chuckles.
She takes an active part in overhauling the car during the offseason winter months. Everyone of the crew has a part and they're all important roles, Borden states.
It takes a fair bit of money to campaign a car all season. Probably the biggest expense is overhauling the engine. Every other year the pistons and/or rods are replaced.
That, combined with machining, can run anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 over the winter.
While racing, there are travelling expenses, food, accommodation and flights for the crew. Problems such as engine failure during the racing season can double the winter maintenance budget. While they don't run in many events each season, the costs can reach $35,000 to $40,000 for the year, Borden explains.
Sponsors are huge help with racing expenses, she notes.
Some of the recreational racers probably spend a little less to campaign their cars while top fuel competitors can run into the millions, Borden estimates. "We're not even going to go there," she declares.
While Borden says she prefers to work on the outside of the car rather than getting in to drive it, she says she also enjoys attending drag race meets. The races become a social event as many of the couple's friends also participate in the races. One member of the group has the words, "Our drinking team has a racing problem," stencilled on the back of his trailer, Borden points out with a chuckle.
When the couple does have an occasional weekend off they also like to do some camping, she closes.
