The Mission Raceway Park 2009 season is a go.....let's burn some rubber!!!
So here it is, after a long winter knee deep in rain and snow. We kick off the drag race season with the NHRA Summit Series with the headline class being the Canada West Door Slammers, ground pounding door cars that eclipse the 1/4 mile in the range of 8.70 or quicker, including some six second cars! Add to that bill the likes Super Pro, Pro, Bikes, Hot Rods, Jnr Drags, Super Combo, and of course BC SuperShifters and you have a recipe for some great racing.I was pleasantly surprised by how full the pits were, with all the economic gloom going around I figure more regulars to be missing than there were. The weather was kind and held off and we got some cars running on the new surface. All reports I heard was how it was real nice and smooth and that there wasn't a real groove they had to keep in for a good run, however, being new asphalt oil downs took a while longer to clean up and there were a couple of dragsters that seemed to get a little out of shape at the transition. But all-in-all it is a much needed improvement and as the track gets more use it will be great.
As for me, I'm going to try and bring a little more flavor to my images this year, with more faces behind the wheel, more focus on cool body lines and graphics all mixed in with plenty of tire smoke big wheelies and the odd flame. I am hoping to take you and stick right in the action and put a smile on your face along the way. I will be putting a small collection together in these blogs and a larger gallery in the usual place so there will be something for everyone. I do hope you enjoy what I do. So without further ado, here is my first small collection of '09 and the larger gallery will be here. Race results can be found here at the Mission Raceway site
The winner in Canada West Door Slammers was Rod Charlton in the sweet S-10
Brian Ritchie gettin' some air off the line
Martin Dykstra haulin' in Super Pro
Dean Bettenson primes his Camaro for a qualifying pass in Door Slammer
Dan Tempel getting out on Al Omond
Kim Cornish waiting in the lanes in the newly painted Mustang
OK so I know this guy's name was Mike, but I really don't know much about the cool red Mustang putting some test passes in and running in the 8's
KC warming the tires.
Mike's mad Mustang
Dwayne Wipf in a very cool Super Pro Challenger checking his position as he lines up
Dave Jung is running consistently strong in Pro
Another shot of Martin Dykstra as he burns out
Dan Parsons gettin' up and at 'em in Super Pro 
Kevin Lance in Door Slammer running a sweet Chev
Stefan Kondolay is ever dominant in Super Pro
Randy Arlit has one of my favorite cars in D/S, this being a sister car to Kevin Lance
An all Chev match up in Super Combo, with Pete Bereditsch in the near lane
Hot Licks!
Miss Super Shifter takin' names and dishin' out numbers
This Super Stock Camaro was out testing in preparation for the upcoming LODRS race
Pro Bracket racers waiting patiently while some oil is cleaned up
Grant Howell's 08 Championship winning Chev waiting in the lanes under the watchful eye of the Boss
Warren Jacobson has step out of the dragster and now runs this sweet door car in Super Combo
You have been cleared for take off!
CWDS airing their dirty laundry
RC burning out his Chev truck on route to picking up some more points
Jack Springer will be a hitter, at least, in the burnout contest if nothing else
"it's OK dad, there'll other races......"
And your winner is.....Rod Charlton
A familiar stance for this cool little 'vette
Kayla Allen has made the transition from Jnr Drags into the ex-Warren Jacobson S/C dragster.
KK smokin' the 'bird
Kim staring the track down before she lays a beating on the blacktop
Pete Bereditsch in the Super Street Camaro
MRP fixture Lloyd filing some of his many thousands of images
Cars are built, raceday is finally here, some final checks, line 'em up!
Fred Pleines in his super-fine Camaro mixes it up in Super shifter
Terry Spargo wrestling the Chevy off the line.
Fred is at it again...
TLD hasn't been able to get the Willys going strong so far in 2009, it's just a matter of time before those front wheels once again see some air.
Smoked Barracuda, mmmm....
Doug Rathburn's visor always makes a good reflection
New injection meant more air in the engine and more air under the front wheels for Bill Clifford
Brad Vinje is always strong in Super Combo
More cool visor reflections
Brian Kikel burns out in an ex-Spargo slammer
Dave Warren pulls the front up in his door slammin' V8 beetle
"Dad, can't we get a tow vehicle like everyone else?"
Flying 'eh' 
Top photog and track rep for top sponsor and friend to many teams, Bill Jeffery applys another 'Jet Equipment' decal to a race car
Presenter of the CWDS race was Ken Kruger seen here charging off the line along side Terry Spargo
Lovely paint.
One of the coolest cars at the track doing the coolest burnout.....cool!
SK burning out
Checking out the grill
When I took this shot the shadows were making quite a contrastie look, so I pushed the blacks a bit more and got this pretty cool image.
The intensity of the motorcycle class is just unbearable at times
A Jim Behnke lift off in the 'cuda S/P
Brian Ritchie getting some traction
Martin Dykstra heads on a pass under the watchful eyes of the competition
Vicki Strell heats the Demon's hides on route to an early exit from competition. 
Brett Payne keeping the front wheel down on this run
Darryn O'Connor gets a good leave in the Chev truck in doorslammer action
Randy Arlit charging off the line in the shoebox.
A couple of very cool rides.
I think it's gonna be a smokin' hot season of racing at MRP!Thanks for taking time to check my images out. A larger gallery can be seen here or via my website here
Posts
