PMRA at Toronto

Roth, Aiken and Stewart start season with wins

Words by Bruce Mehlenbacher
Photos courtesy PMRA

The opening events of the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, and the PBSS presented by Wiseco Performance Products were held during the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge (May 19-20) at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park. This is the first of six events for the three drag racing series this year.

Taking the PMRA race was Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ont. Dan Aiken Jr. of Belle River, Ont., captured the Quick 32 Sportsman Series event, and the PBSS win went to Pete Stewart of Toronto, Ont.

Driving the Roth Racing 1942 Willys Pro Modified, Roth, who qualified number two, took the victory in the final against former PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ont., who red lighted in the final. Roth achieved a personal best over the weekend with his first sub six-second run, qualifying number two with a 5.999-second, 238.24-mph attempt behind Boland’s number one 5.984, 237.67.

Semi-finalists for the race were Rob Atchison of London, Ont., and Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ont.

Dan Aiken Jr.

The Top Sportsman entry of Aiken bested the Top Dragster of Mike Everitt of Stratford, Ont., in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final. The Top Sportsman cars race in a 16-car field, as do the Top Dragsters, and the winner of each is paired in an event final. Aitken ran a 7.184, 192.38 with his Mustang over Everitt’s 6.916, 187.18 pass. Aitken, who qualified sixth, eliminated former Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ont. in the Top Sportsman final, and Everitt, who qualified ninth, eliminated Michael Kalin of Niagara Falls, New York in the Top Dragster final.

Pete Stewart of Toronto, Ont., won his first PBSS event, besting Chris Bondi of Aurora, Ont., in the final. Stewart, who qualified sixth in the field, ran a 9.499, 143.22 on his Pro Bike GSXR as Bondi, on a Skidoo Pro Sled, fouled in the race.

In qualifying, Boland set the pace in the PMRA with a 5.984-second, 237.67-mph posting. Qualifying number two was Roth with a 5.999, 238.34 run, while Jack Grainy of North Tonawanda, New York, qualified third with a 6.149, 229.63 in his 1967 Chevy Camaro.

Bruce Boland

Two-time Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion Kevin Wicke qualified number one on the Top Sportsman side of the series. Wicke drives a 2006 Dodge Stratus and posted a 6.787, 203.12. Qualifying second was Darryl McMillen of Goderich, Ont., with his 1963 Corvette at 6.938, 199.49, and the 1968 Camaro of Mike Digby of Stirling, Ont., placed third with a 6.960, 199.97.

Taking number one spot in Top Dragster was James Lichty of Linwood, Ont., with a 6.325, 202.67. Rick Kopp of Burlington, Ont., qualified second with a 6.550, 215.55, and Scott Wildgust of Wartburg, Ont., qualified third with a 6.572, 206.10.

John Orfanidis

Qualifying number one for the PBSS season opener was John Orfanidis of Toronto, Ont., who posted a 7.872, 172.59 on his 1992 GSXR Pro Bike entry. Kevin McKay of Ingersoll, Ont., qualified second with a 8.042, 160.56 on his Pro Bike GS, and Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ont., qualified third with a 8.141, 154.51 on his Suzuki.

Next race in the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the PBSS will be the Summer Showdown June 8-9 at US 131 Motorsports Park at Martin, Michigan.

The PMRA www.PMRA.ca events are run in conjunction with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), www.PBSS.ca.