Features Page
Tired of having to hunt around the site, usually in vain, trying to find one of our "Feature" race coverage pages? Well, despair no more, as you've come to the right place this time. We'll be gradually expanding the listings here as we re-organize (for the umpteenth time) the entire website over the winter and dredge up some of those long lost or almost forgotten gems from the past.
The features will be listed in chronological order, from the
newest to the oldest, with a short description of the "what, when and
where" for each one. We hope you enjoy this addition to Northern
Thunder. Click on the pictures to access the pages.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Las Vegas, NV - April 15 -18, 2005
Like a moth that's drawn inexorably to a flame, we take a second plunge into the world of the wild, weird, and wonderful at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the annual spring rite known as the SummitRacing.com Nationals. This time we secured a photo credential (courtesy of our good friends at SpeedZone Magazine) and nearly burnt up the digital camera with nearly a thousand pics over the four days of racing and testing. For a very pleasant change, we even learned how to take action pictures of race car for the first time. Handy to know, eh?
Las Vegas, NV - October 29 - November 1, 2004
Our very first trip to that den of iniquity, Sin City, USA. Besides all the fabulous sights and scenes on the fabled Strip, the newest addition to the galaxy of wonders in the Nevada desert is The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Join us as we attend the AC-Delco Nationals.
Time to head south, but not very far south as a quick hop and a skip across the border lands usat the partly refurbished and renamed Pacific Raceway for the annualNHRA extravaganza known as the Northwest Nationals. (until they canfind someone to sell the title rights to, that is). BONUS: we've got astarting line photo pass this year.
Mission, BC, Canada - May 7-9, 2004
Another drag racing season opens at Mission Raceway with the annual Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event. Headlining this year's battle with the weather (which the track won for a change) was Mark Hentges' series of awesome 270+ mph blasts in his Top Alcohol Dragster.
Mission, BC, Canada - May 3-5, 2002
The Canadian drag racing season kicks into high gear with one of the most awaited events on the entire NHRA Divisional calendar. Combine low altitude (24 feet above sea level - at high tide!), cool temperatures, glass smooth racing surface and you've got all the ingredients to produce legendary drag races. And 400 racers from all over North America can't be wrong, can they? Check out all the action from the Top Alcohol cars (and anything else we can find time to cover) as we try -- yet again -- to bring you almost live coverage direct from Mission Raceway.
Ipswich, QLD, Australia - January 17-19, 2002
The drag racing season starts early this year with the 36th running of the Australian Nationals at Brisbane's Willowbank Raceway. Returning to South Queensland for the first time since 1991, this year's event promises some exciting performances, including the race to be first in the fives in a blown alcohol doorslammer. We'll be there bringing you all the news, pics and maybe some video from this race. Updates from the track may not be possible, but stay tuned for our on-the-road reports.
Eastern U.S.A. - August 24 - September 29, 2001
In a major departure from our normal fare, we bring you a true drag racing odyssey, courtesy of Phil Hutchison. He's travelling around the east coast for six weeks, attending all the major events and providing us with stories and pictures from them. We ran overtime on this feature: the latest (but not necessarily the last) installment was posted on January 11, 2002.
Seattle, WA - July 27-29, 2001
For the final time, we make the pilgrimage to Seattle International Raceway, for this year's edition of the NHRA Northwest Nationals. We'll be back next year for the same event, but at the newly renamed Pacific Raceways. For our look at all the action - on track and off - check out this year's report.
Mission, BC - July 21-22, 2001
The third major event of the season at Mission Raceway Park was the Canadian National Open. Featured attraction was the Nitro Thunder Trucks of Vicki Fanning and J.R. Wade, and to say they put on a heckuva show would be an understatement. Add in more than a dozen Federal-Mogul dragsters and funny cars; the Border Wars cars of Braid, Murray, et al; and the Top Comp gang, and you've got quite a drag race.
Mission, BC - June 22-24, 2001
The second part of the doubleheader FMDRS Division 6 races at Mission Raceway went off without a hitch; no rainouts, warm temperatures and great track preparation. Could the awesome show of May 4-6 be repeated in late June? You'll have to check out our complete coverage for the answer. We've posted nearly 200 photos, plus pit reports, and full results with commentary on each pass.
Ipswich, QLD, Australia - June 8-10, 2001
It sure seems like a strange time of the year to be holding the Winternationals, doesn't it? Not in Australia, mate! Join the Northern Thunder Top Alcohol Dragster team as we attempt to wreak havoc on the field in our first competitive appearance downunder. Bonus: Movies of the car in action. Even bigger bonus: Fiona and Michelle, our very own Thunder Downunder drag babes. Note: This page is still under construction.... seven months after the race.
Mission, BC - May 4-6, 2001
The first of two Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series events for the 2001 season at Mission Raceway Park. We've got the full meal deal, including an event schedule, preview story and all the results, reports and pictures from the first big event of the season in Canada.
Australia Trip - February 17 - April 2, 2001
Back downunder for the fourth time, we've got all the pictures and news from our latest adventure.... including, for the first time, the new race car actually running and on the track. NOTE: We'll be adding to this page for at least a month or two, there's that much material.
Sechelt, BC - August 12-13, 2000
The fifth annual "Sleepy Hollow Rod Run" was combined with the second drag race of the year at Sechelt's municipal airport to create a great weekend for custom car and drag racing fans. From the Saturday afternoon downtown Show 'n' Shine, to Saturday night's barbecue and party at the Sod Farm, to Sunday's drag race, it was quite a successful weekend.
Mission, BC - August 12-13, 2000
This was definitely the weekend for Nostalgia Drags as no less than four similar events took place within an easy drive of my home base. Choosing which one to attend was rather academic, as I had to work on the weekend and I have a media pass to Mission Raceway. There were more new-stalgia cars on hand than in previous years, but the on-track action was hotter than ever. We even got to see the debut performance of the only (to this point) front-engine Top Fuel dragster in Canada.
Seattle, WA - July 28-30, 2000
Finally unearthed from the smoking ruins of Wilson's ashtray and coffee grounds collection, the story that almost never was, sees the light of cyberspace. Join us as we take the highway south to Seattle's venerable (no, it's not a social disease... or is it?) International Raceway for an inside look at the NHRA Northwest Nationals. NOTE: Not for the faint of heart or weak of knees!
Mission, BC - July 21-23, 2000
The third major race of the season at Mission Raceway was a much more laidback affair than the two Federal-Mogul series events that preceded it. But the Mopac Canadian National Open provided some highlights, interesting stories and some very good racing in its own right.
Pincher Creek, AB - July 20, 2000
Unfortunately these aren't always "good news" stories as this item will show only too clearly. You won't ever believe that "getting there is half the fun" after reading this story of the Sitko Family Racing towing disaster enroute to Spokane's AHRA World Finals. However, the story does has a happy ending.
Mission, BC - June 23-25, 2000
The second Federal-Mogul series event of the season at Mission (a first for the track) saw some new faces take the limelight, and even better performances than the first edition, held barely six weeks previously. And we almost had a fairy tale ending to the event story, until Cinderella torched her slipper just before the final round. Say what? Read the story and you'll find out.
Mission, BC - May 5-7, 2000
This could be titled "The Race That Almost Never Was" as we nearly had a repeat of 1999's proverbial "weekend from hell" that never seemed to want to end. The first day of this year's edition was an almost complete washout, the second day started out damp, but the sun came out in the nick of time to allow qualifying to be completed. Then on Sunday, it was "third time's the charm" (and three cliches in one paragraph) as the sun shone brightly, the cars ran well and everyone went home happy. Well, almost everyone.
Mission, BC - March 25-26, 2000
Following the traditional opening weekend rainout, Mission Raceway roared into life with their first event of the season. Lots of new cars, neat new paint jobs and some fine early spring weather greeted the few spectators that ventured out for the season opener. Among them was yours truly with his new Canon Optura digital camera for the first serious workout with the new piece. Check out the results and read the sidebar stories.
Vancouver, BC - March 3-5, 2000
The unofficial kickoff to the Lower Mainland drag racing season is the annual Vancouver Motorsport Show. This year's edition was condensed into one building, (an ex-hockey arena) due to recent demolition of several of the previously used buildings on the show site. While the show was successful attendance-wise, much of the atmosphere of previous show's was lost in the crowded venue. And a distinct lack of race cars took much of the gloss off the event for me, but we did manage to take some pictures of the cars that were there and catch up on all the off-season gossip.
Fast Counter by LinkExchange