Armdrop Drag Racing June 20th, 2015

Armdrop Drag Racing June 20th, 2015



1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe vs
Doug Fulton, Buckhorn Ont. squares off against Joe McMinn, Lindsay Ont.

Old rivals and new friends squared off for an exciting day of Armdrop Drag Racing.

From the first race to the last, drivers squared up, man and machine to test themselves at the historic Picton Airport. Now in its 5th season Armdrop Drag racing has proven itself to be the place to be for participants and spectators alike.

Mustangs, Corvettes, Hellcats and Vipers were taking it to the strip! Hot-rods and front engine dragsters were also well represented. Many drivers came to run whoever was up to the challenge.

Ronda Robertson and Joe McMinn, Lindsey Ont.
Ronda Robertson and Joe McMinn, Lindsey Ont.

Joe McMinn, Lindsay Ont. is one such driver. A member of the Twisted Racing team he frequently surprises many of his competitors with his 1982 AMC Spirit. Win or lose Joe, in the true spirit of Armdrop Drag Racing always reaches the finish line with a smile on his face. 25 years ago he acquired his Spirit and quickly dropped a Chevrolet 350 cid engine in it. It was his daily drive for many years until it was promoted to the budget member of the TR team. It has since had its interior stripped out and a roll cage added as well as 8 3/4 rear end and 4.88 gears.

“My brother took my in his hot-rod when I was 11 years old,” said Joe McMinn. “I was hooked.”

The Twisted Racing team, based out of the Durham Region. is comprised of Bruce Clarke, Ken LaPointe, Vern McPhail, James Burke and Joe. The team was formed 12 years ago by Ken LaPointe with Mike Ansell.

Doug Fulton, Buckhorn Ont.
Doug Fulton, Buckhorn Ont.

After a forty year hiatus from drag racing, Doug Fulton, Buckhorn Ont. returned. His machine of choice is a 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe equipped with a Chevrolet 350 cid. engine. For Doug life had placed other priorities on his path. He spent 31 years in the printing business and another 10 years of repairing ATV and marine engines.

“I learned to fix cars on the fly,” chuckled Doug Fulton. “I really had no choice.”

Doug races at Shannonville Drags and Armdrop Drag Racing. Doug added a Kilduff Lightning Rod shifter and runs the Studebaker on 94 octane gasoline.

Timing display
Timing display

Though the greatest prize any racer brings home from Armdrop Drag Racing is bragging rights and the occasional trophy, like all drag racing, times are an important aspect of the experience. Thanks to Armdrop tech-guru Steve Wyatt a state-of-the-art timing system is in place. OMRON Industrial Automation Canada provided the hardware which includes sensors, Bluetooth patch antennas, computer and display. The system allows racers and participants via the track announcer to know in real-time how quick they were. The cars are staged with assistance until they break the beam of the first sensor. When the arms are dropped the sensor beam starts the timing. At the other end the second set of sensors marks the time.

quintecar.ca Best Car Trophy Winner

Bill Samuel, quintecar.ca and Jack Leslie, West Lake
Bill Samuel, quintecar.ca and Jack Leslie, West Lake

My thanks to Brian Lindensmith, Picton Cruise Nite, for taking the photo of Jack Leslie receiving his trophy and helping me to pick such a worthy winner.

 

story and photos by bill samuel