Bill Hartford was having trouble cutting lights at last month’s race card at Eagle Motorplex in Ashcroft.
The 49-year-old reached 110 miles per hour on the quarter-mile track, but also had serious problems stopping.
“My brake pedal shot up in the dashboard and my heart was thumping,” said Hartford, who made some quick adjustments to save a crash.
The 2013 Super Pro drag racing champion at Thunder Mountain just east of Kelowna, Hartford will smoke his yellow 1972 Buick tires the rest of the season at Thunder Mountain.
He would love to see some new race fans from the North Okanagan attend the weekend cards. The street drags go today (July 11) with racing also Saturday and Sunday.
There are other races scheduled for July 25-27, Aug. 22-24 and Sept. 5-7.
“Come wander through the pits and talk to the drivers,” said Hartford, who works on the road crew for the District of Coldstream. “If you see me in my pit and I’m not busy, stop in and say ‘hi.’ I’ll let you climb inside the car. Getting out is the fun part.”
The Friday night street drags are for anyone with a valid driver’s licence and helmet. The big boys come out to play the rest of the weekend.
“Drag racing is very fast-paced sport,” said Hartford. “There is a lot of physics involved. Put this event on your Bucket List. I did and now I’m hooked.”
Hartford is sponsored by Lordco Parts after racing for Aamco Transmissions, Hilltop Tirecraft and Sutton Realty last season.
