News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By Cailin Cousins

Thunder Mountain Speedway hosted the annual Memorial Day Races on Saturday night which began with the all the drivers on the track at once performing a 'Black Flag lap'.  The 'Black Flag lap' allows racers and race fans to pay tribute to fellow racers who have passed away. 

The racers being remembered were #31 Lenny Todd, #57 Trever Fisher, #60 Darren Pye. Also represented were #44 Ernie Engemoen, volunteers Chris Hawkins and Rick Horner, all of whom all passed away within the past two years. There were also racers of seasons long past, #56 Gerry Westwick and #95 Al Price.

(Photo by Darlene Doskoch.  See video at the bottom of this article.)

It was good, hard, competitive racing the whole night.  The six Bone Stocks ran nose to tail during their man event, as did the Pro Minis until the very last lap when a crash put the leader and another car out of the race.

The main heat winners were as follows:
Bone Stocks: Sean Bruce
Thunder Stocks: John Haynes
Heartland Toyota Pro Minis:  Allen Roberts
Street Stocks: Derek Christianson

Possibly the scariest moment of the night came when the Thunder car of Brad Bednarz (#16) came out of corner number two, blew an engine and dumped a 6-foot wide path of oil down the back straight away all the way to corner number three.  Points leader Jesse Fisher came into corner number three pretty hard, found the oil, slid, hit the wall and did a significant amount of damage to the #35 car.  "It was an incredibly hard hit," said track president Marius Dunford. "Everyone was thankful Jesse was fine."

(Photo by Leanne Kunka.)

14-year-old rookie driver Donny Kunka in his 2000 Honda Civic stole the show by setting a new track record during the timed trials of the Bone Stock Mini class. The track record that Donny beat was set by Marius Dunford in 2007. 

"Donny was disappointed early in the evening on Saturday because his car just wouldn’t run,” said his grandmother, June Kunka. “It would go and then die, go and then die repeatedly.  A few people helped Donny work on it, and finally Arnie said that it seemed to be a vacuum problem. They loosened the gas cap and the car ran fine!”

June said that it was neck-and-neck competition in Donny’s class during the main, adding that it was an 'awesome race'.

Donny is a third-generation racer, following in the tire tracks of his father, Arnie, who has set many track records at the Speedway, as well as his grandfather Don who raced in the 70s and 80s.  "Don (Sr.) is considering putting a car together for next season so that all three generations can be on the track at the same time," suggested June.

Season by season local stock car racing seems to be witnessing a trend of younger racers moving up through the classes.  Currently Donny Kunka is in a group of peers such as 14 year old Danny Lussier, 14-year old Paige Lennox and 15-year old Allen Roberts, who are all new to racing this season.   "Every racer, no matter what series or style of car, had to start somewhere," said track president Marius Dunford.  "We encourage youth to get involved in local racing.  It keeps kids off the street, keeps them busy, teaches them humility and it gives them something to look forward to week after week."  Marius went on to explain that racing may not be as expensive as some people think, adding that the Bone Stock Mini class is specifically geared towards first-timers.  "Although some kids get a break with cars handed down from generation to generation and a built-in pit crew with experience, others learn that there is plenty of support to go around amongst the other racers within the club."

Race fans have one more chance to support both 'newbie' and seasoned drivers alike during the season points final championship on September 18.  The following day is the season end, with an action-packed Crash to Pass event a smoke show competition and a King of the Hill (run-what-you-brung) competition.

(Video of the black-flag lap taken by club volunteer, Darlene Doskoch.)

 

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