The Citizen, 2002-07-24, Page 9Hitting the dragstrip
M.J. Horbaniuk is continuing her winning ways as she enters her second year of racing at the
Grand Bend Motorplex. After three wins last year, M.J. has captured two firsts and a second
already this season. (Janice Becker photo)
Local teen tears up track
at Grand Bend Motorplex
• 24 men's • 16 women's
Entry fee: $200. men's team
$180 women's team
On site camping available!
Contacts:
Tyler Stewart at 523-9448 or
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August 8, 9, 10, 11, 2002
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2002. PAGE 9.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
The foot rests nxiously upon the
gas pedal as the lights on the
Christmas tree turn from red to
yellow then hit green. The car is off,
racing down the strip with a I5-year-
old girl behind the wheel.
For M.J. Horbaniuk of the
Londesboro area, this has become a
regular weekend activity, one fully
supported by her parents. She is a
dragracer at the Grand Bend
Motorplex.
This is Horbanuik's second season
as a racer, following in her older
sister Erica's footsteps.
The Motorplex offered junior-
dragsters for children, then two
years ago, started the TCR class
(Teen Championship Racing).
The races pit 13 to 17-year-olds
against each other as they cover the
1/8 mile track.
Not only do the drivers have to
beat their opponent, but they also
have to he concerned with not
breaking the II second minimum
time and getting as close as possible
to their own personal predicted
time.
"It is not just about speed," said
Leo Horbaniuk, the girls' father. "It
is also about timing and control."
M.J. has begun to capture wins
this season, taking a first and second
on the July 13 weekend, then earning
another first this past weekend. She
also took three first-place finishes
last season.
For her, the pleasure in racing is
just in having the chance to drive.
And what a ride she has. Her father
purchased a 1970 Chevelle when
Erica hit 16 and refurbished it for the
older sister to race. It has now
become M.J.'s car.
Leo adds that drag racing is a
family event. The entire family
spends the weekend camping at the
Motorplex while the girls race.
Because of M.J.'s age, Dad is also
very important to the racing. , He
must drive the car to the staging
lanes then back from the timing
booth.
With M.J.'s winning ways, she
By Clint Haggart
Oinion NeivA -Rccord
Flensall man, Dennis Martin, 50,
will be running in the New York City
Marathon in November.
A beet' feedlot specialist in the
agriculture and rural division of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
(OMAF), Martin was accepted on
June 27 to be one of the 30,000
athletes in the event.
Chosen through a lottery, he said
he is one of 10,000 international
runners in the marathon, which is 42
km long. "I've enjoyed running all
my life. I've tried to stay in shape,"
Martin said, adding that he has
run in several 10 km races. "I
thought this would be a personal
challenge. I have never run a
marathon before."
Because of the prestige of the
marathon and the terrorist attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001 Martin said he made
it his first choice to run, adding that
it will also be personal visit for him
to ground zero. He added that he
went to Cornell University, in
Ithaca, N.Y., and had visited the
TWin Towers before.
Born and raised in Bruce County,
Martin said he has worked for
OMAF for 27 years and spent 25
years at the Clinton office. He was
raised in Ripley, where his parents,
Gordon and Ora, lived before
retiring to Goderich.
To prepare for the marathon,
Martin said he started his 14-month
'training program in September 2001
with the Terry Fox Run and was
running 35 to 50 miles a week,
running on a treadmill over' the
winter.
He said he is running about seven
miles a day and that he plans on
entering into two or three half-
marathon races before November.
He added that New York City
Marathon organizers would be
sending a training schedule for him
to follow.
"This is a one-shot deal. I plan on
continuing to run but no more
races," Martin said, adding that at 50
years old this race will be a
milestone for him. "I wanted to do it
once. I'm not saying I won't do 10
km races." He plans on continuing to
run three or four miles a day after
the marathon.
Martin is dedicating his run to his
brother Glen, a runner who died of a
heart attack at age 49, and to, Jeremy
Mason, a young area pilot, who died
last year. He added that he is.
collecting pledges for the Heart and
.Stroke Foundation and for the
Jeremy Mason • Memorial Flying
Scholarship.
Pledges can be made at the OMAF
Office. 11 Don St., Clinton, or by -
cheque only at The Clinton News-
Record.
Anyone who would like to make a
pledge or help offset some of the
expenses can call Martin at 263-
2411.
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NC
Hensall man
to run marathon
may just be a racer to watch for in
the future.
Other local teens who also take to
the track in Grand Bend are Cody
Anderson and Taylor and Blake
I-Iesse I wood.