HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-07-15, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JULY 15, 1990
Asphalt sledders
pus the limits
Local team working to improve their speed and time on track
BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF
Expositor Editor
They've traded in the cold
snow for hot pavement in
pursuit of a growing sport in
the area and in North
America—asphalt sledding.
"We •ve been involved in
snowmobiling for so long. I
was just a natural area to go
to for summer t(me,"'said Bill
Anderson. He, Harold
Chesney and Frank Brugger
make up the core of a team
that has been competing for
about fou; years now at the
Grand Bend Motorplex and
other area tracks.
' The sport involves a drag -
style, race on a snowmobile
converted to run on wheels
and tread instead of skis.
, They've all had experience
racing 'on oval tracks in. the
winter but decided to extend
the time they have to use
their equipment. As a
team,they have extensive
racing experience.
Anderson said sticking to
'traditional snowmobiles
leaves eight months or more
that the equipment is sitting.
Asphalt sledding opens the
summer season to them.
Instead of racing other
drivers on an oval track.
asphalt sledding is a 'form of
drag racing. going head -to
head against another sled.
While racing against
another driver. Brugger, said
the race is more ,against
yourself because 'Of the
format.
Teams indicate a time it
will take for their machine to
race the length of the strip.
Thc -Lastest machine if'
handicapped and gets a delay
in its start time against' the
other asphalt sled.
Ultimately. Brugger said it
comes down to whichever
driver has the fastest reaction
,time when they get the go
'lights.
"You're racing the, clock,"
said Brugger.'.
If a driver goes faster than
• the time they have "dialed in"
they lose.
"You can beat yourself,"
said Brugger. ,
When they started, there
were about a dozen drivers
- and,the sport continues to
Port
Franks
man faces
murder
charge
FROM Page 1
Provipcial Police Crimth l
' Investigation 'Butane-
Major Cases Section,in
conjunction with members
of the OPP Huron County
Detachment, today,
arrested and charged a
Port Franks man with the
murder of a man almost
one year ago."
John Dougherty, 54, of
Port Franks, has been
charged with first degree
murder.
After appearing in
Goderich Court Thursday,
Dougherty was remanded
in custody to the Elgin -
Middlesex Detention'
Centre. He is scheduled'4o
return to court in Goderich
on Aug. 10.
grow.
It also attracts the attention
of the crowds.
"It's something that's not
seen very much," said
Chesney, who drives for the
team.
He said part of the
enjoyment of the sport is the
show it puts on. He's aware
of flash bulbs going off as he
races down the track.
reaching abgyt 127 miles per
hour.
"There's always a rush."
said Anderson of the speed
and action involved in racing.
"Why do people down hill
ski?" he asked. adding the
rush is a common reason for
anyone to be involved in
sports.
They've all had turns in the
driver's seat over the years' to
experience that rush but now.
it's Cook's turn in the seat.
Brugger's role is to look
after the intricate work on the
machine as they continually
strive to go faster.
If something goes wrong at
the track, it's Anderson who
troubleshoots and tries to get
the machine, an Arctic Cat
ZRT 800. operating properly
again.
And back in the driver's
seat, Cook is the only one
who can tell Brugger and
Anderson how the machine is
performing.
"I have to depend on what
he tells me to make a tuning
decision," said Anderson.
"Everybody has input on
changes." said Brugger.
Together, they make
decisions about which ideas
might work and what to try to
improve in the machine.
Often,they develop their
improvements through trial
and error.
The ZRT 800's engine has
since been bored out to 1,000
cc and the machine is a little
bigger now than when it was
in it's original state.
"There's always that need
to go faster," said Chesney.
Right now, they race the
track with a time as low. as
10.3 seconds at 127 miles an
hour.
They hope to get that time
and speed to 9.5 seconds. at
135 miles an hour.
"It's not as easy at it
looks," said Chesney.
There are adjustments that
can be made in virtually
everything from the
suspension to the fuel
mixture and carbarator.
Also helping keep the team
in operation is Dan Gueguen
and Craig Anderson.
Bill Anderson, Harold Chesney and Frank Bragger are part of asphaul sledding team.
HILGENDORFF 'PHOTO
Donations made to Van Edmond House
Milton Dietz reports that the Van Egmond
Reserve Food Bank Garden has been fully
planted with the assistance. of neighbors
Simon Vontal and Nancy Sue Thomson and
Susan Gladys and lack Van Egmond. The
tilling of the garden was done by John Stiffen
and Peter Spittal and Summer and Tyler
Papple provided seeds. •
The summer curator for 1998 as.been
engaged. He is Daryl Bottema from Vanastra.
He will be at Van Egmond House from 9 a.m,'
to 4 p.m. Thursday to Monday inclusive. Thc
house is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Frank CJ Sills has donated to the Van
Egmond Foundation an historical book
entitled "Life and Times of W.L. Mackenzie
and
the Rebellion•of 1837-38.
When Robert Kerr was renovating' his.
home. he discovered a 'metal gunpowder horn
dating back to the middle. of the eighteen
hundreds. • .
• He. has donated, the -powder horn to the Van
•Egmond Foundation.
Correction
The Huron Expositor
published several pages last
week highlighting students
graduating from Grade 8 and
high schools throughout the
area.
In those pages, Jeff
Kroonen's photograph and
name were inadvertently
missed.
The Huron Expositor
apologizes for the omission.
St. Michael's
Catholic
Secondary
School
Graduate
Jeff Kroonen
Elliott 6. Math
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