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Lakeshore Advance, 2011-07-20, Page 6• 6 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, July 20, 2011 N • itro bike racers back, faster than ever Mopar IHRA Nitro Jam Nationals Jim Cressman QM Agency GRAND BEND - Steve Dorn says he's just a normal guy. Normal? Normal is not lying prone on a Harley- Davidson motorcycle and then hitting the throttle so a huge quantity of lethal nitrometh- ane fuel launches you down a quarter -mile racetrack at 230 m,p.h, "1 feel like I'm just normal so I can't really explain why someone would want to do that. But obviously l'tn not," Dorn said Friday. "But doing what we do is definitely a passion," Dorn and his nitro Marley buddies will put that passion on full throttle Saturday and Sun- day during the 11th annual Mopar 111RA Nitro Jam Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex. This is Dorn's 10th year on a nitro bike but his first trip to Grand Bend as the class was dropped by the II IRA after its 2002 season. But the bikes are hack this year and are faster and crazier than ever than ever. Dorn, from Mihvaukie, Ore., said he never thinks twice that they don't have the tradi- tional safety nets found in racing. "We try to stay on," he said deadpanned. But he has come off a couple of times - hitting a wall at 208 mph in Dallas in 2006 and then just last year crashing in the sand at the end of track in San Antonio when his brakes failed. "I didn't jump, which was pretty stupid, and I'm still trying to recover from that one. I've had a couple pretty good wrecks but when i hit the throttle I have no problem with it at all. There's no reluctancy. 1 don't think about it at all. All I think about is the next pass." Dorn has instituted one safety measure on his bike, adopting the parachute seen on all the other pro class cars. And now everybody is beginning to follow his lead. iYi? Mtxr;ImIt,rnr,r,Fs?t!`mjiirFkrTk Thee,' m*t itiT tile—, ”y i..,. The Municipality of Larnbton Shores LiVING IN LAMBTON SHORES... A weekly Update on the Municipal Events in your Community Administration Department - 7889 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1J0 Tel 1-877-786-2335, 519-786-2335. Fax 519-786-2135. Email administrabon@lambtonshoros ca Visit our Web Site at www lambtonshoros.ca 2011 Capital Plan INVITATON TO TENDER Proposal packages for the lenders noted below are available by email, or at the Municipality of Larnbton Shores Administration Office. Supply & Delivery of Riding Floor Scrubber The Municipality of Larnbton Shores is inviting pre- qualified contractors to submit a tender for the supply and delivery of a Riding Floor Scrubber. Proposals will be opened In public on July 28th, 2011 at 11:00 am et the Administration office Supply & Delivery of Riding Lawn Mower The Municipality of Lambton Shores is inviting pre- qualified contractors to submit a tender for the supply and delivery of a Riding lawnmower. Proposals will be opened In public on July 28th, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Administration office. All proposals are to be submitted at the Lambton Shores Administration Office: 7883 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, ON NON IJO Tel: 519.786.2335 or Toll Free: 1-877.786.2335 or Fax: 519-786-2135 Peggy Van Mlerlo-West, Director of Community Services - 519-243-1400 OPEN HOUSE to Discuss the Possibility of an Area Arts Council Join us for an infomiation and 'exploratoy open house to discuss the possible fomietion of an Arts Council for the communities along Lake Huron and surrounding areas. The meeting will be hosted by Larnbton Shores' Councillor John Russell, and will be held et the Larnbton Hontage Museum on Saturday, July 23 from 9 - 11 a.m. Anyone Interested in Improving the reach of arts and culture in our communities is welcome to attend to help with the goal of obtaining feedback from citizens on the feasibility of having an area Ms Council We are looking for committed individuals who share this vision and are willing to attend and share their knowledge to assist with the initial steps in this process Hope to see you there 1 1 .Y -1 z 'l\ / RtCRCAIuaN CI,N1111 qtand (9pening Q Aright to Jtcmemketc 16 Allen Street. Thedford Sabi/day., Phi 23, 2011 Rrcep(iaw d ;Tato 4:CC p m. - 6 pm. Midis/ (pawing eesrmawieJ 6 p.m. :Tim, $IC.CC road{ .s 21., Mee Tickets available at CJ's Coffee Shop, Zavitz General Store, Mary Lou's Interiors or any fundraising committee member NOTICE OF UPCOMING MEETING: Sewer Ad Hoc Advisory Committee August 2, 2011 at 7.00 p m Grand Bend Community Health Centro Community Room Regular Council Meeting Summer Schedule: Please check website for changes In start times Monday, August 8, 2011 i 700 p m Tuesday, August 16, 2011 ip 300 p m Thodford Village Complex Come for Coffee... Meet County of Lampton Warden Steve Arnold and have a tour of the now Legacy Centro in Thedford. Please drop in and join us on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m at the newly renovated Legacy Centre, 16 Allen Street, Thedford Ontario and enjoy an opportunity to meet the County Warden and tour the Legacy Centre. ii I took my chopper to the drag strip back in '97 because the guy who built my motor wanted me to see how fast it would go. I didn't know anything about drag racing. But I made one pass and got hooked''. "1 won't ride again without using it," he said. "That could have save me from having both those accidents. When we were going 200 it was no problem to stop. But now we're going 225 to 230 and the hikes are 200 pounds heavier and we don't have enough brakes," Dorn said the fans have been Clocking to the pits to see the hikes. "We get two things when they cotnne back there to see us. it's either it's so great to have you guys back or I didn't know you guys did anything like this. And if they haven't seen thein, they're in for a treat. They'll he hooked." And Dorn speaks from experience. "I took my chopper to the drag strip back in '97 because the guy who built my motor wanted inc to see how fast it would go. 1 didn't know anything about drag racing. — Steve Dorn But 1 made one pass and got hooked. The next thing you know I was 00 a pro modified hike and the year after I went right into nitro. Once you start one of these, you will never run a gas bike again." They're basically a rocket ship on two wheels, a brutal beast with huge power and torque. And riding one is not for the faint-hearted. Nitronnethane pushes an engine to its limits and beyond, sometimes resulting in spectacular explosions. The rider is prone with the pistons inches under the chest and head. A "bomb- proof" kevlar vest is worn over their leathers - although they admit it's just for show. The bikes go from idle to wide open instantly and riders fight the thing all the way down the track, using their bodies to steer since the front wheel is useless. And the bike wiggles all over the. place with its monster slicks. Just talk to 11IRA top fuel dragster champion Bruce Litton of Indianapolis. Every little detail of Oct. 9 1982 remains etched in hi a memory - and his body. "Iligh noon, left lane, Gulf- port Dragway, Gulfport, Miss.," he said Friday. "1 broke the timing beam at 159.80 miles an hour -with my left hand. Sixteen hundred pounds of bike was riding on top of lne" Litton was thrown off his bike by a speed wobble and being left-handed, he instinctively threw out his left hand to break his fall. "Mistake," he said. Eight surgeries later, doctors had successfully rebuilt the hand to where ht' regained 100% use. "I have 100% use in my right hand, except 1 can't hitchhike," he said, having lost the thumb in the accident. "i never raced a bike again." in top fuel he's doing 32() m.p.h., but feels much safer: "i've got a roll cage around me now." Dorn said he's heard ail the adjectives - crazy, psychotic, suicidal - to describe his sport. But he knows of noth- ing more exhilarating 00 two lvheets. "It sure is nice to be a part of bringing it hack and to be able to put on a good show." London Fret' Press Matt E. Burr specHl to Lakeshore Advance Cars on display Forest's downtown became a vintage car show earlier this month. tt was the first event of Sidewalk Sate Days. The cars were judged, and in the evening they had a parade.