Huron Expositor, 1999-09-08, Page 3News
`Backyard boys' build reputation
on amateur snowmobile drag circuit
By Susan Hundertmark
• Expositor Staff
Two Seaforth "backyard
boys" are starting to build a
reputation on the amateur
snowmobile drag racing
circuit.
Snowmob-ile
• owner/mechanic Tom Fehr
:and driver Steve Watson.
both of Seaforth, are entering
their second year of
competition grass drag
racing snowmobiles. both at
"backyard drags" and races
organized and run by the
Central Ontario Snowmobile
Drag Racing Association
(COSDRA)., ,
And. " so far they've
amassed a collection of
trophies from the 12 firsts
and three seconds they've
placed in races.
"We do it for fun and the
prestige of knowing .we're
the people to beat," says
Fehr.
• Fehr, who says he's been
involved in snowmobile drag
racing "since 1 could squeeze
a throttle." recruited Watson
last . fall to drive his
snowmobile because Fehr is.
too heavy to wig grass
drags. where a winning
driver has to weigh less than
180 pounds.
At 145 pounds. Watson is
actually a little light. but says
he makes up for that fact
because he's "a lot crazy."
I won't let that throttle off
until I'm 50 feet past the
finish line." he says. adding'
that many. drivers will let off
the throttle if they begin to
pull to the left or right. ,
"I've always loved the
speed, the adrenaline rush of
going fast." says Watson.
He says the trick to
winning is knowing how to
hook the snowmobile into
the grass. " caning` and
pulling with everything
you've got" if it swerves,
and accelerating at all times.
Also pivotal to winning
are the mechanical decisions
made when tuning the
engine, details Fehr refuses
to divulge in fear of losing
his •edge over 'the
competition.
"There's a lot of tuning
and adjusting to make when
you change -from snow to
grass with, a •snowmobile,
You need Tess fuel on the
grass and you• don't spin as
much on the grass," he says.
Grass drags. which begin
on a grassy field. are soon
actually, dirt drags since the
snowmobiles quickly chew
up the grass. And, after
several races. stowmohiles
actually start the race out of
holes that are dug deeper and
deeper with each race.
Fehr says there's also a
trick' to angling a
snowmobile at the starting
line and raking the excess
dirt out of the way to get the
most traction possible.
Watson's wife,; Brenda
says • she " was recently
"promoted" to the position of
raker and has•the difficult job
of raking away the dirt as
fast asshe can the minute
before the race.
"It's a really hard job. My.
shoulders hurt by the end of
the day." she says.
But. Fehr emphasizes how
important the job of raking is
since "you can lose a race in
the blink of an eye if there's.
no traction."
Racing mostly in the 604
cc class. Fehr and Watson
have been known. to race
against snowmobiles with
engines as big as 1000 ccs
acid "when we get really
cocky: we go against the
boys that are picked" or have
studs- in the snowmobile's
Susan Hundertmark photo
Tom Fehr and Steve Watson , both of Seaforth, pose with
Fehr's 600 cc snowmobile.
track.
Races usually last only six
and a halfseconds and
snowmobiles reach speeds of
75 to 80 miles per hour on
the 500 -foot tracks. . • .
"Two-tenths of a second
can mean .the difference
f between winning. and
losing." says Fehr.
"I won one race by three -
one hundredths of a second.
It was, just a blur. it was so
close. adds Watson.
But. despite their
participation. in COSDRA
races, which arc held at drag
strips' throughout the
province with 'the same four -
lane timing systems- as
hotrods use Fehr and
poi- real peace of milid,
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Waison say their first love is
the backyard drag. a more
informal' race usually held at
a community centre -and
timed with a stopwatch.
"We love racing, all
afternoon in a local field.
challenging anybody
anywhere for the fun of it.
It's more fund at backyard
drags because everybody
know everybody else." sal.
Fehr.
"We're just a couple of
backyard boys that like to
play." he Nays.
A backyard,drag will he
held in Seaforth at the
racetrack at the Agri-plex on
Sept. 12.
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The Board of Directors cordially invites you to attend the
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ihis event will be in the library of the Central Huron
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with placement in Long -Term Care facilities. •
All Community Care Access Centre Members, as well as the
general public; ate most•welcome to join us for this meeting
and stay for refreshments with the Board of Oirectors.
Fo'r further information, please contact:
Carole Taylor, Chief Executive. Officer
Community Care Access Centre for Huron
163 Princess St. E., Clinton; Ont. NOM ILO
phone: (5 1 9) 482-3411 fax: (519) 482-3382
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- 28 Ontario Rd., Mitchell 348-9951
FORM 9
SALE OF LAND B Y PUBLIC AUCTIO_ N
The Corporation of the County of Huron
'Take Notice that the lands) described
below will be offered for sale by
public auction at 10:00 o'clock in the
forenoon on the Stir day of October, 1999 at
• • Huron County' Court House,
. 1 Courthouse Square, Goderich, Ontario -
N7A 1 M2 •
Mlinimem Hid 5
A:1,4
.o,..i.
Description of Landis)
1 Pan id Lot 111 and Loi 112. Plan 192
As per Instrument Nuinher 120115
Village of Brussels •
County of Huron. Province id (lntano j'. S tS JS
2 Lot 52: Plan 192 '
A. pct Inslruntent Number 2201103
1711age of Brass i:ls •
County of Huron. 'Pros nce ofOntano •,.2 +, I ' I
t Pan Lot 6. Plan 116
Being Part l0. 22R-1660 West London Rd. .
1. per Instrument Number 251459
lossnshipof Ashlicld -
County of Huron. Province of Ohtani,
51,159 x'
4 Parts of Lot 10. West of Lakeshore Rd Cone;
As per Instrument Number 111916
Township of .Stanley- • -• -
C'ounty of Huron. Province of Ontario
S Part Lot 20. Lake Road Wesi Concession
As per Instrument Number 303303
Townshipof Slanlcy
County of Huron. Province o(Ontano 58.261 7S
r, Lot 5. Concession 2 •
:1s per:Inslrwlxnf.Vunber 276917
Township of Turnherry •
County of Huron. Province of Ontario SI8.125 51)
All amounts payable by the successful purchaser she'll's: payable in
full at the time of the sale by cash or money urdcr or by a hank dralt
or cheque certified- by. a bank, trust corporation or Ptoince of
Ontario Savings Otiicc.
The municipality or board makes. no representation regarding the'
title to or any other matters relating to the land to he sold.
Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential
purchasers.
This sale is governed by thc.Mio,tr1(1141 Jai Salts Act and .the
Municipal Tax Sales -Kuhns: The successful purchaser will he
required to pay .thc amount bid plus accumulated taxes and the
relevant land transfer tax.
For further information regarding this sale, contrteti
Treasurer. Corporation of the County of Huron -
I Courthouse Square. Goderich. Ontario. N7A iM2
Personal information contained on this form. collected pursuant to
the Municipal Tax Sales Act will be used for the purposes of that Acf.
Questions should be directed to the Freedom of Information and
Privacy Coordinator at the institution responsible for the procedures
under that Act.
52. 1S.1 t 1