WAR GOES TO CANADA

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The World Alcohol Racers, based in Michigan, will have their fourth event of the year on July 9. "WAR on Wheels" will be held at Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario, Canada and will feature A-Fuel Dragsters, Top Alcohol Dragsters, Alcohol Funny Cars and Pro Modifieds.

At the "Motown Showdown" June 4 in Milan, MI, Mike Pipgras set both ends of the WAR record at 5.65/252. He won the event and took the lead in Dragster points. Chris Foster leads in Funny Car points and Harold Martin is at the top of Pro Modified. [6-24-2005]

DEMAREST PASSES

One of the Agent’s buddies, Mike Demarest, 62, passed away on Thursday, June 23, of a heart attack at his Southern California home. He is survived by his sister Tootsie, brother Bill, a son and a daughter.

Demarest held many records during his long career in drag racing. He tuned the Champion Speed Shop dragster to a record 5.78 ET and also tuned Dave Hough’s Super Nanook to what may be the quickest fuel altered pass in history of 6.17 at the 1977 Manufacturers Meet. He was a crew member of the famed Over the Hill Gang dragster with partner Bill Schultz and helped perfect the Arias hemi. Demarest worked at Speedmasters and Arias & Ross Racing Pistons. He was always available to help on a friend’s nitro tune-up and recently had begun restoration on the famed “15 oz Coupe.” He was also a world-class arm wrestling champ.

At this time we have no details about memorial services, but Demarest will be missed by a lot of friends in the drag racing community. (Darr Hawthorne photo) [6-24-2005]