Words by Bruce Mehlenbacher and Jeff Burk
Photos by Rob Potter
5/23/05
The first event of the new Canada-based Pro Modified Racing
Association was a great success, especially for inaugural
winner Carl Spiering of Jordan Station, Ontario.
Spiering's 1963 ex-Tim McAmis Chevrolet Corvette bested
the field of 14 cars, including the new Stratus of 2004
IHRA Pro Modified World Champion Mike Janis of Lancaster,
New York, and Jim Oddy's Summit Racing Equipment-backed
team with driver, Canadian ace Al Billes of Barrie, Ontario.
Spiering's team switched to a Brad Anderson Hemi for the
2005 season, which looks to be a good move for "Big
Dog," giving him a new goal for the year.
"I have set a goal to try to set a new world record
in the Pro Mod class," said Spiering. "It is
something that I have never done and will try my hardest
to make it happen this season."
In the final run at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga,
Spiering lined up against Billes, who debuted Jim Oddy's
new Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored 2005 Dodge Stratus
built by Jerry Bickel. In the very first competition for
the car, Billes qualified number one for
the Darren Mayer
Performance Engineering Top Qualifier Award in the event
with low ET (6.23) and speed (226 mph).
Severe tire shake at the hit of the throttle took Billes
out of contention in the final as Spiering motored to a
winning 6.33-second, 225.41-mph pass.
"The track was awesome tonight," said Spiering
after the win. "Our Eaton Cutler-Hammer Corvette was
working good. The final was a little slippery. It wasn't
pretty, but I made it."
Jim Oddy was also impressed with the TMP surface. "This
track had teeth tonight," said the Buffalo, New York-area
supercharged engine builder. "I wish we could take
it from race to race."
