Ike Maier has fine showing during IHRA Northern Nationals

Ike Maier has fine showing during IHRA Northern Nationals

Regular PMRA racer shuts down class regulars, goes to final round

SCHOMBERG, ONTARIO (August 13, 2009) – Regular PMRA competitor Ike Maier had a terrific day at the recent IHRA Northern Nationals at Martin, Michigan.

Qualifying sixth in the 18-car field with a 6.092-second attempt, the Pro Modified driver ran a sure and steady game, getting by some of the classes’ heaviest hitters to meet IHRA World Champion Kenny Lang in the final.

Maier had a better light than Lang, but Lang was on his game plan, recording a 6.012-second pass over Maier’s 6.108-second drive.

“Kirk (Silbermann) was reading those guys like a book,” said Maier, who drives the Brad Anderson-powered 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. “I just get in the car and hold the pedal to the rug.”

Maier’s first round was an easy one, as opponent Burton Auxier was a no-show. In the second round, he defeated Pro Modified veteran Ed Hoover with a 6.091 over Hoover’s 6.285. In the semi, Maier was up against fellow Canadian Tony Pontieri, who was ripping off passes in the fives throughout the meet, but Pontieri succumbed to tire shake, giving Maier the win with a 6.102-second decision over Pontieri’s 8.744-second pass.

Then Maier was lined up with Lang for the final, and although defeated, Silbermann was pleased with the day.

“This was a confidence boost for the whole team,” said the team crew chief and owner of Ajax Engines. “I knew we wouldn’t be the fastest car out there, but I felt Ike now had enough seat time to get more aggressive and run the lane and not the racer beside him.”

Selling his 1969 Camaro Pro Modified last year, Maier and his team have had success with the Corvette in its first year, including winning the opening round of PMRA competition at Cayuga Dragway in May of this year. The black Split-window Corvette runs a Bruno transmission and utilizes an ERD (Engine Research & Development) fuel system to feed the 526-cubic inch BAE hemi. After three PMRA events in 2009, the team sits in ninth spot in the Championship Point Award Series Standings.

Silbermann said the strategy at Martin was to be sure and steady. “We made sure the car was the same all day, and prepped the same,” he said. “And the car responded very well.”

With the team’s standout performance at the IHRA race, it was invited to the next event in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge, this race to be run during the NHRA US Nationals at Indianapolis, Indiana.

The team’s next event will be rescheduled PMRA event at the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts on August 15-16 at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.

Qualifying for the PMRA will begin Saturday, August 15, with round one of eliminations to begin Sunday afternoon.

The eighth-mile racing event will feature the popular Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, featuring Top Dragster and Top Sportsman action with quick six and seven-second cars, the event will feature a Paul Noakes versus Rob Atchison “King of Canada Funny Car” rematch, Jet Truck action, and a Supercharged V8 Drag Bike. Also on tap will be the Grand Bend Motorplex Top Dragster and Top Sportsman Series and some great racing action in the Thunder series and Junior programs, along with a fireworks display.

Complimentary spectator event tickets will still be available at Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts locations across Ontario, at businesses in Stratford, or by contacting the Quick 32 Sportsman Series or the Pro Modified Racing Association.

General parking is $20 per car load and weekend camping is available.

For information about the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223 or visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PMRA.ca

Photo Credit: Dale Boeru – Canadian Drag Racing Photos – www.canadiandragracingphotos.com and Joe Barrett – Drag Racing Inc. – www.dragracinginc.com