Auto Racer Would Rather Be In The Stands With His Perfect Soulmate

by Lois Pollard-Grant

What is that? People have asked when they come to Performance Plus Auto Detailing and see Kirk Peacey's derelict looking hit-to-pass demo car.

"That," retorts Peacey, "is what will happen to your car if you don't pay your bill." (Kirk and his dad Bill, are partners in their Colwood car care business).

The skull and crossbones flag on his #38 demo car is nothing more than an identity, says the genial 31-year old.

"It was something different that guys like "Smokin Joe" (Liberatore), or "Dr. Death" (Keith Hansen) had.

"It was a fear thing but it didn't work. The guys out there know what kind of a guy I am."

Peacey raced only occasionally during the mid-80's. He was attending the University of Regina at the time, (on a scholarship from high school) where he received a degree in political science. He also studied journalism for two years before turning to driving demos full time in 1990.

He won the points championship last year and currently leads in driver's standings, which he modestly credits to a lot of luck.

In all, he has amassed about 150 trophies and holds the demo car record of 31 main event wins.

Peacey, who is happy to race the local level, ran thundercars for two years and his best finish in championship points was ninth. "Just to be in the top 10 in straight-up racing," he said, "was worth the while."

"But", he adds, "you really learn how to spend money in the thundercar class."

For this reason mainly, he returned to demo cars - but also because it's fun - it's not a serious as staight-up racing."

Peacey recalls building his first demo car for $30. Today he figures his expenses run between $2,000 to $3,000 for a year. And without the help of his sponsors, Alpine Disposal and John and Cynthia of Victoria Frame, it just wouldn't be possible.

"It has been three years now since I've been in an ambulance," says Peacey, "and I'd like to keep it that way."

He was injured when his arm came out the window after being t-boned by Smokin Joe. ("I wasn't wearing an arm restraint.")

He flipped on the front stretch when Lou Melin t-boned him, and in thundercars, he hit the mountain and was knocked unconscious.

There have been high and lows in Peacey's racing career.

The first time he beat Lou Melin was a definite high. The low point occurred in 1992. "I lost my crew. We didn't have a good year - the results weren't good."

To add salt to the wound, the driver that his crew left him for was Melin, and he won the championship that year. Losing his crew had a positive side though. It made him realize that he couldn't rely on everyone else to build his cars, and now builds his own cars.

The best part of racing, Peacey says, "are the people you meet - the friends you meet and keep for life."

Ten years from now he would like to be retired, raising a family and watching the races from the stands.

In the meantime, if wishes could be granted, Kirk Peacey has just one wish, "to find a perfect soul mate."

-as printed in the September 9, 1998 edition of the Goldstream News Gazette