by Lois Pollard-Grant
What began 20 years ago, with a few gaudily painted cars, with numbered placards attached to the roofs, and with drivers intentionally hitting an opponent's car, before he could pass - has turned into the number one motorsport attraction at Western Speedway.
Nobody, and certainly not the creators of hit-to-pass racing, Jamie Peakman and Greg Saddler, could have envisioned the success that their brainchild was to achieve in just a few short years.
Spurred by the success of the hit-to-pass cars, a second class, demo trucks, were introduced in 1986 by Peakman and Gary Madden.
Madden, a former seven-time president of Lower Island Track Racing Association (LITRA) then brought in the $299 claimer class, which provided drivers with an alternative to the more expensive classes that ran at Western Speedway.
Figure 8 racing was not new to Western, but mini figure 8 racing was. The mini version introduced (again) by Peakman and Keith Cahill, was an immediate hit.
In recent years, LITRA has run a variety of new novelty races including roll over competitions, three car train races, and football races.
Roy Haywood, LITRA president for four of the last five years, looks forward to the coming season with optimism. "We are going to try 'car bowling' this year", he said.
"I think it's good to try something new - something out of the ordinary."
"We will probably be looking to moving into smaller cars (metric cars like Oldsmobile and Buick) over the next few years, as the big cars are getting hard to find."
LITRA, which boasts a membership of 220, will stage 17 events at the Langford oval this season, with the CAN/AM Demo Team Challenge to be run on September 13.
2002 LITRA TOP 10 CLAIMERS
1. Brian Wakelin
2. Terry Ross
3. Jeff Wilson Jr.
4. Eric Fournier
5. Paul Atkinson
6. Rich Benson
7. Brian Crossley
8. Bill Broughton
9. Rich Margetish
10. Dave ResideDEMO CARS
1. Marty Hansen
2. Dan Fisher
3. Joe Liberatore
4. Craig Holfeld
5. Ron Thibault
6. Shane Scott / Marc Parkinson
7. Darin Thibault
8. Mark Lockhard / Tom Coreless
9. Tyler Clough
10. Al JefferiesDEMO TRUCKS
1. Bill Stidston
2. Jamie Morgan
3. Rod Millie
4. Steve Durling
5. Mark Lefebvre
6. Dan Thomas
7. Dave Cates
8. James Campbell
9. Gerry Kiefert
10. Troy TarbuckMINI FIGURE 8
1. Roger Beck
2. Chris Hamber
3. Kevin Knight
4. Karen Irvine
5. Bryce Muir
6. Cody Young
7. J.J. Taylor
8. Shawn Conarroe
9. Richie Macewko
10. Richard James
2002 LITRA AWARDS
Rookie of the Year
Claimers: Jeremy McInnes Demo Cars: Ron Thibault Demo Trucks: Mark Lefebvre Figure 8's: Karen Irvine
Sportsman of the Year: Roger Beck
Member of the Year: Joyce Woodske
Sponsor of the Year: SOS Automotive
Most Improved Driver
Claimers: Eric Fournier Demo Cars: Dan Fisher Demo Trucks: Jamie Morgan Figure 8's: Roger Beck
Hard Luck
Claimers: Steve Green Demo Car: Darin Thibault Demo Truck: Jamie Morgan Mini Figure 8: Bill Innes
Most Main Event Wins
Claimer: Brian Wakelin Demo Car: Marty Hansen Demo Truck: Jamie Morgan & Mark Lefebvre Mini Figure 8: Chris Hamber
Junior Achiever: Cody Young, Jeremy McInnes
Appreciation Awards: Langford Fire Dept., Williams Transfer Ltd., Can West Dollar Store, Glen Lake Inn, Trakside Productions, Ron & Sandy Suckling, Sue Chapman, Roger Beck, Crest Fire Extinguishers Ltd., CO-OP Gas Station
