The City of Elliot Lake is conducting a survey of last weekend's North Shore Challenge 19th drag race classic. For taking part in an online survey that will gauge the economic impact of this year's edition of the annual classic, you'll be entered in a draw for two MVP passes for next year's event.
The link to the survey can be found here. City of Elliot Lake Coordinator of Arts and Culture Kate Matuszewski says survey replies will be invaluable in helping organizers make the 20th Anniversary edition of the North Shore Challenge the best ever.
At the same time, the city has released the names of the winners and other key facts from this year's 19th edition of the Challenge. Although the number of entries in the top line Super Pro class was down a little from last year, entries in the other classes pushed up. The total number of visitors this year is still being tallied but is expected to compare favourably with last year's total at just under 1,800 attendees.
Elliot Lake Chief Administrative Officer Dan Gagnon attributes rain at the drag race site - the Elliot Lake Airport raceway- on Friday night for a decrease in weekend pass sales, with more day pass sales this time out. By contrast, it was sunny, hot and humid at the airport Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's Super Pro class winner of the $10,000 top prize of the weekend was perennial favourite Kyle Jessup.
Saturday's winner of the Semi-Pro Classic was Elliot Lake's Jeff Hunter, who picked up $2,000 for his win. Chelmsford's Marcel Brousseau was tops in the Street Class, good for the $1,000 top prize.
Sunday, Bonfield's Dan Allard was the Super Pro winner, good for $5,000 and a trophy. Jessup lost out in the semi-finals.
Other winners included Sunday's Semi-Pro champ Pete Demers of Hanmer who pocketed $2,000 for his win. Snowmobile/motorcycle class winner was Tristan Savoie of Manitouwadge, while Sudbury's Lorne Ramanko won $1,000 for his win in the Street Class.
In the ever popular Mayor's Challenge, Blind River Mayor Sue Jensen beat out Elliot Lake's Dan Marchisella for the second year running. It was Mayor Jensen's sixth Deric Farquhar Memorial Mayor's Challenge victory. The two mayors raced two Chevrolet trucks supplied by Milltown Motors.
Although the jet car demonstration caught a lot of interest for Neale Armstrong's Northern Warrior, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, the jet car only hit speeds of 140 miles an hour each time, although it's capable topping 300 miles an hour. Some of the cars in Super Pro were able able to hit 140, as well. Obviously Northern Warrior was dealing with some issues.
The North Shore Cruisers Car Club's Show 'n' Shine at Elliot Lake Dragway on Saturday drew 57 entries, down from 80 last year. Club President Bruce Lawrence attributes that decrease to highway construction leading to very poor driving conditions around Sudbury. Winners in the Show 'n' Shine included Sonny Quesnel, Troy Larnor, Bob Towns, Pete Puzac, Paul Cipriani, Peter McGhee, Roger Truner, Troy Lamond and R. Millette.