DAVE TAYLOR Speed Demons MACHINE WORSHIP reached news heights two weekends ago as thousands amassed along Highway 16 in Thornhill to watch cars go real fast. It was the third annual Riverboat Days Drag Races and this time the sun shone down on the event, entic- ing a huge crowd to hang around all day and enjoy sun, thrills, snacks and noise. Those lucky enough to score pit passes also got to see some pretty speedy cars up close. Classic Cobras, Mustangs, trucks and Trans Ams were all there, along with new Vipers, motorcycles and some alcohol-fueled rail cars that could really move. In Bracket One racing, it was Ken Petley of Kitimat tak- ing first place, followed by Terrace’s Mark Sarich and Emie Ledditt. Bracket Two saw Wayne Campbeil win first place, with Harley Bell taking second and Tony Almeida third. Meanwhile, bikers were baking in their leather, so it wasn't surprising they wanted to get through the 1/8 mile as fast as possible. Ian Berrisford of Kitimat took first place in that class, with Tim Link of Terrace finishing sec- ond and fellow local John Geismar finishing third. The motorcycle class was also the only one to sport a fe- male racer. Simonne Aloisio of Kitimat was the only woman to race all day, adding some much-needed estropen to an otherwise testosterone-fieled event. This year’s King of the Hill title went to Troy Tymos- chuck of Terrace. And Mark Sarich won for both closest ta dial-in time and fastest reaction time. THE 1997 RIVERBOAT Days Drag Races proved to be a hot, sunny success. More than 100 vehicles turn out, along with thousands of adoring race fans. CLOCKWISE FROM the top: a rail car screams through the 1/8 mile, breathing is important when you're racing motorcycles, and the lovely smell of burning rubber filled the air all day tong. Terre ice do ” Ls ¥ 53 ae ae Ihe Jerrace Standard, Wednesday, August 13, 1997 - BS pate? pera TERRACE AND Smithers teams proved to be domi- nant forces at this year’s Riverboat Days Youth Soc- cer Challenge. The two towns together topped every age division at the toumcy. Terrace took four divisions, = while Smithers won two. Teams came from all over the northwest, including Ketchikan Alaska, for the fourth annual event. Terrace’s Under-12 Boys squad performed brilliantly, allowing only two goals all weekend while seoring 20 on their opposing teams. Smithers placed second. Terrace also took the Under-12 Girls division. Kitimat took second and the Terrace Under-11 squad were awarded for their sportsmanship. ee OUCH, THAT'S gotta hurt. Terrac Kermodei Beverages settles for second MERCY! to fead their team to a 15-5 Allbough the final two mercy victory. matches of the tourney fin- The semi-finals had also ished with a mercy mling, seen 4 mercy ruling, with there was plenty of exciting Kermode Beverages beat- tnoments at the Riverboat ing Don’t Know 19-4, Days slo-pitch toumament But the game before that two weekends ago. was a thriller. Teams from all over the Kermadei Beverages was Their bats came alive as both Doug Wilson and Fred Rutledge hit two home runs to lead their team to a I5-5 mercy victory. down 6-0 in the fitth inning ‘northwest turned up for the to the Surf Club Raiders of annual weckend-long Youth Soccer's Under- 14 against Quesnel in a game over the long weekend. Terrace wen this one 5-2, fourney that also included fun evenis like the Swanny Olympics and the Weird and Wacky Games, The championships saw two Terrace teams batile it out for top spot, Kermodel Beverages and West Point bad both clawed their way to the top and were looking to win. And West Point found it. Their bats came alive as both Doug Wilson and Fred Rutledge hit two home runs Prince Rupert before the lo- cals rallied back from the abyss. The game went into extra innings and the final score was 10-7 for the Kermodes. . They finished in second place overall, with West Point in first and Surf Club third. to take the consolation finals. : Meanwhile, Rudon beat. the Prince Rupert Breakers Terrace’s Under-14 Boys topped their age division at the tourney. The boys went itch tourne quad squares off minates youth soccer challenge: undefeated through the weekend, with their closest match being a 2-2 tie against the Terrace Under- 13 team, Quesnel was sec- ond and the sportsmanship award went to Aiyansh. Meanwhile, the Under-14 Girls division was also won by Terrace, who outscored their competitors 18-2 through four games. Ques- nel again placed second, Terrace, however, did not fair as weil in the Under-16 division. The girls faced tough teams from Smithers and Prince Rupert, who ended up first and second respcc- tively, And while the boys had some good games against Ketchikan, the Queen Char- lottes and Nechako Valley, it was ultimately Smithers and Kitimat who took first and second in the division. NICE HIT. And there was plenty of them in this game between Northcoast Timber and HTR atthe Riverboat Days annual mixed slo-pitch tournament. 638-7283 | / t RICHARD KRIEGL puts everything he’s got intoa shot against Mike Johnson at the Terrace Open. Courts dry out in time for tennis IT TOOK giant squeegees to help dry off the courts, but the Riverboat Days Open Tennis Tournament went abead pretty much as scheduled. Play was called off shortly after it began Saturday morning because of rain. But it resumed in the afternoon, as the air warmed and the sun sparkled. In Men’s A singles play Alex Kotai of Kitimat defeated Terrace’s Richard Kriegl, And in Men's B singles Larry Vu defeated Chuck Cey. On the ladies’ side, it was Ima Molschiinig winning over Patty Kozak in A Singles, with Ada Sarsiat defeating Shannon Chalupiak in B Singles play. Men’s Doubles A action had Alex and Daniel Kotai defeat Richard Krieg] and Jeremy Lafontaine, while Men’s B Doubles saw Darren Chalupiak and Mike Krisinger defeat Larry Vu and Chuck Cey, — In Ladies A Doubles, Ronel Murphy and Laurie Cul- len defeated Nancy Condon and Gill Redpath. In the B event, Ira Molschilnig and Melita Braken beat Hester Flewia and Dee Jenion. Finally, Mixed Doubles action had Richard Kricg] and Melita Braken defeat Matlhew Cachia and Dee Jenion in the A event. The B event went to Diane Cey and Erik Hermes. They defeated Shannon Chaluplak and Daniel Kotai. ee Perea a es "4 . er a : a ee Se ee ee ee