More than a thousand spectators filled the bleachers set by the runway at the Stettler airport last weekend to watch cars of all ages and makes race in the gas-guzzling annual Side-by-Side Shoot-out.
Bright sunny weather, for a change, helped the organizers attract enthusiasts to the event although mosquitoes gave a hard time to all those who forgot their insect repellent sprays at home.
Shawn Lee, vice-president of the Stettler Auto Club, said they had more cars taking part than last year’s event.
“Last year we had a one day event and we had about 100 cars signed up. This year we had 164 cars over the two days,” Lee said of the one-eighth mile races on Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25.
There were many participants from neighbouring communities, some of whom ended up winning in theri categories.
Winners in the races, in categories in the order of speed, are as follows:
Saturday
True Street Class: Quinn Davies (Stettler)
Real Street Class: Jody Nichols (Stettler)
Super Street Class: Keith Villeneuve (Camrose)
Pro Street Class: Kevin Massigran (Innisfail)
Sunday
True Street Class: Kevin Loween (Devon)
Real Street Class: Troy Ritchie (Lacombe)
Super Street Class: Wade Osguthorpe (Delburn)
Pro Street Class: Len Wren (Lacombe)