Sisters Entered In Tractor Pull
Steve Henjum is excited about the lineup of tractors and trucks he’s corralled for the second annual Hot Summer Nights Motor Spectacular that takes place Friday and Saturday at the Spokane County Fairgrounds Arena.
Event organizer Tom Stebbins calls Henjum on to scour the land for modified trucks and big blown alcohol tractors. And it looks like he has done a great job.
But Henjum’s success also subjects him to a dilemma, and worse yet a potential family feud. Daughter Sami, 21 will be up against sister Jenny, in the modified division.
Sami’s “Moonlighter,” a Ford, won last year’s Saturday night competition, outpulling the nearest driver by a good 20 feet.
Jenny just turned 16. The North Central High School junior will drive the family’s second truck, a Chevrolet called “Predator.”
“Jenny just got her driver’s license. She’s never driven (in a pull) before,” Henjum said.
Now throw in the possibility of dad getting the motor of his new “Limited Edition” back together and … well, depending on who wins, it could be cause some interesting bragging rights.
Another young puller is 16-year-old Matt Humphrey, who drives the “Challenger” from Edwall. “The kid’s following in dad’s footsteps,” Henjum said.
Family matters aside, Henjum said he’s heard from some 20 modified trucks that expect to compete. He’s also assembled a big group of 4x4s and blown two-wheel drives. There’s a four-engined tractor, and “we’re working on a triple-engine tractor from Ellensburg. We’re expecting a real good stock (truck) participation.”
The tractor/truck pull begins at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Duke’s Car Club Show begins Saturday at noon, and the NAPA Tough Truck competition concludes both evenings.
Tickets are available at G & B Select-a-Seat locations. Adult admission is $12 per evening and youth (12 and under) admission is $7 per evening. Coupons good for $2 off are available at NAPA auto parts stores. The Duke’s Car Show is free.
Modifieds at Stateline
The Northwest Modifieds will return to Stateline Speedway on Saturday night, when Spokane’s Alan Quist will continue his pursuit of Josh Roberts.
Roberts has won three races and Quist two as the series swings into its final four races.
Also on the Stateline schedule are touring N.W. Super Fours, Oldtime Racers, Mini-Trucks and Hobby Cars, with time trials at 6 p.m.
Four stroke event
An American Motorcyclist Association “Four Stroke Nationals” motorcross race will be held Sunday at the Spokane Motorsports Complex in Airway Heights. The race pays a $5,000 purse and features competition in upward of 30 classes, including Oldtimers, a pair of women’s divisions and a number of beginner groups.
Gates open at 6 a.m. with racing at 9 a.m. Info: (509) 928-8192.
Thunder rolls in Seattle
Nostalgia buffs will want to head for Seattle on Sunday for the 50th-anniversary running of the Seafair unlimited hydroplane races.
The whispering turbine hydros will be drowned out - at least for awhile - by vintage thunderboats in the PEMCO Classic. That exhibition race, which will re-create the 1960 Gold Cup on Lake Washington, will feature the Gale V, Miss Century 21, Miss Seattle Too, Miss Burien, Nitrogen Too, Hawaii Kai III, Slo-mo-shun V and Miss Bardahl.
Information: (206) 764-9453 or www.thunderboats.org.
Pit stops
Another round of high school drags (time trials, 5:30 p.m.) is on the schedule Friday at Spokane Raceway Park. Saturday’s stock car program will be highlighted by a return of the Northwest Late Models; four different drivers have won races. Saturday bracket drags (TT 3:30) complete SRP’s weekend… . Flat-track motorcycle racing is back at the West Plains Speedway on Saturday (TT 5:30)… . Eagle Track in Republic, Wash., will have its first Kids Day on Saturday (TT noon) with Modifieds, Full Bodied and Fever Fours competing… . Along with American Outboard Federation hydroplane racing Saturday and Sunday in Clarkston will be an International Jet Sport Boaters Association Wild Card qualifier race for personal watercraft on Sunday.
Info: Roy Mackey (509) 255-6237.