Soo Crew invades Michigan drag strip

A group of 11 drag racers from Sault Ste. Marie continued their work in the Michigan racing scene this past weekend in Stanton.

The Soo Crew, the name by which the local dragsters call themselves, travel to Michigan a few times a year to participate in the races against the regular weekly competitors.

On the weekend, the locals put forth a good showing in several different classes.

Rod Aubertin, the operator of www.saultracers.com, made the five hour trek to catch up with the local racers and provided SooToday.com with a complete event story and a picture of street class winner Peter Manzo.

To view more photos of the event or for other news and information on the local racing scene from saultracers.com, click here.

The following is the full text release provided by Aubertin:

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The Soo Crew Invades Mid Michigan

By Rod Aubertin

For those of you who don't know who the Soo Crew is, well, they are a group of drag racers, most of them unknown, who are termed as Friends for Life, but Warriors on the track.

A total of 11 drag racers from the Sault and area went down to Mid Michigan Motorplex just outside of Stanton, Michigan for the Annual Labor Day Fun Fest which involved three days of fantastic drag racing.

For the Soo Crew, the competition would be fierce as the majority of the racers from here only race about three times a year while their opponents who live in close proximity of this quarter mile facility are weekly participants.

On Saturday, Chris Manzo with his 1964 Rambler would have to bow out of competition shortly after time trials due to transmission problems. For the remaining members a few drivers went three rounds before being eliminated.

Sunday was a new day and would see Doug Quinton, coming off a final round win in Elliot Lake in July, break two piston rods and have him put his 1964 Pontiac Acadian on the trailer for the remainder of the weekend.

In the Street Class, Morris Aubertin got into the quarter finals being eliminated by Peter Manzo and his Dodge Coronet. In the semi final round Manzo eliminated the Street Class points leader making his way to the final round.

For Peter, this was his first final round appearance in three years of drag racing. Manzo's opponent lost by running faster than his dial in while Peter ran 2/100s of a second over his dial in giving the win to Peter Manzo.

Monday, the final day of racing had Eddie Fantasia with his 1973 Vega brush the wall after the finish line. There was a strong cross wind at the end of the strip which moved the short wheel based Vega to the right causing a little body damage to the rear quarter panel.

Eddie stated that anytime you can unbuckle your harness and get out of your car after a crash is a good day. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Soo Crew would be eliminated within the first two rounds, and start to load up the vehicles for the five hour trek northbound to home.

Overall, the Soo Crew had a good showing of drag racers and definitely made a mark in the history pages of Mid Michigan.

For more pictures from the weekend you can visit www.saultracers.com.

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PHOTO: Street Class winner Peter Manzo.