By Bryan Hebson
Ray Mitsuing is no stranger when it comes to competition. When you’re at the top everyone is gunning for you and for years Mitsuing has had to deal with the hard running outfits of Jim Knight and Brian Laboucane.
In 2007 Meadow Lakes Gary Gorst has been stride for stride with the Loon Lake veteran in what has been an entertaining duel all summer.
Gorst, one of the hottest driver in the CPCA in 2007 boasts two hard-starting, hard-running outfits and has stole the rail off barrels 3 and 4 at the Calgary Stampede and all year on the CPCA Pro Tour en route to outrunning the best in the business.
Wheel to wheel and stride for stride Gorst and Mitsuing have put on their own show and on two occasions late in the season were tied atop the CPCA Pro Tour standings.
“We have a lot of respect for Ray,” says Gorst’s son Dustin in a pre-race interview. “When you beat the Chief it means a lot.”
Heading into the Turtleford show August 4 and 5, Gorst sat second. Then on night 1 the duo rolled onto the track. Gorst on barrel #1 Mitsuing on #2. When the horn sounded it was a carbon copy of races gone by.
Gorst grabbed the rail holding Mitsuing 2 wide and on this night Gorst pulled away down the stretch as Vern Nolin slid in between for second dropping Mitsuing to third. The end result: Mitsuing and Gorst tied once again for the CPCA Pro Tour lead.
As Gorst and Mitsuing fought it out for first and second the parity in the CPCA became evident as new drivers, young drivers and veterans battled it out for third and fourth (Top four qualify for the Westridge GMC Championship). Heading into the Saskatoon show August 9 to 12 only 28 points separated ninth from third
Tim Haroldson had a slow start to the season as weather conditions hampered his spring training. Haroldson began to get things rolling during the Lloydminster Fair winning that show then continued the momentum during the back half of the CPCA season.
Haroldson rolled into Turtleford sixth in the standings then vaulted to third after two solid runs. Rod Salmond was ranked third most of the year however he sold most of his horses during the Calgary Stampede.
The Calgary Stampede has an age rule that indicates drivers cannot compete at the Stampede after the age of 65 (set up for safety and consistency). Even without his top horses Salmond was sitting fifth with only two shows left on the tour.
Behind the Barns
Gary Gorst started the 2007 season without a pro wagon championship. After the first eight shows of the year Gorst had won three (High River, St. Walburg and Meadow Lake) and finished ninth in the aggregate at the Calgary Stampede qualifying him for the 2008 show.
Ross Fisher is flashing the skills of a veteran. Fisher in only his third year of pro wagon driving is a major threat on the CPCA Pro Tour and looks in good shape to qualify for the 2008 Calgary Stampede.
Fisher who spent the spring of 2006 training with Ray Mitsuing is showing similar Mitsuing like characteristics and driving skills and will be one to contend with in the future.
For two years in a row Brian Laboucane was ranked in the middle of the CPCA Pro Tour standings prior to the Calgary Stampede and once again flashed the experience of a veteran.
This year Laboucane climbed from 11th to fifth in just three weeks and won the two-day Turtleford show.
Rapid Views Vern Nolin is showing why he is a contender in the sport of wagon racing. Nolin finished 10th in the aggregate at the Calgary Stampede and was only one of three drivers to run Penalty Free.
The CPCA in partnership with Lloyd FM 95.9 broadcasted all Saturday Night Races in 2007 and fans along with sponsors have been asking for more.
CPCA officials are currently reviewing the requests and will consider expanding the broadcasts in 2008.
For more on the CPCA and the sport of chuckwagon racing, visit www.cpcaracing.com.
