Newspaper article on Saint John racers at Epping

[Jeff Kempton]

telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/sports/article/1425973

"Mark Howes, Chris Howes, Mark London to face top competition on track

Jeff Ducharme
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - Mark and Chris Howes and Malcolm London will make up a Port City contingent of drag racers who will take their pavement pounders to the NHRA Division 1 points meet in Epping, N.H., this weekend.

To qualify for any of the 22 NHRA U.S. national races, drivers must gather grade points at events such as the one at New England Dragway. The Epping races are expected to attract about 400 cars in various classes.

"In Atlantic Canada, our stock super/stock combo races are drawing in the 15 to 20 car range as we get off the ground," Mark Howes said via email as he drove to Epping with his family. "In the U.S., stock and super stock are separated. We could see as many as 75 cars in each class for a total of 150 and only two winners - one in each class."

The competition, he said, isn't any tighter but the road to the finals is longer in the NHRA grade events.

"It's four rounds to win at home while it's probably six or more down here."

The number of rounds depend on the number of cars.

Mark Howes is bringing his 1971 340 Duster to compete in super stock while his brother Chris in his 1970 426 Hemi Challenger and Malcolm in his 1980 305 Malibu will challenge for top spot in the stock class.

The competition might not be any stiffer, but they will have to run their cars harder than in the local races since the minimum qualifying time is a 30th of a second quicker.

"On top of that the racing conditions are much tougher," Howes said. "The weather plays a huge role in performance. Corrected altitude, humidity and barometric pressure play a big role in how fast a car will run. In Atlantic Canada we have some of the best conditions in North America for racing."

The cooler Atlantic Canada temperatures allow the engines to produce more horsepower and power the cars to faster 1/4-mile times, but in the heat and humidity of New Hampshire the cars actually run slower.

"The challenge of racing down here (in the U.S.) is that you are racing against some who do it for a living, maybe (race) three or four days a week and many who have a much longer season," Howes said. "They have way more seat time."

Much of a run down the 1/4 mile, he said, is all about being prepared mentally.

"One small mistake and you go home, no chance to catch up the next lap," he said, comparing it to other forms of racing. "I think that in essence the winner is the racer who messes up less. It's a game of not beating yourself."

The next local race is slated for July 30 at the Miramichi Dragway."