Regular PMRA competitor Ike Maier had a terrific day at the recent IHRA Northern Nationals at
Martin, Michigan.
Qualifying sixth in the 18-car field with a 6.092-second attempt, the Pro Modified driver ran a
sure and steady game, getting by some of the classes' heaviest hitters to meet IHRA World Champion
Kenny Lang in the final.
Maier had a better light than Lang, but Lang was on his game plan, recording a 6.012-second pass
over Maier's 6.108-second drive.
"Kirk (Silbermann) was reading those guys like a book," said Maier, who drives the Brad
Anderson-powered 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. "I just get in the car and hold the pedal to the
rug."
Maier's first round was an easy one, as opponent Burton Auxier was a no-show. In the second round,
he defeated Pro Modified veteran Ed Hoover with a 6.091 over Hoover's 6.285. In the semi, Maier was
up against fellow Canadian Tony Pontieri, who was ripping off passes in the fives throughout the
meet, but Pontieri succumbed to tire shake, giving Maier the win with a 6.102-second decision over
Pontieri's 8.744-second pass.
Then Maier was lined up with Lang for the final, and although defeated, Silbermann was pleased with
the day.
"This was a confidence boost for the whole team," said the team crew chief and owner of Ajax
Engines. "I knew we wouldn't be the fastest car out there, but I felt Ike now had enough seat time
to get more aggressive and run the lane and not the racer beside him."
Selling his 1969 Camaro Pro Modified last year, Maier and his team have had success with the
Corvette in its first year, including winning the opening round of PMRA competition at Cayuga
Dragway in May of this year. The black Split-window Corvette runs a Bruno transmission and utilizes
an ERD (Engine Research & Development) fuel system to feed the 526-cubic inch BAE hemi. After three
PMRA events in 2009, the team sits in ninth spot in the Championship Point Award Series Standings.
Silbermann said the strategy at Martin was to be sure and steady. "We made sure the car was the
same all day, and prepped the same," he said. "And the car responded very well."
With the team's standout performance at the IHRA race, it was invited to the next event in the Get
Screened America Pro Mod Challenge, this race to be run during the NHRA US Nationals at
Indianapolis, Indiana.
The team's next event will be rescheduled PMRA event at the Stratford Spectacular Hot August
Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts on August 15-16 at the Grand Bend Motorplex
in Grand Bend, Ontario.
Qualifying for the PMRA will begin Saturday, August 15, with round one of eliminations to begin
Sunday afternoon.
Complimentary spectator event tickets will still be available at Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts
locations across Ontario, at businesses in Stratford, or by contacting the Quick 32 Sportsman
Series or the Pro Modified Racing Association.
General parking is $20 per car load and weekend camping is available.
For information about the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply &
NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223 or visit http://www.grandbendmotorplex.com
