Adam Schneider sits in his junior dragster at this year’s King of the Hill Dragway. Photo by Bill Tremblay
For the past four year the King of the Hill Dragway has been bringing competitors to North Bay from all over Ontario, Quebec, and the Northern United States.
The dragway unites drivers from all walks of motor sport life, some of which are not even old enough to have a driver’s license.
Seven-year-old Adam Schneider of North Bay is one of the 18 drivers to enter the junior dragster class.
“Its fun, I get to drive a car,” Schneider said.
Junior dragsters have been competing for roughly ten years now at dragways. Schneider’s dragster has a five horsepower engine with a top speed of 42 miles per hour. His car is even sponsored by local businesses.
“My dad bought a race car and asked me if I wanted to race,” Schneider explained.
“I said yes.”
This year was Schneider’s first year competing, he said to prepare his father would have him practice driving in parking lots.
“Adam would watch while we race, so when the opportunity came up for us to buy a junior dragster, we did,” Schneider’s father, who competes in the semi-pro class, said.
“It’s good to get the kids involved, and get them interested early.”
Joey Diroux of Bonfield also had his father’s help getting involved in drag racing.
“I first went out in my father’s race car and basically got the itch,” Diroux said.
“Before that I was just checking air and putting gas in my dad’s race car.’
Diroux drives a rebuilt ’87 Chevy S10 truck in the semi-pro class. He explained he rebuilt the truck, with the help of his father, from a frame from the scrap yard. This year’s dragway was his first chance to compete.
“I hope to continue following the Show me the Money tour, but if not this year, next year for sure,” Diroux said.
It’s an expensive sport, you have to budget and hope to find sponsor if you want to keep on doing it.”
