This year's Flyin' High at the Eagle Showdown was another great success. Held for the Manor Fire Department hot laps began at 2 p.m. and were followed by preliminary runs determining who would earn a spot in the feature events.
The fifth annual event hosted by Eagle Motorsports and Joey Galloway Racing saw a beautiful day of racing, cameras flashed as dust flew and engines roared with packed stands taking in the action. In total 40 drivers took to the track with competitors competing in Hobby Stocks (15 drivers), Street Stocks (8), Modified Stocks (12), Powder Puff Race (5).
The ground rumbled as the cars flew around the track, drifting around corners and accelerating along the straightaways the crowd's excitement was evident through whoops and hollers for their favourite drivers.
The qualifying races gave way to the feature events following a driver calcutta. Three racers of each event were auctioned off with the chance of winning a percentage of the pot if their driver took first place.
One of the racers this year, Riley Raynard a young man from Lampman, was excited to be in Manor for the last races of the season.
“I've been out there for one, the track is pretty good, it was a little greasy, but that'll catch up the more it's driven on,” Raynard said. “It's going pretty good out there so far, I finished second in my first heat.”
Although Raynard didn't come away with a win at the Eagle Showdown, he has had a great season at the Estevan track this year finishing as runner up in points for champion.
Raynard also explained that he had travelled down to Boone, Iowa to compete at the IMCA Super Nationals earlier this year which was a great experience.
“It's one of the biggest shows, there's over 700 cars and over 500 classes,” Raynard said. “I even won a b-mains down there, which is like a feature, but with fewer cars.”
Although disappointed he blew a tire in the feature, he was happy for his fellow Lampman racing buddy, Leevi Runge, who earned the win in the Hobby Stock event.
The Street Stocks were up next with Garry Goudy Jr. of Stoughton taking first place.
The final feature event was a 50-lap race for the Modified Stocks, with a mandatory pit-stop and fuel mid-way through. Excitement was in the air as the race ensued which erupted into loud cheering as local racer Joey Galloway of Manor earned first place.
“The day went really well, it was good, there were lots of people who showed up and our car count was down a little bit, but there were a lot of other events on throughout the States and there was one over in Kindersley,” Galloway said. “But overall it went really good.”
Galloway added that the win at the Big Eagle track comes with a highly successful season for the team, as Masen and Jett BigEagle along with himself have brought home quite a few trophies this year: “The season has been really good, I race with Masen and Jett, and this year we raced 23 nights and won 16 or 17 races, so it’s been a very good year for us.”
The Powder Puff race was a new feature this year.
“We decided to do it because of there was talk in the area wanting a girls race, there’s a few who race weekly and we just decided to throw in an extra race last weekend to give them that option.”
In the end Lindsey Wagner of Weyburn took first place in the ladies’ class.
The action concluded and a crowd later returned for a cabaret that evening with Ten Mile High entertaining the crowd.
Overall the day was once again thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance, while the Manor Fire Department benefited from the generosity of those in the crowd.
The event is hosted by the Big Eagle and Galloway families, with help in the form of great support from the community and surrounding area with participants, fans, and volunteers offering to help.
Final numbers raised for the Fire Department are still being determined, but it was once again a great success.
