"Big Dog" sees Red (and Orange)!

By: Bruce Biegler (June 06/06)

Carl “Big Dog” Spiering and the Eaton Cutler-Hammer Pro Modified team certainly left their imprint on the IHRA eMax Drag Racing circuit during last weekend’s Mopar Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex.

The team made their first Canadian appearance with their all new G-Force Race Cars ’67 Camaro and were in the thick of what was truly a ferocious event Pro Modified eliminator.

Despite losing the third scheduled time trial to the elements, Carl qualified solidly #5 with a strong lap of 6.172 secs at 230.71 mph. During round one Carl jumped to an early lead and took a rather lop sided win over Kentucky’s Billy Harper, recording a 6.284 secs at 228.83 mph.

In round two the team poured some more coals to the burner and were rewarded with an even quicker and faster run of 6.152 secs at 231.06 mph. However as fate would have it, the performance while racing along side the bright orange ’62 Chevy replica of South Carolina’s Al Pittman was for not as Carl had left the starting line too soon with a red-light foul start.

“The car did everything it was supposed to do,” said Spiering. “But this is a new car for all of us (including the driver) and it responds differently. The clutch peddle and the throttle are different and as a result the car leaves the starting line differently. There is a learning curve involved with all that and that can only come by making laps in the car.”

“Our whole program is however coming together really well,” he continued. “We have come a very long way in a short period. I just need to get back in the groove as a driver and once that happens – trust me – we will be bad!”

Carl and his talented engine builder Terry Vince did take some consolation at Grand Bend with the fact that one of their valued ERD Hemi customers ended up in victory lane – Al Pittman.

“If we couldn’t have this event I’m sure glad one of my customers could,” Carl added. “Instead of brewing about things -- our guys headed right over to help Alan and Mel (Bush). It was exciting for us to see them come back this way after being away for the sport for 3 years.”

“ERD gave us a great motor program and that’s probably the reason I’m standing here right now in the winners circle,” said Pittman. “When you can surround yourself with the quality people you can accomplish anything you want.”

Carl and his team also enjoyed it’s interaction with over 700 Eaton Cutler-Hammer industry guests during Saturday’s racing program.

“I don’t know how Paul (Tlustos) does it but these events just seem to get bigger and better,” Carl concluded. “All the guests they have turn into instant fans for us and all of that is inspiring.”

The Eaton Cutler-Hammer Pro Modified team will now head to Western Canada for its next racing action with a stop at British Columbia’s Mission Raceway (June 17th) before heading to the IHRA Rocky Mountain Nationals (June 23-25th) at Edmonton’s Castrol Raceway.

(Bruce Biegler Photos)