When Shawna Woudstra stepped into her new Top Dragster earlier this year after racing a Junior Dragster for many seasons, the family knew the costs would be greater competing with a faster car.
But the family team recently acquired major sponsorship from Castrol Canada, and will be able to campaign the car with no financial worries.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Dan Woudstra, Shawna’s father and overseer of the team. “We got the call from Castrol about a month ago.”
Shawna, from Waterdown, has gone from a one-cylinder car which obtains speeds of about 85 mph to a car capable of speeds of over 170 mph, a transition that is a natural move in the world of drag racing, and she is still learning about the new car.
“This car is completely different,” said the 18-year old who will be attending the University of Guelph in the fall. “There is lots more to think about. I’ve never worked with the computer systems in a race car, but it’s coming together.”
Shawna started racing when she was eight years old, and has driven in the popular Junior Dragster class for 10 years, learning her craft.
Father Dan, who raced at one time before devoting his racing time to his daughter, knew Shawna was ready to get into the faster car, and purchased the 2004 Horton dragster a few months ago. The car is powered by a 468-cubic inch engine with 860 horsepower, and the elder Woudstra admitted he has been working on set-ups with the new car, especially the computer systems, which can control the car’s performance.
“We’ve been involved with Castrol for nine years now, although not to this extent,” he said. “They have been very faithful, and they wanted to step up the program. We’re hoping for some big plans in the future.”
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