What’s up DODOlogic? My name is Shawn but everyone just calls me Shawley. I’m from Edmonton Alberta and I drive the blue Clarion Toyota Chaser in Drift Mania Canadian Championships (DMCC) West Professional Drift Series.
Two weekends ago was DMCC West Round 3 at Race City in Calgary Alberta. The weather was perfect over the weekend. It was in the upper 20’s on Saturday and low 30’s on Sunday.
We arrived in Calgary late Friday night with the truck and trailer. After meeting up with the judges and fellow drivers, we had a good night out in Calgary, Alberta.
We arrived at the track early Saturday morning for our day of practice and for the Pro-Am event.
After getting our pits set up with Team AMR Canada we had some time to relax and make some breakfast on the Clarion V8 BBQ before our first practice session.
Once we got out onto the track, I had the music blaring out of my Clarion stereo system in my Chaser and was getting pumped to rip up Race City. My entries into the giant embankment were anywhere in 110 to 121km/h range. We ran the same course as round 1, with minor changes in the infield to get around the new potholes that had appeared since the last time we were down in Calgary.
Also, as some of you may know, I’ve had some issues with my transmission for the last season or so, and it really piled up on me at DMCC round 2 this past July. But after my friend Ryan Schmidt had a look at it and replaced a few parts out of a donor transmission that Cam Klein tracked down for me, it was shifting better than ever just in time for round 3.
Saturday practice went awesome, I was running a nice high line on the bank all day and my tires from Wheels-Plus were just billowing smoke all day long!
I would like to also congratulate Spencer Hogg of BOSS Imports, a fellow 4 door drifter, for winning the DMCC Pro Am competition in his JZX100 Chaser!!
Later Saturday night Darryl Dahl, my manager, arranged for all of the drivers and fans to head over to 355 Mansion for a party with the Clarion Drift Team. 355 Mansion sent a Budweiser bus to pick up all of us to head out for the night, and anyone that was there that night knows we always host a good party! But I turned into bed early to get ready for the event the following day.
Sunday morning started out with a bang, literally! On about my 3rd practice run while going tandem against Travis Clark, I entered a little fast and smashed my right rear of my car into the wall of the first clipping zone on the bank. Really, it was more like a 50 foot wall drag with my taillight and rear quarter panel taking a majority of the abuse, after my rear bumper ejected from the car. Luckily there was no major damage to the car; nothing that some zip ties, a hammer, and some new blue vinyl won’t fix!
After getting the car back together, we were up for qualifications. My first run was pretty conservative, locking me into a spot for top 16. But my second run, I went all out, nailing every clip and securing me a 6th place qualification spot overall.
Once the top 16 were announced, I was off to battle Chad Sager in the Sherwood Nissan S13 Silva who qualified 9th position.
First run against Chad I was leading, and he just wasn’t able to keep up to the mighty 420+ hp Clarion Chaser
My chase run against Chad was one of the better runs of my drifting career, smoking out the bank and keeping tight enough to him in the in-field to eliminate him and bump myself up into top 8.
Moving on, I was up against Kurtis Goat in his Status One S13 Silvia. I had a great chase run until we got to the last clipping point and I went offline and spun out to avoid hitting him or the clip.
After Kurtis took the advantage on the first run, it was all or nothing for me for the second run. I went big and high on the bank but unfortunately I maxed out my angle on the front straight clipping point and I was unable to hold it. I spun out, which eliminated me from the event.
All and all was an awesome weekend! I would like to congratulate Conroy Ganson of AMR/Yokohama for taking home the win. I would also like to thank all my crew, my friends, family, DODOlogic, DMCC Staff, and of course all of my Sponsors!! Clarion Car Audio Canada, Certified Radio, Wheels-Plus, and Clutch Masters thank you for your support!
We will see you all in Penticton, BC September 3rd and 4th!!!!
