TURNING THE BARRELS VOLUME 6 ISSUE 61 AUGUST 2017 ONE FOR THE ARCHIVES

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1 TURNING THE BARRELS The Official Newsletter of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association VOLUME 6 ISSUE 61 AUGUST 2017 A TRIBUTE TO JIM BOTTOMLEY PAGE 2 The WPCA honours a true legend of chuckwagon racing. BONNYVILLE CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE 3 Find out who took home the 2017 George Normand Memorial Buckle. Lots of community event coverage too. STRATHMORE HERITAGE DAYS STAMPEDE PAGE 8 All the details on the races at the 2017 Strathmore Stampede. ONE FOR THE ARCHIVES Rick Fraser having a quiet moment with two of his horses one evening at sunset in Bonnyville. Official Truck of the WPCA

2 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 2 A Tribute to Jim Bottomley IN FRONT OF a sold-out crowd on night two in Strathmore, the WPCA honoured a true legend of chuckwagon racing. For nearly 40 years, Jim Bottomley made a significant impact on the sport as a tarp sponsor and an administrator. Jim earned the respect of everyone with whom he came into contact. Jim s wife Denise Bottomley, several family members and close friends were in attendance as wagons sported a decal with the iconic Majestic RV crown logo. In the featured eighth heat of the night, Kirk Sutherland drove the Majestic RV tarp one last time. Kirk stopped in front of the packed grandstand in the post-race parade while Les McIntyre gave a moving tribute to Jim. Jim was a founding Officer Director of the WPCA. He helped a number of drivers over the years as a tarp sponsor, including Roy Schickerowski, Kirk Sutherland, Reg Johnstone, George Normand, Buddy Bensmiller and Barry Hodgson. Over the years, Jim was recognized with the WPCA s highest honours. These included the WPCA Chuckwagon Person of the Year and the George Normand Lifetime Builders Award for his contributions over the past four decades. Several years ago, an award was named in Jim s honour. Starting in 2014, the recipient of the highest honour awarded by the WPCA, the Chuckwagon Person of the Year, has received the Jim Bottomley Trophy. Jim Bottomley passed away at the age of 79 on July 28, 2017, after a battle with cancer. We have lost a true legend of the sport and one of the best friends that chuckwagon racing could ever have. Rest in peace, Jim. The grandstand crowd in Strathmore rising to honour the late Jim Bottomley as Kirk Sutherland drives the Majestic RV tarp around the racetrack one last time. Right: The custom Jim Bottomley Majestic RV decal, as seen on Chanse Vigen s wagon. Below: Denise Bottomley and Kirk Sutherland with the Majestic RV tarp.

3 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 3 Bonnyville champion driver John Walters flanked by his outriders Dayton Sutherland (left) and Ryan McNeill. CAPACITY CROWDS, PERFECT weather conditions and exciting chuckwagon racing were the recipe for the 2017 Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship. Even the early morning rains didn t affect the racetrack, and the championship wrapped up on a sunny Sunday afternoon. When four days worth of times were added up, it was John Walters, driving the Warco Industrial Cooling Services Ltd. outfit, along with outriders Ryan Mad Dog McNeill and Dayton Sutherland, who captured the title. John also received the George Normand Memorial Buckle for his win. He had a four-day total time of 5:26.20, a large 2.02-second margin over Vern Nolin. With the exception of the Calgary Stampede, there is more media coverage in Bonnyville than anywhere else on the Tour. Local media outlets Country 99, the Bonnyville Nouvelle and Lakeland Connect all had a significant presence at this year s show. Country 99 interviewed drivers, outriders and staff all week long. Marketing executive Caitlyn Thompson arranged for drivers to go live at the studio two to four times each day. Morning on-air personality Krystina Kretschmer conducted interviews in the barns and took two demonstration rides, including one that was broadcast on Facebook Live, with Luke Tournier. The Bonnyville Nouvelle included four stories written by WPCA President Ed Wittchen in the regular weekly issue of the paper, just as they have done for the past 10 years. This time it included stories on Kelly Sutherland s retirement, Cliff Cunningham s recovery from cancer and return to racing, new faces on the Tour and a look at the Equine Awardwinning horses owned by Doug Irvine and Gary Gorst. Nouvelle reporter Josh Thomas was on site for the races and was able to get photos and story material for the next week s issue. Jena and Chad Colbourne at Lakeland Connect really need to be thanked. It seemed like they were everywhere doing interviews from the barns and other online things every day. Chad even did the same thing that Billy Melville does at the Calgary Stampede and climbed into a wagon several times a night to conduct a live interview with the driver as they did their post-race parade in front of the grandstand.

4 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 4 Above, left to right: Bonnyville Pro Rodeo and Chuckwagon Association President Mitch Michaud; local icons Bob Tomm and Marty Michaud; drivers John Walters and Chad Fike at the Sponsor Appreciation Night. Right: The McCurrach family visiting with Codey s sponsor Gary Mostert from Rednecks with a Cause. Each year, the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo and Chuckwagon Association puts on a Sponsor Appreciation Night to kick off the week. Drivers and their families get a chance to meet the local committee and local sponsors. The Chamber of Commerce gets involved with the Annual Chili Cook-off on Main Street by Brosseau s Department Store. This year Billy Melville was the celebrity judge, and after testing 16 entries with varying degrees of heat, he was able to give advice on the best ones for fans to try. One of the highlights of the year for the women of the wagon is the annual Spa Day put on by the Bonnyville committee. They were treated to their own special Ladies Day Spa, supported with the donation of time, services and products from many local businesses. The women truly enjoy and appreciate the activities every year, from tarot card readings to a foot spa, from haircuts to massages and games. This year there was a silent auction where $350 was raised for Rednecks with a Cause, a group based in Bonnyville working to support autistic children in the community. Rednecks with a Cause, in turn, supports chuckwagon racing by sponsoring a couple of tarps. A huge shout-out goes to all the organizers and the major sponsor, Ross & Sylvestre LLP Chartered Accountants. WPCA drivers also get involved with the committee and the community by flipping pancakes and cooking sausages early Saturday morning. Lots of sponsors, groups and fans come back to the barns in most locations but this year it seemed to be extra busy in the Bonnyville barns. Even with the roads being difficult to get around on at times because of the heavy rains earlier in the week, the crowds were good. Congratulations to the Bonnyville Committee for another excellent event.

5 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 5 Above: Doug Irvine with Lakeland Connect s Chad Colbourne (left) and up early with his son Britt, flipping pancakes. Left, top: Logan Gorst on the air at Country 99 with Caitlyn Thompson and Krystina Kretschmer. Left, middle: Jordie Fike with his daughter Teal. Right: Billy Melville judging the Chili Cook-off. Left: Dustin Gorst and Chad Fike flipping pancakes. Below: Blaid Flad taking a turn on the grill.

6 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 6 Above: Dori Harden trying out the new bike she won on the Spa Day. Left, top: Janice Gorst and Sheila Raher enjoying a foot massage during the Ladies Spa Day. Left, middle: Angie Motowylo checking out items donated for the fundraising silent auction. Left, bottom: Lisa Bensmiller and Sue Fraser playing the Minute to Win It game. Right: Lucy Esperance getting a great new haircut on Spa Day.

7 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 7 Above: Kelly Sutherland hosting Pat Berlinguette and her family. Right, top: Rick Fraser guiding his team around the barrel on the Bonnyville chuckwagon track. Right, middle: Mark Sutherland offering a driving lesson to a young fan. Right, bottom: Troy Flad hosting another barn tour. Below: Logan Gorst hosting Wayne and Joanne Kurek.

8 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 8 Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede Above: The 2017 Strathmore champions Gary Gorst, Dustin Gorst and Casey Knight. Right: Gary claims his second Strathmore title. FOLLOWING AN OUTSTANDING weekend, the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede wrapped up on a hot and sunny Monday afternoon on a good dry racetrack. Capacity crowds and great chuckwagon racing was the order for the entire event. For the second consecutive year, it was Gary Gorst, driving the TCB Trailer Services outfit, along with outriders Casey Knight and Dustin Gorst who captured the Strathmore Stampede championship. Gary won the 2017 title after posting the best four-day aggregate time of 4: That put him 1.78 seconds better than two-time Strathmore Stampede champion Jason Glass. Last week s Bonnyville champion John Walter placed third, Grande Prairie champion Obrey Motowylo was fourth and Logan Gorst rounded out the top five overall. Highlights of the weekend included the Sponsor/Volunteer Appreciation Night, the tribute to longtime WPCA Officer Jim Bottomley and the ongoing farewell tour of Kelly Sutherland. At every Tour stop as his career winds down, the fans show Kelly their appreciation for 50 years of wagon racing thrills. Left: The Strathmore Committee honouring Kelly Sutherland. Below: Curtis Morin (left) and Cody Ridsdale (centre) at Appreciation Night with sponsors; Dori and Chad Harden.

9 TURNING THE BARRELS! PAGE 9 Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede A trio of Cliff Cunningham s horses taking a break to enjoy the sunshine and heat in Strathmore this summer. Left: Steph Clovechok, Director of Marketing and Sports Tourism at Tourism Saskatoon, trying out Ross Knight s wagon. Right: Dustin Gorst and his tarp sponsor Blackjack Livestock Co. welcomed the Picards onto his wagon. Photos in this issue supplied by Ed Wittchen, Janet Olsen and Sue Fraser. WPCA / (403) / 3779 Grey Eagle Drive (Hotel), Calgary, AB T3E 3X8 / halfmileofhell.com SPONSOR SUPPORT The WPCA recognizes the support of Midwest Pipelines Inc. They are industry leaders in large diameter pipeline construction, using innovative techniques with a skilled workforce focusing on quality, safety, environment and community. Midwest Pipelines Inc. have shown their support in many ways, including sponsoring Dayton Sutherland s chuckwagon tarp and the Moment in Time segment on the WPCA radio program. They have also helped out a number of WPCA personnel, including radio commentator Billy Melville.