Jim in the Media – Simon Says: I wanna go faster!

The fellow building it is a big part of this story. Jim Obalek (photo left) is best known locally as the driver who was behind the wheel of Dennis Hicks’ blown alky slingshot when it stood up large at Eagle last season. He has spent some years down under in Australia, wants to use this car to showcase his building skills all the while helping the alky teams of Hugh Ridley and Keeter Ray. His major goal however is to drive, and if he keeps on going the route he is, Obalek will most likely make that a reality.

The ‘68 Camaro will be a full legal Pro Mod piece, but will start off with a mild huffed iron block 468 that is expected to run mid sevens. “I still need to get my my Advanced ET license” says Kingsley, who has high praise for his builder. “Jim will have built this car from start to finish. Every last detail from the first tube to the last spray of paint is his workmanship. Not only the build but the engine assembly, tune up, all the suspension, steering geometry, every aspect of a brand new build.”

Whiles it’s nice to have such a talented guy close to home to handle all that, there’s more to Kingsley’s race ‘team’. His family including wife Gina, son Colton and daughter Jessica play a major role in the ‘fun’ weekends away racing. As does a lady he calls perhaps his biggest supporter, though it wasn’t always that way.

“My mother Anne Elliott was terrified the first time I raced about three years. Now she loves its, came to every race last year and will forever.” Without the support of his family Kinglsey says he “would not be living the dream right now.” Proof yet again that this is a family sport few others can match.

He also thanks the people of the Eagle Motorplex. “Since the first day I dragged my car up to Ashcroft, the help and support I got from not only the track staff, but my fellow racers to this day blows me away. The crew up there is one of the reasons I got hooked so bad on drag racing.”

Kinglsey operates S.K. Automotive in sunny Sechelt (5546 Inlet Ave (604) 885-2375), and with so much positive enthusiasm we can’t wait to see Simon go faster!