This is wonderful news. It couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving drag racer.
Regina's Abe Loewen to enter national drag racing shrinehttp://leaderpost.com/sports/auto-racing/reginas-abe-loewen-to-enter-national-drag-racing-shrine
After 40 years behind the wheel of hot rods, Abe Loewen is being inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
“When I knew there was such a thing, I thought it would be sure nice to be in there,” the 67-year-old Regina resident says.
Loewen has always enjoyed cars and racing, even before he moved to Regina from Melfort after high school.
“I’ve always liked cars and the drag racing was always the fun part,” he says. “It’s the same thing that makes you want to race somebody from a stop light — just try to be better than the guy beside you.”
Loewen has travelled throughout Canada and the United States since he started getting serious in the sport in 1976. He has been through a number of different hot rods, starting with his wheel-standing 1967 Chevrolet 2.
After he started finding success, he secured a sponsorship from Oldsmobile, and drove a Calais and Achieva until the company shut down. Pontiac picked him up as a sponsor, and he started driving a Grand Am — a car he races to this day.
“It’s a good car, so I’ll probably just keep that right to the end because I like it and I’m used to it,” he says.
Loewen had varying amounts of success in each of the cars. As for the tracks, he recalled struggling in places like Denver and Pomona, Calif., but once he broke through with victories, those centres became his most successful stops.
“The one that you do the best at is your favourite,” he says. “Of course, once you’ve done well and you know you can do it, then you’ve got a certain level of confidence.”
Outside of engine work, Loewen has worked on his cars throughout the years at his auto shop, Queen City Performance Center.
“When people talk to me about products, they probably think I do know what I’m talking about,” he says, chuckling, in reference to the shelves upon shelves of trophies that are on display in his shop.
Among the trophies are eight for national-event wins in the National Hot Rod Association.
When it comes to being successful in racing, Loewen says it comes down to two things — “good reaction time and consistency.”
“If you don’t have those, you can’t win and then, of course, knowing the car, knowing the track and adjusting for weather conditions – all of that comes into play,” he says.
Loewen’s drag racing career is to be recognized Oct. 15 in Montreal at the Hall of Fame ceremony, at which he will receive a blazer and ring. He doesn’t know who nominated him, but he was excited and happy to hear about being inducted.
He will travel to Montreal with his wife, Lynne. Then he will be back to racing, with trips to Pomona and Las Vegas planned later this month.
In a sport as challenging as drag racing, Loewen intends to enjoy the moment before getting back to competition.
“You don’t get any second chances,” he says. “It’s a cruel sport. You have to always have your best foot forward.”
