Excuse the language, but what the hell is a Ridler Award car doing drag racing on an old airstrip in Osoyoos?
That’s what JF Launier has been asking himself all week leading up to the 5th annual Rumble in the Valley Car Club Challenge at Richter Pass Motorplex on September 28.
“I shouldn’t be here (with this car),” said Launier, admitting that he had doubts about racing the 1964 Buick Riviera he calls “Rivision.”
Launier held out his hand to show that it was shaking after finishing the first run.
“The first pass was scary . . . it (the car) was sliding around,” he noted.
Needless to say, Rivision “overpowered the track” and left the competition in the dust with over 800 horsepower. Launier had the car travelling about 100 m/ph at the end, with a best time of approximately 8.1 seconds.
Some people might think he was crazy to race this car that took six years and 20,000 hours to build. He acknowledged that it wasn’t a good idea, but . . . “I like the crowd to be happy,” he pointed out
Launier, who owns JF Kustoms in Osoyoos, entered the Rivision on behalf of the Coachmasters Club of the South Okanagan.
“We’re all (racing) junkies. It’s a drug and this is the only place to get it,” Launier said.
After winning the coveted Ridler Award at the 2014 Detroit Autorama, Launier is now starting to enjoy the car.
When asked what it felt like to win the award, he honestly couldn’t put it into words.
During Rumble in the Valley, Launier invited the public to come down and take a closer look at Rivision. He even handed out Hot Wheels cars to all of the children.
One little fan, Ryley Dyck from Cawston, was bold enough to ask Launier for a ride in that yellow beast of a car.
“Sorry, kiddo,” Launier had to say.
Dyck, 10, said he really liked Rivision.
“I love the shape and the body style, basically everything.”
Last Sunday was the first time that Ryley and his father Dave attended a Wine Country Racing Association event at the motorplex.
Ryley said he’s really into cars, especially the ones that look really nice.
“But not Fords, he quickly pointed out.
His dream is to get a 1964 Chevy Impala and race it some day.
“Father and son share the same dream,” said Dave.
Stay tuned next week for more racing coverage.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
