How can there by limitations when the item is on one’s bucket list?

For doorslammer racer Paul Glandon, the JEGS Performance Street Car Super Nationals is enough of a must-experience event that he was willing to make the long trek with his turbocharged classic Camaro from Northern Alberta down to Las Vegas several years ago.  It’s since become an annual tradition. 

“It gets really cold in Alberta this time of the year, we just want to go (racing),” Glandon explained. “I’m in the concrete business and things slow down when it gets cold. It gives me time to go and travel because I don’t have time in the summertime. It gives me the chance to come to this race and, you know, get one last race in and have some fun!”

All work and no play makes Glandon a dull boy, and he still sneaks out for some of the Western Canadian Pro Modified races. He can’t help it, he’s been racing for a long time. 

“I started on the street 25 years ago and decided, ‘I think we’re going a little too fast on the streets,” Glandon admitted. “So we went to the drag races at the track and we got hooked. You start off with a 12-second car and you say, ‘I’d be happy to go 11.”

“So every year, you go faster and faster and faster. It just got to a point where I loved Pro Mods and I said ‘I’d just love to do some Pro Mod racing’ and get that off my bucket list. So far, it’s working.”

There are plenty of cars competing at the SCSN, but forgive Glandon is there’s only one car he has eyes for. 

“It’s a beautiful car,” Glandon said without hesitation. “R&H built it out of Kelowna (British Columbia) and Jamie Miller’s tuning it and he’s made it go fast a couple years ago and now he’s doing the same thing again.”

Glendon reached the Pro Modified semis two years ago, but the race was delayed due to weather and he just couldn’t find his groove on Monday morning.  

“It was on a Sunday and got really cold and the track got really cold and dangerous, so they stopped and we had to finish it off the next day,” Glandon said. “When you’re in the groove, you’re in the groove and the next day was a different story. But hey, I raced with some of the world champions and yeah, I was pretty happy! I was pumped.”

Glendon was pleased when he reeled off a 5.942-second pass at 248.93 mph. But it’s not all about winning or even running fast for him. 

“Oh, man! We certainly don’t do it for the money, so if I could win this, it would make my year,” Glandon said. “Sometimes, you get frustrated because it’s a lot of work. 

“To win this, it would probably make me want to keep going. Love it!”