Chuck Wagon Talk with Arnie Jackson
Luke Tournier Looking Like A Champ
By Arnie Jackson
Jul 26, 2008, 15:33

          At 45 years of age, the talented Luke Tournier has little more to prove in his chosen sport of chuckwagon racing. Over the years as a reignsman on the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) circuit, and then for the past decade as a wagon master on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s tour, the Duck Lake, Saskatchewan native has has proven time and time again, to be a formidable challenge every time the Claxton/Horn sounds.

          Since he’s still willing to jump up into the 1325 pound box and guide four success driven thoroughbreds around a dirt oval, he might just as well be winning a few of these races. Friday, July 25^th, 2008 he took advantage of almost ideal conditions to put on a driving clinic for just about anybody who was willing to peak in, at the Drumheller, Alberta Rodeo Grounds.

          It was opening night of the Badlands Dinasour Derby, and the talented driver waisted no time turning in the best time opening night when he ran the course in a 1:06:64. That was a clear one full second ahead of second place Brian Mayan of High River, Alberta who guided his ChemServ Products Inc. outfit around the ˝ mile track in a 1:07:79.

          The positioning remained very tight from third spot to eight place as only 16/100^th of a second separated the next eight competitors. Obrey Motowylo shared third and fourth place money opening night with Tyler Helmig of Leduc, Alberta. Both drivers stopped the judges watches at 1:07:83.

          Just 3/100^th of a second back in fifth place was the former school teacher from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Mark Sutherland. The 37 year old veteran, who credits his Dad Kelly, with a good grounding in the sport, travelled the well groomed Drumheller, Alberta course in just 1:07:86. That gave him fifth place money for day one of the Badlands Races, the second last leg of the WPCA circuit tour.

          The leader board shows the next three outfits bunched in a cozy 4/100^th of a second time frame as a the “Bashaw Flash”; RTeg Johnstone turned the half mile oval in a rapid run of 1:07:95, good for sixth place on the evening, while Luke’s brother Leo Tournier, also from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan made his presence felt with an impressive 1:07:98 with his JLT Construction Inc. wagon. Right behind him, with hardly enough time to eat anybody’s dust, was Mark Sutherland’s uncle, Kirk Sutherland from Grande Prairie, Alberta. The 51 year old Sutherland has won 5 career WPCA shows and would love nothing better than to add Drumheller to his fine list of accomplishments. Friday, July 25^th, 2008 the elder Sutherland took a good stab at making that six, when he completed his run with the Lake Newell Resort Developers wagon in a time of 1:07:99.

          The second round of the three day competition takes place on Saturday, July 26^th, 2008 at the racing oval at the Drumheller, Alberta Rodeo Grounds. Championship points are critical at this stage of the game as this is the3 final meet before the circuit title races, July 31^st through August 4^th, 2008 at the Strathmore, Alberta Rodeo Grounds.       

© Copyright TALKCalgary