Grande Prairie

So far we have been having a great show in Grande Prairie. After 3 nights we are sitting in 14th spot. The penalty on night 1 has cost us a few spots, but still it has been a great 1st show.

On night 3 we ran 3 wide and the boys were pretty tired. We have a great crew this year who worked hard on the boys after the race. We would not be able to do what we do if it was not for all the crew, family and friends who help out throughout the year. They really make a huge difference during the season.

We have barrel #1 tonight, so hopefully we can get out of the infield fast. Tomorrow the heats will be redrew according to the standings after 4 nights. Stay tuned to either our Facebook page or the WPCA website to find out what heat we will be moving to.

Race On!

How the Game Goes

I thought that after last nights race it would be the perfect time to explain the "game" of chuckwagon racing.

The point of racing is to make it around the track as fast as possible. However, there are rules that you must follow as you do that. These rules are in place to make the sport more challenging, and keep it as safe as possible.

For each rule that is broken, you can either be given a penalty, which adds seconds onto your race time, or you may be disqualified. Because you are given additional seconds to your race time for each penalty, it is important to drive as clean as possible.

Now the driver is not the only one who can earn penalties. The outriders can also earn penalties as well. The driver has no control over this, so he has to rely on his outriders to ride a clean race as well.

Here is a guideline of the basic rules to Chuckwagon Racing:

The Race

• A chuckwagon race will consist of two to four wagons, with two to four outriders per wagon.
• An individual chuckwagon race is referred to as a heat.
• Each wagon will start on the right side of its starting barrel, with the hub of the real wheels in line with any part of the barrel closest to the racetrack (Bottom barrel).
• A gun or horn (Klaxon) is used as a starting signal for a chuckwagon race.
• When a race has been started, outriders must load the stove and the tent poles into the back of the wagon.
• Each wagon must cut a figure 8 pattern around their respective barrels only.
• Outriders must cut a figure 8 pattern around their respective barrels only.
• Chuckwagons and outriders then run around the racetrack in a counter clockwise direction.
• A chuckwagon’s running time will be determined when the nose of its first horse crosses the finish line.
• Each outrider must finish within 150 feet of its wagon or they will be determined late.
• A chuckwagon’s total time will be determined by adding its running time to any penalties it may have incurred during the course of the race.

Basic penalties

Penalty Call	Time Penalty
Wagon interference	Min. of 1 Second
Late outrider	1 Second
Outrider finishing ahead of wagon	1 Second
Outrider not finishing race	1 Second
Outrider interference	Discretion of judges
Tent poles off ground to start race	1 Second / Pole
Tent poles not loaded	1 Second / Pole
Stove off ground to start race	2 Seconds
Stove not loaded	4 Seconds
Wagon starting ahead of barrel	1 Second
False start	1 Second
Wagon knocks over a barrel	5 Seconds / Barrel
Wagon missing a barrel	10 Seconds / Barrel
Outrider knocking over a barrel	2 Seconds / Barrel
Outrider missing a barrel	2 Seconds / Barrel

One Year Ago

Well we made it up to Grande Prairie for the first races of the year. It is always a great show to get to as your horses are fresh and it is awesome to see all of the familiar faces from the circuit.

Last year when we got up to Grande Prarie, we were so excited for the season to start. We had a great spring training and had really god hopes for the weekend. However, we ran into a small problem... we kind of were a little late for the race. We didn't even make it onto the track!

All I can say is that we will not be making that mistake again today. We have a great team of horses to hook tonight. Should be a good night.

Ponoka Tarp Auction Results

The final chuckwagon canvas auction for 2010 took place for one of chuckwagon racing's premier events - the Ponoka Stampede - on Friday, May 7, 2010 at the Stagecoach Saloon on the Ponoka Stampede grounds in Ponoka, Alberta.


$374,500.00 was bid on the 36 drivers that will compete at the 2010 Ponoka Stampede. This is up a whopping $110,000.00 over the 2009 total of $264,500.00. This year’s total makes the Ponoka Stampede the highest of all of the shows that will comprise the 2010 WPCA Dodge Pro Tour.

Defending Ponoka Stampede Champion Obrey Motowylo and Troy Dorchester shared the high bid with each driver selling for $20,000.00, up $1,000.00 over 2009’s top bid of $19,000.00. The average bid was $10,402.78.78 up $3,055.56 from $7,947.22 in 2009, with the median bid being $8,500.00 up $2,500.00 from $6,000.00 in 2009. The low bid of $4,500.00 was up $500.00 over 2009’s low bid of $4,000.00.

As reported by the WPCA

2010 WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Canvas Auction Results

The 3rd canvas auction of the year - the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour’s chuckwagon canvas auction took place on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, with satellite locations in Medicine Hat, Rocky Mountain House, Grande Prairie, Drumheller and Bonnyville. Shows up for sale included the Grande Prairie Stompede, Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, North American Chuckwagon Championship, Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship, Badlands Dinosaur Derby, WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship, Battle of the North and finally the Battle of the Rockies. 

All but one show was up over 2009 totals. The overall total came in at $1,276,250.00 - up $93,000.00 over 2009 totals. The top selling show of 2010 for the 2nd consecutive year was the Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship. It totaled a very impressive $202,000.00 up $10,500.00 over its 2009 total of $191,500.00. The average bid came in at $5,611.11 with the median bid at $5,125.00. High bid of $19,500.00 went to local hero Rae Croteau Jr.

The 2nd highest total of the 2010 satellite auction was the Grande Prairie Stompede. It totaled $194,500, up $18,500.00 from $176,000.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $5,402.78 with the median bid at $5,000.00. High bid of $10,000.00 went to Hugh Sinclair, Kirk Sutherland and Jason Glass. 

The 3rd highest total of the 2009 satellite auction was the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship in Strathmore. It totaled $185,250.00, up $13,750.00 from $171,500.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $5,145.83 with the median bid at $4,875.00. High bid of $9,500 went to Kelly Sutherland.

4th highest total was the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River. Although it totaled $155,000.00, it was the only show of the 8 auctioned off to be down in total from 2009. High River’s auction was down $2,500.00 from $157,500.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $4,305.56 with the median bid coming in at $4,500.00. High bid of $8,000.00 went to Rick Fraser.

The 5th highest total was a new show - the Battle of the Rockies in Rocky Mountain House which replaced the Red Deer Chuckwagon Championship. The change of venue was a positive as the sale totaled $152,750.00, up $28,750.00 over Red Deer’s 2009 total of $124,000.00. The average bid came in at $4,243.06 with the median bid at $3,875.00. High bid of $9,500.00 went to Jerry Bremner.

6th highest total was the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek. It totaled $148,500.00, up $11,750.00 from $136,750.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $4,125.00 with the median bid at $4,000.00. High bid of $8,000.00 went to Chad Harden.

7th highest total went to the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede. It totaled $120,250.00, up $2,500.00 from $117,750.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $3,340.28 with the median bid equaling the 2009 median bid at an even $3,000.00. High bid of $8,000.00 went to Troy Dorchester.

Finally, the Badlands Dinosaur Derby totaled $118,000.00, up $9,750.00 from $108,250.00 in 2009. The average bid came in at $3,277.78 with the median bid at $3,000.00. High bid of $6,250.00 went to Reg Johnstone.

The final auction of the year will be for the Ponoka Stampede which will take place on Friday, May 7, 2010 at the Stagecoach Saloon on the Ponoka Stampede Grounds. Last years Ponoka Stampede auction brought in a total of $264,500.00.

As reported my WPCA

Dodge World Chuckwagon Championships Canvas Auction Results

The 2nd Chuckwagon canvas auction for 2010 took place on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the Alberta Ballroom in Edmonton Expo Center at Northlands Park - 116 Avenue & Wayne Gretzky Drive in Edmonton.

$307,000.00 was bid on the 36 drivers that will compete at the WPCA Dodge World Chuckwagon Championships. This is up $21,500.00 over the 2009 total of $285,500.00.

Defending Edmonton Chuckwagon Derby Champion Chad Harden was the high bid at $19,000.00, down $1,000.00 over 2009’s top bid of $20,000.00. The average bid was $8,527.78 up $597.22 from $7,930.56 in 2009, with the median bid being $7,750.00 up $250.00 from $7,500.00 in 2009. The low bid of $4,000.00 matched the low bid of 2009.

The 3rd Chuckwagon canvas auction for the year will be for the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour chuckwagon canvas auction which on Tuesday, April 6, 2009. Shows up for sale included the Grande Prairie Stompede, Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, North American Chuckwagon Championship, Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship, Badlands Dinosaur Derby, WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship, Battle of the North and finally a new show – the Battle of the Rockies in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. The Red Deer Chuckwagon Championship is not on the 2010 WPCA schedule.

As reported by the WPCA

Calgary Stampede Canvas Auction Results

The first chuckwagon canvas auction of the year was for the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby and held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Archie Boyce Pavilion on Stampede Park in Calgary Alberta. $1,966,000.00 was bid on the 36 participating wagons, up $274,000.00. It was the 11th consecutive year the Calgary Auction crossed over the 1.5 million dollar mark, in addition to being the 5th highest total in the 32 year history of the event.

$1,447,500.00 of the total was bid on the 25 drivers that will represent the WPCA at this year’s Calgary Stampede, while $518,500.00 was bid on the 11 drivers representing the CPCA. Defending Calgary Stampede Champion Chad Harden was the high bid at $120,000.00, up $10,000.00 from 2009’s top bid of $110,000.00. WPCA drivers took 21 of the top 25 bids, including 8 of the top 10 bids. The average bid on all 36 wagons was $54,611.11 up $7,611.11 from $47,000.00 in 2009, with the median bid being $50,000.00 up $9,500.00 from $40,500.00 in 2009. Another bright spot in the 2010 Calgary auction was the low bid was $37,000.00 up $11,000.00 from the 2009 low bid of $26,000.00.

As reported by the WPCA

Training Time!

The last few weeks we have been busy training the horses for the season. We start training about 4-6 weeks before the tour starts. This allows us time to train the new horses we got in the off season, as well as to play around with some old horses in new positions.

In Chuckwagon racing there are 4 positions for a team: Right Lead, Left Lead, Right Wheel and Left Wheel. Some horses will only pull at a certain position, while others will pull 2 different spots.

We also have outriding horses that we need to train and condition. These are the horses that run behind the wagon during the race.

We will have some more training reports coming soon, as we are about to hit the road to Grande Prairie this weekend!

2010 Tour Schedule

Make sure to come out and visit us this summer at any one of the following tour stops!

Grande Prairie Stompede
May 26 - May 30, 2010
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Wednesday - Sunday @ 7:45 PM

Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede
June 11 - 13, 2010
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Friday - Saturday @ 7:00 PM, Sunday @ 2:00 PM

Badlands Dinosaur Derby
June 18 - 20, 2010
Drumheller, Alberta
Friday - Saturday @ 7:00 PM / Sunday @ 4:00 PM

North American Chuckwagon Championship
June 24-27, 2010
High River, Alberta
Thursday - Saturday @ 8:00 PM, Sunday @ 4:00 PM

Ponoka Stampede
June 29 - July 4, 2010
Ponoka, Alberta
Tuesday - Sunday @ 7:45 PM

Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby
July 9 - 18, 2010
Calgary, Alberta
Friday - Sunday @ 8:00 PM

Bonnyville Chuckwagon Championship
July 22 - 25, 2010
Bonnyville, Alberta
Thursday - Saturday @ 7:00 PM, Sunday @ 2:00 PM

WPCA Dodge Pro Tour Championship & Strathmore Heritage Days
July 29 - August 2, 2010
Strathmore, Alberta
Thursday - Sunday @ 7:15 PM
Monday @ 6:00 PM

Battle Of The North
August 11 - 15, 2010
Dawson Creek, BC
Wednesday - Sunday @ 7:00 PM (MST)

Rocky Mountain Chuckwagon Championship
August 19 – 22, 2010
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Thursday – Saturday @ 7:00 PM, Sunday @ 2:00 PM

WPCA Dodge Pro Tour World Finals- Edmonton's Chuckwagon Derby
September 1 - 5, 2010
Edmonton, Alberta
Wednesday - Sunday@ 7:00 PM