Kaz Grafix photoby Greg Cybulski - Darren Pallen has come full circle and returned to his roots in dirt track racing. Twenty years ago, Pallen ventured into the world of open wheel racing by racing a Mini-Sprint with the Manitoba Mini-Sprint Association. For the next four years, he went on to win several track championships at Grand Forks Speedway in Grand Forks, Norh Dakota and Greenbush Race Park in Greenbush, Minnesota.
Darren also traveled and competed in several larger Mini-Sprint events in the United States.. He placed third at the 1991 U.S. Mini-Sprint Nationals in Newcastle, Wyoming. His greatest highlight, however, was winning the 1994 Florida Speedweeks Mini-Sprint Championship at Volusia County Speedway.
In 1995, Pallen graduated to the tougher and much more expensive full-size Sprint Car class. Success was limited with some heat wins until he finally broke into the feature winner's circle in 1997.
At the end of 1997, Darren decided to pursue an announcing opportunity at Victory Lane Speedway in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he could be heard weekly with his announcing partner Pat Mooney for the next twelve years. In addition, Darren has also announced at numerous Monster Jam and Motocross events.
In 2008, Pallen's desire to return to his roots in racing along with a growing interest by local racers started the creation of the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. In 2009, NLSA President Darren Pallen realized his dream as the Lightning Sprints ran their inaugural season at Winnipeg's Red River Co-op Speedway. As the 2010 season approaches, the man responsible for Manitoba's fastest growing car class shares his thoughts....
Greg Cybulski: First of all, congratulations on your first season as President of the NLSA. Following an 11 year absence from racing, what was it like for you to get back into racing a Lightning Sprint?
Darren Pallen: Thanks Greg. Getting back into racing was a huge eye-opener for me. I completely forgot about the level of dedication and organization required to run a successful race team. Coupled with my Presidency with the Northern Lightning Sprint Association and being a dealer for Bailey Chassis Company, it is pretty safe to say that I didn’t get much time to devote to my real job! It was all a much larger undertaking than I ever thought possible, but like everything else in the world, hard work paid off. I can truly say I learned a lot about racing, about racing cars, and most importantly about people.
GC: Many racers have a story behind the number they run on their car. What is the significance of #11 to Darren Pallen?
DP: The number 11 came to me at a very early age. As a youngster, I used to go over to my grandpa and grandma’s house quite often. Two doors down from them was a family that went by the last name of Holden. Ray Holden was the driver of this particular #11 car, and I distinctly remember that his car was always covered by a bright orange tarp when they weren’t working on it. Anyway, I recall telephoning my grandpa each time my parents were about to drive me over to ask him if the #11 car had the tarp off. When my grandpa told me that the tarp was indeed off and the crew was working on the car, I couldn’t get my parents to drive me there fast enough. Every time I arrived, I was treated like gold. My highlight was when Ray presented me with an official “11” racing t-shirt, which I think I wore to elementary school for the next two weeks solid. I was so proud, and I was hooked for life.
GC: You were very competitive and finished a close second to Roland Bernard. What are your impressions of the NLSA's inaugural champion?
DP: Roland Bernard and his team are a group that every race team should model themselves after. They are dedicated, conscientious, clean on the race track, and great people away from the race track. Win or lose (with losing not being too often for Roland) they were always gentlemanly. They were a big part of our extensive promotional program, and it would have been very difficult to build the Northern Lightning Sprint Association without this team. Really, what more can you ask for from a champion? Now, we need to go out and find twenty more teams just like Roland’s. Then, I can sit back and call the Northern Lightning Sprint Association a true success.
GC: The membership of the NLSA is a very diverse group of people coming from different racing backgrounds. What is it about the NLSA that makes it an attractive option for racers?
DP: Without question, the Northern Lightning Sprint Association encompasses a diverse group of individuals, but at the end of the day we seem to be working towards the same common goal. Almost all of us have been around racing in one form or another, and we have seen some of the nastiness that goes on in other classes. Our drivers realize that in order to make this a successful organization, we need to roll out the welcome mat for new drivers and teams rather than display a whole bunch of bickering in the pits. Racing is an expensive sport and the payouts are very low, so if this isn’t about fun, then what’s it about? Having fun and being competitive is what we want to do at the Northern Lightning Sprint Association.
GC: The NLSA is very strict on it's rules and the consequences for those who break them. This appears to be the cornerstone of the organization. Is this a fair statement?
DP: That is absolutely a fair statement, Greg. The Northern Lightning Sprint Association is committed to growing an organization that plays by the rules. Unfortunately, everyone in the industry thinks that cheating is just part of racing. And while that may or may not be true, we are at least trying to discount that theory when it comes to our organization. Tight rules means better racing and better growth. That is our ultimate goal with the NLSA.
GC: Was there any one moment that stood out as a highlight for you as the President or as a competitor from 2009?
DP: For me, the highlight of the season was actually an event called “Cruisin’ Dauphin”, located in Dauphin, Manitoba. We took the Northern Lightning Sprint Association to this northern Manitoba town and gave the crowd their first taste of Lightning Sprint Racing. Our group signed autographs, allowed young fans to sit in their cars, and did a great job showing true professionalism. Cruisin’ Dauphin had always been a great motorsports event on its own, yet our class went up there and added yet another dimension. We couldn’t have been happier with the result.
GC: Now that you have a year under your belt, as President, what are your hopes for the NLSA this year?
DP: For 2010, our hope is to continue with our mandate of providing safe, fast, fun, and affordable open wheel racing. Our recent rules meeting produced no rule changes, which saves everyone money in the long run. So, we are going to hit the start button, step on the gas, and see what 2010 will bring for the Northern Lightning Sprint Association.
GC: If you could look into a crystal ball, where would you like to see the NLSA in five years from now?
DP: Five years from now I would like to see the Northern Lightning Sprint Association with 30-35 cars on a nightly basis. Given our first-year growth and the level of interest in this area and across the border into North Dakota, I believe this is a very achievable goal. We are working towards fundraisers to help increase payouts and cover travel expenses, which I think will be a key to our growth.
GC: Sponsorship is key to helping pay the racing bills. Who are some of your sponsors?
DP: Sponsorship certainly helps to pay the bills, although I hate to use the word “sponsorship”. For me, the words “marketing partner” suggests an agreement where the advertiser gives you something (money or product) and you reciprocate with some out-of-the-box promotions away from the race track. Some of the companies we will be working with in 2010 include Dynasty Bathrooms, Bailey Chassis Company, Dave’s Signspot, TP Wings, Advanced Racing Suspension, Associated Crankshaft Services, MASS Merchandising & Sales, Darren Pallen Productions, Commandline Web Design, Adam’s Detailing Products, and PrairieDirtDigest.com
GC: As we conclude this interview, would you tell the fans what changes they can expect to see from Darren Pallen in 2010 and how that came about?
DP: I will be competing in two classes for 2010; Lightning Sprints and Super Trucks. Having only Lightning Sprint/Sprint Car experience, I believe the Super Truck is going to be quite an adjustment. You are dealing with a big, wide, 2800 pound truck with about 400 horsepower. Conversely, the Lightning Sprint weighs just 950 pounds with driver and produces 150 horsepower. The lap times are much faster in the Lightning Sprint than in the truck, and I imagine the superior handling characteristics of the sprint car are largely responsible for the difference in lap times. I think I will be faced with learning to drive a vehicle with a less favorable power-to-weight ratio and handling that may not approach that of the sprint car. This, I think, will be the most difficult adjustment for me as a driver.
We are very excited to welcome Dynasty Bathrooms as a marketing partner in 2010. Ken Onsowich is the owner of Dynasty Bathrooms, and his company has been in business in Winnipeg since 1984. Ken purchased the Super Truck this year and asked me to drive. After a couple of meetings, Ken and I realized we shared the same goals regarding marketing both at and away from the race tracks. Ken loves to market his company in many innovative ways, and that fit well with our Lightning Sprint program. Several meetings later, we were a team. We have a great crew with lots of experience and everyone shares a positive attitude. We want to win as badly as everyone, but we also realize the value of making racing enjoyable for all. If we are not having fun, there’s no point doing it. It’s not like we are making money out there, so let’s at least enjoy the ride.
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