It was a full slate of racing Saturday and Sunday in Altona during the 2016 Legends Car Club Charity Drag Races. 

66 cars took to the track at the 2016 Legends Car Club Charity Drag Races in Altona

Organizing Committee Chair Richard Neufeld says it was an awesome weekend with a full lineup of sixty-six cars. He adds the audience on Saturday was probably one of the largest for the event in years.

"We can run sixty cars here...we were completely full well over a week ago already and it just shows that the interest for participating in the race continues to increase."

He thinks it's the comradery that happens over the course of the weekend that keeps bringing racers back each year.

"I think people just really enjoy coming out, it's what people love to do, the racers love to race, but it's a really relaxed atmosphere."

Brian Drad, a fifteen year racing veteran from Stonewall, agrees with Neufeld.

"When we're on the line we don't like them anymore but before and after we're all friends."

He adds being able to race is just another part of building a car, noting speeds at the Altona event top out at about 145 miles per hour.

It had been a few years since Drad competed at the Altona race and says it was the new Quick Ten event that attracted him back.

"It was an invitational thing and, being one of the faster cars in Manitoba, it was an opportunity to go and have some fun and support a good race."

Drad races a '37 Fiat with a race chassis certified for 250 miles per hour and a two speed, 1,500 horsepower Powerglide engine.

The annual drag races also serve as fund raiser with 25 per cent of this year's proceeds slated to benefit Genesis House of Winkler.

Neufeld expects about $10,000 was raised this past weekend.

Brian Drad returned to the 2016 event with his '37 Fiat with a race chassis certified for 250 miles per hour and a two speed, 1,500 horsepower Powerglide engine.