STOUFFVILLE, ON - Inside Track contributor Russ Bond came across a classified ad that lists the qualifications of a certain veteran F1 driver.



I thought I'd post it here because everyone can use a laugh now and then.

While I've got you... how's that last-minute shopping going? Good luck in the trenches! I'll be seeing some of you guys in the stores on Friday, I'd imagine.

Before you head out, have a look at the Holiday Buyers' Guide that ran in Volume 8, Issue 9 of ITMN... lots of great gift ideas in there for the racing fan on your list. Happy hunting!

BIG NEWS: Multimatic enters dream team in Rolex 24

DEARBORN, MI - A story on SPEED TV is reporting that Canada's Multimatic team is entering a Crown Royal Special Reserve-sponsored Multimatic Ford in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, in February.

The team will consist of Multimatic driver Scott Maxwell, as well as Roush drivers Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle. Busch is the new Nextel Cup champ, while Kenseth was the '03 Winston Cup winner.

I had a chance to witness the twice-around-the-clock event in 2003 from the Multimatic pits and it was an incredible experience. It says a lot about how the international racing community views Multimatic to have the last two Cup champs in their car at Daytona. Good luck to all involved!

CENTRE FOR SPEED: Crate program gains momentum

SHEDIAC, NB – The Centre for Speed's fledgling SPEC Sealed Crate Engine Program appears to be just what the drivers ordered.

After a successful trial of a sealed spec crate engine in 2004 – in its new Pro Stock Division – the Shediac, NB speedway has already received requests for four more crate engines to run in the class in 2005. One or two additional orders are expected, according to the Centre for Speed’s Tim Wile.

“I’m very excited that this cost reduction strategy has ended up generating new drivers for this class,” said Wile. “We’re well on our way to making crate engines the norm in racing in the near future.”

Last year, Springhill, NB’s Sandy Livingston Jr. was a rookie in the track’s new Pro Stock class. Livingston was the first driver in Canada to campaign a Pro Stock car with a sealed spec crate engine.

After proving the engine could be competitive with only minor adjustments, several more have taken Livingston’s lead and are joining the move to crate engines. There is also word that the Pro Stock Tour will be required to allow the Centre engine in any races in Shediac.

DIRT: Autodrome Drummond changes for '05

DRUMMONDVILLE, QC - For the 18th consecutive year, DIRT MotorSports will sanction racing at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec. But for the first time, the DIRT 358-Modifieds will be the headliners at the half-mile oval.

Together with nearby Autodrome Granby, officials at the two circuits agreed to find common ground in complying with the new DIRT 358-Modified rules, which includes rev limiters. The addition of a rev limiter on the 358-Modifieds will cut costs in the long run and help make the division more competitive from top to bottom.

"With Granby already running small-blocks weekly on Friday, this will be a big boost for both fans and drivers alike," said Gaston Salvas, a long-time Super DIRT Series official with ties to both Quebec tracks. "Drummond became isolated when Granby dropped the class in 2001 as it was the last track standing north of the border to regularly host big-block racing.

"It has been very difficult with only about 10 big-block teams available in the area. Mixing together small-blocks with big-blocks and trying to make them competitive with each other was practically impossible. While this announcement surprised a lot of people, the same ones were also very pleased to hear the news," Salvas added.

Autodrome Drummond's Alain Poirier and Jacques Constant have owned the facility since 2002. The two recently agreed to lease the speedway for five years to DIRT Modified racer and promoter Yan Bussiere and general manager Karl Labonte, who is the nephew of open-wheel veteran Denis Labonte.

"This is one of the nicest Christmas presents I've had in years," said Granby promoter and DIRT Hall of Fame inductee Bob Gatien upon the hearing the news.

On Saturday nights in 2005 at Drummond, the 358-Modifieds will be joined by traditional open-wheel Sportsman and full-fender semi-pro and four-cylinder cars.

Drummond is a track rich in history. It opened in 1951 and acquired DIRT MotorSports sanctioning in 1988, when Marco Potvin captured the big-block Modified championship. When small blocks were added in 1999, Clement Therrien drove off with the 358-Modified title.

The list of champions at Drummond includes Frenchmen Luke Plante, Real LaFrance, Steve Poirier and 2004 titlists David Hebert and Kayle Robidoux, as well as Americans Steve Paine and Mike Romano. Poirier has won a track-record 45 DIRT Modified features while Therrien tops the small-block division with four career wins.

The green flag on the 2005 season is anticipated to wave the second weekend in May. The annual Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series showdown expected to be staged in July.

For more information, contact the track at 819-475-9999 or visit its web site at www.autodrome-drummond.com.