T.O. STAR: Norris McDonald's interview with J.R. Fitzpatrick

Norris McDonald has a feature on J.R. Fitzpatrick in today's T.O. Star / Wheels section...

"Okay, so we know Juan Montoya won that NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico last weekend. And that Scott Pruett was angry afterward. And that Mississauga's Ron Fellows finished 32nd and was rather unhappy since mechanical problems pushed his car back all day from a sixth place start. And then there was this young Canadian guy who finished right behind Fellows, in 33rd place, and he was just about spitting nails. ..."

cont'd at the link above.

Delaware Speedway Announces Operations Manager

DELAWARE, ON – The owners of Delaware Speedway are pleased to announce Jerry Wilcox to take the helm of Delaware Speedway as Operations Manager. Jerry will lead the speedway into 2007 managing top-of-the-hill operations and general speedway administration. Jerry will be working together with speedway sponsors and business partners.

“I enjoy a good challenge,” said Jerry. “I really look forward to working with everyone at Delaware Speedway and the business partners. Our business partners and fans are very important to us. My priority is to improve these operations by getting all parties working together at the speedway and food concession / speedway improvements. We need to move forward in 2007 with a fresh business program.”

Jerry lives by the motto; “a plan without action is a daydream and action without a plan is a nightmare.” He has already set to work forming an advisory committee with some of the speedway’s business partners to get their input on operations.

“The race program has been doing an absolutely fantastic job listening to its competitors for the last two years. Now the business side needs to do the same thing with its business partners. We need to work with everyone to make the whole business the absolute best it can be.”

Jerry brings a wealth of expertise to the position at the speedway with over 35 years of experience in the automotive and business sector. In late 1970s Jerry was a technical inspector for the Delaware Speedway Street Stock division. Later, in the early 80s, he worked with Tony Novotny as the first tech director of the CASCAR Super Series. Professionally, Jerry was sales manager with S.P.X. Corporation (Bear Automotive) for many years which helped develop and form his management skills. Jerry has worked on numerous Delaware racing vehicles over the years and has seen action as a competitor, employee and fan at Delaware.

Jerry will work hand and hand with race director Jeff Wilcox. As well, the speedway will also be working with racing industry experts who will be advising the facility on a consultant basis with the goal of improving operations.

The 2007 Delaware Speedway racing season will kickoff on April 28 with an APC Enduro 250.

By John Houghton / Delaware Speedway

Sad News: Larry Paine of TNT Tire Sales passed away on Tuesday

Teri 'Racewoman' forwarded this....

PAINE Larry Harold of Kitchener passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at Grand River-Freeport Health Centre in Kitchener. Born in Chatham 68 years ago son of the late Harold Paine and Edith Sample. Larry was a salesperson for CASCAR auto parts. Dear brother of Sharon Hills of Ridgetown, Lee-Anne and Ken Goodall of Haliburton, Cheryle and Allan Stewart of Kelowna, B.C., Dawn and Dan Muill of London, Darrel and Dianne Paine. Brent and Caroline Paine all of Blenheim. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by brother Kim.

Resting at the J.L. Ford Funeral Home in Blenheim for visitation on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and where a funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in Mayhew-Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Thamesville. Memorials to the Lung Association would be appreciated.

Castrol signs on to sponsor Canadian Touring Car Championship

While the official announcement won't be until this Saturday at 2 p.m. from the Performance World Show in Toronto, Canadian Touring Car Championship officials have released an updated version of the series' logo, including Castrol as the title sponsor.

We'll post more information once we get it...

Bill Sharpless

By John Hopkins

TORONTO, ON -- Inside Track is saddened to report the death on Sunday of motorcycling icon Bill Sharpless at the age of 73.

A member of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, the Toronto-born Sharpless competed successfully in many forms of motorcycle sport over a 22-year career. Between 1958 and 1961 he was honoured as Canada’s top overall motorcycle racer, he was national enduro champion in 1955, ’66, ’67 and ’72, claimed the Canadian trials title in 1959 and was the national 500cc scrambles (motocross) champion in 1959 and 1960.

Although he never won a national road racing title he was acknowledged as a strong competitor in that discipline as well, and in 1961 he was sponsored by Triumph. A crash at Daytona in the spring of 1962, which left him with a badly broken leg, contributed to Sharpless’ decision to focus strictly on off-road competition.

Sharpless competed in the International Six Days Enduro on five occasions, the first in 1969. He won a Bronze Medal in 1970 and a Silver in 1971.

By 1974 arthritis in his hands had slowed Sharpless’ competition career, and he retired from racing in 1975.

A multi-talented individual who studied mechanical and aeronautical engineering at the University of Toronto and took pilot training in the RCAF, Sharpless also contributed to the Canadian motorcycle industry on the organizational level. He was a founding member of the Nortown Motorcycle Club and spearheaded the organization of over 100 motorcycle events. He refereed at road racing events and acted as a scorekeeper for enduros. He was also an owner of Sonic Motorcycles in Toronto.

Sharpless is survived by his children Toni, Blair and Todd, grandchildren Emma, Riley and Megan, and sister Linda.

A service and reception will be held from 1-4pm on Saturday, Mar. 17 at the Royal Canadian Legion, 1083 Pape Avenue, Toronto. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, 2100 Bloor Street W., Ste 6-126, Toronto, ON, M6S 5A5 or www.motorcycling.ca/cmhfm.html.

To the family and friends of Bill Sharpless, Inside Track extends its condolences.

Bugatti Veyron

Here is an article on the Veyron, it takes a few minutes to watch but is worth it. Imagine a car that will do 407 km/hr.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x157l2_bugatti-veyron-at-top-speed



Greasemonkey.

Feeling glum? Could be worse. You could be the guy who crashed his Bugatti Veyron

The BBC has a few snaps of the poor sod who crashed his Bugatti Veyron (valued at more than £800,000) into a van and some trees.

The story is here. The photos are here.

OHSWEKEN: Perf. World Show first up on busy '07 schedule

March 9, 10 and 11, 2007 Ohsweken Speedway will make a return to the Annual Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show held at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Toronto, ON.

Promoter, Glenn Styres will be on hand throughout the weekend to greet fans and answer questions regarding the most anticipated slate of events in the history of the speedway. Drop by the display and pick up your copy of the entire 2007 schedule of events along with information on the two largest Sprint Car shows in Ontario. While at the display in Toronto, be sure to enter your name on a ballot where two special prizes will be given away to a pair of lucky fans.

“Arrow Express” has stepped in as a major sponsor and will play a key role in presenting the Inaugural running of the “SIX NATIONS SHOWDOWN” featuring the World of Outlaw Sprint Car series. The much anticipated event will include all of the stars and cars of the premier Sprint Car series headquartered in the United States including Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski.

The Wednesday, July 25th show will get underway with the usual 7:45 PM start and pay the winner a cool $10,000. Reserved seat tickets are slated to go on sale May 1st. Information on how to purchase advanced tickets will be posted on the Ohsweken Speedway website as soon as details are available.

“Arrow Express” will also return to host the 3rd Annual “CANADIAN SPRINT CAR NATIONALS” for the second time which will once again close out the season on September 14 & 15th. Over 70 of the finest 360 Sprints representing the Empire Super Sprints and ASCS Patriots from New York State, Southern Ontario Sprints, National Racing Alliance “Sprint Bandits” from Ohio, and the ASCS Sprints On Dirt based in Michigan will once again anchor the program.

$7,000 awaits the winner this year of the 30 lap main with $600 going to the 26th place finisher.

The Southern Ontario Sprints will open the season on May 18th along with a regular program of DIRT Sportsman; Thunder Stocks; and Mini Stocks. They also have return visits slated for June 8th, August 10th and September 7th when their Season Championship Invitational will be held.

The “Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel” will host the Empire Super Sprints as they share the headlines on June 22nd with the Sportsman portion of the “Lucas Oil Shootout”. The Sportsman will go 50 laps while the 358 Modified portion of the “Lucas Oil Shootout” will feature 35 laps of racing when they make their appearance at the 3/8 mile clay oval on August 3rd.

ASCS Patriots will take to the track July 6th while the ASCS Sprints On Dirt will make their annual appearance on August 24th. A regular program of Dirt Sportsman, Thunder Stocks and Mini Stocks will be on hand every Friday night to entertain the fans who will be greeted with reduced admission prices throughout the 2007 season.

Be sure to keep up on all the latest news from Ohsweken Speedway by logging on to the official website at www.ohswekenspeedway.com as the countdown continues toward the first green flag of the season for “Friday Night Thunder” on May 18th.

From Ken Pelkie, Ohsweken Speedway