For Immediate Release - May 8, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (May 8) - The 2008 DIRT WEEKLY RACING SERIES will roar to life this Saturday Night May 10th at the Merrittville Speedway. Speedway Officials are preparing for another year of top notch racing action. "Like many race fans, we are anxiously awaiting the first regular night of weekly competition" stated speedway manager Erica Bicknell, "we expect to see some very tight competition in all five of our weekly racing divisions."
According to Bicknell, race fans are in for a heck of a battle for all five track championships, "with the level of competition and favourable car counts … the calibre of racing action will be intense from the first green flag on May 10 until the last regular point event on August 30th …you simply just won't want to miss a single event!" To all of the fans, drivers and teams who have ever been involved with the track and to those who may be considering showing up for the first time - we sincerely hope that you join us this year … enjoy every lap of racing and enjoy every moment of the race track experience.
The countdown is on for Saturday Night and we hope you are as excited as we are for the coming of a fresh racing season. We look forward to seeing each and everyone this Saturday Night ... Until then.......THINK RACING! The Dirt Weekly Racing Series program on Saturday evening has the BEST deal in town for FIVE Weekly Racing Divisions all for a $10.00 Adult general admission ticket. Its up close live entertainment.. grass roots local racing at its BEST !
Come early and enjoy! Our concessions offer something for everyone with a full condiment bar … simply add the trimmings to your burgers or hot dogs and fresh home made sausage ... fresh lettuce, tomatoes and sliced onions … the best in town!! Race fans will surely want to check out the new 2008 Racing Gear... Merrittville T Shirts … Sweats … Hoodies and Hats in the Novelty Trailer located just inside the Grandstand Front Gates. Race Teams can also find a selection in the Pit Concession.
Gates will open at 5:30. A Mandatory Driver Meeting for the Open Wheel Lites and 4 Cylinders is set for 6:00… with Hot Laps starting at 6:30. Starter Doug Leonard's first green flag is set to drop at 7 PM! Merrittville Speedway is celebrating 57 years of history, tradition, excitement and races every Saturday night.
Friday, May 09, 2008
AUCTION SALE: 69 Auto / Hanley Ent. (Jimmy Ward)
AUCTION SALE: For 69 Auto / Hanley Ent. (Jimmy Ward) at 91 Healey Road, Unit 6, Bolton, Ontario.
BY: Auctioneer: Donald W. Reinhart // www.reinhartauctions.com // Phone: 905 846 1071
OF: Machine shop equipment; Automotive tools and race car parts
WHEN: Friday, May 30, 2008 @ 10 a.m.
MACHINE SHOP:
- CHIEN YEH CY680X2000 8’ long 15” swing lathe;
- CHIEN YEH lathe, 54” bed, 9” swing;
- Huron #230 lathe, 8’ bed, 10” swing;
- TAW T500 vertical band saw;
- Arcweld 450A mig wire welder liquid cooled gun;
- AIRCO CV250 mig wire feed welder;
- AIRCO CV250 mig welder w/ feeder;
- Lincoln 455 power wave mig welder w/ feeder, push pull gun, computer programmed for aluminum & steel;
- Miller syncrowave 300 tig welder, liquid cooled;
- SFM 80” box & pan brake;
- King horizontal band saw, hydraulic liquid cooled, 9” x 18”;
- Emerson 7” horizontal band saw;
- Greenerd hydraulic punch press (approx. 30 ton);
- Mister Shifter enclosed transmission type parts washer;
- Niagara 54” foot shear;
- BEMATO 3hp milling machine, 10” x 50” bed;
- Roper Witney 14 gauge combination brake, 10’;
- Start Rite carbide cut off saw, liquid cooled;
- HD gear drive drilling machine / drill press, reversible;
- PCS 50 AIRCO plasma cutter;
- JET 12 speed drill press;
- Superior tube bender w/ shoes;
- Enerpac tube bender;
- tube notcher gear drive;
- BEE metal belt sander, 4”;
- hydraulic bearing press;
- rotary welding table, variable speed;
- Honda gas 11hp electric start on Bink air compressor w/ 30 gal. horizontal tank;
- 2 Big Four tire machine;
- Speedaire portable air compressor;
- pressure washer;
- Oxy/act torches;
- pedestal double end grinder;
- 6’ x 12’ steel top layout table (1/2” top)
HAND TOOLS:
- port-a-pack;
- parts washer;
- Solar 360 HD battery charger;
- 3 chain falls;
- machinist tool box & machinist tools;
- axle stands;
- air rivetor;
- grinders;
- shears;
- drills;
- qty. of vice grip clamps;
- hand shear;
- spring compressor;
- qty. Snap On wrenches & tools;
- floor jack;
- manual bender;
- nut & bolt bins w/ stock;
- vices;
SPECIALTY ITEMS:
- race car jig plate, 7’x16’ & a qty of jigs;
- Shop Smith Mark 5 wood worker (hobby style);
- Black Jack motorcycle lift;
- motorcycle lift table;
- Ransburg electrostatic coating / paint gun kit;
- 4 Dover grain scales;
- Towmotor propane fork lift (4000 pound);
- Gibson antique model D tractor (1946-52);
- qty of new race car wheels (various off sets);
- misc. race car parts;
- small amount of steel & aluminum stock;
REASON FOR SALE:
- Jim is retiring from the race car trade.
- Turn West on Healey Road, on the South end of Bolton.
- Terms: Cash or known cheque.
- Viewing Thursday May 29th from 10am to 6pm, and morning of sale.
- All verbal announcements shall take precedence over all written materials.
- Owners & auctioneers not responsible for any accidents in connection with this sale. NO BUYERS PREMIUM!
www.reinhartauctions.com 905 846 1071
13th Southern Ontario Sprints Season Kicks Off Saturday at Brighton
By Tommy Goudge – http://www.southernontariosprints.com/
On July 19, 1997, John Brutcher won the first Southern Ontario Sprints event at Brighton Speedway and the track, located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Northumberland County, has been a mainstay on the SOS tour ever since.
This year 6 events are scheduled at Brighton's 1/3 mile clay oval, including the SOS season opener for the 9th year in succession, which goes this Saturday, May 10th. In the previous 8 season opening events held at the Speedway, there have been 7 different winners. Joyceville, Ontario's Rick Wilson won the opening event last season, becoming the first driver to win 2 season-opening events at Brighton, as he also won the opening race in 2002.
In all, 51 SOS events have been held at Brighton, with Wilson leading the way on the win list with 11. "The Joyceville Jet" leads Keith Dempster who is next on the list with 6 wins, while 18 other drivers have taken at least 1 checkered flag at Brighton in 11 seasons of competition there.
Wilson, who also leads the SOS all time feature win list with 21, took home his first career sprint car feature win at Brighton on August 7th, 1999. Last season's winners at Brighton included Rick Wilson (May 12 and June 9), Joe Middlemiss (July 7 and September 2), Kevin Job (August 11), and Dick Mahoney (September 1).
Presented by Rock 107 and Watson Building Supplies, Saturday's SOS event will be accompanied by 3 of Brighton's competitive weekly divisions – the Bainer's Radiators Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, and the Bill's Johns Comp 4 division. There will also be a pre-race SOS drivers autograph session, one lucky fan will win a "Have Bus, Will Travel" (http://www.havebus.com/) package for 2 to Ohsweken Speedway's World of Outlaws Sprint Car events coming up in July, and Brighton Speedway will be giving away a trip to a NASCAR event at Michigan International Speedway.
With a great card of racing on tap and the opportunity to win these great prizes, make sure you're at Brighton Speedway this Saturday night!
WHAT: Southern Ontario Sprints 2008 Round #1
http://www.southernontariosprints.com/
WHERE: Brighton Speedway // 775 County Road 64 // Brighton, Ontario // K0K 1H0
Phone: (613)-475-1102 or toll free 1-(866)-681-1102
E-Mail: info@brightonspeedway.com
On the Web: http://www.brightonspeedway.com/
WHEN: Saturday, May 10th, 2008
Pit Gates open @ 2:00p.m., Spectator Gates open @ 5:00p.m., Racing @ 7:00p.m.
Tickets: $18 Adults, $14 Youth/Seniors, $4 Children, $45 Family
Please visit http://www.southernontariosprints.com/ for more news and information about the Southern Ontario Sprints. Along with this Saturday, 2 more "Have Bus Will Travel" packages will be given away at upcoming SOS events at Brockville Ontario Speedway on May 31st,and at Brighton Speedway on June 14th. 2008 marks the 13th year of operation for the Southern Ontario Sprints, brought to you this season by Pennzoil, Wiseco Piston, Kenetic Photos, and http://www.imagefactor.ca/.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
PHOTO GALLERY: Dodge Challenger SRT8 production launch and plant tour
On Thursday morning, members of the media joined almost 1,000 employees of Chrysler's Brampton Assembly Plant to to celebrate the production launch of the highly-anticipated 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
VIPs on hand included Chrysler Canada President and CEO Reid Bigland, Chrysler Executive VP Frank Ewasyshyn, Plant Manager Alberto Gonzalez, MPP Sandra Pupatello and a representative of the CAW.
According to Reid Bigland, every one of the 2008 Challengers has been spoken for, including the 700 slated for distribution in Canada. Bigland called the Challenger proof that, "the classic American muscle car is not dead," and noted that demand is outstripping supply for this iconic vehicle, labelling it "the ultimate mid-life Chrysler."
In his address to the Chrysler employees and the media, Bigland said that he'd experienced the head-turning powers of the car during his own outings in the Challenger. Frank Ewasyshyn said Chrysler hasn't seen this kind of hype for a vehicle, "since we launched the first Viper."
Click here to see the Challenger on Dodge's site.
Photos by Greg MacPherson // Inside Track Motorsport News
Raceline Radio Network Newsletter (May 8, 2008)
By Erik Tomas.... the Raceline Radio Network Newsletter Update (May 8, 2008)
NASCAR’s most popular driver crashes out 3 laps from a win at Richmond that would have wiped out a 71 race victory drought and suddenly stock car racing is supposed to be a no-contact sport? Give me a break!
Take 43 cars on a track less than a mile long, under the lights, and guess what gang, cars ARE going to come together sooner or later, because the “big one” doesn’t just happen at the big restrictor plate super speedways.
At my favourite NASCAR facility, and heard live on several Raceline Radio Network affiliates I have to add with delight, we got taste of good ol’ fashioned short track warfare on a Saturday night at Richmond Virginia. It reminded me of what happens at countless local neighbourhood ovals up and down The Raceline Radio Network!
Just past halfway, our Quebec buddy Patrick Carpentier, after a brilliant 4th place start, a NASCAR career best, got snared in an 11 car entanglement. Somebody got sideways, lots o’ tire smoke and the chain reaction wadded up plenty of sheet metal. Carp’s # 10 got kicked around like an old soccer ball! Shades of things to come.
Fast forward to those 3 laps to go. Dale Earnhardt Junior fans will tell you up and down between tosses of beer cans that Kyle Busch didn’t have a car to catch Earnhardt Junior, so he stuffed him. Baloney! Watch the replays.
If there had of been 10 laps to go instead of 3, Kyle would have slipped under Dale easily. Junior’s car was pushing, it wasn’t turning well, so he was drifting up the race track. Busch’s car was loose. With laps running out, these 2 guys simply didn’t give themselves enough room as they battled door to door for the same chunk of race track. You just knew another Richmond wreck was seconds away.
Sure enough! Junior came down on Busch as Kyle started to slide up. Boom. Trouble was Junior went into the wall and Busch carried on unscathed. It could have very easily been the other way around. But E is NASCAR’s darling, and Busch is ultra-aggressive upstart! Moronic boo birds armed with beer cans erupted. I hope they found some of these clowns and ejected them from the premises permanently.
As I ranted last year when, ironically enough, it was Dale Junior who pleaded with fans NOT to throw beer cans ( some of them full!! ) when a call goes against their driver, there is absolutely NO excuse at ALL for throwing ANYTHING on a race track, or ANY sport playing surface. If you ever feel the need to do so, you need to see a psychiatrist.
71 races without a regular season win. His new Hendrick team was supposed to fix this. Dale Junior was very frustrated in his TV interview. But he handled it well, saying he got wrecked, but he stopped short of accusing Kyle Busch of stuffing him. That’s because he didn’t.
True southern fried NASCAR fans call it, “one o’ them racin’ deals.”
Once again they’re right.
Short little sub script here. My father died last week. He was in his late 80’s. We didn’t get along for a long time, and that’s another story, but Dad introduced me to this sport back in 1960 when I was 7 years old. He took me to our local dirt track, Merrittville Speedway in St. Catharines. He wasn’t a huge fan, but thought I’d like it. Like it? I was hooked for life and it’s grown into my full time occupation. I’m even back there as track announcer on Saturday nights, and my daughter Katelyn just started as a scorer there. Merrittville’s also where I met my wife Janice.
For getting the wheels rolling…..Thanks Dad.
Keep those belts tight and your eyes up!
ET
COMING UP: Sunday May 11th, 2008
“The Business of Motorsport!” Tissot CEO Francois Thiebaud on how their involvement with NASCAR and The MOTO GP Bike Series helps them sell watches world-wide… Yet another installment in our “Canucks in Cup” Series as we catch up with Toronto’s Marty Gaunt and his new gig at Bill Davis Racing… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest to win one of Francois’ watches!
BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
AM 900 CHML Hamilton FLAGSHIP LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
The FAN 590 Toronto Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
The FAN 960 Calgary Sundays 11:06 PM Mountain
CJOB 68 Winnipeg LIVE Sundays 7:06 PM Central
780 KIXX Halifax Saturdays 10:30 AM Atlantic
105.1 THE RIVER Niagara Falls Mondays 9:06 PM Eastern
CFCY Country Charlottetown PEI Saturdays 5:00 PM Atlantic
AM 800 CKLW Windsor LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
TEAM 1040 Vancouver Sundays 12 Midnight to 1 AM
TEAM 990 Montreal Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
TEAM 1260 Edmonton Sundays 11:06 PM Mountain
KHJ Fredericton NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
AM 1220 Cornwall Sundays 5:00 PM Eastern
KHJ-One Oromocto NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
KHJ-Two New Maryland NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
CAT 99.5 FM Truro NS Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
Country 105 FM Peterborough Mondays 10:06 PM Eastern
AM 790 CIGM Sudbury Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
AM 1070 CHOK Sarnia LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
AM 570 News Kitchener Mondays 7:00 PM Eastern
NASCAR’s most popular driver crashes out 3 laps from a win at Richmond that would have wiped out a 71 race victory drought and suddenly stock car racing is supposed to be a no-contact sport? Give me a break!
Take 43 cars on a track less than a mile long, under the lights, and guess what gang, cars ARE going to come together sooner or later, because the “big one” doesn’t just happen at the big restrictor plate super speedways.
At my favourite NASCAR facility, and heard live on several Raceline Radio Network affiliates I have to add with delight, we got taste of good ol’ fashioned short track warfare on a Saturday night at Richmond Virginia. It reminded me of what happens at countless local neighbourhood ovals up and down The Raceline Radio Network!
Just past halfway, our Quebec buddy Patrick Carpentier, after a brilliant 4th place start, a NASCAR career best, got snared in an 11 car entanglement. Somebody got sideways, lots o’ tire smoke and the chain reaction wadded up plenty of sheet metal. Carp’s # 10 got kicked around like an old soccer ball! Shades of things to come.
Fast forward to those 3 laps to go. Dale Earnhardt Junior fans will tell you up and down between tosses of beer cans that Kyle Busch didn’t have a car to catch Earnhardt Junior, so he stuffed him. Baloney! Watch the replays.
If there had of been 10 laps to go instead of 3, Kyle would have slipped under Dale easily. Junior’s car was pushing, it wasn’t turning well, so he was drifting up the race track. Busch’s car was loose. With laps running out, these 2 guys simply didn’t give themselves enough room as they battled door to door for the same chunk of race track. You just knew another Richmond wreck was seconds away.
Sure enough! Junior came down on Busch as Kyle started to slide up. Boom. Trouble was Junior went into the wall and Busch carried on unscathed. It could have very easily been the other way around. But E is NASCAR’s darling, and Busch is ultra-aggressive upstart! Moronic boo birds armed with beer cans erupted. I hope they found some of these clowns and ejected them from the premises permanently.
As I ranted last year when, ironically enough, it was Dale Junior who pleaded with fans NOT to throw beer cans ( some of them full!! ) when a call goes against their driver, there is absolutely NO excuse at ALL for throwing ANYTHING on a race track, or ANY sport playing surface. If you ever feel the need to do so, you need to see a psychiatrist.
71 races without a regular season win. His new Hendrick team was supposed to fix this. Dale Junior was very frustrated in his TV interview. But he handled it well, saying he got wrecked, but he stopped short of accusing Kyle Busch of stuffing him. That’s because he didn’t.
True southern fried NASCAR fans call it, “one o’ them racin’ deals.”
Once again they’re right.
Short little sub script here. My father died last week. He was in his late 80’s. We didn’t get along for a long time, and that’s another story, but Dad introduced me to this sport back in 1960 when I was 7 years old. He took me to our local dirt track, Merrittville Speedway in St. Catharines. He wasn’t a huge fan, but thought I’d like it. Like it? I was hooked for life and it’s grown into my full time occupation. I’m even back there as track announcer on Saturday nights, and my daughter Katelyn just started as a scorer there. Merrittville’s also where I met my wife Janice.
For getting the wheels rolling…..Thanks Dad.
Keep those belts tight and your eyes up!
ET
COMING UP: Sunday May 11th, 2008
“The Business of Motorsport!” Tissot CEO Francois Thiebaud on how their involvement with NASCAR and The MOTO GP Bike Series helps them sell watches world-wide… Yet another installment in our “Canucks in Cup” Series as we catch up with Toronto’s Marty Gaunt and his new gig at Bill Davis Racing… and our Tissot/Raceline E-Mail Bag contest to win one of Francois’ watches!
BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
AM 900 CHML Hamilton FLAGSHIP LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
The FAN 590 Toronto Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
The FAN 960 Calgary Sundays 11:06 PM Mountain
CJOB 68 Winnipeg LIVE Sundays 7:06 PM Central
780 KIXX Halifax Saturdays 10:30 AM Atlantic
105.1 THE RIVER Niagara Falls Mondays 9:06 PM Eastern
CFCY Country Charlottetown PEI Saturdays 5:00 PM Atlantic
AM 800 CKLW Windsor LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
TEAM 1040 Vancouver Sundays 12 Midnight to 1 AM
TEAM 990 Montreal Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
TEAM 1260 Edmonton Sundays 11:06 PM Mountain
KHJ Fredericton NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
AM 1220 Cornwall Sundays 5:00 PM Eastern
KHJ-One Oromocto NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
KHJ-Two New Maryland NB Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
CAT 99.5 FM Truro NS Tuesdays 9:06 PM Atlantic
Country 105 FM Peterborough Mondays 10:06 PM Eastern
AM 790 CIGM Sudbury Mondays 7:06 PM Eastern
AM 1070 CHOK Sarnia LIVE Sundays 8:06 PM Eastern
AM 570 News Kitchener Mondays 7:00 PM Eastern
RSport Rally & Techworks Engineering Enter Knox Mountain
RSport Rally driver's Scott, Robert, and Adam Trinder have entered the legendary Knox Mountain hillclimb based in Kelowna BC. The event will be run this May 17th and 18th long weekend. Knox is the longest running hillclimb in North America and has been run for over 50 years.
2005 Western Canadian Rally Champion Scott Trinder and father Bob will be driving the Techworks Engineering-Datsun 240z while 2007 CACC Regional E-MOD Champion Adam Trinder will be running his heavily modified PIAA-Toyota Corolla GTS.
�We are very excited that Knox does not conflict with the rally schedule this year. I have run Knox 4 times in the past and it is truly an amazing event. As many teams camp out at the event the atmosphere is great and the weekend is one that an entire family can enjoy.� said Scott
Drama is unfolding for the Techworks 240z as the new engine will not be received until the week of the event. �Scott just sent us the Datsun�s engine, it had suffered a catastrophic failure at Targa Newfoundland. We plan to have it buttoned up by weeks end and look forward to spectating at this years event,� said Tom Penner, www.Techworkseng.com president.
Knox Mountain is located near the heart of downtown Kelowna. The timed distance from start to finish is 3.5km. Teams drive the road as fast as possible, similar to a rally stage. �Having rally experience definitely helps when reading the road and the blind corners, however, as this is my first year I expect it will be a learning experience,� said Bob.
The elusive goal reserved for the high horsepower cars is to complete the hill in less than 2 minutes. Most car classes finish the hillclimb with a time over 2 minutes. To date Scott's best time is a 2:10 on street tires with rally height suspension. I suspect the Techworks 240z will set a time a little quicker than my personal best, however, with comparable horsepower and our DOT over-the-counter Bridgestone Potenza RE750's I do not suspect I will find 10 seconds to make a sub 2 minute sprint� said Scott.
Adam's car could be capable of a sub 2-minute run, however, this being his first time running the hill, he is focused on building experience and learning the road, for a future attempt. �I know I have the power in the car, but at the same time I want to learn the road and prepare myself for next year,� said Adam.
The next event for the RSport Rally team is the Rocky Mountain National Rally in Calgary, Alberta where the 2002/2005 Western Canadian Rally Champion Scott Trinder plans to begin his 2008 Western Canadian Rally Championship campaign.
RSport Rally would like to thank: www.Techworkseng.com , Richmond Auto Body , Pacific Parts , Ampco Grafix , Bridgestone , PIAA , Dragon Optical , Pennzoil , NGK , AMT Machine Shop
Event Link: http://www.knoxmtnhillclimb.ca
Hill Video link: http://www.knoxmtnhillclimb.ca/video.htm
Press with photo's at: www.specialstage.com // www.flatovercrest.com
2005 Western Canadian Rally Champion Scott Trinder and father Bob will be driving the Techworks Engineering-Datsun 240z while 2007 CACC Regional E-MOD Champion Adam Trinder will be running his heavily modified PIAA-Toyota Corolla GTS.
�We are very excited that Knox does not conflict with the rally schedule this year. I have run Knox 4 times in the past and it is truly an amazing event. As many teams camp out at the event the atmosphere is great and the weekend is one that an entire family can enjoy.� said Scott
Drama is unfolding for the Techworks 240z as the new engine will not be received until the week of the event. �Scott just sent us the Datsun�s engine, it had suffered a catastrophic failure at Targa Newfoundland. We plan to have it buttoned up by weeks end and look forward to spectating at this years event,� said Tom Penner, www.Techworkseng.com president.
Knox Mountain is located near the heart of downtown Kelowna. The timed distance from start to finish is 3.5km. Teams drive the road as fast as possible, similar to a rally stage. �Having rally experience definitely helps when reading the road and the blind corners, however, as this is my first year I expect it will be a learning experience,� said Bob.
The elusive goal reserved for the high horsepower cars is to complete the hill in less than 2 minutes. Most car classes finish the hillclimb with a time over 2 minutes. To date Scott's best time is a 2:10 on street tires with rally height suspension. I suspect the Techworks 240z will set a time a little quicker than my personal best, however, with comparable horsepower and our DOT over-the-counter Bridgestone Potenza RE750's I do not suspect I will find 10 seconds to make a sub 2 minute sprint� said Scott.
Adam's car could be capable of a sub 2-minute run, however, this being his first time running the hill, he is focused on building experience and learning the road, for a future attempt. �I know I have the power in the car, but at the same time I want to learn the road and prepare myself for next year,� said Adam.
The next event for the RSport Rally team is the Rocky Mountain National Rally in Calgary, Alberta where the 2002/2005 Western Canadian Rally Champion Scott Trinder plans to begin his 2008 Western Canadian Rally Championship campaign.
RSport Rally would like to thank: www.Techworkseng.com , Richmond Auto Body , Pacific Parts , Ampco Grafix , Bridgestone , PIAA , Dragon Optical , Pennzoil , NGK , AMT Machine Shop
Event Link: http://www.knoxmtnhillclimb.ca
Hill Video link: http://www.knoxmtnhillclimb.ca/video.htm
Press with photo's at: www.specialstage.com // www.flatovercrest.com
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Kawartha and Capital City Speedways announce Late Model Summer Shoot-Out Series
Capital City Speedway in Ottawa, Ontario along with Kawartha Speedway in Fraserville, Ontario have put together a 6 race series along with a considerable point fund in order to promote Late Model racing and get the best Late Model teams together on the same track. 2008 will see Ontario Late Model race fans treated to some of the best racing in years.
Capital City, one of Ontario's oldest operating speedways and Kawartha, one of Ontario's newest speedways will provide race teams and fans alike with completely different sets of challenges and excitement. The two tracks are 2 hours and 45 minutes apart from door to door and the traffic of the City of Toronto is not an issue.
Capital City, a true short track, that requires incredible driver finesse and ability to get around, will offer that close quarter bump and grind true grit determination that the sport was built on. Kawartha on the other hand has the lightning fast high banks that are not for the feint at heart. With Kawartha's wide open spaces, there is little room to hide and it puts the teams focus on chassis set-ups at a premium or the driver has to get the belts tight and hang on.
The two speedways have combined to offer 6 races of at least 100 laps in length, with two of the events falling within the American Canadian Tour (ACT) schedule. The 2 mid-summer ACT tilts will see the best of Ontario combined with the best of the northern United States and Quebec. All events fall on either Friday or Saturday nights.
TRACK LAPS - DATE
Kawartha 100 laps - Friday, June 20th
Capital City 100 laps - Saturday, June 28th
Kawartha 200 laps - (ACT) Sunday, July 13th
Capital City 100 laps - (ACT) Saturday, August 9th
Capital City 100 laps - Saturday, September 6th
Kawartha 100 laps - Friday, September 19th
In order to be eligible for the posted point fund, drivers will have to compete in a minimum of 4 events, 2 events at Kawartha Speedway and 2 events at Capital City Speedway. In addition, the Top 2 in the point standings at the time of the ACT events at either speedway will be guaranteed a provisional starting spot in each ACT event. The point fund will be paid out at seasons end to the Top 10 in accumulated points between the six events.
1. $2000 2. $1500 3.$1000 4.$800 5 $700 6.$600 7 $550 8.$500 9.$450 10 $400
With the point fund totaling $8500.00, it really is a great time to be Late Model racer and race fan in Ontario.
From Jim Clarke Motorsports Comm, for Kawartha Speedway
Capital City, one of Ontario's oldest operating speedways and Kawartha, one of Ontario's newest speedways will provide race teams and fans alike with completely different sets of challenges and excitement. The two tracks are 2 hours and 45 minutes apart from door to door and the traffic of the City of Toronto is not an issue.
Capital City, a true short track, that requires incredible driver finesse and ability to get around, will offer that close quarter bump and grind true grit determination that the sport was built on. Kawartha on the other hand has the lightning fast high banks that are not for the feint at heart. With Kawartha's wide open spaces, there is little room to hide and it puts the teams focus on chassis set-ups at a premium or the driver has to get the belts tight and hang on.
The two speedways have combined to offer 6 races of at least 100 laps in length, with two of the events falling within the American Canadian Tour (ACT) schedule. The 2 mid-summer ACT tilts will see the best of Ontario combined with the best of the northern United States and Quebec. All events fall on either Friday or Saturday nights.
TRACK
Kawartha 100 laps - Friday, June 20th
Capital City 100 laps - Saturday, June 28th
Kawartha 200 laps - (ACT) Sunday, July 13th
Capital City 100 laps - (ACT) Saturday, August 9th
Capital City 100 laps - Saturday, September 6th
Kawartha 100 laps - Friday, September 19th
In order to be eligible for the posted point fund, drivers will have to compete in a minimum of 4 events, 2 events at Kawartha Speedway and 2 events at Capital City Speedway. In addition, the Top 2 in the point standings at the time of the ACT events at either speedway will be guaranteed a provisional starting spot in each ACT event. The point fund will be paid out at seasons end to the Top 10 in accumulated points between the six events.
1. $2000 2. $1500 3.$1000 4.$800 5 $700 6.$600 7 $550 8.$500 9.$450 10 $400
With the point fund totaling $8500.00, it really is a great time to be Late Model racer and race fan in Ontario.
From Jim Clarke Motorsports Comm, for Kawartha Speedway
Have Bus Will Travel - DOVER - NASCAR TRIPLE HEADER
May 29 - June 2/08 - Tour Includes:
- Transportainment
- two nights accommodation with breakfast
- ticket to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race
Bus will be going to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race and the Nationwide Series Race, tickets are extra.
Don't miss this opportunity! Call 1-888-HaveBus (428-3287) today! More for your money.. Leave your car at home and come Racing with us
Upcoming Racing Tours - details on http://www.havebus.com/
- Lowes NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star Race May 2008 - Good seats available
- Lowes NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca Cola 600 May 2008- SOLD OUT
- Canadian Grand Prix - Formula One June 2008 - Good seats available
- MIS June 2008 - Good seats available
Don't forget about our Group Leaders Program. Get a group together and you could travel for free! Looking forward to taking you Racing!
Merrittville Kart Results May 6, 2008
GREGORIC, DAVIDSON, LUTZ, MOLL, FARNHAM AND PRIESTLEY EARN MERRITTVILLE KART WINS
Thorold, Ontario (May 7) - What a difference a week makes. Better weather and more karters combined to produce a great night of racing. Fourth generation driver Dylan Davidson who won his second KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Feature of the season.
First time 2008 Winners were Taylor Gregoric, Jacob Lutz, James Moll, Matt Farnham, Blake Priestley and Dale Cooley in the Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1, RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Junior 1, Ed MacPherson Construction Junior 2, Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy, Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment and PartSource Masters Original Pizza Logs Divisions respectively.
For Moll and Priestley, the wins came in their first events of the new season.
Kart Racing continues Tuesday May 13. Gates open at 5:00 with racing beginning at 7:00. Grandstand admission is free.
Hoosier Tire Canada Heat Results
Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Original Pizza Logs Novice 1 Division: 6 laps // Heat 1: Taylor Gregoric, Cierra Black, Steven Beckett, Joshua Hanson, Tristan Kadwell. // Heat 2: Taylor Gregoric, Joshua Hanson, Cierra Black, Steven Beckett, Tristan Kadwell.
KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Division: 6 laps // Heat 1: Dylan Davidson, Gene Gregoric, Alex Riley, Gregory Beckett, Joshua Dmytrow, Caleb Vandervalk. // Heat 2: Dylan Davidson, Gregory Beckett, Alex Riley, Joshua Dmytrow, Gene Gregoric, Caleb Vandervalk, Chance Watt.
RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division: 8 laps // Group 1 Heat 1: Jacob Lutz, Travis Majuery, Matthew Veihdeffer, Greg Kohut, Dillan Sliter, Jordan Cosco. // Group 1 Heat 2: Matthew Veihdeffer, Greg Kohut, Travis Majuery, Jacob Lutz, Dillan Sliter, Jordan Cosco. // Group 2 Heat 1: Jesse Cassell, Travis Miller, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Dylan Culp, Mackenzie St. Jean. // Group 2 Heat 2: Travis Miller, Mackenzie St. Jean, Dylan Culp, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Jesse Cassell.
Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Division: 8 laps // Heat 1: James Moll, Brett Senek, James Gorchek, Jordan Barnes. // Heat 2: James Moll, Brett Senek, Jordan Barnes, James Gorchek, Vincent Fragomeni.
Superior PetroFuels Original Pizza Logs Junior Restricted Heavy Division: 8 laps //
Group 1 Heat 1: Kevin Daunce, John Matthews, Corey Bodman, Ben Werth, Connor Mooradian, Matthew Farnham, Matthew Watson, Vincent Pagnotta. DNF - Isaac Pelissero. // Group 1 Heat 2: Kevin Daunce, Corey Bodman, Matthew Farnham, Connor Mooradian, Ben Werth, Ben Werth, Matthew Watson, Vincent Pagnotta, Isaac Pelissero.
Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division: 10 laps //
Group 1 Heat 1 Chris Watson, Dillon MacPherson, Blake Priestley, Dale Cooley, Kaitlyn Quigley. // Group 1 Heat 2: Chris Watson, Blake Priestley, Dillon MacPherson, Dale Cooley, Kaitlyn Quigley. // Group 2 Heat 1: David Janker, Frank Chadwick, Brian Cullen, Braydon Robertson. // Group 2 Heat 2: Frank Chadwick, Brian Cullen, Mark Journeaux, Braydon Robertson, David Janker.
Burris Tire Feature Results
Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Original Pizza Logs Novice 1 Division: 7 laps // Taylor Gregoric, Steven Beckett, Cierra Black, Joshua Hanson, Tristan Kadwell.
KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Division: 7 laps // Dylan Davidson, Gregory Beckett, Joshua Dmytrow, Alex Riley, Gene Gregoric, Chance Watt.
RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division: 15 laps // Jacob Lutz, Travis Majuery, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Matthew Veihdeffer, Travis Miller, Dylan Culp, Jesse Cassell, Dillan Sliter, Greg Kohut, Mackenzie St. Jean, Jordan Cosco.
Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Division: 15 laps // James Moll, Brett Senek, Jordan Barnes, James Gorchek, Vincent Fragomeni - DNS.
Superior PetroFuels Original Pizza Logs Junior Restricted Heavy Division: 15 laps // Matthew Farnham, Connor Mooradian, Kevin Daunce, Ben Werth, Corey Bodman, Matthew Watson, Isaac Pelissero, John Matthews, Vincent Pagnotta.
Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division: 20 laps // Blake Priestley, Dillon MacPherson, Chris Watson, Frank Chadwick, David Janker, Braydon Robertson, Brian Cullen, Kaitlyn Quigley.
PartSource Original Pizza Logs Masters Division: 20 laps Dale Cooley, Mike Journeaux
Join us this season on a Tuesday Night for A KART WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Kart Weekly Racing Divisions and the stars of tomorrow today!
Many of Merrittville's Saturday night Stock Car Stars got their starts in Kart Racing including Lampman, Steele, Wood, Wutzke, Bicknell, D'Ilario, Chevalier, Williamson, Klager, Tallman, Mastroianni, Leslie, Pierce, Robbins and Small.
For Immediate Release - May 7, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266
Thorold, Ontario (May 7) - What a difference a week makes. Better weather and more karters combined to produce a great night of racing. Fourth generation driver Dylan Davidson who won his second KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Feature of the season.
First time 2008 Winners were Taylor Gregoric, Jacob Lutz, James Moll, Matt Farnham, Blake Priestley and Dale Cooley in the Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Novice 1, RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Junior 1, Ed MacPherson Construction Junior 2, Superior PetroFuels Junior Restricted Heavy, Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment and PartSource Masters Original Pizza Logs Divisions respectively.
For Moll and Priestley, the wins came in their first events of the new season.
Kart Racing continues Tuesday May 13. Gates open at 5:00 with racing beginning at 7:00. Grandstand admission is free.
Hoosier Tire Canada Heat Results
Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Original Pizza Logs Novice 1 Division: 6 laps // Heat 1: Taylor Gregoric, Cierra Black, Steven Beckett, Joshua Hanson, Tristan Kadwell. // Heat 2: Taylor Gregoric, Joshua Hanson, Cierra Black, Steven Beckett, Tristan Kadwell.
KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Division: 6 laps // Heat 1: Dylan Davidson, Gene Gregoric, Alex Riley, Gregory Beckett, Joshua Dmytrow, Caleb Vandervalk. // Heat 2: Dylan Davidson, Gregory Beckett, Alex Riley, Joshua Dmytrow, Gene Gregoric, Caleb Vandervalk, Chance Watt.
RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division: 8 laps // Group 1 Heat 1: Jacob Lutz, Travis Majuery, Matthew Veihdeffer, Greg Kohut, Dillan Sliter, Jordan Cosco. // Group 1 Heat 2: Matthew Veihdeffer, Greg Kohut, Travis Majuery, Jacob Lutz, Dillan Sliter, Jordan Cosco. // Group 2 Heat 1: Jesse Cassell, Travis Miller, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Dylan Culp, Mackenzie St. Jean. // Group 2 Heat 2: Travis Miller, Mackenzie St. Jean, Dylan Culp, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Jesse Cassell.
Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Division: 8 laps // Heat 1: James Moll, Brett Senek, James Gorchek, Jordan Barnes. // Heat 2: James Moll, Brett Senek, Jordan Barnes, James Gorchek, Vincent Fragomeni.
Superior PetroFuels Original Pizza Logs Junior Restricted Heavy Division: 8 laps //
Group 1 Heat 1: Kevin Daunce, John Matthews, Corey Bodman, Ben Werth, Connor Mooradian, Matthew Farnham, Matthew Watson, Vincent Pagnotta. DNF - Isaac Pelissero. // Group 1 Heat 2: Kevin Daunce, Corey Bodman, Matthew Farnham, Connor Mooradian, Ben Werth, Ben Werth, Matthew Watson, Vincent Pagnotta, Isaac Pelissero.
Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division: 10 laps //
Group 1 Heat 1 Chris Watson, Dillon MacPherson, Blake Priestley, Dale Cooley, Kaitlyn Quigley. // Group 1 Heat 2: Chris Watson, Blake Priestley, Dillon MacPherson, Dale Cooley, Kaitlyn Quigley. // Group 2 Heat 1: David Janker, Frank Chadwick, Brian Cullen, Braydon Robertson. // Group 2 Heat 2: Frank Chadwick, Brian Cullen, Mark Journeaux, Braydon Robertson, David Janker.
Burris Tire Feature Results
Drummond Home Hardware Garden City Auto Complex Original Pizza Logs Novice 1 Division: 7 laps // Taylor Gregoric, Steven Beckett, Cierra Black, Joshua Hanson, Tristan Kadwell.
KC Auto Parts Original Pizza Logs Novice 2 Division: 7 laps // Dylan Davidson, Gregory Beckett, Joshua Dmytrow, Alex Riley, Gene Gregoric, Chance Watt.
RCM Racing Equipment Cassell Manufacturing Original Pizza Logs Junior 1 Division: 15 laps // Jacob Lutz, Travis Majuery, Bryon Ruston Dykstra, Matthew Veihdeffer, Travis Miller, Dylan Culp, Jesse Cassell, Dillan Sliter, Greg Kohut, Mackenzie St. Jean, Jordan Cosco.
Ed MacPherson Construction Original Pizza Logs Junior 2 Division: 15 laps // James Moll, Brett Senek, Jordan Barnes, James Gorchek, Vincent Fragomeni - DNS.
Superior PetroFuels Original Pizza Logs Junior Restricted Heavy Division: 15 laps // Matthew Farnham, Connor Mooradian, Kevin Daunce, Ben Werth, Corey Bodman, Matthew Watson, Isaac Pelissero, John Matthews, Vincent Pagnotta.
Philbrick Farm & Garden Equipment Original Pizza Logs Senior Division: 20 laps // Blake Priestley, Dillon MacPherson, Chris Watson, Frank Chadwick, David Janker, Braydon Robertson, Brian Cullen, Kaitlyn Quigley.
PartSource Original Pizza Logs Masters Division: 20 laps Dale Cooley, Mike Journeaux
Join us this season on a Tuesday Night for A KART WEEKLY RACING SERIES EVENT featuring FIVE Kart Weekly Racing Divisions and the stars of tomorrow today!
Many of Merrittville's Saturday night Stock Car Stars got their starts in Kart Racing including Lampman, Steele, Wood, Wutzke, Bicknell, D'Ilario, Chevalier, Williamson, Klager, Tallman, Mastroianni, Leslie, Pierce, Robbins and Small.
For Immediate Release - May 7, 2008 - From Jim Irvine - Merrittville Public Relations - 905-892-8266
MOSPORT: Dickies and TSC Stores team up to offer a VIP trip to Mosport on Father's Day
(BOWMANVILLE, ON May 7, 2008) - Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. and TSC Stores are teaming up to give racing fans a shot at a dream vacation to Mosport International Raceway this summer.For one lucky fan the dream will become reality when they win an all expenses paid VIP trip for two to the Father's Day Doubleheader, featuring the Dickies 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Mosport International Raceway, June 13-15.
The VIP package includes airfare (if required), transportation to Mosport, accommodations, a private breakfast with the #39 Dickies Dodge NASCAR Canadian Tire Series team featuring driver Dave Whitlock, a pace-car lap and access to the VIP hospitality area to watch the race."We are very excited to have helped put together such an outstanding contest for all the great NASCAR Canadian Tire Series fans. It doesn't get any better for the race fan, with the chance to win a great trip to Mosport and experience world-class racing at such an historic venue," said Bill McFarlane, Vice President, Marketing and Operations, Williamson-Dickie Canada Co.
The contest is open to all legal Canadian residents (excluding Quebec), who have reached the age of majority in their territory or province of residence. To enter, visit any TSC retail outlet, fill out an entry form in full and mail it in. For a TSC location near you visit http://www.tscstores.com/. No purchase is necessary. All entries must be postmarked by Friday, May 23 when the contest closes and received no later than Friday, May 30.
Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. (www.dickiescanada.com) is a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, Texas. Since its beginnings in Forth Worth, Texas in 1922, the Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company has grown from a manufacturer of bib overalls into a global brand powerhouse, with Dickies work pants, shirts, denim, outerwear, school uniforms, outdoor gear, medical and chefs apparel and an extensive licensing program offering sturdy head-to-toe clothing options for hardworking men and women of all ages, professions, regions and interests. Williamson-Dickie operates through subsidiaries in North America, Canada and Europe as well as exclusive distributorship around the world. Their Canadian headquarters is in Mississauga, Ontario, with a manufacturing plant located in Hanover, Ontario.
TSC Stores of Canada opened its first store in London, Ontario in 1966. TSC Stores are proud to supply their customers with products for country and farm home improvement, working the land, and outdoor hobbies.
In addition to NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the Father's Day Doubleheader Weekend features the U.S. based Grand-Am KONI Challenge for high-performance domestic and import sedans (GS and ST classes), the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, the Canadian debut of the new Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup and the BFGoodrich Skip Barber National presented by Mazda. For more information and tickets please go to www.mosport.com or call 1-800-866-1072.
-30-
Media contacts: Bill McFarlane, Williamson-Dickie Canada Co. @ (289) 290-2119
Jerry Priddle, Mosport @ 1-800-866-1072
Grand Bend Motorplex opens 2008 season with a new Format
London Ontario - The 2008 Drag racing season at Grand Bend Motorplex opened this past weekend with a new approach designed to help the racer save time and money while still enjoying plenty of racing. “For the past 11 years, GBM has opened in April and run every weekend until October, we, along with many of our customers, felt it was time for a change” says Paul Spriet, GBM’s owner. “ What are the two things we never seem to have enough of – time and money. So when Ron Biekx (GBM’s Gen mgr) and myself got together to design the 2008 season, we took into consideration many of the comments we had received from racers during the 2007 season. Many of our racers were looking for a program that didn’t require them to come every weekend; just enough to stay competitive in the Thunder Series points program, or chase a Summit Super Series title (GBM has had 2 SSS World Champions). They love racing but they also wanted the ability to do other things with their families on some weekends. Secondly, with the cost of traveling to and from the track being one of the their biggest expenses, they were looking to maximize the amount of racing they could get while at the track.”
“With these and other factors in mind, we sat down and came up with a program that we feel will accomplish this”, says Ron, “it provides the racers with a full slate of 20 race weekends, plus weekends off for those who want them. In fact, for those just interested in chasing the Thunder Series Points Championship and the IHRA Summit Super Series title, it only requires a commitment of 12 weekends out of the 20 we are open.” For example, we just ran our opening weekend; this weekend (Sat & Sun) is a Thunder Series points weekend with Free Top Sportsman/Top Dragster and Pro testing. Then it’s our big “Jet Warz/Concert” Victoria Day weekend show, followed by a weekend off. The entire 2008 season is setup on this approximately 3 weeks on, 1 week off format.
In addition to providing weekends off, we tried to maximize the opportunity for our racers to get the most racing when at the track by making most of our weekend’s double headers. The racer can come in on Friday, run our Test & Tune program, then run Points races both Saturday and Sunday. We also added a non points “Footbrake” race class on many of our weekends which allows racers in our Top, Mod and Street classes the opportunity to double enter into a fun, old fashioned race class, thereby spreading their travel costs over 4 races on a weekend vs driving in for a one day/one race deal. Many of our racers also take advantage of our seasonal pit spots, which allows them the opportunity to leave their trailer at GBM, thereby lowering their travel costs while still having a home away from home.
“We think this format will be a win/win for everyone” says Paul, “it should increase our overall attendance on the weekends we are open which benefits the track. More race classes with bigger race class attendance means more/bigger payouts for the racers, which they benefit from as well. Now all we need is for Mother Nature to be on our side and it should be a great 2008 season”
www.grandbendmotorplex.com
“With these and other factors in mind, we sat down and came up with a program that we feel will accomplish this”, says Ron, “it provides the racers with a full slate of 20 race weekends, plus weekends off for those who want them. In fact, for those just interested in chasing the Thunder Series Points Championship and the IHRA Summit Super Series title, it only requires a commitment of 12 weekends out of the 20 we are open.” For example, we just ran our opening weekend; this weekend (Sat & Sun) is a Thunder Series points weekend with Free Top Sportsman/Top Dragster and Pro testing. Then it’s our big “Jet Warz/Concert” Victoria Day weekend show, followed by a weekend off. The entire 2008 season is setup on this approximately 3 weeks on, 1 week off format.
In addition to providing weekends off, we tried to maximize the opportunity for our racers to get the most racing when at the track by making most of our weekend’s double headers. The racer can come in on Friday, run our Test & Tune program, then run Points races both Saturday and Sunday. We also added a non points “Footbrake” race class on many of our weekends which allows racers in our Top, Mod and Street classes the opportunity to double enter into a fun, old fashioned race class, thereby spreading their travel costs over 4 races on a weekend vs driving in for a one day/one race deal. Many of our racers also take advantage of our seasonal pit spots, which allows them the opportunity to leave their trailer at GBM, thereby lowering their travel costs while still having a home away from home.
“We think this format will be a win/win for everyone” says Paul, “it should increase our overall attendance on the weekends we are open which benefits the track. More race classes with bigger race class attendance means more/bigger payouts for the racers, which they benefit from as well. Now all we need is for Mother Nature to be on our side and it should be a great 2008 season”
www.grandbendmotorplex.com
Southern Ontario Sprints: Labour Day Classic weekend just got bigger
A Southern Ontario Sprints tradition that began as a part of the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals at the Ohsweken Speedway is no longer. The SOS season-ending event will no longer be the SOS Championship Invitational at Ohsweken Speedway. With the move to weekly sprint car racing at Ohsweken and the success of Ohsweken's Canadian Sprint Car Nationals, the SOS Season finale will now be shifted, to become a part of Brighton Speedway's Annual Labour Day Classic to be held August 29 & 30.
In an effort to further grow the already successful Labour Day Classic, The feature winners share of the purse has been raised. The feature win will be worth $800 on Saturday and $1200 on Sunday. If a driver sweeps both nights features, he will walk away with $2000 for his weekends work.
In another move to make the event more friendly to outside competitors, the invitational component of the event has also been altered to make the event more accessible to visitors, while at the same time rewarding those loyal to the series. In the past, a driver was ineligible to compete in the SOS Championship event if he/she had not raced at least once at a majority of the SOS tracks throughout the season. For both nights, the top 10 drivers* in series points will be guaranteed a starting spot in both features. The normal SOS qualifying and handicapping procedures will be in effect. Any driver that is in the top 10 in series points and has not otherwise qualified will start at the rear of the 24 car feature.
The event will also pay the normal Brighton Speedway SOS tow money for each night ($200) as long as the rain stays away, if a driver has a bad weekend, does not qualify for either feature, after making a legitimate attempt to do so, he/she will still end up with $400 for their weekend's efforts.
There will be sprint dashes both nights, with Saturday's dash being sponsored by Black Transport and Sundays dash will be sponsored by RBM Carriers.
Just to top things off, Tim Phillips Garage is supporting the event with an additional $100/night that will be contributed towards the nights' hard chargers as well as making a contribution towards the "B" main if one is required.
It is hoped that the efforts of both Brighton Speedway and the SOS will make this weekend a can't miss for the teams and drivers.
*This is based on a driver's points only, NOT the points earned by a car or a car number. In other words if a driver is in the top 10 in points and is unable to compete in his regular car he can use his points and be locked into the feature(s) driving another car.
From SOS Insider
In an effort to further grow the already successful Labour Day Classic, The feature winners share of the purse has been raised. The feature win will be worth $800 on Saturday and $1200 on Sunday. If a driver sweeps both nights features, he will walk away with $2000 for his weekends work.
In another move to make the event more friendly to outside competitors, the invitational component of the event has also been altered to make the event more accessible to visitors, while at the same time rewarding those loyal to the series. In the past, a driver was ineligible to compete in the SOS Championship event if he/she had not raced at least once at a majority of the SOS tracks throughout the season. For both nights, the top 10 drivers* in series points will be guaranteed a starting spot in both features. The normal SOS qualifying and handicapping procedures will be in effect. Any driver that is in the top 10 in series points and has not otherwise qualified will start at the rear of the 24 car feature.
The event will also pay the normal Brighton Speedway SOS tow money for each night ($200) as long as the rain stays away, if a driver has a bad weekend, does not qualify for either feature, after making a legitimate attempt to do so, he/she will still end up with $400 for their weekend's efforts.
There will be sprint dashes both nights, with Saturday's dash being sponsored by Black Transport and Sundays dash will be sponsored by RBM Carriers.
Just to top things off, Tim Phillips Garage is supporting the event with an additional $100/night that will be contributed towards the nights' hard chargers as well as making a contribution towards the "B" main if one is required.
It is hoped that the efforts of both Brighton Speedway and the SOS will make this weekend a can't miss for the teams and drivers.
*This is based on a driver's points only, NOT the points earned by a car or a car number. In other words if a driver is in the top 10 in points and is unable to compete in his regular car he can use his points and be locked into the feature(s) driving another car.
From SOS Insider
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
apprenticesearch.com returns as Tim Norris' sponsor for a fifth season of Ontario Pro Challenge Series action
apprenticesearch.com is proud to announce its fifth season of partnership with driver Tim Norris and Norris Racing! This season, Norris Racing and apprenticesearch.com are hoping to be competitive every week leading to another Ontario Pro Challenge Series championship.
The partnership between apprenticesearch.com and Tim’s team has been beneficial for both parties over the last 5 years, and we’re looking forward to another great season! For weekly updates from Tim Norris, visit the apprenticesearch.com blog at http://www.apprenticesearch.blogspot.com/.
Jim's Journeys - Saturday, May 3rd 2008
Jim's Journeys: Saturday, May 3rd - Can Am Speedway Lafargeville, New York
Photo attachment: Norm Davey in Kingston Speedway victory lane, probably 1969 or 1970
I can't remember the exact date, but my first exposure to stock car racing was when my Dad took my brother and me to Kingston Speedway. It was probably in the late 60's. I wouldn't have been quite 10 years old. One of my first stops every Friday night was at the souvenir stand, hoping they might have a few new pictures of my favourite driver - Stormin' Norman Davey. That might go a long way to explaining why I always have a camera with me at the racetracks I visit today.
I take my Dad on a racing road-trip a couple of times every year. Saturday, May 3rd I invited him to join my friend Marlene and me for the show at Can Am. The weather forecast was typical for an early spring weekend. Saturday morning started-off bright and sunny, but by the time we hit the road the clouds had started to roll-in and just outside Kingston, we drove through some rain. Always the optimist, I kept driving – despite the negative opinions that were coming from the back seat. Once at the track, I wasn't in a hurry to head for the stands. It didn't seem to make sense to get in there - only to have the show potentially washed-out - and knowing we wouldn't be back the next week to use the rain cheque. Instead, we waited in the car until the driver's meeting wrapped-up and the cars took the track for hot laps.
After a quick stop at the concession stand for something to eat, we took our seats in grandstand. Can Am is running about 6 classes on a weekly basis this year. Personally, I think that's too many but I like the fact that they have both big block and 358 modifieds on the weekly card. This early in the season, the feature races aren't handicapped, so the main events start heads-up. That means the heat race winners get the front row spots.
In the main, it meant the team cars of Billy Decker and Pat O'Brien would be on the row. Decker has been strong throughout the early spring and Saturday night was no exception. The 'Franklin Flyer' (or the 'Unadilla Thrilla') won the 30 lap feature over Frankie Caprara and O'Brien. Tim O'Brien was 4th and Billy Dunn completed the top 5. Pat could've easily finished 2nd, but he struggled for almost 4 laps to work his way around the lapped car of Pierre Dagenais, who was running Bob McCreadie's #9 car. Larry (Wight Lightning) Wight captured the 358 modified feature, with Decker and Lance Willix second and third respectively.
We managed to stay dry all night while at the track, but drove through some heavy rain on the way back home, arriving in Kingston near 10:30. My original plan had been to head to Rolling Wheels the next day for the 2008 Challenge Cup, but a message I received over the weekend had me scheduled for a 7:00 driving job Monday morning, so I stayed home instead.
This weekend: Capital City Speedway – Stittsville, Ontario Friday, May 9th. Brighton Speedway Park – Brighton, Ontario Saturday, May 10th. In the distance: Brockville Ontario Speedway - Saturday, May 17th. Cornwall Motor Speedway - Sunday, May 18th.
Monday, May 05, 2008
INSIDE TRACK READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Inside Track Readers' Choice Awards Announced Canadian road racing star Ron Fellows continues to dominate prestigious awards
For immediate release: May 5, 2008
TORONTO, ON – After more than two months of voting and the counting of over 5,000 ballots, the winners have been determined for the Sixth Annual Inside Track Readers’ Choice Awards, presented by Castrol. Between January 11 and March 14, Canadian motorsports enthusiasts cast their votes in 12 categories – via a secure, online survey – to determine Canada’s top past, current and future racing stars.
The big winner – once again – is Canadian road racing legend Ron Fellows. Although he scaled back his racing efforts somewhat in 2007, Fellows was still the readers’ choice in three categories, including Overall Canadian Racer of the Year, Canadian Racer of the Year Competing at the Highest Levels of International Competition, and Most Deserving of Induction into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
It was the fourth time in the program’s six years that Fellows has earned the honour of being named Overall Canadian Racer of the Year by the readers of Inside Track Motorsport News (ITMN). He also won in ’04, ’05 and ’06.
In the majority of the categories, six racers were nominated via a consultation process involving the magazine’s editors and contributors. The nominees were chosen based on their achievements in 2007 and represented all regions of Canada. And while write-in candidates garnered a considerable number of votes, the winners of each category came from the list of nominees put forward by ITMN’s editorial team.
In addition to Fellows, the other class winners are: Canadian Stock Car Racer of the Year – Andrew Ranger (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series); Up and Coming Canadian Stock Car Racer of the Year – Brandon Watson (Barrie Speedway); Canadian Road Racer of the Year – Daniel Morad (Formula BMW); Up and Coming Canadian Road Racer of the Year – Kyle Marcelli (Formula Ford); Canadian Motorcycle Racer of the Year – Steve Crevier (Parts Canada Superbike Series); Up and Coming Canadian Motorcycle Racer of the Year – Jeremy Medaglia (CMRC Motocross); Canadian Drag Racer of the Year – Kyle Jessup (Show Me The Money Tour); Canadian Kart Racer of the Year – Mike Vincec (SRFKC); and Canadian Rally Racer of the Year – Antoine L’Estage (Canadian Rally Championship).
“We’re very pleased with the outcome of the Inside Track Readers’ Choice Awards,” said Editor Greg MacPherson. “Once again, our readers demonstrated their considerable knowledge and passion for our sport. All of the winners and nominees can be proud of what they accomplished last year and we know that being an Inside Track Readers’ Choice Award winner will be mentioned prominently on their racing resumes. We’d also like to thank our sponsor Castrol and the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame for their support of this worthwhile program to celebrate Canadian racers.”
All voting was conducted via a controlled balloting procedure at the Survey Monkey website. Previous Overall Canadian Racer of the Year winners were Steve Robblee (2002) and Paul Tracy (2003).
Sixth Annual Inside Track Readers’ Choice Awards, presented by Castrol
Top 3 and their percentages (Based on more than 5,000 votes received at Surveymonkey.com)
CATEGORY / RACER PERCENTAGE OF VOTES
Canadian Stock Car Racer of the Year
1. Andrew Ranger 27.3
2. Derrick Tiemersma 20.3
3. Patrick Laperle 17.5
Up and Coming Canadian Stock Car Racer of the Year
1. Brandon Watson 22.8
2. Steve Arpin 19.2
3. Spencer MacPherson 18.2
Canadian Road Racer of the Year
1. Daniel Morad 28.9
2. Sasha Anis 26.9
3. Cindy Stevens 12.6
Up and Coming Canadian Road Racer of the Year
1. Kyle Marcelli 26.1
2. Charles-André Bilodeau 18.5
3. Devin Cunningham 16.7
Canadian Motorcycle Racer of the Year
1. Steve Crevier 22.6
2. Jordan Szoke 21.5
3. Donald Taylor 20.9
Up and Coming Canadian Motorcycle Racer of the Year
1. Jeremy Medaglia 32.0
2. Paul Glenn 20.5
3. Shane Wiebe 16.0
Canadian Drag Racer of the Year
1. Kyle Jessup 22.5
2. Rob Becker 18.4
3. Raymond Commisso 16.3
Canadian Kart Racer of the Year
1. Mike Vincec 44.3
2. Pier Luc Oullette 18.0
3. Christophe Boisclair 12.8
Canadian Rally Racer of the Year
1. Antoine L’Estage 33.0
2. Colin Armstrong 24.5
3. Andrew Comrie-Picard 15.5
Canadian Racer of the Year Competing at the Highest Levels of International Competition
1. Ron Fellows 33.6
2. Jacques Villeneuve 18.9
3. Mike Konopacki 13.6
Overall Canadian Racer of the Year
1. Ron Fellows
Honourable mention to Sasha Anis, Patrick Laperle, Steve Arpin, Derrick Tiemersma and Andrew Ranger
Most Deserving of Induction into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame
1. Ron Fellows
Honourable mention to Langis Caron and Jacques Villeneuve
Inside Track Communications fast facts: Inside Track Communications is the industry leader in motorsports publications. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Inside Track Communications publishes Inside Track Motorsport News (www.insidetracknews.com), Inside Motorcycles (www.insidemotorcycles.com), and Inside Motocross (www.insidemotocross.com).
For more information about the Readers’ Choice Awards, contact Greg MacPherson at (416) 962-7223.
Sign BARC-OC's petition to bring back the GP of Toronto in 2009
BARC-OC has a link to a petition on its site, urging people to sign and let the world know that we want the . Click here to go to the BARC-OC petition page.
Text of the post:
This Petition is to ensure that the Grand Prix will once again grace the City of Toronto for 2009.
We would like Toronto’s Grand Prix Association, Mayor David Miller and Tony George and Kevin Kalkhovan of the Indy Racing League, to know that while the Grand Prix of Toronto has gone on hiatus for 2008, as fans we want our Grand Prix back.
We are asking that the city and business get behind our Festival of Speed and ensure that all be in place so that 2009 brings us back to the forefront of the best place to race in Canada. As fans we know that this event brings in large revenues to Toronto. Let’s keep Toronto a world-class city and let us not forget that the Grand Prix awards us a major part of that distinction. Toronto loves motorsports, Toronto loves the Grand Prix and its Festival of Speed.
We would like Toronto’s Grand Prix Association, Mayor David Miller and Tony George and Kevin Kalkhovan of the Indy Racing League, to know that while the Grand Prix of Toronto has gone on hiatus for 2008, as fans we want our Grand Prix back.
We are asking that the city and business get behind our Festival of Speed and ensure that all be in place so that 2009 brings us back to the forefront of the best place to race in Canada. As fans we know that this event brings in large revenues to Toronto. Let’s keep Toronto a world-class city and let us not forget that the Grand Prix awards us a major part of that distinction. Toronto loves motorsports, Toronto loves the Grand Prix and its Festival of Speed.
(H/T Amy McCleary)
ACT Driver Payea Doubles Up at 10th Annual Merchants Bank 150
BARRE, VT – Late Model stock car driver Scott Payea of Milton, VT earned his third career American-Canadian Tour victory in the 10th Annual Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl on Sunday afternoon. Payea waged a race-long battle with defending Thunder Road Track Champion Dave Pembroke of Middlesex, VT, finally taking the lead for good on lap 129.
Payea, 26, started the race from the outside pole position and led the first 46 laps before Pembroke, who started fifth, took over. Pembroke led – if only by two car lengths – for the next 54 laps before Payea nosed his Ouellette Plumbing & Heating/AC Sports #89 Ford Fusion ahead on lap 110. Pembroke led two more laps after a late restart before Payea moved in front to stay.
ACT Castrol Series Champion Patrick Laperle of Montreal paseed Pembroke late for the runner-up position. Former ACT Late Model Tour Champion Phil Scott of Montpelier, VT finished fourth, just ahead of seven-time and defending ACT Late Model Tour Champion Jean-Paul Cyr of Milton, VT.
Randy Potter of Groveton, NH made a late charge to finish sixth ahead of Hyde Park, VT’s Eric Williams. Scott Dragon of Milton, VT and John Donahue of Graniteville, VT finished eighth and ninth, respectively, while Pete Potvin of Graniteville, VT had a career-best effort to complete the unofficial Top 10.
Forty-three cars were on hand to attempt qualifying for 30 starting positions. The Merchants Bank 150 was completed in just over 58 minutes, and was slowed by just six caution periods.
The ACT Late Model Tour travels to Plattsburgh, NY’s Airborne Speedway for the 34th Annual Furniture World of VT Spring Green 100 on Saturday, May 17. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.acttour.com.
UNOFFICIAL FINISH – 10th Annual Merchants Bank 150
ACT Late Model Tour – Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl, Barre, VT
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Pos-Driver-Hometown (# - denotes rookie)
1. Scott Payea, Milton, VT
2. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC
3. Dave Pembroke, Montpelier, VT
4. Phil Scott, Montpelier, VT
5. Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT
6. Randy Potter, Groveton, NH
7. Eric Williams, Hyde Park, VT
8. Scott Dragon, Milton, VT
9. John Donahue, Graniteville, VT
10. Pete Potvin, III, Graniteville, VT
11. #Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, VT
12. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
13. Brent Dragon, Milton, VT
14. Joe Becker, Jeffersonville, VT
15. Glen Luce, Turner, ME
16. Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct., VT
17. Ryan Nolin, Georgia, VT
18. Robbie Crouch, Tampa, FL
19. Claude Leclerc, Lanoraie, QC
20. Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT
21. Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH
22. Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT
23. #Jonathan Urlin, London, ON
24. Ron Henry, New Gloucester, ME
25. Cris Michaud, Northfield, VT
26. Trampas Demers, South Burlington, VT
27. Bobby Dragon, Milton, VT
28. Kip Stockwell, Braintree, VT
29. Dennis Demers, Shelburne, VT
30. #Nick Sweet, Barre, VT
From Justin St. Louis / ACT Tour
Inside Track Exclusive: Kent Nuhn shows off his new #18 Interstate Batteries NASCAR Canadian Tire Series car
Nuhn's team recently purchased cars from Ron Van Es, who won't be racing in the series in 2008. The Nuhn Motorsports operation now has two oval cars and a road course car and will take to the track with primary sponsorship from Interstate Batteries and associate backing from The Fuel Genie.
The #18 Interstate-sponsored car will be close in appearance to Kyle Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup car. Last season, Nuhn campaigned the #09. Congratulations to everyone at Nuhn Motorsports.
Photos by Rob Morton // Inside Track Motorsport News
All Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints Events to be at Least $2,000 to win!
SYARCUSE, N.Y. - It was a goal during the off-season and now it can be announced. All full point events on the 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) will now be at least $2,000 to win! To go along with many of the other special events dotting the schedule, the teams will be vying for more dollars than ever before.
"This was something that we had in the works since we concluded last season, we had many of the events last year at $2,000 to win and now with some great help from sponsors we can announce that all of them from here on are at the amount and more," said ESS President Chuck Miller.
"With the state of racing as it is today, we just want to get all the teams that come and race ESS the most money possible. With all of our events $2,000 to win and $250 to start it will help them financially. What makes us proud is that we will pay out more money for all our A-Mains for the sixth year in a row and that is without an increase from the tracks that book ESS."
With the added sponsors, all A-Mains will have a purse of $10,550 or more, the largest of any 360 sprint car organization this side of the Mississippi. Not to mention, many of the events up in Canada having considerably larger purses to be offered.
Several companies have picked up more than one A-Main with SUNY Canton heading the list. The beautiful campus in upstate, NY is sponsoring all three A-Mains at Utica-Rome Speedway, the two at Mohawk International and the single event at Can-Am Motorsports Park.
Lori and Mike Lasalle and their business Northwood 2 Construction will back all three A-Mains at Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway and the two full point events at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. The Lasalles have been a key fixture behind Brian McDonald and will be setting up a new endeavor with female star Jessica Zemken.
WestFront Construction, which is owned by the McDonalds, is located in the shadows of the Cornwall Motor Speedway and they are sponsoring both events at the famed quarter-mile. The first visit is in conjunction with the World of Outlaw Late Models on June 22nd and this 25 lap A-Main will be the richest full point feature event in ESS history as it will pay $2,500 to win and $1,500 for second.
Fondations 4 Saisons will again be the title sponsor of the three events at both Autodromes Granby and Drummond. The company owned by the Poirier family is doing this program for the second year in a row and last season they actually kept some of the funding at home with Steve winning the final race of the season at Granby. Single event sponsors are: Earl Halaquist Memorial, Arrow Express, Woodhull Raceway, Dick Carbery and Dick Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions.
After a successful opening event at the Black Rock Speedway, the Lucas Oil Series will kick into full gear on Sunday, May 25th where Utica-Rome will showcase first of three visits by the winged warriors. For the latest up to date information, log on to http://www.empiresupersprints.com/ where for over 25 years it's been excitement guaranteed!
A-Main Sponsors for the 2008 Season:
May 25 - SUNY Canton
May 31 - Earl Halaquist Memorial
June 7 - SUNY Canton
June 13 - Fondations 4 Saisons
June 14 - Fondations 4 Saisons
June 20 - Arrow Express
June 22 - WestFront Construction
July 5 - SUNY Canton
July 6 - SUNY Canton
July 11 - Woodhull Raceway
July 12 - Dick Carbery
July 18 - Northwood 2 Construction
July 19 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 1 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 2 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 15 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 16 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 17 - WestFront Construction
Aug. 29 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 30 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 31 - SUNY Canton
Sept. 5 - Dick Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions
Sept. 19 - Northwood 2 Construction
Sept. 20 - SUNY Canton
From Dean Reynolds // http://www.empiresupersprints.com/
"This was something that we had in the works since we concluded last season, we had many of the events last year at $2,000 to win and now with some great help from sponsors we can announce that all of them from here on are at the amount and more," said ESS President Chuck Miller.
"With the state of racing as it is today, we just want to get all the teams that come and race ESS the most money possible. With all of our events $2,000 to win and $250 to start it will help them financially. What makes us proud is that we will pay out more money for all our A-Mains for the sixth year in a row and that is without an increase from the tracks that book ESS."
With the added sponsors, all A-Mains will have a purse of $10,550 or more, the largest of any 360 sprint car organization this side of the Mississippi. Not to mention, many of the events up in Canada having considerably larger purses to be offered.
Several companies have picked up more than one A-Main with SUNY Canton heading the list. The beautiful campus in upstate, NY is sponsoring all three A-Mains at Utica-Rome Speedway, the two at Mohawk International and the single event at Can-Am Motorsports Park.
Lori and Mike Lasalle and their business Northwood 2 Construction will back all three A-Mains at Autodrome Edelweiss Speedway and the two full point events at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. The Lasalles have been a key fixture behind Brian McDonald and will be setting up a new endeavor with female star Jessica Zemken.
WestFront Construction, which is owned by the McDonalds, is located in the shadows of the Cornwall Motor Speedway and they are sponsoring both events at the famed quarter-mile. The first visit is in conjunction with the World of Outlaw Late Models on June 22nd and this 25 lap A-Main will be the richest full point feature event in ESS history as it will pay $2,500 to win and $1,500 for second.
Fondations 4 Saisons will again be the title sponsor of the three events at both Autodromes Granby and Drummond. The company owned by the Poirier family is doing this program for the second year in a row and last season they actually kept some of the funding at home with Steve winning the final race of the season at Granby. Single event sponsors are: Earl Halaquist Memorial, Arrow Express, Woodhull Raceway, Dick Carbery and Dick Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions.
After a successful opening event at the Black Rock Speedway, the Lucas Oil Series will kick into full gear on Sunday, May 25th where Utica-Rome will showcase first of three visits by the winged warriors. For the latest up to date information, log on to http://www.empiresupersprints.com/ where for over 25 years it's been excitement guaranteed!
A-Main Sponsors for the 2008 Season:
May 25 - SUNY Canton
May 31 - Earl Halaquist Memorial
June 7 - SUNY Canton
June 13 - Fondations 4 Saisons
June 14 - Fondations 4 Saisons
June 20 - Arrow Express
June 22 - WestFront Construction
July 5 - SUNY Canton
July 6 - SUNY Canton
July 11 - Woodhull Raceway
July 12 - Dick Carbery
July 18 - Northwood 2 Construction
July 19 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 1 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 2 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 15 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 16 - Northwood 2 Construction
Aug. 17 - WestFront Construction
Aug. 29 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 30 - Fondations 4 Saisons
Aug. 31 - SUNY Canton
Sept. 5 - Dick Spadaro Early Ford Reproductions
Sept. 19 - Northwood 2 Construction
Sept. 20 - SUNY Canton
From Dean Reynolds // http://www.empiresupersprints.com/
A1GP: Canada Secures Ninth in Final A1GP Standings
The 21-year-old missed out on adding to Canada's points tally having been recalled to the team for the first time since Round 2 in October, James finishing 15th in the morning's 15-lap Sprint race and 17th at the end of the afternoon's incident-packed 48-lap Feature. Enjoying a comfortable cushion in the points, the Brands Hatch no-score ultimately failed to impact on Canada's ninth place standing - the team's highest finish in three seasons of A1GP competition.
Hinchcliffe's race debut on the 2.62-mile Kent track lacked any real drama, the short nature of the Sprint race preventing too much in the way of passing opportunities. Lining up 15th for the rolling start, the Canadian lost a spot on the opening lap and held 16th through to lap 9. With China dropping down the order James was promoted back up the order to 15th and stayed there through to the checkered six laps later.
Pole-sitter Robbie Kerr delivered a second-straight Brands Hatch Sprint victory for A1 Team Great Britain with the USA's Jonathan Summerton second and Ireland's Adam Carroll third. Neel Jani's fourth place finish was enough to secure the A1GP title for A1 Team Switzerland with New Zealand's challenge coming up short at the final round.
While an engaging battle for the lead between India's Narain Karthikeyan, who started from pole, and local favorite Kerr entertained the crowd in the later Feature race, Canada's push for points was quickly eradicated with a series of penalties. Climbing to sixth on-track as the front-runners pitted for their first mandatory stop, Hinchcliffe was served with a drive through penalty for an alleged false start. Dropping to 19th as a result, Canada's day went from bad to worse as a 10-second 'stop and go' penalty was issued following a questionable line infringement from James' pit visit.
Down a lap on the leaders and with all hopes of cracking the top-ten long since gone, the team had one last attempt for points gunning for fastest lap of the race. Setting the fastest first sector time of the day, James posted a 1m16.204s lap three tours shy of the finish but was forced to settle for second best as the sister car of A1 Team Ireland, with Adam Carroll behind the wheel, took the extra point courtesy of a 1m15.997s. Karthikeyan scored his second win of the year for India with Kerr and Jani second and third respectively.
"Well it's been an eventful day for sure," said Hinchcliffe. "My car was rolling a bit at the start of the Feature but the grid's on a slope and I don't know how they expect people to control three pedals with two feet! Despite everything else that happened, and I'm really disappointed with the officiating today, the pace of the car was pretty good. I have to thank the Canadian team for their efforts this weekend, superb as always, and congratulate them on a great season!"
"James did a solid job considering he hasn't been in an A1GP car for six months," concluded Status Grand Prix's Mark Gallagher, who runs A1 Team Canada on behalf of Seat Holder Wade Cherwayko. "He was getting back into the groove with every session. Both races were frustrating though with the Feature hosting a catalogue of problems. Overall it's been a fantastic season for Canada with lots of podiums and a victory and it certainly puts down a solid foundation for next season. While today's results are disappointing, we've proved how competitive we can be!"
The 2008-09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport - Powered by Ferrari, featuring the next generation of A1GP car, gets underway with Round 1 hosted at Mugello, Italy, Friday 19th - Sunday 21st September 2008 - www.a1gp.com
A1GP Top-Ten Standings - Round 10/10: 1st Switzerland (168) - CHAMPIONS, 2nd New Zealand (127), 3rd Great Britain (126), 4th France (118), 5th South Africa (96), 6th Ireland (94), 7th Netherlands (87), 8th Germany (83), 9th CANADA (75), 10th India (61)
Photo Credit: 'A1 Team Canada's James Hinchcliffe in Round 10 at Brands Hatch' - Jakob Ebrey Photography
Copyright-free A1 Team Canada images are available for download at www.a1gp-photo.com/can
From A1 Team Canada Media Relations: Stuart Morrison - PR & Media Manager
PHOTOS: The New Humberstone Speedway // May 4, 2008 by Rick Wellman Photography
Feature winners for Sunday May 4,2008
Thanks to Rick Wellman Photography of Niagara Falls, ON for sharing his photos. To see more of Rick's work, visit www.rickwellmanphotography.com
Humberstone Speedway: May 4 2008 Report & Results
"Silly" Billy Hogue Claims First Win of 2008 at The New Humberstone Speedway
Last weeks devastation turned into this week's victory for The New Humberstone crowd favorite "Silly" Billy Hogue in the Brian's Tire Repair Streetstock Division, this past Sunday. Lap 19 was when Hogue, who was currently in 3rd place behind Brad Sheehan and Rick Beales, seen his chance and bolted right past the 1st and 2nd place cars in a beautiful turn 2 move and captured his first win of the 2008 season. Sheehan and Beales who had been in a bitter tug of war in the 20 lap event eventually had to settle for the 2nd and 3rd place spots. Former sportsman competitor Alan Sleight had a great first run of the 2008 season and was able to snag a top 5 spot. Top 5 were Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan, Vince Fargnoli and Alan Sleight. (Heat winners were Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan and Al Sleight)
In two years we have not seen someone chase down, current Ministock Champion James Small, like we have in the past weeks. Welcome newcomer to The New Humberstone Speedway Garnet Wilson, who in the past weeks has given the 10S of James Small a run for his money. Top 5 were James Small, Garnet Wilson, Evan Curtis, Bob Gill and Jocelyn Wiley. (Heat winners were James Small and Greg Wilson)
It was 2 for 2 for Cosco Haulage Sportsman driver Rob Pratt. Pratt, who won April 27th on the season opener, proved once again he is a force to be reckoned with. Pratt who grabbed the top spot from a very competitive Paul Gaboury, who looked fast and fierce in his number 9 machine. Gaboury lead most of the 25 lap event but was drifting up a bit too high in the corners and allowed Pratt to take the lead on lap 20. Top 5 were Rob Pratt, Paul Gaboury, Nick Cupolo, Tyler McPherson, and Ryan Susie. (Heat winners were Nick Cupolo, Paul Gaboury and Greg Panunte)
The Flyin' Fireman Doug Banner was back out on top last night in the Niagara Auto Sales Pro 4 Truck Division. Banner who took the lead on lap 3, when Don Lessard and Ed McNamara were sitting in first and second place but became so fixated on each other that Banner was able to slide right through them to take the top spot. Rob Sauder had a good race and pulled off a second place finish, followed by Rick Book and rookie Hilary Haegens. Top 5 were Doug Banner, Rob Sauder, Rick Book, Hilary Haegens and Jim Tufford. (Heat winners were Don Lessard and Doug Banner)
It was the first race in the Weekend Motorsports Pure Stock Division. Mike Greene captured the checkered flag in the 8 lap race. (Heat winners was Mike Greene)
Full Feature Results
Cosco Haulage Sportsman Division Finish- Rob Pratt, Paul Gaboury, Nick Cupolo, Tyler McPherson, Ryan Susie, Dennis Giancola, Darren Peters, Greg Panunte, Jeff Leggett, Ken Winfield, Don Spiece, Matt Williamson, Kevin Sharpe, Mark Dixon, Rich Farraway, Norm Mark, Roy Rinne, Brad Rouse, Rick Bellante, B.J Willard, Zack Zumpe, Mike Bowman, Guy McPherson and Dave
Flannigan Jr.
Brian's Tire Repair Streetstock Division Finish- Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan, Vince Fargnoli, Alan Sleight, Jaren Israel, Jason Fontaine, Cody McPherson, Shayne Pierce, Glen Leinin, Michael Bosse, Randy Beck, Bill Bleich Jr, Ron Loggie, Murray Nicholls and Jamie Akers. DNS- Rob Disher
Niagara Auto Sales Pro 4 Truck Division Finish- Doug Banner, Rob Sauder, Rick Book, Hilary Haegens, Jim Tufford, Scott Sherk, Al Joliviet, Don Lessard, Ed McNamara and Richard Ramey
Ministock Division Finish- James Small, Garnet Wilson, Evan Curtis, Bob Gill, Jocelyn Wiley, Len Wiley, Rocco Conte, Chris Laskey, Greg Wilson, Tony Walker, Carey Gore, Rob Goulding, Dan Erskine
The Weekend Motorsports Division Finish- Mike Greene, Sean Keus, Sam Iflody and Rob Goulden
Coming Up Next Week: Mothers Day Madness: 100 Lap Enduro $600.00 to Win, Flag Pole Race, Red Rover, Figure 8 Race and More..Start time 2pm. Pit Gates open at 11am, Grandstand Gates open at 1pm. Please visit www.humberstonespeedway.com, or call Speedway Office at 905-935-2886 for more info.
Last weeks devastation turned into this week's victory for The New Humberstone crowd favorite "Silly" Billy Hogue in the Brian's Tire Repair Streetstock Division, this past Sunday. Lap 19 was when Hogue, who was currently in 3rd place behind Brad Sheehan and Rick Beales, seen his chance and bolted right past the 1st and 2nd place cars in a beautiful turn 2 move and captured his first win of the 2008 season. Sheehan and Beales who had been in a bitter tug of war in the 20 lap event eventually had to settle for the 2nd and 3rd place spots. Former sportsman competitor Alan Sleight had a great first run of the 2008 season and was able to snag a top 5 spot. Top 5 were Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan, Vince Fargnoli and Alan Sleight. (Heat winners were Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan and Al Sleight)
In two years we have not seen someone chase down, current Ministock Champion James Small, like we have in the past weeks. Welcome newcomer to The New Humberstone Speedway Garnet Wilson, who in the past weeks has given the 10S of James Small a run for his money. Top 5 were James Small, Garnet Wilson, Evan Curtis, Bob Gill and Jocelyn Wiley. (Heat winners were James Small and Greg Wilson)
It was 2 for 2 for Cosco Haulage Sportsman driver Rob Pratt. Pratt, who won April 27th on the season opener, proved once again he is a force to be reckoned with. Pratt who grabbed the top spot from a very competitive Paul Gaboury, who looked fast and fierce in his number 9 machine. Gaboury lead most of the 25 lap event but was drifting up a bit too high in the corners and allowed Pratt to take the lead on lap 20. Top 5 were Rob Pratt, Paul Gaboury, Nick Cupolo, Tyler McPherson, and Ryan Susie. (Heat winners were Nick Cupolo, Paul Gaboury and Greg Panunte)
The Flyin' Fireman Doug Banner was back out on top last night in the Niagara Auto Sales Pro 4 Truck Division. Banner who took the lead on lap 3, when Don Lessard and Ed McNamara were sitting in first and second place but became so fixated on each other that Banner was able to slide right through them to take the top spot. Rob Sauder had a good race and pulled off a second place finish, followed by Rick Book and rookie Hilary Haegens. Top 5 were Doug Banner, Rob Sauder, Rick Book, Hilary Haegens and Jim Tufford. (Heat winners were Don Lessard and Doug Banner)
It was the first race in the Weekend Motorsports Pure Stock Division. Mike Greene captured the checkered flag in the 8 lap race. (Heat winners was Mike Greene)
Full Feature Results
Cosco Haulage Sportsman Division Finish- Rob Pratt, Paul Gaboury, Nick Cupolo, Tyler McPherson, Ryan Susie, Dennis Giancola, Darren Peters, Greg Panunte, Jeff Leggett, Ken Winfield, Don Spiece, Matt Williamson, Kevin Sharpe, Mark Dixon, Rich Farraway, Norm Mark, Roy Rinne, Brad Rouse, Rick Bellante, B.J Willard, Zack Zumpe, Mike Bowman, Guy McPherson and Dave
Flannigan Jr.
Brian's Tire Repair Streetstock Division Finish- Bill Hogue, Rick Beales, Brad Sheehan, Vince Fargnoli, Alan Sleight, Jaren Israel, Jason Fontaine, Cody McPherson, Shayne Pierce, Glen Leinin, Michael Bosse, Randy Beck, Bill Bleich Jr, Ron Loggie, Murray Nicholls and Jamie Akers. DNS- Rob Disher
Niagara Auto Sales Pro 4 Truck Division Finish- Doug Banner, Rob Sauder, Rick Book, Hilary Haegens, Jim Tufford, Scott Sherk, Al Joliviet, Don Lessard, Ed McNamara and Richard Ramey
Ministock Division Finish- James Small, Garnet Wilson, Evan Curtis, Bob Gill, Jocelyn Wiley, Len Wiley, Rocco Conte, Chris Laskey, Greg Wilson, Tony Walker, Carey Gore, Rob Goulding, Dan Erskine
The Weekend Motorsports Division Finish- Mike Greene, Sean Keus, Sam Iflody and Rob Goulden
Coming Up Next Week: Mothers Day Madness: 100 Lap Enduro $600.00 to Win, Flag Pole Race, Red Rover, Figure 8 Race and More..Start time 2pm. Pit Gates open at 11am, Grandstand Gates open at 1pm. Please visit www.humberstonespeedway.com, or call Speedway Office at 905-935-2886 for more info.
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