Sport Car Club of BC: Pit Pass Newsletter (Dec. 2009)

Thanks to Peter Weedon of the Sports Car Club of BC for sending along the December 2009 edition of their Pit Pass Newsletter. Click on the cover at right to download the document.

Stolen Race Trailer... from race shop in Ancaster, Ontario

STOLEN RACE TRAILER - PARTS AND EQUIPMENT NOVEMBER 28TH, 2009
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Equipment

To everyone,

Last night we had a 2008 Excursion Enclosed Race Trailer stolen from our shop in Ancaster Ontario. The Trailer is White in color with lettering on the trailer, Texon Tool Supply, Lucas Oil, Benson Auto Parts #24 Brennan Didero, Seals-it, Grisdale Racing Products and Mid America Motor Sports. The Trailer is a Tandem Trailer with Aluminum Wheels and a Spare Tire on the Nose with a Black Tire Cover.

Plate Number F54 00K Ontario Plates. The Trailer is full of our race parts.

If you see the Trailer please call Police right away. If you are approached over the next few weeks by anyone selling NEW or Used Race Parts, please notify me so we can see if it is on our list.

Your help is very much appreciated.

Thank you,
David A. Didero // Mid America Motorsports Inc. // Phone- 905-741-9244 // midamericamotorsports@hotmail.com

Grand Prix of Canada Returning to Montréal in 2010... 5 year deal

Montréal, November 27, 2009-The governments of Canada and Québec, Montréal and Tourisme Montréal are proud to announce that the Grand Prix du Canada will return to Montréal on June 13 through a $15 million annual investment over the next five years.

The Government of Canada and Tourisme Montréal will each contribute $5 million of this amount. The Government of Québec will provide $4 million and Montréal will add $1 million. Montréal and its partners will in return receive 30% shares from ticket sales.

"The Conservative government is proud to award such a significant financial contribution to the nation's foremost recreational tourism event. Through the $25 million in support that we are providing over five years, the FIA Formula One World  Championship is coming back to North America here in Montréal. Acting on behalf of our taxpayers has always been one of our prime concerns and this agreement advances that goal. The funding in question will provide direct and tangible leveraging support to our economy. This is an excellent outcome for all concerned," said the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister responsible for the Montreal region.

"The Grand Prix of Canada has more impact on the tourist industry than any other sports event in Canada. Of the 300,000 spectators at the competition, 25% come from outside Québec. With such heavy media coverage, the FIA Formula One World not only provides an outstanding display window for Montréal, but for Québec as a whole. This event alone delivers some $89 million in economic fallout each year, along with 75,000 overnight hotel stays. "I am certainly delighted by this news," said Québec Minister of Tourism, Nicole Ménard.

"For Québec, this event by itself results in annual tax revenues of more than $10 million, for a $4 million investment, minus revenues from ticket sales. All three levels of government have worked together tirelessly over the past few months to bring the Grand Prix back to Montréal, while acting in a financially responsible manner. With this agreement in hand, I am delighted that our efforts have finally succeeded," said Québec Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Montréal Region Raymond Bachand.

"The return of the Formula One to Montréal attests to our sustained efforts and determination. This win-win deal falls in line with the terms we set and the taxpayer's ability to pay and will create stability for the next five years. I am very pleased that our metropolis is bringing back this crucial stage in the Formula One series for fans from around the world and an outstanding opportunity in terms of the event's international reach," said Montréal Mayor Gérald Tremblay.

"In view of the substantial trickle-down effects that the F1 will generate for members of our association, Tourisme Montréal is pleased to assist in the return of Canada's biggest tourism event. International coverage of the Grand Prix also puts Montréal in the spotlight and promotes our city as a tourist destination," said Charles Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal.

From Mary-Ann Dewey Plante // Press Secretary // Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services // (819) 956-5325

Simond Bachand // Press Secretary // Office of the Minister of State (Canada Economic Development) // (514) 496-1282

Martin Tremblay // Press Secretary // Office of the Mayor and the Executive Committee // (514) 872-0274

Isabelle Lord // Office of the Minister of Tourism // (514) 220-1965

Catherine Poulin // Press Secretary / Office of the Minister of Finance and the Minister responsible for the Montréal Region // (418) 643-5270 // (514) 873-5363

Pierre Bellerose // Vice President // Public Relations, Product Research and Development // Tourisme Montréal
(514) 844-2404

VIDEO: RALLY OF THE TALL PINES: Andrew Comrie-Picard on-board video

This 7-minute clip is a raw, on-board video of Canadian rally racer Andrew Comrie-Picard in action at the recent Rally of the Tall Pines. The start-to-stop stage footage is courtesy of TV2GO. Complete coverage of the CRC event from Bancroft, Ontario airs on TSN on Saturday, December 19 at noon and on RDS on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

(h/t J.R.)

'Rick at the Races' Retro.... 1976

From Rick Young.... www.rickattheraces.com

RICK @ the RACES (RETRO 1976)

By the end of 1975 Chris Pickup and myself had completed our second year in BriSCA F1 stock car racing, in cars that we jointly owned and maintained. Chris preferred the 'Marty Car' while my preference was for our original. During the closed season we both agreed to split the assets and go our separate ways for 1976. This did not stop us going half shares in a BriSCA F2 that came up for sale.

After a few years where BriSCA F2 racing had been loosing popularity in the Midlands, it had gradually gained ground again. One of our buddies, Geoff Dunsby who'd helped us when we first got started bought the ex Bob Boddington (596) , Pete Poole (642) built car to race during 1975. It was powered by a 1200 cc Triumph Spitfire engine and featured a classic Fiat Toppolino body. Geoff's plans for 1976 were to build his own car, so offered us this one at a price we couldn't refuse.

The Beds and Herts Stock Car Club had been growing in size and was now supporting many other drivers from our area, with monthly get togethers at the Bell Public House in Toddington, Beds. The roster at the offset included Chris (50) and myself (67) , Mick Gale (18), Steve Bird (52), Ted Else (64), Tony Abel (100) Glyn Pursey (175), Brian Bedford (209), Ann Bedford # 210 ,Bob Isles (294) Dick Harvey (445) and BriSCA F2 driver Brian Holmes (542). Brian had returned to F2's in 1975 after a couple of years in Mini Rods. The list increased as the year went on, to include two more F2 drivers, Mick Coady # 653 and Nigel Harradine # 717.

A new track had opened in Hartlepool in the North East of England, and as well a running Brisca F1's, they had introduced F2's too. This was a completely new area for the smaller formula, and suitable cars were in short supply. Brian sold his F2 to a North Eastern driver at the end of 1975 and bought an ex John Hillam F1 from Ken Brown. Before he got round to racing it, it was sold on to Bob Isles. This meant that Brian was without a race car for 1976 so Chris and I agreed to let him use our newly acquired F2. We were so busy with our F1's that we hadn't got the time to race it anyway.

Maureen was now my steady girlfriend, and my winter months had been spent between Dunstable and her apartment in North London. Before the year was out, she had moved back to live with her parents in Dunstable. I was still driving trucks for a living and the company I worked for, Export & general Transport Services, had put me through my HGV class 1 . This now permitted me to drive 'artics' (tractor/trailers).

My regular truck was a Cummins powered ERF and a typical days work would be transporting CKD packing cases for General Motors (Bedford Trucks) on flat bed trailers, to either the Felixstowe or London docks.

My racing plans were to continue, much the same as before, where as Chris had a major rebuilding project planned for the 'Marty Car'. He was going to strengthen the chassis , install a tripple carbed Jaguar E type engine and drastically change the body work. A friend of his had been taking part in local Rally's with a Triumph GT6 Spitfire and had the misfortune to 'roll it'. Chris was offered the body to use on his stock car.

My first race of 1976 was at Brafield on March 14 , which ended up with a trip by ambulance to the Northampton General Hospital. I was involved in a wreck, which turned out to be one of many that year. There were no broken bones after that incident, but the pain kept me off work for three weeks. On my return to work, I was put on light duties, shunting trailers between the Cross Paperware factory in Dunstable High Street and their warehouse in Frenchs Ave, the other end of town. I was now driving a Bedford KM and hauling canvas sided tilt trailers. Cross Paperware also happened to be the place where my 'Plume of Feathers' buddy Colin Herridge worked. I ended up staying on this job for several years. It worked out good for my racing, as there was plenty of 'down time' and Mick Blacks place, where we kept the race cars was just a short distance from the warehouse.

I was able to do jobs on the car during my quiet moments.

My first time back on the track after the Brafield crash was at the Leicester Stadium the following month, where I was involved in yet another wreck. The back end of the car was ripped out, and I made another visit to see the medics. I wasn't hurt in this one, but was checked out as a precautionary measure.

At this stage Chris was still yet to make his appearance with the GT6 Spitfire, but when it did make it's debut, the unusual body work caused plenty of attention.

After the traditional first Saturday in the month visit to Coventry on May 1, to watch the BriSCA F1's, I was  at Ipswich the following day to see the SCOTA cars in action where Les Suckling (132) won the final. I remember a crowd of us, which included Phil 'Bootsie' Chance dropping in to The Cock, at Glemsford on the way home for a pint or two. Former F1 stock car driver Dennis Driscoll (274) was now the Landlord of the pub in this small village close to Sudbury (Suffolk).

On May 12, I visited another new track, not for stock car racing but to watch a British League Motor Cycle Speedway event. It was the White City Stadium in West London where the Ipswich Witches were racing against the home team. There were three stadiums in the UK that went by the name of White City, (Glasgow, Manchester and London) All three had ran stock cars during the years, but this one in London, an athletics stadium close to the BBC studios in Wood Lane was the most World famous.

June was a very sad month for British stock car racing when Brian Wallace (119) was killed in a crash at Manchester's White City ( June 5 ) . I was racing at the Oxford Stadium the following day when the news was broken.

On Saturday July 10, I accompanied Brian Holmes to the Stoke Stadium for a rare afternoon session of BriSCA F2 racing. He'd been doing well in the car that Chris and I jointly owned and I wanted to see how he was getting on. When the races were over at Stoke we traveled across country to watch the evening BriSCA F1 show at Long Eaton.

The next day tragedy hit the Beds & Herts Club, when one of our drivers, Tony Abel # 100 was injured at Brafield. He was involved in a crash and suffered severe neck injuries.

1976 also heralded the beginning of the end for the larger tracks.

Snetterton had disappeared from the fixtures in 1975 and Lydden Hill went the same way at the end of that year. For 1976 the only 'big track' date was for the Brands Hatch Festival of Speed on July 25. This was the last time I was to race at this track.

On Aug 1, the British Stock Car Racing Supporters Association were holding their annual FAN CLUB DERBY at Brafield and the Beds & Herts Club entered most of it's driver members. The Club chose a theme of the EEC ( European Economic Community) and the cars were to be decorated to depict the various countries. We all drew lots and I picked Luxemburg.

Committee man Brian Yates built a radio mast out of wood which we placed on the bonnet (hood) and I sat their with a microphone dressed up as a disc jockey.  In those days, the BBC provided a very poor service for pop music lovers, and Radio Luxemburg was the station most young Brits listened to in the evenings. The side of the car was covered in cardboard and painted up as the Grand Dukes Castle . Maureen sat on the roof dressed in national costume waving the Luxemburg flag. Brian Holmes # 448 also made his F1 debut that day driving Brian Bedfords spare car decorated as a Venetian Gondola (Italy)

My second Austin Westminster had come to the end of the road and my old friend SCOTA driver Johnny Hewer # 116 towed me to Brafield that day. Like many of my old cars the Westminster ended it's days in a Banger race. One of my buddies, Gordon Morrison, raced it a Wimbledon. I bought an old Hillman Minx ( Series V) like I'd had before just to get me by, but it wasn't 'man' enough to tow a big F1. I had to rely on friends to help me, hauling the stock car, if I wanted to race.

Many of the races attended as a specatator were done in Maureen's Hillman Imp. In August we made a midweek trip to the West Country to see some BriSCA F2 racing. As well as revisiting St Austell, Cornwall, (Aug 3) and Newton Abbott, Devon ( Aug 4) , we visited the Weymouth Stadium in Dorset (Aug 5) for the first time. The track that was located in Radipole Lane, just outside the popular coastal resort was 365 meters in length , shale surfaced and promoted by Roy Goodman. Roy, a veteran racer from the 1950's had competed in both BriSCA F1 (163) and BriSCA F2 (800) over the years and at it was him that took the checkers that night. Like so many of the venue's mentioned in my reports, the Weymouth track soon succumbed to the developer.

On Sunday August 15, while I was attending a Banger Racing event at the Brafield Stadium, the Superstox World Final took place at Cowdenbeath in Scotland. Local hero Gordon 'Spotty' McDougal # 41 took the gold.

The BriSCA F1 World Final was at White City , Manchester on September 11 and I was there to see Stuart Bamforth (3) take the Gold. There were only two overseas drivers on the grid both in borrowed cars, Dick Zimmerman from California, USA and Harry V/D Spuij representing South Africa. The next day Colin Higman (778) won the BriSCA F2 World Final at St Austell, while I was at Brafield for the BriSCA F1's.

The Austin A40 body on my stock car was getting quite scruffy after all the wrecks I'd been having, so decided to re-body it during the summer . When Chris built the Triumph GT6 special he'd removed the old Ford Y TYPE body and it laid in Mick Black's back yard doing nothing. It was a lot tidier than the Austin, so I used that.

My interest in BriSCA F2 had been rekindled and as well as going to see them, I was regularly going to watch the Spedeworth Superstox at Wimbledon and the Pete Baines Three Star stock cars at Boston.

SCOTA, the breakaway F1 stock car group were now into their second year and still providing some great action on the Spedeworth tracks. I attended many of their events as a spectator. After seeing the Dutch F1 stock cars at the 1975 SCOTA World Final, I wanted to see them on their home ground.

I contacted Spedeworth in an attempt to get some mainland Europe race dates for a planned vacation in September. Of course this was in the days before internet and information was hard to get. I did get some tentative dates for the Posterholt track near to Roermond in the Netherlands, so a trip was organized.

Maureen's Imp was loaded up with camping gear and our plan was to tour through France, Germany, Luxemburg and Belgium before heading for the Netherlands. I remember us getting as far as the Black Forrest and Kehl on the River Rhine in Germany before heading back for the races. We arrived in the Dutch town of Roermond on the Friday where we found a nice campsite on the banks of the River Rhur, just outside of town. Once we were settled, it was time to search out the local track. After driving out to the tiny village of Posterholt and chatting to the locals, it soon became evident there was no racing taking place that weekend.

Roermond was also close to two other tracks that I'd heard about, so we checked them too. Both of them, the Baarlo Auto Speedway near Venlo and the Kaldenkirchen track just across the border in Germany had no racing on offer that weekend. Little did I know, that Baarlo would be a track I would visit many times in the future. It was shale at this time , and was paved later that year.

Things didn't look good for any racing, so on Saturday we took off on a sight seeing trip to the German city of Munchengladbach . While driving close to the town of Pulheim we spotted a poster saying AUTOCROSS 19 Sept . This happened to be Sunday the very next day.

So determined not to be beaten we returned the following day. The track was a temporary course laid out on farmland, Most of the cars were VW specials with an assortment of Citroens, Datsuns, Renaults and Fords. It was a typical club type event consisting of local drivers. I had now tasted my first piece of German auto racing.

After the racing we went back to Roermond and spent the evening sitting outside a local bar. As we sat there, we were amazed to see some stock cars going by on trailers. We later found out that the some racing had taken place at Tilburg. Oh well, at least we did get to see some racing !

On our return to the UK, my renewed interest in BriSCA F2's continued and on October 17 , I joined Brian Holmes on another trip. Brian was using a Morris FG ex post office truck ( they were given the nickname of 'threepenny bit's) to transport his stock car, and to say it was slow, would be an understatement !  It would barely go over 50 mph and the long trek from Bedfordshire to the Smeatharpe Stadium near Taunton (Somerset) took ages to get there. It was my first ever visit to this track and it rained all the time from when we arrived to when we left.

We made another marathon journey in the 'threepenny bit' on October 31 to the North East of England when he raced at Hartlepool. This was another track I hadn't visited before. Unlike Smeatharpe which is located in the 'middle of nowhere' at the top of a hill on a piece of ex Ministry of Defence land, Hartlepool was a tidy, purpose built Stadium in the center of the town. I liked it a lot. It too was a track that was later lost to developers. Both tracks were paved.

My big memory of that first Hartlepool meeting , was of Mick Coady (653) one of our Beds & Herts drivers having a scary accident. He'd had a problem with his car and retired to the center. After making his exit, he walked into the path of the on coming Wilf Blundell (775) car. Mick was struck and thrown into the air like a rag doll. Everyone feared the worse ! Miraculously, after a medical check up, he was found to be OK, not seriously injured and he was back out racing a few weeks later.

On November 13 at Wimbledon it was the SCOTA version of the F1 Stock Car World Championship. Once again the overseas content put the BriSCA event to shame. ( this must have acted as a 'wake up call' because from then onwards, BriSCA got their act together to make their event worthy of the title). Alan Casserley (104) from Stevenage, Hertfordshire took the checkers at Wimbledon . Actually Alan was racing under the # 184 that night. As a courtesy gesture to visiting Dutch driver Lambert Keulen # 104, Alan changed his number.

At another late season Wimbledon meeting I recall seeing the new Superstox World Champion , Gordon McDougal # 41 from Edinburgh in action.

As the 1976 BriSCA season drew to a close, it was announced that the St Austell and Newton Abbott promoter Trevor Redmond had plans to stage racing at the newly built Reading Stadium in Berkshire for 1977. In the 1960's Spedeworth had staged racing at the Tilehurst Road track in the city, which had been lost to development. After pressure by the local Motor Cycle Speedway fans a new site was found at Smallmead on the Basingstoke Road. Redmond had secured the promoting rights for stock cars and a 'pilot' BriSCA F2 meeting was scheduled for November 26 (1976)

When I heard the news, I knew I wanted to race there. I let Brian Holmes know my intentions, a plate with my # 567 was made to cover his # 542 and 'Dick Young' was attached to the bonnet. As we set off from his place in the 'three penny bit' everywhere was wet. It had been raining all day and when we arrived at the track the pits were like a swamp. We were wading through sloppy piles of mud. The 350 yard shale track wasn't so bad, but still wet enough to give us problems.

My recollections from that first night, was of me going wildly sideways on the first bend, then after recovering, glancing back and seeing a bunch of others, including Bill Batten (667) wiping out. Later in the night I remember getting a big hit from Isle of Man driver Wilf Blundell ( he was a real gentleman, a great ambassador to the sport who I had much admiration for)

The final winner on that damp and miserable night was Ian Illman (784) from Devon. I really enjoyed my first taste of BriSCA F2 racing and came away with the Rookie of the Night award. I decided then , that BriSCA F2 racing would be my direction for 1977. 

Our winter evenings were often spent at Ceasars Palace, a night club in Luton where quality acts would often appear. I remember seeing a couple of my old favorites performing there. Gene Pitney and the late great Roy Orbison. To this day, I love Orbison's records, and if I have a few beers in me, I might be persuaded to give you a Karioke rendition of 'Pretty Woman.'

Canada's First Eco-Friendly Rally Car wins Ontario Championship

Chris Martin wins the Ontario Rally Championship racing the first green car

November 26, 2009 – Toronto, Ontario – Torontonian Chris Martin drove to a comfortable win at the Ontario Rally Championships. Martin raced his 1993 Subaru Impreza using E85 bio-ethanol fuel; the first car to use this fuel  in the Ontario Rally Championships and the Canadian Rally Championships.

"We were really looking forward to showing people what we could do using ethanol,”  says Martin, "My win demonstrates  you can be environmentally friendly and still win. I hope that other drivers will see this as the perfect opportunity to use less racing fuel and help the environment at the same time."

Martin’s desire to use eco-friendly fuel inspired him to win.  Old School Motorsports battled it out with two other teams all year leading up to the final championship race at the Rally Tall Pines in Bancroft, Ontario. A crash early in the race threatened to put the team out of the Championships, but he was able to recover with his quick thinking.  Along with his co-driver Phil Narini from Oshawa, Ontario Martin won Tall Pines by four minutes and 27 seconds.

Along with his wins in the Shannonville Rally and Tall Pines in the regional event, Martin also received the 2009 Ontario Performance Rally Championship (OPRC) Overall Driver, Open Class Driver and Novice Driver.  “It feels great to win the OPRC championships!” says Martin. “Winning our first rally in April  at Shannonville and now  finishing the season with another OPRC win, and the Ontario Championship, it has been a great  year, with the points coming down to a battle at the final rally. The competition has been great, and we look forward to another battle next year.” 

For more information please contact:
Elizabeth Sweet // Public Relations Coordinator
Phone: 647.637.0908 // Email: elizabethcsweet@gmail.com

Inside Track Holiday Buyers' Guide... available online as a free download

Click here or on the cover image at right to view an online version of the 2009 Inside Track Holiday Buyers' Guide. The 24-page HBG is full of great gift ideas for the racing fan(s) on your list!

In addition to editorial and contact information about the advertisers and their products, all of the ads are hotlinked to take you directly to their websites. Support the businesses that support Canadian motorsports!

EDMONTON JOURNAL: 2009 Edmonton Indy lost $3.9M... 2010 race in jeopardy?

"EDMONTON — Councillors are bracing for a public backlash after the city revealed Tuesday that last July's Rexall Indy car race lost $3.9 million, more than double the expected amount.

Although Edmonton's civic budget assumed a $1.5-million shortfall, revenues for the event came up short because of the economy and lower-than-anticipated grants from the provincial and federal governments, Northlands president Ken Knowles said."

and...

"...council will decide Dec. 7 if it wants to cancel the final race scheduled for next July 25."

Click here for the full story, on the Edmonton Journal site.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Announces the Return of the ACT Invitational in 2010

LOUDON, N.H. (November 25, 2009) - The American Canadian Tour (ACT) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway have reached an agreement for the Second Annual ACT Invitational to take place at the only superspeedway in the Northeast on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

"The overwhelming success of the inaugural ACT Invitational this past September made it an easy decision to have the short track stars of our region return again next September," said Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  "I really appreciate NASCAR's Mike Helton and his team for working with us again this year to add the Invitational to an already jam-packed schedule."

Thirty-six teams from all six New England states, Quebec, and Ontario took part in the inaugural ACT Invitational during the SYLVANIA 300 weekend this past September.  One of the largest Saturday crowds in the 19-year history of the speedway was treated to an action packed tripleheader of racing featuring the American Canadian Tour Late Models, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

"We really thought things went great at New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the first ACT Invitational last season," said Tom Curley, president of ACT.  "I would expect things to be even more fun for our teams and fans in 2010.  We will add some laps to the event, and are discussing the possibility of allowing a tire change during the event.  We will also add some positions to the starting field."

Teams were qualified for the first Invitational by winning ACT and ACT Castrol Series events in the United States, Quebec, and Ontario.  Additional teams qualified through special events such as the Oxford Plains Speedway TD BANK 250 in Oxford, Maine, and the Vermont Governor's Cup at Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vt.  Individual track champions from ACT affiliated tracks were also invited to attend the inaugural Invitational.

"We plan to change some of the qualifying procedures as we continue to make this one of the most unique and exciting short track events in the country," said Curley.

"It is no secret that New Hampshire Motor Speedway is my very favorite track of all time," said 2009 ACT Champion, Brian Hoar from Williston, Vt.  "I can't tell you how happy I am that we are going back."

Race fans from throughout the short tracks of the Northeast will now need to circle the weekend of September 17-19, 2010.  The first of the qualifying events for the 2010 ACT Invitational will be held just down the road from New Hampshire Motor Speedway at the Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H.  Over 50 teams are expected to try and capture the first invitation at the opening 150-lap event on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

To purchase tickets for the New Hampshire Motor Speedway LENOX Industrial Tools 301 and SYLVANIA 300 weekends, please call our Ticket Hotline at (603) 783-4931 or visit the speedway online at www.nhms.com.

From Fred Neergaard / NHMS

Clutch performance gains one championship, loses another at Tall Pines

BANCROFT, Ontario (November 21, 2009) – Yokohama team driver Andrew Comrie-Picard put in a clutch performance with a hard-earned second place finish in the Rally of the Tall Pines here to garner his first North American Rally Cup championship.

With co-driver Jeremy Wimpey of State College, Pennsylvania, Toronto-based Comrie-Picard haunted the top of the leader board in his 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X for all 15 of the day’s special stages to lock up the second podium step behind overall winners Pat Richard and Allan Ockwell.

“We just drove as hard as we could,” Comrie-Picard admits.

Comrie-Picard’s North American Rally Cup championship caps a busy season in both Canada and the US, where ‘ACP’ earned a third in the Rally America Championship and a fourth visit to the prestigious X Games in Los Angeles. He ends the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship season in fourth.

Another kind of clutch performance sunk the championship hopes of the Yokohama team of Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard, who led the Canadian championship and the chase for the North American Rally Cup going into the Tall Pines.

L’Estage and Richard, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, were one stage away from locking up both championships – and a rally victory – when the clutch on their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X quit before the start of the final stage of the event. The pair had been in a see-saw battle with the winning Subaru Impreza WRX STI of Richard and Ockwell for the entire event. L’Estage was eventually able to coax the car through the final stage to claim fifth overall, not enough to prevent their Subaru rivals from claiming both the rally victory and the Canadian Rally Championship for 2009.

L’Estage recounts the team’s heart-breaking final minutes of the season. “Going into the last stage of the day (26 km) we had a 48 second lead over second place but our clutch had seized,” he recalls. “To make matters worse, the start line on that stage was uphill. For nine or ten minutes we tried desperately to start the car as we watched our championship hopes slip away. We eventually got started and set a blistering pace on that stage to finish the rally in 5th place.

“Unfortunately, it was not enough. We were all set to win the rally, the Canadian title for both of us and the North American driver’s title. It was a very emotional time for our entire crew and we are still in a state of disbelief,” says L’Estage.

L’Estage and Richard finish the Canadian Rally Championship in second place.

“We are very proud of the Yokohama teams and what they accomplished in 2009,” says Jonathon Karelse, marketing manager for Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. “Regular trips to the podium, including a convincing win in winter conditions where we can demonstrate our winter tire technology in real world conditions, have made this season a memorable one.”

Yokohama has been a supporter of rally motorsport in Canada for more than a decade.

The Canadian Rally Championship has been televised nationally since 1993, and the 2009 series was made available on multiple media platforms, including as downloads from iTunes, on-line on Flat Over Crest (www.flatovercrest.com) and to 80 million homes in Europe on MotorsTV. Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes a full line of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, and commercial truck applications, as well as off-the-road tires for mining, forestry and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 700 independent tire dealers.

"Dirt from the Stands" by Greg Cybulski

A Gift Worth Sharing

Well race fans, as we approach my favorite time of year, I once again take some time to relax, reflect and share my thoughts on 2009. As I sit before my keyboard and work on this column, I have a feeling of thankfulness for the opportunities that were presented to me during this past racing season. Since I became involved in dirt track racing through Prairie Dirt, without a doubt, this year has been the most gratifying.

Blogging has been a fun and an easy way of presenting racing news and photos during the year and it is much easier to maintain than the old website and message board that I previously had. This form of media was brought to my attention by Marty Gold who is the host of The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 KICK-FM in Winnipeg. References to local blogs during his radio show caught my attention. After seeing a few examples, I decided to change to blogging as well. The Great Canadian Talk Show can be heard from Monday to Friday at 4:00pm to 5:30pm online at http://www.kick.fm/ and Marty's blog can be viewed at http://tgcts.blogspot.com/

In addition to the traditional dirt track racing websites, my writings also appeared on two blogs in 2009. The blogs are Manitoba Post at http://manitobapost.blogspot.com/ and SaskBlogs at http://www.saskblogs.ca/ .

Prairie Dirt Digest host Darren Pallen graciously invited me to be a guest on a Spring podcast. During our conversation, we touched on such topics as the importance of promotion and media relations at the grass roots level of racing as well as my more recent involvement with Sprint Car racing and the American Sprint Car Series.

Speaking of promotion, kudos to the new ownership and management of Red River Co-op Speedway who took big steps toward becoming more visible in the community. Some examples included a press conference at the Red River Co-op gas station located in St. Norbert, which featured a number of cars from different classes run at the speedway. The conference was covered by both local newspapers, The Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Sun as well as CTV television. Over the summer, news releases were also distributed and read over the airwaves at some of Winnipeg's favorite radio stations including 92 CITI-FM, HOT*103 and 92.9 KICK-FM.

In June, I was presented with a new and exciting opportunity as Director of Media Relations for the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The newest car class at Red River Co-op Speedway offered fast-paced action for Manitoba's dirt track racing fans in 2009 and it was a privilege to be a part of the NLSA's inaugural season. Race reporting is different than writing a column or an article. At times, this new opportunity presented it's share of challenges, however, translating observations during a race into words was a valuable learning experience.

Another highlight of this season was Prairie Dirt Classic weekend. To have the opportunity to write about and promote the ASCS Canwest Sprint Car tour from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Swift Current, Saskatchewan was an amazing experience with many majestic memories that I will always cherish.

We each have different God-given gifts that are meant to be shared with others. Whether your talent is writing, speaking, photography or driving a race car, it is our responsibility to share these gifts with others. I have had the privilege and honor of knowing pro-active people who do. Not only do they enjoy what they do, but they love to share their passion with others and dare to make the world a better place. At the end of the day, isn't that really what we all want? May we all learn to share our special gifts with others.

On behalf of the Cybulski family, I would like to extend heartfelt wishes of joy and love during this Christmas and holiday season.

God willing, I will see all of you at a dirt track again in 2010.

Take care and good racing,
Greg Cybulski

Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races' Nov. 21-22, 2009

From www.rickattheraces.com

RICK @ the RACES (21/22 Nov)

21 Nov  CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY BANQUET (OTTAWA,ONT)

22 Nov PARTS PEDDLAR SHOW (SYRACUSE NY)

After a quiet weekend, following my trip to the UK, things got back to normal this past week with two events to attend.

On Saturday Nov 21 , I was at the Capital City Speedway Banquet in Ottawa , held at the Hampton Inn on Coventry Street. ( I'm sure the name of the location will bring a smile to the faces of some of my UK buddies from the London area, familiar with 'cockney rhyming slang'.)  I'm going to keep the report 'clean', so will just leave it at that !

The plush Hampton Inn had more than one banquet taking place that night ( four , I think) in the same number of halls. Capital City Speedway promoter Arnie Malcolm also runs the local Luskville Drag Strip so both functions were in two adjacent halls. Once each presentation ceremony had taken place, the dividing partition between the two halls was opened up to become one. It was a relief that it was done this way. Like most of the Speedway fans I had no interest in the drag racing awards, and I'm sure the feeling of the drag race fans was mutual.

After an excellent meal, the presentations began. To set things in motion a draw was made for a KIRKEY racing seat which was won my Four for Fun driver Julie Menard. The points champions from all divisions were given their awards which included Brian Sehl (Four for Fun), Doug Mould (Mini Stocks), Greg Ogilvie (Thunder Cars), Kevin Foisy (Legends) and Sean Kennedy ( Late Models).

During Arnie Malcolm's speech he announced that it was unlikely that he would be the promoter there in 2010. Various rumors had been doing the rounds in recent weeks, and his words only verified what I had heard. It now looks likely the Capital City Speedway may have a different boss next year, we will have to wait and see.

The Can Am Speedway ( Lafargeville NY) another of my local tracks had it's banquet on the same night, and they too have 'hot' news regarding the promotion. The track which has been owned by the Caprara family since 2003 has just been bought by local businessman Tiger Chapman.

I didn't stay late at the banquet , as I had a trip to Syracuse planned for Sunday morning. My buddy Roger Aubin picked me up from my place in Cornwall (Ont) and our destination was the New York State Fairgrounds for the National Parts Peddlar Show.

This is a show I've never attended before, so it was a 'first' for me. It's mainly directed at race car drivers, teams and owners wishing to see what's new and order new equipment. Most of the major manufacturers were there including top Canadian companies Bicknell and Trick Race Parts.

The first person I bumped into was Sprint and Modified driver Jessica Zemken who told me she was there to check things out. Other driver friends from the dirt tracks I met included, Johnny Scarborough, Steve Paine, Todd Stewart, Stephane Lafrance and Tim O'Brien as well as my ice racing buddies Claude Hutchings and Mike Kamm.

Although I wasn't there to buy anything, it was a good social occasion, and great to wander around chatting to the many folks I knew. Sunday was the last day of the three day show and we'd arrived just after lunch time. We only just managed to get around and see everything before many of the exhibitors started packing up to go home.

By 2-30 the hall was starting to empty, so we too decided to call it a day, made our exit and headed north up Interstate 81. After a good supper at the 730 Truck Stop on Hwy 401, I was home nice and early at 7-00 pm.

PIC  1     The Justin Holtom Late Model at the CCS Banquet

PIC  2   July Menard with her KIRKEY Seat prize

PIC  3   Sean Kennedy the 2009 CCS Late Model Champion

PARTS PEDDLAR SHOW PICS

PIC  4    The BICKNELL RACE PRODUCTS display

PIC  5   Claude Hutching's SAAB powered ice racing special

PIC  6   Maryse on the TRICK RACE PARTS booth

PIC  7   Jack Johnson # 12A Modified

PIC  8   Michael Storms # 4  Modified

PIC  9  A Dirt Late Model from the Brewerton and Fulton Speedways

PIC  10  A Super Modified from the Oswego Speedway

PIC  11  Mini Sprint

PIC  12  Mini Sprints

PIC  13   The # 98H Troyer Modified of Jimmy Phelps

PIC  14   I can never resist taking a picture of a pretty girl !

PIC  15   Loaded up and ready to go home

PIC  16  A TEO PRO Modified chassis

Canadian rally championship: Tall Pines Rally ends in heartbreaking drama

Bancroft, Ontario (November 24, 2009) – The sixth and final round of the Canadian Rally Championship was held this weekend out of Bancroft, Ontario. Antoine L'Estage and co-driver Nathalie Richard from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, in their 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, were minutes away from becoming national champions when they encountered mechanical problems (clutch) in the last speed section. They completed the event in fifth place, which was good enough for second place in the final standings.

Among the other Mitsubishi teams, Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpey in a second Lancer Evolution took second place overall. The podium finish earned ACP the driver title in the North American championship. Nathalie Richard had already clinched the codriver title.

Simon Losier and François Morin guided their Synchro Racing Evolution VIII RS to a sixth place, which gives them third place overall in the season standings. In the Group 2 category, Jan and Jody Zedril from Winnipeg took second place in their stock Lancer ES and driver Jan became the Canadian 2WD Champion. Mitsubishi earns the manufacturer title.

Other Mitsubishi driving teams able to complete the grueling event include Michelle Laframboise and codriver Erik Lee in their Evolution IV, and rookie pairing Jeffrey and Emily Dowell in their Production Sport Lancers. Maxime Losier and Philippe Poirier in the second Synchro Racing Evo VIII RS were on their way to a surprising Top 5 finish when they had to drop out at the midpoint of the race.

Mitsubishi Cup

The results at Tall Pines determined the year-end standings for the 2009 Mitsubishi Cup. Antoine L'Estage (Nathalie Richard) raced to his first Mitsubishi Cup victory, beating out defending Cup champion Simon Losier (François Morin). Andrew Comrie-Picard rounds out the podium finishers.

"A national champion would have been a first for Mitsubishi in Canada," said Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc., when asked about the unfortunate clutch issues of L'Estage and Richard in the final speed section at Tall Pines.

"But we're extremely happy with the performances of our teams. The titles we've won are the results of ongoing efforts for a whole season. We hope the Mitsubishi rally program has contributed to their success and that they will be back next year."

Next rendezvous: Rallye Perce-Neige 2010

The Canadian Rally Championship is now history with the Rally of the Tall Pines, final round of the season. The teams will take a few months off only to reconvene in Maniwaki, Quebec, north of Ottawa, for the first round of the 2010 season, Rally Perce-Neige, in February. More information is available at www.carsrally.ca .


News Media Contacts:
Susan Elliott, Manager, Corporate & Product Communications
Phone: (905) 833-0826 / selliott@mmsa.com

Or

Jacquie Adams, Corporate & Product Communications
Phone: (416) 995-0308 / jac.adams@sympatico.ca

Or

Sophie Des Marais
Quebec region
Phone: (514) 234-4736 / sophie.dm@sympatico.ca

Subaru Canada, Richard and Ockwell crowned 2009 Canadian Rally Champions

BC based team overcomes adversity to claim 2009 Canadian Rally Championship title, and claim manufacturer's championship for Subaru Canada

Bancroft, ON, NOV 23, 2009 - Subaru Rally Team Canada driver Patrick Richard and his co-driver Alan Ockwell are the new 2009 Canadian Rally Champions, by virtue of their win at the Rally of the Tall Pines held this past weekend near Bancroft, ON. Their top finish also secured the 2009 Canadian Rally Championship manufacturer's title for Subaru Canada.

Their stunning victory marked the fourth win of the season for rally driver Patrick Richard, of Squamish, BC, and his co-driver Alan Ockwell, of Toronto, ON. As reigning 2008 Canadian Rally Champions, this is their second consecutive overall rally championship win driving their Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

"We came into this event knowing that we needed a win to claim the championship title," explained Ockwell. "The heavy rain and muddy conditions ensured it was going to be a very tough event." During the final practice before the rally start, the team snap rolled the car into a swamp on a slippery left hand corner, and the car was unable to drive under its own power. "After Friday night, we didn't even know if we could make the start of the event, and winning the championship seemed far, far away." A frantic battle ensued for the team's service crew from Rocket Rally Racing in Squamish, BC. "After three hours of gruelling work by our crew, the car was ready to drive, and in fact it was almost impossible to tell that we had rolled it - a new windshield, hood, fenders, radiator, you name it, they fixed it." And fixed it they did. Richard went on to take the lead of the rally by the event's second stage, ultimately winning 8 of the 15 individually timed stages.

"With no options for us except to win, and no second chances if we had crashed or broken, we made sure that we were going as fast as we needed to in order to stay in front," said Richard. At the start of the event's 10th stage, Richard and Ockwell had a 13 second lead over their second placed rival, and were looking firm for the win. "We didn't have to push too hard, but we were slowly ratcheting up the pace, and by the ninth stage we were putting in about a second per kilometer on our main rivals. We were feeling confident about the win."

But it all came apart on the 10th stage, where a transmission problem forced the team to first slow, then ultimately stop on the stage. "We lost about a minute on that stage, and with that, the championship faded before our eyes."

The team's BC based service crew sprung into action, and performed a miracle 17 minute transmission change which kept the pair in the rally.

"Our crew was amazing. After staying up all night repairing the roll damage, they then came through with a 17 minute transmission change.

Incredible." Despite having a new transmission installed, it was in fact a standard, production gearbox. Richard and Ockwell's other racing gearbox was installed in the team's second car, which was being driven by six-time Canadian Champion Frank Sprongl, who was also entered into the event to secure manufacturer points for Subaru Canada. Sprongl went on to eventually finish third.

"We won every stage after the transmission swap, and had whittled down the time lost with the transmission problem to just 25 seconds, with one 25km stage to go. It was going to be an epic finish." But alas, the team's primary rivals had a clutch problem on the very last stage of the event, handing the event and the championship title to Richard and Ockwell.

"We had a roller coaster of an event. From the roll, to comfortably leading the event, to losing the lead - and the championship - with the transmission issue, to fighting back and leading it again. All this in a 24-hour period!"

After taking a two year hiatus from the sport, Richard is now a four-time Canadian Rally Champion (2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009) and is now poised to break the all-time championship record of six, jointly held by Frank Sprongl and Tom McGeer. Richard has also previously won the Rally America Championship several times, including the overall North American Rally Championship.

"Aside from driver-induced damage the car ran flawlessly and I have to credit both Subaru Canada and all of our associate sponsors including Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance, ACT, and our Squamish, BC based Rocket Rally crew," exclaimed Richard.

Rocket Rally Racing is based in Squamish, BC, Canada and operates the Subaru Rally Team Canada on behalf of Subaru Canada, with associate sponsors Vision-X Lighting, Crawford Performance and ACT providing product support for the 2009 championship campaign. "Everything ran perfectly and I can't wait to do it all over again in 2010."

All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally on TSN, TSN2 and RDS, and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings. More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at the Canadian Association of Rallysport's website http://www.blogger.com/www.carsrally.ca. Photos, videos and more information about the team can be found at the team's website http://www.blogger.com/www.rocketrally.com.

20 YEARS OF HELPING DRIVERS CLIMB THE LADDER – THE 2010 STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY GOODYEAR SCHEDULE FEATURES ROADS, STREETS, LONG AND SHORT

Pacoima, CA (Nov. 23, 2009) – The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear today takes on a more prominent and influential role in the training and career development of young open-wheel racers with the announcement of a 2010 schedule that includes events on American Le Mans Series and Indy Racing League weekends as well as the high-profile "Night Before the 500."

Series President Gary Rodrigues stated, “As the Star Mazda Championship heads into its 20th season of competition, we remain obsessed with providing our racers with the most useful variety of venues to showcase their talent and advance their careers.”

The 11-weekend, 13-race Star Mazda Championship schedule retains its traditional season-opener at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring on March 19. On the following weekend, March 26, the Mazda Renesis rotary-powered open-wheelers will join the Indy Racing League for the first time ever on track in the Streets of St. Petersburg.

With the traditional season-ending event for both ALMS and the Star Mazda Championship moving from Fall to Spring in 2010, both series will be in action on May 22 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. From there it’s a sprint halfway across the country to the heartland of open-wheel racing in North America and an appearance on May 29, along with the USAC Midgets and the new U.S. F2000 series, on the oval at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis at the "Night before the 500," the unofficial but popular and prestigious lead-in event to the legendary Indy 500.
One high-profile oval race will follow another on the schedule as the teams and drivers of the Star Mazda Championship head for another appearance at an IRL event, this one on the one-mile oval at Iowa Speedway on June 19. The following weekend, June 26 – 27 marks a return to road racing with a Mazda-sponsored double-header at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

After a break to rest, test and tune, the Star Mazda Championship heads for the second of two Mazda-sponsored, double-header weekends, this one at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois on July 31 – August 1. Two weeks later, on August 15, drivers will test their skills on the famed street circuit of the GP3R in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Drivers all agree that the atmosphere surrounding Trois- Rivières makes it one of the highlights of the season.

The 2010 Star Mazda Championship then wraps up with ALMS at a trio of races held on some of the most famous natural-terrain road courses in North America; Road America on August 21, Mosport on August 28 and Road Atlanta for the 'Petit Le Mans' on October 1.

“There will be more exciting announcements about the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear at the Performance and Racing Industry show in December,” added Series founder Gary Rodrigues. "2010 will be the twentieth season of the Star Mazda Championship and this schedule, along with the news to come, will signal the beginning of a new era of open-wheel racing in North America. Along with our sponsors, Mazda and Goodyear, Star Mazda has a long history of helping develop the careers of top drivers; with our close and cost-effective competition, high-tech cars and high-profile schedule, 2010 is shaping up to the most exciting and important year in our history."

January 23 – 24
Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Fla.
Star Mazda pre-season testing with American Le Mans Series

March 19
Sebring International Raceway
Sebring, Fla.
American Le Mans Series

March 26
Streets of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Indy Racing League

May 5-6
O'Reilly Raceway Park
Indianapolis, Ind.
Star Mazda series test

May 22
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Monterey, Calif.
American Le Mans Series

May 29
O'Reilly Raceway Park
Indianapolis, Ind.
USAC Midgets

June 19
Iowa Speedway
Newton, Iowa
Indy Racing League

June 26
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, N.J
Atlantic Championship

June 27
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, N.J.
Atlantic Championship

July 31
Autobahn Country Club
Joliet, Ill.
Atlantic Championship

August 1
Autobahn Country Club
Joliet, Ill.
Atlantic Championship

August 15
Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres
Trois-Rivières,Quebec,Canada
Atlantic, Grand-Am, CASCAR

August 22
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisc.
American Le Mans Series

August 28
Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
American Le Mans Series

October 1
Road Atlanta
Braselton, Ga.
American Le Mans Series

About The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear
For 2010, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear (www.starmazda.com) will feature an 11-weekend, 13-race schedule, most on major race weekends with American Le Mans and the Indy Racing League. Rising stars from around the world will be watched by more than a million fans as they compete for prizes valued at $1.5 million, including a Mazda-sponsored, full-season drive in the 2011 Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda courtesy of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder.

Drivers 16 and older are welcome to compete and the Star Mazda Championship also features Expert (30 to 44) and Master (45 and older) classes for more mature racers. The Star Mazda Championship features standing starts, wheel-to-wheel racing at 150 mph and budgets a fraction of other top open-wheel ladder series. For drivers interested in competing in the series, detailed information is available at www.starmazda.com/newdriver.
________________________________
For more information on the Star Mazda Championship and its drivers, as well as the Mazda Motorsports ladder system, please visit www.starmazda.com and www.mazdausa.com. For information, interviews and photos, contact Star Mazda Communications Director Peter Frey at (818) 398-5733 or StarMazdaPR@aol.com.
________________________________
On any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America than any other brand of vehicle. At the track, you’ll see MX-5 Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car.
For more information on the various Mazda spec series, visit:
www.atlantic-championship.com www.starmazda.com
www.skipbarber.com www.mx-5cup.com

Marks Work Wearhouse - Friends and Family Event