The CASCAR Super Series heads to Delaware Speedway for the APC 300 Great Canadian Race Weekend
LONDON, ON – This weekend, the CASCAR Super Series returns to Delaware Speedway for one of the biggest events on the annual Canadian stock car calendar. Sunday afternoon’s APC 300 is the centerpiece of the ‘Great Canadian Race Weekend’, a racing tradition that goes back more than two decades.
The list of past winners of the event reads like a ‘who’s who’ of Canadian stock car racing. Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductee and former Super Series racer Earl Ross won the inaugural Labour Day 300-lap event at the London-area, half-mile oval back in 1982. Tracy Leslie has three APC 300 wins to his credit, while Sean Dupuis, Dan Shirtliff and Steve Robblee have won it twice. Wayne Keeling, Alex Nagy, Brad Jacques, Al Turner, Kerry Micks and several others have also tasted victory in this prestigious event.
But in recent years, the ‘Great Canadian Race’ has been dominated by one man. Peter Gibbons stands above the crowd with five career victories, including memorable wins in the last two APC 300s. Last year’s victory by the Canadian Tire Chevy driver surprised everyone, including Gibbons.
Relegated to the back of the 35-car field for the start of the race by a ride-height infraction after time trials, the usually up-beat Gibbons was dejected during the pre-race autograph session. But what followed was nothing short of incredible. The Stouffville, ON racer put on an astounding ‘back-to-front’ charge that added to the legend of the APC 300. The performance overshadowed Gibbons’ achievement in the 2003 edition of the APC 300 when he won from the 16th starting position.
But all of that is in the past. Gibbons will have to have a similar result in this Sunday’s feature race if he plans to have a chance at winning his third career CASCAR Super Series National championship. Heading into the weekend, Home Hardware Chevy driver Don Thomson has amassed a comfortable 91-point lead over Gibbons in the overall standings. Thomson is focused on earning his fifth straight National title.
Lurking in third-place in the points, after nine of 12 events, is Castrol Dodge driver DJ Kennington of nearby St. Thomas, Ontario. Kennington has been on a tear in the second-half of the Super Series season and has thrown himself into the heat of the points chase after a tough start to the campaign.
The Great Canadian Race Weekend is a three-day stock car extravaganza. On Friday evening, Delaware Speedway will host ‘Triple 50s’ for its regular Late Model division as well as its Truck class and the popular ‘King of the Hill’ spectator races. Saturday’s program will feature time trials by the Super Series teams that will set the grid for Sunday’s APC 300. The Modified and Street Stock classes will also be in action on Saturday night.
After that, it will be time for the main event. Delaware will open its gates on 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. The Super Series driver autograph session and several other pre-race festivities will set the stage for the start of the APC 300 at 2 p.m.
DELAWARE NOTES: Don Thomson sat on the pole for last year’s APC 300 after lapping the Delaware half-mile oval in 19.470 seconds… Ron Beauchamp won the MOPAR 250 at Delaware on the May long weekend…
CASCAR ON TV: Watch a CASCAR double-header on SPORTSNET this weekend. The network is airing both the Mosport Speedway 200 and the Logel's AutoParts 200 from Peterborough Speedway. For information regarding initial airings and replays of Super Series races on SPORTSNET, please check your local listings or visit http://www.cascar.ca/schedule/tv_schedule.html.
SCHEDULE: DELAWARE SPEEDWAY (London, Ontario)
APC 300 Great Canadian Race Weekend
CASCAR Super Series
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2005
2:30 p.m. Spectator Gates Open
3:00 p.m. CASCAR Super Series time trials
7:00 p.m. Delaware Speedway Racing Divisions
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2005
11:00 a.m. Spectator Gates Open
11: 15 a.m. – 12: 15 p.m. CASCAR Driver Autograph Session
12: 35 p.m. Parade Lap
1:00 p.m. Tire Rolling and Jack Man Competitions
1:30 p.m. Driver Introductions
2:00 p.m. START: CASCAR SUPER SERIES APC 300 GREAT CANADIAN RACE
SUPER SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 20 after 9 events. As of August 30, 2005: 1. #4 Don Thomson Jr. (Ayr, ON / Chevrolet / 1726 pts.); 2. #1 Peter Gibbons (Stouffville, ON / Chevrolet / 1631); 3. #17 DJ Kennington (St Thomas, ON / Dodge / 1622); 4. #02 Kerry Micks (Mt. Albert, ON / Ford / 1572); 5. #39 Dave Whitlock (Petrolia, ON / Dodge / 1560); 6. #60 Ron Beauchamp Jr. (Windsor, ON / Dodge / 1555); 7. #9 Mark Dilley (Barrie, ON / Dodge / 1553); 8. #19 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON / Dodge / 1531); 9. #84 J.R. Fitzpatrick (Cambridge, ON / Chevrolet / 1520); 10. #88 Dave Jacombs (Mt. Hope, ON / Ford / 1432); 11. #22 Scott Steckly (Milverton, ON / Pontiac / 1404); 12. #10 Doug Brown (Brantford, ON / Chevrolet / 1372); 13. #37 ® Tara MacLeod (Innisfil, ON / Ford / 1332); 14. #11 Ron VanEs (Smithville, ON / Chevrolet / 1332); 15. #3 Stu Robinson (Holland Landing, ON / Dodge / 1282); 16. #14 John Fitzpatrick (Ayr, ON / Chevrolet / 1045); 17. #71 Bryan Cathcart (Peterborough, ON / Dodge / 860); 18. #25 Jim Lapcevich (Hamilton, ON / Chevrolet / 850); 19. #23 Jeff Lapcevich (Caistor Centre, ON / Chevrolet / 770); 20. #18 ® Chad McGlynn (Petersburg, ON / Ford / 696)
POWERWATER SPORTSMAN SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 20 after 5 events. As of August 30, 2005: 1. #77 Dion Verhoeven (Kerwood, ON / Pontiac / 417 pts.); 2. #32 Mike Alguire (London, ON / Pontiac / 405); 3. #6 Brad Graham (Glencoe, ON / Dodge / 402); 4. #28 Steve Robblee (Dorchester, ON / Ford / 388); 5. #00 Steve Munro (Carp, ON / Chevrolet / 381); 6. #97 ® Mike Gold (Sault Ste. Marie, ON / Chevrolet / 374); 7. #95 ® Ron Lethbridge (Barrie, ON / Dodge / 370); 8. #81 Shawn McGlynn (Kitchener, ON / Ford / 347); 9. #38 Ken Grubb (Walkerton, ON / Ford / 343); 10. #11 Cole Weber (New Hamburg, ON / Dodge / 329); 11. #66 Josh Wood (London, ON / Pontiac / 328); 12. #45 Bob Merrifield (Belle River, ON / Dodge / 314); 13. #02 Scott O'Connor (Delaware, ON / Oldsmobile / 309); 14. #67 Scott Mitchell (St. Catharines, ON / Chevrolet / 306); 15. #12 Mark Patrick (Delaware, ON / Chevrolet / 306); 16. #39 Kevin D'Amore (LaSalle, ON / Dodge / 303); 17. #09 Kent Nuhn (Williamsford, ON / Pontiac / 295); 18 #36 ® Alan Lebert (Stony Point, ON / Pontiac / 287); 19. #53 ® Todd Musker (Kanata, ON / Ford / 219); 20. #80 Mike Hryniuk (Windsor, ON / Pontiac / 218)
WESTERN SERIES POINT STANDINGS: Top 15 after 7 events. As of August 30, 2005: 1. #35 Kevin Dowler (Edmonton, AB / Ford / 1483 pts.); 2. #30 Derek Polack (Stony Plain, AB / Chevrolet / 1392); 3. #79 Wade Lee (Calgary, AB / Chevrolet / 1371); 4. #36 Jim White, Kamloops, BC / Dodge / 1303); 5. #6 Todd Nichol (St Albert, AB / Chevrolet / 1276); 6. #21 ® Jason White (Sun Peaks, BC / Chevrolet / 1255); 7. #26 Shaun Polack (Stony Plain, AB / Chevrolet / 1226); 8. #69 ® Randy Kozek (Kelowna, BC / Pontiac / 1054); 9. #14 James VanDomselaar (Fort. Sask., AB / Chevrolet / 1016); 10. #12 Ron Larson (Quesnel, BC / Dodge / 856); 11. #87 James Ward (Kelowna, BC / Ford / 828); 12. #31 Sean Maltman (Vernon, BC / Chevrolet / 676); 13. #15 Mike Browne (Calgary, AB / Pontiac / 674); 14. #68 Shane Charlton (Kelowna, BC / Ford / 562); 15. #96 ® Norman Hunger (Delta, BC / Pontiac / 512)
® denotes Rookie of the Year competitor
Contact CASCAR at (519) 641-1214 or visit www.cascar.ca
Prepared by Inside Track Communications. // Contact: Greg MacPherson (416) 561-2320 (cell).
Comments regarding additions to – or deletions from – this mailing list should be sent to: greg@insidetracknews.com
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
THOROLD MAYOR JOINS DUEL ON THE DIRT BANDWAGON: J & S DWARF CAR WEEKEND ENTRIES NEARING 60
By Jim IrvineThorold, Ontario … Merrittville Speedway’s triple-header Season finale – the Rose Webber Memorial Weekend presented by J & S Heating and Air Conditioning – is shaping up to be one of the biggest events to hit the Thorold Track.
“Since it’s start,” relates Bruce Mason – president of the host New York Dwarf Car Association, “it has drawn some of the best drivers from across North America and that tradition continues … our latest entry is coming all the way from Missouri.”
The 2005 edition has an all new format with racing on Friday September 9th before the main event Saturday September 10th.
“Some teams are travelling such distances … Georgia … Tennessee … Ohio and many in between,” relates Nancy Bicknell, “ one thing we’ve heard is that they would like more racing … so we came up with the new format.”
The 2005 Rose Webber Memorial once again splits the Dwarf Cars into two divisions – Classics and Mod Lites and it all starts for them in probably the first Friday Night show in the track’s 54 seasons. The Classics will run a 20 lap Main event while the Mod Lites are scheduled for 25 laps.
The Friday Night opener also features the 2005 Hoosier Stock Point Finale – a 30 Lap event for the division. Select Drivers throughout the season that have participated in the Hoosier Tire Canada Finish Line Challenge will also participate in a Winner Take All Dash for Cash for all the money that is left in the ‘account’.
With August 20th’s rainout – another division has been added to the night’s race card. The BRP Can Am Super Stocks are set to return for two features – the rain delayed event and another that was added in talks with the Tour Directors – Gary Montgomery and Bruce Thompson since the rained out event.
Race fans that were in attendance for the A. Lococo Wholesale presentation of the BRP Can Am Super Stock Special Event can use their August 20th ticket stubs for a $5.00 discount when they return Saturday September 9th.
“We’re fortunate that we had the Friday on our schedule,” relates Erica Bicknell, “ it was the only option we had … but what a show it has become.”
Saturday Night action picks up again for the Classics with $500 US on the line in the 25 lap event. For the Mod Lites - $1500 US awaits the 30 lap winner.
The Hoosier Stocks will also be featured Saturday Night in the finale of the Duel in the Dirt with the Brighton Automotive Pro Stock Drivers from the Brighton (Ontario) Speedway. The 50 lap event will pay $1000 to the winner but that is only the start.
DL Services Inc. and Lawns We Do have posted a point fund between the Merrittville event and Sunday September 4th’s Brighton Event that will pay another $1000 to the two race champion while Daytona Automotive Equipment has posted another $1000 to be shared between drivers on the winning team – Merrittville or Brighton.
“What more can we say about Saturday Night,” relates Bicknell, “ the best Dwarf and Mod Lite Drivers … mixed in with the best Street Stock drivers from across Ontario … it all adds up to some great racing for the fans.”
Recently, Thorold Mayor Robin Brock has also joined the Duel on the Dirt Bandwagon – issuing a challenge to Brighton Mayor Chris Herrington.
“When I heard about the event,” relates Mayor Brock, “ I new I had to get behind Team Merrittville’s Hoosier Stock Drivers.”
The Turn 4 Collision 4 Cylinder Division will also share in the spotlight with their 2005 Point Finale 20 lap event boasting a $250 first place prize.
The evening will also feature the drawing of the 2005 Merrittville Super Fan which will award the winner Two Tickets to the Nascar Nextel Cup Event in October at the Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte North Carolina. The contest is an annual thank you to Merrittville Fans from Raceline Radio and 105.1 The River and the Lowes Motor Speedway.
Race fans receive ballots every event as they enter the gates and they will be available up to September 10th’s date. Race fans can deposit their completed ballots in the Novelty Booth in the Grandstand Area – opposite the Monique’s Photography Booth.
J&S Heating and Air Conditioning, locally owned and operated, was founded in 1956 and are proud to have served the Niagara Region for 48 years.
J&S is a company dedicated to the proper service, maintenance and installation of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment with systems for both residential and commercial customers. With a full staff of highly skilled mechanics and technicians who are specialists in the field, J&S’s reputation has been built on providing quality and value to customers.
For further heating and cooling information, call 905-682-9287 or visit http://www.jandsheatingandair.com/.
The Classic took on new meaning in 2002 when it was named in memory of Rose Webber – wife of two time Merrittville Dwarf Champion Lee Webber. Rose was a huge supporter of the New York Dwarf Car Association and her husband’s racing career and passed away in the summer of 2002. Although truly missed by many, her uncanny spirit lives on with the event each year.
Race teams wishing further Classic or Mod Lite information can call the Speedway Office at 905-892-8266 or email speedway@cogeco.net.
Probably never in Merrittville’s 54 years has their been such a three day event been scheduled.
The season finale like no other closes Sunday Afternoon with the 2nd annual Konzelmann Estate Winery 100 lap Wine Country Run Enduro. That event also has some new features with a 25 lap event for the Ladies. The afternoon and the season will close with a Big Car Demolition Derby.
The Enduro and Demolition Derby Events are events that are open to anyone and there is still time to prepare an entry. For rules information call 905-892-8266 or visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/.
“Even though experienced drivers have won the Boltworks and Gabriel Maintenance 30 lap Saturday Night Live events this year,” challenges Bicknell, “ it’s more survival than anything that counts … especially in the 100 lap event … you never know what to expect in an enduro.”
Race Fans can spend the weekend at the track as free camping is allowed. For the Merrittville rate at select local Hotels – call the Speedway for further details.
All Season long, Dipper’s Turn 1 Bar and the Trackside Suites have featured Konzelmann Estate Winery and Labatt products. Race fans and teams are invited to stop and visit behind the Turn 1 Grandstands over the J&S Season Finale.
Pit Gates will open Friday at 4pm and Grandstands at 5pm with racing set to begin at 7:45pm. Saturday’s events will see all Gates Open at 5pm and racing at 7pm. Sunday Afternoon, the Pit Gate opens at 10:00am for mandatory car inspections while the Grandstands will open at 12 Noon. Race time is 1:00pm.
WORLD'S HOTTEST SPORTS CARS COMING TO LABOUR DAY WEEKEND GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT
By Glenn Butt(BOWMANVILLE, ON - August 30, 2005) The world's hottest sports cars are coming to Mosport International Raceway, September 2, 3 & 4, 2005, for round eight of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) - the only Canadian stop in this prestigious championship.
Featuring many of the teams and drivers who compete in the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Labour Day Grand Prix of Mosport will see four classes of sports cars battling on the 4-km road course for overall race and class wins during the two hour and forty-five minute race on Sunday, Sept. 4.
The SPEED World Challenge GT and Touring Series, Star Mazda Series, Honda/Michelin Challenge and Ontario Touring GT Championship are also part of this Labour Day Weekend schedule.
Mosport has been a fixture on the ALMS schedule since the formation of the series in 1999 and featured one of the closest finishes in the history (.148 second seconds in 2000). The ALMS field will include the fast and exotic P1 and P2 prototypes, with the defending Series and 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans champs, the Audi R8s, setting the benchmark in P1 with an all-star driver line-up that includes former F1 driver JJ Lehto. The Dyson Lola's always give Audi a run here at Mosport and based on their performance so far this season, there's no reason to expect any less from the two-car team this weekend.
P2 cars are smaller, lighter prototypes, with slightly less horsepower then the P1 cars, but could factor in the outcome of the podium nonetheless.
The remaining two classes are the production-based cars of GT1 and GT2. In GT1, Canada's own Ron Fellows and teammates will be back with their C6-R Corvettes to face-off against rivals Saleen, Viper and series newcomer Maserati. Porsche 911 GT3 RSR's make up most of the GT2 grid, but they have not dominated, as the Panoz team has found the top step of the podium with their Esperante GTLM.
In the SPEED World Challenge GT race, Fellows has been added to Cadillac's impressive driver line-up. One of his teammates in the race, Max Papis, returns to Mosport for the first time since his days behind the wheel of a Ferrari 333SP prototype in 199X (insert proper year). In the SPEED World Challenge Touring division the competition is equally tough with manufacturers such as BMW, Acura, Subaru and Mercedes-Benz filling the grid. The GT race is Saturday at 4:00 pm with the Touring class running Sunday morning at 11:15 am.
In the open-wheel Star Mazda series, home-track favourites, AIM Autosport, are fresh off a win at Road America last week and bring their two Canadian drivers - James Hinchcliffe and Brandon Thomas - to Mosport. Hinchcliffe's Road America win gives him a share of second place in the points chase and he's co-leader in the rookie-of-the-year battle. The team's third regular driver, Mark Wilkins, will miss the Mosport round due to a non-racing injury.
The names Andretti and Rahal will make a return to Mosport, but this time they belong to a new generation of rising stars. Marco Andretti, Michael's son and Graham Rahal, Bobby's son are both top competitors in the series. With an expected entry of more than 30 cars, this could be anybody's race, which is scheduled to start on Saturday at 12:35 pm.
The Honda Series and Ontario Touring GT championship complete this impressive schedule of racing at the Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport.
The weekend of racing begins with the Ontario Touring GT practice, Friday, Sept. 2 at 8:30 am. The ALMS race wraps-up the weekend's schedule with a 3:00 pm start Sunday, Sept. 4.
Mosport is located 100 km east of Toronto, north of Highway 401 at Bowmanville. Exit at Durham 57 (Exit 431) North to Regional Road 20, East. The Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport will be live on SPEED Channel beginning at 3:00 p.m. (EDT). The race will be broadcast live by the American Le Mans Series Radio Web online at http://www.americanlemans.com/.
A weekend Superticket is only $60 until Wednesday, August 31 ($75 after) and children 12 and under are free (when accompanied by an adult with paid admission). The ticket includes grounds admission, parking, paddock access and Saturday night stock car races. Camping is available for $25 (per car up to six people) until August 31 and will be $30 after. RV's are $50.00 per unit. Tickets can be ordered by calling the Mosport International Raceway ticket office at 1-800-866-1072, on-line at http://www.mosport.com/ or by calling Ticketmaster.
7th Annual Don Biederman Memorial Just Around the Corner…
By Scott Fletcher
Sorry…forgot to mention that The New CHAY-93.1 will be doing a feature interview with John Fletcher to be aired at some point on Friday (air time still to be decided).
Details of the Biederman Memorial promotional events are now finalized. We are still seeking some volunteers for both events. I would ask that if you can make yourself available for the autograph session that you seriously consider it, especially if you are local to the Peterborough area.
Thursday September 1st - 11:00 a.m. - Peterborough Speedway - CHEX TV Interviews
CHEX TV will be on hand at Peterborough Speedway on Thursday to complete several driver interviews.
Autograph Session - Friday September 2nd - Del Crary Park - Peterbrough (5:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
An autograph session is planned for Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, for Friday evening from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Set up will begin at approximately 4:30. Del Crary Park is located on George St., south of the downtown core of Peterborough, apparently close to the Holiday Inn.
Both of the promo activities are excellent opportunities for OSCAAR. It gives us the opportunity to promote our biggest event of the season, and exposes the OSCAAR Super Lates to potentially new fans. While it is difficult at this time to determine the possible success of such activities, we will never know until we try. These promotional events have come at no cost to OSCAAR, with very little organizational work being done on my behalf. My responsibility is to get you guys to the events.
The New CHAY 93.1 is also proceeding with several mini-driver interviews that are Biederman event focused, to be aired during OSCAAR's pre-race reports on Friday 4/5/6/7. I would ask that if you receive a message from a The New CHAY 93.1 personality, likely Dave Bradley, that you contact him please.
The New CHAY 93.1 has been most cooperative this week, so I would ask that you all return the favour.
The potential exposure that OSCAAR's Biederman event may receive is huge. Yesterday I prepared a Press Release which was sent to JP's announcer (Pete Dalliday) who is linked to all the Peterborough papers. Therefore it is expected that the race will receive exposure in their community newspapers. That combined with the CHEX coverage and our CHAY 93.1 coverage, we have exposed the event from Barrie to Peterborough.
The closer we get to the weekend, the more that seems to be happening. We are receiving decent feedback from our series sponsors who will be attending the event. The weather forecast at this time looks excellent. So if all factors go as planned, the 7th Annual Don Biederman Memorial has great potential to be a huge success!
For more info visit www.oscaar.ca
Sorry…forgot to mention that The New CHAY-93.1 will be doing a feature interview with John Fletcher to be aired at some point on Friday (air time still to be decided).
Details of the Biederman Memorial promotional events are now finalized. We are still seeking some volunteers for both events. I would ask that if you can make yourself available for the autograph session that you seriously consider it, especially if you are local to the Peterborough area.
Thursday September 1st - 11:00 a.m. - Peterborough Speedway - CHEX TV Interviews
CHEX TV will be on hand at Peterborough Speedway on Thursday to complete several driver interviews.
Autograph Session - Friday September 2nd - Del Crary Park - Peterbrough (5:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
An autograph session is planned for Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, for Friday evening from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Set up will begin at approximately 4:30. Del Crary Park is located on George St., south of the downtown core of Peterborough, apparently close to the Holiday Inn.
Both of the promo activities are excellent opportunities for OSCAAR. It gives us the opportunity to promote our biggest event of the season, and exposes the OSCAAR Super Lates to potentially new fans. While it is difficult at this time to determine the possible success of such activities, we will never know until we try. These promotional events have come at no cost to OSCAAR, with very little organizational work being done on my behalf. My responsibility is to get you guys to the events.
The New CHAY 93.1 is also proceeding with several mini-driver interviews that are Biederman event focused, to be aired during OSCAAR's pre-race reports on Friday 4/5/6/7. I would ask that if you receive a message from a The New CHAY 93.1 personality, likely Dave Bradley, that you contact him please.
The New CHAY 93.1 has been most cooperative this week, so I would ask that you all return the favour.
The potential exposure that OSCAAR's Biederman event may receive is huge. Yesterday I prepared a Press Release which was sent to JP's announcer (Pete Dalliday) who is linked to all the Peterborough papers. Therefore it is expected that the race will receive exposure in their community newspapers. That combined with the CHEX coverage and our CHAY 93.1 coverage, we have exposed the event from Barrie to Peterborough.
The closer we get to the weekend, the more that seems to be happening. We are receiving decent feedback from our series sponsors who will be attending the event. The weather forecast at this time looks excellent. So if all factors go as planned, the 7th Annual Don Biederman Memorial has great potential to be a huge success!
For more info visit www.oscaar.ca
ONE RACE AT A TIME FOR BRANTFORD DRIVER: BROWN HEADS TO DELAWARE SPEEDWAY
By Ken Spencer, Marketing and Media Relations, Brown Auto RacingDrivers in NASCAR’s top racing series aren’t the only ones in the “race for the chase” -the battle to qualify for The Nextel Cup Series top-ten playoff spots. There’s a similar chase brewing in Canada’s top stock car racing series.
Although there is no playoff system involved, a handful of CASCAR drivers are in a chase of their own to snare a top-ten position in CASCAR’s Super Series points’ standings as they head to London’s Delaware Speedway for the Labour Day “Great Canadian Race Weekend”.
Brantford’s Doug Brown is one of five drivers hoping to move into a top-ten berth in the national standings but he knows he’ll have his hands full in order to catch Mt. Hope’s Dave Jacombs who holds down the targeted spot number 10 in the points race.
The NAPA/Autopro driver is currently twelfth in points but trails Jacombs by 60 as they head into the final three races on the Super Series schedule. Brown also has to get past Milverton’s Scott Steckley who is currently eleventh with a 32 points margin heading to Delaware.
“We dug ourselves into a big hole with some early season engine problems but hopefully they’re in the past and that we can sustain the solid performances we’ve had over the past month through the balance of the season,” Doug remarked as he prepares for this weekend’s event. “Sunday’s race is 300 laps and will likely attract a strong field of cars, so we need to have a fast qualifying time on Saturday then stay out of trouble and keep ourselves on the lead lap during Sunday’s race. Hopefully, we can gain enough points to put us in a position to move even higher in the standings in the remaining events at Cayuga and Kawartha. Our focus right now though is one race at a time beginning this weekend.”
Smithville’s Ron Van Es, Innisfil’s Tara MacLeod and Holland Landing’s Stu Robinson, Jr. are also jockeying for top-ten positions in the final standings.
Don Thomson Jr. of Ayr, Ontario appears to have a lock on his fifth consecutive Championship.
The Home Hardware driver currently holds a 95-point margin over Stouffville’s Peter Gibbons and 104 over St.Thomas driver DJ Kennington with the season rapidly drawing to a close.
For additional information on Brown Auto Racing, see http://www.dougbrown.net/ or contact Doug Brown at (519) 752-9531
TITLE BATTLE BREWS AMONG MIDWESTERN DRIVERS IN DIVISION II OF NASCAR DODGE WEEKLY SERIES
Courtesy Jeremy Davidson, NASCAR Public Relations
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2005) – A battle continues to brew among several Midwestern drivers as they pursue the $25,000 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division II championship.
Mike Hansen of Alton, Iowa, moved to second in the point standings this week and closed to within 38 markers of Chris Spieker of Massena, Iowa – with three weeks remaining before the NASCAR season concludes on Sept. 18.
Spieker – who has led the NDWS Division II standings all season – finished fourth at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, on Saturday. He leads the division with 1,078 points. Hansen has 1,040 points – after finishing sixth at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., on Saturday.
Slipping to third in the standings this week with 1,034 points is Joe Kosiski of Omaha, Neb. Inclement weather left the former national champion and his fellow competitors idle at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood, Neb., on Sunday.
Retaining fourth in the division this week with 1,010 points is Jeff Strunk of Bethel, Pa. Strunk finished second at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Penn., on Saturday.
Drivers in nearly every position behind him swapped positions this week in the NDWS Division II point standings, meanwhile. Scott Bonney of North Chelmsford, Mass., moved up three spots to fifth – with 854 points. Pete Anderson Jr., of Stockton, Calif., is sixth with 838 points – followed by Eric Richardson of Bakersfield, Calif., with 822. Moving up one position to eighth in the standings is Stacey Gerken of LaGrange, Ohio, with 800 points. Robert Barker of Boerne, Texas, also gained a spot – moving to ninth with 782 points. Travis Sharpe of North, S.C., is 10th in the division with 772 points.
Under NASCAR’s new points format for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, a driver’s best 16 finishes are counted towards the divisional title. If a driver races more than 16 times, their poorer finishes are not counted in the NDWS point standings. Four drivers will win a Division championship, which includes a $25,000 bonus and a chance at the $50,000 national championship bonus. One of the divisional champions – the champion with the highest point total overall – wins the national award.
This Week’s Division II Leaders …
(Driver, Home Track, Points)
1. Chris Spieker, Adams County Speedway, 1,078
2. Mike Hansen, Park Jefferson Speedway, 1,040
3. Joe Kosiski, I-80 Speedway, 1,034
4. Jeff Strunk, Grandview Speedway, 1,010
5. Scott Bonney, Lee USA Speedway, 854
6. Pete Anderson Jr., Stockton 99 Speedway, 838
7. Eric Richardson, Mesa Marin Raceway, 822
8. Stacey Gerken, Lorain Speedway, 800
9. Robert Barker, San Antonio Speedway, 782
10. Travis Sharpe, Concord Motorsport Park, 772
11. Jeremy Lapainis, Edmonton International Raceway, 742
12. Dennis Pelphrey, Watsonville Speedway, 716
13. Gerry Bergeron, Autodrome St. Eustache, 702
14. Scott Lindsay, Delaware Speedway, 688
15. Mark Bliss, Holland International Speedway, 668
16. Greg Hardee, Myrtle Beach Speedway, 658
17. Alan Pyszora, Shasta Raceway Park, 584
18. Bill Hebing Jr., Spencer Speedway, 570
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2005) – A battle continues to brew among several Midwestern drivers as they pursue the $25,000 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division II championship.
Mike Hansen of Alton, Iowa, moved to second in the point standings this week and closed to within 38 markers of Chris Spieker of Massena, Iowa – with three weeks remaining before the NASCAR season concludes on Sept. 18.
Spieker – who has led the NDWS Division II standings all season – finished fourth at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa, on Saturday. He leads the division with 1,078 points. Hansen has 1,040 points – after finishing sixth at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, S.D., on Saturday.
Slipping to third in the standings this week with 1,034 points is Joe Kosiski of Omaha, Neb. Inclement weather left the former national champion and his fellow competitors idle at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood, Neb., on Sunday.
Retaining fourth in the division this week with 1,010 points is Jeff Strunk of Bethel, Pa. Strunk finished second at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Penn., on Saturday.
Drivers in nearly every position behind him swapped positions this week in the NDWS Division II point standings, meanwhile. Scott Bonney of North Chelmsford, Mass., moved up three spots to fifth – with 854 points. Pete Anderson Jr., of Stockton, Calif., is sixth with 838 points – followed by Eric Richardson of Bakersfield, Calif., with 822. Moving up one position to eighth in the standings is Stacey Gerken of LaGrange, Ohio, with 800 points. Robert Barker of Boerne, Texas, also gained a spot – moving to ninth with 782 points. Travis Sharpe of North, S.C., is 10th in the division with 772 points.
Under NASCAR’s new points format for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series, a driver’s best 16 finishes are counted towards the divisional title. If a driver races more than 16 times, their poorer finishes are not counted in the NDWS point standings. Four drivers will win a Division championship, which includes a $25,000 bonus and a chance at the $50,000 national championship bonus. One of the divisional champions – the champion with the highest point total overall – wins the national award.
This Week’s Division II Leaders …
(Driver, Home Track, Points)
1. Chris Spieker, Adams County Speedway, 1,078
2. Mike Hansen, Park Jefferson Speedway, 1,040
3. Joe Kosiski, I-80 Speedway, 1,034
4. Jeff Strunk, Grandview Speedway, 1,010
5. Scott Bonney, Lee USA Speedway, 854
6. Pete Anderson Jr., Stockton 99 Speedway, 838
7. Eric Richardson, Mesa Marin Raceway, 822
8. Stacey Gerken, Lorain Speedway, 800
9. Robert Barker, San Antonio Speedway, 782
10. Travis Sharpe, Concord Motorsport Park, 772
11. Jeremy Lapainis, Edmonton International Raceway, 742
12. Dennis Pelphrey, Watsonville Speedway, 716
13. Gerry Bergeron, Autodrome St. Eustache, 702
14. Scott Lindsay, Delaware Speedway, 688
15. Mark Bliss, Holland International Speedway, 668
16. Greg Hardee, Myrtle Beach Speedway, 658
17. Alan Pyszora, Shasta Raceway Park, 584
18. Bill Hebing Jr., Spencer Speedway, 570
Montreal ChampCar event a head-scratcher
Interesting article on SpeedTV by David Phillips.
"Conspiracy theories abounded, ranging from Legault wanting to kill the Champ Car race in order to pave the way for a NASCAR Busch Series (possibly paired with an IRL IndyCar Series) race, to Legault, co-promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix with Bernie Ecclestone and IRL founder/president and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George forming a cabal to "put a wheel under" Champ Car just as the Champ Car World Series is beginning to generate some serious momentum on the heels of successful events in Toronto, Edmonton, San Jose and Denver...."
It backed up similar comments I heard from our own Russ Bond, who was at the event and couldn't believe what he was (wasn't!) seeing. Beach volleyball courts where grandstands used to be.
Speculation was that the Montreal ChampCar race was being scuttled to clear the way for a NASCAR event. Who knows if that's really the case, but after reading Phillips' commentary, it's hard not to scratch your head.
"Conspiracy theories abounded, ranging from Legault wanting to kill the Champ Car race in order to pave the way for a NASCAR Busch Series (possibly paired with an IRL IndyCar Series) race, to Legault, co-promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix with Bernie Ecclestone and IRL founder/president and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George forming a cabal to "put a wheel under" Champ Car just as the Champ Car World Series is beginning to generate some serious momentum on the heels of successful events in Toronto, Edmonton, San Jose and Denver...."
It backed up similar comments I heard from our own Russ Bond, who was at the event and couldn't believe what he was (wasn't!) seeing. Beach volleyball courts where grandstands used to be.
Speculation was that the Montreal ChampCar race was being scuttled to clear the way for a NASCAR event. Who knows if that's really the case, but after reading Phillips' commentary, it's hard not to scratch your head.
CASCAR WESTERN SERIES Point Standings
As of August 20, 2005
Pos Car# Driver/Hometown Car Make Points
1 35 Kevin Dowler/Edmonton, AB Ford 1483
2 30 Derek Polack/Stony Plain, AB Chevrolet 1392
3 79 Wade Lee/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 1371
4 36 Jim White, Kamloops, BC Dodge 1303
5 6 Todd Nichol/St Albert, AB Chevrolet 1276
6 21 R Jason White/Sun Peaks, BC Chevrolet 1255
7 26 Shaun Polack/Stony Plain, AB Chevrolet 1226
8 69 R Randy Kozek/Kelowna, BC Pontiac 1054
9 14 James VanDomselaar/Fort Sask, AB Chevrolet 1016
10 12 Ron Larson/Quesnel, BC Dodge 856
11 87 James Ward/Kelowna, BC Ford 828
12 31 Sean Maltman/Vernon, BC Chevrolet 676
13 15 Mike Browne/Calgary, AB Pontiac 674
14 68 Shane Charlton/Kelowna, BC Ford 562
15 96 R Norman Hunger/Delta, BC Pontiac 512
16 27 Mark Derks/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 288
17 74 Dennis Masse/Lethbridge Dodge 286
18 76 Dale Biesick/Winfield, BC Dodge 242
19 64 Chris Shirley/Saskatoon, SK Pontiac 166
20 71 Daryl Harr/St Albert, AB Chevrolet 152
21 46 Dan Shirley/Saskaton, SK Pontiac 141
22 53 Scott Kessler/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 140
23 67 R Darin Guillett/Kelowna, BC Chevrolet 136
24 48 R Rusty Martin/Warman, SK. Chevrolet 135
25 99 R Jack Freisen/Osler, SK Chevrolet 134
26 07 R Nick Allen/ Saskatoon, SK Chevrolet 129
27 04 Gil Gillett/Kelowna, BC Chevrolet 124
27 00 R Lawrence Skoworodko/Sask, SK Chevrolet 124
29 95 R Paul Savoie/Saskatoon, SK Dodge 120
Pos Car# Driver/Hometown Car Make Points
1 35 Kevin Dowler/Edmonton, AB Ford 1483
2 30 Derek Polack/Stony Plain, AB Chevrolet 1392
3 79 Wade Lee/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 1371
4 36 Jim White, Kamloops, BC Dodge 1303
5 6 Todd Nichol/St Albert, AB Chevrolet 1276
6 21 R Jason White/Sun Peaks, BC Chevrolet 1255
7 26 Shaun Polack/Stony Plain, AB Chevrolet 1226
8 69 R Randy Kozek/Kelowna, BC Pontiac 1054
9 14 James VanDomselaar/Fort Sask, AB Chevrolet 1016
10 12 Ron Larson/Quesnel, BC Dodge 856
11 87 James Ward/Kelowna, BC Ford 828
12 31 Sean Maltman/Vernon, BC Chevrolet 676
13 15 Mike Browne/Calgary, AB Pontiac 674
14 68 Shane Charlton/Kelowna, BC Ford 562
15 96 R Norman Hunger/Delta, BC Pontiac 512
16 27 Mark Derks/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 288
17 74 Dennis Masse/Lethbridge Dodge 286
18 76 Dale Biesick/Winfield, BC Dodge 242
19 64 Chris Shirley/Saskatoon, SK Pontiac 166
20 71 Daryl Harr/St Albert, AB Chevrolet 152
21 46 Dan Shirley/Saskaton, SK Pontiac 141
22 53 Scott Kessler/Calgary, AB Chevrolet 140
23 67 R Darin Guillett/Kelowna, BC Chevrolet 136
24 48 R Rusty Martin/Warman, SK. Chevrolet 135
25 99 R Jack Freisen/Osler, SK Chevrolet 134
26 07 R Nick Allen/ Saskatoon, SK Chevrolet 129
27 04 Gil Gillett/Kelowna, BC Chevrolet 124
27 00 R Lawrence Skoworodko/Sask, SK Chevrolet 124
29 95 R Paul Savoie/Saskatoon, SK Dodge 120
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Round Five: Lilienthal leads PMRA series going into KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration final event
Final 2005 stop for Pro Modified teams this weekend at Toronto Motorsports ParkBy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations
August 29, 2005, CAYUGA, ON – Consistency, perfect attendance, and an event win has given Joe Lilienthal the lead in the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.promodifiedracing.com series for 2005, as the PMRA heads to its fifth race this weekend’s KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario.
The Kenmore, NY driver has been at all previous PMRA events this year, and with some solid semi-final round action plus a win in the July Luskville Dragway race in his Jeep-bodied Pro Mod, Lilienthal has amassed 1260 points in the 22-team standings.
And fellow Western New Yorker and PMRA competitor Jack Grainy is not far behind with 1200 points in the Grainy Brothers 1990 Beretta entry, while Mr. Consistent, Joe Boniferro of Niagara Falls, ON, is presently third in the PMRA standings with 1180 points in the Smokin Joe’s 1999 Avenger.
The Camaro of Strathroy, ON’s Dave Earhart is tied for fourth with Kasey Janzen of St. Catharines, ON, and his Lumina Z34. Both drivers have 1140 points. And next is Larry Sinke of Welland, ON with 1080 points. Sinke and his Hammer Racing ‘67 Nova are fresh off their recent Skyview Drags victory.
For a complete standings listing, go to the PMRA website, http://www.promodifiedracing.com/.
The TMP race is the final scheduled race for the series for 2005. PMRA officials and Lancaster Motorsports Park are still working to reschedule the recently rained-out Lancaster event of August 19.
PMRA registration and inspection is to take place September 2, starting at four p.m., as part of the KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration over the long weekend.
Qualifying sessions will be held at one and three p.m. September 3, with eliminations for the eight quickest teams to start at seven p.m.
The semi-finals are to be run at 8:15 p.m., and the PMRA final at 9:30 p.m.
Chicago-style shootout competition will take place Sunday, September 4, with qualifying at 11 a.m. and one p.m., and the final at three p.m. Special awards at this event include the Darren Mayer Performance Engineering (DMPE) Low Qualifier Bonus and the Bear’s Performance Products Consistent Qualifier Bonus.
For information about the KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration at Toronto Motorsports Park call 1.905.772.0303 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) or visit online at www.torontomotorsportspark.com.
Sinke captures Skyview Drags PMRA event:
Sinke captures Skyview Drags PMRA event: Dominates strong 12-car field on eighth-mile trackBy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher Director of Operations
August 20, 2005, Tioga Center, NY - Larry Sinke was the dominate driver in the fourth scheduled Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) http://www.promodifiedracing.com/ event, held at Skyview Drags last Saturday night.
“We were really dialed in,” said Sinke, of Welland, ON. “This is a great track. We do well on the eighth-mile strips, and for our first time here, I’m really pleased with our results.”
With 12 Pro Modifieds on hand for the race, Sinke was number one qualifier and received the Darren Mayer Performance Engineering (DMPE) Low Qualifier Bonus with a 4.187-second pass in his 1967 Nova SS. Taking number two qualifying spot was Andy Jensen of Nesepeck, PA, in his 1965 Corvette with a 4.32-second run.
And in the final, Jensen met up with Sinke for a good race, but the Hammer Racing entry of Sinke took the final with a 4.223-second, 173.19-mph pass over Jensen’s 4.397-second, 165.49 run in the Jensen Tech car.
“We were pleased with our efforts tonight,” said Jensen after the final. “This is a good group of competitors, and Larry was real strong all night.”
In semi-final action, Sinke took out Hamilton, ON’s Bruce Boland in his 1953 Corvette, who qualified fourth. Boland ran a 4.536-second, 159.78-mph pass to Sinke’s winning 4.207-second, 161.46-mph. Number three qualifier and winner of the Luskville Dragway PMRA event Joe Lilienthal of Kenmore, NY, fell victim to Jensen. Lilienthal and his 1968 Jeep ran a 4.785-second, 129.70-mph lap against Jensen’s winning 4.604-second, 161.96-mph run.
Winning the Chicago-style Shootout and the Bear’s Performance Products Consistent Qualifier Bonus was Kasey Janzen of St. Catharines, ON, in his KC Motorsports 1993 Chevy Lumina over Jack Grainy of North Tonawanda, NY in the Grainy Brothers 1990 Beretta.
Janzen, who qualified fifth in the 12-car field, won the race with a 4.559-second, 155.65-mph run over the 5.14-second, 109.24 pass of Grainy.
Skyview Drags track management was pleased with its inaugural PMRA event, and would like to see the teams return to its track. ”We had a great time and received great feedback from this show. Hope to see you next year,” stated Amy Culver, Skyview Drags Track Manager.
The Skyview Drags event was the fourth scheduled stop in the 2005 PMRA tour. The race at Lancaster Motorsports Park in Clarence, NY the night before the Skyview Drags stop was rained out.
Next event in the PMRA series is to be held September 2-4 at Toronto Motorsports Park.
For information about Toronto Motorsports Park call 1.905.772.0303 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) or visit online at http://www.torontomotorsportspark.com/.
DRIVER REPORT: Young Road Racer of the Year
Alex Penfold is the winner of Inside Track magazine's Reader's Choice Award for "Up and Coming Road Racer of the Year."
Courtesy Myke Penfold
"05 has not been the greatest year, but getting this award helps me to keep believing in myself. I don't want to sound like a typical award winner but thanks to all the readers that voted for me" said Alex.
If you are interested in sponsoring Alex and Richard or for more information and team photos please call 416-894-8003 or e.mail myke@nodot.ca.
Courtesy Myke Penfold
"05 has not been the greatest year, but getting this award helps me to keep believing in myself. I don't want to sound like a typical award winner but thanks to all the readers that voted for me" said Alex.
If you are interested in sponsoring Alex and Richard or for more information and team photos please call 416-894-8003 or e.mail myke@nodot.ca.
Lancaster Motorsports Park rained out: PMRA Teams move to Skyview Drags
“We hope that we can reschedule the event for later in the season.”By Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations
August 20, 2005, Clarence, NY - The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.promodifiedracing.com event was rained out at Lancaster Motorsports Park presented by: G-Force Race Cars, Jan-Cen Racing Engines and Oddy's Racing Inc. The teams now move on to Skyview Drags for what was hoped to be the series first double-header.
“It’s really unfortunate when Mother Nature does this to you, but it is what it is and the teams next stop will be at the new Skyview Drags in Tioga Center, New York Saturday night,” explained Bruce F. Mehlenbacher, PMRA Director of Operations. “I really think we had a chance for a good one tonight. I saw fans at Lancaster tonight that I haven’t seen for years and they were very excited about the Pro Modified and Can-Am Stock Super Stock combo we had planned.”
“We had a great field of cars and it was raining all around us throughout the day and it was killing the event,” said Jim Reid, Promoter of Lancaster Motorsports Park. “We had the cars in the lanes and tried to run them twice before we got dumped on and we hope that we can reschedule the event for later in the season.”
There are 13 Pro Modified Teams pre-entered for the Skyview Drags PMRA event located on Highway 17C halfway between Elmira and Binghamton, NY, just north of the Pennsylvania border.
The Skyview Drags eighth-mile track was built only last year, and those who have raced on it are pleased with the surface of the IHRA-sanctioned strip.
Qualifying is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, with eliminations at 8:30 p.m. for the quickest four teams. The Chicago-style shootout and finals are to take place at 10:00 p.m.
For information about Skyview Drags call 1.607.687.9392 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET) or visit online at http://www.skyviewdrags.com/
Doing something memorable: Peter Windsor samples a TF104B...Part Two
Formula 1 journalist Peter Windsor always wanted to be a Grand Prix driver, so when Toyota offered him the chance to fulfil a life-long ambition, there was no hesitation.Story by Peter Windsor:
I gently begin to release the clutch. Nothing... nothing... yes, now! I feel the car begin to edge forwards. I keep up the rate of release. It picks up a little pace, and I turn the wheel, feeling cramped in the cockpit and worried that I won't be able to get enough lock. Now my arms are crossed and I'm still holding the clutch. We're up and running, though, so I follow Jörg's signals. The front wing clears the concrete wall. I am in the pitlane!
"Pitlane speed limiter, Pete, pitlane speed limiter," Gianvito reminds me to press the 'SL' button on the steering wheel. I do so. Automation takes over. I am a passenger at 80km/h (50mph).
And then I am heading towards a green light, and starting to press my right foot on the accelerator. I feel a kick in the back as the Toyota jerks forwards. First, second, third – already the car is jumping around from bump to bump, and the first corner is looming. I press lightly on the brakes – and then firmer, hoping suddenly to feel them bite. Nothing. They feel soft and spongy. They are, of course, as cold as ice.
I tiptoe round that opening lap. Spots of rain hit my visor. I accelerate and brake, accelerate and brake, trying to warm things up. Still there is nothing from the brakes. I know I should by now be travelling perhaps 150km/h (93mph) faster everywhere, and that by now the brakes should be alive, but at my tentative pace, the carbon discs and pads have no chance.
The last corner – a tight right-hander – looms in the distance. I am not quite straight from the previous left-hander, but I give the Toyota some power, hoping to warm up the rear Michelins.
I spin like a top. No warning, no teasing. Nothing. I am spinning on my own axis, out into the run-off area. I hit the brakes, and remember to declutch. I select first, then the neutral button. First again. Ease out the clutch. Thankfully, I am away.
I spin again a lap later – this time as I try to squeeze on the power out of the last corner. Everything is cold. I return to the garage.
Mechanics rush around, jacking up the car and firing the wheelnut guns. "Okay Peter," says the welcoming voice of Gianvito. "We are not getting any temperatures. We will put on intermediates. It is starting to rain lightly. Try to hit the brakes on the straight while you've got power on to give them some more heat."
I am feeling a little unsettled. Two spins in two laps. It is raining and it is cold. I am cold. The car is cold. Should I carry on? Perhaps I should stop…
"Okay, ready," says Gianvito. "Try to get some temperature. Let's go." The tone in his voice saves me from having to make a decision. Before I know it, the boys are lowering the car to the ground. Jörg's finger is up, and the engine is again rasping into life. I try to concentrate.
I brake quite aggressively into turn one, and this time the Toyota seems to like it. Things feel more taut, more solid. I squeeze the throttle on exit, and the Toyota jumps forwards, jerking my neck backwards. Down the back straight I accelerate hard up through the gears. Second, third, fourth, fifth; the world is jumping around in front of me. I can feel my helmet lifting slightly.
My legs feel as if they are moving around in the cockpit. It seems hard even to keep my right foot on the throttle. The car is bumping, jumping, buffeting. I brake and change down to fourth for the quick right- hander. The Toyota noses in, but then suddenly I am running wide, over the rumble strip. I back off, nurse the car into the concrete run-off area and rejoin. Still no tyre temperature!
After that, I just kept my head down and concentrated – harder, I think, than I have ever done in my life. Rain spattered my visor, but it was difficult to tell if the track was wet or if the tyres were merely still not fully up to temperature. I started to press the throttle hard between corners, stabbing the Toyota through the gears. Each upchange felt like a kick in the small in the back – no surprise as the halt for a millisecond knocks about 1g of deceleration into the car. That, of course, is a measure of its acceleration.
I began to live with the vibration in the cockpit. The Toyota was sitting on its bump rubbers above about 250km/h (155mph) – and the sensation was of a car with no suspension. I asked a couple of regular F1 drivers about this later, but all of them said they were unaware of this feeling. This is probably because they spend most of their days driving cars with about half a centimetre of suspension travel.
I did 14 laps. By the end, I was hitting seventh gear on the back straight – about 270km/h (168mph). Into turn one, on my last flying lap, I braked hard just inside the 200-metre board. The feeling that followed was gorgeous. The car seemed to be sucked down to the apex of the corner without drama. By the time I was in second, and travelling at about my right cornering speed, the apex was still about 30 metres ahead of me.
I awoke the next morning with marks on my shoulders and hips. I was battered and bruised. The pain, though, was exquisite.
Thank you to everyone at Toyota Motorsport for giving me not only the most memorable 60 minutes of my racing life, but also the chance to touch – ever so slightly – the world that for so long had remained an impossible dream.
Click HERE to go back to the beginning of Peter's Story...
Doing something memorable: Peter Windsor samples a TF104B...Part One
Formula 1 journalist Peter Windsor always wanted to be a Grand Prix driver, so when Toyota offered him the chance to fulfil a life-long ambition, there was no hesitation.Story by Peter Windsor:
I always wanted to be a racing driver, of course; we all did. I grew up in Sydney, Australia, at a time when the Formula 1 stars competed in an eight-race European winter championship, called the Tasman Series. Grand prix aces of the day Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren were my immediate and future field of perception. I wanted to do what they were doing. The Beatles were merely background music.
In 1966, I rang Qantas to see when a Mr J Clark might be arriving in Sydney from Auckland; airlines in those days were allowed to talk about such things. My dad drove me to Mascot Airport.
I stood there, awestruck, as Jim, in grey trousers and red-and-white checked shirt, walked into the arrivals lounge. He shook hands with someone and walked outside. By the kerb was parked a mauve Toyota Corolla. He unlocked the door, climbed in, waved goodbye and drove away.
I have loved Toyota Corollas ever since.
A few years later, by which time it had become very clear that I was never going to be a racing driver, I nonetheless found myself in the fortunate position of occasionally being invited to race saloons and sportscars. I was writing about the world of F1, I was working with a couple of drivers and now I could race from time to time. I had the world's second-best job.
Still do – as I was reminded not so long ago by Matt Bishop, my editor at F1 Racing, when he rang to ask if I would like to try a Toyota F1 car. I suggested that he stop kidding around and move on to the real reason for the call.
"No, I'm serious," said Matt. "I've just had a meeting with Toyota in which we were kicking around a few ideas, and I threw in a suggestion that you have a run in the TF104B. They thought about it for a second, and then said they thought it would be a good idea. Just giving you a heads up."
I had one of those tingling feelings. You know the ones; your blood runs cold and your pulse rate jumps. It's exam time back at school, or perhaps it's that police siren filling your head when you know you've just exceeded the speed limit. You are at the edge of your normal, sane existence. Out there, just over that invitingly low wall, lies the new world of the unknown. Go on. Take the jump. You won't fall. It's easy.
Yeah. Anyone can do it. The next few weeks passed in a blur of surrealism. Occasionally, I would catch myself saying something like, "Yes, that's right. I'm going to be driving the Toyota F1 car in a couple of days." Then, quickly, I would stop myself short. What if I couldn't drive it? What if I kept stalling the thing in the garage? What if I crashed it?
I tried to go through the motions, hoping that in some way it would reduce the size of the problem. I had a couple of meetings with the Toyota guys, asking about seat fittings and briefings, about car settings and tyres. I kept pinching myself to see if this was me they were suddenly talking about, if it really was me who would be the driver this day at the Paul Ricard Hi-Tech Test Track (HTTT), winter home of Toyota Motorsport GmbH.
Then, too quickly, the time was upon me. Plans for the seat fitting and other familiarisation had had to be shelved; everything would be finalised down at Ricard. Time would be tight, but there would be enough. No-one was going to let me out in the TF104B without at least some preparation; don't worry, Peter, it will be fine.
I flew to Nice and rented a car. Helmet and overalls by my side, I drove down to Bandol, the coastal village that used to be the hub of the French Grand Prix at Le Castellet. I checked into the Hotel Isle Russe, memories of Elf dinners and Tyrrell drivers round about me. Thirty-two years ago, I had stood outside this hotel lobby to watch Jackie Stewart and the other Elf pilotes attend a gala dinner. I had driven down to France in a 1.1-litre Ford Escort. I had slept in lay- bys and had camped at the circuit. The Isle Russe back then had shone brightly in the centre of the F1 galaxy.
Now it was my hotel, my place of rest prior to my driving a car far faster than anything that Stewart, or those other F1 greats Ronnie Peterson, Emerson Fittipaldi or Jody Scheckter ever dreamed about. I slept fitfully and arose early. Next morning, I drove up the old, winding road into the mountains – up to the Ricard HTTT.
The circuit is today a work of art. The old 'Paul Ricard' logo still sits atop the main pit complex; everything else is state-of-the-art – a five-star tribute to F1 test technology. There are no grandstands at the HTTT; instead, hundreds of metres of painted, manicured run- off area invite you to drive this circuit to its limit, and perhaps beyond. The place is immaculate – spotless in every detail. I felt like removing my shoes before I walked into the Toyota garage.
Former Toyota GP driver Olivier Panis kindly showed me the details of the track in a Land Cruiser. I had been driven around Ricard before – by Didier Pironi and by Nigel Mansell – so it was fairly familiar. A new chicane would be used on the back straight, but otherwise it would be more or less the same. I would be using the configuration – one of over 30 – on which they last raced the French GP.
I tried a basic seat shell, and it was fine. I tried the cockpit, and it, too, was comfortable. I would use Olivier's HANS collar and steering wheel. The pedals were exactly right. I felt as if I was sitting too low, and I worried about general visibility, but Jörg Faust, 'my' number one mechanic for the day, assured me that my height was about right.
Gianvito Amico, a Toyota test team engineer whom I remembered from his days with Minardi, spoke calmly into my radio: "OK Peter. We have about 30 minutes. It's quite cold – five degrees – so it may take a little time to heat up the brakes and tyres. Be careful. We have taped up the brake ducts, and we have given you quite a high traction control setting. When Jörg gives you the signal, switch on the ignition and then wait for us to start the engine."
"Okay, copy." At least I sounded professional.
The signal came. I flicked down the switch sited near my left thigh. A few seconds later, the V10 engine barked into life – a low rumble at first, and then, very quickly, a high-pitched scream that shakes the garage. The thought occurred that all this noise, all this vibration, was merely to enable me to travel unnaturally fast.
I remembered Olivier's instructions: "Just ease the hand clutch out gently. You won't need to give it any right foot. And remember to use the left-hand clutch paddle because you are going to be turning right out of the garage!"
The boys loosened the tyre warmers, and then lowered the car to the garage floor. Jörg raised his hand, foot on the nose of the car. Then, with a twirl of his hand, the tyre covers were whisked away, and suddenly he was stepping backwards out of the garage and waving me out, checking the pitlane for traffic.
Click HERE for the conclusion of Peter's Story...
Fellows Focuses on the Future with Karting Series for Young Racers
Racer Turns Promoter in Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting ChampionshipBy Rick Voegelin
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. - Ron Fellows wears many hats - and many helmets. In addition to competing in the ALMS, SCCA, Grand American and NASCAR racing series, Fellows is also the driving force in the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship. Now in its fourth season, the karting series provides a training ground for more than 200 aspiring young racers. It also provides a different perspective on the sport for the man who organized the series.
"As the promoter, I worry a lot," Fellows said with a laugh. "I worry about the weather, about the track, and about everyone's safety. On race day, I'm primarily an observer. I look for things we can do to make the series better for the participants and more professional for the racers."
Fellows will be a busy man this weekend at the Grand Prix of Mosport. In addition to driving Corvette Racing's championship-winning Compuware Corvette C6.R and Team Cadillac's championship-contending CTS-V, he will be keeping an eye on the competition at the Mosport Kart Club that adjoins the 2.46-mile Mosport road course. The fifth round of the series that bears his name will be contested on Sept. 3-4 at the Mosport kart track.
Fellows has given more than his name to the burgeoning series. His hands-on involvement has made the program a stepping stone for future Canadian champions. The series comprises six events at six tracks, all within a 90-minute drive from Toronto. Nine classes of karts with engines ranging from seven to 40 horsepower provide a ladder of performance levels. Racers must be at least 9 years old to participate in the series, and there is no maximum age limit.
"I raced karts as a kid, and my sons, Patrick and Sam, were interested in starting in the sport," Fellows recalled. "To be honest, I was concerned about what kind of environment my boys would find in karting. I felt there was a big difference in cultures between karting and car racing. I thought that there could be a higher level of professionalism in karting in terms of how a race weekend operates - consistency in scheduling, consistency in officiating, prize money and media exposure. My goal was to create a series that focused on rules, safety, and good competition, and then to provide a path for successful racers to follow to reach the next level of racing."
Fellows found an ally in Tom Ryley, the president of Sunoco. Together they devised a plan to nurture the grassroots of Canadian racing. Paul Cooke, the vice president of competition for ASN Canada, the national motorsports sanctioning authority, provided the essential administrative and operational services for the fledgling series.
"I'm proud of how it's turned out," said Fellows. "In four years, we've grown from 70 participants to more than 200. The track operators have seen the series develop and have upgraded their facilities. The Toronto Star is the presenting sponsor, and they cover our races in the Saturday Wheels section, which has more than a million readers.
"Promoting races has given me a different perspective on what it takes to run a successful series," Fellows confides. "I had no idea how hard it is, and I'm not the one doing most of the work. I try to incorporate the best features of the professional series that I race in. I've learned a lot by watching how ALMS and NASCAR conduct their events."
Fellows' only regret is that his sons haven't yet competed in the championship. Traveling with their parents throughout the summer, they haven't had time to complete the year of club racing that's a prerequisite for the series.
"With our busy schedule, the boys haven't been able to get their license to race in my own series," Fellows laughed. "Both boys are interested, but it might be hard for me to watch them. When I'm at the track, I'm focused on making sure that everything goes smoothly and everybody's safe. That's a very different hat than the one I wear when I'm a race car driver."
Team Cobalt Wins Nail-Biter in Front of 600 GM Friends
By Dave Arnold, Arnold CommunicationsAndy Lally and Jamie Holtom worked their magic in the heavy traffic of a 73-car field of race cars to drive the Georgia Bay Motorsports 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged car to another Grand-Am Cup series win at the famed Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sunday.
As happy as Andy and co-driver Jamie Holtom were to take the lead with only three laps remaining in the 2 ½-hour race, even more enthused were the more than 600 members of UAW Locals 1112 and 1714, who got to see Lally’s winning pass unfold in front of them.
Chevrolet Cobalts are built by UAW workers at the General Motors assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.
“This has been a great experience for us,” said Local 1714 President Jim Kaster. “We’re going to follow these guys to the season finale at Virginia International Raceway.”
“It was all about managing traffic,” Lally said. “At Mid-Ohio, you don’t race the track, you race traffic. Maybe I could have made the pass sooner but Don (Salama) got boxed-in by a slow car, and I was able to slip by him.
“This race week has been a pressure cooker for me because the Cobalt is built so close by, and we have all these people coming out to watch us do well.”
“The Cobalt engine has great torque and the brakes were something Andy and I could count on for the entire race,” added Jamie Holtom, who will turn 18 on Sept. 30. This is his second win in his rookie year of professional road racing.
“I dodged a big chance to be involved in an accident when a slower car spun in front of me, but the Cobalt’s brakes allowed me to miss hitting him, and the torque allowed me to accelerate away from it without skipping a beat.”
“I’m really proud of the performance by all four cars on Team Cobalt,” said GM Director of High Performance Vehicles Operations John Heinricy. “The street Cobalt SS Supercharged didn’t even appear in dealer showrooms until last January, and here we’ve already been able to develop it into a car that has won three races this year. It is definitely an on-going development process, one that doesn’t slow down just because we won today.”
“We dodged one bullet this weekend when we learned the 98.5 octane gas we had to run didn’t hurt us as bad as we thought it might,” added Ken Wasmer, small car program engineering manager for the GM Performance Division which provides engineering and parts assistance to teams racing the Cobalt SS Supercharged.
“All four of our cars are consistent and once our engineering crew diagnoses any problems, we can fix them,” he added. “That makes us just as happy as the drivers are.”
Holtom, of Carp, Ontario and Lally, of Dacula, Ga., completed 81 laps of the 2.258-mile circuit and won by under four seconds over 30 Asian and European-built cars in the Sport Touring class.
The Cobalt SS Supercharged is the only American-built car in the field.
“We’re racing against BMW, Mazda and Acura teams with years of experience with their products,” Wasmer added. “We’re the new kids on the block and although we know we’re not going to dominate anything, we’re happy to know we can win our share.”
Finishing 11th in class was the Franklin American Mortgage Cobalt driven by Tom Lepper, Benecia, Calif., and owner Bo Roach, Tulsa, Okla. Fourteenth were Delphi engineer Ed Magner, Grand Blanc, Mich., and Georgian Bay Motorsports team owner Jim Holtom – Jamie’s father.
Two newcomers to the series, Canadians Matt Champagne and Frank Launi, finished 25th in their first major professional race.
All three of the other Cobalt SS Supercharged cars would have finished on the lead lap, but for the bad luck of a full course caution that put them down a lap. The faster GS-class leader had just lapped them when an accident caused the full course caution.
“Those three cars were turning race laps every bit as fast as the car driven by Jamie and Andy,” added Wasmer. “The fact they finished much lower is not related to the performance of their cars or driver abilities.”
Featuring a 2.0 liter GM ECOTEC supercharged engine generating 205 horsepower, the Cobalt SS Supercharged is the creation of the GM Performance Division and its director of High Performance Vehicle Operations, John Heinricy.
In 2004, the Performance Division debuted the 205hp Saturn ION Red Line and the 400hp Cadillac CTS-V. The Division’s 2006 lineup will be joined by the 395hp Chevrolet Trailblazer SS and two upgraded Cadillacs – the 433hp XLR-V and the 469hp STS-V.
Mid-Ohio’s race was televised for delayed broadcast Saturday, Sept. 17 at noon ET on SPEED TV.
Mosport Preview: Lightning Bolts - News and Notes
By Tom Moore, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing
Two Point Conversion
In basketball you can close a two point deficit with one field goal or even take the lead with a three-pointer from ‘downtown’. If football is your game, you can “go for two” on a two point conversion after a touchdown. In golf, you can shoot an eagle to chip away that margin. In American Le Mans Series endurance racing a two-point deficit is a little harder to overcome because the competition is always right on your heals. But, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing can do just that this weekend at Mosport Int’l Raceway. The No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin Porsche led the GT2 class point championship (driver, team and IMSA Cup for private entrants) since the first checkered flag in March where the team walked-away with its first 12 Hours of Sebring title.
The Las Vegas-based operation lost the lead two races ago at Portland Int’l Raceway after finishing eighth- the first time off the podium all season- falling six points behind the new leader. They rallied with a spectacular, emotional victory at the most recent ALMS round at Road America to close the gap to within two markers of Alex Job Racing’s No. 23. With three races remaining, every race will have added importance. Sunday’s Mosport round is the final “sprint” race of the season at two hours and 45-minutes paying-out 20 points for a victory.
The final two events, the Petit Le Mans and the American Le Mans at Laguna Seca, are endurance races at 10 hours and four hours respectively. Petit pays-out an additional six points for a win (26 total) while the Mazda Raceway event yields four extra markers (24). With 70 points available in the next three races, the GT2 battle is likely to go down to the checkered flag at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 15. Like a football game’s closing moments, it’s time to pull out all the trick plays like on-side kicks and fake punts.
Triple Deuce
For the remainder of the 2005 American Le Mans Series season, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing will proudly carry the unit insignia for the Second BN 222nd Field Artillery National Guard Division. Known as the “Triple Deuce”, the field artillery unit, which carries the motto “Serve The Guns Unshrinkingly”, is currently stationed in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While the team is always in full support of all of our fighting men and women around the globe, the Triple Deuce holds a special place in the heart of team manager Dale White. White’s nephew, Sergeant 1st Class Terry Wilde of southern Utah, is a member of the 450 soldier unit. Wilde, a master electrician by trade, is the Chief of Firing Battery which is in its second deployment in three years. The logos are proudly displayed on each door of the racecar just above the American flag decal that is ever-present on the No. 31.
Streak
With the victory in GT2 class at the Generac 500 at Road America- the ALMS’s most recent event- Petersen/ White Lightning added to its streak of event finishes. To date, the No. 31 Porsche- as prepared by White Lightning Racing- has been running at the finish of 18-straight events dating to the 2003 season-finale at Petit Le Mans where the car was crashed beyond repair. Overall, the car has been running at the end of 39 of its 43 career ALMS starts and has only failed to finish once (that ’02 Petit event) in the last three seasons! Since the team’s ’99 debut, 23 drivers have piloted the Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS entry in ALMS and/or 24 Hours of Le Mans competition.
History
Petersen/ White Lightning has three career ALMS starts at Mosport since 2001. In its 2001 debut there, the first full season of ALMS competition for the Michael Petersen-owned team, they suffered one of only five "Did Not Finishes" (DNF) in 43 career starts. The ’01 event, like three of the five DNFs, was the result of an accident. They would, however, finish 10th adding to a total of 41 top-ten finishes since joining the ALMS in 1999. The former off-road truck racing champions would not return to Mosport, or for another complete season, until 2004, when Craig Stanton (Long Beach, Calif.) and David Murry (Cumming, Ga.) put on a spectacular run earning the operation a second-place and the IMSA Cup for the event. The No. 31 crossed the line just behind- and closing- on 2005 Petersen/ White Lightning driver Jörg Bergmeister who won the event in 2004 and 2003. Patrick Long made his Mosport debut last season in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR taking a fifth-place finish.
No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Drivers: Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany), Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.), Michael Petersen (Las Vegas)
Owner: Michael Petersen Team Manager: Dale White Crew Chief: Stefan Pfeiffer
Web: www.petersenmotorsports.com
Two Point Conversion
In basketball you can close a two point deficit with one field goal or even take the lead with a three-pointer from ‘downtown’. If football is your game, you can “go for two” on a two point conversion after a touchdown. In golf, you can shoot an eagle to chip away that margin. In American Le Mans Series endurance racing a two-point deficit is a little harder to overcome because the competition is always right on your heals. But, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing can do just that this weekend at Mosport Int’l Raceway. The No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin Porsche led the GT2 class point championship (driver, team and IMSA Cup for private entrants) since the first checkered flag in March where the team walked-away with its first 12 Hours of Sebring title.
The Las Vegas-based operation lost the lead two races ago at Portland Int’l Raceway after finishing eighth- the first time off the podium all season- falling six points behind the new leader. They rallied with a spectacular, emotional victory at the most recent ALMS round at Road America to close the gap to within two markers of Alex Job Racing’s No. 23. With three races remaining, every race will have added importance. Sunday’s Mosport round is the final “sprint” race of the season at two hours and 45-minutes paying-out 20 points for a victory.
The final two events, the Petit Le Mans and the American Le Mans at Laguna Seca, are endurance races at 10 hours and four hours respectively. Petit pays-out an additional six points for a win (26 total) while the Mazda Raceway event yields four extra markers (24). With 70 points available in the next three races, the GT2 battle is likely to go down to the checkered flag at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 15. Like a football game’s closing moments, it’s time to pull out all the trick plays like on-side kicks and fake punts.
Triple Deuce
For the remainder of the 2005 American Le Mans Series season, Petersen Motorsports/ White Lightning Racing will proudly carry the unit insignia for the Second BN 222nd Field Artillery National Guard Division. Known as the “Triple Deuce”, the field artillery unit, which carries the motto “Serve The Guns Unshrinkingly”, is currently stationed in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. While the team is always in full support of all of our fighting men and women around the globe, the Triple Deuce holds a special place in the heart of team manager Dale White. White’s nephew, Sergeant 1st Class Terry Wilde of southern Utah, is a member of the 450 soldier unit. Wilde, a master electrician by trade, is the Chief of Firing Battery which is in its second deployment in three years. The logos are proudly displayed on each door of the racecar just above the American flag decal that is ever-present on the No. 31.
Streak
With the victory in GT2 class at the Generac 500 at Road America- the ALMS’s most recent event- Petersen/ White Lightning added to its streak of event finishes. To date, the No. 31 Porsche- as prepared by White Lightning Racing- has been running at the finish of 18-straight events dating to the 2003 season-finale at Petit Le Mans where the car was crashed beyond repair. Overall, the car has been running at the end of 39 of its 43 career ALMS starts and has only failed to finish once (that ’02 Petit event) in the last three seasons! Since the team’s ’99 debut, 23 drivers have piloted the Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS entry in ALMS and/or 24 Hours of Le Mans competition.
History
Petersen/ White Lightning has three career ALMS starts at Mosport since 2001. In its 2001 debut there, the first full season of ALMS competition for the Michael Petersen-owned team, they suffered one of only five "Did Not Finishes" (DNF) in 43 career starts. The ’01 event, like three of the five DNFs, was the result of an accident. They would, however, finish 10th adding to a total of 41 top-ten finishes since joining the ALMS in 1999. The former off-road truck racing champions would not return to Mosport, or for another complete season, until 2004, when Craig Stanton (Long Beach, Calif.) and David Murry (Cumming, Ga.) put on a spectacular run earning the operation a second-place and the IMSA Cup for the event. The No. 31 crossed the line just behind- and closing- on 2005 Petersen/ White Lightning driver Jörg Bergmeister who won the event in 2004 and 2003. Patrick Long made his Mosport debut last season in a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR taking a fifth-place finish.
No. 31 Westward Ho Casino/ MMPIE/ PAWS/ Michelin Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Drivers: Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld, Germany), Patrick Long (Las Vegas, Nev.), Michael Petersen (Las Vegas)
Owner: Michael Petersen Team Manager: Dale White Crew Chief: Stefan Pfeiffer
Web: www.petersenmotorsports.com
OSCAAR: Team JNE Consulting Look To Make It Four….
MILTON, ON - Team JNE Consulting head into this week’s OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model action at Peterborough Speedway coming off a win at Mosport Speedway in OSCAAR’s last event, winning the last event at Peterborough Speedway and three time consecutive winner of this prestigious “Don Biederman Memorial” 75 lap event.
John Fletcher has three wins this season and the three wins in this race so going for four is the task. The September third event held this year at the fast 1/3” mile Peterborough Speedway marks the seventh time this race will be held to honor one of Canada’s legendary racecar drivers and Canadian Motorsport inductee’s Don Biederman.
“Don has raced in and won more prestigious races that I could have ever dreamed of other then this one, we are proud to have won this race three times.” Team look forward to this week’s action to continue to shave points off Rob Clarke's 102-point lead. OSCAAR and Peterborough Speedway are expecting a full house and a great field of cars for this event so be sure to be there early.
This event is the Daytona 500 of OSCAAR each year and an event where sponsors and fans can purchase laps, all the laps have been sold out. The “Don Biederman Memorial Race” is a seventy-five lap race run every year at different race tracks through out Ontario and is being held for the first time at Peterborough Speedway.
O’Leary Pontiac On Board for Sportsman 150: Brookside Storage Announces Halfway and Winner Bonuses
By Gord Curran, General Manager, NBISAugust 29th, 2005, Fredericton, NB – One of the Speedweekend’s thrilling events just got a little more Excitement. NBIS is proud to announce that the Saturday night sportsman race will be the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150, sponsored by O’Leary Pontiac in Fredericton. In addition, Brookside Storage announced that they are putting up a $250 Halfway Award and $250 bonus to the winning driver.
Scheduled on Speedweekend on September 2nd-5th, the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night is an extremely popular part of the weekend as it draws a large car count and full stands as fans prep themselves for the Irving Oil 250 the following day. Last season’s race featured an epic battle between wily NBIS veteran Bradley Logan and young Shawn Turple from Scotia Speedworld with Turple leading the majority of the race, but Logan taking checkers with a late race pass.
Located on the 1135 Hanwell Rd. in Fredericton, O’Leary Pontiac Buick GMC has been central New Brunswicker's #1 choice for all their automotive needs since 1987. Owner Jerry O’Leary has come full circle – he built New Brunswick International Speedway in 1994 before selling it to the current ownership group ten years ago. Now he will sponsor the major sportsman race on the speedway’s biggest weekend of the season.
Speedweekend kicks off with the free Bridges Farms Corn Boil on Friday night at 7pm, but the racing action begins with the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 on Saturday night at 7pm. Although Speedweekend is highlighted by the Irving Oil on Sunday, the Saturday night sportsman race continues to grow into an attraction of its own with over thirty-five sportsman expected to attempt to qualify for 26 spots on the starting grid. The night will also feature a 35-lap Atlantic Open Wheel feature. The event has always provided fans with edge of their seat action.
The race’s purse also continues to grow as Brookside Storage of Fredericton has provided some extra contingency money. Darren Sutherland, owner of Brookside Storage, is pleased to offer $250 to the Halfway Leader and an extra $250 to the race winner.
“We are very happy to be involved in a race like the O’Leary Pontiac Excitement 150,” said Sutherland. “The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman division at NBIS features some of the top quality drivers in the region and provides fans with outstanding entertainment. We are also very excited to be associated with O’Leary Pontiac’s race.”
Please contact Gord Curran at New Brunswick International Speedway (direct 506-455-3181, page 506-462-8116 or gord.curran@nbisonline.com ) if you have any other questions.
The Irving Oil 250
The 2005 Irving Oil 250 will take place on Sunday, September 4th, 2005 and will be the highlight of the fourth annual Speedweekend. The event will showcase the NBIS CARQUEST Pro Stocks against the best of the Eastern Canada and New England. The purse for 2005 will be over $60,000 with a guaranteed $15,000 to the event winner and possible winner’s cheque of $27,500. Two years ago, the late Scott Fraser took home a record $25,400 including lap money. Only five years old, the event as grown in crowd, atmosphere, and car count every year since its inception. Over 7,000 people attended the 2004 event to break attendance records at Canada’s Fastest Short Track. A record 36 pro stock cars, including several Maine drivers, attempted to qualify for 28 spots on the starting grid.
Speedweekend
Just like the Irving Oil 250, Speedweekend continues to grow every year with over 12,000 people attending the weekend in 2004. The four-day stock car fest is scheduled for September 2nd-5th, 2005 and includes the Bridges Corn Boil on Friday night, O’Leary Pontiac Excitement Sportsman 150 race on Saturday night, the Irving Oil 250 on Sunday, and finishes up with an Enduro 200 on Monday. While the Irving Oil 250 is the highlight of the racing events, the weekend has developed into an event on its own with over 300 campers turning NBIS into a small town over the weekend. It has become the destination of choice for the region’s stock car fans.
New Brunswick International Speedway
New Brunswick International Speedway is Canada’s Fastest Short Track. The 1/3 of a mile high-banked paved oval features three classes of racing on a weekly basis: CARQUEST Pro Stocks, Martin’s Home Heating, and Coast Tire Street Stocks. Over 60,000 people are expected to attend over 25 events during the 2005 season. NBIS is located off Highway 7 on Route 660 in Geary, NB, and is within minutes of Saint John and Fredericton. NBIS can be found online at http://www.nbisonline.com/.
Cody Geldart Goes Online
Mossley, Ontario driver, Cody Geldart, has had a stellar season in his rookie campaign behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car. With a career best World of Outlaws finish of fifth back on June 1st and his first ever All Star Circuit of Champions win on August 15th at the Thunder Hill Speedway Cody has been making headlines all season long.
The seventeen-year-old driving sensation has now made his mark on the world wide web. Geldart proudly announces the launch of his official web site located at http://www.codygeldart.com. With stats, results, news and information this site will keep fans up to date on the progress of Geldarts’ journey into the top ranks of sprint car racing and beyond.
Cody joins a solid crop of drivers and organizations under the ImageFactor.ca banner. ImageFactor.ca is a motorsports promotion and marketing company designed to help race teams, drivers and speedways gain a professional image.
Fans are encouraged to log on to CodyGeldart.com on a regular basis to catch up on the latest news from the Geldart Motorsports team. Visitors have also been given the chance to cheer Cody on. A special section called “Fan Mail” gives fans a chance to have their “well-wishes” posted on Cody’s site. So make sure to show your support and check out the new online home of Cody Geldart.
For more information log on to http://www.codygeldart.com or contact us by email at info@codygeldart.com.
ImageFactor.ca // Motorsports Promotions & Marketing // http://www.imagefactor.ca
Monday, August 29, 2005
Fellows to Drive Third Cadillac CTS-V in Mosport SCCA World Challenge
Local Hero Joins Papis and Pilgrim in Team Cadillac's Quest for SPEED GT Championships
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. - With the drivers and manufacturers championships on the line in the penultimate round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT on Sept. 3, Team Cadillac will have three bullets in its gun at the Grand Prix of Mosport. Ron Fellows of Mississauga, Ont., will be aiming for a repeat victory in the SPEED GT race at Mosport International Raceway.
Fellows will pull double duty on Labor Day weekend, driving Team Cadillac's third CTS-V in Saturday's 50-minute SPEED GT sprint and sharing the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R with Johnny O'Connell in Sunday's 2-hour, 45-minute ALMS race. The Canadian ace considers Mosport his home track; he's raced on the fast 2.46-mile circuit since he began his career in 1977. Fellows is one of North America's most versatile and accomplished road racers, competing in SCCA, ALMS, Grand American, and NASCAR events in 2005 with GM vehicles.
"Last year at Mosport, my strategy for the SPEED GT race was simple: Go fast, win the pole and win the race," said Fellows, who ran the fastest lap of the race en route to a flag-to-flag victory in the series' seventh round. "This year it's going to be tougher, but I'm going to try hard to repeat."
Fellows joins Team Cadillac at a critical point in the championship race with two events remaining on the 11-race schedule. Cadillac CTS-V driver Andy Pilgrim holds a five-point lead in the drivers' standings going into Mosport, with his teammate Max Papis in fifth. Cadillac is second in the manufacturers championship, seven markers behind Porsche (52-45).
"My role is to support Andy, Max and the team in any way possible," Fellows said. "We're in a different situation than last year. It's late in the season, and Team Cadillac is in a fierce battle for the championships. Our goal is to have all three Cadillacs finish at the front and shut out the Porsches."
In addition to this heavy responsibility, Fellows will also carry a heavy burden at Mosport. As a "guest" driver who has not competed in previous rounds of the SPEED GT series, he will haul 150 pounds of ballast. Points leader Pilgrim has 180 pounds of REWARDS weight, while Papis has the lightest load among the trio with 40 pounds of SCCA-mandated ballast.
"My crew chief calls the 150 pounds of lead the 'Ron Fellows Rule'," Fellows laughed. "It's not just my car that's heavier than last year; all of the CTS-Vs are carrying more weight. Team Cadillac's engineers and crew are exceptional, and I'm looking forward to working with them."
The feeling is mutual: "We're excited to have Ron in a Cadillac CTS-V again," said Team Cadillac program manager Dave Spitzer. "The last time Ron raced with us in Mosport, we celebrated on the top step of the podium.
"He's a tremendously talented driver and a long-time member of the GM Racing fraternity," Spitzer added. "Ron is magic around Mosport, and the support of his Canadian fans adds to the excitement of racing there.
"There are a number of championship scenarios, but our first order of business is to win the race, whether it's Ron, Andy or Max," Spitzer declared. "We've got three powerful bullets loaded in the chamber."
The 50-minute SPEED GT race at the Grand Prix of Mosport will start at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 3. The race will be televised on the SPEED Channel on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. EDT.
For additional information on GM Racing, click here.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. - With the drivers and manufacturers championships on the line in the penultimate round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT on Sept. 3, Team Cadillac will have three bullets in its gun at the Grand Prix of Mosport. Ron Fellows of Mississauga, Ont., will be aiming for a repeat victory in the SPEED GT race at Mosport International Raceway.
Fellows will pull double duty on Labor Day weekend, driving Team Cadillac's third CTS-V in Saturday's 50-minute SPEED GT sprint and sharing the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R with Johnny O'Connell in Sunday's 2-hour, 45-minute ALMS race. The Canadian ace considers Mosport his home track; he's raced on the fast 2.46-mile circuit since he began his career in 1977. Fellows is one of North America's most versatile and accomplished road racers, competing in SCCA, ALMS, Grand American, and NASCAR events in 2005 with GM vehicles.
"Last year at Mosport, my strategy for the SPEED GT race was simple: Go fast, win the pole and win the race," said Fellows, who ran the fastest lap of the race en route to a flag-to-flag victory in the series' seventh round. "This year it's going to be tougher, but I'm going to try hard to repeat."
Fellows joins Team Cadillac at a critical point in the championship race with two events remaining on the 11-race schedule. Cadillac CTS-V driver Andy Pilgrim holds a five-point lead in the drivers' standings going into Mosport, with his teammate Max Papis in fifth. Cadillac is second in the manufacturers championship, seven markers behind Porsche (52-45).
"My role is to support Andy, Max and the team in any way possible," Fellows said. "We're in a different situation than last year. It's late in the season, and Team Cadillac is in a fierce battle for the championships. Our goal is to have all three Cadillacs finish at the front and shut out the Porsches."
In addition to this heavy responsibility, Fellows will also carry a heavy burden at Mosport. As a "guest" driver who has not competed in previous rounds of the SPEED GT series, he will haul 150 pounds of ballast. Points leader Pilgrim has 180 pounds of REWARDS weight, while Papis has the lightest load among the trio with 40 pounds of SCCA-mandated ballast.
"My crew chief calls the 150 pounds of lead the 'Ron Fellows Rule'," Fellows laughed. "It's not just my car that's heavier than last year; all of the CTS-Vs are carrying more weight. Team Cadillac's engineers and crew are exceptional, and I'm looking forward to working with them."
The feeling is mutual: "We're excited to have Ron in a Cadillac CTS-V again," said Team Cadillac program manager Dave Spitzer. "The last time Ron raced with us in Mosport, we celebrated on the top step of the podium.
"He's a tremendously talented driver and a long-time member of the GM Racing fraternity," Spitzer added. "Ron is magic around Mosport, and the support of his Canadian fans adds to the excitement of racing there.
"There are a number of championship scenarios, but our first order of business is to win the race, whether it's Ron, Andy or Max," Spitzer declared. "We've got three powerful bullets loaded in the chamber."
The 50-minute SPEED GT race at the Grand Prix of Mosport will start at 4 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 3. The race will be televised on the SPEED Channel on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. EDT.
For additional information on GM Racing, click here.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
Fast Mosport Track to Test Corvette Racing's Mettle
Corvette Racing Notebook for the Grand Prix of Mosport, Sept. 2-4
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. - Like singer Aretha Franklin, Mosport International Raceway demands respect. That's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It's the fastest track on the American Le Mans Series circuit, a course that takes a driver's breath away.
Ask Ron Fellows, the acknowledged master of Mosport. The Canadian ace began his racing career at the Ontario track nearly 30 years ago. He's still in awe of this 2.46-mile circuit.
"Mosport is one place where you never feel you have enough laps," Fellows said. "It has long, fast corners, and no place to go if you make a mistake. You give that track some respect.
"When we begin a race weekend at Mosport and my engineer asks what we need to go faster, I just tell him, 'More laps. The car's fine, but the driver has to get a little braver.'"
A test of both machine and mettle, Mosport offers unique rewards.
"There's not a driver in the paddock who doesn't like racing there," Fellows declared. "The corners are fast and you can sink your teeth into the place. Niki Lauda (three-time Formula 1 champion) said that Turns 4-5-6 are is the most challenging and difficult combination to get right among all the tracks in the world he'd raced on."
The Home of the Brave
So how does Mosport match up with the great European circuits?
"It's an old-style track that hasn't been sanitized with chicanes," said Oliver Gavin, who teamed with Olivier Beretta to win at Mosport last year. "It may not be the safest track, but it's so much fun to drive around that every driver gets out of the car with a huge grin on his face.
"Turn 2 is a big corner because you are approaching quickly in fifth gear, braking and turning as you're going over a crest," he explained. "It's quite daunting because when you go over the crest, the laws of physics take over and you become a passenger. Mosport is definitely one of those tracks give a driver a great reward for pushing that little bit harder."
Beretta agreed: "From now to the end of the season, we are running on good, fast tracks," he said. "Mosport is one of the best in the ALMS championship because there are big differences in elevation, fast corners and long straights. It will suit the Corvette C6.R very well."
Engineering Outlook
If Mosport is a thrill for drivers, it's a Rubik's Cube for engineers.
"It's the fastest track in the ALMS series, and it has the greatest percentage of lap time over 90 mph with high g loads," reported Corvette Racing engineering manager Doug Louth. "Top speed at Mosport is not as fast as at Le Mans, but the average cornering speeds are higher. It's like running the Porsche Curves at Le Mans five times every lap.
"The surface is bumpy in some areas and has quite a lot of elevation changes that affect the ride height, so it all adds up to make a very challenging track to optimize the aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics."
Just the Facts
A victory by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the preceding round at Road America clinched the GT1 manufacturers championship for Chevrolet and the team championship for Corvette Racing.
Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell lead Gavin and Beretta in the chase for the GT1 drivers championship by three points (130-127) with three races remaining.
Corvette Racing has scored six consecutive 1-2 finishes in ALMS competition, a streak that began at Road Atlanta in April. The No. 3 and No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.Rs have each posted three victories.
Gavin set the Mosport track record for the fastest GT1 qualifying lap (120.741 mph) and the fastest race lap (119.011 mph) one year ago in a Corvette C5-R en route to a victory with his teammate Beretta.
Fellows and O'Connell won at Mosport three straight years (2001-03).
Beretta has three Mosport victories: 1999-2000 with the ORECA team, and 2004 with Corvette Racing.
Championship Celebration
Corvette Racing delivered the first championship for the GM small-block V-8 in its 50th anniversary season. Since its debut in 1955, the small-block V-8 has become the world's most successful production-based racing engine. GM has produced approximately 90 million small-block V-8s, with a combined power output of 27 billion horsepower (comparable to the output of 15,000 nuclear powerplants).
The 7.0-liter small-blocks that power Corvette Racing's championship-winning C6.Rs inspired the 505-horsepower LS7 that powers the Corvette Z06 supercar. The 7.0-liter LS7 is the largest, most powerful production small-block V-8 GM has ever produced.
The Grand Prix of Mosport, the eighth round of the 2005 American Le Mans Series, is set for 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 4. The 2-hour, 45-minute race will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT.
BOWMANVILLE, Ont. - Like singer Aretha Franklin, Mosport International Raceway demands respect. That's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. It's the fastest track on the American Le Mans Series circuit, a course that takes a driver's breath away.
Ask Ron Fellows, the acknowledged master of Mosport. The Canadian ace began his racing career at the Ontario track nearly 30 years ago. He's still in awe of this 2.46-mile circuit.
"Mosport is one place where you never feel you have enough laps," Fellows said. "It has long, fast corners, and no place to go if you make a mistake. You give that track some respect.
"When we begin a race weekend at Mosport and my engineer asks what we need to go faster, I just tell him, 'More laps. The car's fine, but the driver has to get a little braver.'"
A test of both machine and mettle, Mosport offers unique rewards.
"There's not a driver in the paddock who doesn't like racing there," Fellows declared. "The corners are fast and you can sink your teeth into the place. Niki Lauda (three-time Formula 1 champion) said that Turns 4-5-6 are is the most challenging and difficult combination to get right among all the tracks in the world he'd raced on."
The Home of the Brave
So how does Mosport match up with the great European circuits?
"It's an old-style track that hasn't been sanitized with chicanes," said Oliver Gavin, who teamed with Olivier Beretta to win at Mosport last year. "It may not be the safest track, but it's so much fun to drive around that every driver gets out of the car with a huge grin on his face.
"Turn 2 is a big corner because you are approaching quickly in fifth gear, braking and turning as you're going over a crest," he explained. "It's quite daunting because when you go over the crest, the laws of physics take over and you become a passenger. Mosport is definitely one of those tracks give a driver a great reward for pushing that little bit harder."
Beretta agreed: "From now to the end of the season, we are running on good, fast tracks," he said. "Mosport is one of the best in the ALMS championship because there are big differences in elevation, fast corners and long straights. It will suit the Corvette C6.R very well."
Engineering Outlook
If Mosport is a thrill for drivers, it's a Rubik's Cube for engineers.
"It's the fastest track in the ALMS series, and it has the greatest percentage of lap time over 90 mph with high g loads," reported Corvette Racing engineering manager Doug Louth. "Top speed at Mosport is not as fast as at Le Mans, but the average cornering speeds are higher. It's like running the Porsche Curves at Le Mans five times every lap.
"The surface is bumpy in some areas and has quite a lot of elevation changes that affect the ride height, so it all adds up to make a very challenging track to optimize the aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics."
Just the Facts
A victory by Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the preceding round at Road America clinched the GT1 manufacturers championship for Chevrolet and the team championship for Corvette Racing.
Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell lead Gavin and Beretta in the chase for the GT1 drivers championship by three points (130-127) with three races remaining.
Corvette Racing has scored six consecutive 1-2 finishes in ALMS competition, a streak that began at Road Atlanta in April. The No. 3 and No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.Rs have each posted three victories.
Gavin set the Mosport track record for the fastest GT1 qualifying lap (120.741 mph) and the fastest race lap (119.011 mph) one year ago in a Corvette C5-R en route to a victory with his teammate Beretta.
Fellows and O'Connell won at Mosport three straight years (2001-03).
Beretta has three Mosport victories: 1999-2000 with the ORECA team, and 2004 with Corvette Racing.
Championship Celebration
Corvette Racing delivered the first championship for the GM small-block V-8 in its 50th anniversary season. Since its debut in 1955, the small-block V-8 has become the world's most successful production-based racing engine. GM has produced approximately 90 million small-block V-8s, with a combined power output of 27 billion horsepower (comparable to the output of 15,000 nuclear powerplants).
The 7.0-liter small-blocks that power Corvette Racing's championship-winning C6.Rs inspired the 505-horsepower LS7 that powers the Corvette Z06 supercar. The 7.0-liter LS7 is the largest, most powerful production small-block V-8 GM has ever produced.
The Grand Prix of Mosport, the eighth round of the 2005 American Le Mans Series, is set for 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 4. The 2-hour, 45-minute race will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT.
GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT FACT SHEET:
Grand Prix of Mosport
2005 American Le Mans Series - Round No. 8
Sept. 2-4, 2005
EVENT: Grand Prix of Mosport; Round No. 8 of 10-race 2005 American Le Mans Series season
LOCATION: Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
2.459-mile, 10-turn permanent road course
WHEN: 3:00 PM (EDT) Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005
LENGTH: Two (2) hours and 45-minutes (time certain)
TELEVISION:
SPEED Channel, 3:00 - 6:00 PM (EDT)
MotorsTV (tape) throughout Europe (21 countries, 36 million households), 8:00 - 11:00 PM (CET)
Greenlight-TV anthology (3) programs (Worldwide distribution - 510 million households)
RADIO: American Le Mans Series Radio (live) at http://www.americanlemans.com/
CARS: Four classes of American Le Mans Series sports cars: Le Mans prototype - LMP1 and LMP2; Grand Touring - GT1 and GT2
SANCTION: IMSA (International Motor Sports Association)
SUPPORT:
Star Mazda Championship
Speed World Challenge (two classes)
Honda/Michelin Challenge
Ontario Touring GT Championship
TICKETS: http://www.mosport.com/ or 1-800-866-1072
CONTACTS: Bob Dickinson, ALMS Vice President/Media & Communications, (706) 654-2983 Ext.240, mailto:radickinson@americanlemans.com;
Ryan Smith, Web site Editor/Media Relations Manager, (706) 654-2983, Ext. 319, rsmith@americanlemans.com ;
Glenn Butt, Mosport Director of PR/Marketing,(905) 983-9141, glenn@mosport.com.
Credential requests to Glenn Butt, (905) 983-9141, fax (905) 983-5195 or email glenn@mosport.com
WEB SITES:
http://www.americanlemans.com/
http://www.mosport.com/
POINT LEADERS:
LMP1: Frank Biela,/Emanuele Pirro (124)
Andy Wallace (109)
Chris Dyson (106)
JJ Lehto/Marco Werner (100)
Butch Leitzinger/James Weaver (93)
LMP2: Jeff Bucknum/Chris McMurry (82)
Clint Field (76)
Jamie Bach/Guy Cosmo (65)
GT1: Ron Fellows/Johnny O'Connell (130)
Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin (127)
GT2: Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas (112)
Jorg Bergmeister/Patrick Long (110)
NEXT EVENT:
Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta
11:20 AM (EDT) Oct. 1, SPEED Channel
MOSPORT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 2
12:45 PM - 2:45 PM Sanctioned ALMS Test Sessions
SATURDAY, SEPT. 3
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Sanctioned ALMS Practice
11:50 AM - 12:35 PM ALMS driver autograph session
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM Sanctioned ALMS Practice
2:45 PM - 3:05 PM Qualifying GT1 and GT2
3:15 PM - 3:35 PM Qualifying LMP1 and LMP2
SUNDAY, AUG. 21
10:20 AM - 10:50 AM Sanctioned ALMS Warm-Up
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Pre-race ceremonies
3:00 PM - 5:45 PM Grand Prix of Mosport
DEFENDING RACE WINNERS:
LMP1: James Weaver/Butch Leitzinger, Lola EX257-AER
LMP2: Clint Field/Robin Liddell, Lola B2K/40-Judd
GT1: Olivier Beretta/Oliver Gavin, Corvette C5-R
GT2: Jorg Bergmeister/Timo Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
QUALIFYING RECORDS
LMP1: Frank Biela (August 2002), Audi R8, 1:07.169 (131.793 mph)
LMP2: James Weaver (August 2003), Lola EX257-AER/MG, 1:07.906 (130.363 mph)
GT1: Oliver Gavin (August 2004), Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, 1:13.317 , (120.741 mph)
GT2: Lonnie Pechnik (August 2004), Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:18.365, (112.964 mph)
GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT RECORDS
Fastest Winning Speed: 122.065 mph, August 2004, James Weaver/Butch Leitzinger, Lola EX257-AER
Smallest Margin of Victory: 0.148 seconds, August 2000
Most Laps Completed By Winner: 137, August 2004. Weaver/Leitzinger, Lola EX257-AERFastest Lap (LMP1): 1:08.444 (129.338 mph), August 2002. Tom Kristensen, Denmark, Audi R8.
Fastest Lap (LMP2): 1:09.473 (127.422 mph), August 2003. James Weaver, England, Lola EX257-AER/MG
Fastest Lap (GT1): 1:14.383 (119.011 mph), August 2004. Oliver Gavin, England, Corvette C5-R
Fastest Lap (GT2): 1:19.541 (111.294 mph), August 2004. Romain Dumas, France, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
Kodiac Kid Live at Speedweekend!!!
By Gord Curran, General Manager, NBISThe Kodiac Kid is taking the show on the road!!! In a special presentation, the Kodiac Kid from CKTP 95.7 FM (the Station of the Nation) will be hosting a show live from NBIS this coming weekend.
Kodiac Kid Live at Speedweekend will take place this coming Friday night from 8pm-9pm during the Bridges Corn Boil. Listen to fans, your favourite drivers, and management talk about Speedweekend. The speedway will never be the same...
The Kodiac Kid Sports Hours airs every Monday night from 8pm-9pm on CKTP, 95.7 FM, which serves the greater Fredericton and Oromocto area.
BRIGHTON DRIVERS “CHASE FOR THE CURE”
Brighton Speedway Park drivers, fans and management have pulled together to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society through their own event known as “Chase for the Cure”. Greg Belyea, driver of the #25 Bainer’s Canadian Modified, along with his wife Shari, decided that they would rally support from everyone at Brighton Speedway Park in the hopes to raise money for the eradication of cancer. The Belyea’s, along with many of us, have been personally affected by this illness, and were hoping that this individual connection would encourage everyone to support this selfless initiative.
The plan was to have the drivers collect pledges and come together on August 27th to walk 5 laps of the 1/3 mile clay oval. With a donation at the gate fans would receive a Canadian Cancer Society bracelet which would allow them access to the track to walk alongside their favourite drivers.
It was with excitement that Greg and Shari presented Doug Brown, Communications Director with the Quinte Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, a cheque for $4, 820.00 during intermission on August 27th. This total was indicative of collected driver pledges to date, and did not include donations collected from fans. Everyone is anticipating a final collection of well over $6,000.00.
Fortunately for fans, drivers and others who would like to support this great initiative of human kindness there is a renewed opportunity to contribute. Mother Nature soaked the track surface and the walk was postponed until Saturday, September 17th, 2005. Following the Eastern Overhead Doors Season Championship drivers and fans with wristbands will again be invited to take this walk as we all work together to “Chase for the Cure”.
For more information about this event contact Brighton Speedway Park at 613.475.1102, or visit the website at www.brightonspeedway.com
The plan was to have the drivers collect pledges and come together on August 27th to walk 5 laps of the 1/3 mile clay oval. With a donation at the gate fans would receive a Canadian Cancer Society bracelet which would allow them access to the track to walk alongside their favourite drivers.
It was with excitement that Greg and Shari presented Doug Brown, Communications Director with the Quinte Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society, a cheque for $4, 820.00 during intermission on August 27th. This total was indicative of collected driver pledges to date, and did not include donations collected from fans. Everyone is anticipating a final collection of well over $6,000.00.
Fortunately for fans, drivers and others who would like to support this great initiative of human kindness there is a renewed opportunity to contribute. Mother Nature soaked the track surface and the walk was postponed until Saturday, September 17th, 2005. Following the Eastern Overhead Doors Season Championship drivers and fans with wristbands will again be invited to take this walk as we all work together to “Chase for the Cure”.
For more information about this event contact Brighton Speedway Park at 613.475.1102, or visit the website at www.brightonspeedway.com
Paul Tracy, Aikman discuss NASCAR options
Tracy, Aikman discuss NASCAR options
TSN.ca Staff
8/27/2005 9:34:29 AM
A pair of football Hall of Famers may be Paul Tracy's ticket into NASCAR competition in 2006.
Tracy, the former Champ Car champion who has NASCAR aspirations, says he's spoken with former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman about possibly joining his new stock car team next season.
"I've talked with Troy on the phone and we're going to set up a meeting at some point," Tracy said in Montreal while preparing for this weekend's Champ Car race.
Aikman and another former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach, along with Trans-Am driver Bill Saunders have formed Hall of Fame Racing, which plans to compete in the Nextel Cup in 2006. The team has signed a working agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing.
The 36-year-old Tracy has expressed interest in NASCAR for years and, finally, did something about it earlier this month, taking part in a two-day test at Michigan International Speedway in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
It was hoped that Tracy would indeed make his NASCAR debut at the Michigan event but both sides agreed there simply wasn't enough time to properly prepare a fourth car for the race. Tracy says he hopes to get another opportunity to show he's got what it takes later this year.
"Richard is planning to do a 500-mile engine reliability test and I'd hope to do that for him," Tracy said. "Then, we're hoping I can drive a race later this year at either Atlanta or Homestead, which are both tracks that should suit me pretty well."
Tracy, whose 30 career victories are the most by any active Champ Car driver, is not yet signed with any team for 2006, although Champ Car team owner Gerald Forsythe has offered him a new contract.
"I know Gerry would like to know something, yes or no, as soon as possible," Tracy said. "But I'm not going to make any decision until after I've driven a (NASCAR) race.
"I figure, at my age, I still have three, four, maybe five years in (Champ Car) left in me, but it could be the right time to make a change and I want to take a good look at it. I've talked with some other teams over there (in NASCAR), but Richard Childress is the only one who has stepped up and made something happen at this point."
(Files from the Associated Press were used in this report)
TSN.ca Staff
8/27/2005 9:34:29 AM
A pair of football Hall of Famers may be Paul Tracy's ticket into NASCAR competition in 2006.
Tracy, the former Champ Car champion who has NASCAR aspirations, says he's spoken with former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman about possibly joining his new stock car team next season.
"I've talked with Troy on the phone and we're going to set up a meeting at some point," Tracy said in Montreal while preparing for this weekend's Champ Car race.
Aikman and another former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach, along with Trans-Am driver Bill Saunders have formed Hall of Fame Racing, which plans to compete in the Nextel Cup in 2006. The team has signed a working agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing.
The 36-year-old Tracy has expressed interest in NASCAR for years and, finally, did something about it earlier this month, taking part in a two-day test at Michigan International Speedway in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
It was hoped that Tracy would indeed make his NASCAR debut at the Michigan event but both sides agreed there simply wasn't enough time to properly prepare a fourth car for the race. Tracy says he hopes to get another opportunity to show he's got what it takes later this year.
"Richard is planning to do a 500-mile engine reliability test and I'd hope to do that for him," Tracy said. "Then, we're hoping I can drive a race later this year at either Atlanta or Homestead, which are both tracks that should suit me pretty well."
Tracy, whose 30 career victories are the most by any active Champ Car driver, is not yet signed with any team for 2006, although Champ Car team owner Gerald Forsythe has offered him a new contract.
"I know Gerry would like to know something, yes or no, as soon as possible," Tracy said. "But I'm not going to make any decision until after I've driven a (NASCAR) race.
"I figure, at my age, I still have three, four, maybe five years in (Champ Car) left in me, but it could be the right time to make a change and I want to take a good look at it. I've talked with some other teams over there (in NASCAR), but Richard Childress is the only one who has stepped up and made something happen at this point."
(Files from the Associated Press were used in this report)
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Kelly Williams on canada.com cover
Don't know how long it will last, but there's a picture of former CASCAR racer Kelly Williams on the cover page of the canada.com website this morning. Kelly is driving the pace car (she's shown in front of a Ford GT) for this weekend's ChampCar race in Montreal.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
RYAN LITT: Learning Curve Steep for Ryan Litt at Salem, “Homecoming” Next
The highbanks of the legendary Salem Speedway in Indiana provided a steep learning curve for rookie sprint car driver Ryan Litt last weekend. The 18 year old from Lyons, Ontario, Canada missed more than half of practice because of mechanical problems and was behind the 8 ball right from the beginning.
His time was slowest in qualifying for the (wingless) USAC National Sprint Car Series event, and the heat race was basically a chance to get a feel for the track. By the end of the heat Ryan was running comparable lap times to the other cars on the track, but still finished last. In the feature, things never really got going as a U joint broke on lap 4 which ended the night prematurely yet again for the team.
Next up for the team are two “home” races with the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints series. Friday, August 26th will see the winged 410 sprints at the Kawartha Speedway near Peterborough, Ontario for the first time, while Saturday August 27 takes the tour back to the Flamboro Speedway near Hamilton for the first time since 2002. The team is very excited about their chances this weekend as the engine has been freshened and the new Velocity Wings proved themselves to be very effective when the car was running and set up well.
For more information on the AVSS tour, visit www.SuperSprints.com. For more information about the Litt racing team, as well as photos and news, please visit www.RyanLitt.com.
From Litt PR (August 22, 2005), by Tommy Goudge
Tommy Goudge, PR Manager, www.RyanLitt.com
e-mail: tommygoudge@hotmail.com or ryanlittmedia@hotmail.com
phone: (519)-319-0051
His time was slowest in qualifying for the (wingless) USAC National Sprint Car Series event, and the heat race was basically a chance to get a feel for the track. By the end of the heat Ryan was running comparable lap times to the other cars on the track, but still finished last. In the feature, things never really got going as a U joint broke on lap 4 which ended the night prematurely yet again for the team.
Next up for the team are two “home” races with the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints series. Friday, August 26th will see the winged 410 sprints at the Kawartha Speedway near Peterborough, Ontario for the first time, while Saturday August 27 takes the tour back to the Flamboro Speedway near Hamilton for the first time since 2002. The team is very excited about their chances this weekend as the engine has been freshened and the new Velocity Wings proved themselves to be very effective when the car was running and set up well.
For more information on the AVSS tour, visit www.SuperSprints.com. For more information about the Litt racing team, as well as photos and news, please visit www.RyanLitt.com.
From Litt PR (August 22, 2005), by Tommy Goudge
Tommy Goudge, PR Manager, www.RyanLitt.com
e-mail: tommygoudge@hotmail.com or ryanlittmedia@hotmail.com
phone: (519)-319-0051
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