A1GP: McIntosh takes Team Canada double score in Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (December 11, 2005) – A pair of top-six points scoring finishes by Sean McIntosh promoted Team Canada back into the top-ten of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations today as Round 6 of ‘The World Cup of Motorsport’ played out at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates.

Sean followed up his fifth place effort in the opening Sprint race with sixth overall at the end of the Feature race on the 5.39km desert track. Team Canada, sitting just outside the top-ten in the A1GP points standings heading into this weekend’s double-header in Dubai now depart back up in tenth with 31 points.

The weekend began with Sean getting to grips with another new track while battling a lingering head cold. Friday’s practice sessions proved frustrating with Team Canada languishing uncharacteristically in the lower half of the timesheets. Saturday’s qualifying runs bought a healthy dose of optimism however as Sean put together two solid laps to place ninth overall on aggregate time.

Taking the rolling start for today’s 15-lap Sprint race Sean was immediately squeezed wide sprinting towards the first turn by the Czech Republic’s Tomas Enge. McIntosh, finger firmly on his PowerBoost button for some extra horsepower, held his ground despite the frantic 24-car dash to the corner and ultimately gained a place to move up to eighth by the end of the first tour.

A lap later and the 20-year-old Canadian picked up another position courtesy of Team Brazil retiring from proceedings. Problems on lap six for Robbie Kerr in the Team Great Britain entry bumped Sean into the top-six for the first time this weekend, his pace in sixth now closely matching that of the race leaders just a handful of seconds ahead.

Team France’s eight-race winning streak came to an abrupt end as a brief off with two laps remaining ensured Team Switzerland’s pole-sitter and race leader, Neel Jani, enjoyed a clear run to the checkered flag and a maiden A1GP victory. McIntosh, a beneficiary of Team France’s misfortune, crossed the finish line fifth overall for Team Canada’s second highest A1GP finish and a welcome fifth place grid slot, their highest of the season, for the hour-long, 30-lap Feature race.

A quick getaway from the Feature’s standing start allowed Sean to steal fourth on the first lap but he soon dropped back to sixth before the only Safety Car period of the race presented itself on lap six due to Team Indonesia’s solo crash. The team’s call to take McIntosh’s mandatory pit-stop at this stage proved crucial as the Canadian entry had suffered rear-wing damage and a puncture thanks to contact from behind by the Czech Republic just prior to the safety car’s deployment.

Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Tel: +1 514 684 3253 Email: stuart@sm-pr.com Web: www.sm-pr.com

Office: 145 de Barcelone, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, H9B 3L9, Canada

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Having lost time getting round to pit-lane, swift action from the Team Canada pit crew got Sean back on-track sitting 12th overall as the safety car peeled off at the end of lap eight. Back up into the top-ten running order on the next lap and into a points paying position, Sean then spent the middle sector of the race chasing Team China.

With ten laps remaining Sean had climbed to seventh, sitting in a pack of cars headed by Team USA in fifth and Team China sixth. Lap 26 saw Phil Giebler’s American entry retire leaving Sean to push the Chinese car for a spot in the top-five. Both cars were matched evenly for pace and with no PowerBoost left to gain an advantage from which to attack Sean had to settle for sixth place and another five points at the checkered flag.

Team France bounced back in the Feature to take win number nine of the season, Nicolas Lapierre steering the French to victory over Team Great Britain, Robbie Kerr having led for the majority of the race despite earlier damage to his front-wing.

Looking back on an eventful couple of races Sean commented:

“This hasn’t been our strongest circuit as a package but to come away with a fifth and sixth place finish isn’t a bad result. The Sprint result was good for us in terms of setting us up for the Feature race where I made another good start. We were struggling a bit with pace in the early stages and then I was hit by Tomas Enge as the safety car warnings were coming out. I didn’t know what was wrong with the car initially but it was damage to the rear and a puncture.

“We had a pretty good pit-stop and after that it was really a case of damage limitation. I’m sure we could have finished a bit higher up had the race been longer but it was good to put two points scoring runs together and strengthen our position in the standings. There’s only eight points separating us from Team Portugal in sixth so things are pretty close heading into the next six events.”

The second half of the inaugural A1GP season starts after a month-long break with Indonesia hosting Round 7 of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Friday 13th – Sunday 15th January 2006.

Results – A1GP R6, Dubai Autodrome, United Arab Emirates

Team Canada, Sprint Race – Started: 9th / Finished 5th (6 Points) – Race Winner: Team Switzerland

Team Canada, Feature Race – Started: 5th / Finished 6th (5 Points) – Race Winner: Team France

Nations Points Standings after Round 6 – Team Canada, 10th ( 31 Points) – Leader: Team France (104 Points)

NEWS FROM MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIPMARKETING NEWS

TIME TO BE SEEKING SPONSORSHIP FOR 2006, A VERY SPECIAL DEAL ON MOST POPULAR SPONSORSHIP MARKETING KIT

LANGHORNE, PA (December 10, 2005)

For those wanting to be successful in their efforts to secure marketing partners for their auto racing efforts, Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc., publisher of the monthly newsletter on sponsorship marketing titled Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News, has come up with a special offer for their most popular sponsorship marketing kit.

"This is a package that can help a racer secure sponsorship. Racers should be working on securing serious sponsorship support for 2006 by now," said Ernie Saxton. "In fact if racers are just now getting starting on their sponsorship efforts and are looking for serious financial support they are running way behind."

The kit includes a video of a sponsorship seminar that Ernie Saxton presented recently. The two hour video covers much of the information that racers need to know in order to be successful in securing sponsorship/marketing partners.

In the video Saxton is also found answering many questions from seminar attendees. There is also a generic proposal that has been created by Saxton to give sponsorship seekers some idea of what a potential sponsor is looking for when a proposal is presented.

It is loaded with ideas that will help get the attention of potential sponsors. And there is a generic sponsorship marketing brochure included that can be used as a direct mail piece or as a handout.

WINNING SPONSORSHIPS, a great book on sponsorship marketing, written by Andrew Waite is also part of the kit as is a one year subscription to Saxton's Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News. The monthly newsletter, now in its 22nd year of publication, has helped many with their sponsorship efforts and continues to provide tips, helps, contacts, latest sponsorship news and much more.

If purchased separately the package would cost more than $450. For a short time, at a time when race teams have completed their seasons and should anxious be started on the 2006 season plans and are looking to secure sponsorship support, the package is being offered at a very special price of $199.95 plus $15.00 for postage and handling.

More information may be found at http://www.saxtonsponsormarket.com/. The Ultimate Sponsorship Kit, a more in-depth package of sponsorship marketing materials along with telephone consultation, is also available and is described at the website.

An ESC, Inc. brochure of services and self help materials is available upon request. The sponsorship marketing kit may be ordered by telephoning Saxton at 215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392.

Email Esaxton144@aol.com. All major credit cards are accepted. Saxton is also available to present a sponsorship seminar for your speedway, organization or race team that can be used as a fund raiser.

Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc., located in Langhorne, PA, offers more than 35 years of motorsports marketing experience. Saxton offers a variety of marketing services for racer teams and event organizers seeking sponsorship and media relations.

His firm represents teams and events seeking sponsorship and works on a retainer and commission basis. Saxton also offers his expertise as a consultant to businesses looking to benefit from marketing through motorsports.

Media Contact: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.

Ernie or Marilyn Saxton 215.752.7797 or 215.752.2392

Email: esaxton144@aol.com

Deja vu all over again

Yesterday, we were joking in the office about putting together a map of all the tracks that were supposed to be built, but never were. The list is endless. Here is another potential addition to the list. Hot on the heels of the last proposed speedway down near Fort Erie...

Hat tip to Dana S. for the heads up on this story.


From the Buffalo News...

Canadian group plans NASCAR track on country club site
By JANICE L. HABUDA News Staff Reporter12/9/2005

With NASCAR officials talking about expanding into Canada, a group of Canadian investors and developers is looking to build a race track on what is now a Fort Erie golf course.

"We've been working at this for about 15 months," James Thibert, general manager of the Fort Erie Economic Development & Tourism Corp., said this week.

A group of investors has an option on an almost 1,000-acre site that includes the International Country Club in Stevensville, Thibert said. The proposed seven-eighths of a mile track would have seating for as many as 65,000 spectators.

"It's perfect because it's very close to the [Queen Elizabeth Way]. It's got entrance ramps to it [at Netherby Road]," Thibert said. "Not a lot of residential development around."

NASCAR ventured across the border earlier this year for a Busch Series race in Mexico City.

"I'd love to see us in Canada," driver Jeff Gordon later was quoted in an Associated Press report. "Staying in North America is extremely important. Canada seems like the next natural place."

Last year, NASCAR and TSN, a division of Bell Globalmedia, formed NASCAR Canada. A news release from TSN, which has been broadcasting NASCAR since the network was established more than 20 years ago, says NASCAR is the top-rated motor sport on Canadian television.

Businesses on both sides of the border would benefit from a track in Fort Erie, Thibert said.
Completion is projected for late 2008. "It's not that far away," Thibert said.

"We have to finalize the development of the team that puts this all together," he said. The bureaucratic process will follow designation of the principal developer.

But Thibert said he is confident the proposal will work, saying the question isn't "if" but how quickly.

CHRA to Mosport in 2006

Tampa, FL (December 8, 2005) CHRA (Continental Historic Racing Association) is excited to announce the second event on the organizations 2006 race schedule will be at Mosport International Raceway, in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The dates for the new event are August 3-6, 2006.

This new event, the Mosport Historics, will be the first time a United States based historic racing organization will venture north of the border. “Mosport has more racing history than almost any other racing circuit in North America. Every major racing series has raced there, including: Can Am, F-1, Indy Cars, IMSA, ALMS, WSPC Group C, Trans Am, Formula Atlantic, F-5000, NASCAR and Super Bikes. To be included in with that group of racing series is an honor for a new organization such as ours.” said Tim Pendergast, Director of operations and Promotions for CHRA.

“Mosport oozes history. All of the greats have raced there: McLaren, Stewart, Moss, Foyt, Hulme, Holbert, Revson, Kristensen, Andretti and Unser in cars from Tyrell, Porsche, Ferrari, March, Lola, McLaren, Brabham, Lotus and Jaguar, to name but a few. Putting on an event at Mosport is a wonderful opportunity for CHRA and our competitors. We are excited at the prospect of what this event can become and look forward to bringing back a number of historic cars the Mosport fans have not had an opportunity to see since they raced here originally.” noted Pendergast.

“Next season is Mosport’s 45th anniversary, so we’re thrilled to be adding a major historic race event weekend to our schedule to help celebrate this milestone,” said Myles Brandt, Mosport’s President and General Manager. “Historic racing has a strong following at Mosport. As Canada’s Home of Motorsports, we’re looking forward to hosting the CHRA’s first-ever Canadian event and staging a memorable race weekend for our fans.”

The Mosport Historics will be a four day vintage/historic racing event. Thursday, August 3rd, will be a test day, with practice on Friday, qualifying and enduro races on Saturday and the feature trophy races will be on Sunday, August 6th. As of this writing, the feature for the weekend is still being finalized, though an announcement is expected soon. CHRA and Mosport are working together to bring a feature that will be exciting for the fans and competitors, as well as being historically significant to the track.

CHRA (Continental Historic Racing Association) is a new historic race sanctioning body. The focus is to professionally manage and promote safe and competitive historic racing events at historically significant racing circuits in the eastern United States and Canada. The cars that compete with CHRA include those that competed in both amateur and professional races prior to January 1, 2000 and include cars from: IMSA GTP and WSC, Trans Am, CART, IMSA GT, Group C, FIA, Can Am, NASCAR, F-1, F-5000 and Formula Atlantic, as well as many forms of amateur racing in the 1950’s and 1960’s

ALSTAR: Schedule and News released

SAUBLE BEACH, ON - President of the ALSTAR Series Joe Chisholm is extremely pleased to release the 2006 SHOULDICE STONE ALSTAR Racing Series Schedule and Format for this exciting upcoming season.

SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series Competitors will compete for over $100,000.00 dollars in 3 super weekend events, as well as a $10,000.00 Points Fund.

The new format for 2006 will kick off at Steelback Sauble Speedway on Saturday May 20th, for the "MacDonnell Fuels Twin 50 Qualifiers", Cars that qualify through these races will advance to Sunday May 21st/06 for the "SHOULDICE Q Stone 100"

The Series 2nd Visit to Steelback Sauble Speedway will be on Sat. Aug. 5th/06 to compete in the "TIM-BR Mart Wiarton Twin 50 Qualifiers" advancing to Sunday Aug 6th/06 for the "Quaker State 100."

SHOULDICE ALSTAR Series Championship Weekend will start on Saturday Sept 2nd/06 with the "STEELBACK Twin 50 Qualifiers", and advancing drivers will compete in the "STEELBACK 100" on Sunday September 3rd/06 to decide the "2006 SHOULDICE ALSTAR SUPER SERIES CHAMPION"

While drivers in the SHOULDICE ALSTAR Racing Series will be competing for unprecedented pay outs, the chase for the SHOULDICE ALSTAR Championship will be the competitors ultimate goal.

The Awards Presentation to honor the Series Top 15 drivers in points will be held at Steelback Sauble Speedway on Monday Sept 5th/06, all are welcome to attend.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank SHOULDICE Designer Stone for their outstanding continued support, and also thank MacDonnell Fuels, TIM-BR Mart Wiarton, Quaker State Canada, and Steelback Brewery for their sponsorship as well as all contingency sponsors, and special award sponsors.

2006 promises to be an an edge of your seat race season for all of the SHOULDICE ALSTAR Race Fans, Series Competitors, and Sponsors.

- From the Shouldice Stone ALSTAR Series

NASCAR: New TV deal

NASCAR Completes Eight Year Television Deals with FOX, Turner Broadcasting, ABC/ESPN

Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dec. 7, 2005) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced the completion of comprehensive broadcast agreements that will benefit the industry and its fans for years to come. Under the new eight year agreements NASCAR races will be broadcast on a combination of networks that includes FOX, SPEED, Turner’s TNT and ABC/ESPN beginning in 2007.

“NASCAR’s new network agreements mark a historic moment for the entire NASCAR community,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “This is a major accomplishment for the NASCAR drivers, teams and track operators that have made this sport what it is today. It represents a significant reward for the competitive side-by-side racing our fans have come to expect. It also validates the marketing and production enhancements our current media partners have brought to the sport.

“The new broadcast partnership is also good for the fans because they will have so much more NASCAR content from a variety of media and new media sources,” said France.

“NASCAR is proud to continue its relationship with FOX, SPEED and TNT, while welcoming back ABC/ESPN into the family of broadcasters,” said NASCAR Vice President Dick Glover. “By signing deals with three of the largest and best media companies in the world, NASCAR will meet the growing nationwide fan demand for more NASCAR content into the next decade,” Glover said.

NASCAR expands its relationship with News Corp as FOX becomes the official home of the Daytona 500. FOX’s broadcast agreements for the NFL Playoffs, the Super Bowl, the Bowl Championship Series and American Idol provide an excellent opportunity for cross promotion around the Daytona 500 held each year in mid-February. The deal also includes a brand-new comprehensive multi-media distribution program which includes Internet, wireless and broadband platforms.

“FOX is extremely excited to extend its relationship with NASCAR for another eight years, and come 2007 be known as the official television home of the Daytona 500, by far the most watched auto race in this country,” said FOX Sports President Ed Goren. “Our production team has done an amazing job over the last five years to put NASCAR broadcasts on par with America's most popular sports, and we look forward to pushing the production envelope further as we move forward.”

SPEED will increase NASCAR programming as the continuing exclusive home for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well as the new home for the Gatorade Duels, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pit Crew Challenge and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series All-Star Challenge.

“This new television package solidifies the evolution of NASCAR TV on SPEED,” said Hunter Nickell, SPEED executive vice president and general manager. “Building on our signature Daytona Speedweeks coverage, the viewership growth of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since moving to SPEED and the success of popular SPEED programs like NASCAR This Morning, Trackside and Inside NEXTEL Cup, the network is excited to have the opportunity to elevate fan-favorite events, including the Gatorade Duels, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pit Crew Challenge and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series All-Star Challenge.”

NASCAR looks forward to continued great exposure and coverage of the sport from TNT, which will be entering its 22nd year with NASCAR, the longest continuous relationship of any media company with the sport. TNT will broadcast six consecutive races in the middle of the season including the July 4th weekend extravaganza, the Pepsi 400 from Daytona.

“Extending our 20 plus year partnership with NASCAR has been a priority for our company for a long time, and we’re looking forward to airing NEXTEL Cup races on TNT well into the next decade,” said David Levy, president of Turner Sports. “Our expertise in marketing, promotion and production combined with our new schedule will provide benefits to viewers, cable operators and to the entire sport of NASCAR.”

ABC and ESPN will provide comprehensive coverage of NASCAR on their numerous outlets. The final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events will be broadcast on ABC or ESPN with the last 10, the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, on ABC. All NASCAR Busch Series races will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2. In addition, ESPN will bring NASCAR coverage to its full suite of media including its cable TV networks, ESPN360, Mobile ESPN, ESPN.com and affiliated international networks throughout the world.

“This agreement totally embraces NASCAR’s multimedia future,” said George Bodenheimer, ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports president and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks. “NASCAR is a strong and growing property, and the ESPN of the 21st century – an array of new media platforms and content outlets reaching fans wherever and however they consume sports – will take the sport to even higher levels of exposure and growth.

“ABC Sports first exposed sports fans to the racing excitement of NASCAR in the 1960s, and ESPN and the sport grew up together in the 1980s and ‘90s. Our tradition is rich, and our future is bright. To NASCAR, its drivers and fans we say, ‘Welcome back.”
“NASCAR thanks NBC for its stellar coverage and commitment to the sport for the past five years and looks forward to another great year in 2006,” Glover concluded.

About the agreements:

• Beginning in 2007, each NASCAR season will be launched on FOX with the telecast of the Daytona 500. FOX will also carry NASCAR “Speedweeks” events including the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona Pole Qualifying. FOX will also broadcast the 12 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races following the Daytona 500.
• TNT will broadcast six consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races (races 14 through 19).
• The final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series points races will be broadcast on ABC or ESPN. The final 10 races, the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, will be broadcast on ABC. The NASCAR Busch Series will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2, with no less than four events on ABC.
• SPEED will be home to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with the exception of two events, which will be broadcast by FOX.
• NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series qualifying practice and “happy hours” will be broadcast on a combination of SPEED Channel, ESPN and ESPN2.
• SPEED will broadcast the Gatorade Duels held each year during “Speedweeks” to determine part of the Daytona 500 starting order.
• SPEED will also broadcast the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series All-Star Challenge and its companion all-star event, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Pit Crew Challenge.
• ESPN will launch specially NASCAR-branded news and information programming.
• All broadcast partners will have new interactive rights, special “season preview” and “season end review” programming rights and other ancillary content.
• NASCAR fans will be able to receive NASCAR coverage from an expanded range of outlets including highlights and live streaming, content from and on each network’s Web pages, datacasts and newly-developed multimedia programming.

Ottodrome Ottawa to reopen as Capital City Speedway in 2006

As of 6:30 pm. Monday, December 5th, a deal has been finalized between the Drummond group of companies and Mr. Arnie Malcolm. "Capital City Speedway" will be tentatively reopening May 10th, 2006 at 7:30 pm. for it's first race night with many to follow. We're having a driver's meeting Wednesday, December 14th at 7:30 pm. at the Talisman on Carling Ave. This is a must-meeting for all to review classes, exchange ideas and suggestions.
So please, get the word out... your input is as important as ours is.

From Arnie Malcolm:

Hey Guys: We are all pretty exited about the agreement that was reached this week for the rental of the property formerly known as Ottodrome. First of all we would like to thank the Drummond group of companies for making this possible, and in particular Scott Drummond who worked very hard to put this deal together. We believe it is very important to be up front with everyone and to let you know that at this time all of our efforts at Capital City Speedway will be concentrated on stock car racing. We will continue with the ongoing improvements at Luskville Dragway in an effort to make it a better place for everyone each and every year. We are currently working on a new web site for the speedway, www.capitalcityspeedway.ca and should have it up and running very soon. We are also holding a meeting for all those intereseted in the future of stock car racing in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. We realize that this may not be what everyone wants to hear, but we also realize no matter what the decision is, there would still be people that disagree with it.
And Buzz you can call me anything you want, as long as you're calling me it at the race track. By the way Buzz, want to take some Pics on Wednesday nights?

Arnie Malcolm, Family and all of team ADM Motorsports
_________________________________________

Lets hope he can pull this Ottawa track out of the beating it has taken over the past few years.

Greasemonkey.