For the second year in a row, NASCAR is on the road in Canada with a cross country tour bringing fans closer to NASCAR action.
Having started in Moncton, NB in mid-July, the tour is traveling across the country visiting Canadian Tire stores, with the most recent stops in the Greater Toronto area. From there the tour will head West eventually finishing up in the Vancouver area at the end of August.
Whether you’re a NASCAR fan or not, the Canadian Tire NASCAR Experience is a must- see if you want to get up close and see what a NASCAR really looks like.
On display is the #26 Jamie McMurray, Irwin Tools NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series show car and the #20 Tony Stewart SUBWAY NASCAR NEXTEL Cup show car (both of which are actual running race cars)….and they do start them up to make some noise!!
You can also race against the clock with the Budweiser Pit Challenge and feel like a crew member or the #8 car, Enjoy a Tailgate BBQ courtesy of Lillydale, (awesome sausages & burgers etc!!) and meet the Team Full Throttle girls, who’ll be more than happy to offer you an ice cold Full Throttle energy drink.
The tour also has licensed NASCAR prizes & giveaways from time to time so don’t miss the tour when it pulls into your area. It’s worth the experience! The Canadian Tire NASCAR Experience will visit Canadian Tire stores in the following areas:
*Thursday Aug. 2nd – Hamilton, ON.
*Friday Aug. 3rd – Kitchener, ON
*Saturday Aug. 4th – Barrie, ON
*Sunday Aug. 5th – Sudbury, ON
*Thursday Aug. 9th & Fri. Aug 10th – Winnipeg, Man.
*Saturday Aug. 11th – Regina, Sask.
*Sunday Aug. 12th – Saskatoon, Sask.
*Thursday Aug. 16th & Friday Aug. 17th – Calgary, AB
*Saturday Aug. 18th & Sunday Aug. 19th – Edmonton, AB
*Thursday Aug. 23rd – Kelowna, BC
*Friday Aug. 24th – Vernon BC
*Saturday Aug. 25th & Sunday Aug. 26th – Vancouver BC.
* Dates Subject to change
Check the NASCAR page on TSN.ca for event information and participating Canadian Tire store locations in your area.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Canadian Tire NASCAR Experience... coming to a town near you
PHOTO GALLERY: Michael Waltrip & David Reutimann in Mississauga, ON
NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann were in Mississauga on August 1 to celebrate the NAPA AUTO PARTS 200, the first NASCAR race in Canada and join NAPA Auto Parts in celebrating the opening of its new store at 1825 Dundas Street East, in East Mississauga (between Dixie and the 427).
Thanks to Dave Franks for forwarding these pictures!
Is Partial Agonism the Key to PPAR Success?
- GSK's Avandia, subject of everyone's favorite meta-analysis, though allowed to remain on the market for now, will get slapped with some stern patient- and doctor-scaring warnings. Takeda's Actos has avoided the whirlpool so far.
- The PPAR class hasn't exactly had smooth safety sailing prior to Avandia's snafu. Warner-Lambert's Rezulin kicked off the parade back in 2000 and so-called next-generation dual gamma/alpha PPAR agonists like AZ's Galida and Merck's MK-767 and Merck/BMS' Pargluva eventually followed.
- Clinicians and patients may be moving beyond the PPARs in any case. The RPM Report has reviewed the winners/losers: Actos may have seen a bump in the wake of the initial Avandia news, but that hasn't lasted. Merck's first-in-class DPP4 inhibitor Januvia is enjoying wild success in its first year on the market and observers are salivating over potential newcomers like Amylin's once-weekly Byetta and Novo Nordisk's liraglutide.
Nevertheless, Rheoscience presses on. If Actos is now the TZD safety standard bearer, it makes sense that to get to market now companies will have to prove their drugs as safe or safer than Takeda's (in fact, European drug regulators require such an active comparator to prove non-inferiority). Rheoscience is aiming to do just that. The first balaglitazone Phase III will be a European "six-month, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial in which type 2 diabetes patients will be given daily doses of either 10 or 20 mg of balaglitazone versus the active comparator Actos (45mg/day) as an add on to stable insulin treatment," according to Rheoscience.
Our interest piqued, we got in touch with Rheoscience CEO Philip Just Larsen, MD, PhD. (For background on Rheoscience, check out our 2004 profile of the company.) Rheoscience's September 2005 deal with Dr. Reddy's got the Danish biopharma company European and Chinese rights to balaglitazone in exchange for taking responsibility for execution and costs associated with the drug's US/EU Phase III program and US regulatory submission (Rheoscience will also receive an undisclosed milestone payment if an NDA is approved and undisclosed royalties on US sales). Novo Nordisk once held rights to the drug, but returned them to Dr Reddy's in 2004, back when dual PPARs were still expected to dominate the class, says Larsen.
Larsen stresses the benefits of balaglitazone's partial gamma agonist properties. "It doesn't take full agonism for full glycemic control," he argues, pointing out that Phase II studies of the drug as well as preclinical models suggest that 20mg of balaglitazone is comparable to 45mg of Actos in that regard.
What's more, he says, balaglitazone shouldn't raise the same safety concerns as other TZDs, since in vitro models and preclinical trials suggest it causes less fluid retention than Avandia and Actos and is less adipogenic than those drugs. The second Phase III trial for the drug is an international long-ranging study to generate a safety database; again that trial will use Actos as a comparator, but Larsen says he doesn't expect either drug to generate the same cardiac ischemia safety signals that have plagued Avandia.
"It's worth emphasizing that it's not the class as such that is under suspicion for inducing cardiac ischemia," he says. "Actos is not associated with cardiac ischemia," a notion backed by FDA's David Graham during Avandia's recent panel meeting, he says.
Nevertheless the series of trials required to get balaglitazone onto the European and US markets will be very costly (Larsen declines to say exactly how costly). Patients and clinicians may be wary of TZDs and hamper trial enrollment (a suggestion Larsen disputes, particularly in terms of European patient accrual). The future of diabetes treatment may indeed by combination therapy, but whether or not TZDs are a mainstay of those combos remains to be seen as newer drugs like the GLP-1s make progress. The regulatory environment--for all drugs, it sometimes seems--is increasingly tricky. Larsen remains optimistic.
"I'm not worried about the regulatory environment. The advisory panel was in favor of drugs in this class, they're a necessary tool in the toolbox," he says. "Treating diabetics is a challenge and by limiting the options you put yourself in a difficult position, and these [TZD] products are quite efficacious."
As for the class' past failures, he points out that "the entire concept of pursuing the dual agonists was a blind alley, and it took those Phase III trials to show that is the case. That is how the selective PPAR agonists like balaglitazone were revitalized," and now shown that pursuing partial agonism could control the side effects related to full agonists like Avandia.
Rheoscience and Dr. Reddy's have competition. A second partial-PPAR gamma agonist in late stage trials belongs to Metabolex and Johnson & Johnson (we wrote about their innovative deal last summer). But don't expect any winners for quite some time. Balaglitazone's NDA won't be filed before late 2009 at the earliest.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
HALDEX TEAM HEADS TO QUEBEC: Brown Looking Forward To NASCAR Doubleheader
The NAPA AUTOPRO 100 at the famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve track is the third of four 2007 scheduled road course races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio.
For Doug Brown and his Haldex Limited/NAPA Autopro-sponsored team it’s also a weekend they hope to get their racing programs on track, literally, with a performance they know they are capable of.
After five events run todate, the Brantford based NASCAR Canadian Tire Series team has had some impressive runs but less than satisfactory results thanks to some unfortunate events that are a part of the racing challenge. They presently sit 14th in the points’ standings and are looking for their first top-ten finish in Canada’s premier stock car racing series.
“We need a good run this weekend,” Brown noted. “If this car is as good as it was in Edmonton two weeks ago, we should be able to post a descent finish. This track is tough though with those sharp 90 degree turns. Hitting the shift point is critical.”
“It will be a good test to see how strong this Haldex, Mopar-powered Dodge (prepared by DJ Kennington) really is especially with those long straightaways”, he added.
With upwards of 30 cars expected to take the green flag in the 27-lap chase around the 2.71-mile circuit, Brown also realizes he most post a fast qualifying time, something he wasn’t able to do in Edmonton.
“Yeah, that engine problem during our qualifying session in Edmonton put us in a tough position for the start of that race”, he acknowledged. With only two laps under the clock, the team was forced to swap engines prior to the race, relegating the Dodge driver to the final starting spot in the 30-car field. “We certainly don’t want a repeat of that problem for this event. It’s just too difficult to work your way through the field from the back on a track like this, especially with only 27 laps scheduled.”
Saturday Race Notes:
The Montreal race weekend will see the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series teams line up for a 10:00 am start on Saturday morning followed by NASCAR Bush Series qualifying at noon. The Busch race, the first event of this magnitude in Canada, is scheduled to take the flag at 3:00.
With NASCAR Nextel Cup stars Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Greg Biffle, David Reutimann and Robbie Gordon along with road racing specialists Ron Fellows and Boris Said joining the foray for the Busch race, it will undoubtedly be a great weekend to be in Montreal.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series regulars JR Fitzpatrick and DJ Kennington will be doing double duty this weekend as they attempt to qualify Busch Series cars for the Saturday afternoon event. Other Canadians vying for positions in the starting field will be Quebec favourite Patrick Carpentier, sports car racer, Michel Valiante from Vancouver, 51-year old John Graham of Aurora driving for Brewco Motorports and Tevor Boys of Calgary.
HB Motorsports is pleased to have Haldex Limited as its Title Sponsor with NAPA Autopro supporting team programs through its role of Major Associate Sponsor. Bicknell Racing Products; World of Graphics; HurryPrint Imaging Centre; WIX Filters; KWIC Internet; Gates Canada; BOC Gases; Brochures etc; Leitch Performance Engines; Strodes BBQ & Deli; and BrentZone Graphics are also valued members of our Associate Sponsorship Marketing team.
Prepared by: Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on TSN: Edmonton
40th Anniversary Marks a New Tradition of Celebrating the Past at Brighton Speedway!
The first to be inducted will be Speedway founder and original promoter Lou Reddom. Lou opened the speedway in 1967 and managed to find that magical touch that kept the speedway alive. In a time of fierce competition for racers with limited resources available, there were no fewer than eight other race tracks in existence at that time, all within a one hour radius of Brighton. Both the Riverview Speedway in Trenton and Colborne Speedway could not manage to survive and did not live to see the 80’s. It was definitely Lou’s entrepreneurial spirit and hard work that allow us to enjoy racing in Quinte and Northumberland 40 seasons later.
Fans were asked to submit their nominations to the selection committee for consideration and two names stood out; Doug Davis and Ron Herrington. Both local to the Brighton area, these two gentlemen were fierce competitors for years on the track and fittingly, were neck in neck in the running for the first inductees as drivers on the Wall of Fame.
Doug Davis competed at Brighton Speedway full time for more than a decade. Doug will always be remembered for his creativity and mechanical brilliance as he was one of the drivers that mastered every aspect of racing, including building every piece of his car from scratch.
Ron Herrington was loved by many throughout his racing years. His bright coloured cars could always be found close to the front of any race and under the helmet would always be a smiling face. Brighton fans will always remember Ron for introducing the famous WEDGE Late Model at Brighton Speedway.
As the ceremony to unveil the Wall of Fame and launch what will be an annual event is an important tie to the past 40 years of racing, the Rinaldi Family and track staff are inviting ALL past Brighton Speedway drivers to attend our special night with free admittance. To register and ensure your name is on the guest list please email angie@brightonspeedway.com, or call 613-475-1102.
Be sure to join us Saturday, August 4th when the gates open at 5:30 pm. The Wall of Fame ceremony will take place at 6:45 PM. In addition to the Wall inductions and great racing, Brighton Speedway will also have a spectacular Mystical Distributing FIRE WORKS display to celebrate the night, all brought to you by Matthew’s Automotive, Colborne and Port Hope.
For more information on this night or the rest of the 40th Anniversary Season visit www.brightonspeedway.com.
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport 2007-08 Schedule Announced
Continuity is foremost in the 2007-08 A1GP calendar with many popular venues returning from last year's schedule. Circuit Park Zandvoort in The Netherlands again has the honour of kicking off the new season, the Dutch seaside resort hosting a 70,000 sell-out last October, while Great Britain's famed Brands Hatch Circuit once again closes the season having hosted the 2006-07 A1GP finale in April - A1 Team Great Britain creating series history there becoming the first nation to score a home pole position and victory before a rapturous British crowd.
Brno Autodrom in the Czech Republic, home of A1 Team Canada's sole podium finish last season - a second place Sprint race finish for Toronto's James Hinchcliffe, follows Zandvoort with the series heading to Asia in November with races in Malaysia and China. The New Year again sees trips to Taupo Motorsports Park in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia with the streets of Durban, South Africa hosting a street race for the third straight season in February 2008. A1GP crosses the Atlantic for a return visit to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico in March before a second stop in China in April and the season finale in Great Britain in early May.
Following an 11th place finish in the 2006-07 A1GP Nations Standings, having fielded James Hinchcliffe and Vancouver's Sean McIntosh behind the wheel, A1 Team Canada is looking to break back into the top-ten after finishing tenth in the inaugural 2005-06 season including a Feature race victory in Indonesia courtesy of McIntosh.
"I think the new calendar represents the growth of A1GP as a truly international racing series," stated A1 Team Canada Seat Holder Wade Cherwayko. "We've established a foot-hold in some amazing territories and the fact that we're returning to race at some venues for a third straight season shows how well the series has been working with individual promoters. We need to get A1 Team Canada firing on all cylinders now and into regular contention for race wins. We've had a win and some podiums through the first two seasons but if we're to take on the likes of Germany, France and Great Britain we need to focus on our own consistency!"
James Hinchcliffe (20), a front-runner in this year's Champ Car Atlantic Championship, raced for A1 Team Canada in A1GP last season scoring a total of seven top-ten finishes. "It's a nice, tight, consistent schedule," said Hinchcliffe. "It's great that the series is returning to some venues which hosted amazing racing last season. The Canadian team has some unfinished business in the likes of the Czech Republic but overall the consistency in the calendar will be good for the teams and drivers and is likely to make the quality of the racing even more spectacular if that's possible!"
2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Schedule
Round Date Event
1 30 September 2007 Zandvoort, The Netherlands
2 14 October 2007 Brno, Czech Republic
3 4 November 2007 Asia - Venue TBC
4 25 November 2007 Sepang, Malaysia
5 16 December 2007 Zhuhai, China
6 20 January 2008 Taupo, New Zealand
7 3 February 2008 Sydney, Australia
8 24 February 2008 Durban, South Africa
9 16 March 2008 Mexico City, Mexico
10 6 April 2008 Shanghai, China
11 4 May 2008 Brands Hatch, Great Britain
A1 Team Canada Media Relations: Stuart Morrison - PR & Media Manager