Friday, November 28, 2008

Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) releases its 2009 schedule

The Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS) has released its 2009 schedule, featuring events at several of Ontario's top speedways. The seven-race schedule includes a TBA for its Aug. 29 finale.

OSS 2009 Series Schedule

May 30th Cayuga Speedway
June 13th Mosport Speedway
July 11th Peterborough Speedway
July 25th Cayuga Speedway
August 8th Capital City Speedway
August 15th Sauble Speedway
August 29th TBA

In other OSS news, the series' 2009 Registration Meetings will take place this weekend in Kemptville and London.

Saturday November 29th, 2008 11:00 a.m.
Kenyon Racing - Kemptville, Ontario - 613-258-5345

Sunday November 30th, 2008 11:00 a.m.
McColl Racing - London, Ontario - (519) 652-3311
These meetings will cover any rule changes for 2009, including the new GM crate motor program with specifics on where to purchase this motor. Driver numbers will be held until these dates.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Rick Young's Rick at the Races ... Nov. 22/08

RICK @ the RACES (22 NOV)

- TALL PINES RALLY , Bancroft, Ont
- CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY BANQUET, Ottawa, Ont.

PIC 1   Program scan from the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon

PIC  2  The London to Sydney Marathon winning Hillman Hunter at the 1969 London Racing Car Show

PIC  3   Paddy Hopkirk outside his car accesories warehouse in Leighton Buzzard UK

PIC  4   One of Paddy Hopkirks famous Rallying Mini's

PIC  5   Scan of the Tall Pines Rally program

PIC  6   Randy Zimmer in the paddock prior to the Tall Pines Rally at Bancroft

PIC  7   'ex Pat' Brit , Rick Williams with his Lotus Cotina

PIC  8    The # 1 Hyundai of  L'Estage/Richards leaves the podium as Bancroft's Mayor does his speech.

PIC  9   Action at the Iron Bridge

PIC  10  Rick Williams takes the Lotus Cortina accross the Iron Bridge

PIC  11  Tall Pine Rally winner Pat Richard and Alan Ockwells # Suburu

PIC  12   Capital City Speedway's 'Driver of the Year' Kevin Foisy celebrating one of his many victories.

Under normal circumstances, there's only one four o'clock in my day, and that's the one in the afternoon. The one in the morning, just doesn't excist ! This past weekend, things were different and I was out of bed at 4-00am, and not long after, was leaving Long Sault, heading south west on HWY 401. The reason for this early morning start was to catch the begining of the TALL PINES RALLY taking place in Bancroft , Ontario. When I moved to Canada from the UK in 1994 the first place I lived was Combermere on the banks of Lake Kamaneskeg between Bancroft and Barrys Bay. I don't get back that way very often so was looking forward to the trip

It's also been a while since I took a look at rallying, and the last time I witnessed a 'special stage' was back in the 1970's when the RAC RALLY took in a section of the Silverstone Circuit (UK) . As a school kid I was interested in most forms of auto sport, including rallying and remember following the progress of the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon that was won by Andrew Cowan (Coyle and Malkin) in a Hillman Hunter. My local stock car track promotor John Latrobe ( Brafield) and Chez Chesson ( the Lydden Hill Circuit owner) were competing in a Vovo 122S.

My early Rallying hero's were Eric Carlson in his Saab and Paddy Hopkirk in his Mini.. Let me digress for a moment .. Paddy a former Monte Carlo Rally winner, lived close to my parents place in Dunstable and after quitting competition, he set up his brand name car accessories business. Before retiring, my father worked for him, managing the parts warehouse. Parked in a corner amongst the inventory was one of Paddy's cars, which Dad had to move occasionally (when it got in the way !) Check out the photo section and see Paddy's Mini.

Back to the present day.

I arrived at the Rally headquarters in Bancroft soon after 8-30am  and already it was a hive of activity. I wandered around the paddock and met up with long time 'Rick @ the Races' recipient Randy Zimmer. I first met Randy from Buffalo NY at 'what is believed to be' the first Euro Style Rally Cross held in North America. For the benefit of readers in Europe and the rest of the world, let me explain. In North America, Rally Cross means a totaly different thing, it means one car racing against the clock, unlike the 'real thing' that involves four or more cars racing wheel to wheel. Randy was one of the competitors at that historic first ever 'Euro' style RallyCross , held on the grounds of the Glad Rag Speedway near Corinth . NY in 2006 . I also came across Randy at the Bertrand Fabi Circuit in Sherbrook Quebec, when he was competing in the annual Challenge Sur Glace. At Bancroft he was there with his Suburu # 10 with co driver Dave Shindle.

As I walked a bit further I spotted a really beautiful piece of nostalgia. In the historic class, a former 'Brit' (Lincoln) , Rick Williams had entered his classic mid sixties Lotus Ford Cortina. Also parked close by was another blast 'from the UK past' , a Ford Capri similar to one that I once owned.

After the drivers meeting, they all returned to their cars and following a brief welcoming speech by the Mayor of Bancroft set off at intervals from the podium start. At this point, I took off for one of the spectator vantage points scattered around the course. I chose a spot high on a banking that gave a good view of the cars negotiating the Iron Bridge. I stood there 'freezing my butt off' , clicking away with my camera and taking pics of most cars that went by, but one that I missed,  turned out to be another of my friends from the RICK @ the RACES mailing list. As the # 29 Mitsubishi went by I caught the name Fransisco P on the side window. It was former 358 Dirt Modified driver, and Portuguese buddy Fransisco Pereira from Etobicoke .Ont,  who I didn't realize was competing. After watching most of the field pass through the stage I drove back to Rally Headquarters, where the rally cars were heading, in the hope of catching Fransisco to say 'hi' and and wish him 'good luck'. I got there just as his # 29 Mitsubishi was heading out of the paddock to rejoin the competition. I'd missed him !

I was told by one of the officials the cars would be returning at 1-30 for a lunch break, so took this opportunity to grab a quick bite to eat in Bancroft before they returned. It was quite enjoyable riding around the town again, which was where I passed my Ontario Driving Test back in 1995.

I got back to Rally Headquarters in good time to catch the cars 'coming home for lunch', and the first one back was the Antione L'Estage and Nathalie Richard's Hyundai # 1,  followed by eventual winners Pat Richard and Alan Ockwell's # 2 Suburu. I was hoping to catch Fransisco, but as time passed by his car didn't appear. I wandered in to the paddock and chatted with his crew who told me he was parked up on the course somewhere with fuel line problems and service truck was on its way out to him.

By now it was 2-30pm and I had another important engagement to attend that day. I had to be at Capital City Speedway Banquet in the evening , so said good-bye to Bancroft and headed back towards Ottawa. I later found out that Randy Zimmer came home seventh. Well done Randy !

It was a tight schedule, but I managed to change into my 'posh clothes' in the Carleton Place , Walmart car park before arriving at the Talisman Travel Lodge on Carling Ave in Ottawa soon after 6-00pm. Tonight was the night that the 2008 track awards were being presented and I was there to snap the pictures.

Check out the Photo Gallery on www.rickattheraces.com to see them all . All the division winners were there, with Legend driver Kevin Foisey collecting a special award for 'Driver of the Year' . I can't remember the exact figures, but I think Kevin won seven out of ten Features in 2008. I must say I really enjoyed the banquet, the food and the company were excellent. I had a good chance to chat to many of the new friends I made at the CCS this year and hope to see them all again in 2009.

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Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprint Banquet

By Dean Reynolds

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It was a night to celebrate and also a night where it was a trip down memory lane.  The 25th Anniversary Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints season came to a successful close with the crowning of the champion Steve Poirier.  The Quebec native took home over $10,000 in cash and bonuses from a banquet total that topped $60,000 which was held at the Holiday Inn at Carrier Circle in Syracuse, N.Y.

Not only was it a time to celebrate 15 of the best drivers in the ESS ranks from the 2008 season, it was also to honor many of the pioneers of the club which started in 1983.  Many special quests were invited to the sold out affair which included Joe Cali and Don McGee who started the club in August of 1983.

For the driver from St. Mathieu del Beloeil, Quebec it was a special evening as not only did he win the overall Lucas Oil title, but also the SMAC Magazine Canadian Invasion title, the Walt’s Hobby Series Dash Championship, the Lane’s Yamaha Hard Charger title and also the Gater News Lap Leader Award making a clean sweep of all five point categories.  This was a first in ESS history.

Poirier was given accolades from all his peers and was also given the prestigious Mal Lane Award of Excellence from ESS great Mal Lane and his wife Cindy.  It was to honor a record making year and also for his dedication to the entire ESS community from himself and his family.  Steve took to the stage several times to receive all awards and then told the crowd that he will be back looking for his third title in a row.

Many others special awards were given out during the night.  Lee Ladouceur was crowned the Jereco Competition Engines Outstanding New Comer award of $500 cash.  Lee came from the 358 modified ranks and promptly put his #51 sprinter in victory lane once in 2008 and also placed 10th in points.

The likeable Anthony Cain was given the Don Ott Racing Engine Most Improved Driver award which is also $500 cash.  The Fairfax, Vt. chauffeur piloted the Lonnie Lacaillade owned #15C to every ESS event but one and placed in the top ten five times during the year.  He greeted the crowd with a smile and is getting ready in the off-season for another assault on the full tour.

Cornwall, Ontario’s Brian McDonald was given the Brodix Cylinder Heads hard luck award.  Even though the driver known as “Slim” finished seventh in the final points run down, numerous bad breaks during the year not only kept him from more A-Main victories but also from a possible top five finish in the points.

The ESS Mechanic of the Year award for the first time ever went to a driver in Lance Yonge.  The award is voted on by the teams in ESS and was well received by the crowd.  Lance and his wife Christine travel to many races by themselves with Lance doing most of the wrenching as his wife is busy with ESS secretarial duties. 

The annual John Zentner Memorial Award was presented to another two-person team in driver Tim Kelly and crewman Ed Vickio.  Both have been around ESS since the early 90’s and came back to run the tour fulltime in 2008.  Their dedication in helping the club and others was honored in an award that was well deserved.

Just before the point fund awards were handed out, a special presentation was made to many drivers, sponsors and officials that help create and build ESS to the special organization that it is today.  Receiving a standing ovation from the crowd and honored were: Joe Cali, Don McGee, Gordy Button, Jeff Taylor, John Brutcher, Alan Lane, Ken Townsand, Adrian Flath, Mal Lane, Walt Throne, Bobby Parrow, Mike Lauterborn, Tim Kelly, Doug Emery, Mike Stelter, Lance Yonge, Dan Kaszubinski, Alain Bergeron, Steve Poirier, Dick Carbery and current ESS President Chuck Miller.  They each were given a special 25th Anniversary gold medallion and embroidered hat.  Former ESS President Dick Carbery then took to the podium and thanked Miller for all his dedication to the club which spans over 700 events and he also got a well deserved standing ovation.

Lucas Oil Canada’s Steve Snowden then stepped up to the mike to thank the crowd for a great season and told Poirier that he had to run the 2009 season wingless which drew a big laugh.  But, the big announcement then came that Lucas Oil will be back as the title sponsor of the tour for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

During the festivities it was also announced that Lori and Mike Lasalle and their Northwood 2 Construction will be the title sponsor of the Canadian Invasion Series for 2009.  With their help, there is already a record point fund put together for all events held north of the border with a special announcement coming shortly.

Other sponsors on hand were Gilles Parent and the Parent family from Les Constructions Ultra, Brian McDonald from WestFront Construction, Mal and Cindy Lane from Lane’s Yamaha, Walt and Jan Throne from Walt’s Hobby, Jeff Cook from Cook’s Contracting Services, the Poirier family from Fondations 4 Saisons and Michel Pepin from AMB Moteurs.

Sponsors contributing cash and bonus awards at the banquet which included the Lucky 21 Giveaway Program were:  Lucas Oil, SMAC Magazine, Walt’s Hobby, Lane’s Yamaha, Hoosier Racing Tires/Bicknell Racing Products, Jereco Competition Engines, Don Ott Racing Engines, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Gater Racing News, JE Piston, Barnes Systems, Simpson Racing, Joe Hunt Magnetos, Wings Unlimited, Randy’s Racing Filters, Leaf Racewear, Weld Racing, KSE Steering, Maxim Racing, Pro Shocks, Motorsports Safety Systems, Fast Axle, Design 500 Racewear, Area Auto Racing News, Sway-A-Way, Schoenfeld Headers, M&W Aluminum Products, Kinsler Fuel Injection Systems, Zemco Headers, XXX Racing, Griffin Radiators, Penske Shocks, AMB Moteurs, Ultra-Shield, GME Steering, Saldana Race Products, The Brake Man, Hank’s Performance Products, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, ATL Fuel Cells, VMAC Racing, Rod End Supply, Racing Optics, DMI, Winter’s Performance Products, Earl’s Indy, J&J Racing, The Joie of Seating, DSR Fuel Systems, Impact Racing, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Luther’s Way Out Grafix, MSD Ignition, ISC Racers Tape, MRE Productions and Red Bear Hand Cleaner.  ESS would like to welcome Kinsler Fuel Injection Systems and Red Bear Hand Cleaner to the sponsorship fold.

The annual rules meeting was held before the banquet where many of the ESS teams were on hand to vote on possible changes foe the upcoming season.  Rule changes for 2009 include: The winner of the previous A-Main can start no better than 12th.  The weight rule will now be 1475 only instead of a choice, all cockpit adjustables will now be allowed for 2009 and Hoosier Tire was voted in for another three years with the rule being the same as the previous three years. 

A special video and photo shoot was held right after the rules meeting done by Mickey Ellis and George Smith.  As was done last year, a special promotional advertisement will be prepared and sent to all tracks that book ESS events to help promote the visit of the winged wonders.

DJ Pat LaPage kept the gang entertained well past midnight making the 25th Anniversary banquet a truly memorable evening.  For the latest up to date information on the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints please log on to www.empiresupersprints.com

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Podium and a Top Five for Mitsubishi at Tall Pines - Simon Losier earns the first Mitsubishi Cup


Toronto, Ontario (November 25, 2008) – The outcome of the 2008 Canadian Rally Championship, the Rally of the Tall Pines, was plagued with attrition with barely half the starting grid reaching the finish line in Bancroft, Ontario. During the race, two Mitsubishi crews battled the icy roads to finish in the Top 5. A late entry, Irish-born American Seamus Burke stayed in perfect control and took to the podium with a rewarding third place while Martin Losier from Blainville, Quebec had his best result ever with fifth place.

Andrew Comrie-Picard, at the helm of a new Lancer Evolution, took tenth overall and Jen Horsey clinched another Production class win in her Mitsubishi Lancer.

Already leaders entering the event, co-drivers Simon and Maxime Losier, from Blainville, Quebec become the first Mitsubishi Cup champions. Beside the Losier family, another brother crew had an outstanding campaign: Jan and Jody Zedril who hail out of Winnipeg became the new 2008 Canadian Production class champions driving a Mitsubishi Lancer.

“The hordes of rally fans who braved the cold weather witnessed how difficult this form of motorsports is”, said Koji Soga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN). “These Mitsubishi drivers always work their hardest and so I would like to congratulate Simon and Maxime Losier from Blainville Mitsubishi for their outstanding season and the Zedril brothers for their national title.”

Asked about his performance with his new car, Andrew Comrie-Picard added: “The end result is not an indication of how things went. Every new race car has teething problems and we wanted to run the whole event to gather as much information about the car and how it behaves in real rally conditions. The Pines was a huge learning curve and we did not carry the same pace entering the event as we did near the end when our times were in the top 5. The new Lancer Evolution has an awesome potential and we will be among the contenders when we start the next season.

The curtain falls on the 2008 season with Tall Pines rally. The Mitsubishi teams will take a few months off to celebrate with their families in the Holiday Season and come back stronger for the first round of Canadian championship, Rallye Perce-Neige, set for February 7, 2009.

Canadian Motorsports Expo: Come see the #48 Jimmie Johnson and #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Sprint Cup cars at the CME


The Canadian Motorsport Expo is proud to announce that two of the most famous cars in racing will be on display at the Third Annual CME, January 16-18, 2009 at the International Centre, on Toronto's Airport Road.

The #48 Lowe's Chevy NASCAR Sprint Cup car of Jimmie Johnson and the #88 AMP Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be just two of the highlights of the show. Johnson recently put his name alongside of the legendary Cale Yarborough by winning his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of NASCAR's most popular racers.

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see both of these Hendrick Motorsports cars on display, together, in the Toronto region. Two-for-one tickets for the Canadian Motorsports Expo will be included in the upcoming issues of Inside Track Motorsport News. Or click here for a $2 OFF ADMISSION coupon at the front gate.


FW: Sauble Speedway Pleased to Announce - Shell ROTELLA - ARCA Truck Series 100

SAUBLE BEACH, ON - Jason Thom, the owner of Sauble Speedway Jason Thom is proud to announce ‘The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series’ will return to Sauble Speedway for their fourth annual visit on June 27th 2009.

The Thom family is equally excited to announce Shell ROTELLA as the sponsor for this 100 lap ARCA Truck Series event in Canada. Mark Reed - Marketing Director of Shell Lubricants; "Our market leading Rotella heavy duty engine oil along with 1,000's of truck fans is a natural fit for this special event." Be sure and tag this event on your calendar, we all look forward to June 27th at Sauble Speedway, for the: Shell ROTELLA  ARCA Truck Series 100.

For More information: www.saublespeedway.com

PHOTO GALLERY: Flamboro Speedway Banquet - November 22, 208 by davefranksphotos.com



This is a photo gallery from the Flamboro Speedway Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. Thanks to Dave Franks and Randy Collins for all their shots from Flamboro this past summer. You can You can see Dave's website here.

Shaw Motorsports: November Update

The Shaw crew took a break from disassembling the #82 and went to Frost Fest at Flamboro Speedway on November 1st & 2nd to both watch and help out  Ken Spira and Dave Hagedorn who brought the #78 and #88 mini-stock Mustangs.
 
After working through carburetor and electrical issues both Ken and Dave were happy with the cars at the end of practice on Saturday. It was bitterly cold on Sunday as the Shaw crew and the Spira Racing team arrived at Flamboro Speedway for the appropriately named Frost Fest.
 
Jason was turned into a crew chief/mechanic as he was rebuilding carburetors for both the #82 of Billy Schwartzenburg as well as the #22 of Wade Watson plus helping out both Ken and Dave. Although the #88 of Dave Hagedorn had a rough first 25 out of the twin 25 lap features, he finished 28th & 12th and Ken finished with a respectable 12th & 11th that officially ended the race season at Flamboro Speedway.
 
Jason and Randy Shaw attended the Flamboro Speedway drivers meeting on Saturday November 15th. There are not a lot of rule changes planned for 2009 however, the features will be changed to 30 laps regardless of how many cars are in attendance.
 
The chassis is out being sandblasted and repainted the same color as last year and the crew plan to get started on reassembling the car as soon as they get it back.
 
The Shaw Team are considering entering the car in a few of the local cars shows such as the Canadian Motorsports Expo, scheduled for January 16th, 17th and 18th at the International Centre in Toronto as well as Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show on March 13th, 14th and 15th, also at the International Centre.      
 
Jason and Randy Shaw along with father, Ron, Jason’s son Dale, Steve Laking and Ken Spira headed to Syracuse NY on November 21st for the 29th Annual Parts Peddler Trade Show. Numerous items were picked up for the car and the shop as well as a good supply of the latest product catalogs to keep on hand for future reference. 
 
The annual Flamboro Banquet took place on Saturday November 22nd and the Shaw team were in attendance to accept the 2008 championship trophy. Jason was also recognized for his perfect attendance, most race wins and the Rainx hard charger award.
 
The team also picked up some extra cash for being the points leader on June28th and August 30th. Along with the Shaw team being victorious for the second year in a row, the tag team of Dave Hagedorn and Ken Spira received perfect attendance, best appearing car and 9th place overall in the mini-stock class for their first season in the #88 mini-stock.
 
The 2008 Thank You plaques have been sent out with lists of product required for the 2009 season. Jason has given the crew the thumbs up to continue their preparation for 2009 as he is excited about racing to defend his points championship at Flamboro Speedway for a third year in a row.
 
Spira Fire Protection, Del Metal Products and Conbraco Industries have all announced their return as sponsors for next year and it is hoped that all others will confirm in plenty of time to get their decals on the car and included on the photographs for the 2009 hero cards that will be taken shortly thereafter. 
 
From Ken Spira / Shaw Motorsports 

Allen Berg Racing Schools offers Winter Months Driving Programs

If you missed Allen Berg Racing Schools segment on Discovery Channel it can now be viewed at www.allenbergracingschools.com . You can also view a lap of Race City Speedway recorded from one of our on-board cameras as well as one lap of driving comparing two drivers, displayed through our MoTeC data systems.

In our One and Two Day Formula Car programs we provide a complimentary 2.0GB USB drive loaded with all your video, data, MoTeC program and photos of your time with us.

ABRS now offers Skid Recovery - Accident Avoidance driving programs during the winter months. These programs can be booked for individual drivers or group arrangements for corporate / fleet programs.

Designed to teach crucial elements of vehicle handling and how this relates to driving in poor conditions, numerous unique driving techniques are introduced that will greatly increase the awareness and sensitivity required for safe winter driving.

Courses are run in the students own vehicle, ensuring the student can successfully accomplish these techniques when on the road. These programs are ideal for new or less experienced drivers, companies that operate vehicle fleets and for individuals that can use a little assistance in poor driving conditions. Our techniques have assisted many drivers in avoiding accidents. Reduce your chances for being involved in a winter fender – bender, register for one of our courses today!

We will soon be announcing our 2009 schedule which will include a week at the Scenic River’s Edge circuit in Mission, BC.

For more information on these new features and programs, as well as our annual Christmas Gift Offer of 10% off of all courses purchased prior to December 25 (we provide you with a personalized gift letter), please visit our website www.allenbergracingschools.com or contact us at (888) 722-3220.

Nissan 370Z designers choose Yokohama ADVAN Sport as OEM tire


LANGLEY, B.C. (November 25, 2008) – Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. has announced that ADVAN Sport ultra‑high performance tires have been approved for use as original equipment (OEM) on the eagerly awaited 2010 Nissan 370Z high performance sports car.

This announcement marks the latest addition to the list of high performance cars using Yokohama's ADVAN Sport flagship series tires as original equipment. This group includes such premium marques as the Bentley Continental GT, Bentley Flying Spur, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche 911 Carerra 4, Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and the Audi S8. The low profile tires selected by Nissan engineers for the totally redesigned 370Z are the ADVAN Sport 225/50R18 for the front and the ADVAN Sport 245/45R18 for the rear.

“Enthusiasts the world over know that the introduction of a new ‘Z’ series sports car from Nissan is a major automotive event ,” said Jonathon Karelse, Marketing Manager of Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc., “And all of us at Yokohama are extremely pleased that Nissan has chosen the ADVAN Sport to meet the unique demands of a flagship product and help to secure their reputation as a maker of world class sports cars.”

ADVAN Sport is accepted as one of the world’s most capable ultra high performance tires. Thanks to the marriage of its unique asymmetrical tread design, highly evolved construction and its breakthrough, nanotechnology based tread compound, ADVAN Sport provides competition level grip in a street tire that performs in wet and dry conditions, across a wide range of temperatures.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes a full line of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, and commercial truck applications, as well as off-the-road tires for mining, forestry and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 700 independent tire dealers.
www.yokohamatire.ca

New Mazda 3 goes “Zoom, Zoom” with Yokohama Avid S34D tires

LANGLEY, B.C. (November 25, 2008) – The recently introduced, totally restyled, 2010 Mazda 3 will be fitted with Yokohama Avid S34D tires as original equipment (OEM) on some models Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. has announced.

The Mazda 3 joins a long list of well known vehicles that have specified Yokohama tires as original equipment. The Avid S34D will be exclusive to the Mazda 3 and will be provided initially as a P205/50R17 fitment. A variety of Yokohama Avid tires are available to the public in high performance and premium all‑season versions, and all are prized for their durability, low rolling resistance and riding comfort.

“Since its introduction in 2003 the Mazda 3 has proven to be one of the world’s most successful cars and is well known for its excellent handling” said Jonathon Karelse, Marketing Manager, “ Yokohama is pleased to have been chosen by Mazda to supply the Avid S34D as a proprietary tire which meets the unique demands of this popular vehicle.

Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc. markets and distributes a full line of tires for high performance, passenger car, light truck, and commercial truck applications, as well as off-the-road tires for mining, forestry and construction applications. It maintains distribution centres across Canada to serve more than 700 independent tire dealers.

www.yokohamatire.ca

Edelweiss Speedway: Edelweiss is getting ready for 2009

Cantley, PQ – Monday, November 24, 2008 – With more than 5 months before the new season begins, the management team of Edelweiss Speedway is already is full gear for next year. After a great 2008 year, it will be even better in 09!

Schedule: The season will start with a bang on Friday, May 8 2009 with the 358 modified MrDIRTcar series, the best drivers in the business will be town, and over 30 cars are expected for this show. The Canadian DIRT Series will be back with a 100-lap event in July. The Empire Super Sprints are back 3 times. The Pro-Stock will also have the MrDIRTcar Pro-Stock series in September. Each class will have at least one extra distance event during the year.

Banquet: The annual banquet will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at the R.A Centre in Gatineau. A press release with all the details will be sent over the next months.

Fundraisers: Edelweiss had their first fundraiser nights last year with the Heart and Stroke foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society in the spotlight. Over 6000$ was raised. Both will be back in 2009 and the speedway will also add a night for the Roger Monderie Child Dream Day.

Categories: The 358 modifieds, Semi-Pro, Mod-Lite and 4-cylinders will be the regular classes. The Pro-Stock will be visit the speedway on a few occasions. The 4-wheelers will more date scheduled next season. Along with the Empire Super Sprints, the Lightning mini-sprint series will make a visit in July.

Changes: Some changes are expected to occur at the Speedway for next year. We will advise you with all the news during the off season.

Continue to visit the speedway`s website at www.autodromeedelweiss.com to keep up to date with all the news for 2009!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard 2008 North American Champions


Bancroft (Ontario), November 23, 2008.– Quebec driver Antoine L’Estage and his co-driver Nathalie Richard, both from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu (QC), won the 2008 North American Rally Cup in their Royal Group Yokohama Hyundai for the second consecutive year. With an equal amount of victories in the United States as in Canada, the team clinched the title irrespective of the fact that mechanical problems forced them to retire from the final round of the Canadian series, Ontario’s Rally of the Tall Pines.

2008 Re-cap
With two wins in six Canadian starts and two wins in four American races, the duo of Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie Richard is the only team to have won more than one rally on each side of the boarder. They, along with Block/Gelsomino, have won four rallies in 2008 – more than any other North American team. It’s a very positive record, especially given the high level of competition in the American and Canadian rally championships this year.

Antoine L’Estage and Ken Block were ready to battle it out for the North American title amidst very difficult road conditions at Tall Pines but after Block went off road and L’Estage lost a wheel, neither driver finished the rally. Heading into the event, L’Estage had a four point lead over Block and with both teams out of the race, the final standings for the North American Rally Cup went unchanged. The rally got off to a fantastic start but then on the second stage, we got a flat and lost a lot of time when we stopped to change it. When we saw Ken sidelined on the stage, from that point on we knew the championship was ours. » explained Antoine. He added : we were able to make back some of the time we had lost and climbed back to second place before we lost our wheel. I would’ve much rather had a good fight for top spot in the rally as well as for the title … but we’ll take it.

It’s the fourth time Nathalie’s won the North American title and she does an amazing job at my side. I definitely have to thank John Buffum as well as our entire team of mechanics for their impressive work on the Tiburon before and during the rallies – I couldn’t ask for a better team L’Estage concludes.

2009 Preview
Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard are already getting ready for next year : We will be back for the 2009 Canadian championship and we’ll attempt to make it three-in-a-row for the North American title. Indicated L’Estage. Details for their 2009 plans will be announced in the near future

Antoine et Nathalie compete in the Canadian Rally Championship and the North American Rally Cup with the proud support of : Hyundai Canada, Royal Group, Yokohama Tires, Énergie Cardio, Libra Racing, OMP Racewear, and MBF Racing. You can also visit the team’s site Coyote Rallye for more specific information on the team or as a general rally reference.

Capital City Speedway Awards banquet photos from Rick Young

These are some photos from the Capital City Speedway year-end banquet, held Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 in Ottawa, ON. Thanks to Rick Young for the photos. You can see more of Rick's work at: www.rickattheraces.com.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

CRC RALLY: Pat Richard dominates at treacherous Rally of the Tall Pines

Bancroft, ON -- Patrick Richard and co-driver, Alan Ockwell, overcame treacherous road conditions and high attrition to dominate the Rally of the Tall Pines, held in Bancroft, Ontario. The final round of the 2008 Canadian Rally Championship saw the Subaru Rally Team Canada duo take their fourth win of the year, capping off a picture-perfect championship season.
 
“It’s fantastic,” smiled Richard, “It’s my best finish ever at Tall Pines and a great way to lead into next year. The team worked really hard all year for the championship.”
 
Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec, entered the event prepared to fight for the North American Rally Cup title with cross-border rivals Ken Block and co-driver, Alex Gelsomino. The battle was short lived however, as Block crashed out on the second stage of the event. An early flat tire also cost L’Estage over three minutes to the leaders, before a mechanical failure put him out of the event entirely.
 
“We would like to have won here to close the season, but today our luck was not good. Even when you try your hardest, sometimes it is not enough.”
 
Craig Henderson and Lyne Murphy of St-Constant, Quebec took their best career finish with a second place overall. Craig had been sick since the mid-day mark but battled through the problems to finish the event.
 
“I'm so excited about our result, especially because of how sick I felt. This means we have also won the Subaru contingency program,” said Henderson.
 
Third place went to Irishman, Seamus Burke, who drove carefully and cleanly to earn his first Canadian podium. This was the first Rally of the Tall Pines for Burke, who lives in the USA.
 
“Tall Pines has been a great event with fantastic competition. I'd really like to get back to more Canadian events in the future,” said Burke.
 
Nick and Kelly Mathew had a career high finish with a fourth place overall. Nick had never driven at Tall Pines prior to 2008.
 
“We're delighted and amazed at how things have gone today. We had no idea we'd end up here when we first started the day.”
 
Peter Kocandrle and co-driver Jimmy Brandt were the top finishing two wheel drive team. The pair finished in eighth overall, beating many higher powered cars in their 1991 Suzuki Swift GT.
 
The 2008 Rally of the Tall Pines lived up to its reputation as an event with winter roads and summer ditches. Constantly changing conditions meant variable grip all through the day.
 
The Mitsubishi Cup – an award given to the top finishing Mitsubishi crew at the end of the season – goes to Simon Losier of Ste-Therese, Quebec.
 
Rally car racing is often described simply as “real cars, real roads, real fast.” The all-season motorsport sees drivers and their co-drivers take modified road cars to the limit as they achieve blistering speeds over closed-road courses that typically cover more than 150 kilometers of gravel, dirt or snow-covered roads. Fans can get up close to the cars in the service areas and catch all the action from specially designated spectator points located at the best spots on the route.

The Canadian Rally Championship is comprised of six events held nationwide in a season that extends from February to November. The series is presented by Subaru Canada, supported by Yokohama Tire Canada and features contingency programs from Subaru Canada and Mitsubishi Canada. The Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS) is the official sanctioning body for rallying in Canada.

Full coverage of the championship will air on RDS and TSN. Check local listings.

For more information: www.carsrally.ca or www.tallpinesrally.com

Rally of the Tall Pines Final Results (full results at www.tallpinesrally.com)

1 ) Pat Richard – Alan Ockwell (Subaru Impreza STI) - 1 hour 39 min. 34 sec.
2 ) Craig Henderson – Lyne Murphy (Subaru Impreza STI) – 1:49:11
3 ) Seamus Burke – Eddie Fries (Mitsubishi EVO VIII) – 1:50:32
4 ) Nick Mathew – Kelly Mathew (Subaru Impreza STI) – 1:53:23
5 ) Martin Losier – Patrick Losier (Mitsubishi EVO VI) – 1:54:40
6 ) Nicola Narini – Massimo Narini (Subaru Legacy Turbo) – 1:55:36
7 ) Randy Zimmer – Dave Shindle (Subaru Impreza) – 1:58:59
8 ) Peter Kocandrle – Jimmy Brandt (Suzuki Swift GT) – 1:59:21
9 ) Ted Mendham – Lise Mendham (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 1:59:28
10) Piotr Kadlubowski – Krystian Ostrowski (Subaru Impreza WRX) – 2:03:53

Canadian Rally Championship Final Driver Standings

1 ) Pat Richard – 116 points
2 ) Antoine L’Estage – 64 points
3 ) Craig Henderson – 50 points
4 ) Gord Olsen – 47 points
5 ) Simon Losier – 30 points
6 ) Zbigniew Szewczyk – 26 points
7 ) Mathieu L’Estage – 25 points
8 ) Hardy Schmidtke – 24 points
9 ) Andrew Comrie-Picard – 24 points
10) David Legault – 21 points

Canadian Rally Championship Final Co-Driver Standings

1 ) Alan Ockwell – 116 points
2 ) Nathalie Richard – 64 points
3 ) Lyne Murphy – 50 points
4 ) Todd Patola – 47 points
5 ) Maxime Losier – 30 points
6 ) Tomasz Karzynski – 26 points
7 ) Yanick Napert – 25 points
8 ) Peter Watt – 25 points
9 ) Adam Vokes – 23 points
10) Lise Mendham – 21 points

PHOTOS BY: Andrew Harvey Photography (Mandatory Credit)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Raceline Radio Network Newsletter... the Canadian GP is dead

From Erik Tomas, Raceline Radio

The Canadian Grand Prix is dead!

And you can pin the murder directly on the man who makes millions everyday off the avails of Formula One, the man who controls the commercial rights to the races for a group of banks, Bernard Ecclestone!

Despite efforts by the Montreal Hotel Association to kick in additional millions through a hike in room taxes, Quebec Premier Jean Charest confirmed this week all efforts to save the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal have failed, and the race is gone.

Mayor Gérald Tremblay and Quebec Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand addressed the situation at a media conference in Montreal. They declared Ecclestone's price tag to restore the race to the 2009 schedule unreasonable and out of reach of taxpayers.

Gerry and Ray were the guys who also travelled to Europe to meet with the Bernie after the race was scuttled. At that time, it appeared the GP might just return after all.

Ecclestone and The FIA stunned Montreal promoters and fans early last month by releasing a schedule for 2009 that didn't include Montreal.

Ecclestone said contractual issues were behind the decision and the promoter owed back fees, something that was denied by the local promoter.

The 9th wealthiest man in the U.K wants 175 million guaranteed over 5 years, plus profit from track advertising and corporate box sales to bring the race back.

The City, Quebec and Federal governments offered 110 million, plus 75% of the first 10 million in profits, and 25% of any profits over 10 million.

And the pint-sized dictator turned the offer down!

You see, he holds all the cards. He can get what he's asking for from Middle and Far East nations who want races with no hassle at all, so why would he give a damn about Montreal and the fans?

The Canadian Grand Prix was the largest tourist and sporting event in Canada, drawing more than 300,000 fans, earning between 75 and 100 million in tourism trade and commerce. The race also pulled some of F-1's highest TV numbers.

It simply got to the point where Ecclestone's price tag just got too high to be sensible, and his greed digestible.

With the North American economy in crisis with job losses and plant closings becoming epidemic, spending 175 million over 5 years on an automobile race to make Bernie Ecclestone richer, while Canadian companies are looking for bail-outs using tax payers money would have been incredibly irresponsible!

It's rare I side with bureaucrats, and it's indeed tragic we've lost this race, but I have to applaud the government for not bending over to buy into Ecclestone's money-grubbing tactics.

Remember too, there's a Quebec provincial election coming and nobody wants this hot potato in their lap. Over spending by politicians is a very sensitive issue.

So, painfully, 2009 will be the first year since 1987 that Canada will not be hosting a Formula One race, and the first time in 40 years there won't be an F-1 race in North America.

And what about the Constructors? North America is the largest market for many of the F-1 manufactures in the sale of Honda's, Toyota's, BMW's, etc. They want 3 races in North America. Now they have none!

I think it's time the Constructors dusted off their old idea of breaking away to start their own series, because this money monster with Ecclestone at the helm isn't working for them!

Until next time…

ET

It's time for the Rally of the Tall Pines

The Rally of the Tall Pines starts today. Should be fun with all the snow.

Click here to visit the Tall Pines site.
You can download the event program here.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mark's Work Wearhouse Friends & Family Event

Strong communities include strong kids. We believe all kids should have the chance to run, skate, play, and grow. Canadian Tire JumpStart is a community-based charitable program that helps kids in financial need participate in organized sports and recreation such as hockey, dance, soccer and swimming.

National in scope but local in focus, Canadian Tire JumpStart delivers support to children through a Canadian-wide network of local chapters, made up of a variety of community leaders committed to helping kids get active, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, and Parks and Recreation.

These community partners are joined by Canadian Tire Associate Dealers and Petroleum Agents, and together the chapters identify children in financial need who would benefit from the program.

To date, there are 270 Canadian Tire JumpStart chapters in communities across the country. Since its launch in February 2005, Canadian Tire JumpStart has helped give more than 129,301 kids in financial need the chance to play.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/jumpstart/

Montreal: Good-bye F1... Hello Indy?


From the Calgary Herald

Didn't take long for someone to come sniffing for that $110 million that Bernie Ecclestone turned down...

"The Indy Racing League is ready to entertain talks of possibly staging a race [in Montreal] to fill the void left in the wake of a failed collective effort by city, provincial and federal government officials to secure the future of the country's only Formula One race."

Continued at the link above

Big 3 bosses head to Washington to cry poor.... in their private jets

This isn't helpful.


"The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation's capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy."

... "All three CEOs - Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford, and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler - exercised their perks Tuesday by flying in corporate jets to DC. Wagoner flew in GM's $36 million luxury aircraft to tell members of Congress that the company is burning through cash, asking for $10-12 billion for GM alone."

... "Wagoner's private jet trip to Washington cost his ailing company an estimated $20,000 roundtrip. In comparison, seats on Northwest Airlines flight 2364 from Detroit to Washington were going online for $288 coach and $837 first class."

... "Ford CEO Mulally's corporate jet is a perk included for both he and his wife as part of his employment contract along with a $28 million salary last year. Mulally actually lives in Seattle, not Detroit. The company jet takes him home and back on weekends."

See the link above for the full story

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

L’Estage and Richard leading the North American Rally Championship



St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, November 18th, 2008 – Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard will be chasing back-to-back North American Rally Championship titles as they take to the start of the Rally of the Tall Pines on Saturday morning in Bancroft, Ontario. Almost 50 teams will compete in this event, Canada’s sixth and final round of the year. The duo from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec has already won four rallies on North American soil since the start of the season. They enter the competition with a five-point lead over main rival for the championship, Ken Block, who will be attempting to earn his first title. In addition to a variety of different Yokohama tires required to battle in the unknown weather conditions, L’Estage and Richard will be relying on their Royal Group Hyundai Tiburon, masterly prepared by rally legend John Buffum. L’Estage will be looking for his third consecutive event victory at this challenging rally.

Tall Pines is really the most unpredictable event on the calendar, commented L’Estage. At this time of the year, the road and weather conditions can change from hour to hour and we have to be prepared for anything. I like tough conditions and having good pacenotes and the best tire choice could make the difference between a great stage time and going off the road. It was here in 2004 that I had my first ever career victory and after winning again in ’06 and ’07, coming here always brings back great memories.

Antoine is the type of driver who excels under adverse conditions, adds Nathalie Richard. He has an innate sense that allows him to find the maximum possible speed a road can be driven, whether it’s dry or wet or icy. That’s what makes him a winner as often in summer, in winter, or at an event like Tall Pines.

One long day
Since 1971, Tall Pines has taken place over just one condensed day, unlike the common Canadian two-day rallies. At the Saturday morning start, L’Estage/Richard will be the first car on the road. The rally is made up of 180 kilometers and 15 competitive stages, over a period of twelve hours. « It’s a long day for us, admits the two-time Canadian Champion and reigning North American Champion. We’ll go from daylight to nighttime, as well as fall and winter, all the while adapting to the continuously changing conditions. For more information, event details can be found at http://www.tallpinesrally.com/.

Antoine L’Estage and Nathalie Richard compete in the Canadian Rally Championship with the proud support of : Hyundai Canada, Royal Group, Yokohama Tires, Énergie Cardio, Libra Racing, OMP Racewear, VP Racing Fuels, and MBF Racing. You can also visit the team’s site Coyote Rallye for more specific information on the team or as a general rally reference.

Source : Coyote Rallye Media Services (514) 825 – 4332

NASCAR TRUCKS: Cut Tire Slashes Fitzpatrick's Chances in Season Finale

Homestead, Fla. (November 18, 2008) – J.R. Fitzpatrick made his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start on Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, marking his first start at a 1.5-mile superspeedway.  Fitzpatrick, who won the CASCAR Championship in 2006, made quick work of the steep learning curve and drove the No. 71 Mammoet Chevrolet to 18th before falling victim to a blown right rear tire 98 laps in to the 134-lap Ford 200.

Fitzpatrick, who had his career-best qualifying effort (sixth) last week at Phoenix International Raceway, was on pace to lay down another great lap in qualifying.  His first lap clocked in at 32.911 seconds at a speed of 164.079 miles per hour and he was on pace to outdo himself on lap two, but his determination outweighed the trucks abilities and he looped it on the second lap.  “In qualifying, I believe we had a top-15 truck but I made a small mistake by not wanting to lift off the gas and that cost us that potential start,” he explained.  “We were too free and I spun out on the second lap.  But we still maintained a top-20 start.” 

Fitzpatrick started the Ford 200 from outside row 10 in 20th position but his Chevrolet was “loose under throttle” and he slid to 24th.  When everyone hit pit road, under caution, on lap 43, Crew Chief Jon Wolfe called Fitzpatrick in for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment before returning him to the track in 22nd. 

On lap 67, Fitzpatrick brushed the wall but it didn’t cause enough damage to his truck to tell.  “It’s really starting to come in,” said Fitzpatrick on lap 75.  “It’s really feeling good.”  About 15 laps later, his truck began to lose the handling and was slowly losing the nose and pushing loose.  He hit pit road under the next caution flag and took on four new tires and fuel, but when the race resumed, he cut down a tire and was forced to pit road for repairs.  The crew patched up the damage and sent the Mammoet Chevrolet on its way, but they fell nine laps down while repairing the damage.

“I had a ton of fun, running with eight to 10 trucks all night,” said Fitzpatrick of his first outing at the Homestead, Florida facility.  “Our truck was a bit on the loose side and it took about 40 laps before it came in.  When it did, we were running some great lap times.  We pitted under the caution flag for some tires and adjustments and I knew we were going to have a great truck after that.  But only one lap after the restart we went into turn three and we cut down a right rear tire.  Luckily I was already running the high groove and just kissed the wall a little but the damage was big enough were it took several laps to repair.  The crew took their time fixing the damage because it was crucial that we finish the race because I need my license for next year.  They worked very hard and got us back out to see the checkered flag fly.”  Fitzpatrick finished 32nd.

“I had a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to what hopes to be a full season in 2009,” he said.

From TRG_motorsports // Jamie Maynard

 
<<71 Mammoet Chevy at HMS.JPG>>

TW Steel – A1GP R3 Preview – Sepang, Malaysia




Amsterdam, The Netherlands (November 18, 2008) – The 2008-09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport remains in the Far East this weekend, following a successful debut visit to China’s Chengdu International Circuit two weeks ago, with Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit hosting A1GP for the fourth consecutive season with Round 3, Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd November.

TW Steel, the ‘Official Watch and Timing Partner’ of A1GP, will again be pro-active on-site with the Malaysian leg of the ‘Miss TW Steel’ competition – the Malaysian winner going on to face nine other national winners from around the globe in the grand finale at Brands Hatch in England in May 2009. ‘Miss TW Steel 2008-09’ will not only have the honour of the title but she’ll also collect $25,000 in prize money and receive a photo-shoot with a leading lifestyle magazine.

TW Steel will also be showcasing and selling product at the Sepang International Circuit with the TW Steel A1GP watch range expected to be a ‘must have’ item for race fans. Based on the successful TECH collection and launched at the start of the A1GP season at Zandvoort last month, the three TW Steel A1GP models have proved to be extremely popular – not least with the A1GP drivers.

Malaysian Momentum:

A1 Team Malaysia holds the honour of heading to its home track, the impressively wide 5.54km / 3.44-mile Sepang International Circuit, leading the 2008-09 A1GP Nations Standings after two rounds. With a five point lead over A1 Team Ireland, (28-23), the Malaysian squad is no doubt hoping to capitalize on its momentum and do something it has yet to achieve in A1GP – score a home podium!

While Malaysian favorites Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy have led their nation to a total of five A1GP victories, a top-three finish at Sepang has currently eluded the squad despite the team’s competitiveness throughout the previous three seasons of A1GP competition.

Sepang has proved to be a circuit that rewards consistency with just eight nations achieving podium finishes in the six A1GP race starts held previously at the track. While Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic and New Zealand have all scored one podium a piece, with Germany and Great Britain scoring two each, ultimately A1 Team France and A1 Team Switzerland have made the Malaysian circuit their own territory with five podium finishes each.

Switzerland’s Neel Jani has ultimately turned Sepang into his own personal playground having scored all five of his nation’s podium finishes including three victories – most notably a lock-out of the top step in last season’s Sprint and Feature races. A1 Team France has had three different drivers steer to top-three finishes, including a double victory by Alexander Premat in the inaugural 2005-06 A1GP season, with additional podiums courtesy of Nicolas Lapierre and a brace of second-place finishes last season by Loic Duval. A1 Team Germany triumphed in the 2006-07 Feature race, courtesy of Nico Hülkenberg, the only time to-date that France and Switzerland have been denied victory in Malaysia!

Sepang Driving Impressions:

One driver familiar with both the Sepang International Circuit and victories in A1GP is A1 Team Ireland’s Adam Carroll. Having scored his country’s first-ever A1GP win in the Feature race at Mexico City last season, Carroll again showed his class last time out at in China collecting his first Sprint race victory in Round 2 at the Chengdu International Circuit. He promptly followed that up with a dogged pursuit of A1 Team Portugal in the Feature race, finishing a close second at the chequered promoting A1 Team Ireland into second in the A1GP Nations Standings heading to Sepang this weekend.

Carroll, a multiple GP2 race winner and ex-BAR Honda F1 test driver, enjoys the demands of the Malaysian circuit and is keen to see how the all-new ‘Powered by Ferrari’ A1GP car compares at the track having scored a pair of seventh place finishes there last year in his rookie A1GP season.

“Sepang is a really great circuit,” stated Carroll. “I enjoyed racing there for the first time last year. It’s an extremely challenging circuit and it really has a little bit of everything to test you. It’s a quick track with a mix of fast corners and slow corners, with flat-out straights leading to heavy braking zones. Ultimately I can’t wait to get back out there and see what the new ‘Powered by Ferrari’ A1GP car do. I really think this kind of circuit will allow us to showcase the full potential of the car.”

He continued; “I think we’ll see some more overtaking with the new car, the track’s wide open and there’s always a lot of grip there too. It’s not like Chengdu where if you went off-line it was dusty and you’d likely go off, Sepang has grip just about everywhere which allows you a bit more track to play with heading into braking zones.”

With Malaysia famed for its heat and humidity, as well as the odd monsoon, the fitness of the A1GP drivers will undoubtedly be tested this weekend – something that Carroll is well aware of.

“Well it’s tricky to be fully prepared when you don’t live in a country that experiences the kind of humidity we’ll encounter in Malaysia. Ultimately this is where all your pre-season training should pay-off. If your fitness level is high then provided you maintain fluids throughout the weekend there’s no reason you shouldn’t be prepared. I’ll also be going out early enough that I’ll have had time to acclimatize to the conditions as well so it really shouldn’t be a factor.

“I was happy to come away with a first and second last time out in China but Malaysia’s an event I’ve been looking forward to for a long time and I’m hopeful we can maintain our momentum there and I can add to my TW Steel A1GP watch collection for scoring poles and podiums!”

TW Steel – Big in Oversized Watches. twsteel.com

Travis Walker Signs with Compass360 Racing


TORONTO, CANADA -- Travis Walker is one of those guys who is just naturally gifted when it comes to driving a race car. Some have talent, but have to work that little bit harder to eke out the last few tenths. For Travis, quick lap times are something that come with seemingly effortless ease. That's not to say those laps don't come without effort, it's just that they seem to come more naturally.

Compass360 Racing (C360R) reported today that Travis will once again be an integral part of the C360R KONI Sports Car Challenge team in 2009. He's been with the team since 2005 and has been impressively successful in every series he's competed in.

"I'm so excited to be back again with my team, the guys I have been with since the beginning of my road racing career," exclaimed Travis. "They gave me my first win in FAQ and first podium in Grand-Am. I know we can go for a championship this year!"

T-Walk, as he's affectionately known in the paddock, started his career in go-karts, winning two championships in the 2002 Grand Nationals. Like many karters, he made the move to sedans; for Travis it was the famous Honda-Michelin series which re-surfaced in the early 2000's. Competing with top-running Canadian drivers including the Wittmer brothers, Travis earned the distinction of being the youngest- ever driver to win a Honda-Michelin race.

Travis impressed in his first-ever Grand-Am Cup race at Mosport in 2005, where he finished third. That same season he won the FAQ championship in an Acura RSX-S our team prepared. In 2006 he was voted Inside Track's "Up and Coming Road Racer of the Year" by the readers of Inside Track Magazine.

In 2007 Travis started the season with C360R, but was quickly signed by Blackforest Motorsports to drive their GS and GT-class Mustangs alongside Quebec's Valerie Limoges and Alex Tagliani.

Building upon T-Walk's success in 2008 with the Ccompass360 Racing team (Travis and team owner Karl Thomson finished third at Daytona), he'll be returning to full-time competition with C360R this year with an eye to taking the title.

"Travis is one of those guys who just fits with our team," noted Technical Director Ray Lee. "He's always able to go out and lay a fast lap down when we need him to in practice, and he knows how to manage the car so there's enough left to go for the win at the end." Travis is one of a number of talented young drivers that will be calling Compass360 Racing home next year. The team will be announcing the other 2009 drivers in timed announcements over the coming weeks.

Compass360 Racing (C360R) is the motorsports division of Compass360 Marketing Communications, a firm offering branding expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. For details visit http://www.c360r.com/
or http://www.compass360.com/

PR inquiries about the Compass360 Racing team should be directed to Team Principal Karl Thomson at (416) 465-2299 x21 or email karlt at compass360 dot com

Monday, November 17, 2008

Tim Miller NASCAR book signing... photo gallery from Bill Mehlenbacher



Canadian motorsports writer Tim Miller recently held a book signing for his book NASCAR NOW, which is available online at Chapters.Indigo.ca (Click here for the Chapters/Indigo link). The book is also available at your local Library.

According to Bill Mehlenbacher, there was a great turnout for the event. Tim gave some great insight into the book and the research he put into it. There was a great discussion group that featured former Cayuga Speedway owner Bob Slack, Raceline Radio's Erik Tomas, SOS Rookie of the Year Ryan Hunsinger, PMRA Director Bruce Mehlenbacher and others.

Thanks to Bill Mehlenbacher for the photo gallery and notes. Bill's website is located at: www.nxphoto.com