McIntosh seventh fastest at Le Mans test

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Le Mans, France (April 03, 2006) – Sean McIntosh set the seventh fastest time in official pre-season testing as the World Series by Renault sampled the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans, France at the weekend, 1st-2nd April. The Canadian’s test was a tale of two contrasting days as he endured the frustration of a blown engine on Saturday before responding with his front-running pace on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday’s session began with a bang as McIntosh’s engine let go leaving him languishing at the bottom of the timesheets. The Team KTR crew set to work immediately replacing Sean’s Renault power-unit and as track conditions and lap times improved, he picked up where he left off in the morning learning the new-look Bugatti layout.

Yesterday’s morning session echoed that of Saturday with a wet track greeting the 30-car field. With little to learn on a greasy circuit Sean racked up five token laps before breaking for lunch. Fortunately for all concerned the afternoon’s session presented more favorable conditions and Sean seized the opportunity in the closing stages to pound out some fast laps on a fresh set of Michelin tires. His fastest time, a 1m24.529s, placed him seventh overall for the day and continued to underline his potential with the start of the new World Series by Renault season just four weeks away.

Sean McIntosh: “Taking the positives from the weekend it’s pretty good to come away from Le Mans seventh fastest. I think there’s still a lot more to come from myself and the car. The team did a great job to get me back out, we just didn’t get the opportunity to work on as many things as we’d have liked due to the problems on Saturday and the conditions on Sunday morning. I’m looking forward to the next test in Germany and trying out a few more things with the car.”

Kurt Mollekens – Team Manager: “Considering the problems we had with Sean’s engine failure on Saturday everything turned out well in the end. Sean missed quite a bit of running on the first day but we got him back out and he continued to learn the circuit. Seventh quickest yesterday shows how competitive Sean is and to-date I’m impressed by his performances. We’ll be looking for more of the same as we head to Germany this week.” Sean’s third and final World Series by Renault pre-season test takes place at the Nurburgring Circuit in Germany on Wednesday and Thursday, 5th-6th April.

A1 Team Canada finish season tenth in A1GP Nations Standings Round 11 – A1 Grand

Courtesy Stuart Morrison Public Relations

Prix of Nations, Shanghai International Circuit, China Qualified: 11th / Sprint Race Finish: DNF / Feature Race Finish: 7th / Series standing: =10th (59pts) A1 Team Canada

despite a mixed day today in the final round of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations in China, capped off its first season in the ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ by finishing joint tenth in the Nations Standings. Taken out of the Sprint race on the first lap by A1 Team Switzerland, Patrick Carpentier recovered to take seventh place in the hour-long Feature race, scoring four more points to secure A1 Team Canada’s place in the top-ten of competing nations, tying with A1 Team Mexico on 59 points.

Sprint Race, 15 laps (Winner – A1 Team Malaysia) A solid start by Patrick saw him get the jump on Giorgio Mondini in the Swiss car to break into the top-ten but his lap one progress was quickly curtailed as Mondini locked up under breaking into the hairpin at the end of the flat-out back straight. The Swiss driver slammed into the back of the Canadian A1GP car destroying its crash box and rear wing, both cars forced out on the spot! Pole- sitter Alex Yoong converted his qualifying pace into a maiden victory for A1 Team Malaysia.

Feature Race, 30 laps (Winner – A1 Team Czech Republic) Patrick launched off the line from 21st gaining six places on the first lap. With the entire field pitting for their mandatory stop at the end of lap 2, Carpentier’s progress received a further boost courtesy of slick team-work, the Québec-born racer up to tenth as the field resumed racing. Moving to sixth he held station until a late race attack from title-winners, A1 Team France, with two laps to go, saw him fight wheel to wheel for position but ultimately Patrick dropped a place and a point to finish seventh at the checkered flag. A1 Team Czech Republic became the eighth nation to taste victory this season with the Feature win scored by former F1 and IRL driver Tomas Enge.

Patrick Carpentier: “Retirement in the Sprint race dealt a blow to our fight for points. I saw Mondini coming into the turn way too fast and that was it, we were both out of the race. The Feature, I’m pleased to say was a lot better, my start was good and the guys in the pits did a great job to get me even further up. The car was a little loose mid-way through the race then when France finally caught me I just didn’t have the pace to hold them off. Overall it was a fun event and a great place to end the season.” Circuit Park Zandvoort in The Netherlands kicks off the sophomore season of A1GP competition later in the year, 29th September – 1st October 2006.

Final Standings: 1st France (172), 2nd Switzerland (121), 3rd Great Britain (97), 4th New Zealand (77), 5th Malaysia (74), 6th Brazil (71), 7th Netherlands (69), 8th Ireland (68), 9th Portugal (66), 10th Canada (59) = Mexico (59)

Jacobs to step up PMRA efforts for 2006

"The key element to our team is my father, crew chief Fred Jacobs Sr.”

Courtesy Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

Utica, NY (March 31, 2006) – One of central New York’s premier drag racing teams plans to step up its involvement in the upcoming Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) season, according to Jacobs Motorsports team driver Freddie Jacobs.

“We were fortunate to run a couple of the PMRA event last year,” said Jacobs, driver of the 526-cubic inch–powered Pro Modified 1994 Chrysler Lebaron. “Our plan is to run all of the PMRA events and selected Quick-8 Outlaw events in the Northeast and try a few choice IHRA events in 2006.” The team runs out of Utica, NY.

Jacobs, in the Snap-on Tools-Larry Gurdo, Gold Medal Packing, Terri Goff Web Designs, Performance Signs-sponsored entry, has been working on a new cylinder head and piston combination that should work in their benefit.

"The key element to our team is my father, crew chief Fred Jacobs Sr. He is the boss and calls all of the shots,” said Jacobs, who also races an Outlaw Street Bike. “Nothing happens to this car without his approval, he’s the main deal.”

The Jacobs Motorsports, http://www.jacobsmotorsportspro-mod.com/, entry is powered by a new 526-cubic inch Keith Black Hemi, a Littlefield 1471 Supercharger, and a Enderle fuel system, all united to a Lenco three-speed transmission with a Crower clutch.

CASCAR SPORTSMAN: RaceSportz Sponsor Announcements

ARNPRIOR, ON – RaceSportz is proud to announce the return of the Loblaw’s with the Your Independent Grocer and Zehr’s banners on their cars with driver Dave Connelly. Dave will run the #82 for the CASCAR Sportsman Series Championship as well as a number of Cascar Super Series events.

“I’m excited, we’ve had great support from our sponsors – and I’ve got the best race package I’ve ever had” states driver Dave Connelly. “We’ve expanded our relationship with DJ Kennington this season – we have a Kenyon chassis and we’ve got MOPAR power under the hood this year built by Doug Kennington.

Not only is DJ actually going to be doing all the set-ups on my sportsman car, he’ll be trackside with me as well talking me through the race on the headset. We’re definitely doing everything we can to prepare for a championship run – I’m really looking forward to the season. We’re also planning on running a number of national races at the road courses, but our commitment is to my sportsman program and to try and bring home that championship,” continued Dave.

“I’m proud to announce the return of Loblaw’s which marks our 8th year as well as Maple Leaf Foods, Unilever, DARE Foods, Kellogg’s, Maytag, Mott’s, Effem Foods, Praxair, Reid Bros Collision Centre, Castrol and a new addition with Pepsi. We’re really lucky to be working with such great people and companies,” expressed Dave.

RaceSportz will also be involved off the racetrack with the teams “Fuel for Kids” program. The team will visit Your Independent Grocer and Zehrs stores throughout Ontario and providing a unique fundraiser to elementary schools in their neighbourhoods.

“Our goal is to raise over $50,000 this year and we’ve created a number of unique fundraising efforts to make it happen. We’re also teaming up with Formula Kartways again for our 2nd annual charity go kart race. Last year was so much fun – hopefully the Cascar drivers can make it 5 corners this year before they wreck each other. We raised $10,000 alone at that event last year and we’re certainly going to try and get to the $15,000 mark this year” states Karen Barsoski operations manager at Team RaceSportz.

For more information on the Team RaceSportz please call Karen Barsoski at (613) 623-1511.

- From RaceSportz

SOS: Sponsor updates: BRODIX Returns as a Sponsor while PENNZOIL Once Again Named the Official Lubricant of the Southern Ontario Sprints

Southern Ontario Sprints President Bill Oldroyd recently announced that PENNZOIL, a long time supporter of the Southern Ontario Sprints will renew their marketing partnership as the “Official Lubricant” of the series.
“PENNZOIL has been associated with the Southern Ontario Sprint tour for a number of years as a sponsor and we are delighted to welcome them back for yet another season” exclaimed Oldroyd while making the announcement.

"And we are extremely proud to be able to announce that “BRODIX” will also be returning to our series as a marketing partner for the second year,” Oldroyd concluded.

Long before their business officially became known as “BRODIX” in 1979, V.J. and Paula Brotherton had been producing close tolerance, high strength castings in Mena, Arkansas which still stand as the benchmark for BRODIX. With a blend of old and new ideas, BRODIX has also been manufacturing “spec” aluminum heads to exact specifications for the past 10 years which are utilized by many of the top racing series. They are also the proud sponsors of the “BRODIX Tournament of Champions” at Knoxville Raceway August 6 this year.

Teams are reminded of the Spring Meeting for the Southern Ontario Sprints to be held Sunday, April 9th at Emma’s Back Porch in Burlington. Check the SOS website for further information. Then the 2006 Southern Ontario Sprints tour gets underway on Saturday night, May 6th as Mark Rinaldi and Brighton Speedway play host to the traveling Sprint Car series. The following Saturday, May 13th, the series is invited to participate in an open practice at Ohsweken Speedway beginning at 12 noon with a return to racing action the following Friday night, May 19th at the Styres family owned fast 3/8 mile clay oval.

With opening day now only four weeks away, teams both old and new are preparing for what is shaping up to be the most competitive season yet. Make plans now so you won’t miss any of the action as the “Winged Warriors With An Attitude” travel to a speedway near you.

- For Immediate Release by Ken Pelkie, for Southern Ontario Sprints

BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY PROSTOCKS TEAM UP TO FIGHT FOR THE 2006 DUEL IN THE DIRT AGAINST 2005 CHAMPIONS FROM MERRITVILLE

BRIGHTON, ON – Inaugural Duel on the Dirt Overall Champion Mike Dooley of St. Catharines will have his work cut out for him if he thinks that the Brighton Speedway Park ProStocks will allow him to lead his Daytona Automotive Equipment Challenge Championship Team Merrittville to the Winner's Circle in the new look series of 2006.

The new format will see two Home Track events at Brighton Speedway Park (Saturday June 10 and Saturday July 1) and two at Merrittville, (Monday May 22 and Monday August 7). There will also be two combined events - Sunday September 3rd and Saturday September 10th at Brighton and Merrittville Speedways respectively.

This season each driver from their respective track will have the opportunity to compete in four separate points events, making the series more exciting and a nail biter right down to the end. This can only serve to help Brighton drivers, like the #72 Prostock driven by Jeff Sallans, who was hit with bad luck in 2005. While leading the Brighton race Jeff got a flat tire and was forced to pit and give up the lead eventually finishing in 15th position.

This left Jeff and Team Brighton in a point deficit heading into the second round at Merrittville. "The new format will have the points spread out over 4 races, which won’t leave as big of a handicap if a driver hits a small streak of bad luck" said Mark Rinaldi, Brighton Speedway Promoter.

Jeff and the rest of Team Brighton will be using this format to bring the banner and the money back to Brighton this year. "These events are the highest paying events, combined with the total points fund, it really rewards these deserving drivers" relates Erica Bicknell, GM of Merritville Speedway. The Purse combined with the points fund, provided by sponsors Lawns We Do and DL Services, and the Daytona Automotive Team Challenge equals out to more than $16,000.00 of total purse for the 4 race series.

"We are pleased with the corporate support shown by local businesses for this true test of dirt track driving skill," says Rinaldi of Brighton Speedway Park. "Erica and I are glad that long time Brighton sponsor Lawns We Do, the local lawn care specialists, and DL Services, a province wide environmental remediation company, are returning to entice drivers to compete in the complete series with there points fund". Erica adds "Thankfully the Daytona Automotive Equipment Team Award is returning as the team concept adds that extra edge to the competition. Daytona Automotive Equipment, with their Head Offices and a warehouse facility right here in Brighton, manufactures a line of automotive lifts, tire changers, wheel balancers and auto body frame machines for the automotive service and repair industry. They provide valuable resources to our racers and their teams and we are proud to have them sponsor this event."

Brighton Speedway's Duel on the Dirt combined event September 3rd is part of the ever popular Labour Day Classic Weekend, which includes other race events like the Southern Ontario Sprints, the Canadian Modified/IMCA Challenge and the Comp 4 Dirt/Asphalt challenge. Free camping makes the weekend a renowned event for all race fans. "The Labour Day Classic weekend at Brighton Speedway Park is becoming known as one of the best destinations and events for Dirt Track Racing Fans. The family atmosphere, fun and racing entertainment are the highlight of the season for everyone in attendance. We look forward to witnessing Brighton drivers take a home track win in the Duel on the Dirt Series this year," says Communications Director Brenda Whitehead.

The very next weekend on September 9th and 10th Brighton drivers will head west to the Merrittville Speedway to take part in the Annual Rose Webber Memorial Weekend. Merrittville Speedway is located just south of St. Catharines in Thorold Ontario.

For further information visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.
Brighton Speedway Park information, including up to date schedules and driver information can be found at www.brightonspeedway.com. The first race event of the year is scheduled for April 29th, 2006 when the stock cars hit the track for opening night. Admission is only $2.00 with a non-perishable food donation that will support local food banks. Green flag flies at the new start time of 7:00pm. For more information, contact Brighton Speedway at (613)475-1102.

Happy April 1!!!

Inside Racing News spills the beans on why NASCAR isn't coming to Canada anytime soon. Their story is called "Speedbumps on the road to race in Canada". Much more humorous than the truth, I'm afraid.

Not to be outdone, HalifaxLive adds a racing twist to explain why Pam Anderson (speaking of speed bumps) won't be hosting the Junos.