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Craig Revelle – January 16, 2012 — Welcome to another exciting year . 2012 is already shaping up to be a great year, and before you know it, winter will be over, and we will be back at the track doing what we all love to do. In the meantime, the unseasonably warm temperatures, and rather tame winter that we had been experiencing has given away to the nasty ice, and snow that has accumulated in the area over the past few days. Hopefully the mild temperatures will soon return.
For a few local racers, 2012 already has got off to a great start, as several area racers with strong ties to the local DIRTcar racing community have been chosen as scholarship winners to the vastly popular RACE 101 program in North Carolina. April Wilson, of Joyceville, Ontario, Tabatha Murphy of Prescott, Ontario, Caley Weese of Carrying Place, Ontario, Katelyn Kane of Syracuse, New York, as well as Shane Billings of Smith Falls, Ontario were all chosen to be a part of the RACE 101 program for the 2012 season. All five racers will travel to North Carolina on February 10th to attend orientation, tour the school, and take part in the first events of the program. They follow in the footsteps of Matt Billings (2011 graduate), and Luke Whitteker, who will graduate from the same program during the same weekend that the new class will take the orientation.
I am a very strong advocate of the RACE 101 program. After working closely with both Matt Billings and Luke Whitteker over the past two years, I have seen first hand how much the program have benefited them, as well as their racing team. The course teaches the students the technical side of the sport, with chassis set up, and working with shocks, and also teaches them the marketing and communication aspect that is all so important in today’s racing world. I wish all of the 2012 students the best of luck as they go through the program.
My first race of the 2012 season was set to begin on New Years Day at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park with the annual Hangover Enduro, but the unseasonably mild temperatures that we had been getting left the track in a mess. The Enduro has now been rescheduled until Saturday, February 4th.
I did get to attend the Can Am Motorsports Park banquet that was held last weekend (January 7th). It is always great to get out and see the racing community, and even though Can Am is in store for some major changes this season, all systems are a go for 2012, and the schedule is starting to come together with some exciting events planned, along with the return of the Big Block Modifieds in 2012. The change could also see the return of the Big Block Super DIRTcar Series, and possibly a 358 Modified tour race, and possibly other major events forthcoming, including Monster Trucks, and a summer concert. Can Am will open for the 2012 season on Saturday and Sunday April 14th and 15th with practice for all divisions, and the first race will take place on Saturday, April 21st. Please note that Can Am will be running on Saturday nights in 2012, with a new 6:30 pm starting time.
Another great event that I really enjoyed participating in was the open house at Bicknell Racing Products in St. Catherines, Ontario this past weekend. Pete and Nancy Bicknell and their staff had a great turnout. Randy Williamson and Ted Curvin did a great job with the chassis seminar, which was very beneficial to any racer, and Scott Keyser of Integra Racing Shocks also put on a great seminar about shocks, and the importance of a great shock program. Both seminars really tied in well together, and was a great learning experience for everyone. I’ve attended different seminars in the past, and the one that Scott Keyser put on was very enjoyable, he explained everything extremely well, and was very knowledgeable and provided excellent candor throughout the seminar.
Just this past week, my company, Finish Line Web Design, announced a sponsorship for the second year in a row with the Empire Super Sprints. I am very excited to be able to up the sponsorship package from 2011 in which we gave out $500 cash to winner Mike Stelter for the best appearing car award. In 2012, the Finish Line Web Design Best Appearing Car Award will be $250 cash, and free website for the following 2013 racing season. In addition, any driver to sign on with a full website package from Finish Line Web Design before the Empire Super Sprint season gets underway in 2012, will also receive a $250 cash bonus if they are able to win the best appearing car award, which will be voted on by the fans throughout the upcoming racing season.
There are plenty of racing events coming up on the horizon, beginning with the first Enduro of the year at Brighton Speedway on Saturday, January 28th. Also on the schedule will be 4 wheeler racing, Snowmobiles, and Ice Bikes. The second winter Enduro race at Brighton is scheduled for February 11th with the same divisions on the schedule. Can Am will have their postponed Hangover Enduro on Saturday, February 4th.
While there are plenty of cold out door events taking place over the next few weeks, there are some events taking place indoors that will pass the time. The annual Canadian Motorsports Expo in Toronto will take place on February 10th, 11th and 12th, and the Gater Racing News Motorsports Expo on March 10th and 11th. Finish Line Web Design will have a booth set up, with Luke Whitteker’s racecar on display for the weekend.
The countdown is on for the 2012 racing season. I look forward to seeing everyone at the track in just a few short months. I hope you continue to enjoy my weekly column, as always, any comments or suggestions can be sent to crevelle@ripnet.com
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