mosport

DJ Kennington has a busy January

DJ Kennington has a busy January

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , , , ⋅ No comments

DJ Kennington qualifies at Mosport. Photo by Gary Grant

January 18, 2011. 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion DJ Kennington is enjoying a couple of very busy and exciting weeks of activity. The #17 Castrol Edge Dodge driver was one of the Head Table Guests at the London Sports Celebrity Dinner that raises money for local charities. This weekend Kennington will be signing autographs at the Canadian Motorsports Expo at the International Centre in Toronto, and then the following weekend he’ll be participating at the NASCAR All Star Showdown in Irwindale, California.

A busy schedule can be a burden to some, but not to the always smiling Castrol Edge Dodge driver Kennington. “The sports dinner in London is a great event” said Kennington. “They raise money to support nearly 7,000 people every year and I’m proud to have been asked to attend” he added.

The annual Canadian Motorsports Expo is set to begin this Friday January 21st and continue through Sunday the 23rd and has become the place to be for racers and race fans each January. Occupying a large exhibit hall at the International Center near Pearson airport Kennington will be in attendance each day of the show. “Castrol has a large presence at this year’s show and we’re bringing our #17 Castrol Edge Dodge to be part of the display” said the driver. “It’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of race fans and I get to say thank you in person for all the congratulations I’m still receiving on the championship” he added.

That 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Title guaranteed Kennington a starting spot in the annual NASCAR All Star Showdown that will take place January 28th and 29th in Irwindale California and the Castrol Edge Dodge driver can’t wait to turn laps on the half mile track. “I’ve watched this event on TV in the past and when you see some of the guys who’ve driven in this event it’s a real honour” said Kennington. “And I’m very happy to have Bill McAnally Racing (BMR) preparing the car for us. In fact BMR has three series champions signed up for this event and I know we’ll have a strong car. I’m anxious to see how we stack up against some tough competition”.

For more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo and to purchase tickets fans can log onto www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com Fans will be able to watch Kenninton participate in the NASCAR All Star Showdown from Irwindale California both January 28th and 29th on SPEED.

Race fans are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest team news in several ways. Race fans should bookmark the team website www.djkracing.ca and follow them on twitter, www.twitter.com/djkracing Fans are also suggested to join the Facebook Group DJK Ra

Driven Wheels & The Garage Blog offer Winter Driving Academy for teens.

Driven Wheels & The Garage Blog offer Winter Driving Academy for teens.

Gary Grant ⋅ Motoring ⋅ , , , , , ⋅ 1 comment

Are you confident in your teen’s ability to cope with Winter driving? What about your own?

Here at Driven Wheels, we’ve got kids too and we understand the need to keep them (and you) safe while they are on the road. Traditional driving schools are great for teaching kids how to pass their driver’s test but they do nothing to prepare them for Winter driving conditions.

Working with long time driving instructor, John Mahler, we have set aside a day over the Christmas holidays to make sure our teens and yours are ready for the snow. Just because this event is focused on the young, don’t let that dissuade you from joining us if your skills behind the wheel could use some polishing.

We’re sure all of our students will have a great time and will be a better driver at the end of the day!
Make’s a great early Christmas present.

For $299 plus taxes, you can give the gift of confidence behind the wheel. A gift that might even save someone’s life!

The day includes:

A light breakfast and a hot lunch to warm participants up.

Driving instruction in your own vehicle including:
Classroom session, seating, hand position, vehicle dynamics, vision, steering hand position, brake application

* In vehicle, seating, hand position, foot position, vision, hand-eye-foot-coordination.
* Ex 1: braking normally, emergency braking in straight line, emergency braking with moving around an obstacle
* Ex 2: Recovery from putting two wheels off the road
* Ex 3: Skidpad, oversteer and understeer, how to recover from each
* Ex 4: Wide slalom, weight transfer and how to achieve it to help car get around obstacles
* Ex 5: Collision avoidance exercise, to teach eyes up vision
* Ex 6: Large driving exercise combining all of the above elements
* Ex 7: skidpad one more time, to leave with skid control at the top of the mind.

A photo cd to preserve some memories of the day.
Some great swag from The Garage Blog!

Date:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Location:
Mosport International Raceway on the Driver Development Track skidpad

To Register
contact Gary Grant by e-mail to thegarageguy@rogers.com or by phone at 905.706.1257

  1. Annette: Hey! I like your Driving Academy for teens post! Some of these examples seem self explanatory, but may not be…

Mosport’s 2011 Major Event Schedule Features Best Variety of Racing in Canada

Mosport’s 2011 Major Event Schedule Features Best Variety of Racing in Canada

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ No comments

Mosport International Raceway announced its 2011 major event schedule today. The six-event line-up will once again feature the only Canadian stop for North America’s premiere sports car championship, the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón, as well as two rounds for both the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

The Victoria Day SpeedFest will get Mosport’s 2011 season underway, May 20-22, with the return of two fan favourites – the sports cars of World Challenge (GT, GTS and Touring) and the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, which will feature a new multiple class format in 2011. Also running on the holiday long weekend will be the season opener for the Castrol Touring Cars, the Sundown Grand Prix and two new series to Mosport, the SCCA Pro Racing Spec Racer and SCCA Pro Racing Formula Enterprises.

2011 will see three of Mosport’s major events take place on new dates.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will open their 2011 campaign with the Dickies 200 at Canada’s fastest half-mile paved oval, Mosport Speedway on May 28. The ALMS headlines Canada’s biggest sports car race of the year, the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport, which moves one month earlier to July 21-24. National titles will be on the line when the country’s top motorcycle riders take to the 10-turn circuit in their season finale in the Parts Canada Superbike
Doubleheader Weekend on August 19-21.

The 32nd edition of the International Vintage Racing Festival (this year featuring the “Cars of Italy” and “Those Amazing Porsches”) and the Vortex Brake Pads 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at the Mosport road course keep their traditional June dates, running the 17th-19th and 24th – 26th, respectively.

“Next season, our schedule features the best variety of top road racing in the country,” said Myles Brandt, president and general manager of Mosport International Raceway. “We have everything from exotic prototypes, GT cars, sports cars, historical vintage racers, to motorcycles.”

“We also look forward to showcasing Canada’s top race programs such as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Parts Canada Superbike Championship and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship. Mosport will once again provide our fans with an entertaining season of professional motorsports at a great value.”

All major race events at Mosport include these value-added benefits with paid admission:

• kids 12 and under admitted free (with a paid adult admission)
• free access to the Race Team Paddock
• free access to the Mosport Motorsports Expo and Marketplace
• free access to the Saturday Night Stock Car Racing at Mosport Speedway
• free parking

Camping has always been a popular part of the Mosport experience with general camping (tents or pop-up trailers) and RV camping (motorhomes or hard-bodied trailers) available for all of Mosport’s major event weekends, starting with the unofficial kick-off to summer on the Victoria Day long weekend.

2011 Mosport Major Event Schedule

May 20-22 Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend
World Challenge (GT, GTS, Touring); SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am; Castrol Touring Car Championship; SCCA Pro Racing Spec Racer; SCCA Pro Racing Formula Enterprises; Sundown Grand Prix

May 28 Dickies 200 (at Mosport Speedway)
Season opener for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Canada’s fastest ½ mile paved oval

June 17-19 32nd Annual Int’l Vintage Racing Festival
This year’s features are the “Cars of Italy” and “Those Amazing Porsches”. Regular classes include Historic & Vintage Production; Sports Racers; Group 70+; Open Wheel

June 24-26 Vortex Brake Pads 200
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series; Castrol Touring Car Championship; Ontario Formula Ford Championship F1600; Porsche 944 Cup

July 21-24 Mobil 1 Presents The Grand Prix of Mosport
American Le Mans Series; Star Mazda Championship; Cooper Tires Prototype Lites; Patron GT3 Challenge; F2000 Championship; Castrol Touring Car Championship

August 19-21 Parts Canada Superbike Doubleheader Weekend
Parts Canada Superbike; Pro Sport Bike; Honda CBR125R Challenge; BMW Motorrad SummerFest

Mosport Appoints Glenn Butt As Speedway Manager

Mosport Appoints Glenn Butt As Speedway Manager

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , ⋅ No comments

Mosport International Raceway has announced the appointment of Glenn Butt as Speedway manager.
Butt will be responsible for all on-track aspects of competition, rules and race events, along with sales, marketing and promotions at the paved, half-mile Mosport Speedway oval.
“There is untapped potential for Mosport Speedway across Durham Region, Toronto and Southern Ontario, and Glenn’s the right person to take on this role, promoting the Speedway to drivers, teams, businesses and fans.” said Mosport’s president and general manager, Myles Brandt. “He’s well-respected within the motorsports and local community and we’re looking forward to having his enthusiasm, drive and knowledge lead Mosport Speedway into the future.”
Butt has been involved in motorsports for more than 30 years as a racer, track announcer, broadcaster and businessman. He was director of marketing for Mosport International Raceway from 1999 to 2007. In 2007, Butt left Mosport to launch the Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME), which in a short four-year span has become the premier show of its kind in the country.
“I’ve really enjoyed building the Canadian Motorsports Expo,” said Butt. “Seeing the industry and fans get behind the show has been very rewarding. We took a step forward two years ago when Inside Track Magazine joined me as a partner.”
Butt will co-serve duties at Mosport and the CME through to the upcoming edition, January 21-23.
Commenting on his appointment to Mosport Speedway, Butt said he couldn’t be happier. “In some ways, I feel like I never really left. I’ve spent many weekends at the track announcing and can’t wait to get started on my work at the Speedway.”
Opened in 1989, Mosport Speedway is Canada’s fastest paved half-mile oval and is part of a four-track facility which includes the world-famous Mosport International Raceway, the Mosport Driver Development Centre and the Mosport International Kart Complex.
The Speedway season runs Saturday nights from mid-May to early September and features three home-track divisions (THORSONS EVT 6 or Less, Bob’s Towing Sportsman and R.P. Oil Ltd. Late Models) plus popular travelling series such as OSCAAR, Sportsman Cup, Modifieds and the Ontario Legends.
The Speedway’s biggest event of the year is the Dickies 200, which kicks-off the 2011 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season, May 28.

Photo of Scott Steckley and Dexter Stacey by Gary Grant.

VARAC Festival celebrates 31 years at Mosport

VARAC Festival celebrates 31 years at Mosport

Gary Grant ⋅ Motoring ⋅ , , , , ⋅ No comments

Last weekend marked the 31st year for the VARAC Festival, an annual gathering of classic race cars from across North America. Held at Ontario’s legendary Mosport International Raceway, the emphasis is on fun and putting on a great show for the fans.

Classes range from classic sedans and sports cars to winged full on race cars. The featured marque this year was MG and the MG race included cars from a 1946 MG TC, up to Midgets and MGBs from the early Seventies.

Just because these cars are classics though doesn’t mean that they aren’t driven hard. In fact, some drivers take the racing quite seriously and there are often exciting battles on the track.

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VARAC vintage racing Festival this weekend at Mosport

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 1 comment

This weekend is the 31st running of the VARAC Festival, an international gathering of some of the world’s finest vintage racing cars. The festival is 3 days of racing that allows fans to get up close and personal with some of the greatest cars ever raced, at one of the most historic tracks in North America. It is also a weekend where old friends get together to swap stories and make new friends. There is none of the pretension that goes along with a pro racing weekend, this is all about the people and the cars.

The car owners are usually also the racers. And the mechanic! Most love nothing more than to talk with fans about their car and their sport. Daily admittance is just $20, while a weekend pass is $35. Kids under 12 are free, making it a great value for a family outing and the kids will love the cars as much as Mom & Dad!

For more info visit VARAC and Mosport.

  1. vintage cars – How Vintage Car Restoration Tips Can Help You Restore Your Car by Ron Walker: [...] VARAC vintage racing Festival this weekend at Mosport — Driven Wheels [...]

DJ Kennington slides into sixth

DJ Kennington slides into sixth

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ No comments

Team press release

June 13, 2010. St. Thomas, Ontario’s DJ Kennington, driver of the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Tools Dodge was coming off a season opening win a week ago but knew all too well that round number two of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Mosport International Raceway this past weekend would present an entirely different set of obstacles. Despite his race strategy not playing out as expected he still managed a sixth place finish in the race.

The 2.459 mile track near Bowmanville, Ontario can be challenging for even veteran racers like Kennington. Through practice and qualifying Kennington battled a tight race car yet still qualified the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Tools Dodge with the fourth quickest time. “We’ll take that” he stated. “I got just about everything I could out of the car and fourth is a good result for us” he added.

As the green flag waved for the race Kennington looked to maintain a steady pace throughout the fifty one lap event and hope that the team strategy would work and have the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Tools Dodge within striking distance. Race circumstances however would not be favourable to the team strategy. With a second full course caution looking to be a lengthy one, the team was forced to adjusted their pit sequence and wound up stopping on consecutive laps first for fuel and then for tires.

Returning to the race deep in the field the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Tools Dodge driver would begin to move forward and with the help of others making their scheduled stops make his way back into the top-ten. “We just got burnt really badly with our track position on those pit stops” said the driver. “I just tried to do what I could. We wanted to make two stops just not back to back and that hurt us in the end” he concluded.

Kennington would fight tooth and nail right to the checkered flag to gain every position possible. On the final lap he slid the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors/Hitachi Tools Dodge off the track kicking dirt into the air as he claimed the sixth finishing spot. “Our pit stops were good, they just weren’t when we wanted them and then on that long green flag run at the end the car got really loose on me” said the driver. “It’s a good points finish for us, our day could have been a lot worse so we’ll take it and go on to St. Eustache” he added.

Of Note: This past weekend long time race fan and friend to everyone in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rick Williams passed away suddenly. Rick worked for many years in the Mopar Motorsports Program and was always a welcome sight at each race weekend. Everyone at DJK Racing would like to send their sympathies and condolences to the surviving members of Rick’s family. Rick will always be remembered by everyone he touched in the racing community for his warmth, friendship and his tireless support of racing in Canada.

Round number three of the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season takes place at the Autodrome St. Eustache on Saturday July 3rd. The Vortex Brakes 200 from Mosport International Raceway can be seen on TSN Sunday June 20th at Noon Eastern. Follow the progress of the #17 Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge all season on the newly redesigned website www.djkracing.ca plus you can follow their progress at www.twitter.com/djkracing. You’re also invited to join the Facebook Group DJK Racing.

Photo by Gary Grant

Tough luck for Beauchamp and Team Mopar at Mosport

Tough luck for Beauchamp and Team Mopar at Mosport

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ No comments

Team press release

June 13, 2010. Ron Beauchamp and the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries team were looking to round number two of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Mosport International Raceway this past weekend to help propel them forward in the overall championship standings. However even with a quick race car the circumstances encountered during road course events can work against you.

During the Saturday practice sessions the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries wasn’t the fastest car but the entire team was confident they had a car to contend with during the race. “This car will be a good car for the race” said a confident Ron Beauchamp Jr. “I didn’t expect to lay down the fastest qualifying lap, but we expect to be consistent throughout the race” he added.

As the green flag waved Sunday for the main event the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries team had planned a race strategy that was somewhat aggressive but didn’t appear to be risky. “We thought that we would come in early whether there was a caution period or not and get fuel and then take tires later in the race” explained the driver. When the second caution period came before lap twenty of the scheduled fifty one all appeared to be going smoothly. “We did just as we planned and came to take on fuel” said Beauchamp.

The trouble for the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge team was that would be the final caution period of the day. As the laps ticked away under green the team could not ask their driver to make another stop as it would force him to give up far too much track position. “Everyone expected there would be an opportunity to pit later, but it just didn’t happen” said the disappointed driver. “I knew that I’d just have to hold on as best I could. But with others having newer tires it became very difficult” he stated.

Beauchamp would use all his skills trying to maintain position and as the checkered flag fell he would be classified thirteenth. “It’s a tough pill to swallow” he stated. “With older tires I just couldn’t hold off some of the other cars” he added.

Of Note: The #60 Team received very sad news on Sunday when they learned one of the driving forces behind Mopar Parts enormous involvement in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and their close friend Rick Williams had passed away suddenly. Rick not only oversaw the Mopar Motorsports involvement in NASCAR and before that CASCAR for many years but took a personal interest in and touched each an every member of the racing community he came in contact with. Everyone at Beauchamp Motorsports would like to send their prayers and condolences to the surviving members of Rick’s family. Rick truly was a friend to everyone in the racing community and he will be deeply missed by all.

Ron Beauchamp Jr and the #60 Mopar Parts/Mobil 1/Exide Batteries Dodge Team will compete in all thirteen races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Round number three takes place Saturday July 3rd at the Autodrome St. Eustahce. All events this season will again be broadcast on TSN, the Mosport event airs Sunday June 20th at Noon Eastern. For more information about Team Mopar go online to www.mopar.ca and for series information check out www.nascar.ca.

Photo by Gary Grant

Jarrad Whissell a victim of contact at Mosport

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , ⋅ No comments

Team press release

June 13, 2010. Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team looked to begin their 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race schedule during round number two of the series at Mosport International Raceway this past weekend with a solid outing at Mosport to set the team in the right direction for the year, and to raise as much money as possible in their support of the MS Society. Sadly they were victims in an early incident and their day ended much sooner than expected.

The #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu team had to battle through several difficulties right from the beginning of practice on Saturday. “During practice we had some brake bias issues and the car was quite loose” said Whissell. “Then in qualifying the rear end let go and we didn’t have our locker” he added.

In spite of the obstacles Whissell would qualify the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford in seventeenth position and begin the race with a much improved racecar. “Once we had our issues sorted out and got into the race the car was quite fast and we picked up a few positions in the first few laps” said the driver.

As he continued to look for opportunities to pass and improve his position in the running order Whissell would encounter serious trouble in the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford. “We were running with the #3, the #69 and the #56 car” he stated. “We ended up passing the #3, got by the #69 and I was battling with the #56 and I wasn’t getting a lot of room to pass. Down in corner five he got a little loose and I made a move inside and he just came straight across into me. I guess he must not have seen me coming up the inside” Whissell concluded.

The damage incurred by the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford was significant. “I ended up spinning and hitting the wall hard in Corner Five” said Whissell. “Then it appears the brake cooling ducts caught fire and that did a lot of damage” said the disappointed driver. The damage would prove too severe to continue and Whissell was classified twenty third in the results.

The #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team will have several weeks to make repairs and be ready for their next scheduled event. “The damage was quite significant” stated the driver. “Bill Burns has been working here and preparing the cars and we’ll have to do a lot of work to do. I think we’ve pretty much got to tear it right down and replace all of the wiring and just about everything else at the front of the car to get ready for the Toronto Indy” he concluded.

The five NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road course events are a part of some of the largest race weekends in Canada and also include the Toronto & Edmonton Indy’s and Montreal Nationwide race weekend. Follow the progress of the team and help support Multiple Sclerosis research through the soon to be launched website www.jarradwhissell.com You can watch all of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series races again this year on TSN. The Mosport event will air June 20th at Noon Eastern.

Photo by Gary Grant

Caitlin Johnston enjoys successful first drive in NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

Gary Grant ⋅ Motorsport News ⋅ , , , , , ⋅ No comments

Team press release

June 13, 2010. Twenty One year old Caitlin Johnston of Orangeville, Ontario made her stock car racing debut in the #01 Pizza Pizza Dodge this past weekend during round two of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Mosport International Raceway. With only limited track time to learn about a new car, new series and new competitors her results were remarkable.

Prior to the first practice session Caitlin had only sat in the car and never driven the 2,800 pound beast on a race track. Even with cool and damp conditions she began improving her lap times significantly with each circuit. “It’s a completely different feel and style of driving” said Johnston. “With Formula cars they are very responsive to the slightest move, these cars react much differently”

“It’s a real challenge to learn and make the necessary adjustments, but I like the challenge” said the enthusiastic driver. “I got down into the one minute thirty’s by the end of practice and with each lap felt more and more comfortable” said Johnston. “We just want to keep improving”.

Caitlin would start her first event of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series from the twenty fifth spot on the grid and even with some mechanical difficulties during the race would make significant strides forward. “I just learned so much today” said the driver. “I learned all about re-starts and full pit stops there was just so much to take in and it was a great experience.

During the mid point of the race the #01 Pizza Pizza Dodge was ordered by NASCAR to pit road as smoke was spotted coming from underneath the car. Even that hiccup didn’t rattle Johnston. The crew made the necessary repairs and returned her to fight where she would conclude the race in nineteenth spot, gaining six positions during the event. “We had an excellent first day” said the driver. “We achieved everything that we wanted to, go out and run really good consistent laps and finish, which is exactly what we did”

The #01Pizza Pizza Dodge was a joint venture of DJ Kennington’s DJK Racing and former NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competitor Derek Lynch and Johnston was very proud of the work the entire team did over the weekend. “They are just awesome, all the guys are just awesome” she said enthusiastically. “I can’t say enough about them, all pit stops were great and it was a very solid day”.

When asked about her next scheduled event as part of the Toronto Indy weekend Johnston summed it up very simply she “I can’t wait”!

The 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series season consists of thirteen events from coast to coast All races will be televised on TSN. You can learn more about Caitlin Johnston by clicking on her website, www.caitlinjohnston.com. Also get more information about DJK racing on their website, www.djkracing.ca and find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo by Gary Grant

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