By George Strang / OSCAAR.ca / October 10, 2007PETERBOROUGH, ON - On Sunday night the OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models wrapped up their 2007 schedule with their appearance at the 15th Annual Autumn Colors Classic at Peterborough Speedway. When the checkers fell on the final feature of the season it was London's Rob Clarke that was first to the line, taking home his first feature win of the season.
Everyone knew it was going to come sooner or later, but the London Mechanical Plumbing and Heating/JBM Leasing #49 machine of Rob 'Magic Shoes' Clarke had nothing to show in the win column so far this year coming into Peterborough. It's been a dry couple of years in that department for the 5 time series champion, at least by their standards. Last year saw the team struggle with the handling of the car, and have some bad luck, but still managed a couple of wins.
This season, particularly in the latter half, the team has been stout, arguably having the fastest car on the track at some events, but that win has still been elusive.
Starting from inside the third row for the feature event, the #49 of Clarke made quick work of getting to the front, passing the #34 of Al Thompson for the lead on lap six. He set sail from there laying down some blistering laps in the 13.7 second bracket and leading the rest of the way en route to the his maiden '07 victory.
"Oh yeah, is that what it feels like to finally win one?" said an obviously relieved Clarke, "We had fun. The guys worked their guts out this year. I'm glad they got rewarded. I hope the fans loved it. I drove my guts out!"
Even though Clarke was driving it like he stole it, he didn't run away with it. By lap ten, the Race2way.ca/Rival Office Solutions #22 of Glenn Watson had charged through the field from a fourth row starting position into second place. Hot off his second feature win of the season at Flamboro Speedway the week previous, Watson was looking just as strong again and was matching the times that the #49 was laying down.
Watson kept him honest but never quite made it up to the bumper of Clarke in order to try a move and brought the #22 car home second on this night. "I want to thank my crew for all their help. Congratulations to Rob Clarke - he ran a great race."
Coming home third, and putting in his strongest run of the season was the Standing Arrows Smoke Shop #62 of Lloyd Ritchie. 'The Orange Blossom Special', as the #62 outlaw has become known, must like the Peterborough bullring. It was at this track last year that Ritchie came within a few laps of winning the Don Biederman Memorial race, before falling victim to fuel woes.
On this night he came from the ninth starting position and by lap 27 had appeared in the top three. Ritchie had lots of gas in the tank this time and kept his nose clean and kept it there till the checkers waved. "It felt good to finally come up with a podium finish. We'll be back next year for sure!"
Crossing the line fourth with a strong run was the John Owen Performance Engines/Litz Bobcat Service #2 of John Owen copying his fourth place finish from last years Autumn Colors Classic, and also a fourth at Kawartha back in August. The fifth place finisher, and the team with the longest tow, by quite a large margin, was the #61x of George Wilson who hauled from Sault Ste. Marie to make the show.
Due to the rainout on Saturday, there were only one set of qualifying heats run on Sunday. Heat race wins went to the JNE Consulting #61 of John Fletcher and the Shepstone Haulage #15 of Al Shepstone.
It was also a night where a new champion was crowned as Derrick Tiemersma sealed the deal by bringing home an eighth place finish, good enough to capture the 2007 OSCAAR points championship in his first year with the series. Look for more on that story in the days to come.
From OSCAAR.ca // Photo by Dave Franks
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