Friday, August 31, 2007
Charlotte Mayor Republican Primary
The recent Charlotte Observer poll asked a subset of their sample about the Republican mayoral primary. Among the 180 respondents (+/- 7.3% MofE) who are eligible to vote in the September 11 Republican primary, 70% support incumbent Pat McCrory. Only 17% support challenger Ken Gjertsen.
Pollster Profile: Hertzog Research
Durham County hired Hertzog Research in Carrboro to conduct its survey on upcoming bond and tax referenda. Hertzog Research is a fairly new establishment, started in 2003, but it already has an impressive client list of corporations, law firms, non-profits and government agencies. For example, GE, Intel, the Federal Transit Administration, the NEA, and UNC-Chapel Hill. Their website claims that they do candidate polling as well, but don’t list any political clients.
The company’s principal is Mark Hertzog. Before beginning his own company, Hertzog worked with TARP and FGI Research. Both companies have extensive experience in market research, costumer satisfaction surveys and more. Hertzog Research seems to have a similar focus.
Mark Hertzog is also the author of a book, The Lavender Vote: Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals in American Electoral Politics.
The company’s principal is Mark Hertzog. Before beginning his own company, Hertzog worked with TARP and FGI Research. Both companies have extensive experience in market research, costumer satisfaction surveys and more. Hertzog Research seems to have a similar focus.
Mark Hertzog is also the author of a book, The Lavender Vote: Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals in American Electoral Politics.
Generic EPO Should be a Big Deal. But Is It?
Novartis’ Sandoz division was on Friday granted European Commission approval for its biosimilar version of Johnson & Johnson’s epoietin alfa (Eprex). It’s not a huge surprise, given the positive recommendation earlier this summer, and given that Sandoz has done this before: growth hormone Omnitrope became the first biosimilar drug to gain European approval last year (and, after a long legal kerfuffle, got onto the US market, too).
But this should nevertheless be a big deal. We’re talking, after all, about a cheaper copy of EPO, the blockbuster anemia drug that made Amgen. A drug with sales that top $7 billion globally. Of all the biologics in generic firms’ sights, this has to be by far the most valuable--the "killer biologic," as one of you readers put it in a comment on a previous post. EPO is one of the most expensive drugs on many hospital formularies, and accounts for a huge chunk of payor expenditure.
At last!, we should be saying, the long-threatened generic biologics revolution has come to pass. Injectables will get cheaper, patient access will improve, originators will be forced to innovate and move on.
The reality isn’t quite so revolutionary. Sandoz is one of the few companies with the resources to persevere with biosimilars; many smaller firms dropped out as it became clear how onerous clinical trial and regulatory requirements would be.
Commercialization ain’t a slam dunk, either. Sure, a 20% discount counts given the prices of these drugs. But it’s up to individual countries to decide on whether docs may substitute the originator drug with a biosimilar. Innovators have done a good job lobbying against interchangeability. Questions and concerns over safety standards mean that biosimilar firms have an uphill struggle on the marketing and educational front, ensuring that these products are perceived as equivalent, not potentially dangerous cheapies.
Still, Sandoz will be helped considerably by the fact that its biosimilar has been granted the same international non-proprietary name (INN) as the reference drug, epoietin alfa (to the delight of the European Generic Medicines Association, since this goes some way at least to proving their case for scientific equivalence). Sandoz’s EPO will be available under three different brand names, though, likely in order to leverage locally-recognized and trusted generic brands across the various European markets.
Stada, another surviving biosimilars stalwart, had to settle for a slightly different INN for its generic EPO--epoietin zeta, filed in June 2006. That probably helped drive their decision to hand over commercialization to US-based specialist hospital marketer Hospira last November. The move was about “curbing financial risks” associated with the project, whose approval, as the press release optimistically states, “is still possible in late 2007”. Also last year, Mayne Pharma pulled out of a marketing deal with Pliva (now part of Barr Pharmaceuticals) on generic EPO. The product was approved in Croatia in 2005 but hasn’t got past the EU regulators.
In sum, Sandoz's approval in itself isn’t much of a threat to J&J, even less to Amgen, which sells epoietin alfa as Epogen in the US. But it is symbolic, at least in its timing, of an end to the monopolies that innovators have enjoyed on hard-to-make biologics like EPO, a topic we discussed in more detail in this IN VIVO feature.
Sandoz’s head of Biopharmaceuticals Ajaz Hussain knows that biosimilars’ take off will be slow; he told IN VIVO Blog about it earlier this summer. But take off they will, eventually—and when they do, this approval may well be looked upon, if only retrospectively, as one of the most important steps along the way.
But this should nevertheless be a big deal. We’re talking, after all, about a cheaper copy of EPO, the blockbuster anemia drug that made Amgen. A drug with sales that top $7 billion globally. Of all the biologics in generic firms’ sights, this has to be by far the most valuable--the "killer biologic," as one of you readers put it in a comment on a previous post. EPO is one of the most expensive drugs on many hospital formularies, and accounts for a huge chunk of payor expenditure.
At last!, we should be saying, the long-threatened generic biologics revolution has come to pass. Injectables will get cheaper, patient access will improve, originators will be forced to innovate and move on.The reality isn’t quite so revolutionary. Sandoz is one of the few companies with the resources to persevere with biosimilars; many smaller firms dropped out as it became clear how onerous clinical trial and regulatory requirements would be.
Commercialization ain’t a slam dunk, either. Sure, a 20% discount counts given the prices of these drugs. But it’s up to individual countries to decide on whether docs may substitute the originator drug with a biosimilar. Innovators have done a good job lobbying against interchangeability. Questions and concerns over safety standards mean that biosimilar firms have an uphill struggle on the marketing and educational front, ensuring that these products are perceived as equivalent, not potentially dangerous cheapies.
Still, Sandoz will be helped considerably by the fact that its biosimilar has been granted the same international non-proprietary name (INN) as the reference drug, epoietin alfa (to the delight of the European Generic Medicines Association, since this goes some way at least to proving their case for scientific equivalence). Sandoz’s EPO will be available under three different brand names, though, likely in order to leverage locally-recognized and trusted generic brands across the various European markets.
Stada, another surviving biosimilars stalwart, had to settle for a slightly different INN for its generic EPO--epoietin zeta, filed in June 2006. That probably helped drive their decision to hand over commercialization to US-based specialist hospital marketer Hospira last November. The move was about “curbing financial risks” associated with the project, whose approval, as the press release optimistically states, “is still possible in late 2007”. Also last year, Mayne Pharma pulled out of a marketing deal with Pliva (now part of Barr Pharmaceuticals) on generic EPO. The product was approved in Croatia in 2005 but hasn’t got past the EU regulators.
In sum, Sandoz's approval in itself isn’t much of a threat to J&J, even less to Amgen, which sells epoietin alfa as Epogen in the US. But it is symbolic, at least in its timing, of an end to the monopolies that innovators have enjoyed on hard-to-make biologics like EPO, a topic we discussed in more detail in this IN VIVO feature.
Sandoz’s head of Biopharmaceuticals Ajaz Hussain knows that biosimilars’ take off will be slow; he told IN VIVO Blog about it earlier this summer. But take off they will, eventually—and when they do, this approval may well be looked upon, if only retrospectively, as one of the most important steps along the way.
Charlotte views on growth; mostly good, some bad
The Charlotte Observer released more of their recent poll of Mecklenburg County residents. Today's results indicate that a majority think that rapid growth is a good thing. Meanwhile 33% think that growth has been harmful. 9% say both. I can't believe only 9% say both.
From Charlotte Observer
From Charlotte Observer
HAVE BUS WILL TRAVEL: Racing Tours News
From Doug Andrews... Have Bus Will Travel
Call (705)437.3500 or 1.888.HAVEBUS (1.888.428.3287) for information.
Exciting things have been happening all summer long at Have Bus Will Travel Racing Tours. We had 231 people, 6 full buses attending Canada Day at MIS. Even a lot of rain couldn’t dampen our spirits or our good time and next year promises to be even better.
After a short pit stop at home, we were heading to Bristol and let me tell you, the Racing at Bristol was exciting. Watching it on TV just couldn’t capture the excitement of the side by side Racing and great passing all the way through the pack. “Go to a Race, See Things Differently!”
Next weekend we are onto Richmond which will be really exciting. With only a few of the chase positions not locked in you know the final Race of the Chase is on! This is your last chance to come with us and see it LIVE and for just $650 twin you can be right there for all the excitement. We only have a few seats left so don’t delay.
“The Magic Mile” at Loudon is where the Chase begins and the Racing really heats up, and at only $650 twin it’s been a very hot ticket. We may be able to add a few more so if you want to come, give us a call now. We can’t make any guaranties; it depends on availability.
Dover aka “The Monster Mile” is where championship dreams can be won or lost and for $675 twin you can’t afford to miss it. Add to your excitement by purchasing tickets to the Busch Races (2) and try your luck at the “Dover Downs” Slots. It may just be the luckiest thing you ever did.
Want to have a Thanksgiving to remember? Then come with us to Talladega! The Biggest, Fastest, Most Competitive Motor Sports Facility in the World. We’ve got a special triple header for you. The Arca Re/max 250, The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race. It’s the First Superspeedway for the CoT’s. You’d expect to pay more than $895 twin for this fabulous 3 night with breakfast Racing Tour but we’ve made it even better. We’ve made special arrangements for all of our passengers to have admission to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. We take care of our people.
Have you ever wanted to go to the Heart of NASCAR? Well now’s your chance. For only $650 twin you can come with us to Lowe’s Motor Speedway for The Bank of America 500 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for this event are going fast so don’t delay or you’ll be disappointed.
A lot has been said about Martinsville or “The Paper Clip” but why listen to what others say about it. Come with us and experience it for yourself. We have already sold a lot of our tickets and at only $500 twin for 2 nights accommodation with breakfast and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race Ticket the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race Ticket you can understand why. Book now so you don’t miss out.
People are already purchasing their tickets to come with us to the 50th running of the Daytona 500. This isn’t going to be just a 6 day road trip. This is going to be an experience you’ll always remember!
We’ve got more information about all of these Racing Tours on our website at http://www.havebus.com/ and be sure to check out our exciting trip to Delaware, Ontario on September 28 for the Supermodifieds. It’s going to be fast, fun & furious.
Looking forward to taking you racing,
Doug H. Douglas Andrews // General Manager // Have Bus Will Travel 2004 Ltd.
OSCAAR PREVIEW: Outlaw Super Late Models Ready To Roar At Peterborough Speedway
PETERBOROUGH, ON - Get ready for another great action-packed race event at Peterborough Speedway as the OSCAAR Outlaws make their 2nd trip of '07 this Saturday, September 1st.
This will be the last event of the summer as we enter into a long break until the season ending specials at Flamboro and Peterborough, late September and early October.
The 2007 OSCAAR season has been very exciting and entertaining for the fans, with multiple winners and many top running cars capable of winning feature races. While on paper there is a clear advantage to Derrick Tiemersma and Team #7 as they lead the series in wins and points, Tiemersma will be the first one to admit that a little good luck went a long way in the past few races. On Saturday he will still have to contend with several other Outlaws hungry for either their first or next win and all looking for a break in their luck.
Peterborough Speedway will see the Super Late Models take 75 laps around the famous 1/3 mile high-banked track. Still a favourite among many of the drivers, Peterborough has a reputation for being relatively fast for a short track. Drivers also know that racing at Peterborough carries a high probablity for contact and try their best to avoid that nasty date with "the wall".
It's best to arrive early and claim your favourite seat. Gates open at 5:00pm and racing starts at 6:00pm. See you there!
- By Don McLeod // OSCAAR
Joe Gibbs set to announce switch to Toyota?
From AP, on S.I.
"HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Joe Gibbs Racing has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday and several published reports say the team will announce it has signed a deal to field Toyotas in the Nextel Cup series.
The reports, citing unidentified sources, said JGR will end its 16-year relationship with General Motors and give Toyota its first big name team in Cup.
Team officials refused comment on the report Thursday but did confirm the news conference and that drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are expected to be at the announcement."
Last night, as I was driving home, Claire B. Lang broke into programming on XM144 to announce that Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) will announce - next Wednesday - that they are switching from General Motors to Toyota for 2008 and beyond.
The first lady who called in to react said that if this happens, she's never watching NASCAR again. Apparently, the thought of Tony Stewart driving anything other than a Chevy is too much for her to take. Maybe she's a relative of Jimmy Spencer's. You'll recall he reminded everyone [They] "bombed Pearl Harbor, don't forget" in reaction to the news that Toyota was getting involved in the NASCAR Truck Series, several years back.
If the JGR / Toyota rumour is true, it might explain why Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't end up there given that he will reportedly only race a Chevy. And what will this mean for the future of Michael Waltrip Racing?
"HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Joe Gibbs Racing has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday and several published reports say the team will announce it has signed a deal to field Toyotas in the Nextel Cup series.
The reports, citing unidentified sources, said JGR will end its 16-year relationship with General Motors and give Toyota its first big name team in Cup.
Team officials refused comment on the report Thursday but did confirm the news conference and that drivers Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are expected to be at the announcement."
Last night, as I was driving home, Claire B. Lang broke into programming on XM144 to announce that Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) will announce - next Wednesday - that they are switching from General Motors to Toyota for 2008 and beyond.
The first lady who called in to react said that if this happens, she's never watching NASCAR again. Apparently, the thought of Tony Stewart driving anything other than a Chevy is too much for her to take. Maybe she's a relative of Jimmy Spencer's. You'll recall he reminded everyone [They] "bombed Pearl Harbor, don't forget" in reaction to the news that Toyota was getting involved in the NASCAR Truck Series, several years back.
If the JGR / Toyota rumour is true, it might explain why Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't end up there given that he will reportedly only race a Chevy. And what will this mean for the future of Michael Waltrip Racing?
PMRA: GUENTHER HAS SLIM POINTS LEAD GOING INTO FINAL PMRA EVENT
The Teamsters Canada Thunder by the Beach Weekend featuring the Castrol "Night of Nitro" and Second Annual PMRA Challenge will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1-2, at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.
With only 26 points separating the top four teams in this year’s Pro Modified Racing Association tour, each one of the teams has a chance at capturing the 2007 Championship at the final PMRA event of the season.
Leading the race with 1004 points is the Guenther Racing team from Livonia, NY, with Matt Guenther driving their 1941 nitrous-powered Willys (shown). Second is Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario, with a ’69 Camaro, Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, is third with 989 points, driving a 1953 Corvette. The NitroMoose/Ajax Engines 1957 Chevrolet of Kirk and Maria Silbermann of Ajax, Ontario, with Scott Wildgust of Stratford, Ontario, behind the wheel is fourth.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher
Thursday, August 30, 2007
CASTROL CANADIAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SIX AT MOSPORT THIS WEEKEND (SEPTEMBER 1, 2)
The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires gears up for the challenging high speed turns of Mosport. There will be new drivers joining the Championship this weekend and promise to put on an amazing show. The drivers always enjoy the thrill that Mosport presents and look forward to battling for Class supremacy.The Canadian Touring Car Championship is a sportscar racing Championship based on three distinct, yet synergistic classes of competition which are all on track at the same time and features Canada’s best drivers racing today’s hottest sportscars.
GT Class – These are the high horsepower thoroughbreds all motorsport enthusiasts dream of owning. The battle this year has been between the Corvettes, BMWs and turbo Nissan with top speeds over 250 km/h.
Year-to-date GT Class point standings; 1st Sasha Anis (Nissan), 2nd Kurt Langeveldt (Mazda), 3rd Robert Munro (BMW)
Super Touring Class – The largest class with some of today’s hottest brands, these are the cars many automotive enthusiasts with a taste for performance have in the driveway. Boasting over 250 horsepower for their relatively small motors, brands such as BMW, Acura, and Subaru create some memorable moments on the track.
Year-to-date Super Touring Class point standings; 1st Charles-Andre Bilodeau (BMW), 2nd Eric Leblanc (Subaru), 3rd Etienne Borgeat (BMW)
Touring – Created as an entry level class and highlighting some of the most popular and tunable cars on the street, the 150 – 200 horsepower Touring class enjoys door-to-door action and participation from brands including Mini, Honda, Mercedes Benz and Nissan.
Year-to-date Touring Class point standings; 1st Alain Lauziere (Mini), 2nd Robert Calisi (Honda), 3rd James Foote (Honda)
The race weekends are all double headers with a race on Saturday and Sunday. There are eight race weekends and the Championship will visit Ontario tracks including Mosport (Oshawa area), Shannonville (Belleville, Kingston area), Calabogie (Ottawa area) and Toronto for the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto.
From John Bondar (CCTCC) // For more information, please visit www.touringcar.ca.
NCATS: Micks ready for NASCAR Hat-Trick
MT. ALBERT, ON – Fresh off his dramatic wins at the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal Kerry Micks and the Beyond Digital Imaging Micks Motorsports Team will be one of the favorites at this weekend’s Subway 200 at Cayuga Speedway in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.
“The win in Trois-Rivières moved us into fourth position in the Top 10 Driver Points,” stated Kerry Micks. “Don’t count this team out. We’ve got more to prove.”
With his win at the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières Kerry Micks became the third two-time winner this season in the Canadian Tire Series. He joins J.R. Fitzpatrick and Don Thomson Jr. in the honor.
“We’re in striking distance of the second and third spot in the points with the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford,” added Micks. “Over the years we’ve had some big wins at Cayuga.”
One of Kerry Micks biggest wins came at Cayuga on Labor Day Weekend in 1989 during the Fourth Annual McKerlie-Millen Classic.
“That was a big deal, we qualified on the pole and lead every lap in that 50-lap race,” said Micks. “The place was packed with fans and race cars. I drove the race with one hand because I had a transmission problem and won $2,500.00”
The green flag will drop for the Subway 200 Saturday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m.
The Subway 200 presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at Cayuga Speedway, race nine in the 12-race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on the 5/8ths-mile paved oval in Nelles Corners, Ontario on September 1.
Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking and APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc., Nur America, and HP Canada are sponsors of Micks Motorsports.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations
“The win in Trois-Rivières moved us into fourth position in the Top 10 Driver Points,” stated Kerry Micks. “Don’t count this team out. We’ve got more to prove.”
With his win at the Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières Kerry Micks became the third two-time winner this season in the Canadian Tire Series. He joins J.R. Fitzpatrick and Don Thomson Jr. in the honor.
“We’re in striking distance of the second and third spot in the points with the Beyond Digital Imaging Ford,” added Micks. “Over the years we’ve had some big wins at Cayuga.”
One of Kerry Micks biggest wins came at Cayuga on Labor Day Weekend in 1989 during the Fourth Annual McKerlie-Millen Classic.
“That was a big deal, we qualified on the pole and lead every lap in that 50-lap race,” said Micks. “The place was packed with fans and race cars. I drove the race with one hand because I had a transmission problem and won $2,500.00”
The green flag will drop for the Subway 200 Saturday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m.
The Subway 200 presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at Cayuga Speedway, race nine in the 12-race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on the 5/8ths-mile paved oval in Nelles Corners, Ontario on September 1.
Beyond Digital Imaging Inc. (BDI), Canadian Detailing Services, Cathcart Trucking and APX Racing Gear and Incentives Inc., Nur America, and HP Canada are sponsors of Micks Motorsports.
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations
LEAFS TV to sponsor Scott Steckly for three of the final four NCATS races
(This is very nice to see... congratulations to Scott and the whole #22 team! ... gm)MILVERTON, ON - Scott Steckly of Milverton, ON and 22 Racing are proud to announce Leafs TV as the primary sponsor of the #22 Dodge Charger in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. Leafs TV will be the primary sponsor for the final three Ontario based races of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, which take place at Cayuga, Barrie, and Kawartha Speedways, respectively.
Also, Wilride Transport from Guelph, ON has been announced as an associate sponsor. Driver Scott Steckly is very excited to have the Leafs TV and Wilride Transport sponsoring his racing team and is really hoping to put on a great show in the coming weeks. He said “we have run excellent at Barrie and Kawartha and have a real shot at putting the car in victory lane”.
“We’re delighted to have this association with 22 Racing and NASCAR”, said Chris Hebb, senior vice president, broadcast and content, Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV. “Many of our viewers are also fans of NASCAR and this initiative ties in perfectly with our goal of extending our brand and awareness outside of the traditional means”.
Steckly is currently sitting in tenth place in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series standings with 1046 points; however he is only 29 points out of eighth place.
You can catch the #22 Leafs TV Dodge Charger at Cayuga Speedway in Nelles Corners, ON this Saturday, September 1. The green flag drops for the Subway 200 at 8:00 PM.
Leafs TV provides in-depth information on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Programming includes exclusive live Leafs games (including all pre-season games), pre and post game shows for every Leafs game plus the unique show ‘Game In An Hour’ where all the goals, hits and saves from the night’s Leafs game are packed in to an hour long show. The Leafs TV game schedule also includes the Toronto Marlies, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Classic Leafs games.
Wilride Transport is a family run business with over 15 years experience in moving freight throughout Canada and the U.S.A. Offering weekly LTL and Truckload moves to many major cities throughout Canada and the U.S.A.
In the drive for the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Championship, Scott Steckly currently sits in 10th place. The 22 Racing team is proudly sponsored by: Leafs TV, Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, Thermo King of Eastern Canada, Diamond International (Edmonton, AB), Wilride Transport, Sommers Motor Generator Sales, D.H. Jutzi Limited, Groeneveld, Twin City Graphics, Chris Root Precision Machine, Stratford Motor Products, Generation Filtration, Mr. Transmission (Guelph), Commercial Babcock, Classy Collectibles, Glasvan Great Dane, Motorsport Design, Milverton Garage.
“We’re delighted to have this association with 22 Racing and NASCAR”, said Chris Hebb, senior vice president, broadcast and content, Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV. “Many of our viewers are also fans of NASCAR and this initiative ties in perfectly with our goal of extending our brand and awareness outside of the traditional means”.
Steckly is currently sitting in tenth place in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series standings with 1046 points; however he is only 29 points out of eighth place.
You can catch the #22 Leafs TV Dodge Charger at Cayuga Speedway in Nelles Corners, ON this Saturday, September 1. The green flag drops for the Subway 200 at 8:00 PM.
Leafs TV provides in-depth information on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Programming includes exclusive live Leafs games (including all pre-season games), pre and post game shows for every Leafs game plus the unique show ‘Game In An Hour’ where all the goals, hits and saves from the night’s Leafs game are packed in to an hour long show. The Leafs TV game schedule also includes the Toronto Marlies, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Classic Leafs games.
Wilride Transport is a family run business with over 15 years experience in moving freight throughout Canada and the U.S.A. Offering weekly LTL and Truckload moves to many major cities throughout Canada and the U.S.A.
In the drive for the 2007 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Championship, Scott Steckly currently sits in 10th place. The 22 Racing team is proudly sponsored by: Leafs TV, Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, Thermo King of Eastern Canada, Diamond International (Edmonton, AB), Wilride Transport, Sommers Motor Generator Sales, D.H. Jutzi Limited, Groeneveld, Twin City Graphics, Chris Root Precision Machine, Stratford Motor Products, Generation Filtration, Mr. Transmission (Guelph), Commercial Babcock, Classy Collectibles, Glasvan Great Dane, Motorsport Design, Milverton Garage.
From 22 Racing
Champ Car.... looking more and more like a Monty Python sketch
The promoter of the scheduled Champ Car finale in Phoenix has cancelled the event.
Champ Car simultaneously confirmed that its race that was originally scheduled for China in May... postponed... and then tentatively scheduled for later in the season... has also been "postponed"... again, to 2008.
Said Champ Car boss Steve Johnson: "The failure of our previous China promoter -- since replaced -- to materially comply with our agreement forced us to miss our May date, and we have been unable to secure an appropriate 2007 replacement date with our new promoter."
Since announcing its 17-race calendar prior to the start of the season, Champ Car has seen almost 20% of its dates fall off the schedule. Can you imagine if the Toronto Maple Leafs just didn't show up for 14 of their 80 announced games? Big league sports leagues and series don't operate in this manner.
How are teams supposed to sell sponsorship packages when the series' schedule amounts to nothing more than a 'wish list'? Credibility plays a big role in companies' decisions to get involved in a sponsorship program. Beyond just writing cheques, there are marketing and promotional programs that depend on events actually taking place.
*****
UPDATE (12:42 P.M.): Thanks to Anonymous for the heads-up on my Freudian slip... I initially credited the Champ Car quote regarding the ultimate cancellation of the event in China to "Charlie Johnson", instead of "Steve Johnson". I'm heading to the "Argument Department" for some "Abuse".
Twofast Racing gives a donation to the Rire en Coeur organization
August 30, 2007 - The Twofast Racing team is proud to announce the success of the 1st edition of the golf tournament L’Omnium de la Victoire held July 10th at Golf des Îles in Boucherville.
With more than 120 players and 70 partners, sponsors and donors that gathered for this event, the team is also happy for its first year to give $3,065.00 to the Rire en Coeur organisation which helps The Children's make a wish foundation.
Once again thank you, and hope to see you next year for our second edition!
The Twofast racing team would like to thank all of their partners:Rythme Urbain, Rack’N’Roll, InMotion Promotion, Motul, Lettra dSign, TwoFast Performance, Mazdaspeed, International Allstars, mazdatuning.com and Rire en Coeur. Visit us on line at http://www.twofast.ca/
Valérie Vachon – Twofast Racing
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
PARTS Canada Superbike Series: GO BIG RACING PREPARING FOR SEASON FINALE
(Hamilton, ON) – Go Big Racing’s Ross Millson (Hamilton, ON) and Paul Glenn (Keene, ON) spent a much needed week off fulfilling sponsors appearances and preparing for the final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship being held this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park and the final round of the SunTrust Moto-ST Endurance Series that will be held at historic Daytona International Speedway on October 20th.
Working with John Bickle from Bickle Racing, Ross Millson spent some time at Toronto Motorsports Park coaching at team sponsor Turn 2 Sportbike Rentals Advanced Riding Course. Also taking the course were team sponsor Mike Rice from Infinet Designs and assistant team trainer Mike Hallman. This event also allowed Millson, competing in his rookie season in the Pro 600 and Pro Superbike classes, to pass on some of his knowledge on riding technique and allowed him some more seat time in advance of the final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.
Glenn, who takes an 11 point lead into the final weekend of the AM 600 class, is focused on a strong finish to his AM 600 season that could see him win the championship in his rookie season. Glenn has had an outstanding season to date finishing no lower than 4th in the first five races.
Round 7 of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship kicks off for Go Big Racing with test sessions on August 31 at Shannonville Motorsports Park and wraps up with final races on the afternoon of Sunday, September 2nd.
Make sure you drop by the Go BIG Racing paddock this weekend for a draw to win a Summit Gearworks gift pack and information on how to win $1,500 worth of signs, banners and vehicle graphics courtesy of team sponsor, J.D. Graphics.
For race fans who want to follow Go Big Racing in more depth, the Parts Canada Superbike Championship tested a new live audio feed in Shubenacadie that will also be available for the final round at www.cdnsuperbike.com.
It was also announced last week that the Series will return to TSN with coverage of each 2007 round beginning on September 11th. Tune in to re-live Go Big’s Paul Glenn’s quest for the AM 600 Championship and shots from Pro Rookie rider Ross Millson who carried the TSN onboard camera through the second half of the season.
Visit: www.gobigracing.ca. for additional information and to learn more about the sponsors that support the team, including Suzuki dealer - Milton Motorsports, Summit Gearworks, Infinet Designs, Turn 2 Sportbike Rentals, Mimic Industries, Ultimate Cycle, Bickle Tire Warmers, Accelerated Technologies, Bagshaw Performance Inc., MotorcycleCourse.com, JD Graphics and Corner 2 Racing.
###
From Paul Glenn, Go BIG Racing
Cayuga NASCAR event next stop for Team Fastline
HAMILTON, ON– Jeff and Jim Lapcevich of Fastline Motorsports are optimistic about their chances of winning in the upcoming NASCAR Canadian Tire Series stock car race this weekend at Cayuga Speedway.
“We always look forward to racing at Cayuga,” explained Jeff Lapcevich, one of the Hamilton-based Team Fastline drivers. “The track is close to home, and we always have lots friends, family, sponsors, and fans there to cheer us on.”
The green flag will drop for the Subway 200 Saturday, September 1 at 8:00 p.m. Brother Jim Lapcevich is also looking for a good showing at Cayuga.
“Cayuga has always been one of my favorite spots on the racing circuit,” said Jim Lapcevich. “We had a strong run at the Mosport oval a few weeks ago and I’m optimistic that we can have another good showing,” he added. “The AP Racing Engine combination has been stout in the EMCEA Transport – Tim Hortons Monte Carlo, and hopefully the driver can earn his keep and finish up front.”
The Subway 200 presented by Sicard Holiday Campers at Cayuga Speedway is race nine in the 12-race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series on the 5/8ths-mile paved oval in Nelles Corners, Ontario. For information about Cayuga Speedway call (866) 670-1958 or visit www.cayugaspeedwaypark.com Tim Hortons, EMCEA Transport, Springer’s Meats, Troy Cove Marine, Mr. Lube, and B & J Electric
From Bruce F. Mehlenbacher // Director of Public Relations
Win on Sunday, Accolades on Monday... Daniel Morad chosen Red Bull Junior of The Week
In only his third outing wearing the Red Bull Junior Team colours, seventeen year old Daniel Morad would win a series championship, take the final race in commanding fashion then go on to receive one of the teams highest honours as Junior of The Week.In the final race weekend of the Formula BMW USA series, Daniel would need only a good result in one of two races to secure the championship. On Saturday, starting from the off-pole position it became a matter of 'would the weather cooperate'. As the cars hit the track the rain began to fall and Daniel would have to start the race on slicks. By the end of the first lap the rain was falling harder and the decision was made to bring Daniel in for a tire change. The team however, was quite prepared. "When we thought about the potential for rain, Antonio (Ferrari) had the Eurointernational crew practice some pit stops" noted Daniel. "It paid off when we were able to complete a four-tire change in less than 20 seconds. Even though we came out in ninth spot - one short of where we needed to be, our main competitor in the series went a lap down in the process of completing their pit stop."
From there, it was a matter of Daniel just staying focused on completing the race. Conditions worsened but Daniel was able to move up a few positions and slotted into fourth. He would comfortably cross the line P4, not taking any chances just to reach the podium. "Today it was all about the championship" offered an obviously happy Morad at the post-race ceremonies. "We got that done with as little drama as possible. I was not about to risk anything going after my team mate who sat in third. I am very happy that he would score his first podium for the team and that we could wrap up the championship."
On Sunday Daniel would put an exclamation point on his championship season by taking the final race in commanding fashion. In the flag-to-flag victory Daniel would reset his own record for most wins in a season (6) as well as set a new race-lap record (1:23.464). Having won both the first and last race in the series, Daniel lead the championship for the entire season. "Today, the team told me to just go for it and they gave me the car to do it. I really would like to thank everyone at Eurointernational for a fantastic season." Over fourteen races Daniel would score two poles, ten podiums and five fastest laps.
All of this did not go unnoticed by those at the Red Bull Junior Team who selected Daniel to join the team part way through the season. He would race for the first time sporting the Red Bull livery during round five at San Jose scoring a second-place finish in race ten. As the first member of the Red Bull Junior Team to secure a championship in 2007, Daniel has been chosen the Red Bull Junior of the Week.
With the Formula BMW USA season over, Daniel will have an opportunity to relax before heading to Europe for some testing with Eurointernational in advance of the Formula BMW World Final. There will also be some fitness training at the Red Bull Junior Team headquarters in Austria.
"It has been an incredible season and we are really happy to have added the 2007 Championship to our 2006 Rookie Championship" offered Daniel. "The Formula BMW USA series has been a fantastic place to compete and to learn race craft." He continued, "I also have to thank Red Bull for the opportunities ahead of me and for their support. I would also like to thank my sponsors, Statik Mountain, Metro Directories, Maple Leaf Mortgages and Level Ten Communications for all their support throughout the season and of course, all my family, friends and supporters."
Media Contact: Chris Jameson // Level Ten Communications
More on the Durham County survey
I got a copy of the Durham County survey presentation. Click here for the PDF. Here is how some of the questions shook out:
$195 million school bond
For 45.4%
Against 28.8%
$.25 sales tax increase
For 57.7%
Against 24.9%
.4% transfer tax
For 22.6%
Against 60.1%
[Paraphrase] Regardless of how you would vote on these proposals, if you HAD to choose between them which one would you choose: $.25 sales tax increase OR .4% transfer tax.
Sales tax 59.2%
Transfer tax 32%
The survey presentation does not give the exact question wording for most of the questions, but they do provide some information. The sales tax and transfer tax questions were preceded by information about estimated first-year revenue from each and the impact they would have on property taxes for a $200,000 house. That is a fairly good explanation of the situation. However, in the voting booth that information will not be available.
Also of note was the sampling. While the survey was taken of registered voters, they were first screened to see if they were likely to vote in the 2007 elections. If respondents were probably or definitely not voting, they were excluded. That’s not the most accurate way to determine a likely voter (many people will lie to say that they will vote) but it’s better than nothing.
$195 million school bond
For 45.4%
Against 28.8%
$.25 sales tax increase
For 57.7%
Against 24.9%
.4% transfer tax
For 22.6%
Against 60.1%
[Paraphrase] Regardless of how you would vote on these proposals, if you HAD to choose between them which one would you choose: $.25 sales tax increase OR .4% transfer tax.
Sales tax 59.2%
Transfer tax 32%
The survey presentation does not give the exact question wording for most of the questions, but they do provide some information. The sales tax and transfer tax questions were preceded by information about estimated first-year revenue from each and the impact they would have on property taxes for a $200,000 house. That is a fairly good explanation of the situation. However, in the voting booth that information will not be available.
Also of note was the sampling. While the survey was taken of registered voters, they were first screened to see if they were likely to vote in the 2007 elections. If respondents were probably or definitely not voting, they were excluded. That’s not the most accurate way to determine a likely voter (many people will lie to say that they will vote) but it’s better than nothing.
MICHELIN PERFECT MATCH FOR MOSPORT: Porsche, Audi, Corvette and Ferrari Celebrate ALMS Wins
BOWMANVILLE, CANADA (Aug. 27, 2007) – Taking the lead with just seven minutes remaining in the Grand Prix of Mosport, the #7 Penske Porsche RS Spyder, driven by Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, extended their team’s race winning streak to seven with a victory here today, leading a Michelin sweep of all four American Le Mans Series classes.Finishing second with a malfunctioning gearbox after leading 96 of the 125 laps of the 2.459 circuit was the #1 Audi R10 driven by Allan McNish and pole winner Rinaldo Capello. Finishing third was the #6 Penske Porsche RS Spyder driven by Sascha Maassen and Ryan Briscoe, followed by the #2 Audi R10 driven by Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro.
Rounding out an all-Michelin top five was the #26 Andretti Green Racing Acura ARX-01a driven by Bryan Herta and Marino Franchitti.
COMMENTS
“We were in very good position and had the Porsches covered until we had a big problem coming out of the hairpin and the car got stuck in a gear,” said a disappointed Allan McNish. “The Michelin tires were working quite well and we were controlling the gap until then.”
“Mosport is a drivers’ track; very fast and very challenging,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin manager of motorsports N.A. “The confidence the drivers and teams have in their Michelin tires was obvious as we saw great competition and a number of new lap records in both qualifying and the race. The track changed over the weekend due to rain early in the weekend, but our teams and our Michelin engineers helped meet every challenge.”
CORVETTE SHOW IN GT1
Taking GT1 class honors was the #3 Corvette C6.R driven by Johnny O’Connell and Jan Magnussen. They were followed by their teammates Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta and the special Arctic White #33 Corvette C6.R driven by ‘The Mayor of Mosport’ Ron Fellows and Andy Pilgrim.
“The car was very good and the (Michelin) tires were absolutely great,” said GT winning co-driver Jan Magnussen. “
RISI 1-2 in GT2
Taking a major step in the GT2 team, driver and manufacturer championship battles, the Risi Competizione #62 Ferrari 430GT of Jaime Melo and Mika Salo scored their sixth victory of the season and leading an impressive 1-2 with their teammates Gianmaria Bruni and Eric Helary in the #61 Risi Ferrari. Following up their GT2 runner-up finish at Road America with another podium spot was the #18 Rahal-Letterman Porsche 911 GT3 RSR driven by Ralf Kelleners and Tom Milner.
“Thank you, Michelin, the tires helped us adjust the car from yesterday and it was very good,” said Mika Salo.
COMMENTS
Driver Romain Dumas on being part of the Penske Porsche RS Spyder program:
“Porsche made a very nice car last year and an even better car this year. The Penske team is one of the best in racing, they work very hard to make everything perfect and don’t forget the tires, Michelin has done a great job! Again today, everything was perfect.”
RISING STARTS IN FORMULA BMW
Canadian star Daniel Morad, a 17 year-old native of Toronto, capped off a great season with his sixth victory of the year and claimed the 2007 Formula BMW USA championship. Morad, the 2006 F/BMW Rookie of the Year, follows in the footsteps of his Eurointernational 2006 teammate Robert Wickens.
Esteban Gutierrez, 16, of Monterrey, Mexico took the Rookie of the Year honors based on his four race wins, nine poles, and runner-up spot in the championship. Michelin is the official tire of the Formula BMW championships worldwide.
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,000 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.
# # #
For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com // From Tonya Polydoroff (Michelin N.A.) and EMC Public Relations
FREE TICKETS to this weekend's Castrol Canadian Touring Car / CRDA event at Mosport
We have some FREE TICKETS (two-day passes) available for this weekend's (Sept. 1-2) Castrol Cdn. Touring Car / CRDA Presidents' Trophy event at Mosport International Raceway.
If you're able to stop by our Toronto office (5 Lower Sherbourne, Suite 203... at the corner of Lakeshore Blvd. and Lower Sherbourne St.) between now and Friday, we'd be happy to give you some. Please call (416) 962-7223 and ask for "Pedro" so we'll know to set some aside for you.
There will be several classes in action this weekend, including the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship, the Hankook Quebec Touring Cars, Formula Libre, and several others. Click here for the complete event schedule on the CASC-OR website.
Bad news for the transfer tax in Durham County
Durham County, one of a handful of counties prepared to put a transfer tax on the ballot this fall, just released the results of a poll conducted to gauge the opinion of Durham County voters on the transfer tax, sales tax, and other bond referenda. The news is not good for transfer tax proponents.
Only 23% of respondents favor a .4% land transfer tax. Meanwhile 58% are willing to vote for a quarter-cent increase in the sales tax. According to the state budget pass earlier this month a county can choose to have either the transfer tax or the sales tax increase, but not both, and only if it passes a county-wide referendum first.
Durham County also has a $195 million school bond on the ballot this fall. Support for the bond hovered around near 50% in the survey. 45% support the bond without a sales tax increase, and 51% support the bond with the sales tax increase.
The poll was conducted between August 10 and 20 by Hertzog Research. There were 365 respondents for a margin of error of +/- 5.1%.
This information comes from the News and Observer. I am currently attempting to get a complete copy of the results. You’ll get more information on this poll when I see more results.
*Something to think about…this poll was of all Durham County registered voters, not likely voters in an odd-year election. That is a much different electorate, but nevertheless the results don’t look good for the pro-transfer tax crowd.
Only 23% of respondents favor a .4% land transfer tax. Meanwhile 58% are willing to vote for a quarter-cent increase in the sales tax. According to the state budget pass earlier this month a county can choose to have either the transfer tax or the sales tax increase, but not both, and only if it passes a county-wide referendum first.
Durham County also has a $195 million school bond on the ballot this fall. Support for the bond hovered around near 50% in the survey. 45% support the bond without a sales tax increase, and 51% support the bond with the sales tax increase.
The poll was conducted between August 10 and 20 by Hertzog Research. There were 365 respondents for a margin of error of +/- 5.1%.
This information comes from the News and Observer. I am currently attempting to get a complete copy of the results. You’ll get more information on this poll when I see more results.
*Something to think about…this poll was of all Durham County registered voters, not likely voters in an odd-year election. That is a much different electorate, but nevertheless the results don’t look good for the pro-transfer tax crowd.
Is it Getting Breezy in Here?
No, seriously. Did somebody open a window?
Don't get us wrong, we still believe that both venture capitalists and biotech management teams deep down think that M&A is their best exit opportunity. But biotech IPOs seem to be gathering steam, as evidenced by the chart above, created from data we pulled from Windhover's Strategic Transactions Database.
We discuss the phenomenon in a little more depth in the upcoming September START-UP magazine. What caught our eye is the frequency with which we're seeing S-1 filings: just in the past week or so Archemix, Precision Therapeutics, and Biolex have filed to go public. There are a few big boys in the queue too, like Reliant Pharmaceuticals and Talecris Biotherapeutics.
In fact in the past year there have been significantly more IPOs filed than in the previous 12-month period, though quite a few have yet to price their offerings. Those IPOs that have priced in the past year have cumulatively raised 50% more cash from public investors. The averages shown above illustrate where that money is coming from: IPO hauls have been getting better.
Things aren't completely rosey. The pricing environment is still difficult, even for top-tier companies (see Jazz Pharmaceuticals). But we've suggested before that IPO values will increase, thanks at least in part to competition from Big Pharma acquirers and an influx of crossover private/public investors. It seems like that shift is already happening.
Don't get us wrong, we still believe that both venture capitalists and biotech management teams deep down think that M&A is their best exit opportunity. But biotech IPOs seem to be gathering steam, as evidenced by the chart above, created from data we pulled from Windhover's Strategic Transactions Database.We discuss the phenomenon in a little more depth in the upcoming September START-UP magazine. What caught our eye is the frequency with which we're seeing S-1 filings: just in the past week or so Archemix, Precision Therapeutics, and Biolex have filed to go public. There are a few big boys in the queue too, like Reliant Pharmaceuticals and Talecris Biotherapeutics.
In fact in the past year there have been significantly more IPOs filed than in the previous 12-month period, though quite a few have yet to price their offerings. Those IPOs that have priced in the past year have cumulatively raised 50% more cash from public investors. The averages shown above illustrate where that money is coming from: IPO hauls have been getting better.
Things aren't completely rosey. The pricing environment is still difficult, even for top-tier companies (see Jazz Pharmaceuticals). But we've suggested before that IPO values will increase, thanks at least in part to competition from Big Pharma acquirers and an influx of crossover private/public investors. It seems like that shift is already happening.
Canada’s First Mobil 1 Lube Express Opens in Sarnia; National expansion planned for successful United States program
SARNIA, August 24, 2007 – Imperial Oil Limited announced today that it opened its first Mobil 1 Lube Express in Canada. The Sarnia site is the first of multiple Mobil 1 Lube Express locations that will be opened across Canada over the next several years.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to provide Canadian customers with convenient service, expert advice and quality oil changes and preventative services with a high-performance product they know and trust,” said Jeff Diederichs, marketing manager, lubes and specialties at Imperial Oil. “Mobil 1 Lube Express is the fastest growing quick-lube operation in the United States and is consistent with Imperial Oil’s synthetic lubricants growth strategy in Canada.”
Imperial Oil and Frank Montanino, owner and operator, are pleased to open the first Mobil 1 Lube Express in Sarnia. A second facility will open in Toronto in Fall 2007.
Imperial Oil’s Mobil 1 lubricants are the official motor oil of NASCAR. An industry leader in the development of innovative, problem-solving lubricants, the Mobil 1 line of automotive lubricants includes motor oil, transmission fluid, gear lubricants and greases, and is one of a list of Imperial Oil performance products endorsed by North America’s number one motorsport.
For further information: Laura Bishop // NATIONAL Public Relations // (403) 531-0331 lbishop@national.ca
Bayer-Schering Biz Dev: Reorganized and Ready to Deal
We wondered aloud last autumn, in the wake of four multi-billion euro deals, about the impact that Europe's mid-sized pharma mergers could have on Big Pharma. Could the invigorated middle class of pharma, with its specialist bent and flexible dealmaking, eat Big Pharma's lunch?
Some of them certainly think so. Less than six months after joining Bayer-Schering Pharma as the newly-merged group’s SVP global business development and licensing, Michael Yeomans already has a clear message for the rest of the industry: look out, we’re coming—and we’re coming with aggressive deal terms (read: $$$$), an reorganized, 40-strong business development team across corporate and therapeutic-area-focused units, a love of specialist products and ambitions in biologics, too.
Bayer Pharma and Schering have pretty much sat out of the deal-making pool party since Bayer bought Schering in the middle of last year, distracted by re-structuring and spring-cleaning; just as other Euro mid-caps including UCB Group and Nycomed and Merck KGAA have done, too, as they digest Schwarz Pharma and Altana Pharma and Serono, respectively.
Now the slimmed-down, not-so-mid-cap Bayer-Schering reckons it's ready to dive in. Bayer-Schering isn’t just going to be supplementing internal R&D efforts with deals, it’s going to be replacing R&D efforts with deals, at least in some business units. “There are several areas where we'll emphasize in-licensing and acquisition rather than internal R&D", Yeomans told IN VIVO blog. The R&D budget won’t decrease in absolute terms, but Schering’s historical 18-19% of sales R&D spend will look more like 15-17% in the new group, albeit of a bigger revenue pot.
Sounds like it’s turning into spec pharma, right? Right. But that acquire-and-market model’s a bit out of date, given the cost and rarity of late-stage assets, and given that most niche drugs really aren’t that niche anymore. (Interested in discussing whether the spec pharma model is broken? Wait for September's IN VIVO.)
Still, Yeomans claims the company will have a competitive edge, in part thanks to the new BD structure he has spent the summer building. Each of Bayer-Schering’s six business units will have a team of licensing guys that decide in the first instance what to pursue; a corporate group will get involved only for selected deals “to add expertise, not as a hand-off,” Yeomans clarifies.
In other words, Bayer-Schering is creating a business development answer to GlaxoSmithKline’s R&D-focused CEDDs--centers of excellence for drug acquisition (CEDAs: our label, not theirs). They’re small, nimble, TA-focused, autonomous teams, although they don’t, apparently, have budgetary independence like GSK’s CEDDs. (Need a refresher? Recap on GSK’s CEDDs here, and indeed on GSK’s own attempt to extend the concept to business development here and in a previous blog-post).
Bayer-Schering says it has a winning combo of small-company advantages encouraged by the new structure—focus, flexibility, speed—and the financial clout of Bayer’s corporate coffers. “For the right projects, we can certainly be competitive,” he asserts.
That competitiveness may include something that most Big Pharma lack: a willingness to out-license. We hear that there are a few assets in the discovery and development pipeline that Bayer-Schering may like to part with.
Some of them certainly think so. Less than six months after joining Bayer-Schering Pharma as the newly-merged group’s SVP global business development and licensing, Michael Yeomans already has a clear message for the rest of the industry: look out, we’re coming—and we’re coming with aggressive deal terms (read: $$$$), an reorganized, 40-strong business development team across corporate and therapeutic-area-focused units, a love of specialist products and ambitions in biologics, too.Bayer Pharma and Schering have pretty much sat out of the deal-making pool party since Bayer bought Schering in the middle of last year, distracted by re-structuring and spring-cleaning; just as other Euro mid-caps including UCB Group and Nycomed and Merck KGAA have done, too, as they digest Schwarz Pharma and Altana Pharma and Serono, respectively.
Now the slimmed-down, not-so-mid-cap Bayer-Schering reckons it's ready to dive in. Bayer-Schering isn’t just going to be supplementing internal R&D efforts with deals, it’s going to be replacing R&D efforts with deals, at least in some business units. “There are several areas where we'll emphasize in-licensing and acquisition rather than internal R&D", Yeomans told IN VIVO blog. The R&D budget won’t decrease in absolute terms, but Schering’s historical 18-19% of sales R&D spend will look more like 15-17% in the new group, albeit of a bigger revenue pot.
Sounds like it’s turning into spec pharma, right? Right. But that acquire-and-market model’s a bit out of date, given the cost and rarity of late-stage assets, and given that most niche drugs really aren’t that niche anymore. (Interested in discussing whether the spec pharma model is broken? Wait for September's IN VIVO.)
Still, Yeomans claims the company will have a competitive edge, in part thanks to the new BD structure he has spent the summer building. Each of Bayer-Schering’s six business units will have a team of licensing guys that decide in the first instance what to pursue; a corporate group will get involved only for selected deals “to add expertise, not as a hand-off,” Yeomans clarifies.
In other words, Bayer-Schering is creating a business development answer to GlaxoSmithKline’s R&D-focused CEDDs--centers of excellence for drug acquisition (CEDAs: our label, not theirs). They’re small, nimble, TA-focused, autonomous teams, although they don’t, apparently, have budgetary independence like GSK’s CEDDs. (Need a refresher? Recap on GSK’s CEDDs here, and indeed on GSK’s own attempt to extend the concept to business development here and in a previous blog-post).
Bayer-Schering says it has a winning combo of small-company advantages encouraged by the new structure—focus, flexibility, speed—and the financial clout of Bayer’s corporate coffers. “For the right projects, we can certainly be competitive,” he asserts.
That competitiveness may include something that most Big Pharma lack: a willingness to out-license. We hear that there are a few assets in the discovery and development pipeline that Bayer-Schering may like to part with.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
NCATS: Cayuga event preview release from NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2007) – Every season in every racing series there are one or two drivers who, at the end of the year, look back and wonder about what could have been. They bring competitive equipment week in and week out. They qualify well. They run with the leaders or are the leader come race time, but for one reason or another, something jumps up and bites them and ends their day in disappointment.
Fast Facts
What: Subway 200 presented by Sicards Holiday Campers; NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race # 9.
Where: Cayuga Speedway Park, Nelles Corners, Ontario.
When: 8:05 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 1.
Scott Steckly (No. 22 Leafs TV/Erb Group Dodge Charger) most certainly could be a member of that club this season in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio. In the eight races this season, Steckly has an average starting position of 5.75. In fact, he has started inside the top 10 at each race. His average finishing position, though, drops to 12.5. He has two top-fives to go along with just four top 10s, but all of those have come in the last five races.
It would be easy for Steckly, racing out of Milverton, Ontario, to point fingers of blame at others or to complain about his luck, or lack thereof, but that is not at all where his mind is.
"I prefer to look at it from the standpoint that we have taken a good car to every race this season, but for some reason we didn’t get the finish we should have or could have," said Steckly. "We’ll just keep doing what we’ve been doing and know the breaks will eventually come."
That is a difficult mental state to reach. "Sure, it’s frustrating, but there is nothing we can do about it now," he said. "We’re obviously doing something right and not all of the bad luck is of someone else’s doing. We’ve got a stake in this, too."
It is that attitude which will serve Steckly well over the final four events of the 2007 season.
He currently holds the 10th slot in the championship point standings, 246 points off the pace of current leader Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford). More manageably, though, he is just 85 points behind seventh-ranked Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge).
While it can be difficult to make up huge chunks of ground in the point standings as the season progresses to its later stages, Steckly is not at all consumed with scoreboard watching at this juncture.
"We just want to go out and finish the season strong. We definitely want to pick up a win," said Steckly. "We’ll go out and perform like we have all season and get a break or two, that I’d like to think we have coming to us, then the points will take care of themselves."
The Canadian Tires Series is heading into the last third of the season with four races spanning the first four weekends of September. All four will come on oval tracks. The first of these final four events is the Subway 200 presented by Sicards Holiday Campers at Cayuga Speedway Park on Saturday, Sept. 1. This is the series’ second visit to Cayuga – the track was the site of the Canadian Tire Series’ inaugural event on May 26, which was won by Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet).
Steckly’s first response when asked his opinion on the 5/8-mile oval, located in Nelles Corners, southwest of Hamilton, Ontario, was more than a little measured.
"I don’t mind it too much," he stated, but he quickly qualified that statement. "I shouldn’t really put it that way. I didn’t used to like racing there a whole lot, but last May, we liked it a lot," he said. "We ran pretty well and I think we have figured out a pretty good set up. I’m actually looking forward to it. It’ll be another great race."
To help along the change of fortune, Steckly’s No. 22 Dodge will have a different look to it for three of the final four races this season.
"For the three Ontario races (Cayuga, Barrie Speedway and Kawartha Speedway), we’ve signed Leafs TV as a primary sponsor," Steckly said. "I think this is something we may be able to build upon for the future. Like I said before, if we can continue to bring a good car and catch a break, then I know we’ll be able to run well for them."
Leafs TV is a channel available within the footprint of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs that carries live games and other team-related programming.
GP3R 100 Post-Race Notes
- Two-timers … With his GP3R 100 win at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres; Kerry Micks (No. 02 Beyond Digital Imaging Ford) became the third two-time winner this season in the Canadian Tire Series. He joins J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Milwaukee Electric Tools Chevrolet) and Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet).
- Chevy still leads the way … Ford picked up its third win of the season, but Chevrolet still leads the Canadian Tire Series manufacturers’ standings with four victories in eight races. In the point standings, Chevy has 58 followed by Ford’s 49. Dodge is just off the pace at 45, while Pontiac has a total of 24 points. For each event, the winning car’s manufacturer receives nine points. The next-highest finishing maker gets six points and the third and fourth-place manufacturers are awarded four and three points, respectively.
- Mobil 1 Oil "Command Performance of the Race" Award … As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Micks collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 as a reward for his effort.
- Mopar Fast Five … This program awards the top-five finishing Dodges in each race. In this race, the Dodge of Pierre Bourque (No. 29 Driving.ca/Conservative Party of Canada Dodge) was the top finisher and was awarded $2,000 for his seventh-place showing. Scott Steckly (No. 22 Erb Group Dodge Charger) finished 8th overall, but was the second-highest finishing Dodge which earned him $1,250. Ranked third among the Dodge entrants was Jason Hathaway (No. 3 Snap-on Tools/Super 8 Dodge Charger), who logged a ninth-place finish. The fourth and fifth-highest finishing Dodges were those of Brad Graham (No. 19 Full Throttle Energy Drink/Challenger Freight Dodge Charger) and D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/Krispy Kreme Dodge Charger). They finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
- Lap Report … All told in 2007, the Canadian Tire Series has completed 1,156 laps in eight races. No driver has completed all of them, but championship point standings leader Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford) has come awfully close with 1,155. Peter Gibbons (No. 1 Canadian Tire/Mastercraft Chevrolet) has lost just three laps this season by completing a total of 1,153. Thomson has led the most laps with 295 followed by Kennington at 166 and Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) with 158.
- Ranger increases lead … With another second-place effort, his third on the season, Ranger (1,292) stretched out his lead in the championship point standings to 91 points over Thomson (1,201). Fitzpatrick holds the third slot with 1,190 and is followed closely by Micks (1,185) and Kennington (1,180).
Subway 200 NEWS & NOTES
- The race … This event is the ninth race for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio in 2007. It is the second of two visits to Cayuga Speedway Park this season.
- The track … This 5/8-mile oval track is one of Canada’s premier racing facilities, and proudly earned its nickname as "The Charlotte of the North" with door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper action. It offers both the speed of a superspeedway and the tight action of a short track. Over the years, Cayuga has challenged some of NASCAR’s legendary drivers in battles against Canada’s top stars. Dale Earnhardt Sr., Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Jack Hollis, Junior Hanley, and Don Biederman are just but a few of the names. Canada’s largest oval facility also has hosted current NASCAR stars, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Canadian Ron Fellows.
- Remembering yesterday, looking forward to tomorrow … That is the theme for this Saturday’s race. On hand to remember yesterday will be one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, Bobby Allison, who also has competed on the Cayuga track. He is a former champion of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and was named in 1998 as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers. The three-time Daytona 500 winner also was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993.
- Ticket information … Information for the Subway 200 presented by Sicards Holiday Campers can be obtained by calling the track at 1-866-670-1958 or by logging onto www.cayugaspeedwaypark.com. Free weekend camping is available compliments of Sicards.
Track layout: 5/8-Mile Oval. // Distance: 200 Laps, 125 miles. // Posted Awards: $70,434 CAD // 2006 winner: Inaugural event. // 2006 polesitter: Inaugural event. // Records: Qualifying: D.J. Kennington, May 26, 2007, 108.251 mph, 20.785 sec.; // Race: Don Thomson Jr., May 26, 2007, 54.381 mph, 2 hr 17 min 55 sec.
Pre-race schedule: Practice, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. // Qualifying, 4:30 p.m. Note: All times subject to change.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Top 10: 1. Andrew Ranger 1292; 2. Don Thomson Jr. 1201; 3. J.R. Fitzpatrick 1190; 4. Kerry Micks 1185; 5. D.J. Kennington 1180; 6. Peter Gibbons 1157; 7. Mark Dilley 1129; 8. Jason Hathaway 1075; 9. Derek Lynch 1057; 10. Scott Steckly 1046.
Track Contact: Frank Marchionda, (866) 670-1958.
By Shon Sbarra, NASCAR Public Relations
Jacques Villeneuve completes first NASCAR Truck Series test. Will race at Las Vegas on Sept. 22
HIGH POINT, N.C. (Aug. 28, 2007) – Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve made his debut behind the wheel of a Bill Davis Racing Toyota Tundra machine Monday and Tuesday at Chicagoland Speedway.
Villeneuve, who has not raced on an oval track since 1995, when he won both the Indianapolis 500 and the CART Indy Car Championship, spent Monday acclimating himself to the No. 27 truck. After watching teammate Mike Skinner run a few laps, Villeneuve hit the track in his Tundra. By his 12th lap, Villeneuve’s lap time was 31.67 seconds around the 1.5-mile tri-oval and within six tenths of a second of Skinner’s times. Villeneuve finished the day only two tenths of a second slower than the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship leader.
The team made a number of changes to the truck throughout the two-day test session, but Villeneuve never slowed. His lap of 31.00 seconds Tuesday proved to the other Craftsman Truck Series teams attending the test just how talented he really is.
“It was a great test,” Villeneuve said. “I missed racing on ovals, so it has been a lot of fun the last few days. I definitely learned a lot. The truck has a lot more grip then I thought it was going to have. It turns very well. It took a little getting used to at first, but I am very comfortable in it now.”
“Jacques did very well,” said BDR Truck Team Manager Mark Chambers. “He gives incredible feedback and adapted to the truck extremely well. Overall, I would have to say that he was very impressive on and off the track. He will be a great asset to BDR.”
Villeneuve will make his first career NASCAR start in the Craftsman Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. He will then compete in the remainder of the NCTS events for Bill Davis Racing. The 36-year old champion could possibly make his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut before the end of the 2007 season.
From: Amanda Smith Mathis // Bill Davis Racing Public Relations - NCTS
Villeneuve, who has not raced on an oval track since 1995, when he won both the Indianapolis 500 and the CART Indy Car Championship, spent Monday acclimating himself to the No. 27 truck. After watching teammate Mike Skinner run a few laps, Villeneuve hit the track in his Tundra. By his 12th lap, Villeneuve’s lap time was 31.67 seconds around the 1.5-mile tri-oval and within six tenths of a second of Skinner’s times. Villeneuve finished the day only two tenths of a second slower than the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship leader.
The team made a number of changes to the truck throughout the two-day test session, but Villeneuve never slowed. His lap of 31.00 seconds Tuesday proved to the other Craftsman Truck Series teams attending the test just how talented he really is.
“It was a great test,” Villeneuve said. “I missed racing on ovals, so it has been a lot of fun the last few days. I definitely learned a lot. The truck has a lot more grip then I thought it was going to have. It turns very well. It took a little getting used to at first, but I am very comfortable in it now.”
“Jacques did very well,” said BDR Truck Team Manager Mark Chambers. “He gives incredible feedback and adapted to the truck extremely well. Overall, I would have to say that he was very impressive on and off the track. He will be a great asset to BDR.”
Villeneuve will make his first career NASCAR start in the Craftsman Truck Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 22. He will then compete in the remainder of the NCTS events for Bill Davis Racing. The 36-year old champion could possibly make his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut before the end of the 2007 season.
From: Amanda Smith Mathis // Bill Davis Racing Public Relations - NCTS
IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource Next Event on Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series
NORWALK, Ohio (August 28, 2007) – Last season at the venerable drag strip in Cayuga, Ontario – Toronto Motorsports Park – fans witnessed the heated competition in Nitro Funny Car, a class returning to the Knoll Gas Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series after a 14-year layoff.
Dale Creasy Jr. and Jack Wyatt were No. one and two in the standings nearly all season long. As they entered the IHRA Canadian Nationals, only three races remained to earn championship points, making it a very important stop for both competitors.
While Creasy won the race and left with the points lead, the championship chase ended a month later in North Carolina as the closest in IHRA history. Creasy edged Wyatt by a mere five points.
This season as drivers enter the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource, September 7 – 9, Creasy has a somewhat controlling lead on the Nitro Funny Car class.
However, the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel battle is the closest it’s been since Paul Romine topped Clay Millican by seven points in 2000. After finishing runner-up that season, Millican went on to claim an unprecedented six-consecutive world championships.
This year, the story has changed. T.J. Zizzo, a relative newcomer, leads veteran driver Bruce Litton by only 28 points, less than two rounds of competition. It’s been a back-and-forth battle all season. Litton held the lead after defeating Zizzo in the Top Fuel final at the first race of the year. Zizzo came right back and won the second race, and held the lead until Litton took it back at the beginning of August, only to lose it at the very next race.
Other points chases to watch:
Scott Cannon Jr. leads the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class over veteran Ed Hoover
Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Mark Thomas leads three-time former world champ Rob Atchison, London, Ontario
Robert Patrick leads the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class by less than 50 points over Frank Gugliotta
The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will feature the Chevrolet “Night of Fire” Saturday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. The “Night of Fire” features the final round of professional qualifying under the lights and a jet-powered racecar to cap-off the day. Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will be held at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 7-9. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com or .
About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Live Nation, promotes professional, semi-professional and local level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2007, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and three in Canada. The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 70 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Live Nation’s entertainment-filled “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Kumho Street Warriorz. More information can be found at www.ihra.com.
About Live Nation
Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We strive to create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.”
From Travis Reynolds / IHRA
Dale Creasy Jr. and Jack Wyatt were No. one and two in the standings nearly all season long. As they entered the IHRA Canadian Nationals, only three races remained to earn championship points, making it a very important stop for both competitors.
While Creasy won the race and left with the points lead, the championship chase ended a month later in North Carolina as the closest in IHRA history. Creasy edged Wyatt by a mere five points.
This season as drivers enter the IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource, September 7 – 9, Creasy has a somewhat controlling lead on the Nitro Funny Car class.
However, the Knoll Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel battle is the closest it’s been since Paul Romine topped Clay Millican by seven points in 2000. After finishing runner-up that season, Millican went on to claim an unprecedented six-consecutive world championships.
This year, the story has changed. T.J. Zizzo, a relative newcomer, leads veteran driver Bruce Litton by only 28 points, less than two rounds of competition. It’s been a back-and-forth battle all season. Litton held the lead after defeating Zizzo in the Top Fuel final at the first race of the year. Zizzo came right back and won the second race, and held the lead until Litton took it back at the beginning of August, only to lose it at the very next race.
Other points chases to watch:
Scott Cannon Jr. leads the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified class over veteran Ed Hoover
Defending Alcohol Funny Car world champion Mark Thomas leads three-time former world champ Rob Atchison, London, Ontario
Robert Patrick leads the Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com Pro Stock class by less than 50 points over Frank Gugliotta
The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will feature the Chevrolet “Night of Fire” Saturday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. The “Night of Fire” features the final round of professional qualifying under the lights and a jet-powered racecar to cap-off the day. Professional eliminations begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
The IHRA Canadian Nationals presented by PartSource will be held at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 7-9. For more information, log onto www.ihra.com or .
About IHRA
Headquartered in Norwalk, Ohio, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), a division of Live Nation, promotes professional, semi-professional and local level racing opportunities for drivers at all levels. The $19.5 million Knoll Gas Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series is an 11-event North American professional drag racing circuit. In 2007, the series will be comprised of eight events in major cities throughout the United States and three in Canada. The Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Championship presented by Mr. Gasket consists of competition at national events and 40 events in six regional divisions, while IHRA’s Summit SuperSeries is conducted nearly every weekend at over 70 IHRA-sanctioned tracks. Providing a safe environment to develop future stars, IHRA offers the Junior Dragster Racing Series for youths ages 8-17. Stand-alone events include Live Nation’s entertainment-filled “Thunder Jam” shows and the street legal racing and lifestyle event series Kumho Street Warriorz. More information can be found at www.ihra.com.
About Live Nation
Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We strive to create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.”
From Travis Reynolds / IHRA
JACK ROUSH'S MOTHER, GEORGETTA, PASSES AWAY
Concord, N.C. (August 28, 2007) - Georgetta Roush, mother of Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush, passed away today at the age of 92. Georgetta Roush was a great fan of racing and was the designated owner for the No. 97 Nextel Cup entry from 1998 through 2005, including 2004 when the team won their first Nextel Cup championship. She was also the designated owner of the No. 26 Cup entry in 2006 and the No. 99 Cup entry in 2007. Roush is survived by her two sons, Jack and Frank, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
From Roush Fenway Racing
From Roush Fenway Racing
NASCAR team owner Gene Haas pleads guilty to $34 million tax fraud
And you thought you had tax troubles...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A NASCAR team owner pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding the government of more than $34 million in taxes. Gene Haas, the 54-year-old owner of Oxnard-based Haas Automation and NASCAR's Haas CNC Racing, agreed to pay a fine, back taxes and interests totaling more than $70 million, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Haas pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge for orchestrating a plan to list bogus expenses that could be written off as business costs and save Haas Automation millions in taxes. Haas, of Camarillo, was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 5. Prosecutors recommended he serve two years in federal prison and six months probation, according to his plea agreement. A call Monday to Haas Automation, which makes computerized machine tools, was not immediately returned.
... continued at the link above.
Pollster Profile: Braun Research
Our latest pollster to profile is Braun Research, which recently conducted a poll of Charlotte area residents for the Charlotte Observer and WCNC. Braun Research was established in 1995 and is located in Princeton, NJ. It is a marketing and public opinion research firm that conducts traditional telephone surveys, as well as, internet and mail surveys and focus groups. Paul Braun is the company’s President.
Before this poll I had never heard of Braun Research and there was very little information about Braun Research to be found by googling or by searching newspaper records. Their website has no client list. The company must focus on marketing research and do little political polling which would get picked up in the newspapers or campaign finance reports.
If anyone knows anymore about Braun Research, please let me know!
Before this poll I had never heard of Braun Research and there was very little information about Braun Research to be found by googling or by searching newspaper records. Their website has no client list. The company must focus on marketing research and do little political polling which would get picked up in the newspapers or campaign finance reports.
If anyone knows anymore about Braun Research, please let me know!
HAVE BUS WILL TRAVEL: Richmond Int'l Raceway... last race before The Chase!
Are you up for a racing road trip to see the last race before The Chase?
HAVE BUS WILL TRAVEL has packages available for the Sept. 7-8 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup / Busch Series race weekend at Richmond Int'l Raceway in Richmond, Virginia.
The trip includes 'transportainment' on a 'Race Ready' bus, two nights accomodation with breakfast, and of course tickets to the Nextel Cup (Sept. 8) and Busch Series (Sept. 7) at RIR. The bus leaves Ontario on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. and returns the night of Sunday, Sept. 9.
Prices (per person): Twin: $649 // Triple: $615 // Quad: $599 // Single: $775
If you're interested, visit HAVE BUS WILL TRAVEL on the web for more details, or call (705)437.3500 or 1.888.HAVEBUS (1.888.428.3287).
i-MOTO Wins the Grand Prix De Trois-Rivieres, with Home Town Hero’s Nick and Kuno Wittmer
TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec, Canada (August 2007) -- Team i-MOTO drivers Nick Wittmer and Kuno Wittmer (piloting the #31 Acura TSX) crushed the competition from start to finish at the Grand Prix De Trois-Rivieres (GP3R) race. Nearly leading every lap, Nick Wittmer rocketed away from the field from pole position. He quickly opened up to a five second lead in the race's first lap and both Nick Wittmer and Kuno Wittmer led by nearly 30 seconds at times throughout the race. They lost the lead only briefly during scheduled pit stops and led all but four of the race's 93 laps. Kuno Wittmer crossed the finish line 28.446 seconds ahead of the No. 76 Kensai Racing Acura TSX of Billy Johnson and Karl Thomson. Third place went to the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW 330i of Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood.
Also, Koni Challenge veteran Tom Long teamed up with team owner Glenn Bocchino in the #32 Acura TSX sister car, taking a strong 10th place finish.
After ten rounds of the Koni Challenge series, i-MOTO team drivers, Nick Wittmer is 3rd and Glenn Bocchino is 5th in the Drivers point’s standings. An Acura is 1st in Manufacturer point’s standings.
With only two races left in the season, the i-MOTO Racing team will continue the momentum at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on September 14th 2007.
i-MOTO Racing would like to thank our strategic partners; Acura, Cobalt Friction, Alpinestars, H&R Special Springs, Hytech Exhaust, SPC, Ecocomp Cybernation, and Exedy.
Visit http://www.i-motoracing.com/ for more news and future announcements.
NCATS: Bobby Allison will be at Cayuga Speedway this weekend
NELLES CORNERS, Ontario (Aug. 22, 2007) – This Labour Day weekend, the “Crown Jewel” of Canadian racetracks will shine again. For over 40 years, Cayuga Speedway Park has hosted some of the largest events in Canadian stock car competition.This 5/8-mile oval track is one of Canada’s premier racing facilities, it proudly earned its nicknames as “The Charlotte of the North” and the “The Crown Jewel” for its door-to-door, bumper-to-bumper action. It offers both the speed of a super speedway and the tight action of a short track.
Over the years, Cayuga has challenged some of NASCAR’s legendary drivers in battles against Canada’s top stars. The “Intimidator” Dale Earnhardt Sr., Rusty Wallace, Darrel Waltrip, Jack Hollis, Junior Hanley, and Don Biederman are just but a few of the names. Canada’s largest oval facility also has hosted current NASCAR stars, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Canadian Ron Fellows.
To help remember yesterday, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison will be on hand for all the festivities. Allison is a former champion of NASCAR’s premier series and was named, in 1998, as one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers. The three-time Daytona 500 winner also inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1993.
In its inaugural season, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio has provided racing fans all over Canada with exciting fender-to-fender finishes. The winners in four of the past five events have been determined in the final lap. See NASCAR Canadian Tire Series young stars J.R. Fitzpatrick and Andrew Ranger clash once again on the track.
They will be joined by veterans Don Thomson Jr., Ron Beauchamp Jr., Mark Dilley, Kerry Micks, Peter Gibbons and NASCAR Busch Series competitor D.J. Kennington. All of the drivers and teams in attendance will have the pedal to the metal in the Subway 200 presented by Sicards Holiday Campers as the 2007 season winds down and the championship battle heats up.
Free weekend camping is available compliments of Sicard Holiday Campers. For ticket and further information about the Subway 200 presented by Sicard Holiday Campers, visit our race schedule page or call 1-866-670-1958. Get there early for the Tailgate party and Midway.
RACE DAY: Gates Open at 11:00am, Pre-time trials at 2:30 - 4:00pm, Time trials at 4:30 - 5:15pm, Green Flag 8:05pm
Subject to change without notice. Check Race Schedule page, click "More" link for current times
BRIGHTON & MERRITTVILLE: 2007 Duel in the Dirt Battle Heating Up
Now in its 4th season the popular Duel in the Dirt Battle between Brighton Speedway’s Pro Stocks and Merrittville Speedway’s Hoosier Stocks is shaping up to be a fierce fight. With the home track events now out of the way the points are set to take the competitor in the final two legs of the Lawns We Do/DL Services 2007 Dual in the Dirt Championship.
“This is where is gets fun, the invaders come in and battle for the big bucks!” says Brighton Promoter Mark Rinaldi. The first of the combined events is a $1,000.00 to win, 50 lap race, to be help at Brighton Speedway on Sunday September 2nd during Brighton Speedway’s annual Labour Day Classic.
For the second combined event Brighton drivers will head west and descend upon the Merrittville Speedway in hopes of taking their top prize of $1,000.00 to win. That race will take place at the St. Catherine’s speed plant on Friday September 2nd.
It doesn’t end with the back to back $1,000.00 races! After all is said and done the one lucky driver that is deemed the over all Lawns we Do/DL Services Duel in the Dirt Champion will get an additional $1,000.00 for his/her combined efforts. “And we are sharing the wealth” says Merrittville Speedway GM Erica Bicknell. “This year the overall points fund has been increased and will pay back the top 20 positions, up from the traditional 10 spots in the combined points in years past” explains Erica. In total, drivers will compete for over $16,500.00 in purse and points fund for the 2007 Edition of the Duel in the Dirt.
To top it all off teams have a chance at some extra cash. All drivers that have 100% attendance for the races they were eligible to race will be entered into the hat for four $100.00 100% participation draws.
At present going into the two combined events Cody MacPherson of Merrittville holds down top position with a slim 2 point lead over Brighton hot shoe Ronnie “the Rocket” Wadforth. It will be tight points battles with less than 20 points separating the top 12 cars in the overall standings.
For more information on Brighton Speedway’s Labour Day Classic Weekend visit http://www.brightonspeedway.com/ or on Merrittville Speedway’s annual Rose Webber Memorial weekend visit http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/.
Preview: Quebec Road Racing Championship Series at Mosport this weekend
Touring Hankook and GT Championships will be back in Ontario this coming weekend for a doubleheader at the legendary Mosport track, about 100 km east of Toronto.
In Touring Hankook series, Pascal Bastien (Honda Civic Si-R) is still leading the championship (170 points) with a 7-point lead over Bruno Desfossés (Acura RSX Type-S). Four times winner this season, Desfossés has wowed the crowd at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières earlier this month where he started from the last line and climbed back to fourth position.
Mosport Park, stage of numerous international races, ranging from F1 (Canadian Grand Prix from 1967 to 1977) to Sport-Prototypes series (American Le Mans) is a very fast racetrack. Well-experienced drivers, such as two-times champion Jocelyn Hébert (Acura Integra Type-R) could very well move into the limelight in front of Bastien, Desfossés, or Nigel Heron (Acura Integra Type-R) and Gilbert Tomaro (Hyundai Tiburon V6), respectively 3rd and 4th in the overall standings.
After his win in Trois-Rivières two weeks ago, Touring Hankook defending champion Mathieu Audette will also have to be reckoned with in his Honda Civic.
Touring Hankook participants will take to the track six times over the weekend, starting on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM for a 20-minute practice session, with a qualifying round for the first race toward the end of the morning, and the 15-lap race in mid afternoon. Sunday, there will be a 10-minute warm-up at 9:00 AM, followed the qualifying round for the second race toward the end of the morning, and another 15-lap race in the afternoon.
For the GT Championship, Quebec drivers will share the track with those of the Ontario GT Championship. There will be a maximum of 50 cars on the starting-grid for both races. There might even be some drivers who won’t make the cut! In GT2 class, Bernard Franke (Volvo S60 Challenge) is presently leading in the points. 2006 champion, Franke has a 26-point lead over George Moutafis (BMW 330i). Normand Robert (Mazda RX-7) is third. In GT3, Serge Lapointe (Volkswagen Corrado) and Eric Durand (Dodge Neon ACR) are only one point apart (124 and 123). Jean-Louis Arpin (Honda CRX) is third with 107 points.This promises to be an other exciting race.
As with Touring Hankook series, GT participants will have a practice session, followed by a qualifying round and the first race on Saturday, and a warm-up session, a qualifying round and a second race on Sunday.
From Jean-François Ouellet // General-Manager F.S.A.Q.
In Touring Hankook series, Pascal Bastien (Honda Civic Si-R) is still leading the championship (170 points) with a 7-point lead over Bruno Desfossés (Acura RSX Type-S). Four times winner this season, Desfossés has wowed the crowd at Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières earlier this month where he started from the last line and climbed back to fourth position.
Mosport Park, stage of numerous international races, ranging from F1 (Canadian Grand Prix from 1967 to 1977) to Sport-Prototypes series (American Le Mans) is a very fast racetrack. Well-experienced drivers, such as two-times champion Jocelyn Hébert (Acura Integra Type-R) could very well move into the limelight in front of Bastien, Desfossés, or Nigel Heron (Acura Integra Type-R) and Gilbert Tomaro (Hyundai Tiburon V6), respectively 3rd and 4th in the overall standings.
After his win in Trois-Rivières two weeks ago, Touring Hankook defending champion Mathieu Audette will also have to be reckoned with in his Honda Civic.
Touring Hankook participants will take to the track six times over the weekend, starting on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM for a 20-minute practice session, with a qualifying round for the first race toward the end of the morning, and the 15-lap race in mid afternoon. Sunday, there will be a 10-minute warm-up at 9:00 AM, followed the qualifying round for the second race toward the end of the morning, and another 15-lap race in the afternoon.
For the GT Championship, Quebec drivers will share the track with those of the Ontario GT Championship. There will be a maximum of 50 cars on the starting-grid for both races. There might even be some drivers who won’t make the cut! In GT2 class, Bernard Franke (Volvo S60 Challenge) is presently leading in the points. 2006 champion, Franke has a 26-point lead over George Moutafis (BMW 330i). Normand Robert (Mazda RX-7) is third. In GT3, Serge Lapointe (Volkswagen Corrado) and Eric Durand (Dodge Neon ACR) are only one point apart (124 and 123). Jean-Louis Arpin (Honda CRX) is third with 107 points.This promises to be an other exciting race.
As with Touring Hankook series, GT participants will have a practice session, followed by a qualifying round and the first race on Saturday, and a warm-up session, a qualifying round and a second race on Sunday.
From Jean-François Ouellet // General-Manager F.S.A.Q.
The One-Two Punch in Venture Capital
Domain Associates’ Eckard Weber is now the master of the one-two punch in venture capital.He finds a drug candidate no one cares about; creates a low-infrastructure company around it; finds a second drug to exploit the infrastructure and spread the risk; sells off the lead drug through an acquisition; keeps the second drug and same management, forms a new company around it; develops it some more; then sells it off again. The first deal at a minimum pays back the investors; the second deal juices the returns. (For more on the story, see the September issue of START-UP).
So far, Weber’s done the 'one-two' three times. He started with Peninsula and follow-on Cerexa (the former to J&J for $245 million in April 2005, the latter to Forest Labs for $494 million plus a potential earn-out in December 2006); meanwhile there was Conforma Therapeutics and follow-on Cabrellis (the first sold to Biogen in May '06 for $150 million plus earn-outs, the second to Pharmion only six months later for $59 million plus earn-outs); and most recently with NovaCardia (stage one completed with the Merck $350 million acquisition last month; stage two just getting started on NovaCardia’s second product).
It’s a good model – and now it looks like others are taking up the idea, too. In June, Amgen won an auction to buy the polymer drug specialist Ilypsa, which had created a platform for drugs that soak up various chemicals, like phosphate and potassium. The most advanced drug, the Phase II ILY101, was an improved phosphate binder that sops up excess phosphates in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis. But there were other compounds behind it, including a nearly-clinical stage potassium binder also for use in CKD.
When Ilypsa went to partner ILY101 (they’d already sold Japanese rights, to Astellas), they got plenty of interest. And as the deal price rose, a few of the potential licensees broached the possibility of acquisition. Some of them wanted the whole company; others just the lead product. Amgen – with its erythropoietin-driven renal franchise under reimbursement assault -- was among the latter. It needed another product and was willing to pay what looked like an above-the-odds price to get it. $420 million later, Amgen had ILY101 and was ready to dispense with its other research programs (it’s watching its expenses pretty closely—a fact well known to the 2500 or so Amgenites who will be getting their pink slips), the 80 or so Ilypsa employees, and its headquarters.
Instead, some of Ilypsa’s investors – including original VC backers 5am Ventures and others -- apparently broached the topic of buying back the pieces of Ilypsa Amgen was about to chuck anyway. Amgen, which has done little out-licensing and fewer spinouts, seemed to like the idea since the parties have a preliminary deal on a newco. Amgen will get an equity stake and what looks like an inside track, if not exactly an option, on the next program, the potassium binder.
If so, Amgen’s doing the smart thing. It started by getting itself a Phase III product without hurting its P&L (it capitalized the vast majority of the purchase price). Now the VCs will spend their money on the next program while Amgen watches from a ringside seat.
If the drug passes its proof-of-concept test (Phase II trials should be fairly predictive on a non-absorbing drug that doesn’t fundamentally do anything to the body’s biology), Amgen will be able to pad its renal portfolio once again (and again without much affecting the P&L). It will, in effect, have backed into doing the kind of off-P&L R&D bankers and VCs have been urging pharma to do for years. And should it all work out, the VCs will go home pleasantly punch drunk.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Visitation / Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Elizabeth Dilley, mother of NCATS racer Mark Dilley
This morning, we learned the very sad news that Mrs. Elizabeth Dilley had passed away yesterday (Sunday) from cancer.
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to her husband Dave Dilley, their son Mark Dilley, and the entire family for their loss. The Dilleys have done so much to help others, so this really touches a nerve to hear of Mrs. Dilley's passing. We wish them comfort during this difficult time.
I received word through a family friend that it is OK to publish the visitation and funeral details so that more of their friends can have this information.
As well, it appears there is an online condolences 'book' on the funeral home's website, although as of right now, the 'book' for Mrs. Dilley hasn't been created.
Here are the details:
Visitation:
Wed. Aug. 29th 2-4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m.
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home
166 Main Street, N
Markham, ON
www.dixongarland.com/
Funeral:
Thursday, Aug. 30 at 11:00 a.m.
Grace Anglican Church
19 Parkway Ave
Markham, ON
In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to Markham/Stouffville Hospital Foundation.
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to her husband Dave Dilley, their son Mark Dilley, and the entire family for their loss. The Dilleys have done so much to help others, so this really touches a nerve to hear of Mrs. Dilley's passing. We wish them comfort during this difficult time.
I received word through a family friend that it is OK to publish the visitation and funeral details so that more of their friends can have this information.
As well, it appears there is an online condolences 'book' on the funeral home's website, although as of right now, the 'book' for Mrs. Dilley hasn't been created.
Here are the details:
Visitation:
Wed. Aug. 29th 2-4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m.
Dixon-Garland Funeral Home
166 Main Street, N
Markham, ON
www.dixongarland.com/
Funeral:
Thursday, Aug. 30 at 11:00 a.m.
Grace Anglican Church
19 Parkway Ave
Markham, ON
In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to Markham/Stouffville Hospital Foundation.
NC vs the nation
Just for fun let's compare the trend lines for the Republican presidential race in North Carolina and nationwide side-by-side. The hometown factor for John Edwards renders similar comparisons for the Democrats meaningless.
North Carolina
Nation (from pollster.com)
I tried to match the colors for the candidates' trend lines. The beginning of the NC trend corresponds with the blue vertical line on the nationwide graph that signifies the beginning of 2007.
As you can see, Fred Thompson is doing much better in North Carolina than he is nationally. Also, Rudy Giuliani is dipping nationally and in North Carolina. Same goes for McCain, who is falling off the charts. Nationally, Romney has not quite reached McCain's level, but he has in NC.
North Carolina
Nation (from pollster.com)
I tried to match the colors for the candidates' trend lines. The beginning of the NC trend corresponds with the blue vertical line on the nationwide graph that signifies the beginning of 2007.
As you can see, Fred Thompson is doing much better in North Carolina than he is nationally. Also, Rudy Giuliani is dipping nationally and in North Carolina. Same goes for McCain, who is falling off the charts. Nationally, Romney has not quite reached McCain's level, but he has in NC.
London Free Press: Delaware wants NCATS
Saturday's London Free Press has a story by Jim Cressman which quotes Delaware Speedway's Jeff Wilcox as saying that he hopes to lure the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series to the London, ON-area speedway. The story includes quotes from NCATS regular J.R. Fitzpatrick, who raced at Delaware on Friday evening. Delaware was the past home of the CASCAR Super Series, which evolved into the NCATS tour for 2007.
(h/t to Doug Perkins // Perkins Racing Team // Super Stock #3 for the heads-up!)
(h/t to Doug Perkins // Perkins Racing Team // Super Stock #3 for the heads-up!)
AIM Autosport / Infineon report
AIM Autosport was quick on track and in pit lane during the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. The rookie team struggled to fnd the right car setup during practice sessions on the 2.52-mile road course, but found the combination on race day. The setup and fast pitstops moved the team to seventh place, but an untimely late-race caution and resulting contact from another competitor dropped them back to ninth.
Mark Wilkins of Toronto drove first, starting the No. 61 Lexus-powered Riley Mk XI from eighth on the 17-car grid. He held the position through his double stint, supported by an aerodynamic change to the rear wing during his first pitstop. Brian Frisselle of Lynchburg, Va., took over during a fast stop with about an hour to go in the 2.5-hour race. He moved up to seventh and held a 20-second margin over the next car until a caution period started five minutes before the race finish. Frisselle was knocked off track during the restart, damaging the car's right-front suspension. He lost two positions and finished ninth.
AIM had an extra cheering contingent at the Sonoma race – guests of the team's primary sponsor, Exchange Traded Gold. The team is also supported by Barrick Gold Corporation, RBC Financial Group and Telus' Mike Network.
– aimautosport.com –
By Sylvia Proudfoot
Mark Wilkins of Toronto drove first, starting the No. 61 Lexus-powered Riley Mk XI from eighth on the 17-car grid. He held the position through his double stint, supported by an aerodynamic change to the rear wing during his first pitstop. Brian Frisselle of Lynchburg, Va., took over during a fast stop with about an hour to go in the 2.5-hour race. He moved up to seventh and held a 20-second margin over the next car until a caution period started five minutes before the race finish. Frisselle was knocked off track during the restart, damaging the car's right-front suspension. He lost two positions and finished ninth.
AIM had an extra cheering contingent at the Sonoma race – guests of the team's primary sponsor, Exchange Traded Gold. The team is also supported by Barrick Gold Corporation, RBC Financial Group and Telus' Mike Network.
– aimautosport.com –
By Sylvia Proudfoot
SUNSET SPEEDWAY: Aug. 25 report from Brian Watt
STROUD, ON - As the ’07 race season approaches its conclusions the racing at Sunset Speedway has intensified as the point’s races are up for grabs and we are seeing more and more carnage each week as all the contenders rev it up.
On Saturday night August 25th at Sunset Speedway under overcast skies and a full moon peering down we had a difficult evening for some of the front runners in all divisions as our Late Models had the night off. We would like to thank the fine folks from The Lefroy Marina for the night’s sponsorship and we welcomed the touring Ontario Sportsman Series for twin 50 lap features in the absence of our HF Smith Sunset Late Models.
The big winners on the night were # 57 Steve Lang in the Domino’s Pizza Thunder Cars, # 24 Joey McTavish in the carnage filled Fox’s Buns Master 4 Cylinder Road Runners, # 35 Myles Jamieson in the Fox’s 4 Funs and # 28 veteran Cascar past champion Steve Robblee won both 50 lap OSS features the second on a great late outside pass exiting turn 4. We welcomed back our regular starter Rob Robinson back from 2 weeks away and thank Mr. Bill for filling in for Rob in outstanding fashion welcome back partner.
THE DOMINO’S PIZZA THUNDER CARS
There were 23 Thunders ready to claim who was the winner on this evening and tame the 1/3 mile bull ring with action at every position. On the drop of the green flag # 57 Steve Lang grabbed the early lead and was looking for his second feature win of the year with # 4 Bily McDonald, # 17 John Haines, # 25 Kristi Wolfe and # 67 Rick Santagato in hot pursuit.
The first incident occurs on lap 4 when Santagato makes contact with wall and the result collecting # 51 Mark Adams, # 69 Rob Schuyler, # 8 Joseph Wise and Santagato then on the restart the 84 car of Ken Weisebrod dies losing power and coming to a halt on the back chute.
When the race goes green Lang was still the point man with Wolfe hot on his tail followed by Haines, # 58 Stan Coe and # 81 Dallas Hofscheier as the fast 5. At the halfway mark Lang still held the lead but Coe grabbed the runner up spot while Wolfe, Hofscheier and the red rocket 9 car of John Carlisle rounded out the top 5 but the 3 car of Ernie Fumerton was lurking in behind looking for any opportunity to move up.
On lap 18 # 55 Bruce Rankin and # 53 Mike Poulton Jr. get together in turn 2 with both summoned to the rear so on the restart Lang still manned the point but in behind was a mad scramble to be the best on this night as Coe was under siege as Fumerton and Carlisle waged a great battle for second and finally both passed Coe setting their sight’s on the 57 machine of Lang. As they exited turn 4 to accept the checkered flag from starter Rob Lang managed to hold off Fumerton while Carlisle, Coe and Wolfe were the top 5 on this night.
The heat winners were Fumerton, Adams, Rankin and Carlisle. Congratulations to Steve and his crew on his second victory of the ’07 season while in between victories has had some bad luck. It was nice to see an old friend the familiar # 51 of Mark Adams in attendance as it has been all to infrequent this year.
THE FOX’S BUNS MASTER ROAD RUNNERS
There were 28 of the best 4 cylinders in Ontario ready to tackle the fastest track in Ontario to see who would King for a night. On the drop of the green flag # 91 Kyle Lethbridge grabbed the point while # 7 Tom Pitman, #10 Doug Butler, # 04 Brian Love and # 5 Bill Gallant were the top 5. The first caution flew on lap 3 as Botting, Rivard, Young and Laronde got together and on the restart Lethbridge still held the point while in behind Butler, Love, # 24 Joey McTavish and Gallant the fast 5.
At the halfway point Lethbridge was still the leader but McTavish had welded himself to the back bumper of Lethbridge while # 48 Nick Brown, Butler and # 2 Ben Melenhorst were in hot pursuit. As the laps were winding down McTavish and Lethbridge were waging a war up front trading paint when finally McTavish finally got by and what appeared to be a deliberate take out attempt by Lethbridge got into a lapped car causing a chain reaction that would collect Mellenhorst and Brown ending both their night’s especially bad luck for Ben as he was clearly the fastest car on the track.
When the dust had settled Lethbridge was black flagged and subsequently suspended for three racing weeks in my mind there is no room for that type of behaviour and we were just lucky nobody was seriously hurt in a senseless act costing other drivers good finishes and sometimes a second place finish in a hard fought race is quite acceptable and come back next week and maybe you will win.
On the restart McTavish was the point man while in behind # 14 Ken Britt, Love, # 40 Mike Zinkie and Butler were the fast 5 and as they exited turn 4 to take the checkered flag McTavish and Britt were side by side and Love and Zinkie were also as they headed for the line and the top 5 were McTavish, Britt, Love,# 53 Todd Musker all the way from Ottawa and Zinkie.
The heat winners were Melenhorst, #00 Matt Henderson, Rivard and Britt. Congratulations to Joey and his crew on a great victory luckily missing that mishap on the front chute. Todd Musker from Ottawa who comes to Sunset at least once a year had a great finish coming home in the 4th spot in a strong field of 4 cylinders anywhere in the Province.
There was a black mark on the night and I hope there is a lesson learned from that incident for the future there is no room for malicious retaliation on the track some one will be seriously hurt.
THE 4 FUNS
On the drop of the green flag there were 30, 4 funs ready to take the green flag # 7 Barkley Rainey grabbed the lead while in behind # 48 Stacey Clarke, # 17 Patrick MacDonald, # 35 Miles Jamieson and # 00 Dan Nolan were the fast 5. Jamieson wasted little time taking the point and along came Nolan current point leader with MacDonald, Clarke and # 18 Jay Cutting the fast 5.
At the halfway mark Jamieson and Nolan were waging a great battle swapping the lead back and forth as they weave through the lapped traffic while in behind MacDonald held third but was under heavy pressure from the 9 car of Marshal Pender.
As they turned for home to take the checkered flag Jamieson held off the determined bid from Nolan while Pender ran out of laps and MacDonald, Cutting and # 87 Brad Carton were the fast 5 at the end. The heat winners were Pender, # 15 Brendan Doherty, # 6 Terry Woodley and Jamieson. Congratulations to Myles and his crew on another great run.
ONTARIO SPORTSMAN SERIES: 1ST 50 LAP EVENT: 1. # 28 Steve Robblee2. # 27 Matt Robblee3. # 80 Mike Hryniuk4. # 66 Brad Graham5. # 12 Mark Patrick
2nd 50 LAP EVENT: 1. # 28 Steve Robblee2. # 66 Brad Graham3. # 72 Ashley Tawes4. # 27 Matt Robblee5. # 82 Dave Connelly
Once again we would like to thank the folks at The Lefroy Marina for their nightly sponsorship and also the Ontario Sportsman Series for their 2 -50 lap events with some good side by side racing with veteran CASCAR past champion Steve Robblee winning both races.
Remember next week is the Labour Day week-end as the ’07 race season is winding down the point races are heating up in all divisions so we have all our regular classes as well as Hurricane Midgets and the ever popular School bus races to remind the kid’s that it’s back to school and Summer’s coming to a close.
If it rains Saturday Night we will run on Sunday @ 6pm as a rain date. There are only 6 racing dates left in ’07 so make sure you get your racing fix in before the long Winter sets in.
By BRIAN WATT // Sunset Speedway
On Saturday night August 25th at Sunset Speedway under overcast skies and a full moon peering down we had a difficult evening for some of the front runners in all divisions as our Late Models had the night off. We would like to thank the fine folks from The Lefroy Marina for the night’s sponsorship and we welcomed the touring Ontario Sportsman Series for twin 50 lap features in the absence of our HF Smith Sunset Late Models.
The big winners on the night were # 57 Steve Lang in the Domino’s Pizza Thunder Cars, # 24 Joey McTavish in the carnage filled Fox’s Buns Master 4 Cylinder Road Runners, # 35 Myles Jamieson in the Fox’s 4 Funs and # 28 veteran Cascar past champion Steve Robblee won both 50 lap OSS features the second on a great late outside pass exiting turn 4. We welcomed back our regular starter Rob Robinson back from 2 weeks away and thank Mr. Bill for filling in for Rob in outstanding fashion welcome back partner.
THE DOMINO’S PIZZA THUNDER CARS
There were 23 Thunders ready to claim who was the winner on this evening and tame the 1/3 mile bull ring with action at every position. On the drop of the green flag # 57 Steve Lang grabbed the early lead and was looking for his second feature win of the year with # 4 Bily McDonald, # 17 John Haines, # 25 Kristi Wolfe and # 67 Rick Santagato in hot pursuit.
The first incident occurs on lap 4 when Santagato makes contact with wall and the result collecting # 51 Mark Adams, # 69 Rob Schuyler, # 8 Joseph Wise and Santagato then on the restart the 84 car of Ken Weisebrod dies losing power and coming to a halt on the back chute.
When the race goes green Lang was still the point man with Wolfe hot on his tail followed by Haines, # 58 Stan Coe and # 81 Dallas Hofscheier as the fast 5. At the halfway mark Lang still held the lead but Coe grabbed the runner up spot while Wolfe, Hofscheier and the red rocket 9 car of John Carlisle rounded out the top 5 but the 3 car of Ernie Fumerton was lurking in behind looking for any opportunity to move up.
On lap 18 # 55 Bruce Rankin and # 53 Mike Poulton Jr. get together in turn 2 with both summoned to the rear so on the restart Lang still manned the point but in behind was a mad scramble to be the best on this night as Coe was under siege as Fumerton and Carlisle waged a great battle for second and finally both passed Coe setting their sight’s on the 57 machine of Lang. As they exited turn 4 to accept the checkered flag from starter Rob Lang managed to hold off Fumerton while Carlisle, Coe and Wolfe were the top 5 on this night.
The heat winners were Fumerton, Adams, Rankin and Carlisle. Congratulations to Steve and his crew on his second victory of the ’07 season while in between victories has had some bad luck. It was nice to see an old friend the familiar # 51 of Mark Adams in attendance as it has been all to infrequent this year.
THE FOX’S BUNS MASTER ROAD RUNNERS
There were 28 of the best 4 cylinders in Ontario ready to tackle the fastest track in Ontario to see who would King for a night. On the drop of the green flag # 91 Kyle Lethbridge grabbed the point while # 7 Tom Pitman, #10 Doug Butler, # 04 Brian Love and # 5 Bill Gallant were the top 5. The first caution flew on lap 3 as Botting, Rivard, Young and Laronde got together and on the restart Lethbridge still held the point while in behind Butler, Love, # 24 Joey McTavish and Gallant the fast 5.
At the halfway point Lethbridge was still the leader but McTavish had welded himself to the back bumper of Lethbridge while # 48 Nick Brown, Butler and # 2 Ben Melenhorst were in hot pursuit. As the laps were winding down McTavish and Lethbridge were waging a war up front trading paint when finally McTavish finally got by and what appeared to be a deliberate take out attempt by Lethbridge got into a lapped car causing a chain reaction that would collect Mellenhorst and Brown ending both their night’s especially bad luck for Ben as he was clearly the fastest car on the track.
When the dust had settled Lethbridge was black flagged and subsequently suspended for three racing weeks in my mind there is no room for that type of behaviour and we were just lucky nobody was seriously hurt in a senseless act costing other drivers good finishes and sometimes a second place finish in a hard fought race is quite acceptable and come back next week and maybe you will win.
On the restart McTavish was the point man while in behind # 14 Ken Britt, Love, # 40 Mike Zinkie and Butler were the fast 5 and as they exited turn 4 to take the checkered flag McTavish and Britt were side by side and Love and Zinkie were also as they headed for the line and the top 5 were McTavish, Britt, Love,# 53 Todd Musker all the way from Ottawa and Zinkie.
The heat winners were Melenhorst, #00 Matt Henderson, Rivard and Britt. Congratulations to Joey and his crew on a great victory luckily missing that mishap on the front chute. Todd Musker from Ottawa who comes to Sunset at least once a year had a great finish coming home in the 4th spot in a strong field of 4 cylinders anywhere in the Province.
There was a black mark on the night and I hope there is a lesson learned from that incident for the future there is no room for malicious retaliation on the track some one will be seriously hurt.
THE 4 FUNS
On the drop of the green flag there were 30, 4 funs ready to take the green flag # 7 Barkley Rainey grabbed the lead while in behind # 48 Stacey Clarke, # 17 Patrick MacDonald, # 35 Miles Jamieson and # 00 Dan Nolan were the fast 5. Jamieson wasted little time taking the point and along came Nolan current point leader with MacDonald, Clarke and # 18 Jay Cutting the fast 5.
At the halfway mark Jamieson and Nolan were waging a great battle swapping the lead back and forth as they weave through the lapped traffic while in behind MacDonald held third but was under heavy pressure from the 9 car of Marshal Pender.
As they turned for home to take the checkered flag Jamieson held off the determined bid from Nolan while Pender ran out of laps and MacDonald, Cutting and # 87 Brad Carton were the fast 5 at the end. The heat winners were Pender, # 15 Brendan Doherty, # 6 Terry Woodley and Jamieson. Congratulations to Myles and his crew on another great run.
ONTARIO SPORTSMAN SERIES: 1ST 50 LAP EVENT: 1. # 28 Steve Robblee2. # 27 Matt Robblee3. # 80 Mike Hryniuk4. # 66 Brad Graham5. # 12 Mark Patrick
2nd 50 LAP EVENT: 1. # 28 Steve Robblee2. # 66 Brad Graham3. # 72 Ashley Tawes4. # 27 Matt Robblee5. # 82 Dave Connelly
Once again we would like to thank the folks at The Lefroy Marina for their nightly sponsorship and also the Ontario Sportsman Series for their 2 -50 lap events with some good side by side racing with veteran CASCAR past champion Steve Robblee winning both races.
Remember next week is the Labour Day week-end as the ’07 race season is winding down the point races are heating up in all divisions so we have all our regular classes as well as Hurricane Midgets and the ever popular School bus races to remind the kid’s that it’s back to school and Summer’s coming to a close.
If it rains Saturday Night we will run on Sunday @ 6pm as a rain date. There are only 6 racing dates left in ’07 so make sure you get your racing fix in before the long Winter sets in.
By BRIAN WATT // Sunset Speedway
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