Mayor Raventstahl and the city historic review commission announced today 7 winners for its 25Th annual preservation awards. Two of the award recipients were the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview park, and the Willock house at 705 Brighton road on the North side. The two projects were both restoration efforts on buildings that were built in the late 1800's or the early 1900's. There were 3 criteria for the awards.
1. The project had to entail preservation, rehabilitation, renovation or restoration of the interior or exterior of a historic building or buildings, or new construction in a contextual design of a historic neighborhood.
2. The project must be located within the city of Pittsburgh
3. The project must have been completed before April 25, 2008.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Beaver County Schools Merger
Merger committees for the Center and Monaca school districts in Beaver County have agreed to a plan for a voluntary merger. They approved a proposal presented by Dr. Daniel Matsook, Superintendent of Center public schools. This follows more than two years of talks. Both districts would be brought together over a two year span starting with the elementary schools (K-5) the first year in the fall of 2009. Dr. Matsook says since the elementary school buildings
in Center are in better shape, they would house elementary students from both districts. Then in 2010, the Monaca and Center districts would have a building separately for secondary students (6-12). That would give another year to bring in a consultant to do a facilities study on the buildings.
Initial studies indicated the districts would realize a savings of $1.5 million dollars, with 5 to 6 mills of tax reduction for taxpayers. Dr. Matsook says some other issues still have to be worked out. One is the mercantile tax in Center Township. He says the township is home to the Beaver Valley Mall which brings in quite a bit of revenue for the tax. He say they are looking to the state to make sure that revenue does not go away.
Next for the Center and Monaca school districts merger will be a hearing by the state board of education in Beaver County in July. The state board of education will then make a recommendation to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education in September. Pending final approval, Dr. Matsook says the date for the official merger would be set for July 1, 2009.
The two school boards are expected to hold separate meetings on the merger June 12.
Deals of the Week: Kicking Off ASCO
This weekend marks the kick-off of that other highly anticipated biotech event: the big ASCO meeting in Chicago. Appropriately, this week's deal activity in biopharmaland involved several oncology-driven pacts, which we highlight below.Elsewhere during a short week, the US lost to England 0-2 in a
Nevermind, it's time for ...
Takeda/Alnylam: Those groggy from a long Memorial Day weekend woke up to Alnylam's latest non-exclusive technology deal, a $100 million up-front alliance with Takeda Pharmaceuticals in oncology and metabolic disease. Alnylam will also get $50 million in near-term technology transfer payments. Takeda once again illustrates its willingness to spend on new technologies--we took a closer look at the deal and Takeda's recent spate of business development activity, here--and Alnylam once again manages to pull down massive upfront payments for technology it can turn around and license again tomorrow. Takeda also gets first right of negotiation on Alnylam RNAi programs in Asia (excluding ALN-RSV01) should Alnylam look for a partner there. Alnylam gets a reciprocal first right of negotiation on any project Takeda decides to shop in the US and more importantly, gets opt-in rights for 50/50 co-dev/co-commercialization deals in the US on up to four Takeda programs of its choosing (exercisable all the way through the start of Phase III), plus the usual gajillion biobucks in development and commercial milestone payments.
BMS/Kosan: Not all observers were overwhelmed by the 230% premium BMS shelled out to acquire Kosan yesterday. After all, the biotech boasted a handful of clinical-stage compounds, including the Phase III Hsp90 inhibitor tanespimycin. As we argued here, however, Bristol probably didn't attach much value to Kosan's lead project--and we should note that Kosan itself had put partnering efforts for tanespimycin on the back burner while it looked for a deal for its Phase II epothilone program, not exactly a vote of confidence. The acquisition values Kosan at $190 million, net of its cash pile, not a bad result for a company trading at a valuation on par with the value of its liquid assets. BMS is more likely interested in Kosan's epothilone programs, which also have potential in neurodegenerative disease and were the subject of an insurance policy in the event the acquisition doesn't close. If the deal falls through BMS will license Kosan's epothilone programs and IP for $25 million upfront plus milestones and royalties. BMS has pioneered this class of drug, with its Ixempra franchise, approved last October for monotherapy and combination therapy in cancer settings.
OncoGenex/Sonus: After a seven month struggle to find strategic alternatives, Bothell, WA-based Sonus Pharmaceuticals announced it had found a solution: it would merge with the Canadian drug developer OncoGenex Technologies. The combined company will be called OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals and will be run by OncoGenex CEO Scott McCormack, with bases of operations in Vancouver and Bothell. The combined entity will have have three products in clinical trials, including Sonus’ only remaining clinical candidate SN-2310. Sonus’s share price had been in a tailspin since September 2007, when it became apparent that its lead candidate, the Phase III breast cancer drug Tocosol Paclitaxel, was associated with a greater number of side-effects than the existing breast cancer regimen it was supposed to improve upon. Partner Bayer Schering promptly cut ties with Sonus, and the biotech was forced to lay-off half of its workforce in the aftermath. But the company did have two valuable bargaining chips: its Nasdaq listing and a $29 million cash reserve. Those certainly captured OncoGenex’s interest. The Canadian company had hoped to go public last year, but axed those plans due to poor market conditions. And with just $4 million in cash to support its lead product, OGX-011, currently in Phase II clinical trials for refractory prostate cancer, OncoGenex certainly needed a cash infusion.
Takeda/Alnylam: Those groggy from a long Memorial Day weekend woke up to Alnylam's latest non-exclusive technology deal, a $100 million up-front alliance with Takeda Pharmaceuticals in oncology and metabolic disease. Alnylam will also get $50 million in near-term technology transfer payments. Takeda once again illustrates its willingness to spend on new technologies--we took a closer look at the deal and Takeda's recent spate of business development activity, here--and Alnylam once again manages to pull down massive upfront payments for technology it can turn around and license again tomorrow. Takeda also gets first right of negotiation on Alnylam RNAi programs in Asia (excluding ALN-RSV01) should Alnylam look for a partner there. Alnylam gets a reciprocal first right of negotiation on any project Takeda decides to shop in the US and more importantly, gets opt-in rights for 50/50 co-dev/co-commercialization deals in the US on up to four Takeda programs of its choosing (exercisable all the way through the start of Phase III), plus the usual gajillion biobucks in development and commercial milestone payments.
BMS/Kosan: Not all observers were overwhelmed by the 230% premium BMS shelled out to acquire Kosan yesterday. After all, the biotech boasted a handful of clinical-stage compounds, including the Phase III Hsp90 inhibitor tanespimycin. As we argued here, however, Bristol probably didn't attach much value to Kosan's lead project--and we should note that Kosan itself had put partnering efforts for tanespimycin on the back burner while it looked for a deal for its Phase II epothilone program, not exactly a vote of confidence. The acquisition values Kosan at $190 million, net of its cash pile, not a bad result for a company trading at a valuation on par with the value of its liquid assets. BMS is more likely interested in Kosan's epothilone programs, which also have potential in neurodegenerative disease and were the subject of an insurance policy in the event the acquisition doesn't close. If the deal falls through BMS will license Kosan's epothilone programs and IP for $25 million upfront plus milestones and royalties. BMS has pioneered this class of drug, with its Ixempra franchise, approved last October for monotherapy and combination therapy in cancer settings.
OncoGenex/Sonus: After a seven month struggle to find strategic alternatives, Bothell, WA-based Sonus Pharmaceuticals announced it had found a solution: it would merge with the Canadian drug developer OncoGenex Technologies. The combined company will be called OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals and will be run by OncoGenex CEO Scott McCormack, with bases of operations in Vancouver and Bothell. The combined entity will have have three products in clinical trials, including Sonus’ only remaining clinical candidate SN-2310. Sonus’s share price had been in a tailspin since September 2007, when it became apparent that its lead candidate, the Phase III breast cancer drug Tocosol Paclitaxel, was associated with a greater number of side-effects than the existing breast cancer regimen it was supposed to improve upon. Partner Bayer Schering promptly cut ties with Sonus, and the biotech was forced to lay-off half of its workforce in the aftermath. But the company did have two valuable bargaining chips: its Nasdaq listing and a $29 million cash reserve. Those certainly captured OncoGenex’s interest. The Canadian company had hoped to go public last year, but axed those plans due to poor market conditions. And with just $4 million in cash to support its lead product, OGX-011, currently in Phase II clinical trials for refractory prostate cancer, OncoGenex certainly needed a cash infusion.
Boston Scientific/Cryocor: Well, we’ve been down this path before haven’t we? We go on to suggest that Boston Scientific won’t be acquiring any new companies and then—just to spite us—Boston Scientific goes ahead and makes a deal. So we’re not going to point to the closing of BSX’s acquisition of CyroCor Inc. as anything more significant than it is: a $17.6 million bet on the potentially large atrial fibrillation ablation market. To be sure, Boston Scientific’s recent weight loss efforts have garnered nearly as much attention as Oprah’s. Over the past year, it’s sold off divisions, products or sizable equity stakes related to aortic aneurysm, brain monitoring, cardiac, vascular, drug pump, and hearing loss businesses. But the acquisition of CryoCor pits it against others—including St. Jude Medical—in the atrial fibrillation market. Read more on the area here. A group of CryoCor shareholders were resisting the deal and threatening a law suit, but the deal closed officially this week. Boston Scientific had entered into a collaboration with CyroCor last year to work jointly on cryoablation products. Boston Scientific already had a cryo-therapy balloon catheter while Crycor had the means to deliver the freezing agent, nitrous oxide. Together, the product would ablate or kill tissue near the pulmonary vein, which is seen as a likely initiation site of the electrical misfires that bring on atrial fibrillation. In April, St. Jude paid $92 million to acquire publicly traded EP Medsystems Inc., maker of workstations used in atrial fibrillation procedures.
blurry picture by invivoblogger chris morrison used under a creative commons license
blurry picture by invivoblogger chris morrison used under a creative commons license
The Point reopens
250 pairs of scissors were handed out this morning to help cut the ribbon on the partially renovated point state park. The old fortification has been buried, a new lawn planted, paths refurbished and decorative lights and benches installed. All of the work has been done on the city side of the park. It is the first phase of a 32 million dollar renovation. The next phase includes the addition of 7,000 trees, shrubs and plants to a “woodlands area”, improvements to the walkways along the river, a new café and the instillation of public art. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says the investment in the 36-acre park is this generation’s gift to the future to mark the city’s 250th anniversary. A public fund raising effort to refurbish the fountain at the point is to be launched soon.
UPJ Receives $12 Million from Anonymous Alumnus
Pitt-Johnstown has received the largest donation in its history--$12 million from an anonymous alumnus. The money will be put toward full scholarships for 40 students. Alumni and Community Relations Director Bob Knipple said the university is beyond excited to receive this contribution. The money is earmarked specifically for commuter scholarships. About 39% of UPJ's 3,200 students commute. Some eligibility requirements for the scholarship include that the student be in the top 15% of his or her high school class, has SAT scores of over 1200, and has a need for financial aid.
Chronic Wasting Disease not found in states deer and elk
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that there have been no cases of Chronic Wasting Disease found in Pennsylvania Deer and Elk. Chronic Wasting Disease of CWD affects the brains of Deer and Elk and is always fatal. This year marks the fifth consecutive year of testing for CWD, and the fifth year where there has not been a single case found. The Game Commission took 3,800 samples of brain tissue from hunter killed dear and had them tested. CWD has been found in the past in New York state and West Virginia so the game commission has instituted a policy where PA hunters who hunt out of state can only bring back the meat of the animal they kill and not the whole carcass.
Health Department Extends Comment Period on Coke Plant
The Allegheny County Health Department has extended the deadline for public comment on a proposed permit for a new U.S. Steel coke plant in Clairton from June 5 to June 19. This new coke plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art pollution controls and will significantly increase air quality in the Liberty/Clairton area. ACHD has already received over 100 comments since May 7. ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole says the comment period will conclude on the 19th with a public hearing as is standard on all permits potentially issued by the health department. After the comment extension, U.S. Steel is set to receive the permit on July 14 and will begin working on the 3-year project immediately.
Mini Tracking Poll Preview
We're going to have a mini tracking poll on Monday for the two potential Presidential match ups, and the Senate and Governor races.
Here are some of the interesting things to watch:
-We included Bob Barr for the first time, and he's having a definite impact in North Carolina. It's not necessarily what you would intuitively expect though.
-Elizabeth Dole's television ads are having a definite impact as well.
-Mike Munger might be helping Bev Perdue.
Tune in Monday. Now I'm off to 54 innings of baseball in 54 hours for the Cary Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Go Heels!
Here are some of the interesting things to watch:
-We included Bob Barr for the first time, and he's having a definite impact in North Carolina. It's not necessarily what you would intuitively expect though.
-Elizabeth Dole's television ads are having a definite impact as well.
-Mike Munger might be helping Bev Perdue.
Tune in Monday. Now I'm off to 54 innings of baseball in 54 hours for the Cary Regional of the NCAA Tournament. Go Heels!
Another Take on Money and the Senate Race
Yesterday I wrote that Kay Hagan would have trouble knocking off Elizabeth Dole if she couldn't match her dollar for dollar.
The Senate Guru, who maintains an outstanding blog here about the Senate races across the country wrote in to remind me that isn't necessarily the case.
He reported that in 2006 George Allen spent more than three times as much as Jim Webb, Jim Talent spent more than twice as much as Claire McCaskill, and Rick Santorum and Conrad Burns spent nearly twice as much as Bob Casey and Jon Tester respectively. In all four of those cases the Democratic challenger knocked off the Republican incumbent in spite of the money deficit.
I don't think the political climate is quite as toxic for Republicans this year as it was in 2006, mostly because GOP voters who were so unhappy with their party then that they didn't come out to vote seem more likely to come cast a ballot for President. Nevertheless, the Senate Guru has a good point- although it sure would be nice if Hagan could match Dole dollar for dollar!
The Senate Guru, who maintains an outstanding blog here about the Senate races across the country wrote in to remind me that isn't necessarily the case.
He reported that in 2006 George Allen spent more than three times as much as Jim Webb, Jim Talent spent more than twice as much as Claire McCaskill, and Rick Santorum and Conrad Burns spent nearly twice as much as Bob Casey and Jon Tester respectively. In all four of those cases the Democratic challenger knocked off the Republican incumbent in spite of the money deficit.
I don't think the political climate is quite as toxic for Republicans this year as it was in 2006, mostly because GOP voters who were so unhappy with their party then that they didn't come out to vote seem more likely to come cast a ballot for President. Nevertheless, the Senate Guru has a good point- although it sure would be nice if Hagan could match Dole dollar for dollar!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Ixempra Is Not Enough? BMS Buys Kosan
In an era where single Phase III projects are commanding up-front payments in the hundreds of millions of dollars--and even preclinical projects can boast the occasional triple-digit upfront payment--it might seem odd that Bristol-Myers Squibb only had to put up $190 million to acquire Kosan Biosciences.After all, Kosan not only has tanespimycin, a Phase III cancer drug in a hot therapeutic class--Hsp90 inhibition--but it also has several other programs, including two in the clinic: a Pfizer-partnered motilide project in Phase I for GI disorders and an unpartnered Phase II program based on epothilones, molecules that could potentially be used to treat the same cancers as taxanes like Taxol.
Still, the Bristol offer, at $5.50 per share, represents about a 230% premium over the company's beaten down share price before the deal ($1.65). The market--and, probably Bristol as well--attached very little value to Kosan's unpartnered projects beyond the epothilones.
Bristol, after all, has pioneered the class of drugs with its first-in-class Ixempra, which was approved as both mono- and combination-therapy after a six-month priority review in October 2007. Landing KOS-584 and two other candidates, one in the clinic and one ready for an IND filing, helps solidify its leadership position in the epothilone field.
That the deal isn't centered more around tanespimycin probably says more about the difficulties Kosan has faced with this particular molecule than it does about the value of Hsp 90 inhibitors generally. Remember Hsp90, as a target class, has been the driver of multiple buyouts and licensing deals in the past couple years. Among them: Pfizer's acquisition of Serenex and Infinity's co-dev deal with MedImmune.
Instead it probably has more to do with the fact that tanespimycin is one of several Hsp90 inhibitors in development that are derived from geldanamycin, a natural compound relatively high in molecular weight that might have trouble reaching an important hotbed of Hsp90 activity, the interior of the mitochondria (a phenomenon we wrote about here).
We concede that this is a debatable point. Kosan's Helen Kim (then a recently appointed president and CBO brought onboard in January '08 to focus the firm on a few key assets and since promoted to CEO) told us in early March of this year that it remained unclear whether there would be a clear-cut difference in efficacy between geldanamycin-derived compounds and synthetic compounds inhibiting Hsp90. (Our feature on the Hsp90 space can be found here.)
Still at that time the market was ascribing zero value to any of Kosan's programs: it was trading around the same value as its cash on hand. In the end whether you believe Kosan was fairly or unfairly valued by BMS will depend on what you think of tanespimycin's chances.
Meanwhile, Kosan's epothilones are clearly commanding more interest. These molecules target a tumor cell's skeletal infrastructure, much like taxanes, but via a different mechanism, and molecules like Ixempra have been specifically designed to overcome drug resistance. As we noted in this December 2007 piece about Bristol's oncology business, Cornelius and co. are counting on Ixempra as a key part of its strategy to regain leadership in the cancer arena.
Kosan's epothilone programs--which also have potential in neurodegenerative disease--were also the subject of an insurance policy in the event the acquisition doesn't close. If the deal falls through BMS will license Kosan's epothilone programs and IP for $25 million upfront plus milestones and royalties.
Oddly enough that $25 million was the same up-front paid by Roche when it licensed Kosan's same programs back in 2002 (that deal dissolved in October 2007 after Ixempra's approval).
We wonder what Kosan was worth then.
253 Immigrants Take Oath of Allegiance
In a ceremony commemorating Pittsburgh's 250th Anniversary, 253 immigrants from 63 different countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens today at the Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial in Oakland. The ceremony was an official Federal Court Proceeding with Honorable Judge Donetta Ambrose presiding and administering the Oath of Allegiance. Lisa Tragni, an Italian immigrant who now lives in Pittsburgh, says she is excited to become a citizen to have her right to vote in the upcoming election. Many of the immigrants became citizens for their spouses or other family members who already had citizenship within the states. The general feeling among the immigrants was that of happiness and relief at completing the long naturalization process.
Mt. Lebanon Student in National Spelling Bee Spells Word Correctly, Is Eliminated
Jeremy Pople, a twelve year old seventh grader at Mellon Middle School in Mt. Lebanon earned a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., and this morning he spelled his word correctly in the first round of the oral competition. Pople was asked to spell "kaiserdom" and after asking for the word's country of origin (Germany) he completed the spelling successfully. However, because the first round also includes a written exam, Pople's cumulative score was not high enough to get him to the second round. Pople said he wasn't nervous about competing or disappointed about the elimination, saying most first-time competitors at the national level are eliminated early. He says he'll be back next year.
BNY Mellon Adds 135 Jobs in Pittsburgh
The Bank of New York Mellon will be adding 135 new jobs to their treasury services group in Pittsburgh. These operations positions bring the total number of new BNY Mellon Pittsburgh jobs to 755 since 2007. Rob Gruendl, the BNY Mellon spokesman in Pittsburgh says this region is great place to hire with its large pool of graduates and strong work ethic. BNY Mellon has announced that it will create between 1,000 and 2,000 new jobs in Pittsburgh over the next eighteen months. Gruendl says there is no correlation between the data center that was supposed to open in Armstrong county but never came to light and the new jobs announced today.
2 Grants awarded to College Students
The Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Commercialization Initiative or PATCI (Pat-Key) is a grant program run by the Technology Collaborative as a way to fund new start up companies run by College students. The two part grant program focuses on Quality of Life and assisted living technologies. Two Student Teams, one from Penn State Main Campus and Lehigh University received $30,000 grants to fund their new companies.
The Lehigh University team is developing a product that will make it easier for elderly people to plug and unplug appliances with the help of magnets.
The Penn State team is developing a Wireless Sensor Network for health care Facilities. For example, if a nursing home patient who needs monitoring leaves their room the nurses would be alerted to that.
The first part of the grant system gives money to teams to develop their ideas, and the second part delivers a $30,000 dollar grant to implement and start to manufacture the product. Nine teams took part in the first stage of the project with only 3 teams applying for the second stage of the grant.
The Lehigh University team is developing a product that will make it easier for elderly people to plug and unplug appliances with the help of magnets.
The Penn State team is developing a Wireless Sensor Network for health care Facilities. For example, if a nursing home patient who needs monitoring leaves their room the nurses would be alerted to that.
The first part of the grant system gives money to teams to develop their ideas, and the second part delivers a $30,000 dollar grant to implement and start to manufacture the product. Nine teams took part in the first stage of the project with only 3 teams applying for the second stage of the grant.
1,000 dead fish found in Central Indiana Creek
On Tuesday May 27Th The State Department of Environmental Protection was alerted to a fish kill in Big Yellow Creek in Central Indiana. Approximately 1,000 fish were killed mysteriously. The DEP didn't find anything in the water and believes whatever killed the fish has moved on. The DEP alerted the Central Indiana Water Authority who subsequently shut off their water intake and tested the water. They have since opened the intake because they were unable to find anything harmful in the water. The dead fish ranged from trout, carp, suckers, minnows, and small mouth bass.
It all comes down to money
I've said repeatedly the last few weeks that Kay Hagan can compete with Elizabeth Dole this fall- but that's predicated on her being able to compete with Dole dollar for dollar.
That's looking pretty tough right now. Dole clearly is concerned about the latest poll numbers, and is already on the air now in May.
We'll be releasing new numbers on the Senate race Monday. We're already in the field, and from what I've seen Dole's ads are having an impact.
Two years ago the Democrats up in DC blew a big chance in North Carolina by not financially supporting Larry Kissell against Robin Hayes. There's no doubt that even a small amount of DCCC money would have put him over the top.
Hagan is definitely on the DSCC's radar. Whether they really go to bat for her and get her the resources she needs is likely to be a determining factor in whether she can pull the upset this fall.
That's looking pretty tough right now. Dole clearly is concerned about the latest poll numbers, and is already on the air now in May.
We'll be releasing new numbers on the Senate race Monday. We're already in the field, and from what I've seen Dole's ads are having an impact.
Two years ago the Democrats up in DC blew a big chance in North Carolina by not financially supporting Larry Kissell against Robin Hayes. There's no doubt that even a small amount of DCCC money would have put him over the top.
Hagan is definitely on the DSCC's radar. Whether they really go to bat for her and get her the resources she needs is likely to be a determining factor in whether she can pull the upset this fall.
City/County Consolidation
The Pennsylvania House Urban Affairs Committee gathered in Pittsburgh Yesterday to take testimony on a proposal to merge Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Duq's Mark Nootbaar reports some of the committee members took a very active role in collecting the information.
Listen to the full story here.
Listen to the full story here.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Campaign Finance Bill Gets Preliminary Approval
Proposed campaign contribution limits have been approved by the Pittsburgh City Council in a tentative vote. Individuals could contribute a maximum of $2,000. Political action committees would be limited to $5,000. The bill would also require the city to post online who's donating to which campaigns. Sponsor Bill Peduto says Pittsburgh is the last big city without campaign finance reform.
Fellow councilman Jim Motznik voted against the bill, saying campaign finance reform should come at the state level. Peduto says he agrees, but thinks Pittsburgh shouldn't wait for it to happen. He also says he hopes Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will support the legislation, saying a veto would send a "bad message to the country."
Fellow councilman Jim Motznik voted against the bill, saying campaign finance reform should come at the state level. Peduto says he agrees, but thinks Pittsburgh shouldn't wait for it to happen. He also says he hopes Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will support the legislation, saying a veto would send a "bad message to the country."
Kos on Automated Polling
Kos has a good, broad look at automated polling and its detractors.
I don't claim that IVR is an ideal method for conducting 80 question campaign benchmark polls, or academic surveys of similar length and complexity.
But for calling an election? I think it would be virtually impossible to take a dispassionate look at polling in the primaries, particularly among companies who have polled ten or more contests, and say that live interviewers have done better than automated pollsters.
I don't claim that IVR is an ideal method for conducting 80 question campaign benchmark polls, or academic surveys of similar length and complexity.
But for calling an election? I think it would be virtually impossible to take a dispassionate look at polling in the primaries, particularly among companies who have polled ten or more contests, and say that live interviewers have done better than automated pollsters.
We're moving
On Thursday, May 29, Inside Track Communications is moving from our offices on Lower Sherbourne, to our new offices just north of the Distillery District (all in Toronto). The City of Toronto has bought up much of the harbour lands east of Yonge St. and is going to redevelop it into parkland and buildings. Our Lower Sherbourne St. location is going to be a park.
It will likely be Friday before everything is up and running at our new location, including our phone system and internet access. We apologize for the disruption and look forward to being available again on Friday (May 30).
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series: St-Eustache Preview
Autodrome St-Eustache event preview
The Race: National Kodak 250
The Place: Autodrome St. Eustache, St. Eustache, Quebec
The Date: Saturday, May 31
The Time: 8:35 p.m. ET
TV Schedule: Noon, June 15 (delayed)
Track Layout: .400-mile paved
Race Purse: $68,511 CAD
2007 Winner: Inaugural Event
2007 Pole: Inaugural Event
Schedule: Saturday: Practice 1 - 3 p.m., Time Trials 5:15 p.m.
Track Contact: Jason Labrosse (450) 472-6222 or jlabrosse@autodrome.ca
Newcomer Simone Looks for Early Success Against Idols
The view of idols is different when looking at them eye-to-eye. As a younger man, Anthony Simone (No. 95 Crown Modular Chevrolet) watched many of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series veterans from afar and aspired to be like them. Now, at 28 years of age, it is time to not only be like them, but also to beat them.
“I’ve seen Don Thomson Jr., Peter Gibbons and Mark Dilley race dozens of times and thought of how cool it would be to have that kind of success,” Simone said. “Now to be able to race against them is pretty awesome.”
Last season, Simone, out of Holland Landing, Ont., had the opportunity to witness races at both Barrie Speedway and Kawartha Speedway which left him with the desire to get in on the action.
“I saw those two races in person and I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to go do that.’ The competition is so tight from top to bottom,” he said.
Having spent the last two seasons racing late models at Flamboro Speedway, Simone also wanted to move from Saturday night racing and back into a professional series.
“The way this series is run is top notch and the way the drivers approach it is very professionally,” he stated. “The whole thing is full of great programs from marketing to preparation to racing on the track.”
Simone points to the success of defending series champion Andrew Ranger (No. 27 Wal-Mart/Tide Ford) as his blueprint. Ranger came into last season with little experience in Canadian Tire Series cars, but quickly adapted and played to his strength – the road courses.
Prior to his stock car experience of the last two seasons, Simone, like Ranger, has a long open-wheel racing and karting history. He is a multi-time Ontario champion in the World Karting Association as well as the 2000 Skip Barber National champion.
There are four road racing events on the Canadian Tire Series schedule in 2008. The result of those events can make or break a season. Ranger’s great success in those events powered him to the title last season.
“Andrew really kind of dominated in those four races and my background is very similar to his – very heavy on the road racing side of things,” said Simone.
Simone does like the mix of tracks on the schedule.
“It’s really a great combination of tracks in this series. There’s the road courses, which vary from flat to hilly. The ovals, even though I have not raced on many of them, are great places to race,” he said. “That Barrie race last year was crazy. It’s all about survival there. I’m kind of looking forward to going there.”
Aside from experience on both ovals and road courses, another variable is equipment. Worries are few in that area, too. The car was purchased from Don Thomson Jr. and is basically the car in which Thomson won five consecutive CASCAR Super Series titles.
“The car is a proven piece,” said Simone. “Donnie won all those titles with this thing and the guy really knows how to take care of a car. I have no doubt that this car is fast.”
Races are won and lost on pit road – while cliché, it is true. Most Canadian Tire Series events require a pit stop and Simone’s team has been practicing them one to two times per week since early in the year.
“As soon as we collected all the tools and equipment we needed; we started practicing. That is an area where we could make rookie mistakes and we need to try and avoid it.”
All the pieces of the puzzle seem to be in place for Simone to make an immediate impact – confidence, relevant experience and a solid car are all in place.
“Honestly, our goal is to run up front and finish inside the top 10 at the end of the year,” Simone stated. “Obviously, if a lot of stuff starts breaking and our luck goes down the tubes, then I can’t think of a reason we won’t do that. I don’t want to sound arrogant or anything, but that is how I feel.”
Admittedly, Simone felt the butterflies just prior to driver introductions, but a calm, stoic façade is all that anyone saw.
“I always get them. Just anxious, I suppose,” he said while grinning.
With one race in the books, Simone’s fortune-telling skills proved quite keen. He qualified well; starting eighth on the grid. In the race, he shook the butterflies and finished 10th.
Kennington Needs a Change of Luck
The 2008 season got underway the same as the 2007 one ended for a pair of drivers, but on different ends of the spectrum. Scott Steckly (No. 22 Erb Group Dodge) won both races while D.J. Kennington (No. 17 Castrol/NPP Dodge) had both races end early after engine failures.
Kennington’s team had brought a brand new car to Cayuga Motor Speedway. In fact, it had never been on a track. Everything on it was shiny and new.
After qualifying second, Kennington went out and led the first lap, thus earning the five bonus points. The new car was getting rave reviews.
“Everything went according to plan, we got us those points and settled into a comfortable race pace,” said Kennington.
That comfortable pace quickly became a little more taxing after just 17 laps. The brand new car and motor experienced a problem.
“Every part in that car is brand new, it’s just a failure and that happens sometimes,” Kennington said. “We had a problem in this race last year but went on to finish a close second in the championship, so we’re not deterred at all; this Castrol Dodge will be running back up front next week.”
News & Notes
The Race: This event is the second of 13 races on the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Sirius Satellite Radio schedule. It is the first year the track is hosting the series.
The Procedure: The starting field is 26 cars, including provisionals. The first 23 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 250 laps (100 miles).
The Track: The facility includes a .400-mile paved oval, a .125-mile drag strip and a 1.7km road course. The track was founded in 1965 as Fury Speedway de Fabreville, and the current configuration has been hosting various types of racing since 1970.
Post-Race Notebook: Crown Jewel 200 at Cayuga Speedway
Happy new year … Kent Nuhn (No. 18 Interstate Batteries/The Fuel Genie Chevrolet) experienced every mechanical malfunction under the sun in 2007, but 2008 has brought a new sponsor in Interstate Batteries, a new car and a new beginning. Nuhn had a series career-best finish of ninth.
Haven’t heard the last from them … Fitzpatrick Motorsports teammates Don Thomson Jr. (No. 4 Home Hardware Chevrolet) and J.R. Fitzpatrick (No. 84 Fitzpatrick Motorsports Chevrolet) had a great start to the event. They qualified first and third, respectively. However, the good times ended there. After leading 44 laps early on, Thomson slid back in the pack for a 13th-place finish, while Fitzpatrick battled tire gremlins and finished 16th.
Mobil 1 Command Performance of the Race Award … As a reward for his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series victory at Cayuga, Scott Steckly (No. 22 Erb Group Dodge) collects $1,500 from Mobil 1 for his effort. It was his second career win. He also won last year’s finale at Kawartha Speedway.
Mopar Fast Five … This program awards the top five finishing Dodges in the race. In the Crown Jewel 200, Steckly was the top-finishing Dodge and thus earned a $2,000 bonus. Mark Dilley (No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge) finished third overall and was the second-highest finishing Dodge, which earned him $1,250. Picking up $1,000 for finishing as the third-highest Dodge was Derek Lynch (No. 77 Allied Steel/Canadian Shield Dodge). Collecting $500 for placing fourth among the Dodge entrants was Dave Whitlock (No. 39 Dickies/NMT Dodge). Rounding out the top five Dodges was Brad Graham (No. 19 Full Throttle Dodge), which pays him $250.
POWERade Power Move … Jason White (No. 21 Powder Ventures Chevrolet) improved his position the most in the event. After starting 19th, he equaled his series career-best finish of 8th. As a result, he earned a $1,000 award.
Tow Truck in a Box Free Pass Award … In a new program in 2008, the driver who receives a free pass during the event and has the highest finish earns $1,000. Lynch found himself a lap down in the early going, but rebounded to finish sixth for his fifth straight top-10 finish dating back to last season.
Autodrome St. Eustache Trucking Right Along
Autodrome St. Eustache continues, this year, as part of the NASCAR Home Tracks family.
Late last year, Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Alan Labrosse purchased the track.
“I’ve done everything else you can do in motorsports during my career, so I thought it was time to own a racetrack,” said the long-time racer, event promoter and manager.
In doing so, he continued the track’s participation in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
In a bit of a twist from the usual late model program, the .4-mile track’s top division is the Cummins Pro-Trucks which will be on display this Saturday prior to the Canadian Tire Series’ National Kodak 250.
Last season’s track and provincial champion, Guy Jubinville, finished 14th out of the thousands of participants in NASCAR’s grassroots, local-racing program which encompasses tracks throughout the United States and Canada.
In 33 starts, Jubinville logged 15 wins, 27 top fives and 29 top 10s. Participation in the division ranges from 22 to 28 trucks.
New in 2008, under the new ownership, there is increased prize money and the track champion will get a 2009 start in a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event. Also, many renovations have been completed with more to come.
From Shon Sbarra / NASCAR
Health Department to Host Recycling Day
The Allegheny County Health Department will be hosting a drop-off collection of hard-to-recycle items this Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the ACHD Clack Health Center in Lawrenceville. People are encouraged to bring items like televisions, computers, appliances, and tires to the event where they can be handed over to the ACHD along with a nominal fee to be recycled. ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole says the event is a great way to prevent littering which can have serious environmental and public health consequences. Two similar events are scheduled for June and September. For more information, people are encouraged to call the Pennsylvania Resources Council at 412-431-4449.
NASCAR issues penalty following NASCAR Canadian Tire Series opener at Cayuga Motor Speedway
From NASCAR:
NO. 60 NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES CREW CHIEF PENALIZED FOR RULES VIOLATIONS AT CAYUGA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 28, 2008) – NASCAR has penalized Brad McIntyre, crew chief of the No. 60 team that competes in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, as a result of rules infractions found Saturday at Cayuga Motor Speedway in Hamilton, Ontario.
The No. 60 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 20E-5.10 and 20E-5.10.1A (Unapproved metering blocks) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post race inspection on May 24.
As a result, McIntyre has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008.
and....
RESULTS FOR NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES RACE AT CAYUGA MOTOR SPEEDWAY REVISED DUE TO POST RACE RULES VIOLATIONS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 28, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that the unofficial results of Saturday’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Cayuga Motor Speedway in Hamilton, Ontario have been revised due to rules violations discovered during post-race inspection of the third-place car – the No. 60 driven by Ron Beauchamp Jr.
The No. 60 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 20E-5.10 and 20E-5.10.1A (Unapproved metering blocks) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post race inspection on May 24.
The violations dropped Beauchamp to 23rd in the official race finish. All other drivers in the event moved up one position in the official finishing order.
NO. 60 NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES CREW CHIEF PENALIZED FOR RULES VIOLATIONS AT CAYUGA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 28, 2008) – NASCAR has penalized Brad McIntyre, crew chief of the No. 60 team that competes in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, as a result of rules infractions found Saturday at Cayuga Motor Speedway in Hamilton, Ontario.
The No. 60 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 20E-5.10 and 20E-5.10.1A (Unapproved metering blocks) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post race inspection on May 24.
As a result, McIntyre has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2008.
and....
RESULTS FOR NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES RACE AT CAYUGA MOTOR SPEEDWAY REVISED DUE TO POST RACE RULES VIOLATIONS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 28, 2008) – NASCAR announced today that the unofficial results of Saturday’s NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Cayuga Motor Speedway in Hamilton, Ontario have been revised due to rules violations discovered during post-race inspection of the third-place car – the No. 60 driven by Ron Beauchamp Jr.
The No. 60 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 20E-5.10 and 20E-5.10.1A (Unapproved metering blocks) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post race inspection on May 24.
The violations dropped Beauchamp to 23rd in the official race finish. All other drivers in the event moved up one position in the official finishing order.
CCTCC: Shannonville Shootout event preview
The feature of the Shannonville Shootout on May 31/June 1 is the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented By Toyo Tires. The Championship’s second event of the season will run on Shannonville’s challenging long track configuration and fans can expect another epic battle. The Championship visits Shannonville as part of eight different weekends in Ontario and Quebec.
The Championship is comprised of two Classes of racecars; Touring Class in the entry level Class where only minimal modifications are allowed while Super Touring Class has the powerful heavily modified racecars with engines up to 2.8 litres. Drivers can start out in Touring Class and develop their racecraft and then move up to Super Touring Class when they are ready for more power and speed. Both Classes compete at the same time on the track and challenge for supremacy in their Class which creates an amazing show.
After the first event, Andrew Wojteczko leads the points in Super Touring Class in his Lexus. He will be challenged by 2007 Champion Charles-Andre Bilodeau in his BMW. Joining the Championship for this event will be a pair of Hondas from Lombardi Racing; their lead driver is the current top Touring Car racer in North America, Kuno Wittmer, from Montreal. They will be challenged by several two car teams including VMC (Honda), Krikorian Motorsports (Subaru), 8Legs Racing (BMW) and Fastco Racing (Hyundai).
Andre Rapone leads in Touring Class. He and his brother Anthony are part of the Durabond Racing Team and have shown to be very competitive against more experienced drivers. The 2007 Touring Class Champion, Alain Lauziere will be back with his Mini to battle for the win. They will be challenged by TwoFast Racing (two Mazdas), Mad Macs Racing (two Nissans) and even a Mercedes-Benz.
The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented by Toyo Tires is sponsored by CSC Racing, Toronto TireCraft, Sigma Promotions and Mad Macs Communications + Graphics. The Championship is supported by Racing Radios, President Champagne, Leaf Racewear, Impact Custom Canopy and RaceDV.
The Championship features Canada’s Best Drivers Racing Today’s Hottest Touring Cars.
From John Bondar // CCTCC
The Championship is comprised of two Classes of racecars; Touring Class in the entry level Class where only minimal modifications are allowed while Super Touring Class has the powerful heavily modified racecars with engines up to 2.8 litres. Drivers can start out in Touring Class and develop their racecraft and then move up to Super Touring Class when they are ready for more power and speed. Both Classes compete at the same time on the track and challenge for supremacy in their Class which creates an amazing show.
After the first event, Andrew Wojteczko leads the points in Super Touring Class in his Lexus. He will be challenged by 2007 Champion Charles-Andre Bilodeau in his BMW. Joining the Championship for this event will be a pair of Hondas from Lombardi Racing; their lead driver is the current top Touring Car racer in North America, Kuno Wittmer, from Montreal. They will be challenged by several two car teams including VMC (Honda), Krikorian Motorsports (Subaru), 8Legs Racing (BMW) and Fastco Racing (Hyundai).
Andre Rapone leads in Touring Class. He and his brother Anthony are part of the Durabond Racing Team and have shown to be very competitive against more experienced drivers. The 2007 Touring Class Champion, Alain Lauziere will be back with his Mini to battle for the win. They will be challenged by TwoFast Racing (two Mazdas), Mad Macs Racing (two Nissans) and even a Mercedes-Benz.
The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship Presented by Toyo Tires is sponsored by CSC Racing, Toronto TireCraft, Sigma Promotions and Mad Macs Communications + Graphics. The Championship is supported by Racing Radios, President Champagne, Leaf Racewear, Impact Custom Canopy and RaceDV.
The Championship features Canada’s Best Drivers Racing Today’s Hottest Touring Cars.
From John Bondar // CCTCC
Lockheed Martin to create 135 jobs in Johnstown
Lockheed Martin announced it will be bringing a supply chain business from Greenville, South Carolina to Johnstown starting in September. The Supply Chain will be located across the street from the existing Lockheed Martin AeroParts inc. The relocation will occur over a three month period ending in November. The supply chain business will bring an expected 135 jobs to the region with an average salary of $60,000.
North Carolinians and Collective Bargaining
As readers of this site doubtless well know, you can get polls showing that the public has diametrically opposed positions on the same issue depending on how questions are worded.
The most recent example of this has been the issue of collective bargaining. Civitas says North Carolinians are against it. Andy Perrin, a professor at UNC, says they support it.
Since we ran the poll for Dr. Perrin (he wrote the questions and processed the data) we obviously would tend to think that the results from his version are more accurate. Nonetheless the discussion at both sites is worth reading.
Update: Rob Schofield also discussed this issue at the Progressive Pulse.
The most recent example of this has been the issue of collective bargaining. Civitas says North Carolinians are against it. Andy Perrin, a professor at UNC, says they support it.
Since we ran the poll for Dr. Perrin (he wrote the questions and processed the data) we obviously would tend to think that the results from his version are more accurate. Nonetheless the discussion at both sites is worth reading.
Update: Rob Schofield also discussed this issue at the Progressive Pulse.
LINCOLN ELECTRIC HELPS POWER SCOTT DIXON TO INDY 500 WIN
IRL Chooses Lincoln Electric as "Official Welder"
Cleveland – Native New Zealander Scott Dixon raced to the winner's circle at this weekend's 92nd annual Indianapolis 500. And Lincoln Electric help put him there, as the company is the exclusive provider of welding equipment and products to Scott Dixon and his team at Chip Ganassi Racing. The race was held on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Lincoln Electric, the IRL's "Official Welder," powered not only the winning Indy 500 team but all Indy Racing League (IRL) teams competing in the Indy 500.
"Serving as the IRL's 'Official Welder' is a clear example of Lincoln's commitment to the IRL and the racing industry," said Mickey Holmes, Lincoln Electric's manager of motorsports marketing. "Our goal is to serve as a true partner with these teams by offering them excellent products, ongoing support, technical advice and working with them to continuously make the sport safer. They learn from us and we learn from them. It's a win-win partnership."
Providing welding equipment and products to the winning Indy 500 team is just the tip of Lincoln Electric's involvement with this annual race that pulls in more than 400,000 fans from across the country. Throughout May leading up to race day, the company sponsors free on-site welding services and trackside assistance to all teams in the track's designated welding garage operated by Lincoln distributor Indiana Oxygen and Lincoln Electric. 2008 marks the 20th year of Lincoln Electric's commitment at the track.
Welding support for the Indy 500 winner and other IRL teams, the on-site welding garage as well as a Hard Charger Award for the Indy 500 driver that moved up through the starting grid to lead the race are examples of Lincoln Electric's committed involvement with the IRL and the racing industry. Besides offering superior quality welding products, the company also provides race teams with ongoing technical support both on and off the track.
And Lincoln's involvement in racing extends not only to the IRL but to NASCAR, NHRA and ARCA. The company serves as the major contingency sponsor for NHRA Championship Drag Racing, as well as NASCAR's Busch Grand National Series. Lincoln Electric is a series sponsor for the ARCA Truck Series and an equipment sponsor for the ARCA ReMax Series.
The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. For more information, visit www.lincolnelectric.com.
From Joe Mosbrook // Robert Falls & Co. PR
Cleveland – Native New Zealander Scott Dixon raced to the winner's circle at this weekend's 92nd annual Indianapolis 500. And Lincoln Electric help put him there, as the company is the exclusive provider of welding equipment and products to Scott Dixon and his team at Chip Ganassi Racing. The race was held on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Lincoln Electric, the IRL's "Official Welder," powered not only the winning Indy 500 team but all Indy Racing League (IRL) teams competing in the Indy 500.
"Serving as the IRL's 'Official Welder' is a clear example of Lincoln's commitment to the IRL and the racing industry," said Mickey Holmes, Lincoln Electric's manager of motorsports marketing. "Our goal is to serve as a true partner with these teams by offering them excellent products, ongoing support, technical advice and working with them to continuously make the sport safer. They learn from us and we learn from them. It's a win-win partnership."
Providing welding equipment and products to the winning Indy 500 team is just the tip of Lincoln Electric's involvement with this annual race that pulls in more than 400,000 fans from across the country. Throughout May leading up to race day, the company sponsors free on-site welding services and trackside assistance to all teams in the track's designated welding garage operated by Lincoln distributor Indiana Oxygen and Lincoln Electric. 2008 marks the 20th year of Lincoln Electric's commitment at the track.
Welding support for the Indy 500 winner and other IRL teams, the on-site welding garage as well as a Hard Charger Award for the Indy 500 driver that moved up through the starting grid to lead the race are examples of Lincoln Electric's committed involvement with the IRL and the racing industry. Besides offering superior quality welding products, the company also provides race teams with ongoing technical support both on and off the track.
And Lincoln's involvement in racing extends not only to the IRL but to NASCAR, NHRA and ARCA. The company serves as the major contingency sponsor for NHRA Championship Drag Racing, as well as NASCAR's Busch Grand National Series. Lincoln Electric is a series sponsor for the ARCA Truck Series and an equipment sponsor for the ARCA ReMax Series.
The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. For more information, visit www.lincolnelectric.com.
From Joe Mosbrook // Robert Falls & Co. PR
Carnegie International: Aitken's Migration
A project that was little more than a brainstorm five months ago is now attracting attention as one of the Carnegie International's best works. DUQ's Mark Nootbaar has more on how the piece "Migration" came to be.
Listen to the full-length story here.
Listen to the full-length story here.
CDN. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP: Rocket Rally takes 2008 Subaru STi to debut win
Calgary, AB - Subaru Rally Team Canada driver Patrick Richard and co-driver Alan Ockwell dominated the field to a decisive first place finish at the second round of the Canadian Rally Championship, the Rocky Mountain Rally, held this past weekend near Calgary, AB. Driving an an all-new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, this event marked the Canadian debut of this vehicle in rally competition, and the first time that the new 2008 platform has seen overall victory in North American rallying.
"I am pleased to see that we've started off the new partnership with Subaru Canada with the absolute best result possible," explained Richard. The top overall finish included a field that included the 2007 Canadian Rally Champion, Antoine L'Estage, and the 2008 rally America Championship points leader, Andrew Comrie-Picard, who are both qualifying for a position in the 2008 Summer X Games 14. "We still have more work to do but this means that we are in a great position for the overall championship. The team worked really hard and this is a great way to start off."
The first place finish vaults Richard and co-driver Ockwell to the top of the Canadian Rally Championship standings, and marked the first time that co-driver Ockwell has stood on the very top of the overall podium.
"I've been rallying a long time," explained Ockwell, "and I'm fortunate to be part of this hard working team that not only has brought the first North American victory to Subaru with a brand new 2008 Impreza WRX STi, but also the first victory of my career." Although Ockwell's partnership with Richard is relatively new, he joins a long list of top co-drivers who all have earned their first overall victories with Richard.
"I hope that this is the first of many more victories," exclaimed Ockwell. Co-drivers typically sit beside the driver while they drive as fast as possible, on closed public roads that they have never competed on before. The co-driver must dictate to the driver every single curve and nuance in the road surface, to ensure that they do not go off the road and crash, all the while trying going as fast as is possible.
"Alan did a flawless job and all I can say is, he deserves the win," said Richard.
While this event marked the debut of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the partnership between Subaru Canada and Richard's rally preparation business, Rocket Rally Racing, additional support for the team was announced this weekend as well. New sponsors coming on board for 2008 include Vision-X Lighting and Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT), who join long-time Richard supporters Crawford Performance and Motul Lubricants. All four companies are providing product support for the 2008 Subaru Rally Team Canada and Rocket Rally Racing.
All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings. More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at www.carsrally.ca .
"I am pleased to see that we've started off the new partnership with Subaru Canada with the absolute best result possible," explained Richard. The top overall finish included a field that included the 2007 Canadian Rally Champion, Antoine L'Estage, and the 2008 rally America Championship points leader, Andrew Comrie-Picard, who are both qualifying for a position in the 2008 Summer X Games 14. "We still have more work to do but this means that we are in a great position for the overall championship. The team worked really hard and this is a great way to start off."
The first place finish vaults Richard and co-driver Ockwell to the top of the Canadian Rally Championship standings, and marked the first time that co-driver Ockwell has stood on the very top of the overall podium.
"I've been rallying a long time," explained Ockwell, "and I'm fortunate to be part of this hard working team that not only has brought the first North American victory to Subaru with a brand new 2008 Impreza WRX STi, but also the first victory of my career." Although Ockwell's partnership with Richard is relatively new, he joins a long list of top co-drivers who all have earned their first overall victories with Richard.
"I hope that this is the first of many more victories," exclaimed Ockwell. Co-drivers typically sit beside the driver while they drive as fast as possible, on closed public roads that they have never competed on before. The co-driver must dictate to the driver every single curve and nuance in the road surface, to ensure that they do not go off the road and crash, all the while trying going as fast as is possible.
"Alan did a flawless job and all I can say is, he deserves the win," said Richard.
While this event marked the debut of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the partnership between Subaru Canada and Richard's rally preparation business, Rocket Rally Racing, additional support for the team was announced this weekend as well. New sponsors coming on board for 2008 include Vision-X Lighting and Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT), who join long-time Richard supporters Crawford Performance and Motul Lubricants. All four companies are providing product support for the 2008 Subaru Rally Team Canada and Rocket Rally Racing.
All rounds of the Canadian Rally Championship are televised nationally and internationally. For television times, please check your local listings. More information about the Canadian Rally Championship can be found at www.carsrally.ca .
PHOTOS: Ryan Litt at the Little 500, courtesy of Ed Moody
Thanks to Ed Moody for passing along these photos of Canadian Ryan Litt from the LIttle 500.
The press release on Ryan's great outing is here.
CENTRE FOR SPEED: Lounsbury Checkered Flag Opener Set For June 1
SHEDIAC, NEW BRUNSWICK -- With a little help from Mother Nature, the Centre for Speed, Atlantic Canada's Super Speedway and 'etro Moncton's Playground of Power', will finally kick off its 2008 stock car racing and motorsports season with the Lounsbury Chevrolet Checkered Flag Day Season Opener on June 1st at 2:30 p.m., the first of 24 stock car and motorsports events to be presented at the CFS during 2008.
On June 1st, the first 100 children through the front gate will receive a FREE checkered flag to cheer on their favorite drivers in the first points championship stock car racing event of the season for all area Sportsman, Street Stock and 4-cylinder Thundercat and TigerCat competitors.
Due to inclement weather over the past two weekends, the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100 lap event originally scheduled for May 25th will be presented at a yet to be determined date later in the season.
Apart from the 12 regular points championship events in 2008, the CENTRE will also host the CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Tour (MPST) on August 3rd, the highly anticipated September 20th visit from the New England Super Modifieds, as well as the third season of the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman and two events featuring the Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modifieds Tour plus Monster Trucks and Legends racecars.
For those who like 'crash and bang' action, the CENTRE will also present two BIG 'Monster Madness' shows featuring Monster Trucks and stunt drivers on August 15th and 16th as well as several 'Days of Destruction' events featuring Full Contact, Endurance, and other novelty racing in addition to Demolition Derbies.
The action gets underway on June 1st at 2:30 p.m. with the Lounsbury Chevrolet Checkered Flag Day Season Opener with points championship racing open to all area Sportsman, Street Stock, TigerCat and Thundercat 4-cylinder competitors. Front gates and grandstand will open at 1:30 p.m.
Full schedule details are available at http://www.centreforspeed.com/
From Tim Wile, Promoter & General Manager // CENTRE for Speed
On June 1st, the first 100 children through the front gate will receive a FREE checkered flag to cheer on their favorite drivers in the first points championship stock car racing event of the season for all area Sportsman, Street Stock and 4-cylinder Thundercat and TigerCat competitors.
Due to inclement weather over the past two weekends, the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman 100 lap event originally scheduled for May 25th will be presented at a yet to be determined date later in the season.
Apart from the 12 regular points championship events in 2008, the CENTRE will also host the CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Tour (MPST) on August 3rd, the highly anticipated September 20th visit from the New England Super Modifieds, as well as the third season of the Maritime Super Series for Sportsman and two events featuring the Atlantic Open Wheel (AOW) modifieds Tour plus Monster Trucks and Legends racecars.
For those who like 'crash and bang' action, the CENTRE will also present two BIG 'Monster Madness' shows featuring Monster Trucks and stunt drivers on August 15th and 16th as well as several 'Days of Destruction' events featuring Full Contact, Endurance, and other novelty racing in addition to Demolition Derbies.
The action gets underway on June 1st at 2:30 p.m. with the Lounsbury Chevrolet Checkered Flag Day Season Opener with points championship racing open to all area Sportsman, Street Stock, TigerCat and Thundercat 4-cylinder competitors. Front gates and grandstand will open at 1:30 p.m.
Full schedule details are available at http://www.centreforspeed.com/
From Tim Wile, Promoter & General Manager // CENTRE for Speed
Wacky World of Generics: Timing Is Everything Edition
The best fighters learn from their opponents, and whatever else you may think about generic drug firms, there is no denying they are accomplished bruisers.So it should come as little surprise that after years of being in the crosshairs of citizen petitions filed by brand firms, generic companies are starting to pull the trigger on some petitions themselves.
Some things haven’t changed, though: the targets of petitions are still generic companies and the beneficiaries are still brand firms, since delays always help them.
The most recent example of generic-on-generic petitioning resolved by FDA is Cobalt’s failed attempt to become the only generic of acarbose (Bayer’s diabetes treatment Precose). Cobalt had made regulatory arguments that it deserved 180-day exclusivity and scientific arguments that other ANDAs needed additional tests. FDA rejected them both, and Cobalt has now launched alongside a generic from Roxane.
Cobalt was the first-to-file ANDA applicant and so had the inside track to get generic exclusivity, but it forfeited the prize in part because it failed to gain approval within 30 months. First-to-file exclusivity is critical to the profit stream for generic firms and it is no small penalty for an applicant to lose it. In this case, Cobalt did not get approval in time, perhaps due to shortcomings in its application, which FDA had initially refused to accept.
Any instance where a first filer loses the all-important exclusivity is big news for the generic industry, so the Precose fight is an important precedent for other applicants. Given the negative outcome for Cobalt, the incident raises the question of how much haste firms should use in submitting their ANDAs to FDA. Usually there is an all-out race to be first-to-file to claim exclusivity. In this case, second-to-file turned out to be good enough. (Subscribers to the Pink Sheet can read the full story here.)
The episode also shows how a generic firm – in this case Roxane – can use knowledge of FDA’s regulatory clock to get to market as soon as possible.
Among the provisions of the massive FDA bill passed last year is one designed to curb abusive citizen petitions. The new law says petitions cannot delay approvals unless FDA determines there’s a public health justification, and even then, the agency only has 180 days to decide the issue in question.
Roxane correctly predicted how FDA would apply the law in this case at least. Roxane’s lawyer, Zuckerman Spaeder partner Bill Schultz, explains that, “because there was a very good chance that” six months after Cobalt filed its petition would be “exactly when FDA was going to approve the product … Roxane, anyway, was completely ready to go on the day the 180 day deadline expired.”
Schultz clearly doesn’t think much of Cobalt’s bioequivalency arguments. The case, he says, “raises issues about...how the citizen’s petition provisions can work." The question, Schultz says, is "whether FDA is implementing this public health provision" of the new law "responsibly, or whether they’re just invoking it every time.”
But that is a fight for another day.
M. Nielsen Hobbs
PHOTO GALLERY: Coca-Cola 600 race weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway by Dave Franks
Thanks to Dave Franks for passing along this photo gallery from this past weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway, in Charlotte, NC.
SHAW MOTORSPORTS: Flamboro Speedway May 24, 2008
GUELPH, ON - Nothing but sunshine greeted the Shaw crew as they headed to Flamboro Speedway to hopefully ride the success they had been having with the setup in the car that was producing good results and very fast lap times.
The first practice session ended with Jason not being happy with the cars performance as the car did not feel comfortable with a new set of shocks compared to the previous week. The crew changed all four shocks back to the ones run last week and Jason went out for the second and final practice. The car was reported as being better, however it still had a push in the centre and a loose off condition for some reason.
The crew made a pan-hard bar adjustment to hopefully cure the handling problem prior to Jason lining up the Fleet Image Ford to start 3rd in the heat race. On the first lap, Jason got to the inside of the #3 who had cut down a left rear tire and quickly fell back through the field where he would eventually spin out causing a caution.
Restarting second, the #82 along, with the other top four cars, pulled away more on each lap staying nose to tail to finish in the same order with the #36 taking the win followed by the #82, #8 and #56. Despite the good finish, Jason complained of a bad push in the centre of the corner and a very loose off condition that the car did not have the previous week. The crew went to work to put the pan-hard bar back to were it was, check the stagger and then started an investigation to see if anything else may have been the source of the unstable handling condition of the car.
A larger than normal crowd brought out by the great weather, greeted the #82 Del Metals Ford as it lined up 6th for the 25 lap feature. Running in the outside lane for the start, Jason was quick to ask spotter, Dave Hagedorn to assist in getting him down to the inside line as soon as possible as the outside lane looked like it would be very slow after taking the green flag.
After just half a lap, Jason was cleared to move down and immediately moved forward into 5th. On lap 3, the #56 spun while trying to pass the #37 for the lead, however, he did manage to hang on and straighten out the car to keep the caution from coming out. Just one lap later, the caution did come out for the #07 and #86 who got together in turn 4.
Jason lined up behind the #37, #36, #27 and #42 and during the restart, got a nose inside of the #42 to eventually take the position into 4th. The top four would run nose to tail past the half way mark and it wasn’t until there were only 6 laps to go that the caution came out for the #86 who got into the #29 in turn 4. Only 16 cars took the green flag for the restart and the #8 got a good jump to take a position away from the #82 just prior to the caution for hard contact between the #44 and #56.
Jason restarted outside of the #8 and despite dialing in some rear brake to help a push on entry condition, was not able to get a run past the #8. The #10 spun on his own causing a chain reaction that put the #44 & #86 into a hard wreck that would bring out the red flag until the two cars were separated. On the restart, Jason once again got up on the outside of the #8, however with the loose condition, ended up in the marbles that caused him to back down and fall in behind the #8 where he would run to the finish and be awarded the 5th position.
In other racing news, the #88 Spira Racing mini-stock did not have a good night as the #88 driven by Ken Spira was black flagged for mechanical difficulties (leaking fuel). Ken had to leave the track for repairs after just 7 laps and then returned to run the final 7 laps at the back of the field to take 27th out of a 29 car field.
Next up for the Shaw team is a return trip to Flamboro Speedway despite being scheduled for the Margarita Ice Strawberry 150 at Sauble Speedway. A strong forecast for rain along with conflicts in schedules played a role in ultimately making the decision to stay closer to home and continue the local series at Flamboro Speedway. The pits open at 4:00pm, the main gates at 5:00 and racing is scheduled to begin at 6:30.
From Ken Spira // Spira Fire Protection Ltd. // Shaw Motorsports
The first practice session ended with Jason not being happy with the cars performance as the car did not feel comfortable with a new set of shocks compared to the previous week. The crew changed all four shocks back to the ones run last week and Jason went out for the second and final practice. The car was reported as being better, however it still had a push in the centre and a loose off condition for some reason.
The crew made a pan-hard bar adjustment to hopefully cure the handling problem prior to Jason lining up the Fleet Image Ford to start 3rd in the heat race. On the first lap, Jason got to the inside of the #3 who had cut down a left rear tire and quickly fell back through the field where he would eventually spin out causing a caution.
Restarting second, the #82 along, with the other top four cars, pulled away more on each lap staying nose to tail to finish in the same order with the #36 taking the win followed by the #82, #8 and #56. Despite the good finish, Jason complained of a bad push in the centre of the corner and a very loose off condition that the car did not have the previous week. The crew went to work to put the pan-hard bar back to were it was, check the stagger and then started an investigation to see if anything else may have been the source of the unstable handling condition of the car.
A larger than normal crowd brought out by the great weather, greeted the #82 Del Metals Ford as it lined up 6th for the 25 lap feature. Running in the outside lane for the start, Jason was quick to ask spotter, Dave Hagedorn to assist in getting him down to the inside line as soon as possible as the outside lane looked like it would be very slow after taking the green flag.
After just half a lap, Jason was cleared to move down and immediately moved forward into 5th. On lap 3, the #56 spun while trying to pass the #37 for the lead, however, he did manage to hang on and straighten out the car to keep the caution from coming out. Just one lap later, the caution did come out for the #07 and #86 who got together in turn 4.
Jason lined up behind the #37, #36, #27 and #42 and during the restart, got a nose inside of the #42 to eventually take the position into 4th. The top four would run nose to tail past the half way mark and it wasn’t until there were only 6 laps to go that the caution came out for the #86 who got into the #29 in turn 4. Only 16 cars took the green flag for the restart and the #8 got a good jump to take a position away from the #82 just prior to the caution for hard contact between the #44 and #56.
Jason restarted outside of the #8 and despite dialing in some rear brake to help a push on entry condition, was not able to get a run past the #8. The #10 spun on his own causing a chain reaction that put the #44 & #86 into a hard wreck that would bring out the red flag until the two cars were separated. On the restart, Jason once again got up on the outside of the #8, however with the loose condition, ended up in the marbles that caused him to back down and fall in behind the #8 where he would run to the finish and be awarded the 5th position.
In other racing news, the #88 Spira Racing mini-stock did not have a good night as the #88 driven by Ken Spira was black flagged for mechanical difficulties (leaking fuel). Ken had to leave the track for repairs after just 7 laps and then returned to run the final 7 laps at the back of the field to take 27th out of a 29 car field.
Next up for the Shaw team is a return trip to Flamboro Speedway despite being scheduled for the Margarita Ice Strawberry 150 at Sauble Speedway. A strong forecast for rain along with conflicts in schedules played a role in ultimately making the decision to stay closer to home and continue the local series at Flamboro Speedway. The pits open at 4:00pm, the main gates at 5:00 and racing is scheduled to begin at 6:30.
From Ken Spira // Spira Fire Protection Ltd. // Shaw Motorsports
NCATS and Grand-Am KONI Chall. headline busy Father's Day at Mosport
It has become a Father's Day weekend tradition to showcase the powerful stock cars of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series as they take on the famed 4 kilometre, 10 turn road course in the Dickies 200 presented by Lucas Oil. Last year's Dickies 200 produced a great battle for the lead between NASCAR rookie Andrew Ranger of Roxton Pond, Quebec and former Canadian stock-car champion J.R. Fitzpatrick of Cambridge, Ontario. Ranger ultimately won the battle late in the race and secured a victory that helped him win the inaugural season championship. Both he Fitzpatrick return along with a strong field of drivers, including D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas, Ontario, Dave Whitlock of Wyoming, Ontario, Don Thomson Jr. of Ayr, Ontario and Kerry Micks of Mt. Albert, Ontario. This season, Ranger will be paired with former Champ Car World Series driver Alex Tagliani of Montreal, Quebec who will race a second car for the Jacombs Racing team.
On the other half of the doubleheader are the high-performance sports sedans of the U.S.-based Grand-Am KONI Challenge, which will run a combined class 400 km feature race. The Series is comprised of two distinct classes, the Grand Sport (GS) and the Street Tuner (ST) divisions. The GS ranks are filled with powerful, high-horsepower cars such as BMW's, Porsches and Mustangs, while the ST roster has quick and agile machines from Acura, BMW and Mazda among others.
Both divisions of the KONI series feature several Canadian drivers and teams. For example, Compass360 Racing of Toronto, will be entering a four-car Acura-powered team with several Canadian drivers in the ST class. Team owner and co-driver Karl Thomson of Toronto will be joined in the #76 Acura by Travis Walker of Mississauga, Ontario. Ken Wilden of Oakville, Ontario and fellow Ontarian Jeremy Willard will drive the #73 Compass360 Acura. The Predator Auto Sport, Georgian Bay Motorsports and i-MOTO Racing teams in the ST division are employing at least one Canadian driver per team.
In the GS division, veteran sports car racer Scott Maxwell of Toronto will once again co-drive the #55 Hyper Sport Ford Mustang GT with American Joe Foster. The pair won the GS race at Mosport in 2007. In all, 22 Canadian drivers will be suiting up for various teams across both divisions in 2008.
The Grand-Am KONI Challenge race is set for Saturday afternoon and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Dickies 200 presented by Lucas Oil is set for Sunday. Joining the stock cars and the sports sedans on the schedule is the new Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, which will be making its Canadian debut at Mosport. This new Series features a grid of identical, race-modified Ford Mustangs that will battle it out in a 45-minute feature race on Sunday.
The Castrol Canadian Touring Championship also returns to the road course for its second of three 2008 appearances, while the open-wheel racers of the Skip Barber BFGoodrich National presented by Mazda and the Ontario Formula Ford Challenge round out the weekend schedule.
A three-day SuperTicket is $50 until June 11 ($60 at the Gate) and each ticket includes parking, paddock admission, and entrance to the Saturday Night Stock Car racing at Mosport Speedway. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult admission. Single day tickets are also available.
General and family camping areas are available, with full-service washrooms, showers and children's playgrounds. An advanced three-day weekend general camping pass is just $30 for tents and pop-up trailers and RVs are $50 for the weekend.
Also returning for this Father's Day weekend is the Grand Prix Club, which for $90 gives Dad a real VIP experience. Located near corner one overlooking the front straight, the Grand Prix Club includes a three-day admission and Sunday VIP Hospitality which features a fully catered lunch and beverages.
For more information about Mosport ticket packages and camping, call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET) or visit online at www.mosport.com. Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.
From Lee Bailie, Mosport 1-800-866-1072, (905) 261-8134 (cell.) or email lee@mosport.com
Photo credit: www.PeterBrand.ca
GRAND-AM KONI CHALL.: Race Report: Compass360 at Lime Rock Park
LAKEVILLE, CT -- After a four-month hiatus, Grand-Am's KONI Challenge series returned to action with a busy Memorial Day weekend at the tight confines of legendary Lime Rock Park. Compass360 Racing brought its four-car team with high hopes of continuing its front-running effort led by Travis Walker and Karl Thomson, who sat atop the Driver's Championship after the season-opening race in Daytona.
Team-mates Christian Miller and Kevin York in the #75 Acura TSX came into Lime Rock sixth, with 2007 Champions Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood (TSX #74) also inside the top-ten in ninth. New to the team were Kenny Wilden and Jeremy Willard in the Pure Hair and Body Care #73 TSX, hoping to notch a good finish to kick-start their year.
The Lime Rock event marked the inaugural event for the new Compass360 #76 Honda Civic Si. The car had shown promise in testing during the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, and would be driven by Thomson and Walker. "The Civic is clearly a car we're in the process of developing," noted Thomson prior to the race, "but the guys built a car that's really good right out of the box, and we think it'll be ready to get into the top-ten."
With 48 cars on track in the Street Tuner class, qualifying was a crap shoot as expected. The session was cut short with a car off-track, which meant none of the C360R cars had the opportunity to set a fast lap. York had the best qualifying, in 18th, with Thomson in 27th and Willard in 36th. Hopwood's #74 car had an electrical glitch that surfaced during morning practice, which the crew had repaired by mid-session, but the early end to qualifying meant that he would start from the very back of the pack.
All of which promised to offer the large number of fans in attendance a very exciting race!
At the fall of the green flag, the C360R cars started moving up the leader board. Most impressive was the #74 TSX of Hopwood, who carved through the traffic into the top 20, after starting 42nd. Thomson also made progress, up to 19th, with York close behind in 22nd. Willard was also making progress, which was hampered by contact with another car which necessitated a lengthy pit stop to remove some damaged body work. He continued on and made up places throughout his stint.
On lap 43, Thomson was tagged by a back-marker while battling for position going into corner one, Big Bend. The contact resulted in a spectacular five-barrel-roll crash, bringing out the second caution of the day. While Karl was getting out of the upside-down Civic, the team pulled their TSXs in for pit stops, the #74 and #75 taking the opportunity to change drivers.
Those team cars had a great battle throughout the remainder of the race, with the Miller/York car coming home sixth at the checkered flag, with the #74 car of Burrows and Hopwood in seventh. "Today we had a great battle between team-mates," remarked Miller. "Adam and I gave each other room to race, and it was really good fun!"
It was an amazing result for both cars, especially considering Hopwood started the race nearly dead last. "We started back in the pack because of the electronics glitch, but Trevor and I couldn't be more pleased with the results considering our starting position," said Burrows. "We're quite energized to be back in the swing of things and overcoming the adversity really sweetened the pot." They're now in third position in the Street Tuner Driver's Championship.
Miller and York are one spot ahead, having finished in sixth place two times in a row. "We all want to win races, but this series is about consistency," explained Miller. "We're going for top-tens every race, and I know we'll be on the podium soon."
The wreck of the Civic move first-place duo Thomson and Walker just outside of the top-ten in the Driver's Championship. "The combination of shortened qualifying and back-markers really screwed up our race," said Walker. "This puts Karl and I back in points, but we'll bring back our Acura RSX for the next few races and hopefully we can win a few so we can get back on top." Indeed, while the crew build a new Civic Si, the #76 duo will return to their front-running RSX-S campaigned by the team in 2006 and 2007.
"While I'm frustrated by my result, I'm thankful to the guys for building such a strong car," exclaimed Thomson. "Big kudos to King Motorsports who built the cage -- it was amazing to walk away from a violent crash like that!" He continued, "I'm really thrilled for Christian and Kevin, and Adam and Trevor, who are now at the front of the stick in points. An amazing job by the team and our drivers!"
The KONI Challenge heads north of the border to Mosport International Raceway for the next round, on the Father's Day weekend. For details, visit http://www.mosport.com.
Compass360 racing (C360R) is the motorsports division of Compass360 Design + Advertising, a firm offering branding expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. For details visit http://www.C360R.com or email karlt at compass360 dot com.
Team-mates Christian Miller and Kevin York in the #75 Acura TSX came into Lime Rock sixth, with 2007 Champions Adam Burrows and Trevor Hopwood (TSX #74) also inside the top-ten in ninth. New to the team were Kenny Wilden and Jeremy Willard in the Pure Hair and Body Care #73 TSX, hoping to notch a good finish to kick-start their year.
The Lime Rock event marked the inaugural event for the new Compass360 #76 Honda Civic Si. The car had shown promise in testing during the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, and would be driven by Thomson and Walker. "The Civic is clearly a car we're in the process of developing," noted Thomson prior to the race, "but the guys built a car that's really good right out of the box, and we think it'll be ready to get into the top-ten."
With 48 cars on track in the Street Tuner class, qualifying was a crap shoot as expected. The session was cut short with a car off-track, which meant none of the C360R cars had the opportunity to set a fast lap. York had the best qualifying, in 18th, with Thomson in 27th and Willard in 36th. Hopwood's #74 car had an electrical glitch that surfaced during morning practice, which the crew had repaired by mid-session, but the early end to qualifying meant that he would start from the very back of the pack.
All of which promised to offer the large number of fans in attendance a very exciting race!
At the fall of the green flag, the C360R cars started moving up the leader board. Most impressive was the #74 TSX of Hopwood, who carved through the traffic into the top 20, after starting 42nd. Thomson also made progress, up to 19th, with York close behind in 22nd. Willard was also making progress, which was hampered by contact with another car which necessitated a lengthy pit stop to remove some damaged body work. He continued on and made up places throughout his stint.
On lap 43, Thomson was tagged by a back-marker while battling for position going into corner one, Big Bend. The contact resulted in a spectacular five-barrel-roll crash, bringing out the second caution of the day. While Karl was getting out of the upside-down Civic, the team pulled their TSXs in for pit stops, the #74 and #75 taking the opportunity to change drivers.
Those team cars had a great battle throughout the remainder of the race, with the Miller/York car coming home sixth at the checkered flag, with the #74 car of Burrows and Hopwood in seventh. "Today we had a great battle between team-mates," remarked Miller. "Adam and I gave each other room to race, and it was really good fun!"
It was an amazing result for both cars, especially considering Hopwood started the race nearly dead last. "We started back in the pack because of the electronics glitch, but Trevor and I couldn't be more pleased with the results considering our starting position," said Burrows. "We're quite energized to be back in the swing of things and overcoming the adversity really sweetened the pot." They're now in third position in the Street Tuner Driver's Championship.
Miller and York are one spot ahead, having finished in sixth place two times in a row. "We all want to win races, but this series is about consistency," explained Miller. "We're going for top-tens every race, and I know we'll be on the podium soon."
The wreck of the Civic move first-place duo Thomson and Walker just outside of the top-ten in the Driver's Championship. "The combination of shortened qualifying and back-markers really screwed up our race," said Walker. "This puts Karl and I back in points, but we'll bring back our Acura RSX for the next few races and hopefully we can win a few so we can get back on top." Indeed, while the crew build a new Civic Si, the #76 duo will return to their front-running RSX-S campaigned by the team in 2006 and 2007.
"While I'm frustrated by my result, I'm thankful to the guys for building such a strong car," exclaimed Thomson. "Big kudos to King Motorsports who built the cage -- it was amazing to walk away from a violent crash like that!" He continued, "I'm really thrilled for Christian and Kevin, and Adam and Trevor, who are now at the front of the stick in points. An amazing job by the team and our drivers!"
The KONI Challenge heads north of the border to Mosport International Raceway for the next round, on the Father's Day weekend. For details, visit http://www.mosport.com.
Compass360 racing (C360R) is the motorsports division of Compass360 Design + Advertising, a firm offering branding expertise to clients in diverse industries across North America. For details visit http://www.C360R.com or email karlt at compass360 dot com.
Dole on Polls
This story in The Hill about the bad shape Republicans are in when it comes to the Senate picture had some interesting stuff relating to our race here in North Carolina.
Referring to the recent rash of polls showing Elizabeth Dole in trouble:
The most recent poll, Civitas, is from a live interviewing outfit with a conservative bent. Their numbers were better news for Kay Hagan than ours, so I'm not sure how the Dole camp is going to play that one.
This is actually a good example of why when it comes to the horse race it's silly for Democrats to attack Civitas, and it's silly for Republicans to attack PPP. Getting it right is critical to the credibility of both polls, and we're going to put out the numbers we get whether they're good for the candidates we like or not. Of course we might tell you a different story about what it all means.
Referring to the recent rash of polls showing Elizabeth Dole in trouble:
Dole’s campaign attacked the automated polls earlier this month and noted that one of them was from a Democratic-leaning firm.I never saw them playing the PPP is Democratic card with the North Carolina media in the last month so that must be one they're reserving for the DC crowd. Folks in the press here know that we nailed every single statewide primary earlier in the month, and trying to attack our credibility to people who know us probably isn't going to be a winning proposition for the Dole campaign.
The most recent poll, Civitas, is from a live interviewing outfit with a conservative bent. Their numbers were better news for Kay Hagan than ours, so I'm not sure how the Dole camp is going to play that one.
This is actually a good example of why when it comes to the horse race it's silly for Democrats to attack Civitas, and it's silly for Republicans to attack PPP. Getting it right is critical to the credibility of both polls, and we're going to put out the numbers we get whether they're good for the candidates we like or not. Of course we might tell you a different story about what it all means.
NCATS: Dilley fourth in season opener
HAMILTON, ON - Mark Dilley in the No. 9 Dodge/Leland Industries Dodge Avenger held on for a fourth place finish in the Crown Jewel 200 at Cayuga Speedway on Saturday evening.
Dilley's Avenger was good right from the time it was unloaded and the team was happy with the lap times they posted in practice. Qualifying was another story as the No. 9 Dodge driver only managed a thirteenth place starting position.
"I wasn't happy with my qualifying effort tonight - maybe a little winter rust on the driver's part," stated Dilley after qualifying.The Crown Jewel 200 was a different story though as Dilley put the pedal down and headed for the front.
By lap twenty the Dodge driver was already up to fifth. After coming to pit road for service at the half way point of the 200 lap event, Dilley's crew performed the necessary service on the car and had him back out in fifth for the second half run to the finish.
Earlier in the event Dilley's No. 9 Dodge Avenger got together with another competitor which knocked the front end out of alignment and it was a battle over the final 100 laps to hold onto the fourth place finish.
"I was really happy with the set up on the car tonight but after we got tagged on the front wheel by another car early in the race it was a handful," stated Dilley after the race. "The car just didn't handle as well after that but a fourth is a good way to start the season."
Dodge cars took five of the top seven finishing positions 1st. No. 22 Scott Steckly, Dodge 3rd . No. 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr., Dodge 4th. No. 9 Mark Dilley, Dodge 6th. No. 77 Derek Lynch, Dodge 7th. No. 39 Dave Whitlock, Dodge.
The Crown Jewel 200 from Cayuga Speedway will be broadcast on TSN, Friday May 30th at 12 midnight ET. Next up is the National Kodak 250 from Autodrome St. Eustache just outside of Montreal on Saturday May 31st.
Mark Dilley was on the podium, finishing third in 2006 when the CASCAR series was last at St. Eustache. Time trials are at 5:15 p.m., followed by the Autograph Session at 7:15 and the Kodak 250 will follow at 8:35 p.m.
For more information on tickets and directions please visit www.autodrome-st-eustache.com
For more information on the Mark Dilley and all the Dodge racing teams please visit www.mopar.ca and follow the links to motorsports.
From Linda Jones / Wide Open Motorsport Solutions
Dilley's Avenger was good right from the time it was unloaded and the team was happy with the lap times they posted in practice. Qualifying was another story as the No. 9 Dodge driver only managed a thirteenth place starting position.
"I wasn't happy with my qualifying effort tonight - maybe a little winter rust on the driver's part," stated Dilley after qualifying.The Crown Jewel 200 was a different story though as Dilley put the pedal down and headed for the front.
By lap twenty the Dodge driver was already up to fifth. After coming to pit road for service at the half way point of the 200 lap event, Dilley's crew performed the necessary service on the car and had him back out in fifth for the second half run to the finish.
Earlier in the event Dilley's No. 9 Dodge Avenger got together with another competitor which knocked the front end out of alignment and it was a battle over the final 100 laps to hold onto the fourth place finish.
"I was really happy with the set up on the car tonight but after we got tagged on the front wheel by another car early in the race it was a handful," stated Dilley after the race. "The car just didn't handle as well after that but a fourth is a good way to start the season."
Dodge cars took five of the top seven finishing positions 1st. No. 22 Scott Steckly, Dodge 3rd . No. 60 Ron Beauchamp Jr., Dodge 4th. No. 9 Mark Dilley, Dodge 6th. No. 77 Derek Lynch, Dodge 7th. No. 39 Dave Whitlock, Dodge.
The Crown Jewel 200 from Cayuga Speedway will be broadcast on TSN, Friday May 30th at 12 midnight ET. Next up is the National Kodak 250 from Autodrome St. Eustache just outside of Montreal on Saturday May 31st.
Mark Dilley was on the podium, finishing third in 2006 when the CASCAR series was last at St. Eustache. Time trials are at 5:15 p.m., followed by the Autograph Session at 7:15 and the Kodak 250 will follow at 8:35 p.m.
For more information on tickets and directions please visit www.autodrome-st-eustache.com
For more information on the Mark Dilley and all the Dodge racing teams please visit www.mopar.ca and follow the links to motorsports.
From Linda Jones / Wide Open Motorsport Solutions
Rick Young's 'Rick at the Races' - May 24-25, 2008
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and
25 May 2008. Cornwall Motor Speedway, Ont.
PHOTOS
PIC 1 Tim Fuller winner at the MIR
PIC 2 Tim Fuller must have told MIR announcer Jamie Davis a really good joke !
PIC 3 Tim Fuller # 19X in action at the MIR
PIC 4 Bob Rays # 70 Bandit at the MIR
PIC 5 Denis Gauverau # 72 in action at the MIR
PIC 6 Pro Stock Feature winner Denis Gauverau # 72 at the MIR
PIC 7 Cary Terrance # 66 with his son in the Cornwall Motor Speedway Victory Lane
PIC 8 Mark Hitchcock # 95 in the Cornwall Motor Speedway Victory Lane
PIC 9 Gage Morin # 16 in action at the Cornwall Motor Speedway
PIC 10 Modified action at Cornwall
PIC 11 Modified action at Cornwall
PIC 12 Joey Ladouceur # 92 in the Cornwall Motor Speedway Victory Lane
PIC 13 Giles Godard # 27 in the Cornwall Motor Speedway Victory Lane
Once again a late finish at work kept me away from the race tracks on Friday night, so I'm still to make my first visit of the year to Autodrome Edelweiss . Maybe Next Week !
After last weeks Victoria Day holiday in Canada, this week it was the turn of the USA for the Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday I went along to the Mohawk International Raceway at Hogansburg, New York for the 50 lap Memorial Cup for 358 Dirt Modifieds. As well as $2000 to win for the feature, it was also a Syracuse Qualifier.
Joining the regular weekly racers, were , World Of Outlaws Late Model star, Tim Fuller # 19x in the second John Lazore # 19 car and Dale Planck # 66x in the spare Carey Terrance # 66 car. During my pit 'walk about' I had a good chat with Dale's wife Leslie. She told me about the families busy racing life now that both of their sons are racing.
The opening laps of the feature gave race fans a rare sight when the first four positions , were made up of a brace of two near-identical cars, when the black and silver '66' cars of Planck and Tarrance were first and third, with the green '19' cars of Fuller and Lazore in second and fourth. It was quite a remarkable sight watching them dominate the first three quarters of the race. By the time the checkers fell, both # 66 cars were out of the race and parked in the pits ( I assume, with mechanical problems) , giving the win to Fuller.
It was De ja vu in the Pro Stocks and Bandit divisions with Gatineau Quebec's Denis Gauvreau # 72 and Akwesasne's Claudia Tarbell # 7D, respectively, getting their second consecutive 2008 wins. An additional driver to the Bandit roster this year is the returning Bob Ray. I first got to know Bob a few years ago when he helped out with the Canadian Race Tour for UK driver Malcolm Foskett that I was involved in. He loaned his car to Malcolm to race at the Capital City Speedway ,Ottawa (then known as the Ottodrome)
On Sunday morning I made a trip to the MontreaI Airport to drop off my Mum and Dad. They'd been visiting from the UK, and it was time for their return flight back to Gatwick. From Montreal I drove to the Cornwall Motor Speedway, Ont, for a feast of racing entertainment. As a result of the previous weeks rain postponement there were seven feature races on the agenda.
This week the sun was shining and it was great to see the yellow # 16 Modified of Gage Morin back in the pits following his scary crash one week ago.
Following the Rookie heats the first of the rain delayed features took place . First it was the Semi Pro's, followed by the Modifieds and ProStocks. Mark Hitchcock# 95 took the Modified feature with one of my buddies Giles Godard #27 getting the Pro Stocks win. Giles works at my local GM dealer in Cornwall where my high mileage Chevy is maintained.
Once the make up races were over, it was time to get on with the regular nights show. Carey Terrance # 66 got the Modified feature with Joey Ladouceur # 92 taking the checkers in the Pro Stocks.
There were no major delays and the slick presentation, got the 'mega' program over well before 10-30pm.
Before ending this report, I must mention another event that took place this week end , and as a 'Brit' it makes me feel proud. There's no doubt about it that the premier league for auto racing in the World are the F1 Grand Prix races . This past weekend it was the Monaco Grand Prix and taking the win was the UK's Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren/Mercedes.
He now leads the drivers points over Finland's Kimi Rakkonen . It's great to see a 'Brit' at the top again.
If you are going to win a Grand Prix, Monaco has got to be be the place to do it. It is a circuit with so much history.
When my lottery numbers come up, one of my wishes would be to follow the Grand Prix circuit around the world for a year , and I know that Monaco would be one of the high lights. Until then , I'll just cherish the moment back in August 1991 when I drove around part of the circuit. Yes, you read that correct, While on vacation that year in the South of France , I spent a day sight seeing in Monaco where I managed to drive my Vauxhall Cavalier around the famous Casino Corner.
NCATS: The Curse of Cayuga Catches Up With Brown Again
BRANTFORD, ON - Doug Brown still considers Cayuga Speedway one of his favourite tracks but the 5/8th-mile oval southeast of Brantford certainly hasn’t been kind to the veteran competitor since the formation of the NASCAR Canadian Series in 2007.
In two events last season the driver of the Haldex-sponsored Dodge was involved in race ending accidents and that string continued on May 24th when a minor accident in the early stages of the “Crown Jewel 200” forced him to the pits with a broken panhard bar.
A bracket supporting the panhard bar, (which prevents the rear axle from moving side-to-side), was broken when Brown tried to avoid a spinning Andrew Ranger and was clipped from behind by of one a several cars scrambling for position coming off turn two.
Although the team managed to make the required repairs and get the car back into the fray, too many laps had been lost that prevented Brown from gaining anything better than a 21st-place finish.
“It was just one of those incidents” Doug explained as he emerged from the car. “Everything was going well up to that point in the race and I felt quite comfortable with the way the Haldex Dodge handled.”
Scott Steckly of Milverton, Ontario led 150 of the event’s 200 laps to win the season opener of the 13 race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule with Kerry Micks of Mount Albert making a late race charge to overtake Windsor’s Ron Beauchamp of Windsor for second spot. Beauchamp held on for third place honours with a solid performance in sticking with Steckly throughout most of the race.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series now heads to Autodrome Ste. Eustache for event #2 on the 13-race schedule.
Prepared by Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports
In two events last season the driver of the Haldex-sponsored Dodge was involved in race ending accidents and that string continued on May 24th when a minor accident in the early stages of the “Crown Jewel 200” forced him to the pits with a broken panhard bar.
A bracket supporting the panhard bar, (which prevents the rear axle from moving side-to-side), was broken when Brown tried to avoid a spinning Andrew Ranger and was clipped from behind by of one a several cars scrambling for position coming off turn two.
Although the team managed to make the required repairs and get the car back into the fray, too many laps had been lost that prevented Brown from gaining anything better than a 21st-place finish.
“It was just one of those incidents” Doug explained as he emerged from the car. “Everything was going well up to that point in the race and I felt quite comfortable with the way the Haldex Dodge handled.”
Scott Steckly of Milverton, Ontario led 150 of the event’s 200 laps to win the season opener of the 13 race NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule with Kerry Micks of Mount Albert making a late race charge to overtake Windsor’s Ron Beauchamp of Windsor for second spot. Beauchamp held on for third place honours with a solid performance in sticking with Steckly throughout most of the race.
The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series now heads to Autodrome Ste. Eustache for event #2 on the 13-race schedule.
Prepared by Ken Spencer // Marketing and Media Relations // HB Motorsports
CCTCC: RaceDV Official In-Car Video Service Provider for Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship
OTTAWA, ON – May 26, 2008 - RaceDV and the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship are proud to announce a partnership that brings RaceDV’s in-car video service to Touring Car competitors participating in the 2008 season.
This partnership ensures competitors will have access to the innovative in-car video service RaceDV offers at a substantially discounted price.
The Canadian Touring Car Championship has an active online presence that it is looking forward to building through its partnership with RaceDV. Spectators and enthusiasts will be able to experience the excitement of being in the touring cars.
“RaceDV is an impressive service that will help to showcase the Championship in a unique and dynamic way,” stated John Bondar, President of the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship.
Competitors choosing to use RaceDV’s service will receive full length in-car videos of every event in the CCTC series including qualifying and all races. Videos will be delivered on DVD to teams culminating in a box set of their 2008 season. Portions of every weekend will be posted online at racedv.com under a new Championship section. RaceDV’s online presentation of videos will allow the Championship and competitors to connect directly with fans through videos and comments at racedv.com.
“We look forward to helping the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship and their competitors capture the excitement of the series through our in-car video service. This will give fans the chance to experience the action right from the driver’s seat and continue to follow the series in depth between events.” – Kareem Sultan, RaceDV Inc.
About RaceDV - RaceDV Inc. brings new video and data acquisition technology to the motorsport industry. With services tailored towards racing schools, tracks, amateur and professional drivers, RaceDV is working to revolutionize the way motorsport video is captured and shared online. For more information, please visit www.racedv.com.
About the Canadian Touring Car Championship - The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship is Canada’s premiere touring car series and features Canada’s Fastest Drivers Racing Today’s Hottest Touring Cars. The Championship is presented by Toyo Tires Canada Inc. and sponsored by CSC Racing Products Inc., Toronto TireCraft, Sigma Promotions and Mad Macs Communications + Graphics. For more information, please visit www.touringcar.ca.
From John Bondar / Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship
Carnegie International: Doug Aitken’s “Migration”
A project that was little more than a kitchen table brainstorm five months ago is now attracting attention as one of the Carnegie International’s best works. In December, when Carnegie International curator Douglas Fogle was still just talking to artists and working on his final selections, he found himself in the southern California home of film maker Doug Aitken. The two talked about projecting a film on the front of the museum. Aitken was coming off a successful piece for the Museum of Modern Art in New York and was working on a few other projects but he was excited about the possibility of being part of the International.
Aitken eventually was chosen and quickly began thinking about the piece. He came up with the idea for a film he calls “Migrations” and began shooting in Pittsburgh the third week of March. Aitken then began a migration of his own that would take him back to his home in L.A.
The film juxtaposes the natural landscape and the manmade landscape, and explores how humans have remade the country to fit their needs, including their need to feel at home even when they are halfway across the continent. Then he places the animals that once roamed the land into our environments.
A bison tosses a bed in a hotel room, a beaver explores the bathroom complete with complimentary shampoo, conditioner and coffee pot. And the omnipresent hotel television becomes the window to allow us pass between those worlds.
The work has been well received by critics and most of those who have happened upon the piece since it began showing. Aitken says he was not looking to make a film with a message or an ending. “I’m looking for a continuum, I’m looking to provoke or create a response and a personal reaction,” says Aitken, “I was after a new America, a new landscape.”
Listen to a longer version of this story.
To hear all of the stories in the series click here.
Aitken eventually was chosen and quickly began thinking about the piece. He came up with the idea for a film he calls “Migrations” and began shooting in Pittsburgh the third week of March. Aitken then began a migration of his own that would take him back to his home in L.A.
The film juxtaposes the natural landscape and the manmade landscape, and explores how humans have remade the country to fit their needs, including their need to feel at home even when they are halfway across the continent. Then he places the animals that once roamed the land into our environments.
A bison tosses a bed in a hotel room, a beaver explores the bathroom complete with complimentary shampoo, conditioner and coffee pot. And the omnipresent hotel television becomes the window to allow us pass between those worlds.
The work has been well received by critics and most of those who have happened upon the piece since it began showing. Aitken says he was not looking to make a film with a message or an ending. “I’m looking for a continuum, I’m looking to provoke or create a response and a personal reaction,” says Aitken, “I was after a new America, a new landscape.”
Listen to a longer version of this story.
To hear all of the stories in the series click here.
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