MX for Children.... your chance to win incredible access to the upcoming Toronto Supercross event

STICKY POST: HEADLINED until Friday, Nov. 3. See below for more current news.

Here's your chance to help Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital and have an opportunity to win incredible 'behind the scenes' access to the upcoming Amp'd Mobile Supercross at Rogers Centre, on Nov. 30 - Dec. 2.

The Inside Line Experience is a package of exclusive opportunities at the Amp’d Mobile Supercross of Toronto, giving participants an unforgettable experience for this event.

Hang out with top supercross racers in a small group, in a relaxed environment. Attend the Supercross press conference. Watch a private practice at Rogers Centre. Tour a factory rig. Walk the track. And get a pit pass and great seats!

Click here to download a pledge form.

After you have a pledge form, all you have to do is make a donation to Sick Kids Hospital Foundation OR get your friends, family , co-workers and/or corporations to pledge donations. The top 10 fundraisers over $500 by November 21, 2006 will win a pair of passes to the Inside Line Experience at Toronto Supercross!

- with files from mxforchildren.org

G.P. of Toronto: SCCA SPEED World Championships on support series card for '07

TORONTO, ON - The 2006 Champ Car World Series is barely coming to a close, however the Grand Prix of Toronto is on its way to securing one of the best on-track line-ups in the event s 21-year history, ensuring another REVolutionary year of racing on Toronto s streets. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the Grand Prix Association of Toronto announced today that the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships will race on the Exhibition Place track July 6th, 7th at 8th, 2007.

We are committed to delivering world-class racing to people who attend our event, says Charlie Johnstone, president and CEO, Grand Prix Association of Toronto. The SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are a natural fit. We already feature the premier open-wheel racing series in North America with the Champ Car World Series and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and now it will be complemented with the most relevant, top production car road racing series in the world.

The SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championships are broken into two distinct sub-series that run separately from one another SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car. These sub-series each feature an impressive field of up to 30 cars including the Aston Martin DB9, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Porsche 911, Acura TSX, Audi A4, BMW 325i, Dodge SRT-4 and Mazda 6. Class horsepower range is 425-525 brake horsepower (bhp) for SCCA SPEED GT and 250-300 bhp for SCCA SPEED Touring Car with speeds reaching up to 240 km/h on the Grand Prix of Toronto track.

We re very excited to be a part of the Grand Prix of Toronto, which is one of the top motorsports events in North America, SCCA President and CEO Jim Julow said. We believe the race fans will enjoy our brand of racing with the SPEED World Challenge, which feature some of the most exciting production-based cars in the world.

REVolution. Evolution Only Faster!
The Grand Prix of Toronto is a week-long festival of speed that will feature excitement both on and off-track. The ever popular Thunder Alley will return hosting the Champ Car Paddock, autograph sessions, live entertainment and interactive games and exhibits. Also returning is the GPT Auto Expo the ideal place to take a break from the heat in the air-conditioned Direct Energy Centre featuring the support series garages, interactive games, exhibits and show cars.

Racing for Kids
Leading up to race-weekend the Grand Prix Charitable Foundation will again host a week of events to support local children s charities. In 2006, the Foundation raised more than $200,000 with events like the Grand Prix Bike for Tykes to the hottest ticket in town with the Drivers Party. Since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has raised more than $5.5 million for local charities.

About the Grand Prix Association of Toronto
The Grand Prix Association of Toronto is the owner and promoter of the Grand Prix of Toronto. For the past 21 years, Torontonians have celebrated a long-weekend of world-class racing on their streets. The event will return to Toronto s Exhibition Place on July 6, 7 and 8, 2007 with a spectacular festival of international racers and exciting off-track entertainment. Tickets are on sale now at www.grandprixtoronto.com or by calling 416.588.RACE (7223).

Join the REVoluton. Evolution Only Faster!

-30-

From: Andrea Hynes // Manager, Communications // Grand Prix Association of Toronto

ACT heading to Kawartha in mid-September

The past few seasons, the CASCAR Super Series wrapped up its schedule with events at Kawartha Speedway in the middle of September.

The new NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will either finish up at another time or another place, because the American Canadian Tour (ACT) has just announced that it will be putting on an event at Kawartha on Sept. 15.

Here is the ACT release:

ACTION SUPER SERIES ADDS RACE TO 2007 SKED

WATERBURY, VT -- The American-Canadian Tour (ACT) announced today (Wednesday, November 1), the addition of a high paying race to the 2007 ACT Late Model schedule. For the first time in the Series’ history, the competitors will travel to the 3/8th mile Kawartha Raceway (Peterborough, Fraserville, ON) for a 200-lap event on Saturday, September 15.

“That’s awesome news!” said enthused six-time and 2006 ACT Champion Jean-Paul Cyr, “I’d have to say that Kawartha is one of my favorites – it’s smooth and fast – a real racy track. Its configuration allows you to run hard. That race will be a whole lot of fun.” Cyr, along with a couple of other ACT Tour competitors, attended a couple of races at the wide, semi-banked speedplant in 2005, competing with the area’s top Late Model teams as an experiment in integrating the Ontario Late Model rules with those of ACT.

Mark Lamberton of Mooers Forks, NY was another of the ACT drivers to venture to the Canadian speedplant in 2005, “Kawartha is a great track, plus, other than Airborne, it’s the closest track to where I live, which will make for an easy commute,” he stated. The fifth place finisher in the 2006 standings continued,”The facility is awesome – it’s fast, smooth and the pits are nice. We had a great experience there. The only problem I had was getting my parents out of the casino!” Kawartha Raceway is located in a unique setting – on site there is a casino as well as a 5/8ths mile Euro-designed standard bred horse track which encircles the stock car track.

“We were pleased with the initial results of last year’s experiment but the timing was not quite right,” commented Derek Lynch, promoter at the suburban Peterborough venue. He continued, “There is a changing complexion among Late Model racing in eastern Ontario which opens the door for ACT‘s business model of highly competitive yet affordable racing. This newly announced race will only enhance the race experience for the hometown drivers as they go head-to-head with the best that ACT has to offer from throughout New England and Quebec.”

“A Super Series race at Kawartha Raceway will create an even playing field – very few of us have been there. Most of the tracks ACT races on are in New England and Quebec. They have been around for a while so few have progressive banking. While it’s fun to drive, it’s a challenge to get the car set-up,” Cyr explained. “Plus, ACT keeps bringing big money races to our Tour and that is great. This will probably be the highest paying stock car race held in that area in years and should bring lots of good race teams from all over.. Introducing the ACT rules in Ontario is good for racing in the Northeast – they’re the best out there – and it will help the keep the ACT expansion rolling,” he finished.

From ACT

Pfizer and torcetrapib

The news that torcetrapib, Pfizer's HDL-increasing CETP drug, slightly increases blood pressure is highly problematic for the world's largest pharmaceutical company. Torcetrapib was supposed to compensate for a string of patent expirations in the next few years (Zoloft, Zyrtec, Norvasc and Aricept – and Lipitor in 2011). But it is also extremely bad news for other companies developing CETP drugs -- particularly Roche. Several questions: what are the regulatory hurdles posed today by this kind of problem? Are the traditional lipid targets overplayed--and should companies be focusing on the less obvious targets in atherosclerosis, like inflammation or vulnerable plaque?

Flemming Honoured at Carquest Pro Stock Tour Banquet

Courtesy Mike Ledwidge

Truro, NS – John Flemming of Halifax, NS was honored as the 2006 CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour Champion on Saturday night during the season’s end banquet.

Flemming was the only three time winner on the tour this season and fittingly enough, becomes the first three time champion on the tour. Flemming received a standing ovation from his peers to go along with the $10,000 check and big trophy that were given to him from CARQUEST’s John Garnhum and Mike Perrin. In his speech, Flemming thanked his car owner, Pat Ryder, and his Roofing Connection team for their support, as well as the fans, his family and the other competitors and officials that make the tour what it is.

The sixth season of the CARQUEST Maritime Pro Stock Tour came to a close with the awarding of the year end point and contingency bonuses totaling nearly $60,000. A capacity crowd of over 300 people including sponsors, car owners and drivers, crew members, tour staff and dignitaries enjoyed an incredible buffet at the Glengarry Best Western Hotel in Truro before the presentations celebrating the 2006 season.

The top twenty positions in final point standings were all included in the $50,000 points fund direct from CARQUEST. Twenty-three cars attempted to qualify for all eleven events of the 2006 season. The car count in the competitive CARQUEST Pro Stock tour has continued to grow every season that it has been in operation. For the third year in a row, eight different drivers took home a checkered flag in the main feature.

Finishing second and third in the final point standings was Wayne Smith of Timberlea, NS and Brad Mann from Campbellton, NB.

Flemming also won several contingency awards that were handed out at the banquet for various accomplishments throughout the season. He won the Parts For Trucks/Plasti-Kote Challenge, combining points from each of the Parts for Trucks races (at four different venues on the tour). He also captured the Atlantic Tiltload Most Laps Led Award and shared the Fast Track RV Sales Halfway Award with Smith.

Smith won the Atlantic Tiltload Hard Charger Award, gaining the most positions throughout the season. He also won the Pole Challenge Award, as he took the challenge to start twenty-fifth on the grid four times throughout the season. Three out of the four attempts, Smith elevated himself into a top five position from the twenty fifth starting spot to gain money and valuable points. The move helped elevate him from third to second in the year-end championship.

The EIT Race Radio Rookie of the year went to Russell Smith of Timberlea, NS. He also receives a new LEAF driving suit, courtesy of R&D Performancentre. Mike Stevens of Salisbury, NB and Sandy Livingstone of Springhill, NS were first and second runners up, respectively.

A special tribute was also given to Dave Potter of Cambridge, NS. The retiring Potter has been a fixture in auto racing in the Maritimes since 1988. In that timeframe, he never missed a points race at any level in which he competed. Potter started racing in 1988 in the old “Dukes” Division at Scotia Speedworld, before moving to Street Stock and then to Maritime Modified before turning to a Pro Stock car. Potter announced his retirement to his fellow competitors midway through the season and a slideshow of his racing career was shown in his honour. His fellow competitors also awarded Potter his sixth Most Sportsmanlike Driver award of his illustrious career.

This concludes the 2006 season of the CARQUEST Pro Stock Tour. Drivers can look forward to rules meetings in December and January. Following those meetings, they can expect the updated rules and procedures to be released. A schedule for the 2007 season is taking shape and should be made public in February or March.

McIntosh takes pole and podium to wrap World Series campaign

Courtesy Power Hawk Racing

Barcelona, Spain – Canada’s Sean McIntosh rounded out an impressive rookie season racing in the 2006 World Series by Renault by capturing pole position and taking a third place podium finish in Race 2 today in Round 9’s season finale hosted at the Spanish Circuit de Catalunya.

In claiming his second podium of the season, following a second place finish at Spa-Francorchamps back in July, the 21-year-old Team KTR driver from Vancouver comfortably sealed sixth overall in the Driver Standings from a 30-strong field boasting some of the world’s most talented up-and-coming open-wheel racers competing in 420bhp 3.5-litre Dallara-Renault’s.

Race 2, Qualifying (Pole – Sean McIntosh (CAN), 1m27.115s)
Having qualified seventh for the previous day’s race, where he finished fifth, McIntosh was again on form around the 4.6km Barcelona track this morning. His first flying lap was good for second in the 15-car Group B outing but he held out to post an even quicker lap in the dying stages of the session to pip title-challenger Alx Danielsson to fastest lap by two hundredths of a second, the Canadian subsequently claiming his maiden World Series by Renault pole position. Group A’s fastest runner, Venezuala’s Pastor Maldonado, joined McIntosh on the front-row of the grid for this afternoon’s 26-lap race.

Race 2, 26 Laps (Winner – Alvaro Parente (POR), Victory Engineering)
A touch of wheel spin at the start of the race was enough to drop McIntosh from first to third heading into the first turn at the Circuit de Catalunya but from there the Canadian racer kept on the pace to ensure he held a top-three position throughout the race. Setting identical lap times with race-leader Pastor Maldonado and second-placed Alvaro Parente, a slick pit stop almost edged McIntosh ahead of Maldonado but the race lead went to Parente with Maldonado second and Sean third, the top-three running order remaining the same at the checkered flag!

Sean McIntosh - #6 Team KTR:
“It’s been a good day and a great way to end the season. Pole position was awesome and third at the flag was pretty good although naturally I’d have liked the win. You always want to win, the same goes for the championship but to take sixth overall in my rookie season competing across Europe in this field is a decent result. I’ve learned a lot, I’m certainly a stronger driver now and I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds regarding next season!”

For more info visit www.renault-sport.com / www.ktr.be.

Boniferro and Janzen pleased with PMRA season

By Bruce F. Mehlenbacher

Cayuga, ON – With intense competition and a different winner at each event, deciding the 2006 champion in the Pro Modified Racing Association series came right down to the last race.But with the cancellation of the Lancaster, NY race due to snow in early October, the title was awarded to Joe Boniferro and Kasey Janzen, who were tied in points.

“This has been a fantastic season,” stated Boniferro, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and driver of the Smokin’ Joe’s 1999 Dodge Avenger. Boniferro won the Grand Bend Motorplex PMRA race over the Labor Day weekend, and is known in the series for his consistent times.

“I want to thank all the fans at our races,” he added. “They’ve been good fans. I also want to thank the tracks we went to this year for giving us a place to race.”The other 2006 PMRA champion is Kasey Janzen of St. Catharines, who has also been a big part of the series since its inception two years ago.

“I’m the PMRA’s biggest supporter,” said the driver of the KC Motorsports Chevy Lumina. “We put on a good show for the fans this year. We always came up to the line ready to race down the track.”

Janzen, who attended all five PMRA events this year, won the race held at St. Thomas Dragway in August.Both drivers will be back for next season, and both said they are looking forward to it. They also wanted to thank their sponsors for their support during the season.