Laperriere planning for a solid PMRA season

CourtesyBruce F. Mehlenbacher

OSHAWA, ONTARIO (March 8, 2007) - With new major sponsorship, Rob Laperriere is planning on making his mark in this year’s Pro Modified Racing Association tour.

Laperriere, who operates the Oshawa-centered Professional Hotrod Development custom drag racing chassis shop, has acquired the backing of Control Panel Systems Ontario Ltd. based in Whitby, Ontario.

“This is terrific,” said Laperriere, who runs an Alan Johnson-powered 1972 Vega-bodied Pro Modified. “Now we have some funds to compete the way we want.”

The Prohotrodz Team has run a limited schedule in PMRA competition the past two years, but will be stepping up for 2007, according to Laperriere, who has been in the sport since 1978.

Laperriere added he plans no major changes to the Vega’s powerplant, and that the team will concentrate on driveline problems that have plagued them.

“We plan to leave the motor alone,” he said. “We’ll be working on some clutch and transmission issues.”

The team’s new sponsor is a supplier of power tools, fastening systems, and integrated assembly stations for automakers such as General Motors, Ford, and Honda, along with over 100 others. Stark Multi Services, a commercial and industrial mechanical contractor, is also part of CPS.

Laperriere is confident that with this new backing he will be able to get some good laps with the car.

“We’re planning to do well,” he said. “Instead of placing seventh in the PMRA, we want to go to the top.”

In Other PMRA News custom embroidery and digitizing firm Needles At Work will be posting event awards at each Pro Modified Racing Association event for 2007.

“We are very excited to be involved with the PMRA series again this year,” said Kelly Edgar, owner of Needles At Work. “We will present a special award at each race of the series special events this year which will have the winning teams standout from the competition.”

Needles At Work provides custom embroidery and special digital transformations of logos and other artwork which can then be stitched into a variety of apparel from corporate to casual wear. Team and company logo transformations are a large part of John and Kelly Edgar’s business.