Targa Newf.: Chevy Honoured Marque for 2005

The Targa Newfoundland international rally has named Chevrolet as the event’s Honoured Marque for 2005, rally officials have announced. It is the first time a domestic manufacturer has been awarded the distinction.

Decades of spectacular Chevrolet competition success and the affection of millions of loyal fans and competitors will be honoured at the fourth annual Targa Newfoundland, which brings together an international fleet of historic, classic and modern sporting cars for a six-day test over the challenging roads of eastern and central Newfoundland.

“No brand is more closely associated with racing – and winning – than Chevrolet,” said Targa organizer Robert Giannou. “From drag racing to oval racing to road racing, from off-road and desert competition to monster trucks and offshore powerboats, the Chevrolet ‘bowtie’ has been synonymous with racing success for decades. I can think of no finer choice for Honoured Marque for 2005.”

The 2005 event begins in St. John’s on September 10, 2005, and finishes back in that city on September 17 after more than 2,000 kilometres of competition, including nearly 500 kilometres of special closed-road Targa stages.

The event will feature images of Chevrolet competition cars in literature and promotional material, and on the event’s website, Giannou said, and will extend a discount to competitors entering Chevrolet vehicles. Competitors will be encouraged to create their own displays at the evening cars shows along the route, honouring Chevrolet’s colourful competition history.

Porsche and BMW/MINI were the Honoured Marque at the 2003 and 2004 events, respectively.

WONDERLAND SPEEDWAY: 2005 Schedule

We just received a note from Bill at Wonderland Speedway, letting us know that he's posted his 2005 schedule on the speedway's website.



Thanks Bill!



While we're on the topic... a note to everyone else out there... please make sure we have your schedule so that it will be included in our 2005 Speedway Guide issue, which we're already putting together.



We're also open to news from individual racers as they prepare for the upcoming season... new sponsors, division changes... anything that would be news to our readers and visitors to our site.





2005 Wonderland Speedway Racing Schedule

Grand Am Cup: Maxwell, Empringham third in Santo Domingo

Multimatic Mustangs grab points haul and championship lead in Dominican Republic



Ford Racing Technology's Mustang FRC500C continued its impressive Daytona form in Santo Domingo on March 13 with a strong points haul and a share of the championship lead.

The two Multimatic Motorsports machines finished 3rd and 4th with Scott Maxwell and David Empringham leading home team-mates Gunnar Jeannette and James Gue.

With a second and third in the two opening rounds, Maxwell and Empringham now lead the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Championship - sharing the honor with the BMW M3 of Rob Finlay and Michael McDowell.

Jeannette made a barnstorming start in the #05 car, moving up from 5th on the grid through to 2nd by lap 12. Maxwell was equally as impressive to move from 9th to 5th by that stage.

The Canadian star continued to make inroads and by lap 19, Maxwell had moved to 3rd place behind Jeannette.

The race-winning BMW of Justin Marks pitted on lap 52, leaving Jeannette in the lead for a lap before he headed to the pits to hand over to James Gue. However, a lap later, officials were forced to bring out the yellow flag after a power failure brought down the timing and scoring system.

A slow pit stop had hindered the Jeannette/Gue effort before the yellow flag period. When racing finally resumed 37 minutes later, Gue began a great fightback to bring the #05 car home in 4th - significantly bettering their 9th place debut run at Daytona.

Empringham climbed aboard #55 Mustang just as the power failure hit. He resumed in third place and held on to clinch that team's second consecutive podium finish.

The Multimatic Motorsports squad will now head to California for the next round of the championship at California Speedway, Fontana on April 30.

SCOTT MAXWELL

"This is a really good result for us because this track doesn't suit the Mustang a lot and my performance in qualifying left David and I with a lot of work to do today. The car really ran like a train but I had to use up a lot of the car in my stint and was pretty hard on the tires trying to get through the field. But we weren't expecting much today and to come away with a share of the championship lead is brilliant. David and I just kept plugging away all race and the guys in the pits did a brilliant job."

DAVID EMPRINGHAM

"Scotty did a great job in his stint to move us back into contention. Passing is pretty tough around this place and he more than made up for the tough qualifying we had yesterday. I got into the car just before the officials had the power failure problem. I pushed as hard as I could but the BMWs were always going to be tough around here. Two races done and we have share the championship lead - this has been a great start for the new Mustang."

DIRT: Super DIRT Series sked released

By DIRT MotorSports PR

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Among the most highly anticipated announcements made during the entire off-season, DIRT MotorSports officials recently confirmed the 2005 Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series schedule.

The Advance Auto Parts SDS remains a major component of the overall Hoosier Tire-Sunoco Race Fuels Mr. DIRT Modified Championship, which continues to be recognized as one of the most prestigious titles a driver can hold in auto racing today.

"We've put together another great schedule this year with the addition of some new tracks," said Bobby Hartslief, DIRT MotorSports' Chief Operating Officer. "We're mixing in these new markets with our traditional stops enabling more fans around the Northeast the chance to be a part of the big show."

The 2005 edition of this 30 year-old championship run will be contested at 16 tracks throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina, along with the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Twenty-five scheduled Advance Auto Parts SDS events will once again carry valuable points with each race counting directly towards the coveted crown. [Please visit www.dirtmotorsports.com and click on the Advance Auto Series logo to view the complete 2005 Modified tour schedule]

The Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series kicks off on March 26 with a trip to Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway before the region's top traveling teams venture to Central New York for the 25th DIRT Challenge Cup at Rolling Wheels Raceway on May 1. The first holiday week opens with the return of big-block racing to Lowe's (May 25) and Delaware (May 26) before closing with the 14th DIRT Hall of Fame Classic at Cayuga County Fair Speedway on May 29 of Memorial Day Weekend.

Along with the renewal of trips to Lernerville (Pa.), New Egypt (N.J.), Tri-City (Pa.) and Williams Grove (Pa.) speedways, traditional stops closer to DIRT NorthEast's homebase are made in New York and Canada before the champion is crowned during the inaugural running of Atlantic Coast Championship Weekend, Oct. 21-23, at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway.

After a 21-year absence from the DIRT tour, Albany-Saratoga (N.Y.) Speedway will host a 100-lap Advance Auto SDS event on June 28. In the 1984 'Super Shoot-Out' at Albany-Saratoga, Merv Treichler, Kenny Tremont and Jimmy Horton won 50-lap feature races while Horton collected first-place points for being the best overall finisher.

Under the promotion of Vince Vicari, big-block DIRT Modified action returns to Williams Grove for the first time since 1992 and following it's recent acquisition by DIRT MotorSports, Lernerville has secured a Super DIRT Series date after waiting seven years. Brett Hearn won the last event staged at 'The Grove' while Danny Johnson captured Lernerville's checkered flag in 1998.

Other additions to the 2005 big-block agenda include returns visits to Fulton Speedway (first time since 2000), Brewerton (2001), Tri-City (2002) and New Egypt (2003), which is slated to host three events during the upcoming oval-track campaign.

Points earned in the season-long Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Series will once again account for the bulk of the points issued to determine the overall Hoosier-Sunoco Mr. DIRT Champion. A new twist in 2005 is that only the best five feature finishes from a driver's hometrack will be figured into the overall total instead of hometrack bonus points that were awarded in the past.

Time Trials will lead off every extra-distance big-block event, with the two-fastest joining the top heat race qualifiers in a special pre-race redraw to determine feature starting positions.

Drivers eligible to use provisional starting positions are only those members of the inaugural 'Elite 11' --- a select group of big-block stars that recently reached an agreement to compete in every SDS event.

The DIRT MotorSports™ Advance Auto Parts Modified Series is brought to fans across the Northeast by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Dynomax Performance Exhaust, Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels and DART Machinery. Promotional Partners include AMB i.t., RACEceiver and Zippo Lighters and the contingency sponsors are Bilstein Shocks, Dynomax, MSD Ignitions and Wrisco Industries.

2005 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIED SUPER DIRT SERIES

Day-Date Track (Laps) Location
Mon-Feb 14 Volusia Speedway Park (30L-NP)......................Barberville, FL
Tue-Feb 15 Volusia Speedway Park (30L-NP)......................Barberville, FL
Wed-Feb 16 Volusia Speedway Park (30L-NP)......................Barberville, FL
Fri-Feb 18 Volusia Speedway Park (50L-NP)......................Barberville, FL
Sat-Mar 26 Hagerstown Speedway (100L)...........................Hagerstown, MD
Sun-May 1 Rolling Wheels Raceway (100L)........................Elbridge, NY
Wed-May 25 Lowe's Motor Speedway (50L)...........................Concord, NC
Thr-May 26 Delaware Int'l Speedway (100L).........................Delmar, DE
Sun-May 29 Cayuga County Fair Speedway (100L)..............Weedsport, NY
Tue-Jun 14 Lernerville Speedway (100L).............................Sarver, PA
Wed-Jun 22 New Egypt Speedway (100L).............................New Egypt, NJ
Tue-Jun 28 Albany-Saratoga Speedway (100L)....................Malta, NY
Mon-Jul 4 Rolling Wheels Raceway (100L)........................Elbridge, NY
Thr-Jul 7 Lebanon Valley Speedway (100L).....................West Lebanon, NY
Sun-Jul 10 Cornwall Motor Speedway (100L)......................Cornwall, ONT
Mon-Jul 11 Autodrome Drummond (100L)...........................Drummondville, QUE
Sun-Jul 31 Tri-City Speedway (100L)..................................Franklin, PA
Thr-Aug 11 Canandaigua Speedway (100L)........................Canandaigua, NY
Wed-Aug 24 New Egypt Speedway (100L)............................New Egypt, NJ
Wed-Aug 31 Brewerton Speedway (100L).............................Brewerton, NY
Sun-Sep 4 Cayuga County Fair Speedway (100L).............Weedsport, NY
Mon-Sep 5 Rolling Wheels Raceway (100L).......................Elbridge, NY
Sat-Sep 10 Lebanon Valley Speedway (200L)....................West Lebanon, NY
Sun-Sep 18 Rolling Wheels Raceway (200L).......................Elbridge, NY
Sat-Sep 24 New Egypt Speedway (100L)............................New Egypt, NJ
Sat-Oct 1 Fulton Speedway (200L)...................................Fulton, NY
Sun-Oct 9 New York State Fairgrounds (200L)..................Syracuse, NY
Sun-Oct 16 Williams Grove Speedway (100L) ....................Mechanicsburg, PA
Sun-Oct 23 Bridgeport Speedway (200L) ............................Bridgeport, NJ
*NP = Non-Point event.

F1: Villeneuve 'slams' his tires for poor showing in Aussie opener

During his BAR Honda days, we had a running joke in the office. After each F1 race, Jacques Villeneuve would "slam" some person or thing. Nothing was ever his fault.

The headline on the web pages always went something like: "Villeneuve slams Button", "Villeneuve slams Richards", "Villeneuve slams Honda engines"... you get the idea.

Anyway, it's started again. The TSN article listed below shows that our boy JV hasn't lost the touch. Apparently, the blame for his lame showing in Australia was due to the tires.

So... without further delay... TSN presents: "Villeneuve slams his tires!"....

TSN.ca - Auto Racing - Canada's Sports Leader: "Jacques Villeneuve says bad tires did him in at the season opening Australian Grand Prix. "

TSN.ca - Tagliani set to be bounced from Rocketsports?

If you needed any more proof that Champ Car is turning into a 'pay to race' series, look no further than what's reportedly happening to Alex Tagliani.



According to a report by TSN, the Canadian veteran might find himself out of a ride with Rocketsports because F1 test driver Timo Glock has $4 million burning a hole in his pocket and he's looking for a ride...



TSN.ca - Auto Racing - Canada's Sports Leader: "Alex Tagliani should know by the end of this weekend where he will call home for the 2005 Champ Car season.



After announcing last fall that he had come to a verbal agreement with Rocketsports owner Paul Gentilozzi on a new three year deal, reports of late indicate the Canadian's position with the team is not as secure as first thought."

PERFORMANCE WORLD SHOW: Starts Today

It's a cold and snowy weekend in March... and that can only mean one thing... it's time for the Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show (Truck Show ???) at the International Centre near Pearson Airport. Below is a press release from the show, with all the details.

As usual, Inside Track will be there with a booth. Please stop by and say 'hi'. We'll be handing out schedules and renewing subscriptions. We'll also have the new issue there, hot off the press. It's been in the mail since Monday and we hope it's arrived in your mailbox by today... but if it hasn't, we'll make sure you see one at the booth.
... Greg.


TORONTO, ON – The growing trend of customizing vehicles to look and act as individually as the people who drive them has been brought to the forefront with the increasing popularity of car shows like Pimp My Ride and Overhauling, among others.

For the latest and most comprehensive information on the custom market no true car enthusiast can afford to miss the 2005 Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show. The hardcore show for car enthusiasts takes first pole position at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road) from March 11-13, 2005 with custom cars and trucks competing for $50,000 in cash and awards. The event promises more than 600 top show cars and trucks and over 250 exhibitors, covering 350,000 square feet.

A special feature of this year’s Performance World Show is actor, “father of the T-Bucket” and creator of the skull shifter, Norm Grabowski. In 1955, Norm’s Kookie hot rod became a highlight of the hit TV program 77 Sunset Strip, launching him into an acting career in which he appeared in many movies and television shows during the ‘50s and ’60. Norm is bringing his second generation of vehicle, the Kookie II to Performance World. Kookie II has the largest hot rod exhaust pipes in the world at almost 8inch DIA with a custom air curl system and computer sensors that sending air and fuel information to the three onboard computers that monitor the blown 530 Cadillac engine.

The hand carved dash and steering wheel, the Corvette Red leather interior and all the handles, latches, and knobs are of Norm's designs. Rounding off the interior is an over the wind shield trademark skull head shifter.
Also featured at this year’s Show are custom car builders Posies, David Tucci, Kevin Care, Mike Terzich, Jimmy Varcalli, Ken Matsko, Fran Speer and Kickers Nash, all appearing with their latest creations.

Other vehicles of note include: the 50th anniversary Chevy and T-Bird; Coupville, a celebration of Coupes from the ‘20s, 30’s and 40’s; and the "OCC" Signature Series Chopper, signed by Paul Sr. and Paulie Jr. Other not-to-miss highlights include: Title Sponsor, Concepts On Wheels’ massive 20,000 square foot blow out sale, with up to 80% off on all name brand car and video products; Tammy Plante, Playboy’s Cover Model for the College Issue; Linda Jade, Import Super Model; the Miss Audiothunder Bikini Contest; and the Budweiser Talent Search Bikini Contest.