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WEATHER WINS
AGAIN LUSKVILLE CLOSED THIS SUNDAY NEXT SATURDAY LAST DAY OF SEASON: SEPT
28/08 The summer that never was continued again this weekend as Luskville Dragway is forced to close both days do too the bad and wet weather. We will be open next Saturday weather permitting for one last Day of Time Trials and a cruise night Saturday Night. It is a season we would just as soon get behind us and look towards next year, we have had more rain and cancellations this summer than at any other time in the 30 years we have ran Luskville. Hopes are high for next season to make up for this year, and we are certain that will be the case. See you next Saturday. |
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JESSUP
DOUBLES UP FOR 2008: SEPT 28/08 No matter
what sport you talk about they continually talk about the youth movement,
and its no different in drag racing and it certainly is no different at
Luskville Dragway. And this year is a prime example of it as Young second
generation drag racer Kyle Jessup no only won the track championship but
also prevailed in the Benson Auto Parts Tour as well. And he did so racing
against many drivers who where old enough to be his Father, in fact one of
those drivers he raced against was his Father. The son of Carl Jessup, also
a former track champion, Kyle showed that being young doesn't mean you cant
win races and win races he did. Kyle began his racing career just like many
other second generation kids do, helping out Dad at the race track, then
going on to drive a Jr. Dragster at Luskville Dragway like a number of other
current young Super Pro drivers. Kyle then spend some time working at
Luskville Dragway, which to this day seems to have stayed in his blood as
quite often he is there lending a hand when ever it is needed and he's not
racing his Undercover Super Pro Dragster. After the Jr. and a year of
driving a Semi Pro car for ADM Motorsports, Kyle moved to a Super Pro Car
for ADM and continued his quick improvement to where today he is considered
one of the best Super Pro Drivers out there. In fact last season he was
voted Drag Racer of the Year by one of the leading Motorsports publications
in this country. After driving for ADM for a couple of years Kyle and his
Father started their own team and have not looked back since as they have
gone on to be the team to beat with Kyle leading the charge. What lies in
store for 2009 is still unclear as far as the second team car goes as they
have sold the Ed Quay dragster and now only have one car to work with, which
means someone may have to be a crew chief. what ever happens you can bet
that Kyle Jessup will be behind the wheel of a dragster come opening day
2009, and you can bet that every other super pro driver will be gunning for
them right from the start. That is the case when you sit at the top and
right now Kyle Jessup sits at the top of the Super Pro Ranks at Luskville
Dragway and on the Benson Auto Parts Tour, Congratulations to Kyle Jessup
and Team Jessup. |
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100
MILE AN HOUR CLUB GAINING SPEED: SEPT 22/08 With
only two weekends (three days total) left in the season the 100 mile an hour
club has picked up some speed with a total of 7 new members this past
Sunday. Troy Molson lead the way with his 1965 Nova SS out of Brockville,
Ontario as he set the the high mark with a 114 Mile an hour pass. Troy is no
stranger to leading the way as he has been the top of the field at the
Shannonville Motorsports Park Arm Drop competition winning two of the those
events. Another one of the inductee's was none other than Steve Burton and
his personal street Mustang which topped the 100 mile an hour mark. Another
car that was out for only the second time was Kris Parker and his unusual
70"s Monte Carlo (for a street rod) which also went well above the needed
mark to join up. Each accomplisher was giving the 100 mile an hour
club decals to put on their car and today we are listing them all on the web
site. We will be running again this weekend both Saturday and Sunday and
then the final day will be Saturday Oct 5th. both Saturday's will feature a
cruise night, but the season is fast coming to a close, so come join us and
join the 100 mile an hour club.100 MILE AN HOUR CLUB |
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PAT KOHL
DOUBLES UP ON CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2008: SEPT 22/08 I think it would be safe to say that Pat Kohl is and has been one of the best foot brake racers to ever  come around the sport of drag racing. And he
proved that again this season with winning not just one championship, but
two in the same year, The Benson Auto Parts Tour as well as the 99RACE TOUR.
This in itself is quite an accomplishment but when you consider that he and
partner John Sullivan also double enter the car at every event they go to so
that both John and Pat can race, it even makes it more large that they could
do what they do and when championships. Going round after round with
sometime NO time between runs in order to get back for the second run says a
lot about not only Pat's driving ability but also the preparation of the
car. As some of you may or may not be aware of Kohl has for the past two
years had a new car under construction and hopes are for that to be debuted
sometime next year, yes a new Opel out of the Crilly Chassis works shop will
be the new ride for Pat Kohl as Sullivan will take over sole duties of the
big block Chevelle. The base's itself out of Killaloe, Ontario and travels
to all of the races on the tour as well as many at Luskville Dragway during
the racing season. Pat, his wife and John are a regular fixture with their
OK TIRE sponsored Chevelle, and where ever they go they strike fear in the
competition to say the least. Many of the Semi Pro racers will be quick to
point out they are looking for to the debuted of the new car as they hope
that will make the Chevelle one less thorn in their sides. Congrats to Pat
Kohl and his team. |
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OUT WITH THE OLD......IN
WITH THE NEW (ER) FOR THE K&K RACE TEAM: SEPT 22/08Stratford,
ON :
For the last 10
seasons the K&K Race Team (Kevin Wicke & Kevin Zimmer) have campaigned their
Top Sportsman 92’ LeBaron at regional Q16 events
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NO TRANS
BRAKES OR OTHER ELECTRONICS FOR SEMI PRO IN 2009: SEPT 19/08 After floating the test balloon out there we have come to the first quick conclusion that most of our racers, and many from other tracks do not want to see trans brakes allowed in Semi Pro. So it has been decided that we will continue to make foot brake racing in semi pro just that "Foot Brake Racing". Even at a track like Shannonville where it is allowed 
(although hardly anyone runs one) the majority of drivers questioned said
quite clearly that Semi Pro should be left as a none electronics class.
After talking with many of the Northern Teams it was also quite obvious that
they too wanted semi pro to be left alone. And
we have listened, first of all management at Luskville Dragway and the Tour
"Firmly agree that it should stay as a foot brake class and not become a
"Super Pro Door Class" where most would not be able to afford to continue to
run. There is no question that if we had allowed Trans Brakes we would have
had two steps and electronic shifters, wish means we would have only be
disallowing delay boxes. And as we earlier have written the new technology
of trans brake buttons (virtual delay box buttons) would have very easily
have created a "Super Pro Semi Pro Car. So with that being said please make
if very clear that we will keep Foot Brake Racing alive, with the rule of NO
ELECTRONICS or TRANS BRAKES in Semi Pro for 2009. As earlier announced
though the bump for semi pro has been lowered to 5:00 for 2009 ( but this
too will be reviewed over the next little while) to give those
that wish to go faster in this class the opportunity to do so, and for any
door car that might consider moving back once and a while from Super Pro the
ability to do so also. We will over the winter review the possibility of
moving the top end bump down also as this has been brought to our attention
by a few racers who would like to see it lowered as well. |
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Race City is No More: 19/08 Bruce Biegler Drag Race Canada - September 9, 2008 The rumors which have been circulating for many months now have unfortunately become reality. Calgary's Race City Speedway (including the IHRA sanctioned drag strip) is now no more. This was posted by Rome Awde on their website today: Race City, Calgary, Alberta. We regret to inform that at 1:00 pm Tuesday Sept 9th, 2008, all racing operations by Calgary International Speedway Inc., the operating company for Race City, are suspended until further notice. All scheduled racing events for the remainder of the 2008 season have been canceled. We would like to thank all our Volunteers, Staff, Fans, Sanctioning Bodies, Sponsors and Racers who have supported us through the last three years of operation. CIS set out to save racing in Calgary after the announced closure of Race City in 2005. Unfortunately, the rainy weather and lack of major sponsorship support and low spectator counts to pay for the racing events that have been held at Race City over the last few years has left us with no choice but to cancel all racing and shut down operations. All rental operations under Speedway Track Rentals Inc. are still in effect. Race City Inc. will resume with business operations for the remainder of 2008 and beyond. Art MacKenzie of Race City Inc. is in the process of deciding what racing events and rentals will be held at the facility for the 2009 season. Please see www.racecity.com or call 403-272-7223, for further information. |
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WE OUT
MANEUVERED THE WEATHER MAN SEASON COMES TO AN END: SEPT 15/08 Heading into the final Benson Auto Parts Tour Event of the year, the weatherman once again made it very clear that he was going to be the only winner this time. With a forecast as late as Thursday morning that Friday, Saturday and Sunday where going to be a total wash out with rain for all three days things did not look very good at all. However as has been the case this season by Friday morning in the pouring rain the radio forecast gave us a glimmer of hope for Saturday, as now they where saying only showers and maybe not till late in the day. So open the gates we did, Friday Afternoon, dry the track we did Friday evening and run we did Friday Night, although with out question we where certainly affected by the forecast and the skies, run we did. So heading into Saturday morning and with the forecast still calling for a total rain out Sunday, a decision was made by ADM Motorsports that both Saturday and Sunday's races would be run on Saturday. Now to say that many people thought this was impossible would be putting it mildly, however they would be proven wrong as time trials for day one (Saturday's Race) got under way at 8:20 and first round was under way by 10:30. Upon completion of this race around 12:45 and following a couple of rounds of new time trials the second venue (Sundays race) was under way by 2:30, four hours later winners for both days had been crowned, as well as champions in the Benson Auto Parts Tour and the 99RACE Tour. It wasn't easy and the staff, the drivers and the crew members all played a part in making it happen, but happen it did and its just as well as Sunday Morning brought with it more of the wet stuff and for certain a cancellation if we had been set to run. So that in a nutshell is what happened from a dramatic portion of the race now here is the nuts and bolt's of the deal and all the winners. We are hoping for some pictures later today and will post them as soon as we get them so all can see. Super Pro Saturday: Winner-Dale Gauthier, Runner Up Troy Davis, Semi's Derek Malcolm Semi Pro Saturday: Winner-Matt Maxsom, Runner Up John Sullivan, Semi's Jessica Tandy Jr. Dragsters Saturday: Winner Randy Lyn Urslak, Runner Up C. Cardinal, Semi's Chevy Morrow Sleds/Bikes Saturday: Winner John Chatwood, Runner Up Rob Gratton Semi's Morris Kenyon Super Pro Sunday: Winner Kyle Jessup, Runner Up Jamie Tupper, Semi's Gary Milot Semi Pro Sunday: Winner Joe Villeneuve, Runner Up Dick Stanton, Semis Tony Scarr Jr. Dragsters Sunday: Winner Chevy Morrow, Runner Up Kale Urslak, Semi's K. Cardinal Sleds/Bikes Sunday: Winner Scott Connors, Runner Up Rob Graveline, Semis- J Hanifin and T Salisbury Champions where decided and once we have the official results we will have that information also. There where other interesting stories brought about this weekend and we will bring those to you also in future stories once the season quiets down. It was a very, very ruff summer and a very wet racing season but we made it through and only lost two tour race dates but that's not to say we weren't challenged each and every race weekend by the weather, but 2008 is now behind us and lets start looking forward to 2009. Banquet tickets MUST be purchased prior to first of January 2009.
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SHANNONVILLE COMING FAST, END OF SEASON ALSO: SEPT 7/08 Where has the season gone, in a summer that many are calling the summer that never was our local drag racing season will come to a close with the running of the Shannonville Motorsports Park Dragway Benson Auto Parts Tour event this coming weekend Sept 13-14. Yes with out doubt it has been one of the worst season's in history weather wise, with other than the Fall Bracket Nationals the weather played the biggest part in every other weekend. Whether it was completed cancellations too bad forecasts and skies the weather man will be the biggest story for 2008. However no one will be thinking about that when the tour rolls into Shannonville Sept 12-13-14 for the last stop of the season and for many teams the last race of the year. Shannonville has always had some excitement as the past two years has seen one series or another be settled at this event and things will be no different this year as both the Benson Tour and the 99RACE TOUR are both up for grabs. |
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NEW
CAR SHUFFLE HAS ALREADY BEGAN: SEPT 7/08 Every off season becomes what we in the business call the silly season as rumors take off like grass on fire and new car  announcements
do the same. And this year is no different although it probably started
early with the announcement that Derek Malcolm of ADM Motorsports was about
to debut a brand new undercover car at the Bracket Bonanza. This in itself
caused another announcement as the old Undercover car at the same time
was sold the Steve and Tina Way of North Bay for their daughter Tiff to
continue her racing career by moving to Super Pro in 2009 from Jr. Dragster.
The Way's took delivery of the new dragster at the Fall race and will return
to Luskville Dragway on the 20
and 27 to get in some hot laps with Tiff in the car. Now rumor also has it
that ADM Motorsports may not be finished as a third car is talked to be in
the rumor mill also but time will tell. However things don't stop there as
Jamie Clarmo has purchased Paulo Guist's second car which is the S&W soft
tail black car and was driving it at the fall race and winning races with
it. Now with this car being sold Paulo was with out a second car, but not
for long as a deal was struck with Russ Farmer of RaceTech to build a brand
new 245 inch top dragster for Paulo that will come with some advertising
involved with RaceTech, in an effort for this US Chassis builder to make
some in roads into this area. And no its not over as Al and Becky Ray have
announced that their S&W Soft Tail car is for sale as they are shopping for
a new car also, this would make someone a very nice car and has one more
than its share of races locally, including just a month ago when Becky one
the Sunday Portion of the Bracket Bonanza. Look for Pat Kohl to debut a new
Super Pro Opel in 2009 and Whisper's are also going around that Randy Bellefeuille
might also be soon to make an announcement concerning his endeavors for next
season. Now keep in mind the season is not even over and this much new car
news has already began to happen, what else lies in store stay tuned. |
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MR.
TRANSMISSION FALL BRACKET FINALS SETS RECORDS: SEPT 1/08 This is what we have been waiting for, yes great weather finally played a part in making one great weekend of racing at the 20th Annual Mr. Transmissions Fall Bracket Finals. Yes a record number of race cars, a record number of spectators on Saturday Night made this years event extra special. The only down side was the Jet Car Crash on Sunday (Driver Dan Crownhart is OK, released from hospital this morning after being kept over night for observations), more about this further down. Kicking things off on Saturday Morning was sunning skies and lots of time trials for everyone as the set up began for the second last race day of the season. When things got underway a record number of semi pro and super pro cars came to the lanes for the first round of eliminations, and when the smoke had all cleared a number of winners where in place for the first part of the program. Rock Lafontaine came out o  n
top of a huge super pro field which saw Denis Souliere the runner up in his
wild pro mod style corvette. This was the famous door car vs. dragster
confrontation that everyone hopes for with the dragster prevailing in day
one. In Semi Pro Jim Hewitt drove Ron Smiths wheel standing 1970 Cuda to the
winners circle in Semi Pro with Pat Kohl showing why he is considered one of
the best Semi drivers by making it to the final only having to settle for
second place this day. Bike/Sled was won by Apple Auto Glass back bike of
"Dustin" who was competing in competition for his first time ever. Jr.
Dragster was won by Chevy Morrow who beat Adam Schneider in the finals,
Chevy would be the only repeat winner as winning on Sunday over Randy Lyn
Urslak. Heading into the night portion of the program there was two more
complete races to run plus the Coors Light Night of Fire" in the Super Pro
portion of the program Jamie Clarmo was the big winner in a brand new soft
tail dragster that he had just purchased that afternoon from Paulo Guist.
Second place in super pro went to a familiar face as Rock Lafontaine had
made his way back to the second set of finals for the day only having to
settle for second this time around. The No Box class was won by Randy
Bellefeuille
with his Chevy S-10 , the night was capped off with side by side jet car
runs under the lights with fireworks and everything else that goes along
with the night of fire. Sunday dawned once again with wall too wall sunshine
and some of the best racing Luskville Dragway has ever seen. Once again a
door car and a dragster would make its way to the finals as Bill Smith and
Randy Urslak would head to the lanes for the finals race of the 2008 season
at Luskville Dragway. This time the Door Car would prevail as Urslak turned
on the red light giving Bill Smith of Kingston Ontario the victory, and a
much deserved one at that. Semi Pro was the turf of one Pat Kohl as he
marched his way to the winners circle over Roger Leclair of North Bay in a
great Semi Pro Final. Sled Bikes was the ground of Rob Graveline as he was
the big winner on Sunday in this class. The Track and the Traction was the
best Luskville Dragway has ever seen and lot has to be said for all those
drivers who joined Derek and Troy Friday Night in what was a massive
scraping session to give everyone the type of track they like to race on. We
would also like to thank Ray Miner Sr. and Jr. for their great racers and
crews bar-b-que and smoke house roast dinner on Saturday Night, as usual the
Miners (the owners of Mr. Transmission) out did themselves with some of the
best food your going to get anywhere. |
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| Jamie Clarmo not only bought a new car but took it too the winners circle Sat. Night | Chevy Morrow had a good weekend winning both Days, Randy Lyn Urslak was second Sun. | Pat Kohl (right) won Semi Pro Sunday joined here by his wife and John Sullivan. |
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| Rob Graveline was the big winner of the Bike Sled class at this years event | Randy Bellefeuille joined the winners list on Saturday Nights Shootout series. | Too say the traction was the best it has ever been would be a huge understatement. |
JET
CAR CRASH ONLY DOWN SIDE TO THIS WEEKENDS EVENT, DRIVER A OK THOUGH THAT'S
THE GOOD NEWS: Jet Car
Driver Dan Crownhart was released from the Hospital this morning with a
clean bill of health after going for a harrowing spill at the very end of
the Mr. Transmission Fall Bracket Finals. Dan who is a driver who has been
to Luskville Dragway as much if not more than any Jet Car Team was past the
end of the 1/8 mile run when the car swerved towards the guardrail. Dan did
everything he could to keep the car off the pit side guardrail, but in doing
so was unable to pull his chutes leading to the car rolling over and coming
to a stop half way through the shut down. Dan was transported to the
Hospital and was released with a clean bill of health this morning and will
by on his way home this afternoon as his brother is flying in from Illinois
to drive the motor home home. A number of people who pitched in to help must
be thanked and that help continued today as Dan and his wife and Brother
will be taken where they need to go. Two things amaze me with this crash,
first even though I have been doing this for close too 40 years it still is
the worst part of our sport, secondly, it truly amazes me how the racing
community jumps in to help with over whelming support . To the drivers and
crew members who did what you did, A GREAT BIG THANK YOU FROM US AND THE
CROWNHARTS. |
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FIRST TWO
MEMBERS OF LUSKVILLE DRAGWAY 100 MILE AN HOUR CLUB INDUCTED:
SEPT 1/08 We also started our new 100 Mile an Hour Club at Luskville Dragway this past weekend and we only had to members inducted as we kicked things off on Saturday. The Mustang of Marc Collins pictured to the right took his Joe Kavanagh (Lentech Performance Automotive) street car to the very first spot on the list. Sunday saw Nick Van Riemsdyc of Dun Robin become the second street car to do so with his 1984 GMC Cavalaro (el camino) and also have his name added to the list as we start what we hope will be a great thing for all street car drivers. 100 Miles and hour is not the easy as many other drivers found out as we went through our Saturday Night cruise night. We will have a special spot on the web for this list of drivers. |
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n
is a very tough class, the IHRA regulars are the best racers out there. We
feel we now have the right combination and to finish in the top 10 is not
unrealistic. If we can secure some additional funding we can do a little
more traveling and run more events, that will help us in the points come
year end." says Zimmer. The team will rely on long time associate supporters
Perth Auto Dismantlers, FRAM, CVR, Ron’s Precision Machine & Bear’s
Performance Products. They are currently searching for that elusive “Major
Sponsor” that will allow them to compete at more events.