CCS Fall Fest Brings Out Driver’s With Zest!

Stittsville, ON – Saturday, September 27, 2014 – Kirk Mulligan – Finally, Capital City Speedway’s (CCS) Fall Fest had arrived.  The sun was shining bright and the temperature was warm.  This was a Saturday event that consisted of only special features.  The racing included a 200 lap enduro and a 25 lap chain race. 

Racing was supposed to start at 1pm sharp.  However, due to an influx of cars, the event had to start a half hour late.  The enduro race involved 25, 8 cylinder cars and 19, 4 cylinder cars.  This produced a grand total of 44 cars.  The cars were lined up from the start finish line back into turn 3.  In addition, the cars were lined up 3 wide.  Carl Gauthier (car #31), Mitch McCullough (car #77) and Bobby Montske (car #20) made up the front row.  After the cars were lined up, flagman Ronnie Ridge waved the green flag!  The race had begun.  Unfortunately, the car of Denny Rees (car #M5) didn’t move.  Before the first lap was even complete, the red flag was unveiled.  Troubles for Rees would continue all day as he would enter and leave the racing surface sporadically throughout the race.  Once the race was restarted, the first lap of the race was completed with Gauthier leading the way.  However, by the end of lap 2, the race would see the 60’s era Impala of Terry McClelland (car #64) take the lead.  McClelland looked strong in the early going as he was passing cars all over the track.  In lap 9, the car of Sean Burke (car #67) would stall on the inside of the front straight.  After a few minutes Burke got the car fired up.  Unfortunately, the car would stall again except this time on the back straight.  This cycle repeated a few times before Burke remained stalled a final time on the inside of the front straight in lap 12.  In lap 17, a wheel and a fender molding mysteriously appeared on the front straight.  The red flag dropped in lap 22 to clean up the debris.  Burke’s car was also moved to the pit area.  The top five at this point in the race were McClelland, Clayton Pederson (car #20), Mitchell Klompmaker (car #28), Gauthier and Scott Cuthbertson (car #2).  The race was restarted and stopped again in lap 27.  In lap 27, Daniel Claude (car #72) was removed from the infield.  In addition, Chris Purdie (car #29) whom had just spun on the front stretch due to a front flat tire was also removed from the track.  Once the race was restarted, the excitement continued.  In lap 29, McClelland left the racing surface to the pit and he would not return until lap 38.  As a result, Pederson became the new leader.   The red flag returned in lap 45 as Jonathan Galipeau (car #64) collided with Todd Ceason (car #16).  The collision sent Ceason up the outside wall in turn 3.  A quarter of the way through the race the top 5 were Pederson, Klompmaker, Marc-André Bernier (car #15), Cuthbertson and Gauthier.  After the race resumed, Thunder stock champion Neil Leblond (car #88) would rub Dave Quinton (car #78) and the two would spin.  Leblond then pulled to the infield and Quinton headed to the pits.  In lap 49, Pederson spun out and Klompmaker became the new leader.  Kevin Perrin (car #02) hit the wall in turn 2 of lap 57 due to a rear flat tire.  Perrin would return to the race in lap 65.  Klompmaker would lose the lead as he encountered some problem causing him to slow right down on the front stretch.  Bernier then became the new leader.  The race resumed until lap 69 when the red flag was brought out.  The break allowed for the removal of Leblond and Burke from the infield.  Bernier was eagerly awaiting the restart as fluid was leaking under his car.  The race was restarted until the hood of Perrin sprung open in lap 76.  The red flag was brought out again as Perrin left the racing surface.  Jamie Briggs was also removed at this time as he had stalled on the front straight is a previous lap.  The next bit of action occurred in lap 90 as the Ceason machine was black flagged for what appeared to be the leaking of fuel onto the track.  Soon after, in lap 93, Cuthbertson would pass Bernier on the inside of the front straight to take over the lead.  However, Bernier remained right on Cuthbertson’s tail until the midway point in the race lap 100.  The race was stopped at lap 100 and cars were allowed to mark their spots on the race track.  The teams were then allowed 15 minutes to make any necessary adjustments to their cars.  Race director Tim Dorning said: “They can even change their engines if they wanted too!” 

After the short intermission, the race resumed.  The red flag was dropped immediately as the cars of Rees and Pederson stalled.  After the two cars were pushed off the track, the green flag was waived.    In lap 108, Jessie Duguay (car #217) would spin around in turn 2.  Duguay turned the car around and continue to race.  In lap 120, Derek Demont (car #7) and Robert Hill Jr. (car #4T) collided in turn 2.  Hill pulled his car to the infield but, Demont continued to race.  McCullough experiencing problem with his car joined Hill in the infield in lap 133.  Ian Reid continued the racing action by spinning in turn 2 of lap 137.  Corey Trofimezuk (car #7x) blew the motor in his car in lap 144.  The red flag finally appeared after 43 laps of green flag racing.  The CCS clean up crew quickly covered the oil from Trofimezuk’s motor with a few bags of speedy dry.  The cars of Hill, Nick Delorenz (car #3) and Mathieu Laroque (car #21) were pushed to the pit area during the break.  The race then continued.  At the 3 quarter mark of the race Cuthbertson was leading with Bernier right behind him.  In lap 158, the engine of the Duguay machine would come apart bringing out the red flag.  On the restart, Dominic Gauvreau (car #23), Hill, Blaine Jacquard (car #83) and Bernier drove 4 wide into turn 2.  Everyone involved survived except for Hill as he spun into the infield.  In lap 165, the red flag would return as Gauvreau blew the motor.  With 35 laps to go at this point, the race saw Cuthbertson and Bernier battling for the lead.  In fact, in lap 166, Bernier would take over the lead.  The two drivers would weave through lap traffic in the next several laps.  Cuthbertson made several challenges for the lead in the next 20 laps.  Unfortunately, in lap 188, something in the front end (possibly a ball joint) of Bernier’s machine let go.  Bernier came out of turn 4 and slid right into the Quinton machine.  Quinton was sandwiched between Bernier and the wall.  The accident brought out the red flag.  Quinton and Bernier left the race.  The race had 12 laps to go and only 16 of 44 cars remained.  With Bernier out of the race, Cuthbertson became the new leader.  Cuthbertson would complete the remaining 12 laps and go on to win the event for the 8 cylinder class.  The 4 cylinder class winner was Milton Dennie (car #25th).

 

After 200 laps of excitement, it was time for the 25 lap chain race.  Only 3 teams participated and lined up 3 wide.  The teams were Kevin Reese and Matt (car #21 and #18), James Smith and Trevor (car #17 and #17) and Chris Purdie and Gilles Melanson (car #29 and #68.5).  After the green flag dropped, Purdie and Melanson took the lead.  Unfortunately, the team of Reese and Matt was eliminated after the first turn.  Reese and Matt’s chain broke as they entered turn 1 of the first lap.  Once the chain that connects the two cars is broke, the team is disqualified.  The action continued as the team of Smith and Trevor would challenge Purdie and Melanson for the lead in lap 2.  Purdie and Melanson were much too strong as they gradually extended their lead in the coming laps.  Smith and Trevor’s front car began leaking some fluid in lap 4.  In lap 15, Smith and Trevor’s team would continue the excitement as the two spun on the front stretch.  The team would turn the cars forward and continue the race.  Purdie and Melanson were over a half a lap ahead at this point of the race.  They would cautiously finish and win the race.

Up next, is the 2015 CCS racing season.  Have a great winter everyone and thank you for supporting us!

Fall Fest - Saturday September 27th.

Join us Saturday September 27th for our last event of the season - Fall Fest. This will be a 200 Lap Enduro Race with a 25 Lap Chain Race to follow. Start Time will be 1:00 pm with pit gates opening at 11:30. Front Gates open at 12:30

Front Gate and back gate admission will be $ 10.00. $ 50.00 for Enduro competitors. $ 20.00 to enter the Chain Race per team.

There will be an intermission after the first 100 laps. Cars which do want to refuel and conduct repairs or change tires can do so. You will be required to mark your stop point on the track, a pylon, shoe, shirt, rag etc. and move your car back to that spot prior to the re start of the race.

This is a 200 lap race so aggressive driving will not be tolerated.

The Chain Race will follow the enduro. You will be required to have a chain ( thickness of that chain is your choice ) between the two cars with a minimum and maximum length of 6 feet between the two bumpers. Give or take a inch. Mounting points on the cars will be left up to you, but they must be in the centre of the car. ( ie Back license plate to front license plate area ). This will be a 25 lap race. If your chain breaks away from either car you will be disqualified and you need to leave the track. This is not a opportunity to break someone else's chain. This is not a rolling demo derby, it is a two car race.

Both cars need to be operational at all times. If lead car breaks down you are done. In the perfect race the back car will follow the lead car perhaps a few feet behind. The back car may push the front, but be wary if you run over your own chain you may have some problems. This is all for fun so please drive accordingly. The turtle may beat the rabbit in this race.

Please join us for our final event.

I hope to see you at the races.

Banquet Date Set - Saturday November 1st at the Travelodge

The banquet date has been set. It will be Saturday November 1st and will be held at the Travelodge on Carling Ave. ( The Old Talisman ).

Tickets will be $ 50.00, and we will have a plated dinner. We are finalizing the menu but it will be a choice of steak or chicken. Garden or Caesar salad. Steak will be cooked medium.

We are working on our online ticket option for ticket purchases for the banquet and we will let you know when it is ready should you decide to buy your tickets online.

Final details to follow shortly.

SummerSlam: A Marathon of Excitement at CCS

Stittsville, ON – Sunday, September 14, 2014 – Kirk Mulligan – After a full day of rain on Saturday, Mother Nature finally gave up her wrath of wet weather on the Ottawa region.  Finally, Capital City Speedway’s (CCS) SummerSlam had arrived.  Following months of built up excitement and a season plagued with rain, the season’s main event had taken center stage.  Who would have known that many of CCS’s racing championships would hinge on the balance of this event.  The entire day consisted of racing from the regular classes of Late Model, Legends, Thunder, Mini Stock, 4 for Fun (4FF) and many special features.  The special feature events were appearances from the Quebec Vintage Stock Car Series, the Vintage Modifieds, the Dirt Sportsman Modifieds as well as a 100 lap enduro.  Added excitement for the fans was the addition of an additional Late Model feature.  The addition of the second feature allowed for the possibility of two main feature winners as well as a combined feature winner.  Also worth noting was the Legends class race.  This race was scheduled as a national qualifier race for the four Legend divisions: Grand Master, Master, Pro and Semi-Pro.  Finally, fans on hand were fortunate to see record car counts in all classes.

Similar to last week’s column, before we move on to the racing, I want to take this opportunity to thank those whom supported the track and donated prizes for the fans.  Firstly, CCS would like to thank Hunter McCaig of Rideau Auctions for donating another two kid’s bikes to be raffled off at intermission.  Congratulations to Chase St. Michael and Sierra Bradley for winning the bikes!  Other special thanks again this week goes out to the director of www.PoconoBusTrip.com, Scott McIssac, for setting up a grand prize raffle scheme and donating 2 grand prize tickets to the 2015 Nascar race at Pocono International Raceway.  On this night, Scott drew the grand prize!  Congratulations to Connie Young for winning the Nascar tickets! 

The entire day saw a total of 14 heat races.  After the heats, it was time for the 25 lap Quebec Vintage Stock Car Series feature race.  The pole positions consisted of Simon Gamache (car #6) and Lucien Rocheleau (car #68).  Rocheleau took the early lead in lap 1.  For the next five laps, Rocheleau, Gamache and Marc Verner (car #77) were running on a string.  All of sudden, the motor in the 1966 Chevelle of Michel Groleau (car #66) let go to bring out the caution.  After the restart Rocheleau regained the lead.  Rocheleau fended off challenges from strong runners Langis Caron (car #35) and Verner.  The leaders eventually approached lap traffic in lap 20 but that didn’t slow down Rocheleau.  Finally, after holding of a last lap challenge from Caron, Rocheleau went on to win the race.

The next race was the Enstone Construction 30 lap National Qualifier Legends feature.  Matt Haufe (car #7) and Brian Saunders (car #15) made up the front row.  These two drivers were pumped as a heated altercation had occurred between them in the first heat.  Haufe got off to the best start after the green flag dropped.  After lap 1, Haufe led with Saunders and Dave Riopelle (car #92) right behind him.  Saunders then pulled up beside Haufe.  The two drivers would drive side by side for the next 4 laps.  Saunders would eventually take over the lead in lap 8.  Haufe would then try to mount a comeback in lap 12.  However, in the same lap a visiting driver Verne Lafave (car #47) got loose and slammed into the wall in turn 4.  This accident would bring out a caution flag.  On the restart, Saunders again pulled out in front.  Riopelle followed Saunders and took over second place from Haufe.  Riopelle would then make his move and take the lead from Saunders in lap 14.  Saunders, Haufe and now Chris Zieren (car #51) battled for second, third and fourth spots in the next lap.  Haufe would then overtake second spot from Saunders in lap 18.  The excitement continued in lap 26.  As the four top cars went into turn 1, Haufe’s brakes would give out sending him straight into the wall.  Haufe was done for the night.  On the restart, Riopelle, Saunders and Zieren made up the top three.  But, before the green flag dropped, Saunders was seen turning into the pit area at the back entrance.  Unfortunately, Saunders had lost his brakes as well.  The race would continue and eventually see Riopelle win the race.  In this national qualifier, Riopelle, Zieren, Brad Haufe (car #17) and Rob Shannon (car #58) became the Master’s, Pro, Semi-Pro and Grand-Master champions, respectively.

The first of two Drummond’s Gas 25 lap Late Model feature was the next exciting feature.  Paul Dejong (car #88) and Sean Kennedy (car #14) made up the front row.  After the first lap was in the books Kennedy was leading by a nose.  However, at the back of the pack Chris Ferguson (car #08) and visiting driver Daniel Bergeron (car #7QC) were rubbing.  This resulted in Bergeron spinning into the infield to bring out the caution flag.  On the restart, Kennedy got a good jump out of turn 4.  Steve Munro (car #00) and Tim Kirby (car #10) were following hot on his heels.  Kennedy led for the next 10 laps.  Although on lap 13, Kennedy could not handle the pressure from Munro.  Kennedy managed to get loose on the back stretch and Munro slid by on the inside.  Kirby would follow Munro to take over second place.   Kennedy would slide to as far back as fifth spot.  Back at the front of the pack Munro was too strong for Kirby to catch him.  As a result, Munro went on to win yet another feature.

The following race was the Perkins Lumber Home Building Centre 12 lap Vintage Modified feature.  Pete Stapper (car #27) and points leader Denzil Billings (car #x22) began at the front of the pack.  Stapper came out of turn 4 poorly at the drop of the green.  The poor start allowed Billings to blow by on the outside.  This left Stapper and Paul Billings (car #B22) to do battle for second spot.  By the two to go mark, Stapper and Billings were challenging for the lead.  Denzil would fend off the challenges and hang on for another victory at CCS.

The Autovation Thunder Stock 20 lap feature race was up next.  Jean Leblond (car #08) and Keith Riddell (car #59) were the font runners in this race.  Leblond took the lead in the early going.  Visiting driver John Baker Jr. (car #63) raced his way to the front of the pack by lap 3.  Todd Musker (car #13) and Jessica Pasinetti (car #56) were quick to follow for second and third spots.  By the half way mark, Baker and Musker were battling for the lead.  In lap 15, Musker and Baker were no longer battling, they were side by side all the way around the track.  By lap 18, somebody had to give, as Musker squeezed by Baker on the outside.  Musker would hold off Baker and go on to win his second feature of the year.

The second of Drummond’s Gas 25 lap Late Model feature began with the reverse finishing order of the first feature.  That meant Ferguson and Bergeron would square off in the front row.  Ferguson took the the early lead in front of Bergeron and Kennedy.  Bergeron and Kennedy then battled over second spot for the next couple of laps.  On lap 6, the excitement would continue.  Ken Baird (car #2) ended up rubbing Ferguson the wrong way causing a multiple car wreck.  The field fell from 10 cars to 6.  The cars would restart the race only to see Bergeron suffer with a flat tire in turn 1.  Bergeron then left the racing surface and did not return.  On the restart Ferguson and Kennedy led the pack.  Ferguson eventually pulled out in front.  However, on lap 8 Ferguson drove too high into turn 4.  As a result, Kennedy, Dejong and Kirby slid by on the inside of the turn.  Dejong then challenged Kennedy and overtook the lead on lap 14.  Kirby would follow and repeat Dejong’s move in lap 15 to take over second spot.  Unfortunately, Kirby then raced too hard into turn 3 on lap 22 causing him to spin.  On the restart, the fans experienced a somewhat instant replay.  However, this time Dejong would come into turn 3 too hot and spin.  This left Kennedy and points leader Justin Holtom (car #17) to lead the field to a green white checkered finish.  On the final restart, Holtom pulled ahead of Kennedy and cruised to victory for both the second feature and the combined feature.  Congratulations Justin!

After all the carnage and excitement from the Late Model feature, it was time for the Stittsville Trailers 20 lap Mini Stock feature race.  Darryl Gow (car #44) and Cory Wilson (car #33) would pace the field.  Wilson would lead the field for 6 laps.  That is all it took for points leader Jason Moss (car #12) to catch and pass Wilson for the lead.  Dave Watchorn (car #97) and Nolan Gould (car #28) would follow Moss.  In lap 7, Derek Demont (car #7) hit the wall on the front stretch to bring out the caution.  On the restart, Watchorn would pass Moss for the lead.  Watchorn was on fire!  At the half way mark Watchorn was 6 car lengths ahead.  Needless to say, Watchorn would easily take home the victory.

The 4FF SFL Metal Works feature race was up next.  A total of 7 4FF cars were set to go in a 10 lap feature race.  The race began with points leader Sara Sproule (car #99) and Mike Atwell (car #72) in the front row.  New comer, (car #83) would blow past the front row and take the lead after lap 1.  (Car #83) would fend off challenges from Malcolm MacDonald (car #80) and hang on to win.

The ProFlow Plumbing Services Sportsman Modified 20 lap feature race was up next.  Heat winner Joey Evans (car #09) qualified for the pole position.  Similarly to previous weeks, Evans was phenomenal as his car just took off after the green flag dropped.  Evans would lead every lap and easily take home the victory.

 

Finally, the night was ended with a 100 lap Enduro.  There were a total of 38 entries in the race, 19, 4 cylinders and 19, 8 cylinders.  After all 100 laps were in the books, the race winners were Dave Quinton (car #78) and Jon Gifford (car #66) in the 8 and 4 cylinder classes, respectively.  It should also be noted that Gifford becomes the first 4 cylinder driver to finish before all of the 8 cylinder drivers in the same race. 

    

Up next, Saturday, September 27, 2014, is CCS Fall Fest.  The race day will feature a 200 lap Enduro and a 20 lap Chain race.  The races start time is still TBD!

Summer Slam Moved to Sunday September 14th. Start Time 3:00 pm

It is Official Summer Slam will be moved to Sunday September 14th. Start time will remain the same at 3:00 pm. Weather Man says 90% chance of rain with 20 mm of rain for Saturday. Sunday's Forecast Sunny with a mix of clouds with a high of 15.

Please join us Sunday for Summer Slam.

I hope to see you at the races on Sunday.

Summer Slam - Saturday September 13th.

Saturday September 13 is one of those events you will not want to miss if you like being entertained. As always, Summer Slam will be the biggest event of the year and we always like to go out big. Start Time is 3:00 o'clock with practice to begin at 1:30 pm. Pit gates will open at Noon and single car practice will start at noon as well.

When you look at the line up I hope you will agree that this will be the best show of the year. We will have Four for Fun, Mini Stock, Legends, Thunder, Late Model, Vintage Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, 100 Lap Enduro and the Vintage Stock Car Series from Quebec.

We are expecting to have the highest car counts all season long in almost every class. Legends will be holding the National Qualifier race and we are expecting to see about 20 Legends on hand. Thunder will see some new and old faces with us. Todd Musker will be back with us along with some new cars from various parts. Dan Bergeron from Quebec will be with us in his Late Model. As always, we will see the biggest car count for the enduro class.

We will start at 3:00 pm and if everything goes well we should be finished around 9:30.

Please note: Rain Date is September 14th - Same Time Same Place.

Join us this Saturday for the Last Stock Car Race of the Season.

I hope to see you at Summer Slam.