New # 2

Our first trip to Sunset was exciting. We shared the weekend with the Super Late model cars. They have the biggest engines and tires in Ontario for short track racing. They were posting times in the 14.5 second range. All the time adding Hoosier rubber to the tracks outside line. They use the same compound as our cars and the track was very sticky. We were fast in our heat race, and you could throw a blanket over the top 5 for the entire feature race. We were sideways, up high, down low and the car was great everywhere on the track. So were the guys in front of us. Our older set of tires worked well against those who had a new set on. we finished 5th in one of the most fun races I have been in.

On our second date back to Sunset we shared the weekend with the Ontario Sportsman series. These guys also use the same tire compound as our cars. This time the track was a slippery as I have ever seen it. Second in the heat race all over the car in front. we started our feature after the OSS cars were ion the track. It was a mess. They did 100 laps and only had 7 cars running at the end of the race. As soon as I pulled on the track, all I could smell was old gear oil, motor oil and the dreaded blown motor smell. I knew the track was slippery, but this was like driving on an icy road. Good news is we made some adjustments to the car to make it stick in the turns better. We over adjusted and I am glad we did. The car worked really well on the slippery track. We passed some cars on the outside (very hard to do at Sunset)and then drove it in the corners really deep to pass on the inside. One lap I passed 4 cars, 2 outside and 2 inside. The top 3 broke away from the pack until a caution came out for a huge wreck. 2 cars nose to nose on the back straightaway. Both drivers were OK, but their cars were a mess. We tried on the remaining laps to get past the leader, but no luck. At the finish we were on the outside at his door. A couple more laps and I might have got the win.
we are moving up the points nicely and sit 8 points out of the championship lead with half the season remaining. 2 big races at my home track Flamboro are up next. I Hope to take a win or 2 and the points lead by mid August.
See you at Flamboro July 23.

Much better at Varney

The smallest track we race is Varney. The high Banked oval produces great racing lines but it makes it difficult to pass. For the first time in Pro Challenge we ran Twin 25 lap features. 25 before the intermission and 25 after. We started 3rd last in the field of cars and worked really hard to make up some ground. At the end of 25 laps we were in 3rd place. A few quick adjustments to the car during the break made it much better on corner entry. We started 3rd and made a pass around the outside to get 2nd spot. From there we pressured the leader and tried several attempts to get by. The driver in front did a great job, making no mistakes and driving a line I could not get past.
This was a much greater finish for our team and we were one of 3 cars to post lap times in the 13 second range all night.
Maybe this spare motor is pretty good after all.
Up next 2 trips to Sunset Speedway.

Big Win At The Beach

It may not be Daytona, but a win at Sauble Beach is a really tough thing to accomplish. In our series history, only 3 drivers have won feature events at the 1/4 mile oval. What a crazy night of weather, slight rain, fog and a cool mist that left you seeing your breath. After a quick practice to test the spare motor, and new tire set, we were confident in the set up on the apprenticesearch.com car. We won the first heat race and really needed to back it up in the feature. We are behind in points and wanted a solid night to get us back into the top 5. The feature was very tough, the track was slippery and the other drivers were quick. We did our best to get out front early and stayed there. We won the shortened 25 lap feature by 2 car lengths. That finish was good enough to move us back up the points into 4th place. Another good showing and we will crack the top 3. Thanks to our welder Scott for helping us repair a few issues. Those late nights in the shop seem to have paid off. Up next is the super high banking of Varney June 25.

Some Current Apprenticeship Positions at apprenticesearch.com

Job#10222 Diesel Mechanic several vacancies $80,000/yr entry level at Sea for 6-8 months,

Job#10221 Industrial Electrician several vacancies $80,000/yr entry level at Sea for 6-8 months,

Job#10220 Welder several vacancies $80,000/yr entry level at Sea for 6-8 months,

Job#10219 Cook several vacancies $68,000/yr entry level at Sea for 6-8 months,

Job#10218 Draftsperson - Mechanical 0yr apprentice in Strathroy,

Job#10217 Plumber 0yr apprentice in Toronto,

Job#10216 Truck & Coach Tech. 0yr apprentice in Hamilton,

Job#10215 General Machinist 2nd yr apprentice in Tillsonburg,

Job#10214 Tool & Die Maker 2nd yr apprentice in Tillsonburg,

For these apprenticeships and others register and apply at www.apprenticesearch.com

Rain and some missing teeth

So far this year Mother Nature has not been very cooperative with the Pro Challenge racing schedule. After the first night was rained out, we made the trip in the rain to Varney speedway. It rained all the way there and as soon as we pulled in the driveway, the sun came out. The track was steaming as the water evaporated in the heat. Finally our first laps of the year. We tried a new setup, and it worked fantastic. We were the fastest in turns 3-4 and that showed on the stop watch. The top of the speed chart, what a great way to start. On with some new tires and into the heats we go. Starting 9th, we worked our way up to 3rd by the halfway mark. Then the car started to have an issue in the transmission. It was jumping in and out of 3rd gear. We managed to finish 4th. Upon further inspection, it was decided that we try to start the feature and use gears 2 and 4 to try and compete. On the warm up laps I tried driving but the noise that came from the motor was an terrible grinding and crunching sound, there's my missing teeth. At that point we had to bring the car in before we had a major engine failure. The first attempt at a feature race and our first and only DNF that I can remember. All the hours of preparing the car, and this happens 10 laps in. With the sealed motor program our series runs, we are not permitted to open the engines and check for issues. So off the motor goes to North Carolina for a fresh rebuild. In goes our trusty spare and off to Flamboro we go. The rain held off, but the good old Hydro was out in the surrounding area. Funny thing is our car was way up in the air on the hoist when the power went out. Good thing they called the races, we had no way to get the car off the hoist without hydro. Pretty hard to explain, we could see the car, walk under it, but had no way to get it down from 72" in the air. Now we have it on stands, on the ground and we head up to Sauble Beach. We have good luck there and plan on making some ground up in the points system. Currently 14th and looking forward to a big improvement.

Some current jobs in the system at apprenticesearch.com

Job# 10198 Truck and Coach Tech x2 1st yr apprentice in Brockville

Job# 10197 Plumber x4 3rd yr apprentice in Concord.

Job# 10195 General Machinist 0yr apprentice in Oldcastle (Essex County).

Job# 10194 Cook x2 0yr apprentice in Norwich

Job# 10193 Cook x2 0yr apprentice in Simcoe

Job# 10192 Automotive Service Tech PART TIME 20hrs/wk 0yr apprentice in Stoney Creek

Job# 10191 Automotive Service Tech x2 0yr apprentice in Stoney Creek

Job# 10190 Automotive Service Tech 0 yr apprentice in London

Job# 10189 Refrigeration and AC Mechanic 3rd yr apprentice in Brampton

Job# 10188 Automotive Service Tech 2nd yr apprentice in Burlington

For these opportunities and more register and apply at www.apprenticesearch.com

You're Invited to a special presentation by Rod Cameron, Chair of the Appointments Council, Ontario College of Trades

HAAC - Halton Apprenticeship Advisory Council Invites you to a special presentation by Rod Cameron, Chair of the Appointments Council, Ontario College of Trades


RSVP:
Contact Ali Fraser, HIEC
P: 905.634.2575 ext. 28
E: afraser@hiec.on.ca