2011 CHAMPIONS

After a very long uphill battle, our team has won the championship for a second time. We put our heads down and worked harder than ever to complete the task. The season started terrible and we only could race 10 of the 11 races this year. It is very special to be able to miss a race and still win the season championship points. I want to thank everyone at apprenticesearch.com, the posters and readers of this blog, my family friends and team sponsors for a great year. The motivation you provide is what makes our team get through the difficult times. It was a season of suspension, engine, clutch and chassis changes and adjustments. My team stuck together and we raced as hard as we could every night. Thanks again to everyone who helped and offered support to us. Maybe now my kids will ease up on me a little. They each have a "Piston Cup" in their rooms. Now we start to look forward to some races in Florida to try and win the overall National Points Championship. Anyone up for a trip down south.

Fastest at Flamboro

Usually being the fastest car means you will win right? Not this time out for the apprenticesearch team. We moved from 8th to 3rd in the heat race. Started the feature in 9th. We quicly caught the front group of cars and tried hard to pass on every lap. Trouble is the cars in front were 3 wide. Finally I picked them off one at a time. Inside, then outside them through the middle. Looks like I need new numbers on both sides of the car again. LOL. With 6 laps to go the track was clear in front of me, then I could see the #3 car way in the corner ahead of me. He had broken free at the start of the race and was miles out in front of the rest of the cars. Lap after lap, I kept getting closer. On lap 19 I had made up 1/2 the tracks distance and was pressuring for the win. Too bad for us they shortened the race length to only 20 laps. One more lap and we were winners. It is good to be fast heading into the last round at Sunset. One more win for the year would be a nice way to cap off the Championship.

Fan Appreciation Night

Mosport is one of my favourite tracks. Tight, bumpy turns and super long straightaways. This years race was pretty good for the team. We were blocked in the heat race and forced to try some alternative lines. They didnt work and we staretd the feature in 12th place. After a long break to hand out candy, stickers and cards we were ready to race. We quickly moved through the feild and at the checkers we were 2nd. Bad news is we lost points, good news.... it was minimal. We head to Flamboro for the secong last race of the year. we are still leading the points, but the guys behind seem to be getting closer. Time for another win?

19 seconds at Kawartha.

After sitting in traffic for almost 4 hours, the team finally pulled into the racetrack. We were late and missed the first practice session. Not to worry, so we thought. We started the car for the next round of practice and it had a miss. Cylinder # 1 was dead. No ignition. Out come the spark plugs and in go 4 fresh NGK plugs. Out on the track we go and set the second fastest time. We come in and change tires, go back out and the car is terrible. It is rolling over, handling very bad and is very slow. We started checking the springs, shocks, tires, all look proper. Then we find it. A broken sway bar mount of the left side of the car. We install a new arm, and out we go for the heat race. The car worked as usual and I moved from 9th to 3rd in 10 laps. It was a great heat race. The feature was interesting. On the start I had a car half way up my hood and a car under the rear of my car, all this and going 95 MPH. It was scary to say the least. We sorted out the damage and could only drive up to 4th place. It was a hard night of work. But it was one of those nights we can look back on and be happy to say we did not lose a single point for the championship. Thanks Dave for all the hard work. We never had a break all night. Glad the damage was minor. Now we go to Mosport. Another very fast difficult track to race on. See you Sept 10.

Inspiring Skilled Trade Teacher's Story

Keith Hoare teaches culinary arts at Thistletown Collegiate Institute in Rexdale. Like Gordon Ramsey with a smile, Hoare is the previous owner of a catering business, now on to a second career.

He has been teaching for just four years, and is proud to teach at this technical school which he says arms his kids with much-needed real-life skills.
Inspiring story, check out the video at this CBC link from August 31st The National Click here for video page

Some Skilled Trade Jobs we need to fill in the South and Hamilton regions

I you have already signed up for our FREE service you can apply directly through your account. If you need to register and apply, you can do so at www.apprenticesearch.com remember you will need a current resume to complete your profile and to use the system.

Hairstylist Job# 10382 in Waterdown 1st yr
Baker/Patissier Job# 10537 in Hamilton 0 yr
Cook Job# 10516 in Guelph x4 0yr
Plumber Job# 10492 in Hamilton x2 2nd yr
Plumber Job# 10204 in Ancaster 4th yr
General Machinist Job# 10252 in Guelph 2nd yr
General Machinist Job# 10251 in Guelph 3rd yr
Tool & Die Maker Job# 10257 in Hamilton 3yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10408 in Hamilton 3rd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10514 in Hamilton 3rd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10531 in Hamilton 3rd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10491 in Mt. Hope 3rd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10534 in Stoney Creek 2nd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10493 in Kitchener 2nd yr
Auto Service Technician x4 Job# 10264 in Hamilton 2nd yr
Auto Service Technician Job# 10437 in Kitchener 1st yr
Truck & Coach Technician Job# 10420 in Cambridge 2nd yr
Truck & Coach Technician Job# 10181 in Cambridge 2nd yr
Auto Body Repairer Job# 10400 in Hamilton 1st yr

Lightening Strikes Again

For those who follow the series, I am not talking about the driver of the #00 car. His nickname is lightening, because he is fast and you never know when or where he will strike next. Anyway, the real kind of lightening showed up at Sauble and we had a big storm ruin another day of racing. Mother Nature has been pretty upset these days. I hope everyone made it through the storm OK last night. Friday looks good for Kawartha, see you there. Leave the umbrellas at home!!!