It's over!!! That realization brings mixed emotions from unimaginable joy to a creeping melancholy. After the first time behind the wheel of the new MR2 in my first stud race on the first weekend I could have retired from ice racing right then because I knew it couldn't get much better than that first experience. Now, after 21 action packed races under my 5 point belt, I am missing it already.

First off, on behalf of all ice racers, I need to thank the organizers of each weekend - all the people who came up to brave the weather and to volunteer their time and effort to make our season happen at all. I thank all the volunteers that built and maintained the track and fairground facilities so we would have a venue for our activities. Big thanks to Magnum Fine Printing for your continued support and remaining our series sponsor. Thank you to Sharon Feeney for stepping up for another year as our ice race director, well done! Last but not least, we need to thank each other; as ice racers I don't think there are a friendlier, more helpful bunch that race. Just think of the many times you have received help from a fellow racer whether it be friendly advice or help swapping a major component out during a race weekend.

Now I must thank my sponsors for without whom I would find it much more difficult to campaign a season. A special thanks to my long time sponsor Brooklin Concrete Products (thanks Peter) who have supplied tires for me from my start in the RWD  (Rear Wheel Drive) rubber-to-ice class 1 twelve years ago as winning rookie 2nd driver, through to my championship win in the first year I entered in RWD Street Stud SS1 class two years ago and now you can celebrate with me the championship win in my first year entered in RWD Stud class. Same goes for the Minden House B&B who have faithfully sponsored me for several years. And of course thank you to all who have purchased or rented a SACtionizer from me as the proceeds go directly towards the season of ice racing. And of course I can't forget to thank myself for sponsoring myself with my own company University Werks Landscape Construction  (ed. - ok, that's it, enough already!)

Mike Evans was up again this weekend but succumbed to the flu Friday night and was out of commission until Sunday. Al Norrie showed up at the track Sunday and enjoyed some sun and fabulous racing. Al raced some 10 or more years ago and I think he got the bug again after riding passenger in Sunday's Street Stud races. Then he and Mike helped pack up and get ready for the road home at the end of the day. Thanks to  Ian Lok and Remi Klichta for hauling the Ovlov to the gravel pit where she'll sleep until next year.
 

What else happened?:
Ian Lok and Remi Klichta's turbo blew up in the black Ovlov wagon rendering it usless for the stud races, Steff Haas' tranni went boom in the VW wabbit, Steve Drysdale changed his axles like 10 times in the Integra, Ian MacIntyre got suspended for something he didn't do, Jeff Wenzel had way too much fun at the Cliffe (of course it wasn't his fault) ... Dave Watson (SAC#10) and Mike Jensen (SAC#3) showed up on snowmobiles Saturday. The Rockcliffe hired a band Saturday night as a thank you to the ice racers for their patronage this season. I had another delicious meal at the Grill On The Gull with Ahmad Khodkar and his family along with Tony Silvaggi - thanks Ahmad!

Racing:
The stud races went very smoothly all weekend with a clean sweep of all four races. I can't believe I drew pole position in both the stud and street stud qualifiers! Helped hugely in the stud class but did me no good in the street studs. The MR2 finished 1st in the qualifier in RWD class and SACond overall to Todd McCall's front wheel drive Honda Civic. I got some wicked launches even leading into the first corner and the car continued to perform well for a clean sweep in all four races. Also finished second overall in the first race Saturday again with Todd McCall finishing ahead of me. There was one car faster than mine, Graham Lobban's Red 20 valve 150 HP MR2. He would have beat me in at least 2 of the races had it not been for his car suffering repeated cooling problems.

I thoroughly enjoyed beating Tom Prentice in the first race Saturday despite his best efforts to "unsettle" the Ovlov throughout the entire race. Had a lot of fun on Sunday racing in Street Studs with Leon Lok who has become quite the contender. In both races there was back and forth action as we traded paint and places with complete abandon until a grey Toyota Tercel AWD wagon took me out as I re-passed him near the quanset hut in the second race Sunday - what a drag as Leon and I had some great racing going on.  

Stud Car Video Highlights

Temps were mild all weekend with awesome sunburning happening Sunday. There is no race video from the second race Saturday - still not sure why, could have been vibration.

Qualifier Saturday:
I drew 1st on the grid for the qualifier! Finished SACond overall and 1st in RWD class. Watch for Kiyo blow up 3rd lap, red MR2 passes me on straight, I pass him back as his car cacks, lap Ian Lok, almost hit Kiyo in hidden fog of rad steam, lap Tom Prentice at finish line.
 
Race #1 Saturday: Amazing launch from second on the grid and lead into first corner thenTodd McCall crossing my bow in the first corner, red MR2 passes me in kink on 3rd lap, wipers stop functioning, lap Ian Lok,
keep red MR2 in sites and catch and repass on straight (listen to his motor), lap Tom Prentice at the end of the straight, finish 1st in class SACond overall.

Race #2 Saturday: Sorry - No video but finished first in class

Race #1 Sunday: Bright sunny warm start to the day, great start with the 240 Nissan grided just behind me, nice clean fast race, no challenges from behind nor in front basically keep up with the FWD leaders, Kiyo parks it again, Jim Feeney blocks my lapping attempt on the last corner of last lap - I think he just wanted some video of himself :-)

Race #2 Sunday: Another great launch, weather has now become overcast, keep up front with the FWD cars entire race, watch for Kiyo burying himself in the bank at the end of the straight on the 2nd lap, no challenges from behind other than the FWD Bradburn Civic for one or two laps.

For a car with 320,000kms on the original stock motor the MR2 is still pulling strong and delivered for a great season - amazing!

See you all at the banquet Saturday, April 5th, 7pm (cocktails at 6pm),  Annandale Golf and Curling Club , 91 Church St., Ajax.- let Sharon Feeney know well ahead of time if you are attending.
 

So far there has been no writeup from Rodney Schmelter this week. I wonder if that's because of last week's entry and the resulting furor on the CASC forum - hmmm.