Derek White Makes Great Strides at Homestead

DEREK WHITE MAKES GREAT STRIDES AT HOMESTEAD     Homestead, FL.  (November 20, 2010)  In his only NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race this season at the final event on the schedule in Homestead, Florida Derek White the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series rookie of the year wanted to learn as much as he could and bring the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet Truck to the finish.  After weeks of hard work and preparation White along with his team accomplished both of their goals.

 

It wasn’t important to White that he would begin the race in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet from the back row.  With some of the best racers in the world ahead of him as soon as the green flag waved White took the opportunity to see where he could improve on each lap.  “On every corner I was trying to watch some of the faster Trucks and use their line” said White.  “At the same time I made sure that I wasn’t holding anybody up” he added.   White’s concern for the other drivers and keeping the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet out of the way also got the attention of NASCAR.  “The NASCAR officials told us to pick up the pace a bit” explained White afterwards.  “I was letting off a bit too much is all it was, just part of the learning process.   The first caution period of the race came on lap 30 and the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet team made a pit stop for fuel and fresh tires.  After the race returned to green flag conditions, White ran his quickest lap of the race to that point on lap 37.  “The new tires helped, but also slowing down for the yellow allowed me just to refocus and pick up the speed a little more” he stated.   The #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet team called White to pit road for another stop during the third caution period of the race.  Fresh tires, fuel and bit of tape added to the front nose all helped Derek in the late stages of the race.  On lap 91 White clocked his best lap time of the evening with a 34.569 second trip around the 1 ½ mile oval.   Through much of the race White was pushing the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet to catch the #57 Truck which was running in the position ahead of him on the track.  Though he closed the gap several times White just couldn’t seem to make the pass to get back on the same lap.  “I was a little quicker on the straightaway but he seemed to carry a bit more speed through the corners” stated White.  “And each time I got close to him the yellow would come out and I didn’t get the chance to try and make a pass” he added.    When the checkered flag fell White crossed the line in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet in 33rd position.  Though he certainly would have liked to finish higher he was extremely pleased and proud of what the team had accomplished.  “Our goal was to finish the race and we did that” said White.  “These guys all worked so hard to get ready for this race and we brought the truck home without a mark on it.  I learned so much racing against these drivers, our lap times improved by over four seconds from the first session which is fantastic.  I had a great time and can’t thank everybody enough for all their hard work.  We’ll enjoy this for a couple days and then we’re going to start looking at what we can do in 2011” said the happy driver.   Look for Derek White to participate in the 2011 season opening event of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Daytona International Speedway next February and also look for him to return to the NASCAR Canadian Tire series next season.  Follow the latest news about Derek White by following this link to his website.   Attached Photo:  Derek White in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet team make a pit stop at Homestead.   Photo Credit:  Todd Lewis    Prepared by Todd Lewis & TL Sports & Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

The mark of a good bothy.

We stopped by one of the few beaches on Loch Long and enjoyed an excellent luncheon in this sheltered spot.

We could not stay long  as we were not even halfway to Lochgoilhead...

...but we could not resist a further stop at Mark Ferry cottage. Before the mountain road (which we used to leave a shuttle car) was built into Lochgoilhead, a ferry crossed to here on the Ardgartan peninsula, between

ICAR PR - La série NASCAR Canadian Tire au Circuit ICAR de Mirabel

Communiqué de presse Pour diffusion immédiate LA SÉRIE NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE AU CIRCUIT ICAR DE MIRABEL   Mirabel, Québec (19 novembre 2010) – C’est avec grand plaisir que le Complexe Circuit ICAR  vous annonce la venue d’une nouvelle série sur son circuit pour la saison 2011. Dimanche le 5 juin 2011, lors du Grand Prix ICAR, vous pourrez voir la 2e épreuve de la série NASCAR Canadian Tire présenté par Mobil 1.

 

La piste du Circuit ICAR à été conçue pour mettre à l’épreuve les habiletés des pilotes.  Elle sera sans doute un défi de taille pour les pilotes de ces voitures développant plus de 550 chevaux et vrombissant à plus de 200 km/h. «Circuit ICAR est exactement le type de piste avec lequel nous souhaitons collaborer. » affirme Brad Moran directeur de séries de Nascar Canada.  Les spectateurs pourront bénéficier d’un spectacle époustouflant puisqu’ils pourront apercevoir la quasi-totalité du circuit contrairement à la plupart des autres pistes. ICAR et Nascar Canada comptent travailler de concert pour créer un événement unique qui saura combler l’expérience recherchée par les passionnés de courses automobiles. «Nous sommes fiers d’entrer dans la grande famille Nascar. C’est en joignant l’expertise d’une série comme celle-ci et la qualité de nos installations que nous réussirons à mettre sur pied un événement remarquable et optimiser l’expérience vécue des coureurs, partenaires et surtout celle des spectateurs qui en auront plein la vue encore une fois cette année. » déclare Marc Arseneau, président du Circuit ICAR.   La Série NASCAR Canadian Tire s’ajoute donc aux autres séries déjà présentées au Circuit ICAR comme le Parts Canada Superbike, le Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC), le Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship (CCTCC), le Formula Tour 1600, le FSAQ GT-Sprint et les mini-NASCAR Cup Lite. www.circuiticar.com -30-

 

PASS North 2011

 

Sixteen 2011 races for PASS North super late models  Two Oxford Plains Speedway events, dates at Star Speedway and L’Autodrome Chaudière   Naples ME (11/19) Pro All Stars Series (PASS) President Tom Mayberry has released a sixteen race 2011 schedule for the popular touring super late models.

 

“I’m exceptionally happy with our 2011 PASS North super late model schedule, “said Mayberry in making the announcement. “It’s the best schedule we’ve been able to assemble in the series’ eleven year history; I think 2011will prove to be a banner year for PASS North.”   Returning venues include Maine’s fabled Oxford Plains Speedway for two dates. The PASS super late models will tour the tough Oxford oval for the first time in five years, headlining the “Night Before the 250” race card on July 23rd and closing out the 2011 campaign on October 1st. Star Speedway returns to the schedule on May 14th and PASS North will mark it’s return to Quebec, Canada on June 25 with an appearance at L’Autodrome Chaudière . Beech Ridge continues to anchor the series with three events including the season opener on April 30, a July 9 date and the popular PASS 400 weekend on September 16, 17 and 18. White Mountain Motorsports Park has added a third PASS race to their schedule, and the traveling road show will return to Thompson International Speedway, Seekonk Speedway, New Brunswick’s Speedway 660, Canaan Fair Speedway, Riverside Speedway and Lee USA Speedway for single appearances.   THE SCHEDULE:   4/30                             Beech Ridge Motor Speedway                       Scarborough ME         150 laps 5/14                             Star Speedway                                                Epping NH                   150 laps 5/21                             White Mt. Motorsports Park              N. Woodstock NH        150 laps 6/11                             Speedway 660                                     Fredericton N.B. CA    200 laps 6/25                             L’Autodrome Chaudière                                 Vallee Junction P.Q. CA            150 laps 7/2                               Canaan Fair Speedway                                   Canaan NH                  150 laps 7/9                               Beech Ridge Motor Speedway                       Scarborough ME         150 laps 7/12                             Lee USA Speedway                              Lee NH                                    200 laps 7/21                             Thompson Int’l Speedway                   Thompson CT              100 laps 7/23                             Oxford Plains Speedway                                 Oxford ME                  150 laps 7/30                             Riverside Speedway                            Groveton NH               150 laps 8/6                               Seekonk Speedway                              Seekonk MA                150 laps 8/28                             White Mt. Motorsports Park              N. Woodstock NH        150 laps 9/18                             Beech Ridge Motor Speedway                       Scarborough ME         300 laps 9/24                             White Mt. Motorsports Park              N. Woodstock NH        150 laps 10/1                             Oxford Plains Speedway                                 Oxford ME                  150 laps

 

Derek White - Homestead Practice Update

Homestead Truck Practice Update for Derek White     Homestead, FL.  (November 19, 2010)  Derek White the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series rookie of the year began practice as scheduled for this weekend’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Homestead Miami Speedway on Thursday evening and made some impressive gains during the one hour session.  Rain showers delayed the final practice session until this morning and White continued to improve his lap times in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet.

 

From the first laps on the very fast one and half mile oval track Derek White felt very comfortable in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet.  “The Truck felt really good underneath me” said White.  “After each run the team made a couple of small adjustments and I was able to drive a little deeper into corner number one and we picked up some speed” he added.   The final practice session ran this morning due to showers on Thursday night.  Derek White again posted impressive lap times and was among the top five drivers who had the best 10 consecutive lap average speeds.  White only wished he had more time on the track.  “It seems that we got better and better as the session went on” said the driver.  “We also made one adjustment right at the end of the session that also helped the handling.    White’s plan for the race in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Truck is quite simple.  “We are to finish the race” he said confidently.  “I’m going to learn as much as possible and hopefully finish on the lead lap” added the driver.   Qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck series from Homestead Miami Speedway takes place later today at 5PM Eastern.  The 200 mile feature race will go green at 8PM tonight.  The race can be seen live on SPEED with the pre race show beginning at 7:30PM.    Attached Photo:  Derek White heads out for practice in the #6 Race101/OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet at Homestead.   Photo Credit:  Todd Lewis    Prepared by Todd Lewis & TL Sports & Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two million barrels of crude in Loch Long.

 Leaving the Ark Royal we continued SW down Loch Long. As we cleared Cnap Point a Very Large Crude Carrier all but obliterated the view ahead.

She was an Indian owned ship called MT Ashna. She has a capacity of 2 million barrels of crude oil.

We met another kayaker who had launched just south of Glenmallan jetty.

Ashna was off loading her crude at the Finnart deep water oil terminal. A

HMS Ark Royal, final voyage to Scotland.

This is what we had come to see. HMS Ark Royal, the third in the Invincible class of light aircraft carriers.

She was launched in 1981 and commissioned in 1985. She weighs 22,000 tons and measures 210m by 36m.

She can carry up to 18 Harrier GR 6/7 aircraft. Her ramp is steeper (than that of her two earlier sister ships) to enhance the Harriers' take off performance. She is currently flagship of

Sea kayaking in search of the lost Ark.

Loch Long runs very straight and it is also very deep. It  has some of the finest deep water jetties in the World. From north of Ardgartan we could see a VLCC* berthed at the Finnart oil terminal some 9km away. But this was not what we were looking for.

We continued paddling down Loch Long under the high peaks of of Argyll...

...round which the mists still clung.

The NW shore of Loch Long is

Sea kayaking inthe mountains with torpedoes and invisible ink.

By the time Jim and I returned from the shuttle, the tide was well back. We had chosen a launch site beside...

..the old pier at Arrochar and so did not have nearly half a kilometer of sticky black mud to negotiate at the head of Loch Long.

Once on the water, the Phil was dwarfed by the jagged ramparts of the Cobbler. The first of the winter snows clung to the dark rocks of the high corries.

ACT: Bond/WIX Tiger Tour Announces 2011 Schedule

Bond/WIX Tiger Tour Announces 2011 Schedule FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     ACT-111610-61 Waterbury, VT – American Canadian Tour (ACT) officials announced the 2011 Bond/WIX Tiger Sportsmen Tour schedule featuring three 100-lap events at three different venues. The Limited Late Model division, which has been competing at Thunder Road in Barre, VT since 1964, will begin their season on their home track as part of a 100-lap double header during the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 29.

 

They will then make a return to Canaan Fair Speedway in Canaan, NH for their second event of the season on Saturday, August 20. The 1/3 mile speedplant has become a favorite among the Tiger drivers, including 2010 Champion Jason Bonnett who earned the win there last season. The deciding event of the season will again belong to Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH in 2011. The fast 1/4 mile saw a thrilling finish to the 2010 season as Bonnett claimed the championship by one point. The 2011 season finale will be on Saturday, October 8. 2011 Bond/WIX Tiger Sportsmen Tour Schedule #          DAY                DATE              TRACK                                    LOCATION                LAPS 1.        Sun.                May 29          Thunder Road                     Barre, VT                  100 2.        Sat.                 Aug. 20         Canaan Fair Speedway     Canaan, NH              100 3.        Sat.                 Oct. 8             Riverside Speedway          Groveton, NH          100   -30-

 

 

 

LA SÉRIE ISMA À L'AUTODROME CHAUDIÈRE EN 2011!

Communiqué pour diffusion immédiate 2010-11-14   LA SÉRIE ISMA À L’AUTODROME CHAUDIÈRE EN 2011!   On peut dire que les colombos travaillant en collaboration avec la direction de l’Autodrome Chaudière accomplissent un travail phénoménal, particulièrement pour souligner dignement la 20ième  saison de courses de la piste la plus inclinée au Québec.

 

Qui eut cru qu’un jour ces derniers  convaincraient son homologue de l’International Super Modified Association (ISMA) de présenter une course inscrite au calendrier 2011 de leur série à Vallée-Jonction ?   Eh bien c’est maintenant officiel, la Série «ISMA, DIVISION NORD » sera à l’Autodrome Chaudière de Vallée-Jonction en juillet 2011. La date officielle sera divulguée dans les semaines à venir. Une première au Québec pour ces voitures munies d’un moteur de 470 PC développant 700 chevaux alimentés en alcool. La dimension de quatre pneus différents,  un aileron ajustable au-dessus de la tête du pilote et la répartition du poids avec la position du moteur sont autant d’éléments qui font de ces super modifiés,  les véhicules les plus rapides sur pistes ovales. Selon les spécialistes, ces bolides abaisseront la vitesse du tour de piste en réalisant d’électrisantes performances. Dix secondes et quelques dixièmes semblent faire l’unanimité des connaisseurs et de son président, M. Howie Lane. Pour la circonstance, les spectateurs qui assisteront à ce super spectacle sont invités à se munir de bouchons pour atténuer le bruit émis par ces moteurs de haute performance. Imaginez vingt bolides de ce calibre prendre d’assaut l’ovale incliné de Vallée-Jonction.   Plus de détails dans les semaines à venir.   André Gagnon, Directeur du Développement et Relationniste Autodrome Chaudière, Vallée-Jonction

 

FW: Derek White Racing at Homestead

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year Derek White is racing at Homestead   Kahnawake, Quebec.  (November 15, 2010)  The 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series rookie of the year Derek White isn’t through with racing competition for this year.  White has agreed to drive the #6 Deer Excavating Chevrolet entry fielded by Rick Ware Racing in the final round of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series this Friday November 19th at Homestead Miami Speedway.    This will be the first Truck race of the season for White who raced in two events last year.  “I had such a good time in both of the races last year that I didn’t want to let the season finish without racing in at least one Truck series event this year” said White.

 

At both races White participated in during the 2009 campaign he made significant gains during the race from his starting position.  In his first ever Camping World Truck Series event at the challenging Martinsville Speedway White started the race 34th but had gained eight positions by the end of race for a 26th place showing.  And at Phoenix International Raceway White gained five spots during the race and claimed a 24th place result.   This year White concentrated on running the competitive NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in Canada.  In the first event of the year at Delaware Speedway near London, Ontario Derek White in the OCR Gaz Bar Chevrolet would serve notice that he was gunning for the Rookie of the Year title scoring an outstanding 7th place finish.  Continuing with the momentum from that first race of the season White claimed the rookie title and finished 14th in the overall championship.  “I’ve learned so much over the last year and the experience that I gained running in the Canadian Tire series and winning the rookie of the year title should be a huge help this weekend in the #6 Deer Excavating Chevy” stated White.   This weekend’s race at Homestead Miami Speedway is the site of some unfinished business for Derek White.  “We came to Homestead last year but missed out on qualifying for the race” said the driver.  “This year we’ve come back with better equipment and are better prepared.  We want to use this race to show what we’re capable of and that will hopefully generate some more sponsor interest for February at Daytona” he added.   The final race of the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Truck series from Homestead Miami Speedway takes place Friday November 19th.  Derek White will practice the #6 Deer Excavating Chevrolet Thursday at the Speedway.  Qualifying is scheduled for 5PM on Friday and the 200 mile feature race will go green at 8PM that night.  The race can be seen live on SPEED.    Attached Photo:  NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year for 2010 Derek White.   Photo Credit:  Sue Chisholm and www.racetimeradio.com    Prepared by Todd Lewis & TL Sports & Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hunched by the cold, a long, long way from the open sea.

For a change, we decided to drive a long way from the open sea for our last trip. We left Glasgow in thick misty conditions, so thick that we missed the turn off for the Erskine Bridge and nearly ended up in Greenock. Fortunately the mist was rising by the time we arrived.

Our destination was Arrochar at the head of Loch Long. The open sea was 160km away, down Loch Long, the Firth of Clyde and