ACT Castrol - Banquet de la série ACT-Castrol Edge

Pour diffusion immédiate (15-01-11 -02) Le trophée MacTavish remis à Donald Theetge KARL ALLARD OFFICIELLEMENT COURONNÉ CHAMPION Karl Allard de St-Félicien et les membres de l’équipe Larue Équipement de déneigement ont célébré dignement leur championnat de la série ACT Castrol Edge gagné au cours de la saison estivale, samedi soir à l’occasion du Banquet des Champions qui s’est déroulé à l’hôtel Québec Inn de la Vieille Capitale. Pour le récipiendaire, il s’agissait d’un premier titre en carrière dans la série ACT Castrol Edge même si depuis sa création en 2007, le Félicinois a toujours terminé parmi les cinq premiers au cumulatif.

Durant la dernière saison, Allard et l’équipe Larue ont été les auteurs d’une domination jamais égalée depuis que l’ACT a opté pour la classe Late Model en 1992. Avec une nouvelle marque de six victoires en onze tentatives, Allard a mérité la couronne devant le champion de la saison 2008, Patrick Laperle de St-Denis-sur-Richelieu. Pour son exploit, Allard s’est vu remettre un chèque de 10 000 $ en provenance du fonds de points portant ainsi son total de gains pour 2010 à 33 810 $ en onze confrontations. Tout un honneur Pour sa part, le champion de la saison 2009 de la série ACT Castrol Edge, Donald Theetge est devenu la 42e personnalité à recevoir l’une des plus importantes marques de distinction de l’ACT, le trophée MacTavish. Ce trophée a été instauré en mémoire de Don MacTavish, un pilote de la Nouvelle-Angleterre qui a connu une fin tragique lors d’une course à la piste internationale de Daytona en 1969. Theetge a été choisi pour son support continu à l’American Canadian Tour au cours des deux dernières décennies. Il a joint les rangs de l’ACT en 1988 alors que la série utilisait des bolides de la classe Pro Stock. Depuis ce temps, il a participé à de nombreuses épreuves de l’organisation américaine tant au Canada qu’aux Etats-Unis. Il est considéré à juste titre comme étant un pilote des plus talentueux et très respecté dans le nord-est des États-Unis ainsi que dans l’est du Canada. Lors de cette soirée, le jeune Alex Labbé de St-Albert qui n’est âgé que de dix-sept ans a été officiellement proclamé «la recrue de l’année». En route vers cet honneur très convoité, Labbé a terminé au cinquième échelon du cumulatif. Durant la saison, il s’est classé parmi les dix premiers en cinq occasions et à deux reprises, il s’est distingué en terminant en quatrième position, tout un exploit. Les pilotes présents parmi les 15 meilleurs au cumulatif de cette série ACT Castrol Edge en 2010 ont reçu plus de 36 000 $ en bourses et trophées. Également des certificats provenant de deux importants commanditaires, Bassett Racing Wheels et Five Star Racecar Bodies ont été tirés au sort parmi les pilotes. -2- On a également confirmé que la série ACT Castrol Edge, édition 2011, comporterait douze épreuves dont deux seront tenues conjointement avec la série américaine de l’ACT à la piste Airborne de Plattsburgh ainsi qu’au New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Auparavant, plusieurs pilotes québécois participeront à une courte série de deux épreuves consécutives à la piste New Smyrna en Floride, les 13 et 14 février. -30- Source : American Canadian Tour www.acttour.com (802) 244-6963

Linex WP100 HB Pencil

Denmark is known for many things: bacon, the world's oldest national flag, and Lego spring immediately to mind.  It has a long-established stationery industry which has provided the world with Viking pencils, and of course Bantex everything else.  Less well-known however, is the Linex company.  This is rather surprising as it was, according to the company's own website, established in 1935.  After a period of ownership by Bantex in the 1990s, it was spun off again as an independent company by Groupe Hamelin, which acquired Bantex around the turn of this century.

Linex manufactures well-made plastic stationery goods, principally rulers, stencils and templates, and geometry tools.  I own a few of them, including a very nice circle template, a metal eraser shield and a 5mm lettering stencil.  Linex also specialises in tools for marine navigation.  Woodcased pencils appear to be a sideline, and I suspect production of the Linex WP100 (pictured above, with apologies for the poor quality) is sub-contracted to another company.  I can see no evidence either on the net or on the pencils themselves that the WP100 is made in Denmark; I guess it is made in China.  Neither have I been able to find a review of the WP100 on the internet, so I believe this is the first online review of this product, which I bought from The Stationers That Shall Not Be Named some time in 2009.

The WP100 is a standard office/school woodcase pencil and is available in five grades, from 2H to 2B.  It is finished in a distinctive bottle-green lacquer, which is finished off with fine silver lines, a white band and a black end-cap.  (Green is the Linex company colour.) It is the same length as a standard pencil, but is noticeably thicker in the hand; at least a millimetre or two thicker than a Staedtler Noris, for example.  Whether this is due to the thickness of the paint used, or wider slat of wood, I do not know.  You may have trouble locating this pencil, and I certainly know of only one retailer which carries it, but if you can find it for sale, this pencil may be worth a punt.

The WP100 is quite cheap, and occupies the middle ground in pencil cost: it costs GBP0.45 in the local stationer's.  For this I got a pencil made from cedar, and one that will withstand sharpening with my KUM steno sharpener.  However, after a few days using this exclusively at work, I found a number of drawbacks with the WP100.  First, the finish is not as good as it could be.  The paint may be thick, and show no sign of woodgrain, but the silver lines are unevenly applied, and the white band is at a slight angle on one of my examples.  The white band is on another pencil is not even and there’s a bulge in the paint (see below). 

In the hand I found the corners dug into my fingers in a similar way to the Tombow Mono 100 I reviewed a while back, and the extra girth of the pencil contributed to the general discomfort of using this pencil.

However the weakest part of this pencil is the lead.  I have HB and B examples of this pencil.  The B is actually not too bad; it is dark and writes well on paper, though it feels less gritty than the HB.  The HB I used was more troublesome because there must have been a problem with mixing the lead.  In addition to the grittiness of the lead on the paper, there were also what felt to be lumps of clay in the mix.  The line left by the HB pencil occasionally became much lighter, and the lead harder.  This was unfortunate because otherwise, it was fairly dark; perhaps as dark as the Stabilo 4908s I reviewed last year.  Both erased well with my Stabilo eraser, however.

So, the WP100 is a curate’s egg of a pencil: good in parts, bad in others.  The unevenness of the lead is the deal-breaker on this pencil, which is a pity because with a higher-quality lead, this could be a true competitor to the established brands.  However, I’ll be sticking to my Staedtler and Faber-Castell pencils.

Stationery Archeology 5

Number five in this occasional series is a Staedtler tradition HB pencil stub, which I found when cleaning the dust/cobwebs/other detritus from under the computer desk.  This one celebrates 300 150 years of Staedtler pencils, dating this pencil to 1985 (see second pic). Note the joined D and T on the "EDTLER".  I definitely used this pencil at school.  Apologies for the ham-fisted sharpening as I used a knife, not a sharpener, on this pencil for a DIY job years ago.  (Edited for correct date.)

CME PR - 'Junior Hanley & Friends' to discuss Don Biederman and 'old-time' racing at the CME

JUNIOR HANLEY AND FRIENDS TALK ABOUT DON BIEDERMAN AND OLD-TIME CANADIAN SHORT TRACK RACING AT THE CME The Racing Season Begins January 21-23, 2011 at Toronto’s International Centre (TORONTO, ON // January 14, 2011) On Friday, January 21, visitors to the Canadian Motorsports Expo will have an opportunity to join a host of Ontario stock car veterans, including legendary Hall of Famer Junior Hanley and crew members Bob Sumak, Ross May and Peter Andaloro for a ‘Bench Racing’ discussion recalling the exploits, adventures and achievements of legendary Canadian racer Don Biederman.

 

 

Biederman, who passed away in 1999, is also a member of the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame (inducted in 2001). As a racer and personality, Biederman was true character, often described as cantankerous, opinionated and outspoken. But in addition to those things, he was a very determined, talented and successful racer. Hanley and the others will be on hand to chat about Biederman, and their time racing with – and against – each other. Adding to the Biederman tribute will be the presence of the recently discovered ’72 Nova, which Biederman took to victory lane in the 1977 Oxford 250, racing against several NASCAR stars. Discussing his longtime friend, rival and fellow Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame member, Hanley said, “Don was a pretty good racer, and he came to the track to win. He was a different person at the track; no one was going to get in his way.” A regular competitor on the Ontario short track circuit, Biederman eventually expanded his schedule to include 42 NASCAR Grand National events; a pair of top 10 finishes being his best results. The racer’s most memorable accomplishment came in 1977 when he took his #43 Nova to victory lane, in Oxford, Maine. It was there he won the prestigious NASCAR-sanctioned Oxford 250, besting NASCAR stars like Bob Pressley, Harry Gant and Morgan Shepherd. The upset win still ranks high on the list of Canadian racing accomplishments. That season, Biederman also won the Maple Leaf 250 and the Northern 200. Unfortunately, the Canadian racing fraternity lost Don Biederman much too early when he passed away at his home, in Brantford (ON) on May 31, 1999 at the age of 59. Continued Hanley, “Don was out of the car by then, but he was still helping a lot of guys with their equipment. Don was one of those personalities that everyone missed once he was gone.” The Hanley / Biederman Forum takes place Friday, January 21 at 6 p.m. on the main stage at the Canadian Motorsports Expo. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get a rare, personal insight into one some of the most exciting and successful characters in Canadian motorsports history. As for Biederman’s legendary ’77 Oxford 250-winning Nova, it is being supplied to the show in its pre-restored condition by owner John Hutchins, and thanks to the efforts of Canadian racing photographer Dave Franks. Last year, the car was discovered in storage on the property of Hutchins’ business, Heart Lake Used Auto Parts, in Brampton, ON. “John Hutchins owned the car and had it tucked away years ago,” explained Franks. “We went looking for a Nova in order to build a Biederman replica, but we lucked out and found the original. The restoration is a work in progress, but we will have the unfinished body hung on the frame in time for the CME show.” Dave Franks (DaveFranksPhotos.com) will also be at the show to participate in the forum. He will also have a booth, selling and displaying thousands of historical photos from his collection, including many of Hanley (signed), Biederman, Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR, ACT, CASCAR, and tons more from the Ontario short track racing scene over the past several decades. For more information about the 5th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo, including celebrity racer Q&As, forums, seminars, autograph sessions and awards presentations, visit www.CanadianMotorsportsExpo.com. PHOTO: (l to r) Don Biederman and Junior Hanley chat beside Biederman’s #43 car prior to a race at Toronto’s Pinecrest Speedway in 1974. On Friday, January 21 at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Hanley and several of Don’s former crew members will talk about the late Don Biederman and their racing achievements and exploits. (Photo courtesy of DaveFranksPhotos.com) ABOUT THE CME: The Canadian Motorsports Expo is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs January 21, 22 and 23, 2011 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga). The show is powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Star drivers – including reigning IndyCar Series Champion and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, and rising NASCAR Sprint Cup star Brad Keselowski – will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. One of the special themes of this year’s CME is the Karting Reunion. Please check the show’s website for updates and changes. For more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo, visit www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com. You can reach co-promoters Inside Track at (416) 962-7223 or email info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com. - 30 -

 

 

CME PR - Rising Stock Car Star Steve Arpin to Appear at the Cdn. Motorsports Expo

RISING CANADIAN STOCK CAR STAR STEVE ARPIN TO APPEAR AT THE CANADIAN MOTORPSORTS EXPO The Racing Season Begins January 21-23, 2011 at Toronto’s International Centre (TORONTO, ON // January 14, 2011) Steve Arpin, a top Canadian prospect in pursuit of a full-time ride in one of NASCAR’s premiere racing divisions, will be on hand to participate in the Canadian Young Guns Fan Q&A Forum on Saturday morning, January 22 (10:45 to 11:30 a.m.) at the Canadian Motorsports Expo.

 

The 27 year-old Arpin, who lists Fort Frances, Ontario as his hometown, will come to Toronto directly from an ARCA Series test at Daytona to discuss his career, as well as his plans and hopes for the upcoming 2011 stock car racing season. Arpin will also be participating in the Inside Track Readers’ Choice Awards presentations on Saturday evening at the CME (starts at 6:45 p.m.). No stranger to the Winner’s Circle, Arpin started his competitive career with seven snowmobile World Championships before switching his focus to four-wheeled, dirt track competition. Innumerable race wins and championships followed as Arpin campaigned his #00 Dirt Modified throughout Ontario and the mid-western United States. A three-season stretch of consecutive race wins at his home track, Emo Speedway, resulted in a competitive ‘bounty’ being placed on his head, but the challenge went unclaimed as Arpin’s success continued. Eventually heading to the heart of NASCAR country, Arpin settled in North Carolina and was befriended by Sprint Cup star Carl Edwards. Offered a ride in Edwards’ Silver Crown car, Arpin went on to earn the USAC Rookie of the Year award in 2008. He then moved to the ARCA series, first with Eddie Sharp Racing and then with (Billy) Venturini Motorsports (in 2009). That effort resulted in a seventh-place, year-end points effort and his first of two ARCA Most Popular Driver awards. Returning to the ARCA Series last year with a limited schedule, Arpin piloted his #55 Mike’s Hard Lemonade Toyota to three race victories (DuQuoin, Texas and Salem) and 10 top 10 finishes. That success opened the door to seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports (driving both the #7 and #88 Chevrolets), where Arpin scored a top-10 finish in the Subway Jalapeno 250 event. Last season, Arpin was backed by Canadian-based Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Said Arpin of his drives for JR Motorsports, “Nationwide was definitely an eye-opener, I learned so much in those seven races, watching and following Carl (Edwards), Kyle (Busch) and Brad (Keselowski), I learned something every lap. And that experience paid dividends when I returned to the ARCA series.” Usually reluctant to get out of a racecar, Arpin is nevertheless excited about his first-ever visit to Toronto. “We have an incredible fan base in Canada, and their support is what makes the effort worthwhile. It will be so cool to be able to meet some of them, shake their hands, sign some autographs and thank them for their interest.” ABOUT THE CME: The Canadian Motorsports Expo is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs January 21, 22 and 23, 2011 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga). The show is powered by Inside Track Motorsport News. In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Star drivers, including reigning IndyCar Series Champion and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, rising NASCAR Sprint Cup star Brad Keselowski, Canadian racing champions Ron Fellows, Junior Hanley, DJ Kennington and many others, will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. Please check the show’s website regularly for updates and changes. For more information about the Canadian Motorsports Expo, visit www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com. You can reach co-promoters Glenn Butt at (905) 721-1762 or Inside Track at (416) 962-7223 or email info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com. - 30 -

 

Tight ropes on Slack Heugh.

The SW coast of Meikle Ross has steep cliffs extending from Fox Craig along to Slack Heugh.

They are a magnet for rock climbers as there are a whole range of routes right up to E numbers.

We still had a little tidal assistance, though we were now out of the main ebb flow from the Solway. We soon found ourselves at Manxman's Rock...

...then the westcoast of Barlocco Isle. Phil tried to cross

The World's Most Expensive Pencil Sharpener?

...and he even made it a long-point too. 

Danger on the Solway

From the quayside of Kirkcudbright we took the ebb tide back down the River Dee to Kirkcudbright Bay.

We passed the Gallovidian III which is the Range Boat for the Dundrennan firing range sea danger area that extends for 24x33km along the Solway coast to the SE of Kirkcudbright. Telephone contacts for the range are: 0141 224 8501 (Range Officer) or 0141 224 8502 (Guard House).

The channel was

REVSTAR PR - Une nouvelle saison et un nouveau championnat !

La série Revstar ABF amorce son championnat hivernal de course sur glace ! Après plusieurs mois de démarches, la série Revstar dévoile enfin son calendrier des courses sur glace. Implanter un nouveau championnat ce n'est jamais facile et, malgré certaines appréhensions, l'attrait pour ce type de compétition aura pris le dessus. La plupart des propriétaires de bolides Revstar ont décidé de relever ce nouveau défi.

La série Revstar présentera 5 courses disputées sur 5 circuits différents. La saison débute dès le 31 janvier prochain. Date Lieu 13-01 Beauharnois 5-02 Repentigny 13-02 St-Guillaume CONGÉ Valcourt 26-02 Ste-Eulalie 27-02 Mont-Carmel Les points seront attribués selon notre charte régulière pour ce premier championat de glace. Au terme de la courte saison de courses sur glace, nous allons couronner notre premier champion historique de glace pour la série REVSTAR. Les pilotes sont vraiment anxieux que la saison s'amorce car ils en seront tous à leur première expérience de la glisse sur glace. Même s'ils appliquent déjà la technique de dérapage controlé sur la terre battue ce nouveau défi demeure pour eux un inconnu, ce qui contribue à accentuer le caractère intriguant pour ces courses. Prenez note que Revstar a aussi deux voitures STR à louer pour ceux qui voudraient tenter l'expérience au cours de la saison hivernale! Pour plus d`information contacter Carl au 819-470-0828 ou Martin au 819-758-3798. Revstar ABF http://www.revstar.ca

Commentaires de l'équipe FAZZT sur le retour du Edmonton Indy (15)

L'équipe de course FAZZT heureuse du retour de la course IndyCar à Edmonton   Indianapolis, Indiana. (11 janvier 2011) - L'équipe de course FAZZT est très heureuse de l'annonce du retour du Edmonton Indy au calendrier 2011 de la série IndyCar. Les commentaires des membres de l'équipe sont disponibles pour les journalistes. Des informations sur cette nouvelle sont disponibles au www.indycar.com/media

 

Pour DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE          Rob Edwards, directeur des opérations et directeur général de l'équipe : « L'équipe FAZZT représente en quelque sorte le Canada dans la série IZOD IndyCar avec son pilote Alex Tagliani et son propriétaire, le Montréalais André Azzi. Pour nous, il est important que la série IndyCar dispute des épreuves en sol canadien, autant dans l'Est du pays que dans l'Ouest. Edmonton est une excellente ville de sport motorisé, et nous avons toujours été bien reçus par les amateurs et les citoyens de la ville. L'équipe compte sur d'excellents et fidèles partenaires à Edmonton, et nous sommes heureux de venir les encourager chez eux pour leur rendre la pareille. » Alex Tagliani, pilote de la voiture no 77 FAZZT : « Le retour du Edmonton Indy au calendrier 2011 de la série IZOD IndyCar est une très bonne nouvelle pour tous, car au fil des ans, nous nous sommes faits de nombreux amis dans cette ville et nous avons développé une clientèle loyale. Il est essentiel pour moi de courir devant mes partisans et surtout en présence de nos commanditaires canadiens. Avec tout le travail effectué au cours des dernières années pour faire connaître la série au Canada, il est crucial d'y présenter le plus de courses possible. La communauté économique d'Edmonton a travaillé d'arrache-pied pour maintenir la tenue de leur épreuve automobile, car ces gens d'affaires savent qu'un événement majeur présenté dans leur ville entraîne des retombées économiques importantes pour tous. CanTorque, un partenaire basé à Edmonton qui a participé de façon active à la relance de l'événement, était satisfait de la tournure des événements. La compagnie albertaine profite de la visibilité à l'échelle globale que lui procure sa commandite sur notre voiture grâce à la série IndyCar, mais elle reconnaît également l'importance de l'épreuve présentée à Edmonton. Je pense que les amateurs sont également heureux du retour de notre série dans leur ville, surtout depuis l'annonce de la venue de nouveaux motoristes qui vont se faire la lutte, et aussi par les nouvelles voitures IndyCar qui seront introduites en 2012. » Colin Livingston, président du commanditaire CanTorque (TorcUp) basé à Edmonton : « Je suis galvanisé à l'idée que la course d'Edmonton ait été sauvegardée. Quel bel exemple de force et de détermination de la communauté d'affaires d'Edmonton qui s'est levée pour dénoncer les pertes potentielles pour la ville! Avec l'arrivée du Groupe Octane à titre de promoteur de la course, je suis certain que cet événement aura la possibilité de développer tout le potentiel que la communauté avait évalué. Notre association avec Alex Tagliani entrera dans sa troisième année, et nous sommes partenaires avec l'équipe FAZZT depuis son entrée en IndyCar. Notre partenariat avec l'équipe FAZZT se serait prolongé avec ou sans la présentation de la course d'Edmonton à cause du rendement de notre visibilité en Amérique du Nord, mais le fait d'avoir une course dans notre cour arrière nous donne la possibilité de recevoir nos clients et fournisseurs chez nous, et de les inviter à vivre un des meilleurs week-ends de course de la saison. Il y a un rapport réciproque entre notre implication dans la course IndyCar d'Edmonton et l'équipe de course FAZZT, et l'augmentation de notre volume de ventes. Plus nous sommes impliqués, plus les ventes augmentent. Tout est froid et gelé ici à l'extérieur, mais nous sommes très avancés dans la planification de l'événement tout comme dans l'organisation de notre saison de course IZOD IndyCar 2011. À propos de l'équipe de course FAZZT L'équipe de course FAZZT a fait ses débuts en 2010 dans la série IZOD IndyCar avec le pilote québécois Alex Tagliani au volant de la monoplace Honda/ Dallara/ Firestone no 77 commanditée par Bowers & Wilkins. Les faits saillants de cette première saison comprennent une position sur la première ligne de départ à l'ouverture de la saison au Brésil, une cinquième place au départ du Indy 500, suivi d'un top 10 à l'arrivée, et une quatrième place à Mid-Ohio, un sommet en saison. Les bureaux et l'atelier de l'équipe occupent une surface d'environ 25 000 pieds carrés située dans un complexe industriel au nord d'Indianapolis. Pour sa deuxième année de compétition, FAZZT travaille sur un projet d'une seconde voiture en piste pour épauler Tagliani. Pour informationŠ  www.FAZZTRaceTeam.com /// www.twitter.com/FAZZT77 /// www.facebook.com/FAZZTraceteam -30-

 

ACT CHAMPION, AN OUTLAW, AND A YOUNG STAR ENTER NEW SMYRNA

For Immediate Release                                        ACT – 011211-04           Waterbury, VT – On Saturday, January 22, 2011 Brian Hoar will be crowned American Canadian Tour (ACT) Champion for a record-tying 7th time since 1992. Hoar, from Williston, VT will celebrate by driving his RPM race team Chevrolet in the inaugural New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) ACT Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011 in New Smyrna, Florida.

 

Rick Paya, owner of RPM Motorsports, who also has won seven titles as former owner and crew chief for Jean-Paul Cyr and now Hoar, has also entered his newest team member, ACT runner-up rookie of the year in 2010, Austin Theriault from Fort Kent, Maine in the first-ever race in Florida for ACT. The formidable RPM team will field both a Chevrolet and Ford in the event.   “We have a Ford being prepared for Brian for the coming ACT season, but with the addition of Austin to our RPM team, we are a little too busy to get Austin’s Ford done and also the new car for Brian. I actually like the idea of having both our Chevy and Ford at New Smyrna. It should give us some valuable information as we look toward the 2011 ACT campaign this season,” said Rick Paya, owner of RPM Motorsports.   Theriault is just a junior in high school and also an outstanding Maine State champion contending wrestler. With school commitments, and a Maine State wrestling Championship meet the weekend of February 12, it looked like Theriault would miss the first race of the year with his new race team. “We will get him there after his wrestling obligation, probably will have to fly him down on Sunday morning, but we don’t want him to miss this chance to race,” said Paya.   ACT also received an entry from New England’s premier ‘Outlaw’, Eddie MacDonald form Rowley, MA. MacDonald has been a successful independent running on the NASCAR K&N Series (formerly Busch East) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His ACT Late Model short track efforts have been nothing short of spectacular with back-to-back wins in one of the country’s most prestigious events, the Oxford 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine. MacDonald also won the inaugural ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2009. “I just love to race, and this looked like a great way to get the 2011 season started. We get real busy with our NASCAR schedule in the spring and summer, but we try to make some of the ACT type shows during the season, and this NSS trip will give us a chance to relax and have some fun,” said MacDonald.   Entries for the first ACT Goodyear Speedweek Cup have come in from Ontario, Quebec, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The non-point event will qualify using the northern heat style of racing, followed by a 100-lap main event on Sunday, February 13th. The field will be inverted for Monday’s 100 lap event. Both 100 lap events will pay a moderate purse, with a combined purse making up the bulk of the $33,000.00 posted purse.   For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com.                                             -30-

 

 

The quest for a haddock of gargantuan proportions.

Entering Kirkcudbright (kir-coo-bri) Bay, the landscape changed dramatically, the cliffs gave way to gentle wooded shores.

We stopped for a break at a little beach with a view to the far side of the bay and the distant Lake District hills in England beyond.

We now had a stiff paddle against an increasing ebb tide.

As we approached the town we came across a long marina pontoon. The tide was

2011 WORLD SERIES OF STOCK CAR @ #NEWSMYRNA

À moins d’un mois de l’édition 2011 des World Series of Stock Car Racing présenté au complexe de New Smyrna Speedway en Floride voici une liste des compétiteurs Canadiens et de l’ACT que vous pourrez retrouver sur place.

We are less than a month away from the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing presented at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, find below the list of Canadians and ACT competitors you can see performing in this year’s edition.

 

Avec l’aide de Justin St-Louis (@vtmotormag de www.vtmotormag.com ) nous avons compilé la liste des participants aux deux fois 100 tours pour voitures LMS ACT (13 et 14 février prochain).   Voici les pilotes confirmés :		Jointly with Justin St-Louis (@vtmotormag of www.vtmotormag.com) and me we were able to confirm 23 (as of today) ACT cars in the two 100 laps events for ACT Cars (February 13th and 14th)   Confirmed drivers:
Canadiens / Canadians		Américains / Americans
Donald Theetge Karl Allard Patrick Laperle Patrick Hamel Kevin Roberge Yvon Bédard Alex Labbé Justin Holtom (Ont) Jonathan Urlin (Ont) Spencer MacPherson (Ont) Tim Dorning (Ont)   Note: Martin Latulippe qui était initialement indiqué comme participant à la course ACT sera en fait en liste du côté des voitures  ASA Crate puisqu’il n’a plus de LMS. Latulippe who was initially listed as an ACT entrant will in fact race the ASA Crate class, as he no longer owns an LMS car.		Brian Hoar Mark Lamberton Eric Chase Mike Bruno Jacob McGrath Pete Potvin Joey Laquerre Wayne Helliwell Jimmy Larnardi Joey Pole Eddie Macdonald
Il n’est pas impossible de voir d’autres pilotes tel Martin Lacombe et Stéphane Decoste s’ajouter à cette liste du côté des Canadiens.  Plus difficile d’avoir des ajouts du côté USA.  Même qu’au moment où ACT a communiqué les premiers noms, seul 4 représentant du pays de l’oncle Sam y figuraient.   Dans les autres classes de voiture voici les noms que nous avons compilé à ce jour :		Its not impossbile for other drivers, such as Martin Lacombe and Stephane Decoste to be added to this list of Canadian drivers.  Its more difficult to see who else may be added on the USA side.  As a matter of fact when ACT released their list only four drivers hailed from the land of Uncle Sam.   In other categories also racing as part of the World Series as of today we have:
Crate	Late Models		Super Late Models
Patrick Laperle (QC) Kevin Roberge (QC) Martin Latulippe (QC) Andrew Gressel (Ont) Brandon Watson (Ont) Cole Powell (Ont)	Kirk Hooker (Ont)		Lonnie Summerville (NS) Dwayne Baker (Ont)
Si l’idée d’être en Floride au mois de février n’était pas suffisante pour vous motiver à voyager au sud, les neufs soirées de compétition des World Series of Asphalt Stock car au New Smyrna Speedway en valent leur pesant d’or à elles seules : 9 soirs de compétition, soit presqu’autent qu’une saison complète à la maison.		As if Florida in February wasn’t enough motivation to go South of the border, New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series is a great trip by itself... with nine nights of racing, you can get as much racing as you do in your whole summer in just under 10 days.  So come out and enjoy!
45th Annual World Series Schedule        February 2011  45th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing (Schedule Subject to Change)    Thu Feb 10, 2011  Parking / Tech / Practice Fri Feb 11, 2011 Night #1 Super Late Models / NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / Ltd Late Models / SK Modifieds / Crate Late Models / FL/IMCA Type Modifieds Sat Feb 12, 2011  Night #2 Super Stocks 50 Super Late Models / NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / Ltd Late Models / SK Modifieds / Crate Late Models / FL/IMCA Type Modifieds   Sun Feb 13, 2011  Night #3 ACT Late Models 100 Super Late Models / Ltd Late Models / FL/IMCA Type Modifieds    Mon Feb 14, 2011  Night #4 ACT Late Models 100 NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / SK Modifieds / Crate Late Models / FL/IMCA Type Modifieds Tue Feb 15, 2011  Night #5 SK Modifieds 50 Super Late Models / NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / Ltd Late Models / Crate Late Models / FL/IMCA Type Modifieds   Wed Feb 16, 2011  Night #6 4th Annual John Blewett III Memorial NASCAR Tour-Type Modified 50 / FL/IMCA Type Modified 50 Super Late Models / Ltd Late Models / SK Modifieds / Crate Late Models /   Thu Feb 17, 2011  Night #7 Super Late Model 50 / Ltd Late Model 50 NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / SK Modifieds / Crate Late Models / Pro-Trucks Fri Feb 18, 2011  Night #8 26th Annual Richie Evans Memorial NASCAR Tour-Type Modified 100 / Crate Late Model 50 Super Late Models / Ltd Late Models / SK Modifieds / Pro-Trucks Sat Feb 19, 2011  Night #9 Super Late Model 100 / Pro-Truck 50 NASCAR Tour-Type Modifieds / Ltd Late Models

 

 

NASCAR PR - The NASCAR Foundation Contributes $3.3 Million In Charitable Support And Unites Record Number Of Volunteers In 2010

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2011) — In 2010, The NASCAR Foundation contributed more than $3.3 million in charitable support to nonprofit organizations nationwide and united more than 250,000 fans in support of children’s charities across the United States.

 

“The NASCAR Foundation continues to fulfill – and exceed – the original vision for the organization,” said Betty Jane France, The NASCAR Foundation chairwoman. “We have our fans to thank for that. They have supported the foundation’s efforts from the start, helping us to undertake ambitious – and meaningful – projects that impact thousands of people. We are extremely grateful for that support.” The NASCAR Foundation is dedicated to raising funds and increasing volunteerism to support charities and charitable causes throughout the nation through events such as NASCAR Day with an emphasis placed on initiatives that help children live happier, healthier lives.   Pediatric Health In 2010, The Foundation donated $485,000 to support the campers at Victory Junction. The Randleman, N.C. camp provides life-changing experiences for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. The Halifax Health-Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics in Daytona Beach, otherwise known as Speediatrics, celebrated the beginning of a new decade of caring with a complete renovation of the children’s unit. In 2010, The NASCAR Foundation donated over $250,000 to Speediatrics units. In addition, the Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida received a commitment for $250,000 to benefit a pediatric oncology unit that will provide young cancer patients easier access to their primary care physicians during treatments.   Volunteerism The NASCAR Foundation had a record number of fans serving their communities this year. A documented total of 324 service projects were completed in 2010 with 1,500 volunteers donating 6,000 hours of time. More than 12,000 fans are members of The NASCAR Foundation Volunteer Network.   NASCAR Day On May 21, 2010, nearly 1,000 fans engaged in “The Big Five” service projects to support the annual NASCAR Day efforts by volunteering 4,284 hours to touch the lives of more than 35,000 children in Daytona Beach, Fla., Kansas City, Mo., Rock Hill, S.C., Atlanta, Ga., and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. In Kansas City, hundreds of volunteers helped build a new state-of-the-art playground at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City in memory of former Sprint executive and NASCAR Foundation board member Tom Murphy. With services donated by Kansas City-based Turner Construction, Sprint employees and members of The NASCAR Foundation Volunteer Network volunteered 800 hours to complete the playground. On NASCAR Day, Murphy’s wife and family were on hand for the dedication of the playground, which will serve more than 6,000 families who stay there annually.   NASCAR Dreams The NASCAR Foundation also provided educational experiences for young people at the track. Working with organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ten80 and local school systems, The Foundation brought more than 500 kids to several NASCAR race tracks to get an inside glimpse on the sport and its personalities, while learning about the engineering that goes into putting a stock car on the track every weekend.   Haiti Relief Efforts Due to the devastating damage from the Jan. 12th earthquake in Haiti, The NASCAR Foundation quickly responded with $250,000 for relief efforts. Funds were donated to Missionary Flights International, a nonprofit organization providing air service and vital supplies for missionaries, search and rescue teams, medical teams and families after the devastating natural disaster.   Each year, The NASCAR Foundation demonstrates its commitment to the motorsports community and NASCAR fans. As the organization enters 2011 and its sixth year, new programs are on the horizon to further deliver on its mission.   For more information on The NASCAR Foundation’s 2010 projects and on the impact the Foundation made within the motorsports community this year, visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation or www.facebook.com/NASCARFoundation. About The NASCAR Foundation The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., (NASCAR) launched The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable initiatives that reflect the core values of the entire NASCAR Family. The NASCAR Foundation will use strength of the sport and its people to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. For more information on The NASCAR Foundation, please visit the website: www.nascar.com/foundation.   For more information, contact: Tom Sullivan, NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications

 

A lone watcher on the cliffs and a horrid murder.

From Dove Cave we allowed the flood tide to propel us along an incredibly convoluted coast of upended greywacke strata.

The contrast with the open expanse of Wigtown Bay could not have been greater.

Near Borness Point we saw a lone figure who watched or progress along this apparently wild coast. Up on the cliff tops all is not so wild, it is a golf course!

There was superb rock hopping as we

No wonder the doves like it.

As we passed the Meikle and Little Pinnacles, I saw the guys ahead take a sharp left.

 I knew they had found Dove cave. Jim was getting his camera out...

...while Tony had paddled straight into the recesses of the cave...

...from which there is a wonderful view out to Wigtown Bay. No wonder the doves like it.

Keeping in line on the Solway.

Back in October, Billy, Jim, Phil, Tony and I convened at Carrick shore in Scotland's deep south, the Solway.

We planned to take the flood tide east to Little Ross Island and Kirkcudbright Bay.

A nice NW breeze soon had the Flat Earth sail filled and I was flying away towards Barlocco Isle.

It is just as well that the wind dropped or we would not have been able to practice five abreast