CURLEY'S CORNER - SPRING 2011

SPRING The Spring of 2011 is taking a long time to get here!!!! Usually, we who work at ACT throughout the winter season would kind of like the ‘off-season’ to last as long as possible. However, this year with the great results of the Florida Goodyear Cup events, most of us came away wanting to see the cold weather get out of here, get through ‘mud season’ here in Vermont, and to jump on the momentum we gathered at New Smyrna heading into the 2011 season.

 

With just three weeks until the Lee USA Governor’s Cup opening event, we still have lots of snow, cold weather, and not many signs of melting and warmer times in Vermont. In spite of this, there is a lot of enthusiasm and some very positive and healthy signs for the upcoming season. I am particularly excited about the schedules we have put together for 2011; the many specials we have for the ACT Late Models on both sides of the border; the healthy expansion we are experiencing on the US Tour into Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts; and the emergence of some of the new talent we have been fostering over the past few years on our Castrol Edge Series. I am also very excited about the apparent addition of as many as a half dozen new quality ACT Late Model teams heading to Thunder Road; the expansion of the Bond/Wix Tiger Tour; the new Street Goodyear tire, and the introduction of new rules for the Allen Lumber Streets; and the specials we have coming to Thunder Road for the coming season. It should be a great year for all our teams and fans. We can’t wait to get started, and appreciate all the effort and support you continue to give ACT Late Model racing. FLORIDA We continue to get very positive feedback from the two events we promoted at the New Smyrna Speedway a couple of months ago. I wrote a full report when we returned, so I will just mention again how much we appreciated all the teams that made that experiment such a success. I am sure those that participated have also enjoyed hearing from many people, both fans and industrial types, letting them know just how impressed they were with your efforts to put on a couple of high quality race events. I read this week about Pat Summit, the very successful Tennessee Vols Women’s basketball coach. Apparently her team was not playing up to her standards in an early NCAA Tournament playdown game during the first half. She pretty much unloaded on them with a patented ‘rant’, which captured headlines around the country. The second half was considerably different. The Vols went on the win easily and will probably make it to the Final Four for the woman’s NCAA Tournament. It reminded me of a few ‘rants’ I have had over the years, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do!!! The bottom line is that the Florida trip was a great success, and we all appreciate the efforts made. SCHEDULES We have tried to put together for all divisions a manageable schedule for the upcoming season. Here are a few thoughts: ACT AFFILIATE WEEKLY RACING - I want to remind competitors that our first priority at ACT has always been to have a strong program for racing weekly at our weekly affiliate tracks. The reality is that with our kind of program, if there is not a lot of support for our weekly tracks, there would, in all likelihood, not be much incentive for promoters to offer ‘tour type’ events. We make an effort to try and ‘front load and back load’ our schedules to accommodate that philosophy so that many of you can race your weekly tracks during the bulk of the race season. We hope you will support your weekly tracks, they are the backbone of short track racing and the foundation of any success we have enjoyed with the ACT tours and special events. Although we have lost Lee USA as an ACT weekly affiliate track in 2011, they will continue to support ACT Late Model racing with the traditional opening New Hampshire Governor’s Cup over the April 16-17 weekend. (Entries have been sent or can be found on line at acttour.com). We also have added Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire, Canaan Fair Speedway, Devil’s Bowl Speedway and Albany Saratoga Speedway to our list of ACT affiliate tracks who have fully incorporated, or are in the process of integrating, the ACT Late Model rules package into their programs. They join long-time supporters Thunder Road, White Mountain, Oxford Plains, Seekonk, Waterford Speedbowl, Twin State Speedway, Capital City in Ottawa, and Kawartha Speedway in Ontario. We urge Late Model teams to support these tracks whenever they can…again, they make up the foundation of our touring and special event opportunities. TOURS A quick addition of the purse and prize money being posted for the 2011 season shows that between the US and Castrol Edge tours and ‘special events’ (Oxford TD Bank 250, NHMS Challenge, NHMS Invitational, Chaudiere Showdown, point funds etc.,) there will be over $900,000.00 up for various purse and prize money during the 2011 campaign. We will be announcing the criteria for the August New Hampshire Motor Speedway Late Model Challenge before the opening of the season at Lee USA on April 17th. This is the time of year when we ask race teams to ‘give back’. Events like the Autism Foundation Casino Night in Barre has been supported by the ACT Late Model teams for the past three years, various Car Shows, New Hampshire Motor Speedway fan appreciation day, press conferences are all important parts of the overall short track racing program that we involve ourselves with. For most, time has become less and less available, and while that is understandable, the business of short track is not just about racing, and more than ever before, the race industry is fragile and all the promotional events that lead to the racing events are equally important and necessary…please lend a hand when and where you can. ACT - US Beyond the repeat events of past years, like those taking place at TR, Oxford, Twin State, White Mountain, Lee, Airborne, Beech Ridge, Riverside, QC etc., we are very much looking forward to the first-ever ACT US event at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway on May 22. Some of you participated in the Thunder Road event last year and had a very positive experience. Management has told us they plan to change some of their spectator gate policies that were of concern and we hope our fans will give them credit for these decisions based on your remarks and concerns of last year. I am sure your event support at Devil’s Bowl will be rewarded with another spectacular ACT Late Model event on May 22nd. In addition, the second race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway has generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm. The format for the August NHMS event is going to be similar to the New Smyrna Speedway events. The major difference is that the NHMS event will pay a very large purse for ‘QUALIFING’! Based on the large number of teams that we hope will take advantage of the opportunity to race at NHMS, we have designed a program that will provide: a) lots of laps of practice and racing, even if after qualifying, because of the large number of entrants a team does not qualify for the feature, there is still a great racing experience, and b) the money paid for heat races and last chance races is significant enough to help underwrite some of the expenses of this first-ever NHMS Late Model Challenge. The NHMS experience should be one to always remember, we will be joining the NASCAR Whelen Modifieds and will also be in the garage area with the Indy cars and Indy Lights. The weekend should be one of the most anticipated ever for short track fans and teams that support ACT Late Model racing. The 3rd ACT Invitational at NHMS now has some history. After the first two Invitationals, the third edition should really be the one that will cement ACT racing at New Hampshire for years to come. We will be announcing the details for this year’s Invitational soon. We do know that whoever wins the opening event at Lee will once again be the first to receive the Invitational bonus money and a spot in the 2011 ACT Invitational. OXFORD TD BANK 250 With the surprise announcement that the PASS Super Late Models will be appearing at the Oxford 250 on the Saturday night before the 250 (sound familiar older ACT Late Model teams??!!!), this is going to be a defining moment in the multi-year debate between the ACT Late Models and the Super Late Models (Pro Stocks). Because ACT was responsible for Pro Stock racing for over a decade during the 80s and 90s, I know how well they are capable of racing at the Oxford oval. I also have seen some of the best ever racing by the Late Model division at OPS. Never again as a full group of Late Model supporters will we have the opportunity to show the region’s Super Late Model fans how successful our teams have been at OPS and in particular the ‘250’. This season should be one of the great 250 experiences. I hope as many Late Model teams as possible will put the date of July 24th on their calendar and support what has always been one of the signature races, not only in our region but throughout the country. CASTROL EDGE SERIE The Castrol Edge Série has produced some of the best young race teams in the overall ACT organization. The growth and maturity of those teams over the past few seasons has made the four years of work well worth the effort for those of us at ACT who manage that series. The Quebec promoters are very supportive of the ACT Castrol Edge Série and continue to present very team and fan friendly events. The mix of veterans and competitive young teams in the Castrol Edge Series has also given depth to some of the US events like Airborne, NHMS and certainly the Florida project. They have also provided the Quebec and Ontario fans with some very exciting racing and we are looking forward to the coming season. Castrol management has agreed to become more involved with the Series in 2011 and that can only be very healthy for the future of racing in the region. COMBO EVENTS Events like the TD Bank 250, Chaudiere Showdown, and the ACT Invitational are non-point events, which have posted the largest purses of the season and have been well-supported by ACT teams from both sides of the border. That continued support will be appreciated by fans, promoters, and ACT. In 2011 there will be three ‘combo’ point-counting events. As in 2010 there will be the $40,000 Riverside Speedway 200-lap event with points for both the US teams and the Castrol teams. Two additional venues will be added this coming season. The NHMS Late Model Challenge in August will carry points for both the ACT and Castrol Edge touring series, and the Airborne Fall Foliage will be the concluding events on both the ACT US and Castrol Series. TIRES I had a very interesting trip last week to Akron, OH. I was invited to go through the Goodyear plant and see exactly how the tires that we use for all our divisions are manufactured. From the high security to enter the facility until the end of the day, which was full of meetings, it was a very productive, interesting and educational trip. With early indications from the initial orders we have received this year and after the Akron trip I am very encouraged that we have three of the best tires on the short track market. Sizes look great; construction of the new Street Stock unit has been completed with all the items we tested throughout last summer; Tiger tires were tested with the new ‘venting’ at both Thunder Road and Riverside, (Groveton) last fall, and the 2011 LM tires look great as well. The Late Models and Tigers will have strict tire usage controls put in place for the 2011 season in the interest of costs. The Street/Warrior tire tested so well that we do not expect the need for tire limits, but if usage gets out of control, it may be implemented. There will be tire memos sent to both the Thunder Road Late Models and Tiger- Sportsman outlining the tire policies in both divisions for the coming season before the opening of Thunder Road weekly point races. Any suggestions will be appreciated. TIGER SPORTSMAN The Sportsman will have a great opportunity to do some touring at different tracks in 2011 with the Bond/Wix Tiger Tour. We are very pleased to have White Mountain, Thunder Road, Canaan and Riverside (Groveton) back on the schedule. We are also very excited about taking the ACT Tigers to Airborne on the new ½ mile in October, along with the Late Models for the Fall Foliage. The rules for participation in this series will be 100% ACT legal Tiger Sportsman cars ONLY and there will be no exceptions at any BOND Tour events. SS/WARRIORS The Allen Lumber Streets and Warriors enter a new era. The introduction of the OHC option and the new tire will make for a very interesting Thunder Road season. ACT had meetings and discussions with several area tracks during the off season to try and start the process of a ‘universal’ 4-cylinder set of rules for all the tracks in our region. Although we did not get a full understanding between all the tracks, both Thunder Road and Riverside (Groveton) have gotten their rules very close. Plans are for a ‘home and home’ series with Riverside in 2011. There is another event being worked on for the Thunder Road Street Stocks, hopefully before the weekly season begins on Memorial Day weekend at Thunder Road. There will be more information on these events in the next few weeks. THUNDER ROAD TR had such a great 50th anniversary year in 2009. Last year we caught our breath, worked through the recessionary issues like most other businesses, and like many racers did also. We are encouraged by the prospects of an increase in Late Model teams, the maturity and signs of growth in the Tiger Sportsmen and the excitement generated in the SS/Warrior division with the new rules and tires. We are working on some drivers for the June Vermont Governor’s Cup Event. Hopefully, we can have an announcement on that within a month or six weeks. We will also have the NEMA Midget group coming back to TR for the first time in many, many years. The Airborne Renegade division was started back when we owned Airborne and has turned into one of the most competitive and fun divisions at AIR. We are going to have them at Thunder Road for a special event, and then again on our Fall Foliage program in October, along with the ACT BOND Tiger Tour and ACT US. The People’s United Bank Milk Bowl will finish the season at TR the first weekend of October. In 2012, it will be the 50th anniversary of the Milk Bowl. The celebrations for that historic event are already in the planning stages. CONCLUSION Ken and I had a target goal to be involved with Thunder Road for the 50th anniversary. With your help we were able to celebrate that with what became a very memorable season. Following that season, I set a goal of wanting to be a full time promoter and manager through the 50th anniversary of the Milk Bowl at TR. As long as my health allows, that still remains a target goal for me personally. The end of 2012 will also be the end of 35 years of being involved on a full time basis in the race promotion and organizing business. In the interest of keeping the racing programs we have established over the years viable for the future, my hope is that over the next two seasons we can aggressively put some people in positions to take over and/or share much of the grueling 7 months of nearly 7 days a week work that is required to organize and run some 42-45 events per year. My goal would be to begin to phase out some of my responsibilities following the 2012 season. It is a necessary decision and certainly not an easy one. I feel an obligation to all the race teams to keep you informed of what I see for the future of the various businesses we all have helped establish over the past three plus decades. The goal is to try and make sure they remain successful and available to all who enjoy the sport at the levels we offer for many years to come. That will be very much in my planning and efforts over the next couple race seasons. For now it is get ready for the 2011 season opener at Lee on April 16-17, the Merchants Bank 150 at Thunder Road on April 30-May 1st, and the Oxford opening on May 15th. The anticipation of beginning another season for the 34th time is just as exciting for me today as it used to be when we would try to open the season with the Spring Green at Catamount Stadium in mid-April many years ago! I hope you all can share in that same kind of anticipation and enthusiasm as you prepare for your opening events. See you at Lee. Tom

 

ACT: CANADIAN THEETGE FILES FIRST ENTRY TO NEW SMYRNA ACT EVENT

CANADIAN THEETGE FILES FIRST ENTRY TO NEW SMYRNA ACT EVENT   For Immediate Release                                        ACT – 121410-67           Waterbury, VT – Two-time ACT Série Castrol Champion, Donald Theetge from Quebec City, Canada is the first to file an entry for the inaugural Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in Florida on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th as part of the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing.

 

The “World Series” will host the American Canadian Tour (ACT) for the first time in February of 2011. A field of between 26 and 30 teams are expected to make the migration to the warmer Florida climate from all over New England and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.   The recently announced purse of over $33,000.00 brought immediate reaction from veteran competitor Theetge, “I am very proud to be the first to enter this event. I have raced with ACT for over 20 years and try to support them in any way I can. This will be a great way to bring my team from the cold and snow of Quebec City to Florida for a mid-winter break. We are all looking forward to it.”  Theetge is considered one of the best ACT stars on tracks of ½ mile or longer. The very fast, banked ½ mile at NSS is expected to suit his style.   The format for the Goodyear Speedweek Cup will be unique to the World Series. The innovative ACT plus/minus heat system will set the starting field for the first 100-lap event on Sunday evening, February 13th. Drivers will be awarded 1 point for a win in the feature event, 3 points for third etc. An inversion of the Sunday feature will determine the starting field for the second 100-lap race on Monday evening. The purse will be broken down with $15,000 paid in the two features and $18,000 will be paid to the overall positions when combining the points from the two features, a similar format to the famous Milk Bowl held annually at ACT’s home track, Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont. Low score wins the Goodyear Speedweek Cup and the lion’s share of the $18,000.00 bonus money.    “We wanted to show fans something a little different at New Smyrna for our first ever appearance. This format should be very entertaining for the fans and it should spread the money around a little and give all our teams a chance to have some fun and hopefully help each with some of their expenses,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.   For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com.

 

 

 

ACT - GOODYEAR TO PRESENT THE ACT SPEEDWEEKS CUP

For Immediate Release                                        ACT – 120610-65           Waterbury, VT – The American Canadian Tour (ACT) has announced that Goodyear, the official tire of the 25 year-old short track sanctioning body, will be the presenting sponsor of the first ever “southern swing” for the ACT Late Models on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, 2011. Last month officials from ACT and New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida announced that the ACT Late Model teams would become part of the historic World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing (WSASCR) at the well known ½ mile speedplant.

 

For over four decades northern race teams and fans from Maine to Minnesota have made the annual pilgrimage to the ‘World Series’ at New Smyrna during Speedweeks at Daytona. “In the old days, the late Richie Evans would run out of the NASCAR Wednesday night awards banquet and rush down to make sure he was in the feature at New Smyrna that night. Junior Hanley, Gary Balough and a whole host of modified and late model racers made New Smyrna their ‘off-season home’. It is going to be a lot of fun to bring our northern ACT Late Model teams to Florida,” said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour.   “ACT race teams have supported Goodyear for the past seven seasons and we are really pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the first Goodyear ACT Speedweeks Cup,” said Scott Junod, Goodyear Sales Manager, Short Track Racing.   “I have seen a lot of ACT events over the past few years, and I think the fans going down to Speedweeks and the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna are going to be in for a terrific short track show. When ACT announces the format for the two 100-lap events it should be a whole lot of fun to be a spectator. Goodyear is happy to be a part of this inaugural ACT event in February during Speedweeks,” concluded Junod.   Over thirty teams from throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada have indicated they have interest in attending the Goodyear ACT Speedweeks Cup event at New Smyrna Speedway. “We feel confident that we will get the 24-26 teams we are hoping to have for this event, and as soon as teams see what the interesting format and purse structure is going to be, we expect to be able to release a very competitive field of entrants by the first of the year,” said Nick Bigelow, spokesman for the American Canadian Tour.   Entries for the New Smyrna event will be sent in mid-December, and more information will be forthcoming throughout January 2011.   For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963, www.acttour.com, or media@acttour.com.                                             -30-

 

 

 

Autodrome St-Eustache - Abandon de la bannière NASCAR

Réunion Sportsman du samedi 4 décembre à l'ASE. Les dollars resteront 100% au Québec !   C'est sous le signe de la détente et de la convivialité qu'un peu plus d'une quarantaine de personnes faisant partie de plus d'une vingtaine d'équipes ont répondu à l'invitation de la direction de l'ASE et se sont présentés à la réunion de la division Sportsman tenu samedi  après-midi au VIP de l'Autodrome St-Eustache. La majorité ce ceux-ci se sont même présentés en fin d'avant-midi, répondant à l'invitation de prendre le dîner sur place, servi par Madame Ladouceur et sa fille Annie.

 

Beaucoup de bonnes nouvelles bien accueillies par les équipes de courses ont été annoncées. Parmi celles-ci celle de l'annonce de l'abandon de la bannière NASCAR qui fera économiser dès leur adhésion de 350 à 400$ par équipe au niveau de l'achat de licences et permis de puits et surtout un fond de points qui bondira de 10 000$ à 26 200$ pour les onze courses de la saison 2011.   «  Nous avons  apprécié les années passées sous la bannière NASCAR, nous avons accumulé de l'expérience, mais nous sommes d'avis que le retour d'argent dépensé par les pilotes et l'organisation de l'ASE pour détenir cette bannière, un retour qui se situe aux environs du tiers de ce nous (et les équipes) envoyons aux USA, était devenu insuffisant et c'est pourquoi nous avons décidé de payer nous même le fond de points et de distribuer directement aux équipes de courses une grande partie des sommes qui étaient payées à NASCAR…. »  de préciser le directeur des opérations courses de l'ASE, Yves Ladouceur, le tout sous l'œil approbateur du président-fondateur de l'ASE, Monsieur Claude Aubin, qui nous a honoré de sa présence, et du président actuel Alan Labrosse, ainsi que d'une partie de l'équipe des officiels qui seront en place en 2011.   Étaient sur place, des recrues qui s'illustreront en 2011 telles que l'équipe 422 du jeune Marc-Antoine Demers, l'équipe 73 de Steve Lagacé, le 71 de Claude Charest et Stéphane Aubin qui a annoncé « publiquement » son arrivée en Sportsman avec l'ancienne voiture du champion Steve Côté.   Parmi les autres. Martin Goulet et Mario Bergeron qui ont été les premiers à se procurer leur licence ANCA SPORTSMAN 2011, Dave Coursol, André Coursol, Cindy et Mathieu Francoeur, Jason Labrosse, Sébastien Joseph qui pilotera l'ancienne voiture de Jonathan Bouvrette, Sébastien Dussault, Jean-François Bouvrette, Isabelle Tremblay, Benoît Juteau, Jonathan Bouvrette qui devrait faire quelques apparitions en 2011, une présence remarquée et appréciée a également été celle de Mario Carrier qui nous a annoncé son retour en 2011. L'équipe de Maxime Pelletier, le nouveau papa, était également représenté par Mario Lajoie.   D'autres pilotes qui pourraient bien revenir plus régulièrement assistaient également à cette rencontre, parmi eux Normand Lavigueur qui n'a pu participer autant qu'il l'aurait voulu en 2010, et un autre qui n'est pas passé inaperçu, Guy Jubinville qui travaille très fort pour conclure une entente et revenir en piste en 2011.   Il faut préciser que l'implication de NASCAR dans le système se situait exclusivement au niveau de la gestion des points et du paiement du fond de points. Le reste de la gestion (procédures de courses et règlementation) a toujours demeuré sous sanction ANCA même sous la bannière NASCAR.   D'autres mesures  économiques ont également été annoncées dont un système de gestion restrictif et contrôlé d'achat de pneus en 2011, et l'acception d'une deuxième marque de carrosseries moins dispendieuses.   Quelques procédures de courses ont également été améliorés, parmi celles-ci, le fait que les points iront aux équipes qui pourront se doter d'un pilote de réserve qui leur permettra d'accumuler quand même des points en l'absence du pilote attitré, le tout sujet à certaines conditions qui seront déterminées un peu plus tard cet hiver.   Le système ANCA prévoit également un système de pointage pour les qualifications, ce qui n'était pas le cas en NASCAR et un retour aux positions de départ déterminées par les moyennes inversées des trois dernières finale, tel qu'appliqué à toutes les autres classes de l'ANCA.   En ce qui concerne le nombre de tours des finales, ils seront de 75 tours par finale qui comportera une interruption de 6 minutes au 50e tour et dont les 25 derniers tours seront disputés sur le vert.   La confrontation ASE 150 sera également de retour en 2011. Cette confrontation en sera une de « voitures » qui mettra aux prises les SPORTSMAN et les SUPER-SPORTSMAN de l'est du Québec dans une finale mixte de 150 tours. « Nous avons en main une entente avec Monsieur André Poulin, Président des SS qui nous assure sa collaboration et la présence de vingt pilotes et plus de cette populaire organisation » de renchérir Yves Ladouceur.   Il a également été annoncé que la série LMS de M. Tom Curley sera de retour à 3 reprises en 2011 et que la course NCATS sera remplacée par le St-Eustache 200 ACT le 16 juillet avec possiblement un ou deux gros noms qui se joindraient à nos vedettes de l'ACT comme participants à cette épreuve.   En résumé, les changements et dispositions qui ont été favorablement accueillis par les équipes présentes et une confirmation qui rassurera tout le monde : NOS SPORTSMAN SONT LÀ POUR RESTER, une citation qui était attendue et qui en a rassuré plus d'un. Yves Ladouceur Directeur des opérations courses Racing operation Manager

 

CURLEY'S CORNER - NEWS & NOTES

SOURCE: ACT   CURLEY’S CORNER NEWS & NOTES DEC 2010   First, a very happy holiday season to all ACT members and your families and teams. Thanksgiving is now past and we look forward to the Christmas holiday season with gratitude for all the support we have been given over the years, especially during these past couple of difficult economic years. We look forward with a great deal of optimism toward the coming race season.

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY We announced in early November that ACT Late Models would be returning to NHMS for a second event over ‘Indy weekend’, August 12 & 13. This has come about as a result of the great effort that many teams have put into having successful Late Model events in the ACT Invitationals over the past two years. New Hampshire is posting over $100,000.00 in purse money for this ‘short track’ ALL STAR event next August. What is really going to create a lot of interest, besides just the opportunity to compete at the Magic Mile, is that the purse and format will be unlike anything ever seen at New Hampshire, let alone in the short track Late Model division anywhere in the country. There will be $40,000 of the posted purse dedicated to just the heat racing and last chance races! That’s right, this will be a ‘short track’ kind of event with everyone having an opportunity to race your way into the feature event. That will leave the feature with a lucrative $60,000 purse! Our goal at ACT with this event is that every team that attempts to qualify will have a great race experience and also make enough money to help defray some expenses even if not qualified for the main event.   We will have complete details and entry information available to Late Model competitors in January. Eligibility will be fair but strict in the interest of safety. There is an optional open practice at NHMS for ACT Late Model teams (not mandatory for anyone who has participated in either of the first two ACT Invitational events or practice sessions over the past couple years). This one day practice is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, 2011 and the only charge will be a team fee of $100 to pay for the safety equipment and daily costs at NHMS. (Goodyear has agreed once again to pay ½ of the practice fee on behalf of all competitors, thus it is only a $50 per team fee). Practice tires can be used from the August 2 session for practice at the ALL STAR event on August 12/13. There have been a few changes to the Invitational to be held again on NASCAR Chase Cup weekend, Saturday, September 24, 2011. The only difference in 2011 will be starting time will be pushed up to afternoon for tires, etc. Hopefully, this should make for a more reasonable time frame for teams to be able to schedule their participation in the third annual Invitational. More information on both the NHMS events can be expected in January 2011.   OXFORD TD 250 The next big announcement that has come out of the ‘off-season’ came from Oxford Plains Speedway. The announcement that there would be a PASS event on the eve of the ‘250’ certainly got the rumor mill flying. Let me assure you that Bill Ryan continues to be a strong supporter of Late Model racing, both weekly at OPS and also the ACT US. With that said I do think we supporters of Late Model racing should make an extra effort to support this great event. It still is the richest event on the Late Model calendar and an experience unlike any other short track race. I remember what a great thrill it was when the announcement came several years ago that the ‘richest one day short track race in America’ was being changed to a Late Model race. As one of ACT racing’s strongest allies, we hope that many teams will take in the TD 250 in 2011. Oxford management has made a number of changes over the past few years to make this event more in keeping with Late Model teams overall racing philosophies. I still believe that this event can be done very economically as a one-day event, like most other ACT events. Arrive Sunday morning, practice for a couple hours and then go through the process. We fully support the changes made last year - that teams could purchase tires after qualifying if they made the show, and the ‘no going down in the pits after the pits are open on a yellow”. In fact, we only had two teams that raced at Beech Ridge the following weekend that used tires from the 250. There is a message in there somewhere. Mark July 24, 2011 on your schedule of races to support this coming season. It is the ultimate ‘catch the golden ring’ event!   FLORIDA—NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY (NSS) This was one of those promotions that was the true ‘flyer of an idea’. I remember throwing out the idea of taking teams to Florida as a ‘racing holiday’ during Speedweeks at Daytona. I really did not think we would get a lot of commitment. I thought this would be a fun way to break up the long winter months, and also show a whole lot of people, from many disciplines of asphalt racing who participate or watch the World Series of Racing at New Smyrna, what Late Model racing with heats to qualify really is. I am especially anxious to showcase the respectful kind of racing we have enjoyed over the past years. There will be a lot of attention for this effort. Over 700 promoters from throughout the country will be attending the national convention in Daytona over the two days we will be racing, and many will be at NSS to watch our shows. Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Super Late Models etc. will all be part of the marathon that is the World Series. We were very surprised to get over 30 teams to commit to this project!! It certainly put me on the hot spot to try and get the races booked after we received support from so many teams. It took some doing and some help to get the purses put together. Realistically, with the program NSS has, it was not like they were looking for another event to fill an already full schedule over the 10 days of the WSASCR. But they have been gracious enough to slot us in for a couple of 100 lap events, which certainly puts some pressure on their schedules and also complicates an already filled pit area, but we will make it work. Entries for the NSS events will be going out before Christmas, but we encourage teams to make some reservations as soon as possible. Daytona and surrounding areas have ‘relaxed’ their room requirements from years past…and during this time frame there are some great events to take in at the Speedway, ARCA race, Bud Clash, and Twin 125’s if you stay until Thursday, etc. Obviously Disney World, etc. is down the road if you are planning a family kind of winter vacation. NSS World Series opens on Thursday, February 10th and runs through the 19th. The ACT events will be Sunday and Monday nights, February 13th and 14th respectively. We have heard from some teams that they have rooms for as little at $57 per night on Daytona Beach! ACT has booked officials rooms in the Orange City/Deltona area (about 20 min from NSS) for around $75 from Friday-Tuesday. Hopefully this will give teams an idea of what to expect. Again information will be sent to teams that committed before Christmas break. Any other teams that are still interested please contact the office as soon as possible.   2011 SCHEDULES Late Models Putting together the 2011 schedules has been a difficult process. We appreciate all the responses that we received to the survey we sent from the office at the conclusion of the 2010 race season. After reviewing them, we have tried to stay as close as possible to requests for events that the majority of teams (as well as the ACT staff and officials) indicated they felt were do-able for them in 2011. The final schedules, as of Friday, November 19th, for both the US and Castrol Series actually ended up being 12 each, plus the four specials (250, Invitational, Showdown, Milk Bowl). We had requests for a half dozen more events in 2011, but could not reasonably schedule them in the best interest of teams, and weekly racing, which still remains a priority at ACT. The combination events at Riverside, QC, the August 13th event at NHMS, and the Airborne Fall Foliage 200 are partially as a result of honoring prior commitments, as well as providing the most assurance for success at showcase events like the NHMS event and the Fall Foliage at Airborne. Bond/Wix Tiger Sportsman Series The TS Series has some changes to its schedule coming out before Christmas. It now looks like there will be 5 events in the TS series this coming season, including a date correction. I will be holding a ‘pre-season’ meeting sometime in late March or early April with TS teams to see if we can work out some of the issues that are currently affecting the TS division. I have every confidence that we can make 2011 into a great race season for TS teams if we address some of the problems of the past couple seasons. I am looking forward to seeing this division get back to the positive spirited division it has been known for over the past 40-plus years.   RULES LATE MODEL Rules meetings have been completed and rules should be published on the ACT and Thunder Road web sites, hopefully before Christmas. The Late Model division had very few changes. A couple of issues that need to be dealt with are noted below: FORD There has been lots of discussion about the Ford project now being the ‘car of choice’. This project is and continues to be a ‘work in progress’. It took a full three years to get the Chevrolet crate to its successful state, and I anticipate that by the end of 2011 we will have the Ford program exactly where it is needed within the philosophy and guidelines of ACT racing. 1.The GM crate is the baseline motor for ACT Late Model racing. 2. Nothing will change on the GM program at the present time. 3. If necessary, the Ford will continue to have changes made as deemed for finding ‘parity’ with the GM crates. 4. If the Ford does not appear to be compatible from a competition standpoint, we will continue to take steps to make improvements. 5. If the Ford appears to have been given ‘too much of an advantage’, we will take steps to bring the program back in compliance with the original intent…that being two different manufacturers’ engines capable of winning races and being competitive with each other. In 2010, ACT sanctioned and/or promoted 48 stock car events. Fords won 4 of those events, GM crates won 44. Some very good race teams converted their programs to Fords in 2010, it would be unreasonable to expect that they would not be competitive or win some races. We will monitor the Ford vs. GM situation very closely during the upcoming season. [It almost feels like Dave Dion and Jr. Hanley have returned to create panic in the age old Ford vs. Chevy debate!!! Can’t we all just get along??!!]   CRATE REBUILDS This is a notice regarding the ACT policy on rebuilding your crate motors. The chief architect of the ACT engine program for the past decade was and continues to be Dave MacMaster of Butler & MacMaster in Hallowell, ME. 1. At the present time if you own a MacMaster built crate motor, he is the only authorized dealer to ‘rebuild’ or service your engine program, unless a unique situation comes up and is approved by ACT. 2. The other dealers that have been approved as satellite dealers using the same procedures that MacMaster has developed are: RPM Nat’s Goyette Stefco West Carleton Automotive Please be advised that if you purchased your engine from these satellite dealers they are the dealers to service your engines. At the present time, only Butler & MacMaster is the authorized dealer for the ACT FORD crate engine program. If you have any questions, please contact the ACT office.   TIGER SPORTSMAN There are virtually no rules changes in 2011 for the Tiger Sportsman division.   STREET STOCK/WARRIORS We have had some meetings during the off-season to address the rules on a regional basis for 4-cyl divisions in general. The response has been very positive from various promoters and we are continuing these discussions. We have targeted January 15th as a date to complete some kind of ‘universal’ rules for five or six tracks in our region that are interested in this project. We will have a meeting with Street Stocks and Warriors in January as soon as these discussions are completed and go over what decisions have been made. We are hoping that this will solve many of the problems in the area that presently exist with the variety of rules that exist and in turn boost car counts and give the 4-cyl teams more opportunities with their race programs. Again this has been one of the busiest and productive ‘off-seasons’ as we try to continually improve our race programs for fans and participants. Thank you for all of your past efforts and we look forward to the coming race season. Best wishes for the holidays and we look forward to seeing you at the up-coming Banquets or when the snow melts in the Spring.