2010-04-12

CONFÉRENCE DE PRESSE CONJOINTE

C’est lundi le 12 avril au Centre Culturel de Beauceville devant plusieurs journalistes et commanditaires que se tenait la conférence de presse annuelle de l’Autodrome Chaudière, conjointement avec Promotion Sport Moteur et Rock. Le promoteur André Poulin a expliqué les grandes lignes de ce salon du sport motorisé qui se tiendra les 30 avril, 1^er et 2 mai à l’Aréna de Beauceville. Une première en Beauce qui sera satisfaire tous les adeptes du sport motorisé en général.

L’Autodrome Chaudière et Poêle et Foyer Napert seront présents à ce salon et un visiteur de marque, le sympathique Patrick Carpentier sera à leur kiosque conjoint, samedi le 1^er mai de 13h45 à 17h00, pour photos et signatures d’autographes. Il sera également présent sur place au Magasin Poêle et Foyer Napert de Ste-Marie, samedi de 11h00 à 13h00 pour rencontrer tous les amateurs de Stock Car et répondre à leurs questions. Cette réalisation est une gracieuseté de POÊLE ET FOYER NAPERT de Ste-Marie et Promotion Sport Moteur et Rock.

Puis l’Autodrome Chaudière à présenté sa programmation 2010 sous le thème de l’Autodrome Chaudière accentue sa diversification.

Après avoir énuméré les nouveautés réalisées par la direction au cours de la saison morte, de l’ajout de M. André Poulin comme consultant principal, elle a fait mention principalement de:

n La Création de cinq événements nouveaux pour 2010 :

--Le Vallée 150 Sport Compacte avec 1000$ Minimum au gagnant(9 Juillet)

(Inscription au www.autodromechaudiere.com à compter du 16 avril)

--Le Jamboree LMS (11 Juin)

--Le 33-33-34 de la Série SS (16 Juillet)

--La Course des Étoiles au Showdown LMS Budweiser 200 (28 Août)

--Le Enduro 150 (19 Septembre)

n L’achat de Billets Combo//LMS/SS au www.billetech.com à compter du 30 avril.

n Un Bonus de Fidélité pour tous les pilotes des Classes Locales.

Pour lire le contenu complet de cette conférence de presse de l’Autodrome Chaudière, allez au www.autodromechaudiere.com, section communiqués.

Merci aux journalistes qui se sont déplacés en grand nombre.

Merci aux commanditaires d’une Soirée qui étaient présents:

n M.Roger Dufour de Graphy Graf, représentant de Poêle et Foyer Napert

n M. Jocelyn Faucher de Desjardins

n M. Alain Turmel de Douin et Frères GM

n M. Bryan Custeau de Custeau Peinture

n M. Steve Labbé, LKQ Pintendre Autos INC

n M. Claude Girard de Mix 99.7 FM et Cool FM103.5

Merci à nos partenaires associés présents :

n M. Mario Hudon, représentant de Québec 800

n Mme Nathalie Berthiaume, représentant de FM 101.3

n M. Stéphane Delacharité de SAAS

n M. Luc Grondin de Boutique NASCAR.

n M. Stéfan Cliche de Étiquesse

André Gagnon, Directeur du Développement et Relationniste

Autodrome Chaudière, Vallée-Jonction

Relationniste.chaudiere@videotron.ca

www.autodromechaudiere.com.

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DONAHUE JOINS THE FORD BLUE OVAL CHALLENGE TEAM

For Immediate Release ACT – 041210-21

Waterbury, VT – John Donahue from Graniteville, VT is the latest to join what has become a potent Ford Blue Oval Challenge Team for the 2010 campaign on the American Canadian Tour (ACT). Donahue was the hottest driver during the final half of the 2009 campaign. He is a favorite to contend for the title in 2010.

“I have always been a Ford man, and it was driving me crazy hearing about all the good teams that have gone to a Ford motor program for the coming season,” said team owner Kendall Roberts, from Barre, VT. “Just look at the top teams that are running Fords this year--- Michaud, Pole (Joey Polewarczyk), that guy that won the Lee championship (Wayne Helliwell, Jr.), we raced against him at Groveton and he is a very good racer. I just had to get on the bandwagon. We plan to give Ford and our National Guard Ford Fusion the ACT title in a FORD”, concluded Roberts. Joey Laquerre, from East Montpelier, Vermont and Glen Luce, from Turner, ME are also part of the Ford program. Both are veteran drivers with multiple championships and wins.

The Ford short track racing division has posted a lucrative contingency program for all competitors running ACT legal Late Models throughout the Northeast and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. The highlight of the program is the Ford Blue Oval Cup Challenge. This program will use a unique system of combining finishes for all Ford team members registered with ACT during the 2010 season. Both the weekly competitors and the touring teams can accumulate points at any and all events they participate in during the season. The program encourages weekly teams to try some tour racing and tour regulars to visit any of over a dozen ACT affiliate tracks that are using the universal rules package for Late Models started by ACT in 1999.

The opening event on the ACT schedule will take green at Lee USA Speedway on Sunday, April 18, 2010. There are expected to be at least seven (7) Ford teams represented at the opening event. This will be the largest number of Ford teams to ever appear in an ACT event over the past 25 years.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com, or Lee USA Speedway at 978.462.4252.

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2010-04-11

KYLE HIEBER FENDS OFF MODIFIED STAR JEFF STRUNK FOR SPEEDSTR SERIES OPENER VICTORY AT GRANDVIEW

Bechtelsville, PA. April 11th: Kyle Hieber beat the best Sunday afternoon at Grandview Speedway. Hieber, 17, of Langhorne, Pa., repelled the advances of eight-time and defending NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 358-Modified track champion Jeff Strunk to win the 20-lap SpeedSTR Series Season Opener.

Strunk, moonlighting in a No. 2 SpeedSTR ride arranged by Speedway Entertainment, settled for second-place pay. For Hieber, the win was his second in SpeedSTR competition. He won once last year at Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, Pa.

"He has won so many Modified championships here, it was definitely on my mind," Hieber said of his battle with Strunk.

Hieber won the race in a No. 5 car owned by Rich Tobias. His own car was sidelined with a lack of oil pressure. "My car is at home, so Rich let me hop in this car," Hieber said, adding that he was originally slated to pick up a ride in the Doug Rose No. DR1 but didn't fit properly in the car. His brother, Gary, took over that car.

Hieber started the feature second and took command at the outset. Strunk, starting fourth, drove into the runner-up spot by lap two. A yellow on lap five for the slowing No. 10 of Mario Page put Strunk on Hieber's rear bumper for a single-file restart. Strunk looked to the inside entering turn one. Hieber turned back the advance and held the top spot.

"I was trying to get my rhythm going," Hieber said. "Jeff poked his nose the one time, so I figured I'd hug the bottom." Hieber's plan worked to perfection. He outdistanced Strunk to the checkered by nearly a half-straightaway to cap a winning weekend that included a Slingshot victory Friday night at Linda's Speedway in Jonestown, Pa.

Strunk, 41, of Bechtelsville, Pa., trailed Hieber in his second SpeedSTR start. He made one start last year at Sundance Vacations Speedway, a paved oval in St. John's, Pa. "I'll have to save my first win of the year for a Modified, I guess," Strunk said. "This was the first time I ran one of these cars on dirt. I ran on the asphalt last year. You've got to run them on the edge, that's for sure."

Pole starter Don Zrinski of Piscataway, N.J., finished third, reclaiming the position after a back-and-forth battle with Gary Hieber Jr. of Langhorne, Pa., who placed fourth. Tyler Potts of Milford, N.J., completed the front five.

SPEEDSTR SHORTS: Fourteen cars took part in the program. Heat winners were Strunk and Potts.... The afternoon marked the debut of Freddie Rahmer Jr., son of Sprint Car icon Fred Rahmer. The Salfordville, Pa., youngster clipped the wall in feature action, busting the car's pan hard rod. The elder Rahmer couldn't stick around to watch his son compete in the feature; he had a race to run at Susquehanna (Pa.) Speedway Park....

Doug Sherwood and Curt Weller both took wild rides in heat action. Sherwood made repairs for the feature, while Weller was done for the afternoon.... Winner Kyle Hieber has a strong racing lineage with his father Gary, uncle Danny and brother Gary Jr. all active in the sport....

The SpeedSTR Series resumes May 9 (Sunday) at Grandview in another doubleheader with the NEETS Enduro contingent. For further information, visit the SpeedSTR Web site: www.speedstr.biz....

SpeedSTR Feature Finish: KYLE HIEBER, Jeff Strunk, Don Zrinski, Gary Hieber Jr., Tyler Potts, Gary Huber, Doug Sherwood, Steve Hicks, D.J. Macri Jr., Katie McCardle, Freddie Rahmer Jr., Mario Page.

Did Not Start: Brittany Wixon, Curt Weller.

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2010-04-09

Essais à Barber FAZZT Race Team Practice Report

Les Entreprises M.P. Roy Inc.
Email : mproy@lesentreprisesmproyinc.com
Montréal : 514.907.1773
Québec : 418.210.3986
Cell : 514.942.6843

From: <contact@bironcommunications.com>

Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:46:34 -0400

To: <mproy@lesentreprisesmproyinc.com>

Subject: Essais à Barber FAZZT Race Team Practice Report

English version follows

Pour diffusion immédiate - 9 avril 2010

Compte rendu des essais du Grand Prix Indy de l'Alabama

Pilote: Alex Tagliani

Voiture: N° 77 La Capsule Sportive / Adonis de l'équipe FAZZT Dallara/Honda/Firestone

Événement/Circuit: Grand Prix Indy de l'Alabama au Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama

Date de l'événement: Dimanche, le 11 avril 2010 à 15 h sur la chaîne VERSUS, les réseaux IMS Radio, XM Radio 145 et SIRIUS Radio 211

3^e course sur 17

Résultats des essais

Position : 14^e

Chrono/ vitesse : 1:12.1313/184,75 km/h

Tours au total : 41

Pilote/Chrono/vitesse le plus rapide aujourd'hui : Will Power/ 1:11.1857/187,20 km/h

Nouvelles et précisions sur le No°77 La Capsule Sportive / Adonis de l'équipe FAZZT

· Tagliani est maintenant au 13^e rang avec 40 points

· 2010 sera la première saison complète d'Alex Tagliani en série Indy Car et sa 10^e saison de course en monoplace

· Tagliani n'a jamais effectué de course ni même d'essais sur la piste de Barber Motorsports Park, et l'équipe FAZZT en est à sa première présence

· LaCapsule Sportive, les Produits Adonis et la Société canadienne de la sclérose en plaques orneront la voiture N^o 77 ce week-end. LaCapsule Sportive est un détaillant autorisé de produits mode et sports avec des succursales dans tout le Canada. Les Produits Adonis sont des commerces de produits d'alimentation moyen-orientaux avec des succursales dans la grande région de Montréal au Québec.

Les impressions du pilote Alex Tagliani sur le Grand Prix Indy de l'Alabama :

« Je suis très satisfait de notre deuxième session. J'avoue que ce matin, j'étais un peu inquiet. Il faut dire que durant la première session, notre voiture n'avait jamais été aussi mal depuis le début de la saison, même dans les essais, alors j'étais assez nerveux en abordant la seconde session. Mais l'équipe a fait un travail formidable. Notre défi était que, comme nous n'avions jamais effectué de tests à Barber, nous étions un peu à l'aveuglette. Mais nous avons bien récupéré et nous sommes maintenant prêts. Je pense que nous avons fait ce qu'il fallait ce matin pour la voiture et maintenant il suffit de refaire la même chose pour les séances de qualifications. Les ingénieurs et l'équipe ont fait bon travail et maintenant que nous connaissons les changements à effectuer sur la voiture, il faut souhaiter que nous pourrons régler ça ce soir et être performants pour les qualifications demain. »

Les impressions de Rob Edwards, directeur général, sur le Grand Prix Indy de l'Alabama :

« Il est évident que nous avions beaucoup à apprendre aujourd'hui du fait que nous ne sommes pas venus ici auparavant ni en tant qu'équipe ni en tant que pilote. Alex et les ingénieurs ont été très efficaces entre la première et la deuxième session. Nous avons eu des problèmes initiaux dans la première session et nous nous sommes énormément rattrapés dans la deuxième session. Ainsi, nous avons pu atteindre quelques objectifs que nous nous étions fixés pour la journée. Nous voulons bien sûr être les plus rapides sur le circuit, mais nous avons estimé qu'il y avait certains éléments à améliorer pour lesquels nous devions accorder toute notre importance, et cela, nous l'avons atteint dans la deuxième session. Je lève donc mon chapeau à Alex et aux ingénieurs et, comme toujours, aux gars de l'équipe FAZZT pour leur travail formidable qui a permis d'éliminer toutes les erreurs et de passer un bel après-midi. »

Notes concernant l'événement :

· Le parcours est long de 3,8 km sur un circuit permanent incluant 17 courbes

· Ce sera le 1^er événement de la Série IZOD Indy Car au Barber Motorsports Park bien que la série y a déjà effectué des essais.

Source média : Jana Watt

FAZZT Race Team

(317) 709-3855 ou janaw@fazztraceteam.com

************************************************************************

For Immediate Release-April 9, 2010

Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Practice Notes

Driver: Alex Tagliani

Entry: No. 77 La Capsule Sportive/Adonis Products FAZZT Race Team Dallara/Honda/Firestone

Event/Track: Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama

Event Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010 3:00 p.m. on VERSUS, IMS Radio Network, XM Radio 145 and SIRIUS Radio 211

Race 3 of 17

Practice Results

Position: 14^th

Time/Speed: 1:12.1313/ 114.791mph

Total Laps: 41

Fast Driver/Time/Speed of the Day: Will Power /1:11.1857/116.315

No. 77 LaCapsule Sportive/Adonis Products FAZZT Race Team News and Notes

· Tagliani is currently 13^th in the points standings with 40 points

· 2010 is Tagliani's first full IndyCar Series season and his 10^th season of open wheel racing

· Tagliani has never raced or tested at Barber Motorsports Park nor has the FAZZT Race Team

· LaCapsule Sportive, Adonis Products and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada adorn the No. 77 car this weekend. LaCapsule Sportive is a retailer for licensed sports products with locations throughout Canada; Adonis Products is a Mediterranean grocery retailer with outlets located in Quebec.

Driver Alex Tagliani on the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Practice:

"I'm very happy about the second session. This morning I was worried a little bit. I think in the first session our car was the worst it has felt since the beginning of the season actually even in testing so I was quite nervous going into the second session. But the crew did a fantastic job. The challenge was since we hadn't run here we were coming here a little bit blind but we recovered well and now we are in the window. I think we've gotten the car where it needed to be this morning and now we just need to try to make it happen for qualifying. The engineers and crew have done a great job and now we know where the issues of the car are and hopefully we can fix them tonight and be good in qualifying tomorrow."

General Manager Rob Edwards on the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Practice:

"Obviously we had a lot to learn today with not having been here before either as a team or as a driver. I think Alex and the engineers did a very good job between the first session and the second session. We showed our teething problems in the first session and we made big gains for the second session and achieved somewhat of the goals we were trying to get to today. Of course we want to be quickest but there is an amount we thought we needed to improve and look at overnight and we achieved that in the second session. So hats off to Alex and the engineers and as always the FAZZT crew guys did a great job making sure we were error free and had a good afternoon."

Event Notes:

· The course is a 2.38 mile, 17-turn permanent road course

· This will be the first IZOD Indy Car Series event at Barber Motorsports Park although the series has tested at this facility.

Media contact: Jana Watt

FAZZT Race Team

(317) 709-3855 or janaw@fazztraceteam.com

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ACT II INVITATIONAL AT NHMS JUMPS TO 43 STARTERS IN 2010

From: "ACT Media" <media@acttour.com>

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 12:05:47 -0400

To: <media@acttour.com>

Subject: ACT II INVITATIONAL AT NHMS JUMPS TO 43 STARTERS IN 2010

ACT II INVITATIONAL AT NHMS JUMPS TO 43 STARTERS IN 2010

For Immediate Release ACT – 040910-20

Waterbury, VT – Officials of the American Canadian Tour (ACT) and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) announced today that the starting field for the second edition of the ACT Invitational will be increased from 36 teams last year to 43 teams in 2010. The event is part of a mega triple-header to be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at the region’s most notable speedway. The Invitational will join NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour and the Camping World Truck Series to provide the fans with the most exciting triple-header of the year.

“The great success we had with the inaugural ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last year has given us the confidence to invite several more teams to make up the starting field for this year’s race”, said Tom Curley, President of the American Canadian Tour. “We will soon be announcing another great promotion for all the fans that attend weekly affiliate ACT tracks, and all ACT touring events during the upcoming season,” concluded Curley.

The race has been extended to 60 miles for the 2010 version. There will be a mandatory caution flag between lap 28 and 38, if there is no racing caution that occurs during that time frame. Teams will be allowed to pit for adjustments and tires if they choose to pit, but it will not be mandatory. “This format really sounds like a lot of fun. I think it will certainly add some strategy to the race and make for some tough decisions about whether to pit or not,” said Brent Dragon, one of the top contenders for the ACT title in 2010.

There will be plenty of money on the line for the second ACT Invitational. The purse has been increased throughout the field with the winner’s share is a minimum of $4,000. Bonus money of $400 will be paid for every event won at the ACT US events (14), the ACT Série Castrol Edge (11), special events (4), which include the TD Bank 250 at the Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, the Mekkelsen Memorial Day Classic doubleheader with Modifieds, and the Vermont Governor’s Cup held at Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road on Thursday, June 24, 2010. The annual Coors Light Showdown of Champions held at Autodrome Chaudiere in Valle Junction, QC is a $5,000 to win 200-lap special between the top US and Castrol ACT teams, and will be the fourth ACT Invitational special event Qualifier.

In addition, $400 in bonus money will be available to each Track Champion that represents the affiliate tracks which are using the ACT Late Model rules package as part of their weekly racing program. The tracks include: Thunder Road, Lee USA, White Mountain Motorsports Park, Oxford Plains Speedway, Seekonk Speedway, Waterford Speedbowl, and Twin State Speedway in the US. Ontario tracks Capital City Speedway, Ottawa and Kawartha Speedway in Peterborough are also ACT affiliate weekly short tracks. The total posted purse for the 2010 Invitational will be over $73,000.

Over 60 teams will be invited to test and tune at NHMS in August. For many of the “at large teams”, this day of testing will be not only a great race experience, but for many it is an audition to be invited to the Invitational. In 2010, two of the youngest drivers, (without automatic wins to qualify), were so impressive on test and tune day that they got invited to compete in the first Invitational. In the Invitational, Nick Sweet from Barre, VT, a Thunder Road weekly competitor was challenging eventual winner Eddie MacDonald for the win and ended up finishing second. Sixteen year-old Brandon Watson from Ontario accepted the invitation and came home third!

The first opportunity to lock in a spot in the ACT Invitational will happen at the Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH on Sunday, April 18, 2010 with the annual running of the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150. Defending Champion and the winningest driver in the history of NHMS, Brad Leighton, will look for his second consecutive win and the bonus of receiving the first invite to New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s ACT Invitational in September.

Gates open at 10:00 and post time is 1:00 o’clock Sunday, April 18 at Lee USA.

For additional information contact the ACT office at 802.244.6963 or media@acttour.com, or Lee USA Speedway at 978.462.4252.

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CENTRE FOR SPEED IN SHEDIAC TO INTRODUCE ACT LATE MODELS IN 2011

From: "ACT Media" <media@acttour.com>

Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 12:04:32 -0400

To: <media@acttour.com>

Subject: CENTRE FOR SPEED IN SHEDIAC TO INTRODUCE ACT LATE MODELS IN 2011

centreforspeedshediac act 25th 5

CENTRE FOR SPEED IN SHEDIAC TO INTRODUCE

ACT LATE MODELS IN 2011

For Immediate Release CFS-040910-101

Shediac, NB – The Center for Speed (CFS) in Shediac, New Brunswick announced today that the 2011 season will offer some changes in the type of race divisions that will be offered to Maritime stock car racing teams. The introduction of the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model division as a premiere weekly division has generated enthusiasm among many of the top tier CENTRE racers.

“The time is right for our race facility and race teams to join forces with what has become the most successful form of weekly and touring racing in the Northeastern United States and in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. We are happy and excited to be the first organization in the Maritimes to introduce this very successful type of Late Model racing to our region,” said Tim Wile, the General Manager of the CENTRE of Speed.

The ACT program has expanded over the past decade to include a dozen weekly tracks and two major touring divisions throughout New England, Quebec, and Ontario. ACT Late Model programs are supported at Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine, home of the famous “Oxford 250”; New Hampshire tracks: White Mountain, Twin State, Lee USA, Canaan Speedway; Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts, and Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut. Thunder Road Speedbowl in Vermont is the home of the ACT Late Model division, and Capital City in Ottawa, along with Kawartha Speedway in Ontario, also are affiliate tracks of the ACT program. The American Canadian Tour in the United States and the ACT Castrol Series in Quebec and Ontario are two of the most successful traveling tours in the Northeast.

Tom Curley, President of ACT said, “We designed the ACT Late Model division with a high priority on weekly racing as a base to our business model. The ACT Late Model philosophy was, and continues to be to provide a cost-efficient car for race teams, race tracks, as well as promoters and fans. We now have over 400 teams who use the ACT rules and we continue to enjoy expansion. The racing with the crate motors, Goodyear tires, restricted drive train, and sealed Koni shocks has definitely controlled the costs for the racers. The end result is that we have a ‘driver’ division with great parity. It is not a high-level division where whoever can afford to spend the most money usually dominates. We are eager to work with the CENTRE for Speed on this expansion project.”

The move by the CFS to an ACT Late Model division opens up many new opportunities for racers and their fans from the New Brunswick region. The ‘universal’ rules throughout the Northeast will once again encourage Maritime race teams to compete at races like the “Oxford 250”, major ACT Castrol Series races throughout Quebec, and as a part of the ACT affiliate track program. Maritime teams will have an opportunity to compete in the ACT event at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH during the NASCAR ‘Chase” weekend each September.

CFS will be holding an informational meeting at a place and time TBA in the near future.

The CENTRE for Speed's season opens on Saturday, May 15^that 1PM with the Atlantic Demo and Endurance Championships and the Stock Car Season Opener the following Sunday on May 23^rd at 1PM.

For additional information contact ACT at 802.244.6963 or CFS at 506 388-2415. Additional information about the CENTRE is also available at www.centreforspeed.com.

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2010-04-07

SÉRIE SS QUÉBEC - TECH MEMO

Un vote à été tenu sur la possibilité de mettre en équivalence le "unit tubulaire" de certains fabricants canadien ou américains en équivalence au "Unit de Camaro" déjà permis en Supersportsman.

A vote was presented to the drivers about the possible use of a Camaro-like tubular front clip fabricated by a Canadian or American aftermarket fabricator.

Voici le résultat de ce vote.(Tous les pilotes accrédités avaient droit de vote, donc 37)

POUR : 24

CONTRE : 9

PAS VOTÉS: 4

Donc à compter du 30 septembre 2010, le UNIT TUBULAIRE sera ajouter en équivalence.

Important: nous allons évaluer chaque compagnie qui en fait et nous allons marquer dans le livre ceux qui sont compatible avec les restrictions quand viendra le temps , pas avant.

Source : André Poulin, Promoteur

Herein the result of this vote (all registered drivers were eligible to vote, therefore 37):

FOR: 24

AGAINST: 9

ABSTENTION: 4

Therefore as of September 30, 2010 the tubular front clip will be introduced as an equivalent to the stock clip in the rulebook.

Important: Each Manufacturer/fabricator’s clip will be evaluated as to conformity and will be registered in the rulebook when compatible and with possible constraints in due time, not before.

Source: André Poulin, Promoter

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2010-04-04

Champlain Valley Motorsport Show

Samedi j’ai eu le plaisir d’aller visiter le Champlain Valley Motorsport Show au Crete Civic Center de Plattsburgh, NY.

Saturday I had the pleasure of visiting the Champlain Valley Motorsport Show at the Crete Civic Center in Plattburgh, NY.

Voici un album de 27 photographies prises par Chantal et M.P. Roy.

This is a 27 photo album taken by Chantal and M.P. Roy.

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MORE ON SFI/IMPACT

Plustôt cette semaine nous avons mis en ligne sur le blog une nouvelle à l’effet que SFI Foundation Inc. accusait et décertifiait Impact Racing LLC (une compagnie sous la propriété de Bill Simpson) pour avoir produit et distribué des items avec de fausses étiquettes SFI.

Plustard, le 1^er avril, dans un communiqué conjoint, SFI et Impact ont annoncé que les produits fabriqué en 2009 et 2010 n’étaient pas en cause – mais que les produits fabriqués pré-2009 étaient toujours sous enquête.

Pendant ce temps, sur le fil de presse Associated Press et repris par le site web de ESPN, nous avons appris – malgré l’absence des documents officiels - un peu plus sur les pratiques douteuses en question.

Earlier in the week we posted a blog entry regarding the SFI Foundation Inc.’s allegations that Impact Racing LLC (a company owned by Bill Simpson) would have produced and sold items with counterfeit SFI labels. Effectively decertifying the product and the manufacturer.

Later, on April 1^st, in a joint release between SFI and Impact, SFI announced the reinstatement of certification for products produced in 2009 and 2010 – still enforcing the decertification on products prior to 2009.

Meanwhile, on the Associated Press wire and posted by ESPN’s website, we learn a little more – despite official documents not being available - as to what the details of the alleged scam.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=5048652&type=story

Thursday, April 1, 2010
Judge issues restraining order

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- A racing safety manufacturer who endured criticism over the role his former company's seat belt may have played in Dale Earnhardt's death now faces accusations his new company used counterfeit certification labels on some of its products.

SFI Foundation Inc. has filed a lawsuit and sought a restraining order against Bill Simpson's Impact Racing LLC to ban the sale of fire suits, seat belts and other uncertified Impact gear it says bear counterfeit SFI labels or patches.

A federal judge in Indianapolis on Thursday issued an order granting much of what SFI wanted, said Paul Yarbrough, an attorney for the not-for-profit. Yarbrough did not immediately have details of the order available and it did not appear in the court's online docket Thursday.

California-based SFI sets standards for several racing organizations, including NASCAR, the National Hot Rod Association and the Indy Racing League.

The lawsuit alleges that between November 2005 and August 2008, Simpson instructed an Impact employee to have an Asian vendor produce counterfeit SFI labels that were affixed to various products, including seat belts, arm restraints, fire suits, head socks, gloves and boots.

SFI plans to decertify those Impact products made during that time, Yarbrough said.

The sale of conformance labels to manufacturers is SFI's main source of income and its loss would cause a "severe financial hardship," SFI said in its lawsuit.

SFI and Impact issued a joint statement Thursday night saying Impact had provided sworn testimony that no counterfeit SFI labels have been used on company products made in 2009 and 2010. SFI said it will not decertify Impact products made in those years.

"All SFI labeled products currently being sold by Impact Racing have current SFI certification and legally obtained labels," Impact said in a separate statement posted on its Web site. "The safety of our products has in no way been compromised."

The complaint accuses Impact of counterfeiting, fraud and misrepresentation, unfair competition, unfair and deceptive trade practices and breach of contract and seeks unspecified damages.

An Impact Racing employee who answered the phone Thursday said Simpson was not available for comment. A phone message also was left at the office of Impact Racing's Indianapolis attorney, Edward Harris III.

Simpson is a well-known racing safety manufacturer credited with inventing the parachute used to slow drag racers. But he endured controversy following Earnhardt's death at the 2001 Daytona 500 when NASCAR officials concluded a Simpson seat belt had separated at impact and as a result, Earnhardt probably hit the steering wheel.

Simpson countered that his belts did not fail when properly installed. He also said he had long warned Earnhardt, a friend, that he was not installing his belts properly.

A six-month investigation by NASCAR and independent experts concluded in August 2001 that several forces -- including the angle of impact, the speed of his car and the torn seat belt -- combined to cause the skull fracture from which Earnhardt died.

Simpson later resigned as a consultant for Simpson Performance Products, the company he founded and eventually sold.

In 2002, Simpson filed a defamation lawsuit that accused NASCAR of wrongly blaming his former company's seat belt for Earnhardt's death. The suit was later dropped.

Pour lire le reste / Read more...

2010-04-03

UPDATE - IMPACT SFI CONFLICT PRESS RELEASE - April 1st, 2010

In the Impact and SFI conflict recent development, on the basis of sworn testimony by Impact, SFI reinstated the certification of Impact products manufactured in 2009 and 2010, here is an extract of the joint release:

April, 2010

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

April 1, 2010 - Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc., in the litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, have agreed that:

1. Impact Racing, LLC has provided sworn testimony that, upon review and investigation, no counterfeit SFI Conformance Labels have been used on Impact Racing products during the production years of 2009 and 2010.

2. Impact Racing, LLC has provided sworn testimony that, upon review and investigation, all Impact Racing products manufactured and sold during the production years 2009 and 2010 meet SFI specifications.

3. Based upon this sworn testimony, the decertification against Impact Racing products for the production years 2009 and 2010 is lifted. The decertification of the production years prior to 2009 and 2010 remains in effect. The parties will continue to work cooperatively in an effort to resolve the issues relating to decertification in these years.

4. Impact Racing stands behind the safety of all products it has manufactured and to which SFI Conformance Labels have been affixed. SFI will continue to monitor compliance with product specifications.

5. Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc. will cooperate in determining whether any Impact Racing product bears a counterfeit SFI Conformance Label and if any safety issue exists in regard to products manufactured prior to 2009 and 2010.

6. If any Impact Racing product does not bear the date of manufacture the purchaser or user is instructed to immediately contact Impact Racing who will provide verification of the date of manufacture. Impact Racing, LLC will immediately notify SFI Foundation, Inc. of this occurrence. Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc. will work with the sanctioning bodies to determine the best method for product users to present verification of the date of manufacture.

For a downloadable .pdf of this press release, please click on the following link: Joint Press Release 04-01-10.

For a downloadable .pdf of this press release, please click on the following link: http://www.impactraceproducts.com/pdfs/2010/SFI%20Press%20Release_04012010.pdf

Pour lire le reste / Read more...

2010-04-12

CONFÉRENCE DE PRESSE CONJOINTE

DONAHUE JOINS THE FORD BLUE OVAL CHALLENGE TEAM

2010-04-11

KYLE HIEBER FENDS OFF MODIFIED STAR JEFF STRUNK FOR SPEEDSTR SERIES OPENER VICTORY AT GRANDVIEW

2010-04-09

Essais à Barber FAZZT Race Team Practice Report

ACT II INVITATIONAL AT NHMS JUMPS TO 43 STARTERS IN 2010

ACT II INVITATIONAL AT NHMS JUMPS TO 43 STARTERS IN 2010

CENTRE FOR SPEED IN SHEDIAC TO INTRODUCE ACT LATE MODELS IN 2011

2010-04-07

SÉRIE SS QUÉBEC - TECH MEMO

2010-04-04

Champlain Valley Motorsport Show

MORE ON SFI/IMPACT

2010-04-03

UPDATE - IMPACT SFI CONFLICT PRESS RELEASE - April 1st, 2010

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