Archives for June 2015

James Hinchcliffe named Grand Marshall of Honda Indy Toronto

June 11, 2015 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

The Mayor of Hinchtown at the 2014 edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona

The guy who might just be the most Canadian man in all of sports, James Hinchcliffe, has been named as the Grand Marshall of the Honda Indy Toronto, happening this weekend on the city’s waterfront. As most readers will know, Hinchcliffe was seriously injured in a crash during practice for the Indy 500. While his rehab has been going faster than expected, the driver from Oakville, Ontario has been dodging the question “will you be in Toronto?” until today.

Actually, while down at the track today, a couple of people said that Hinch was seen at the track this morning. I was excited to hear the news that he has been chosen as the grand PooBah!

Earlier this week, James sat down with our mutual friend Todd Lewis from Sportsnet to talk about his rehab.

Honda Indy Toronto press release

TORONTO,ON, June 11, 2015 – Organizers of the 2015 Honda Indy Toronto are pleased to announce that local Canadian race car driver and mayor of Hinchtown, James Hinchcliffe, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the marquee Verizon IndyCar Series race taking place Sunday, June 14. Hinchcliffe was recently medically cleared to travel to Toronto.

Hinchcliffe will perform the standard Grand Marshal duties that include giving the famous “drivers, start your engines” command to start the afternoon Verizon IndyCar Series race on Sunday.
“We are very excited to have James as Grand Marshal,” said Charlie Johnstone, President of the Honda Indy Toronto. “Although he is unable to race, it is important to us, and to him, that he is involved in the race in some capacity, being as this is his home town event.”

Hinchcliffe will not be racing in this year’s Verizon IndyCar Series race in Toronto due to injuries sustained during an accident that happened on May 18 during a practice round for the Indy 500. This will be the first time that he will not be racing since he joined the series in 2011.
“I’m looking forward to being back home in Canada and attending the Honda Indy Toronto with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports this weekend,” said Hinchcliffe. “It will be a strange feeling for me not lining up on the grid this year, but being the Grand Marshal is a role I’m honoured to fulfil and I’m excited that I’ll play a role in the proceedings on Sunday.”

Hinchcliffe is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries and is highly anticipating his return to racing.

Free Fan Friday returns to the Honda Indy Toronto

June 11, 2015 by Media press release Leave a Comment

Honda Canada press release

TORONTO, ON (June 9, 2015) – For the sixth straight year, the sights, sounds and speed of the Honda Indy Toronto will be free for fans to enjoy on Friday, June 12, 2015. Fan Friday is made possible through the generous support of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association (OHDA) and Toronto race fans. In exchange for a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada, Fan Friday promises a jam-packed schedule of on-track action, and off-track stunt shows, contests, autograph sessions and other entertainment from gate open to close across the event site, providing something for everyone.

“Our ongoing partnership with Make-A-Wish for Fan Friday is a big part of the Honda Indy Toronto,” said Kevin Pearson, president of the OHDA. “This is all about putting fans in the middle of the action in support of a great cause. We hope fans give generously to help make wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions across the country.”

Honda Canada is a proud supporter of James Hinchcliffe, the only Canadian driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Given James’ recent injuries and the outpouring of support for the ‘Mayor of Hinchtown’ leading up to his hometown race, race fans will have the opportunity to sign a giant ‘Get Well Hinch’ card throughout the weekend for a minimum $2 donation to Make-A-Wish.

Fan Friday gets bigger and better at Honda World every year with track-side fun and games for the whole family including free popcorn, snow cones and candy floss, golf practice swing and hockey slap shot zone, face painting, racing simulators and an opportunity to have your photo taken in a real Indy car. With no reserved seating on Fan Friday, attendees will have access to all grandstand sections on a first-come/first-served basis.

Honda to match fan donations
[Read more…]

2015 Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally

June 9, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

The first weekend in June saw a return to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania in much warmer weather for the 39th running of the Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally. Held over two days, the entire rally covers almost 422.6 kilometers (262.6 miels), 192.2 kilometers (119.4 miles) of competitive stages split between dirt roads on Waste Management property Friday and public roads in state parks on Saturday. Drawing 70 regional and international teams, STPR is the fifth of eight Rally America Championships held in 2015. Past winners have included Subaru Rally Team’s David Higgins/Craig Drew, as well as Ken Block/Alessandro Gelsomino.

Parc Exposé

After a sunny Parc Exposé Friday morning, the teams left The Green in Wellsboro and headed to the Waste Management stages 1 – 3. Last year, a jump near the spectator area was added, and it did not disappoint… the spectators, anyway. It’s a sad thing to hear a driver tell his kid, “Tell mommy we’re coming home a day early. We broke the car.” Car 157 (Super Production 2008 Subaru STI Tomasorally) driven by Tomas Solnicky with co-driver Ray Vambuts bounced on landing off the jump and spun in a huge cloud of impenetrable dirt. When the dust settled, the car was off the course and unable to continue, though driver and co-driver were fine. All in all, 62 teams finished the 14.3k (8.9 mile stage.) By the time Stage 3 came around on the same course, 61 teams started and 54 finished.

Just before landing and spinning off course in Stage 1.

All teams and volunteers then returned to the Tioga Fairgrounds for Stages 4 & 5. These “Super Special” stages see two cars on an almost half mile dirt course at the the same time, taking two spins around a twisting route and ending on a straight-away in front of the filled grands stands. The weather had other plans, however, and a violent thunderstorm blew in and stayed. After a constant downpour with too-close-for-comfort lightning, the evening Super Stages were cancelled.

Team umbrella, heading over to shield another car being repaired from the rain.

Thunderstorm that ultimately caused the cancellation of Friday’s Super Special stage

After an early morning Parc Exposé in town, 61 teams headed to Stage 6 – and 56 finished. Stage 7 saw William Petrow and Raphael Orlove – already out of contention and driving for exhibition only – roll over after taking a turn wide and clipping the embankment on the edge of the course. The Broken Motorsports 1992 Nissan 240SX came to rest off the embankment heading down into some brush, but media and rally volunteers pushed the car back on course and they sped off.

Pushing car back onto course after rolling onto roof.

Service in Germania saw many teams frantically fixing limping cars. Robert Pepper, driving a 1991 Porsche 944S2 with co-driver Mical Davis, said his team had been up all night with about 20 minutes of sleep fixing the transmission, which was left with a hole the size of his fist after Friday’s stages. “That’s rally.”

Germania Service

The carnage continued from stage to stage, and by the start of the 14th and last trail stage, 46 cars started and 43 survived. The weather was spectacular on Saturday, so competitors headed back to the fairgrounds to meet the fans then complete the Super Special stage. The still-muddy course saw a few spins and lots of flying dirt, especially when Pink Curl Racing in the 2006 Mustang (Paul Cacioppo and Niall Burns) faced off against the crowd-pleasing Gary DeMasi and Stephen Kurey in a 1985 Ford Ranger. The Mustang just about made it to the end, but the 2WD swerved and got stuck on a berm. Ultimately, Subaru Rally Team’s Dave Higgins and Craig Drew faced off against FY Racing Team’s Adam Yeoman and Jordan Schulze for the podium. Overall rally winners were Higgins and Drew continuing their winning streak for their 11th win in a row, the FY Racing Team in second, and Nick Roberts with co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino taking third for Nick Roberts Global Rally Team.

Podium

Full gallery:

: Parc Exposé

: Parc Exposé

: Parc Exposé

: Parc Exposé

: Driver’s meeting.

: Driver’s meeting.

: Driver’s meeting

: Driver’s meeting.

: The jump.

: Just before landing and spinning off course in Stage 1.

: Team umbrella, heading over to shield another car being repaired from the rain.

: Thunderstorm that ultimately caused the cancellation of Friday’s Super Special stage

: Pushing car back onto course after rolling onto roof.

: Germania Service

: Resting in Germania Service

: Spectator cars parked

: Rally cars lined up before Super Stage

: Super Stage

: Super Stage

: Super Stage

: Super Stage

: Higgins/Drew on the Super Stage

: Podium

International Cars at the 2015 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

June 3, 2015 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

Celebrating its 20th year, the 2015 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance once again set up circles of gorgeous cars and motorcycles in the Connecticut town’s Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. Held over two days – American cars on Saturday and International cars on Sunday – the family-friendly drew crowds keen on looking over the now-classic BMW, Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and so many other marques. The Grand Marshal for 2015 was none other than James Glickenhaus, familiar to car people and Concours attendees as a frequent exhibitor of cars from his collection and as the owner of the singular Pininfarina-designed P4/5.

This year, severe thunderstorms threatened the Sunday show, and the parade of cars was moved up an hour in a bid to beat the rain. The rain won the race however and a downpour caused delays, but the majority of the stalwart New Englanders stuck it out and stayed for the eventual passing of the storm.

With a little bit of everything, over the two days the featured automobiles range from the year 1896 to present-day super cars. One wonderful aspect of the Greenwich Concours is the collection of curious and quirky cars that participate annually. There is always at least one Eastern Bloc automobile entered; previous years have included a Russian Volga, Lada, and even an East German Trabant. This year’s Cold War entry was just as fascinating – a 1985 Zil 41045. Part of the Kremlin fleet this plush, armored, and oh-so-80’s stretch limo was decked out with fancy carpeting, leather seats, sirens, and a car phone. Behold the Car of The Party. (h/t to Serge A. for that phrase.)

Several other cars of note include the 1964 Nissan Cedric, and – yes, this splendid Datsun 280Z is certainly Concours-worthy.

Ever hear of a Puma? It’s a Brazilian car, this one a 90 hp GTS Spider from 1980.

Every car on the lawn in Greenwich has a story, and Steve McQueen’s custom 450 hp 4×4 Dune Buggy “Baja Boot” led the parade of cars.

The People’s Choice Award was won by the 1954 MG TF Roadster owned by Keith & Brenda Murphy, and Best In Show was won by Andrew Benenson’s 1951 Cisitalia 202C Cabriolet.