Free Fan Friday returns to the Honda Indy Toronto
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
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Wheels on Edge chats with James Hinchcliffe
As part of the lead up to this year’s Honda Indy Toronto, The Mayor of Hinchtown aka James Hinchcliffe, was in Toronto yesterday doing the obligatory meet and greet with the media. I was otherwise occupied, so I wasn’t able to attend this year, but James Davidson from Wheels On Edge did have a chance to visit with our home town boy.
In the video, Hinch talks about mistakes, bad luck and bumping his noggin before weighing in on Will Power’s crappy attitude and explaining why you need to visit the Toronto race.
Toronto teen charged with stunt driving after running 240 km/h on local highway
The Ontario Provincial Police pulled over a black Nissan GT-R on Monday evening after recording it blasting across Toronto’s Highway 407 at a whopping 240 km/h. That works out to 150 mph for our American readers. The limit on that stretch of road is 100 km/h.
The driver was 18 year old Vince Lisi. The young man has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, stunt driving and failure to surrender driver’s license. Under Ontario’s laws, the fines can up to $10,000. Lisi’s car (Dad’s car?) has been impounded and his license has been seized and suspended for a week.
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Ferrari 250 GTO in motion defines automotive passion
Although even the least car focused general public know the name Ferrari, but somehow I suspect that many don’t quite understand the passion that enthusiasts feel for the cars that Enzo built. There are people out there who just can’t grasp why people are so upset about the Ferrari that was banged up in Toronto earlier this week. They just don’t get it. Even young enthusiasts, who get that the car is beautiful, ferocious and rare probably don’t truly appreciate the history behind the car.
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Whissell Gains Tens Positions in Toronto
July 10, 2011. Calgary, Alberta’s Jarrad Whissell and the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford had a tough start to the weekend during round number five of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series this past weekend in Toronto. On the city streets during the Toronto Indy weekend Whissell would give all he could following a number of setbacks and be rewarded for his hard charge during the race.
During the practice session Friday afternoon Whissell had his hands full with the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford. “It was very strange†he explained. “First the car was loose, then it was tight and it was very difficult to get a handle on things†he stated.
With the qualifying session only a couple of hours after qualifying the #44 SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford team could only make limited changes. “Unfortunately the car still wasn’t right during qualifying we paid the price for it†said Whissell.
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Elwood Blues to act as Grand Marshal at 2011 Honda Indy Toronto
Ok, so the title might be a bit of a stretch, but multi talented Canadian Dan Aykroyd has been named as Grand Marshal for the Toronto round of the 2011 Indycar series in a few weeks. Aykroyd, played Elwood Blues in the legendary Blues Brothers franchise and continues to this day to play that role in his band.
Outside of acting and music though, the funny guy takes an active role in promoting his wine and spirits projects. As the Canadian importer of Patron Tequila, Aykroyd was the Grand Marshal of the ALMS series race at Mosport. For 2011, he is stepping that action up a few notches as he will promote his uber cool Crystal Head Vodka.
“I’m delighted to be a part of an event with so much history,†said Aykroyd. “I’m a long-time race fan and very proud to be Canadian. It’ll be nice to come home and take in a spectacular day of racing.â€Â
As Grand Marshal, the Ottawa area native will meet the IZOD Indycar drivers, tour the paddock and have a pace car ride. Of course he will also give the “Driver’s start your engines” command.
The big question is, will he manage to find his way onto the Thunder Alley stage to bash out some blues?
Canadian Indycar stars come to Toronto for media lunch
Earlier today at the Real Sports Bar & Grille in downtown Toronto, select members of the media joined up with a trio of Canadian IndyCar stars for lunch and some informal interviews. On had were IndyCar veteran, Paul Tracy, Oakville Ontario hot shoe, James Hinchcliffe and this year’s Indy 500 pole sitter, Alex Tagliani. It was one of the most chill media events I’ve ever attended, as just about everyone knew each other and there was no battling for face time, just some good old Canadian bench racing.
While some of the others did more formal interviews, I grabbed a few photos and socialized with Hinch and PT. Tracy and I shared a couple of stories from our time at the North Halton kart club in the early 80’s. That is not to say that I didn’t come away without any useful news for race fans. Quite the opposite actually, I learned some potentially life changing information.
For instance, did you know that Tags is deathly allergic to most types of nuts? So if you are some sort of hyper fan boy and want to send the speedy French Canadian some treats, you might want to avoid the peanut brittle.
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Boosted at Performance World
While sifting through photos of Performance World that I shot for another publisher I write for, I noticed that there was an awful lot of cars with assisted breathing. From superchargers to some of the biggest turbos I’ve ever seen, this is some heavy duty performance equipment!
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Related posts:
Performance World in Toronto this weekend
The 2011 Performance World car show is the most fun show I’ve been to so far this year and it’s right here in my own back yard. Imagine that: a killer car show that I didn’t have to board a plane to get to!
Toronto has along history of breaking up the Winter months with custom car shows and over the years there have been a number of different promoters, but the one that has consistently been on the calendar is Performance World. Maybe that’s because the PW show has grown with the times and embraced the youth of the sport.
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