The last races of the CASC, RACE Ontario series for the 2000 season were held on the weekend of Oct. 1^{st ,} at Mosport. In the weeks before the race, I had worked feverishly to cure what ailed my racecars’ engine. I found a few problems and resolved them. I was confident that I could do well at this race.

Once at the track I realized that CASC had invited a few other groups to race with us. One of them is the Canadian Champ Car Lights. These are similar to my F2000 car except that they use a much more powerful engine. Also invited were the F1600 group of cars. This almost doubled the number of entries for our races. There were 42 entries, but only 39 started. The Champ Car Lights and the other classes that would be on the track with us would not be a threat to our points, because each class has its own points structure. The added traffic, however, would prove to make things difficult.

I spent Friday afternoon testing, making carburetor and ignition timing adjustments. The car ran a little better each time on the track. The handling was a little off but I suspected that a new set of tires would cure that.

I may have been a little too anxious and over confidant in the qualifying session Saturday morning. I was probably going too fast for a first lap in cold weather. I missed the line on the second to last turn, put a wheel off the pavement, the car snapped and spun around. I skidded through a gravel trap and hit a concrete wall backwards. I was alright, the engine was still running so I proceeded to drive to the pits. The rear wing support was completely twisted and there was a puddle of oil collecting under the car. I would not be able to complete the qualifying session. Since I had not completed a lap, I did not receive a lap time. If I could get the car fixed on time, I would be able to start the race but from the very back.

It would be necessary that I straighten the wing support the best I could, as I didn’t have any spare wing parts. The oil had emanated from the cracked transmission cover that the wing support was attached to. Luckily I was able to locate one from a supplier at the track. With the help of a few friends who were racing in a different class, and my brother who was attending his very first race, we managed to repair the car just in time for the first race. I would start 39^th. This would not be my first time to start last but it was certainly the farthest from the front I’ve ever started.

The first race wasn’t without incident either. On the first lap, I overtook several cars as many of them were slower F1600 or F4s. On the third lap I found myself behind a group of slower cars and I waited for an opportunity to overtake them. Just as we were about to enter turn three, they all braked, this caught me by surprise, (except for turn five, F2000 cars don’t use their brakes much at Mosport) I braked hard to avoid hitting them but in the process locked up my wheels and spun around. Luckily, I didn’t hit anything and no one hit me. I managed to proceed. All the cars that I had previously passed had now gone by and I would have to overtake them again.

When the checkered flag flew I had managed to gain 13 positions to finish 26^th overall, sixth in the F2000 class. This would be my starting position for the race on Sunday.

Saturday evening, my brother and I had made a final jet change to the carburetor. In the Sunday morning practice, I had decided that I would make some much slower laps and that I would only go full throttle down the back stretch. I had made arrangements with a team to use their scales to set up my cars’ suspension after practice and my only concern at this point was whether or not the jet change was successful. Practice went well and it seemed like the new jets were suitable.

On the first lap of the second race, I again overtook four or five cars. I then caught two cars, which I would battle with for the remainder of the race. Our lap times were near identical but our cars had different strengths. The two other cars had more horsepower than mine and they would overtake me in the backstretch but my car could handle better in the turns and I would overtake them. We exchanged positions like this, every lap, for at least half the race. Late in the race, we caught a group of slower cars. I made it around first and quickly distanced them. I suspected that my two rivals were being held up by the slower pack. I learned latter that both had encountered problems and didn’t finish the race. One ran out of gas, the other had engine or clutch trouble.

The checkered flag flew for the last time for this year and I had finished several positions ahead of where I had started. With a best time of one minute and thirty seconds and an average speed of 160KM/H. I had gained fewer positions in the second race as compared to the first race but the battle with the two cars made the second race much more enjoyable.

Final results had not been posted by the time we left the track but I suspect I finished between 18^th and 20^th overall and probably 5^th or 6^th in the F2000 class.

It’s been a tough season. Although my car handled well all season, my well-worn engine has kept me from the front on most occasions. Nonetheless, I am satisfied with my results this year. I’ve achieved the majority of my goals; I have a greater understanding of my cars’ mechanicals and I have become a proficient driver at Mosport. Plans are already underway to rebuild my car and engine over the winter. Next year promises to be better.

Work hard…PLAY HARDER.

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