CASC-OR Ice Racing

Your Motorsports Season Doesn’t Have to End in Fall... Go Ice Racing!

Story Courtesy CASC-OR

The Co-efficient of Friction… Also known as grip. So far this fall, we’ve had at least one winter dusting.

And in some areas of Ontario, it was considerably more than a dusting.

The summer racing season is over. Many race cars have been put to bed until next Spring. So with several months until that time, what do you do now?

If you’re adventurous, you go ice racing! And it’s starting sooner than you think.

For decades, people have had a great time racing cars on ice. In days of yore, it was done on frozen rivers and lakes. Now, thanks to the good people at the Minden Kinsmen Club (www.mindenkin.club) it’s all done on terra firma.

In January, the action is returning to the ice racing circuit at the Minden (ON) Fairgrounds. The CASC-OR sanctioned series kicks off January 21-22, running all day Saturday and then again for a half-day on Sunday afternoon. The races take place on six consecutive weekends, if the weather cooperates.

If you’re interested in taking part, there are a few things you’ll need in order to get on the track, including a car, a helmet, a license and to be part of an ice racing club.

There are temporary one-weekend licenses available to those who want to give it a test run, before diving in with both feet. If you go this route, you’ll still need a car and helmet, but if you look online at forums.casc. on.ca, you can probably find a car you can rent, or possibly share, or even buy.

When it comes to ice racing cars, they’re fairly stock. As you might expect, it’s not

The 2023 CASC-OR Ice Racing season begins on January 21 in Minden. Photos by Elaine Willis

about power (they are limited to 3.0 litre engines). It’s all about grip.

If you want to share the fun, as an added bonus, passengers are allowed in ice racing. If you are new to the sport, you can ask an experienced driver to ride shotgun and give you pointers during the race. Or you can take your family and friends on track as long as they have a helmet and sign a waiver.

The vehicles are divided into two major groups: ‘rubber to ice’ and ‘street studs.’

Rubber to Ice cars race on any commercially available winter tire. Street Studs are a specific make with rounded stubs embedded to improve traction.

It’s quite acceptable to change your tires in between sessions and compete in multiple classes. In fact, doing this is one of the easiest ways to share a car.

Is it competitive? You bet! Is it challenging? Oh yeah! Will you end up backwards or in a snowbank? Every weekend! And will you have fun? Guaranteed!

Ice Racing is the least expensive way to go ‘door to door’ racing. It’s fun for the whole family, and if you can control a car on a sheet of ice, imagine how much better you’ll be able to control a car on asphalt.

Want to check it out before giving it a shot? Spectating at the Minden Fairgrounds is always free, and the Food Booth is always stocked with warm drinks and great lunches.

This season’s races are scheduled for: January 21-22, January 28-29, February 4-5, February 11-12, February 18-19 and February 25-26. For more information visit casc.on.ca on the web or email iceracedir@ casc.on.ca. What are you waiting for? IT

Season Wraps Up at Toronto Motorsports Park

With files from CHU

In mid-October, the Canada Heads Up – Shootout Series (CHU) made its final appearance of the season at Toronto Motorsports Park. The weekend kicked off Friday, Oct. 14 with a test session, sponsored by Ian Hill Racing Productions.

Following nasty, wet weather on Saturday morning, the TMP staff worked their magic and got the track in shape for the first round of qualifying. But just before the second batch of index racers was set to hit the track, an incident involving a bike took place at the 300-foot mark that resulted in some oil being put down on the track.

Given the time needed to clean up the mess and the dropping, late afternoon temps, the call was made to cancel the rest of qualifying and try again the next morning.

So, on Sunday (Oct. 16), the teams returned to the track for the fifth and final CHU series race of 2023. The tour is presented by Speedwire Systems, Maxima Racing Oil and Nash Competition Engines.

During Sunday’s Eliminations, Pano Moros ended his season on a winning note by taking the VP Racing Fuels Super Street final over Ricky Carlos. A total of nine Super Street cars were in action at the finale.

“We didn’t compete at all in 2021 after our crew chief passed away,” said Moros, following the win. “Leading up to 2020, we’d won five consecutive championships and we came back this year. We were in fifth place going into the last weekend of the season. We qualified ‘number two’ on the Saturday and won the Final on the Sunday.

“We’d hurt the engine earlier in the season, but before TMP we figured out the engine and transmission issues we’d been having all season, thanks to Nick Agostino, Doug Balsam and the crew from Nash Competition Engines. With the repairs, we had our fastest runs of the season, at the finale.”

A total of 13 EZ Street cars were on track in the Sokoloff Lawyers-backed division. Rob Orofiamma set a new EZ Street record with a 4.604 second run. He bested Tyler Kranandonk in the final.

Frankie Doldo came out on top of the 4.20 Pro Mod division.

In Five Nine Motorsports Street275 action, Bryon Treveld bested Eric Webber, while it was Dylan Stevens over Jack Vandewiel in the Sokoloff Lawyers 5.0 Warriors final.

(Top) Pano Moros returned to his winning ways by taking the CHU Super Street final at TMP on October 16. (Above) EZ Street racer Rob Orofiamma set a new division record while winning his final.

Photos by Blake Farnan

Jesse Vanbetlehem defeated David Rego in KOTs Bike action, while John Poretti beat Todd Sills in SWB Bikes.

In Crazy8s, it was Mike Pereira over Murray Lonsbary, while the Low 9s win went to Darrin ‘Bullwhip’ Johnstone, over Korey Staveley.

ICD Insurance sponsored the Index classes. In 5.50 Index, Dan Morrison beat Rob Galati. Mike Thompson ‘broke’ bye in the 6.0 Index final. Joe Muro over Frank Guillaume in 6.50 Index. Chevy Lightheard ‘broke’ bye in the 7.0 Index final, while Jason Jean set a class record of 7.502 seconds while beating Clayton Szram in the Index 7.50 final.

And Kami Scott won Sunday’s Priority Collision Jr. Dragster main over Mya Kempers.

According to CHU boss Ian Hill, 2023 was the series’ best season yet. “We saw growth in every class, new racers in almost every class and class records being reset for every class. We are having a blast partnering with the TMP and their staff to bring Ontario’s best track prep to our racers during our series’ races. And we look forward to continuing our forward trend moving forward into 2023.”

In other weekend news, Otis Gatt’s 500foot monster wheelie earned him bragging rights during the event, which was capped off with the winners receiving their Katie Shaw Realtor big cheques and payouts, at the tower.

The ceremonies concluded with the presentations to the 2023 CHU Series champs.

2022 SEASON CHAMPIONS

VP Racing Fuels Super Street: Paul Bhwan (Datsun inline 6, single turbo). Sokoloff Lawyers EZ Street: Rob Orofiamma (Fox Body Mustang, BBC Nitrous). 4.20 Pro Mod: Chris Brohman (‘69 Camaro, BBC Blower). Five Nine Motorsports Street275: Bryon Treveld (G-Body Olds, SB Nitrous). Sokoloff Lawyers 5.0 Warriors: Dylan Stevens (Fox Body Mustang, SB Nitrous). KOTs Bike: Jesse Vanbetlehem (Turbo). SWB Bike: Nick Kempers (ZX14R Kawasaki Turbo). Crazy8s: Mike Pereira (GSXR 1000). Low 9s: Korey Staveley (ZX14R Kawasaki). ICD Insurance 5.50 Index: Dan Morrison (Corvette). ICD Insurance 6.0 Index: Mike Thompson (Mustang). ICD Insurance 6.50 Index: Joe Muro (‘70 Camaro). ICD Insurance 7.0 Index: Chevy Lightheart (S10). ICD Insurance 7.50 Index: Peter Spinelli (‘80 Camaro). Priority Collision Jr. Dragster: Cole Ferri. IT InsideTrackNews.com 53