THE INSIDE LINE HERE’S TO THE CHAMPIONS

Motorama. We’ll do our best to shoehorn anyone else in, but as of now, the Racing Zone is full. The following tracks, series and sanctioning bodies have reserved their spots and are looking forward to connecting with fans and racers, at the show:

Welcometo our annual Champions Issue of Inside Track. It’s our last tribute to those who excelled last season, prior to turning our attention to the upcoming campaign. By now, we all know who won titles in 2022. But this is an opportunity to chat with them, gain some insights into why they were successful, and to find out a bit about their plans.

Thanks to the now officially retired Wally Nesbitt for his contributions, as well as to Bryce Turner, who connected with many of the champions who earned short track honours last season.

Congratulations to those who won championships last season and thank you to all who competed and entertained the rest of us.

Not all of the content in the issue is backward looking, as we have the schedules for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series and the APC Late Model Series. Both series are making off-season news and are poised to continue to rebound from the challenges of the pandemic seasons.

And please be sure to see Dave Mathers’ tribute to Bill Zardo Sr., who passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. The legendary stock car driver was a Hall of Famer, who came back to race last season – at the age of 80 – in the OSCAAR Hot Rod series.

It’s hard to overstate the size of the outpouring of emotions and support that followed Zardo’s passing. Once the news became public, it seemed like everyone in the Ontario short track community reacted on social media, with stories about Zardo and what he meant them.

We offer our condolences to the Zardo / Shepherd racing clan and all their friends.

Motorama

As I write this, we’re about six weeks out from the start of the eBay Motors Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo . The show takes place March 10, 11 & 12 at The International Centre, across from Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

As many of you know, the same company that publishes this magazine also puts on Motorama. You’re also likely aware that the show was cut short, in 2020, on the weekend that the pandemic exploded in North America. Motorama didn’t happen, at all, in 2021.

We were able to put it on last Spring, albeit on a warm weekend at the end of April, that coincided with the start of the Ontario short track racing season. Suffice to say, however, we’re ecstatic to be heading back to our traditional mid-March weekend – at the start of March Break – where it has been for most of its almost 50 years, albeit under several names.

I’m also pleased to report the Inside Track RacingZonePresentedbyStoneridgeSpecialtyInsurance is going to rock!

It turns out, the racing community is as excited about the show as we are. Never before have so many tracks, series and racers signed up, this far in advance, to be part of

British Auto Racing Club (BARC), Canada Heads-Up Drag Racing Series, Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region (CASC-OR), Canadian Vintage Modifieds (CVM), Flamboro Speedway, Full Throttle Motor Speedway, Great Lakes Legends Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Ohsweken Speedway, Ontario Sportsman Series (OSS), Peterborough Speedway, Sauble Speedway, Southern Ontario Modifieds Association (SOMA), Sunset Speedway, Toronto Motorsports Park (TMP) and the United Racing Series (including the APC Late Model Series, Qwick Wick Super Stocks, OSCAAR Modifieds and Hot Rods).

Similarly, the Racers’ Corral is sold out. All of the spots have been reserved, and will be filled with beautiful stock cars, drag cars and road racing cars, all set to take to the tracks in the weeks following the show.

Others exhibiting in or near the Racing Zone include racing equipment and clothing manufacturers and vendors, as well as companies selling collectibles and models.

Adding to the racing content is the Fast Eddie Night ofChampions . It takes place Saturday, March 11 on the main stage, in Hall 2. Starting in the late afternoon, racers who won championships last season, will be honoured, on-stage, in front of a packed crowd of family and team members, friends and fellow racers.

The Road Racing Night of Champions is first, followed by the Drag Racing champs, and then the Short Track champs (asphalt and dirt). To be eligible, the individual must have won a season-long points championship at a Canadian weekly track or in a touring series. As well, Canadians who won titles abroad are also able to register.

Upwards of 150 champions are expected. It’s an incredible, unique event, that – to our knowledge – doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world of racing. For more info, and to sign-up, go to MotoramaShow.com. IT

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