The Link General meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7 pm. All are welcome. Meetings are held at: Louis’ Steakhouse 1682 Cyrville Road Ottawa, Ontario You can contact and find more information about the MCO by phone, web or mail.
Hotline telephone (613)788-0525 Affiliated with Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs - Ontario Region (CASC-OR) Web Site ASN Canada FIA http://www.mco.org RallySport Ontario (RSO) [email protected] Canadian Association of Rally Sport (CARS) Ontario Kart Racing Hosted by:
Mail RallySport M.C.O. P.O. Box 65006 Ontario Merivale Postal Outlet Nepean, Ontario K2G 5Y3 Board of Directors President • Ron Woltman • H: (613) 831-8682 • W: (613) 863-5360 • [email protected] Vice-President • Bennett Leckie • H: (613) 258-0348 • W: (613) 822-1765 • [email protected] Closed Wheel • John Blouin • H: (613) 443-3507 • W: (613) 945-0329 • [email protected] Open Wheel, Public Relations • Sam Mandia • H: (613) 745-4227 • W: (613) 228-0250 • [email protected] Solo II • Charles Payne • H: (613) 792-1083 • W: (613) 772-7349 • [email protected] Richard Muise • H: (613) 241-9983 • W: (613) 765-9169 • [email protected] Rob Microys • H: (613) 822-7204 • W: (613) 765-5744 • F: (613) 763-8312 • C: (613) 761-0306 • [email protected]
Appointed Officers and Executive Members Karting • Paul Swinwood • H: (613) 720-3468 • W: (613) 237-8551 x133 • F: (613) 230-3490 • [email protected] Rally • Craig Hamm • H: (613) 727-3192 • W: (613) 596-7107 • [email protected] Solo I • Jeff Graves • H: (613) 258-0497 • W: (613) 843-3000 x5859 • [email protected] Membership • David E. Butler • H: (613) 596-5518 • W: (613) 226-7755 x16 • F: (613) 828-4400 • [email protected] Assistant Membership • Albert Cohoe Treasurer • Robert Benson • H: (613) 837-2051 • W: (613) 995-7374 • [email protected] Secretary • John Powell • H: (613) 835-2910 • F: (613) 835-3471 (call first) • [email protected] Club Merchandise Co-ordinator • Warren Haywood • H: (613) 286-6252 • D: (819) 682-5000 • [email protected] Web Site Manger • Aleida Dikland • C: (613) 298-5918 • [email protected] LINK Editor • Steven Fong • C: (613) 868-0476 • [email protected] LINK Editor • Alan Ritchie • H: (613) 745-6424 • [email protected]
Associated Contacts Ontario Race Committee Rep • Cindy Armstrong • H: (613) 489-2725 • [email protected] 2 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org Editorial Exhaust 4 Exciting New MCO Award! 4 MCO Mailbag 5 The President's Report... 6 How Do You Get There from Here? 6 Big Changes and Even Bigger Aspirations for Solo II in 2004 7 Open Wheel - The Off-Season 7 PR - Marketing 7 Rally Director's February Report 7 Auto Insurance: Blech! 8 Hurley Haywood Takes the Bulletin for a Ride 10 M.C.O. Monthly General Meeting Minutes - Jan. 6, 2004 13 M.C.O. Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - Jan. 20, 2004 14 Winter Driving at the Otterdrome 17 M.C.O. Monthly General Meeting Minutes - Feb. 3, 2004 18 M.C.O. Executive Committee Meeting Minutes - Feb. 17, 2004 19 It Was a Dark and Stormy Night 21 15 Minutes of Fame - In Five-Minute Segments 21 MINI's Revenge 22 VARAC Celebrates the Racing Era of 1973 to 1987 23 Driving the New Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant 24 MCO Karting League 24 The MCO Racers 25 Miscellaneous Rumblings II 26 Part 2: Rally Radio - Amateur Radio Licensing 30 The Back Seat 31 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 3 The second issue of the 2004 Link has arrived after the installation lap test. As with any shakedown, bugs turn up, A new award will be presented at this lessons are learned and new additions year’s MCO Awards Banquet in November. are required. While the Golden Pen Award goes to the most First the bug. I must apologize prolific contributor of stories to The Link, the to the MRLC for mistakenly printing of People’s Choice Writing Award will recognize “MCO Tall Pines Rally” in the Jan/Feb the creative talents of just one writer. issue. The Tall Pines Rally is a MRLC Stories from Link issues from November organized event of course. The web 2003 to October 2004 will be eligible. As you version of the Link has been corrected receive each issue of The Link throughout accordingly. the year, take note of the stories you like the Now for the lessons learned. Over best. In October, choose your favourite story the past month or so, there were discus- and cast a vote. One member, one vote - but sions about the web version of the Link. that’s not to say you can’t try to influence The current web versions of the Link your MCO friends and family in this matter! were previously only available to MCO The purpose of this award is to rec- members though a password protected ognize the best story in The Link. It might download. Now they are available to involve a motorsport memory, working an anybody who wishes to download it. It event, competing or perhaps a story of your took a while to decide to change this favourite car, an incident, or a motorsport policy and more importantly to readers, friend. It will be up to each member to cast to implement this. The latest versions a vote. will be available on the web site in the So keep track of your favourite story or, near future. The colour photos are better yet, write one yourself. You might be worth the large download. the first winner of the extremely cool People’s What are the additions? How about Choice Writing Award! the return of advertising. Not too excit- ing huh? Well, remember there are free Old-Time Car Modifiers Needed member ads. Take advantage of your MCO membership. There is also a new for Interview MCO Award this year. Look to the right I am looking for people who were modi- for more info. fying street vehicles between about 1945 This issue has had the blessing and and 1970. I would like to interview them for curse of an abundance of submitted ar- a cultural history I am writing for a Carleton ticles. Some content has actually been University course. bumped to the next issue! Please make I am particularly interested in those who
this a common occurrence, submit your were modifying cars for street use — shade articles and pictures. Articles of note tree mechanics. The essay will be about the Special thanks to Nova Visual include an important issue regarding in- lifestyle, or subculture, of car modifiers. It is Products for lending a LCD projector surance by Craig Seko and a reprint of a not important whether the person was modi- for the Winter Driving School class. special race car experience at VIR from fying cars for track use. I would also like to the North Carolina region, SCCA Bulletin. have pictures of these old-time hot rods. Nova Visual Products Take some time with this issue of If you fit the description, or know some- #21 Concourse Gate, Unit #7 the Link. The summer season is fast one who does, please contact Basil Chiu at Ottawa, Ontario approaching. My car is calling for its (613) 830-1561 or [email protected] K2E 7S4 summer tires ... got to go.... by March 27, 2004.
The LINK is the official publication of the Motorsport Club of Ottawa. The opinions expressed in the LINK do not necessarily reflect those of the LINK Editorial Staff or the Club’s Executive. Though all efforts are made to ensure that facts stated in the articles herein are accurate, the individual contributors Full page with web link $150 should check the accuracy of their articles prior to submission. Half page with web link $75 Quarter page $35 Business card size $25 Business card size for MCO members FREE 4 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org Also, both Ansley and myself thor- oughly enjoyed ourselves on the course Saturday. We agreed that it has con- My wife and I took your first Winter Hi there! I wanted to let you know tributed greatly to our understanding of Driving Course this last weekend. I would that I had a great time today at the all aspects of driving especially the joys like to pass on my thanks from both of us Winter Driving School! I was thoroughly of winter driving. Congratulations to the to you people. The day started at minus impressed with the instructor to student organizers, the instructors and the volun- 29 and rose to a balmy minus 25 or so. ratio, the quality of the instructors and teers for making the day such a success For the flag people to stand out all day the track, and blown away by the work for us all. I’ve already recommended the and keep smiling as we slowly changed and dedication of all the volunteers! course to three people. the shape of the Course was true dedica- I found the whole day was well All the best, tion. We both learned an awful lot about organized. I appreciated how the track Colleen McKee our bad/rusty/missing habits and to have was reconfigured from one exercise to in-car, uncomplaining teachers give valu- the next so that we don’t find ourselves From: “CASC Office”
VIR - A Different Perspective… flat bottom — no ground effects, and grabbing the cage tube over the door Alton, VA - I’m lucky enough to have the Fabcar weighs 2100 pounds “dry” and dropping into the seat. Entering the been around VIRginia International Race- but ready to race. Wow! Let me say that prototypes is about like getting into a way in a variety of vehicles, from my old again: WOW! Grand-Am and the Brumos NASCAR stocker, in spite of the fact that Vega station wagon in ‘73/’74, the vans team provided firesuits and helmets for the door opens. The sill is so high and we used during the construction phase the assembled media. I guess this is to so wide that the opening is still barely to show prospective members around, a reinforce psychologically that what I’m large enough to squeeze into. I entered Caterham 7 E Prod car and a couple of about to do might be a wee bit danger- the car by grasping the roll cage tube magnificent vintage racers. But the ride ous. So what!? I’ll go with a smile on my over the door opening, planting a foot on I lucked into Thursday, October 2nd, has face! I picked a suit that would obviously the seat and then lifting myself in while to top them all so far. I was fortunate zip up around my girth, picked a helmet sliding both feet down into the footwell. enough to be one of the media types and got suited up. Meanwhile, the team It’s not quite as easy as that sounds, in the queue to ride around the track was thrashing on a shifter repair to the but it’s not hard as long as you’re willing with Hurley Haywood. (Yes, “that” Hurley car. J.C. France had driven in at the to suffer some humiliation. (After being Haywood) The car was a new Porsche end of the last practice session with a a flagger for the last 29 years, what Fabcar Daytona Prototype coupe. broken bracket on the shifter. does that say about me?) Once snuggled Haywood has had, shall we say, a As I approached the car, I wondered down into the narrow fiberglass (carbon stellar career. Looking younger than his if maybe I’d made a mistake by putting fiber maybe?) seat, the crew reached in advertised 55 years, he drives with the on the helmet before getting in, but the and buckled the harness, then snugged best of them and always has. His racing door opening was high enough that I it down. More on that later. resume includes two IMSA GT crowns, had no problems stepping into the car, A steel mesh and tubing box kept a Trans-Am crown, five Rolex 24-hour wins at Daytona, three Le Mans wins, 18 starts in Indy Cars, fastest rookie at Indy in ‘81, was the first driver to win both the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans in the same year, and the only driver to repeat that feat. Those are just the highlights of a career that seems made for a Hollywood movie — the handsome, articulate racing star has starred in TV commercials and print ads for various products too. We’ll let Hurley describe the car: “The car is a Porsche Fabcar, it’s made by Fabcar which is an independent chas- sis builder up in Indianapolis. Dave Klym owns the company and it was built to the specifications of the new Grand-Am car.” “It’s a 3.6 liter, normally aspirated, unrestricted Porsche motor. It develops about 500 horsepower which is a cap for all of the engines.” The cars have a
10 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org me from kicking the fire extinguishers and setting them off, and gives you a good “dead pedal” to brace against. Yes, I really needed something to brace against on this ride. The Porsche engine started easily, with a nice raspy six-cylin- der sound that fairly screams “Porsche,” even through ear plugs and a helmet. On hindsight, the earplugs might not have been necessary but I’d rather keep what hearing I have left. Haywood starts the car off with no drama, pulling out around the other Brumos car and onto pit road. At the exit from the pits, he hammers the throttle and slams second gear. The up- shift feels almost like a blow in the back from a baseball bat. Third then fourth shift to fourth gear through that little jog lot of speed coming out of Ten. (That’s gears go by before he brakes and down- which I guess is Six and then you’re flat Nine to our flaggers) You carry fourth shifts for Turn One and the downshifts out shifting to fourth, fifth and sixth gear gear all the way down the hill to Eleven are nearly as strong as upshifts except for the entry into the Esses.” (Also Ten to the flag mob) another hard they throw you against the harness. brake-downshift from fourth to third Turn One is taken in second gear, The Esses. Ah, the Esses. to second gear and then you[‘re just with the g-forces trying to shove you out Blissful even in a van at 35mph, the holding constant arc around to the Oak the door. (It’s a right-hand drive car so Esses in a Daytona Prototype are almost Tree turn which is Turn Twelve (Eleven, you’re on the left.) An upshift, acceler- a blur — taken in top gear with only better known as Pete Romanowski’s den) ate out of Two in to Three with strong slight lifts, they are straighter than I’d Hurley downshifts all the way to first braking for the turnin, then a burst of expected. gear for the blast down VIR’s 5,000-foot acceleration and upshifts before braking Hurley seems to like them too: “ My back straight. “ … the sharpest turn on and downshifting again for Four-Five. entry into the Esses is flat out through the track. It’s first gear. You drop it down Each upshift slams the seatback into the first jog to the left and then you just into first gear and you’re on the long your shoulder blades like a serve by come off the throttle just a tiny little bit back straightaway. We shift this car on McEnroe. Corners approach and flash by and then hold as you come up through the lights at 8800rpm, you[‘re in sixth in a blur accompanied by G-forces that these switchbacks, the right-left switch- gear all the way down, you come up are alternately trying to slide you into backs.” over a little hump on the back straight Hurley’s lap or out the door. Station Nine and Ten went by in a and then you start to go downhill into Here’s Hurley’s description of the red blur as the braking forces tried to Fourteen A and B.” first few turns: “Coming down the Pit slice me with the harness and threw all The kink to the left just before Four- straightaway going down into Turn One the blood in my body into my head. The teen is preceded by gentle braking, then … flat-out in sixth gear. [the approach braking for Oak Tree is a lot harder and more braking before blasting down the to] Turn One is heavy, heavy braking and later than I could believe. hill to Hog Pen and back onto the front downshift into second. You track around “Up on the top of the hill, which is straight. “The entry into Fourteen you on the power hard. You shift from sec- Turn Ten, you briefly brush the brake start on the right side of the racetrack ond to third, then you go into a sort of a and downshift two gears to fourth and and angle it down so you’re actually on little jog before you go into Turn Three, back on the power so you really have a the brakes --- sort of soft on the brakes you downshift for Turn Three, a tight turn, then upshift to third gear, then back to second for Four.” That’s a simple part of the track because Turn Five gets a bit tricky: “You just kind of hold an even throttle through the Turn Five, squeeze the power on, shift to third. You come through Turn Five-A which is one of the most un- comfortable places,” adds Haywood. “The car wants to wash off of the road; there’s a kind of crown and fall-off of the road there. You’ve got to be very careful that the car doesn’t get loose on you through there so you’re kind of a little bit tender with it but you get the power on, Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 11 even though you’re coming off the powered car. Haywood and France put lunch media joyrides. He said that he’d straightaway. “Rather than braking very, their car on the grid at 1:50.887. been driving at only about 80% effort. very hard, I kind of slow the car down I’d have no way of telling the differ- That was late in the race Sunday. “Oh, gradually as I’m coming into Fourteen. ence, even if I’d been able to ride with you mean Thursday? That was about I’m downshifting from sixth gear to them both on their qualifying sessions. 50%.” Heartbroken, I slumped back to second gear before the jog to the right The ride certainly pegged my my corner station to fend off despondent which would be Fourteen-A. You make “Yee-Hah meter – at least until Sunday urges for the rest of the day. the jog to the right and there’s a very afternoon. Hurley managed not only to Thanks to VIR, Grand-Am and to quick shift to third gear as you’re going deflate my balloon but to disappoint me Brumos Porsche’s race team for the from Fifteen down to Sixteen. terribly: I went over to Victory Lane to opportunity of a lifetime. Hurley, it was The drop from Fourteen through chat with him briefly before the last race a thrill second to none I’ve had at the Hog Pen (Seventeen) is breathtaking, of the day and asked him just how hard track. except it goes by so quickly I didn’t have he’d been driving on Thursday during the time for more than a brief glance at the scenery. (No, I did NOT close my eyes the whole time! I wanted to remember the whole thing.) “Sixteen is also one of these really unusual corners because it’s kind of blind, you can’t really see where you’re going so you start on the far right-hand side, get your braking done, and get on the power as soon as you possibly can so you can track down from Seventeen to Seventeen-A with the throttle all the way down to the floor and that brings you back down the front straightaway and that’s a lap.” Then he tried to scare me all over again with another lap. Fortunately, it was all over so quickly that I didn’t have time to be frightened. In fact, it was really a thrill –just as much a thrill to be driven around by someone of Hurley’s stature as to be allowed to experience, even slightly, the feel of a prototype racer. For what it’s worth, the pole time set that weekend was 1:46.837, set by Didier Theys in the Doran Lista Toyota-
12 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org Location Winter Driving Schools Solo Louis’ Steak House, Ottawa, Ont. Paul Swinwood noted that we have Jeff Graves reported that the MCO 50 to 60 potential students thus far, gave Solo I event will be held on September PRESENT an up-date on the track, and advised that 11th and 12th, and will be run on the Pro there will be a meeting of Instructors and and Nelson tracks. th 2003/2004 Board of Directors Workers at his residence on January 13 . In addition to the regular 2004 Solo I Bennett Leckie, Vice-President; John He also noted that there is not yet enough School at the Mosport DDT, there will be a Blouin, Closed Wheel; Sam Mandia, Open snow to make banks at the edges of the one-day school and a non-points one-day track, and that it would therefore not be event on the main track. These will run Wheel and Public Relations; and Richard th th Muise; Directors. available for the first Winter Solo II event. on August 28 and 29 , and a school Jaak Laan, the WDS Registrar, added on the main track or a Race licence will that the lack of winter weather up until be required to compete in the non-points 2003/2004 Appointed Officers the present cold spell has had a negative event. and Members of the Executive effect on the registrations thus far. The 2004 Solo Open House will be Committee Bennett Leckie announced that there held on March 28th at CRC in Newmarket. John Powell, Secretary; Bob Benson, will be a track preparation session on the Treasurer; Jeff Graves, Solo I; Craig coming Sunday and asked for volunteers Treasurer Hamm, Rally; Paul Swinwood, Karting; Al- to contact him. Bob Benson submitted a written bert Cohoe, Assistant Membership Chair- report (att.), and delivered a verbal sum- man; Aleida Dikland, Website Manager. Racing mary as follows: John Blouin announced that he and There is $34,499.61 currently in the Members Richard Muise will be attending the up- bank, with outstanding accounts payable Sufficient members were present for coming ORO meeting, and that he will be for the MCO History book of $4,826.00 a quorum. administering the new “rewards weight” and the balance of track rental fees system for the Touring/GT Series. for the Racing School and TPSTR of ABSENT WITH EXCUSES Sam Mandia added that he has $5,671.00 and $7,062.00, respectively. requested background information from This leaves current disposable cash at 2003/2004 Board of Directors the Club’s racing members, and will be $16,940.61. Ron Woltman, President; Charles sending out a reminder soon. Income to date for 2003/2004 Payne, Solo II; Director. is $3,864.66 and disbursements are Club Karting Series $36,679.56, leaving a current negative cash flow of $32,814.90. This is largely 2003/2004 Appointed Officers Sam next up-dated members on the Club karting events (information will be due to the advance expenses incurred for and Members of the Executive posted on the web site). future events for which no income has yet Committee been generated. Dave Butler, Membership Chairman; Rally Steve Fong, Link Editor; Alan Ritchie, As- Craig Hamm opened by advising New CASC Web Site sistant Link Editor; Warren Haywood, Club members that he and Jim Morrow will be Most features on the new site are Merchandise Co-ordinator. attending the up-coming CARS AGM, gave now up and running, including on-line a run-down of recent rallies, including the membership applications and renewals NOTES accident at the January Jaunt, and briefed for members of CASC-affiliated clubs. 1. Copies of documents marked members on up-coming events. Bennett Leckie and Aleida Dikland gave an “Att.” are filed with the original copy of The Rally Group will be conducting up-date on this feature. these minutes. seminars over the winter on such topics 2. The position of Past President is as Performance Rally Co-driver and Basic Winter Solo II (Slush ‘n Slide) inactive and the Executive Committee po- Rally Organizing. Bennett Leckie announced that sition of Club Display Coordinator became Craig noted there is a thread on the first event will be cancelled due to vacant effective at the close of the Annual the Club forum regarding Jim Morrow’s weather conditions, following which there Awards Banquet, November 8, 2003. problems with insurance for his rally car, was a brief discussion regarding the level and gave a brief run-down of the situation. of entry fees and the differential between As none of the President’s vehicles The insurance issue could potentially be those for members and non-members. would start in the cold weather, the Vice- a huge problem for rallyists, and also for President opened the meeting for busi- Solo I and II competitors. Ted Powell Memorial Summer ness in his absence at approximately 7:00 He closed by informing members that p.m. and welcomed any guests present. Trophy Races RSO has a new web site. Richard Muise announced that there will be a meeting of the Race Organizing Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 13 Committee within the next two weeks, and The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 volunteers are needed to lead working p.m. on a motion by Nick Berry (as usual), groups on such items as the BBQ, worker seconded by Richard Muise. FREE gifts, tow trucks, accommodations and PR/marketing.Racing School Prepared by John Powell, Road & Track Rob Microys reported that there are Secretary, MCO, January 12, I have a stack of old Road six confirmed entries to date. 2004, amended January 28, & Track magazines that I 2003 Targa Newfoundland 2004. don’t wish to store. Pretty Global Television will air a report on well everything back 20 this event at 7:00 p.m. on January 31, Tel.: (613) 835-2910; e-mail years plus many going 2004. - [email protected] back to early 60’s. email contact [email protected]
Location 1. Copies of documents marked were higher than expected due to its Louis’ Steak House, Ottawa, Ont. “Att.” are filed with the original copy of size and the inclusion of the RSO insert. these minutes. To reduce production and mailing PRESENT 2. The position of Past President costs he would like to go to bi-monthly is inactive and the Executive Commit- publication, and is looking at pre-sorting Board of Directors tee position of Club Display Coordinator in order to get on Canada Post’s Publica- became vacant effective at the close of tions List, which carries a lower postage Bennett Leckie, Vice-President; the Annual Awards Banquet, November fee. John Blouin, Closed Wheel; Sam Man- 8, 2003. There was a brief discussion regard- dia, Open Wheel and Public Relations; 3. Sufficient members of the Board ing Link advertising, as Talon Tire is the Richard Muise; and Charles Payne, Solo of Directors were present to constitute only paying advertiser. The question of II; Directors. a quorum for those matters requiring a our fee structure was raised, and Sam vote. Mandia is making enquiries on this topic, Appointed Officers and and there was also some discussion on Members of the Executive In the absence of the President, the the free advertising policy for members. Committee Vice-President opened the meeting for John Powell, Secretary; Jeff Graves, business at approximately 6:45 p.m. Event Cancellations Solo I; Craig Hamm, Rally; Paul Swin- Bennett Leckie noted that the wood, Karting; Dave Butler, Member- Winter Driving Schools notification of cancellations should be on ship Chairman; Steve Fong, Link Editor; Paul Swinwood noted that the post- the Hot Line, but someone is needed to Aleida Dikland, Website Manager; Warren poned January 18th school had to be re- assume responsibility for its up-dating. Haywood, Club Merchandise Co-ordina- scheduled a second time to Sunday the Aleida Dikland volunteered to take over tor. 25th due to a mix-up by the Ottodrome the Hot Line and make the information over the day/date combination for their on it the same as the web site. Bennett Members/Guests Enduro. closed by stating the organizers MUST None He next gave an up-date on track contact Aleida regarding any changes. condition, and advised members that ABSENT WITH EXCUSES we now have a 30,000 BTU heater, ORO Meeting there is room for more students, and the Richard Muise will attend the meet- Board of Directors expenses are under budget to date. ing, but he must be able to inform them
Ron Woltman, President. of the status of the TPSTR Test Day (see All Clubs Meeting following item: Sec.), and that he hopes Appointed Officers and Craig Hamm briefed those present to raise the issue of assistance from on the up-coming meeting and the ad- CASC and ASN regarding road vehicle Members of the Executive vantages of having our members attend. insurance problems being experienced Committee by some members. Bob Benson, Treasurer; Albert The Link Cohoe, Assistant Membership Chairman; Steven Fong reported as follows: TPSTR Test Day Alan Ritchie, Assistant Link Editor. The December catch-up issue was There was a general discussion on printed by Delta, which he thought was this item, and the following main points NOTES over-priced, and that postage costs were raised:
14 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org We can give no guarantees to run a ship Secretary for a list might be better, Solo I Test Day due to the questionable finan- to which John replied that this would not Jeff Graves briefed members on cial risks involved. be convenient enough. preparation for the MCO Solo I event. The pros and cons of sharing the Paul Swinwood raised the question day between lapping and testing. of impacts of the new Privacy legislation Solo II The advantages of running another including that we must have permission Jeff then opened this topic by Lapping School. to publish personal information, and that informing those present that regarding As the consensus was that at this we must have a Privacy Statement. provincial winter Solo II events, MCO point running the Test Day posed too is the only club in the Region that runs great a financial risk, Richard Muise Ottawa International Auto them. stated that he would advise ORO to Show Chuck Payne then continued by remove it from their calendar. In the absence of Rob Microys, Ben- giving an up-date on the new CNAC rules nett Leckie gave an up-date from Rob’s for the 2004 summer season, we will CARS AGM e-mails as follows: run a Regional Solo II event as Solo On- Craig Hamm reported that he was Rob needs a budget increase of tario accepts our scheduling problems, unable to attend the meeting, but from $250.00 if we are to attend as CASC and that he is investigating a Pro Solo the information that he has received, has provided $1,500.00 towards the event, which sometimes goes by the the road-vehicle insurance issue was $2,250.00 cost of the booth, and has name of “kinky drags”. raised during an open-discussion part of no more funds to offer. There was the meeting. He noted that Jean MacGil- some discussion on the latter point, and Club Merchandise livray, Jane Lennox and Jim Morrow did John Blouin will investigate the support Bennett Leckie raised the topic of attend, and that Jim exercised the MCO obtained by the Toronto clubs for the publicising the sale of Club Merchandise vote at the meeting. Toronto show. John will also act as BoD on the web site, and Warren Haywood liaison with Rob for the show. stated that he had sent information to Winter Solo II (Slush ‘n Slide) Another brief discussion followed on the previous Link editor, but he will re- Warren Haywood reported that the the possibility of obtaining sponsors and send it to Steve Fong. There ensued a first event had to be cancelled, and personnel to staff the booth. brief discussion on how best to merchan- that he was hoping for better “winter” Paul Swinwood noted that the show dise the Merchandise on the web site. weather such as more snow. He added is the most prominent source of expo- an up-date on the number of entries to sure in Ottawa if the object is to increase Membership (Part 2) date, possible sponsors, and that the the Club’s visibility. Dave Butler advised that we are al- organization and officials are set. After a brief discussion on the ad- most out of Club decals, and requested vantages of attending the show, a BoD to purchase a new supply at $578.50 Membership (Part 1) motion to increase the budget for the for 350 large ones and $315.50 for Bennett Leckie complimented Dave MCO portion of the costs of the booth by 650 small. A vote of the BoD members Butler on the quick turn-around on mem- $250.00 to a new total of $750.00 was present approved the purchase of new bership renewals and applications, gave moved by John Blouin and seconded by decals. an up-date on web membership registra- Chuck Payne. Carried. tions, and opened a general discussion Club Web Site in which the following main points were Ted Powell Summer Trophy Aleida Dikland reported that she is raised: Race working on a new design for the site and Dave Butler noted that the password Richard Muise gave an up-date will e-mail a link to Executive members for Membership Administrators wasn’t including sponsorship, organizational for the test site. She requested that working and that he has some issues issues, and attracting more race series any comments be submitted within one with on-line credit card membership pay- as F1200 and Formula Ford are not in- month. ments. terested. Bennett Leckie added that our We currently have 219 paid-up primary concern has to be the number The meeting was adjourned at ap- members. of entries for the race weekend. proximately 8:35 p.m. Concerns were raised on how the Club would keep control of membership Rally Prepared by John Powell, administration under the new system. Craig Hamm noted that full details th Albert Cohoe will be our liaison with Secretary, MCO, January 29 will be published in The Link, and then 2004, amended February 11th CASC regarding the new system. gave an up-date on the rally scene. His John Blouin suggested that we need main points were that information on the 2004. a print-out of all members, and a sugges- up-coming seminars will be on the web tion was made that this be put on the site, and he briefed those present on the Tel. 613-835-2910; e-mail web site. Craig Hamm raised the point winter rally situation and the proposed [email protected]. that there were security issues and sug- MCO/SMCC interprovincial series. gested an e-mail request to the Member- Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 15 16 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org
Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 17 Location that CHRO wanted to do a similar session Ottawa International Auto Show Louis; Steak House, Ottawa, Ont. in the next week. He also noted that the Rob Microys reported that we are now new Link layout looks good, and that a new in the show, the dates are March 18 to PRESENT advertising rate book is being developed. 21, and that Ian Madden’s race car will be He closed by giving a brief overview to on display. Ron Woltman added a note of 2003/2004 Board of Directors date on the Club Karting series. thanks to CASC-OR for their help in making
Ron Woltman, President; Bennett our participation possible. There followed a Leckie, Vice-President; Sam Mandia, Open Winter Driving Schools brief discussion on workers for the show, Wheel and Public Relations; Charles Payne, Paul Swinwood gave an up-date on the scheduling and worker passes. Solo II; and Richard Muise; Directors. schools, noting that they were currently in the black, and requested volunteers to Racing School 2003/2004 Appointed Officers work the upcoming weekend schools. Rob then gave an up-date on the Race School, including that registrations are and Members of the Executive The Link starting to come in, the school should be Committee Steve Fong reported on the current full, the tuition fees are $750.00 for Club John Powell, Secretary; Bob Benson, status of The Link. He has switched to a members and $800.00 for non-members, Treasurer; Craig Hamm, Rally; Paul Swin- new printer, Pro Printers, is looking at a and that he needs volunteers to work the wood, Karting; Dave Butler, Membership more economical mailing system, and do- school. Chairman; Steve Fong, Link Editor; Aleida ing some fine-tuning for the next issue. The Dikland, Website Manager. deadline for the next issue is February 29th. At this point there was a break from 7:55 to 8:15 p.m.. Members Club Web Site Sufficient members were present for a Aleida Dikland gave a brief resume on Winter Solo II quorum. new up-dates and the test site for the new Charles Payne reported that the first Club web site. Slush ‘n Slide went well, that the track held ABSENT WITH EXCUSES up well given the weather conditions, and ORO Meeting regarding entry fee levels, noted that there 2003/2004 Board of Directors Richard Muise reported that the BMW had been no adverse comments at registra- John Blouin, Closed Wheel; Director. Series has been cancelled due to a lack of tion. Bennett Leckie and Richard Muise entries, there are at present three Tour- noted that there are a number of competi- 2003/2004 Appointed Officers ing/GT Series races scheduled for Pro tors from last year who have chosen not to events, the CASC is going to a one-fee run due to the 50% rise in entry fees. and Members of the Executive Committee permit system for race meetings, which will also be at a reduced amount, and there will Solo II Jeff Graves, Solo I; Albert Cohoe, As- possibly be changes in the use of the pace Chuck continued with an up-date of the sistant Membership Chairman; Alan Ritchie, car at Mosport. summer Solo II scene including application Assistant Link Editor; Warren Haywood, of the new CNAC rules, issues with our Club Merchandise Co-ordinator. Ted Powell Memorial Summer timing system, our relations with the Corel Trophy Races (TPMSTR) Centre regarding event dates, and that a NOTES Solo II competitors’ meeting is scheduled Richard continued with a report on 1. Copies of documents marked for March 1. Richard Muise added that the the TPSTR. He advised members that all “Att.” are filed with the original copy of equipment shed will need a new home as are welcome to attend the Race Commit- these minutes. he will be changing residences soon. tee meetings and provide their input, and 2. The position of Past President is inactive and the Executive Committee posi- that he is contacting other racing series to fill out our race weekend. He added that Treasurer tion of Club Display Coordinator became Bob Benson gave a brief summary vacant effective at the close of the Annual there is a possibility of adding a “Sundown” enduro to our weekend, but there are still of his monthly report (att’d.). We have Awards Banquet, November 8, 2003. $27,940.55 in the bank, which after the de- The President opened the meeting for many issues to consider. Ron Woltman noted that he is investigating having the duction of reserves and accounts payable, business at approximately 7:10 p.m. and leaves $10,381.55 in disposable funds. welcomed any guests present. new Honda/Michelin series at the TPSTR, but this is an ASN series so there will also Income since the start of the 2003/2004 business year sits at $4,999.06 and Public Relations be issues to address here. Ron then also advised members that we have the lowest expenses at $44,026.97, leaving a current Sam Mandia reported that Leanne number of race series within the Region negative cash-flow of (-)$39,027.91. He Cusack of CJOH had been given a brief assigned to our race meeting. added that such a large negative cash-flow overview of the WDS for a telecast, and can be supported pending the generation 18 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org of revenues from future events and other sources only because of prudent prior fis- MCO 50th Anniversary History cal management. Book Ron Woltman noted that the target Rally date now will be mid-March, which must be Craig Hamm gave an up-date of recent met as after this date the printer will be too events, noted that the next events would be busy, and there are two pages still available the Ontario Winter Rally and Perce Neige, for sponsoring. and informed members that the Board of Directors had approved a donation of The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 $150.00 to the Almonte Amateur Radio p.m. on a motion by Nick Berry (as usual), League (AARL) in recognition of their valu- with Paul Swinwood as seconder. Carried. able assistance at the Club’s rallies. Jay Saslove suggested that the AARL be invited Prepared by John Powell, to a meeting of the TPSTR Race Commit- tee, which Craig thought would be a good Secretary, MCO, February 9, idea. 2004, amended February 26, 2004. Membership Dave Butler reported that we currently Tel.: 613-835-2910; e-mail - have 209 paid-up members, and that we [email protected] are out of Club decals but more are on order. Location Chairman; Alan Ritchie, Assistant Link Editor; if it were to be held in mid- to late May. Ron Louis’ Steak House, Ottawa, Ont. Warren Haywood, Club Merchandise Co-ordi- added that a May or early June date would nator. be preferable, and that he would like to tie PRESENT the rally in with a charity event. Progress NOTES will be discussed at a future BoD/Executive Board of Directors 1. Copies of documents marked meeting.
Ron Woltman, President; Bennett Leckie, “Att.” are filed with the original copy of these Vice-President; Sam Mandia, Open Wheel and minutes. The Link - Part I Public Relations; Richard Muise; and Charles 2. The position of Past President is Ron stated that there has been very Payne, Solo II; Directors. inactive and the Executive Committee posi- positive feedback on the new Link, and then tion of Club Display Coordinator was filled at the following points were discussed: Appointed Officers and Members this meeting. Craig Hamm noted that we have a sup- 3. Sufficient members of the Board ply of covers designed for use with the old of the Executive Committee of Directors were present to constitute a Link, and asked if they could not be used up, John Powell, Secretary; Bob Benson, quorum for those matters requiring a vote. otherwise the money spent on them would Treasurer; Jeff Graves, Solo I; Craig Hamm, The President opened the meeting for be wasted. Steve Fong replied with a brief Rally; Paul Swinwood, Karting; Dave Butler, business at approximately 6:30 p.m., and explanation of the cost-effectiveness of the Membership Chairman; Steve Fong, Link Edi- welcomed the guests present. decision not to use them for the new Link, tor; Aleida Dikland, Website Manager. and Ron Woltman suggested that we look at Winter Solo II (Slush ‘n Slide) Part I other ways to use them up, such as in flyers Members/Guests Charles Payne gave an update on the or hand-outs. Jim Morrow, Recent Road Vehicle Insur- most recent event, including post-event track Sam Mandia has developed a new rate ance Issues; Bob Armstrong, Schools; Guy grooming. He noted that the track was very schedule for Link advertising, and briefed Parent (member). slick, that it would be OK for the Winter Driv- those present on its contents. There was ing Schools, but a bit slow for the Slush ‘n a brief discussion regarding our history of ABSENT WITH EXCUSES Slide. A brief discussion followed on groom- selling advertising in the Link, and Ron added ing the track after S’nS events. that we previously had no-one to go out and Board of Directors sell them. John Blouin, Closed Wheel. Waupoos Winery Rally/Tour Ron Woltman opened discussion by Vehicle Display at the Gloucester Appointed Officers and Members stating that he would like a date to be set for Centre of the Executive Committee this event soon. Craig Hamm noted that the (?) noted that there had been interest Albert Cohoe, Assistant Membership BMW club might be interested in the event expressed but (?) in having a vehicle display Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 19 at the Gloucester Centre. “That the Board approve the release of Chuck Payne noted that he would like the current issue of The link on-line, subject to run an extra Slush ‘n Slide after the last Sunoco Sponsorship to a three-day delay after mailing of the paper Winter Driving School, if possible. The feeling Sam Mandia has made an application for copy to members.” Carried. of those present was that this would be OK this year’s sponsorship. Charles Payne noted Bob Armstrong then suggested that the if the date was within our contract with the that there is still lots of old Sunoco “loot” choice of receiving The Link on-line instead of Ottodrome. to be given out, and that event organisers a paper copy be placed on the Membership should endeavour to use them up at their form. This will be discussed at a subsequent Winter Driving School events. BoD/Exec. meeting. Bob Armstrong noted that we need an LCD projector for the upcoming WDS as Paul The Link - Part II New Club Flyer Swinwood’s would not be available. Guy Par- Discussion on business regarding the Steve Fong noted that he had sent out ent, a member present, offered to see one Link then resumed as follows: the latest draft to the Executive e-mail list could be borrowed from his employer, Nova Sam Mandia advised those present that for comments, and Ron Woltman added that Visual Products. Ron Woltman will follow up. the new Link advertising rate book would be he would like it to be ready in time for the sent out to them the next day. Ottawa International Auto Show. Membership Steve Fong opened a discussion regard- 1. Credit Card Payments. ing opening up on-line access to The Link New Club Display Coordinator Bennett Leckie opened discussion on to all who visit our web site. Richard Muise Sam Mandia advised that Dave Watchorn this topic by noting that under our participa- suggested limiting access to the most recent had volunteered to take over this position, tion in the on-line membership test of the three issues to members, and opening up and was already in possession of the display. new CASC web site, we would soon have the older ones to public access. Ron Woltman The Secretary added that he had tried to option of allowing members to pay their dues noted that a higher readership on-line could conduct a vote of the BoD by e-mail in order via credit cards. Major points raised in the justify an increase in advertising rates, and to expedite approving the appointment, and discussion were: Craig Hamm suggested that we limit only the that he had only received two e-mail and one We can opt out of this system as the current issue to members. Bennett Leckie verbal responses. As this was insufficient to credit-card fees would be approximately 5% stated that we need to be aware that issues pass a BoD resolution, he suggested that a per transaction. This fee would be the same may arise from contributors’ comments, vote be conducted at this meeting. Sam Man- if we had our own credit-card system. but Steve replied that there is an editorial dia then moved the following BoD Resolution, The questions that have to be answered disclaimer, as is common in journalistic prac- seconded by Ron Woltman: are, do we want to have either or both of tice. Ron then asked that comments of less “That Dave Watchorn be appointed to these payment options? than one paragraph be submitted to the BoD, fill the vacancy of Club Display Coordinator, Should we increase membership fees and a decision will be made on line. effective immediately.” Carried. for those paying by credit card to recapture the transaction fees? Incorporation and Comment from Treasurer The issues in question are both the RSO/CARS regarding Director’s Bob Benson provided a report (att.1) on-line structure and the level of member- and gave the following verbal summary: ship fees subsequent to the new CASC/RSO Insurance affiliation fee structures. Ron Woltman noted that the amended We now have $35,946.67 in the bank, which after deducting the current Accounts The on-line structure should be dealt incorporation papers have been sent in and with first and then the membership fees, as accepted, and extended thanks to Albert Co- Payable of $17,559.00, leaves disposable funds of $18,387.87. they are related but separate issues. hoe for his efforts. He noted that RSO/CARS What are the costs/benefits of credit- has complimented us at being the best club Our current cash flow is $15,894.06 in and $29,356.65 out, leaving a negative cash card payments and what will be the turn- for the submission of proof of incorporation around time for fees paid through CASC? for affiliation purposes. flow to-date of (-)$13,462.59. Event and other income/expense sta- Do we have the administrative systems Regarding a comment from RSO/CARS to keep track of credit-card transactions? regarding our status pertaining to Director’s tuses to date are: - Winter Driving Schools - income There is a possibility that credit-card Liability Insurance, the Secretary noted that fees could be reduced with sufficient volume. this is an ASN policy, that the papers were $7,200.00, expenses $6,789.31, net $410.69; if Slush ‘n Slide is included, net is We could opt-in to the CASC method for submitted to them in April of 2003, and not a trial period and see what happens. having received any notice to the contrary, to $804.33. - Rally - income $1,085.00, expenses At this point, Bennett Leckie proposed the best of his knowledge we are still insured. the following motion of the BoD, seconded by $953.40, net $131.60. - Racing School - income $1,580.00, Chuck Payne: The Link - Part III expenses $5,671.00, net (-)$4,091.00 “That MCO opt in to the payment of The discussion regarding on-line - The Link - expenses $1,345.80. membership dues by credit card via the distribution was resumed, and Chuck Payne - TPSTR - expenses (including Accounts CASC web site for a trial period ending no suggested that the BoD should make a deci- Payable) $14,124.00. later than October 31, 2004, the transaction sion at this meeting. After a brief discussion costs being absorbed by the Club.” Carried. Chuck moved the following motion, seconded by Richard Muise (?): Winter Solo II (Slush ‘n Slide) Part II 20 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 2. Operating Costs to be Attributed to brief up-date on the present difficulties with Club, Jim replied that we could do such Memberships the insurance industry from a handout he things as publicise the issues, promote a The meeting then went on to consider provided (att.3). His main points were: letter-writing campaign, and work on a joint the apportionment to memberships of costs Insurance companies are considering rally/Solo strategy, etc. outlined in a report from Bennett Leckie such things as modifications to road vehicles (att.2), which was e-mailed to the BoD and and participation in “speed” or “timed” events Rally Executive prior to the meeting. Major points as a “change in material risk”, and are can- The RSO Annual General Meeting will be raised in this discussion were: celling insurance policies for such reasons. held in Toronto on March 20, 2004. Craig Due to recent changes, costs for The Courts have ruled that third party Public Hamm, Jim Morrow and Jean MacGillivray will Link have been reduced to $3,600.00. Liability/Property Damage must still be be attending. CASC Insurance costs of $2,125.00 covered. for non-speed events should be assigned to Attempts will be made to address the Other Business Part II the events themselves, and not membership amendment of the Ontario Highway Traffic Ron Woltman closed the meeting by up- costs. Act to include rallies, as is done in Quebec, dating the situation on the completion of the Membership fees should be set to break- but not Solo I and II, as these events are not track at Calabogie, and the 2004 Ferrari and even at 150 full members, with the excess run on public highways. Race Car Parade. going into Club general revenues. The rally community will be raising the Should we still have Social Member- issue with RSO, and would like someone from The meeting was adjourned at approxi- ships? the Solo community to concurrently raise the mately 9:40 p.m. Changes to types of memberships would insurance issue with CASC. require an amendment to the Club By-laws. SEMA has come aboard, so we are What should be the amount for Social now looking for assistance from aftermarket Prepared by John Powell, Members now that we have flat-rate affiliation equipment dealers. Secretary, MCO, February 29, fees? The Club could be at risk of legal action 2004. Full Memberships should be $60.00 for if an entrant loses his/her insurance through single and family members, regardless of participation in a “speed” event and decides Tel.: 613-835-2910; e-mail how many people are in the household. to sue us. In answer to a question from Ron Family memberships should be $15.00 Woltman regarding possible actions by the [email protected]. extra. On the closing of discussion, Bennett Leckie (?) proposed the following motion of the BoD, seconded by Ron Woltman: “That effective on (?) 2004, fees for Full Thursday, February 12, 2004 Membership in MCO will be set at $60.00 per Actually it was just dark; the storm year for Single Memberships, and $75.00 On Tuesday, February 3, 2004, CJOH- came later. I arrived at the Ottodrome per year for Family Memberships, the lat- TV did a noon-day show about our Winter gates and was met by Ron Woltman at ter to include all related family members Driving Schools. We were pre-empted approximately 5:45 a.m. The crew from permanently residing in the same household.” by the Chinese New Year Show a week the CHRO-TV Breakfast Show was close Carried. earlier. Leanne Cusack was the celebrity behind. The on-air person, Stephanie driver for the show and along with her Beaumont, arrived driving a large black Racing School was cameraman Larry Boland. They were SUV and cameraman Ian Urbach was Ron Woltman gave a brief up-date, and both a pleasure to work with. Ron Woltman at the wheel of an oversized van. Since added that a CASC flyer for the school would gave a brief overview of what MCO is all camera angles and set-up were impor- cost $100.00. about and Bob Armstrong presented the tant, the van was positioned on the basic theory of the Winter Driving course. western straightaway of the oval track Ted Powell Summer Trophy Race Leanne was driving a Ford Expedition to beam a signal downtown. Ron Wolt- Bob Armstrong gave a brief up-date, and SUV and was put through the slalom and man did the presentation describing Ron Woltman added that we are still pursuing accident- avoidance exercise and some MCO involvement in the community and the addition of other series. skid-control practice. The in-car camera Paul Swinwood gave the Winter Driving was actually held by the cameraman, who School overview. Being “live,” television was protruding through Ryan Woltman’s Other Business Part I things moved quickly — but not eve- sun-roof. What a ride! The on-air presenta- Ron then gave an up-date on the rything! Stephanie was a good listener tion was very well done, with MCO getting Extreme Sport Experience promotion, and but very tentative in her approach to good exposure with the website and hot- added that another company wants to involve driving. The braking demo, accident line number prominently displayed. Special us in a similar promotion. avoidance and slalom were part of thanks to Jean MacGillivray for coming the four-part, five-minute segments. out and adding her perspective about the Recent Road Vehicle Insurance Once again the MCO logo, website and school as a student and Bennett Leckie for telephone numbers were very visible on Issues driving demonstrations and support. Jim Morrow was then invited to give a the screen. Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 21 ers, the replacement hood insulation and the glued-on pedal covers the week before) and explained my problem, ending with: “I’ll drive it up to the service door on Monday morning and honk. Please have someone come out and extract me from the vehicle through the hatch. If you don’t, I’ll have to drive in through the door.” (I was a little upset at this juncture.) There, I thought, everything’s taken care of. So I go out Monday morning all set for my big adventure and the little bugger has decided to lock the hatch on me. Let’s just say that I said things about his ancestors that I shouldn’t have. I tried the passenger door - still locked. Then I noticed that the speedometer was all lit up and the odo box I decided to take the dear little beast checking for onlookers, crawled in through in the centre was slowly flashing at me. I into Almonte yesterday to wash the crud the hatch and pulled it closed behind me. heard a quiet click, click, click . . . from off his bottom and get some groceries. It’s not easy to get oriented, then crawl somewhere under the hood. Apparently the As I drove in, for some unknown reason, between the front seats. I nearly pulled my little s*** had decided that it would be fun thoughts of whether or not an automobile pants off on the emergency brake. to turn the headlights on overnight to see had ever suffered a demonic possession Ha, I thought, as I settled in my seat how long the battery would last. and a subsequent exorcism were rolling (which was now liberally smeared with I went around to the driver’s side and, about in my head. There must have been slush and mud from my ingress), you have as I approached the door, it clicked at me. some subtle signals that my spirit senses to get up pretty early to put one over on I touched the handle and it swung open. I were picking up. I shouldn’t have ignored me . . . but the doors, of course, wouldn’t hopped in but kept my briefcase jammed in them! open from the inside either. No problem, I the door in case he tried to trap me again. I After washing his bum I drove over to thought, I’ll just crawl out through the hatch. stuck the key in the ignition and everything the shopping centre, left him running, got I made my way back to the muddy rear of went silent. The lights went out and the car out and locked the door with my other key- the vehicle just for practice - no problem! and I just sat there. I took the key out . . . set. I came out 20 minutes later with four Then it struck me; there is no way to open click, click, click . . . flash, flash. I put the bags of groceries. The car burbled quietly the rear hatch from the inside. key in . . . silence. I could hear a faint me- to itself as I rolled up with the cart. Strange, Thank God I had remembered my cell chanical chuckling and muttering. I left the I thought, I feel a disturbance in the force phone! When I finally found a spot where I wee beast clicking and muttering to itself, - something is not as it should be. had a signal, I called Jeannie. She was on connected to a battery charger. The garage I clicked the unlock button on the the phone so I left her the following mes- door was locked and braced in case it tried keyset and there was the double click of a sage: “When I drive in I’ll honk, you come out to break out. solid unlock. The lock buttons popped up. I and open the hatch so I can get out of the Chili was carried off on a flatbed that took hold of the door handle on the driver’s car ‘cause the doors don’t work any more.” afternoon about one o’clock. As he prepared side and pushed in the button. I pulled on I drove into the driveway and tooted the to tie the car down, the driver said, “There’s the handle. The car chuckled and the door little MINI’s (thankfully) big-car horn. I began something on in there, what should I do?” refused to move. I clicked the key a few to worry about five minutes later. Maybe Ignore it, just go, says Jeannie. He drove dozen more times - nothing - it would not she’s gone for a walk, I thought. I leaned on off with the creature clicking and chittering open. The fear began and I ran around to the horn several more times. Suddenly, the madly to itself. the passenger side - nothing! I ran around front door burst open and Jeannie ran down On Wednesday, the dealer called and the car randomly clicking and pulling on to confront my cowering form in the MINI. asked me to bring the other key I had door handles as a small crowd of interested What’s the matter? She screamed over the used so that they could try to replicate the Almontians gathered and began to offer sound of the horn. Luckily the window still problem. I brought them the key and had a advice and ribald comments. functioned and I rolled it down to explain chat with Cesar, my technician, or as I refer Finally, in desperation, I moved to the that the door wouldn’t open. It seems my to him, “The Witch Doctor.” Cesar explained rear, planning to rip the handle off the trunk dear was still chatting with SOMEONE on the that the problem had vanished somewhere and pry it open. As I reached for the handle, phone and had never received my message. on the flatbed between Lanark Highlands the trunk clicked at me. It swung open at my Even doubled over with laughter, she had and the dealership. I’m lost, I thought - it’s first touch. Elated, I ran back to the driver’s the dexterity to open the hatch. the ghost of Lucas or Issigonis. We spoke door - it was still unyielding. The open hatch But wait, it gets better: in increasingly despairing tones of how beckoned. Elaborately casual, I folded down I called the MINI people (thanked them difficult these sorts of problems could be to the seats, arranged the groceries and, after for the new transmission, the two ECU diagnose and repair. He was in the driver’s upgrades, the new, improved seat adjust- seat and I was in the passenger seat. We 22 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org finally gave up as I had to go back to work. We shut the doors and stood talking for a moment more. . . CLICK! “There, see?” I screamed, “He just locked his passenger door.” Cesar said, “You must have hit the lock button on your keyfob.” No, the keyfob was with the key, which was in the ignition. At home that night, I dusted off my copy of the Rituale Romanum and reviewed whom I could get as my second. Cesar, I thought, could play the part of the prescrib- er of medications. They called me two days later with the news that MINI Canada “had been aware of the problem all along.” They wiped the brain of the ZKE unit (controls central locking and anti-theft) and reprogrammed it to be more politically correct. When I got the car (“He who is not to be trusted,” as I now refer to him) home, I gathered a few essentials together and performed the “Rite of Release.” It seems to have worked. There have been no more untoward events - yet. There is no mechanical connection between the gas pedal and the fuel system. There is no mechanical connection between either interior or exterior door handles and the latching mechanism. There is no mechanical connection between the lock pins and the locking mechanism. There is Remember the era of IMSA, new ‘Group 70+’ class. In an attempt no mechanical connection between the rear TransAM, Can-Am and even the early to recreate a well-known page in history, hatch handle and the opening mechanism. SCCA and CASC GT years? It was a Group 70+ will be administering the There is no mechanical connection between time of engineering breakthroughs and racing regulations of any series that ran the cooling fans and the motor. The power major advancements in motorsports. during 1973 to 1987. Chassis years steering is some variable electrically driven Slicks, engine modifications, aerodynam- are varied, modifications are true to pe- thing. BMW refers to this as “Fly-by-wire” ics, sponsorships, racing coverage and riod and the racing is extremely friendly, technology. There is a more impolite the big names of Mark Donohue, Peter yet still competitive. VARAC race dates expression which more accurately describes Gregg, Al Holbert, John Greenwood, are as follows, be sure to mark your the situation. Hurley Haywood, Sam Posey, Uli Berri, calendars! When you push the button on the door Horst Kroll, John Morton, Paul Newman For more information about rac- handle or pull on the interior handle, you and many more. And the cars - Jaguar, ing with Group 70+ or to get on the activate a switch, which operates a sole- Porsche, BMW, Datsun, Ford, Chevrolet, Group 70+ monthly e-newsletter dis- noid, which pushes a thingie, which rotates Ferrari, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, tribution list, contact Diane Dale at an arm that moves the latch which allows Honda, Mazda – all of which serves as [email protected]. Be sure to check the door to open. the roots of our modern day GT racing. out www.varac.ca to find out more about Craig Hamm has made me the most Now there is an exciting opportunity to Vintage Racing in Ontario and to check wonderful sign that I now carry in the vehicle spectate and participate in that class out the full line-up of VARAC race classes at all times: again! and events (featuring the VARAC Vintage This year, VARAC is promoting its Festival June 25th to 27th, 2004!). Rescue Me! I am being held against my will by May 1, 2 Mosport (BARC) Vintage and Group 70+ grids May 15, 16 Mosport (BEMC) Vintage grid this car. Please open the June 5, 6 Shannonville (CRDA) Vintage grid rear hatch. I will not harm June 25, 26, 27 Mosport (VARAC) Vintage Festival, all grids including Group 70+ Aug 14, 15 Mosport (BARC) Group 70+ grid you. Sept 4, 5 Mosport (CRDA/VARAC) Vintage and Group 70+ grids Sept 18, 19 Mosport (BEMC) Vintage grids Desperately yours, Jim October 2, 3 Mosport (CASC – Celebration) Vintage and Group 70+ grids
Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 23 A few of us grassroots types had dissonance would ensure the owner fastest I could go, yet the new tires the good fortune to put some kilometres could never imagine that the reason he barely show wear. The first day I had on our cars at the refurbished Le Circuit almost stuffed his Ferrari was himself. the pressures set too high and figured Mont-Tremblant race track at the end of Just in case, he sat out the next session out to bring them down and the car just September. In my case, that added up for time to think and to shudder at what flew. It was neat to be pressuring a 930 to about 400 km over the two days of could have been if wasn’t so lucky. Turbo through corners with my old, but the BMW Club Advanced Driving School. The school was run professionally. modded-suspension Civic . . . of course, Having driven the old track, I would say There were classroom sessions when- his car was capable of more, but I don’t the quality of the pavement is obviously ever a group was off the track and stu- care because I was there and I was pres- better, yet it still retains a wonderful dents always had instructors with them suring him. The tires cut through puddles character with its ups and downs and in the car. Instructors were the fourth run amazingly, with virtually no aquaplaning interesting corners. My “yee haa” meter group and so we got equal time on the on the first day. Once I figured out the registered the same now as before. track. This gave us time to give students pressures and shock settings, we just The MCO cadre that I mentioned rides. Worker rides were also given at flew. were there as instructors, so were able lunch the second day. The BMW Club provided me with a to not only spend time on the track I asked the Chief Instructor, Phil very special opportunity and it was a in their own cars but also riding with Abrami, to come ride with me in one pleasure to spend two days with them. students — which puts the in-car km session. He coached me on into a new Ten years ago, I still had the unfulfilled substantially higher. Yet, after two full dimension of speed. After I had con- childhood dream of driving on my days of sitting in cars constantly circling vinced him I was safe, he started pushing “home” track . . . and now I have the the track, I would have happily stayed me. “Go, go, go,” he would yell. “Catch t-shirt for the school with “Instructor” another day! that M3, catch that M3, you can do it, written on the back! My two students were in a Scirocco go, go, go.” Well gee, okay, licence to with a 2.0 plus treatment and an E30 thrill, I guess. 325ix. The VDub driver was a natural With Phil’s coaching, stuff like him smoothie and virtually an instant learner, yelling over the engine noise, “Don’t and could he ever downshift well! Young brake, don’t brake,” I was able to exit The original opening date of Janu- guy, first time on the track . . . he had Namerow in second gear, flat out from ary 15, 2004, was postponed due to the touch. Spending time in the Bimmer there, through third gear then fourth gear the extremely cold weather causing has me now scanning www.Autotrader.ca down the straight with a slight feathering ventilation problems at Top Karting. for E30 325is . . . add a smaller steering into Corner One, then flat again up over A break in the “cold snap” allowed wheel and a short shifter, and I would the crest of Two, front end getting light rescheduling of our first event to Janu- enjoy it a lot. as we drifted over and down, still flat out ary 27. Twenty drivers participated in There was quite a varied mixture of through Corner Three (ohmigawd) and Round 1, in two groups of ten. As was cars at the event. Naturally, there were finally braking straight before the Esses. my original intention, we accepted both many BMWs and they were of many vin- Then double-apexing the Carousel with MCO members and non-members. tages: a 2002 race car, a 635 race car a major sideways the moment or two of The track layout at this point in almost like the famous Batmobile racers, the first attempt (no sweat, sideways is time was a challenge, as were the M-coupe, 3-series everywhere, M3 all good for me). Then Phil pushing me to karts themselves, but all the drivers around. There was also a Viper, a 930 clip the curb at the end of the straight, seemed to cope fairly well. The racing, Turbo, Z06 and a Ferrari 348. In our first turning right and then again for the left. though close, was sometimes frustrat- session, we came over the crest at Nam- “That’s it, that’s it,” he would yell. ing. Round 2 on February 12 accom- erow, and there in the gravel trap directly I felt like someone had given me modated 22 drivers. Mike Coughlin, ahead was the bright red 348 up to its licence to do what I had only dreamt president of the National Capital axles. Not a pretty sight for lovers of fine about earlier: really go for it. I’m still too Karting Club (NCKC) and also an MCO cars. He had his instructor as a witness conservative on the brakes (I like staying member, was kind enough to advertise and apparently no brakes was the story . on the track; see Ferrari bit above) but our league with the local karting com- . . thank gawd for the gravel trap. Theory Phil allowed that I had good car control munity. The drivers had their competi- was that the unweighting over the crest (guess it was that sideways bit in the tive juices flowing and the racing was fooled the ABS computer into thinking Carousel) and he figured I could get back very close and clean. The smiling no traction and therefore it released the from over-the-edge situations to some faces, the thumbs up and handshakes brakes. Fiorano is pretty flat, I believe . . extent. make it all worthwhile. Besides, no one . hmmm. Or the geomagnetic unweight- How good is the surface now? I put got called to the tower to see Roger. ing, transfer compatible, crossover almost 400 km on my new Toyo Proxes The next event is on March 11, 2004. doohickey went on the fritz. Cognitive TS-1 street tires; those km were at the 24 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org I enjoy all facets of motorsport, the thrill of the competition, the teamwork, the camaraderie, even the sunrise and cool morning air at the track before the race-day events. Being at the track is a special feeling that’s a little difficult to put into words. My short-term goal is to learn more of the mechanics and dynamics of race- rally car prep, and continue to learn and refine driving technique. Next season (2004), I expect to compete in two road race weekends, the Targa Newfoundland Rally, and a Canadian National Rally event. My long-term goal is to do a season of Pro Rally in some sort of truck, prob- ably within the next three or four years. I hope to run in a Pro road race event This is the second in a series profil- Steve Greiner on Racing or two in the U.S. as well in this time ing the Motorsport Club of Ottawa’s I joined the MCO in 1996 to do the frame. My really long-term goal is to run racers. Each interview involves four race school with a view to getting my the Paris-Dakar Rally by the end of the questions to provide some insight into race licence. This was by no means decade. the motivations behind a person’s desire a short process. I had seen the flyers What have I learned from racing? to race. around some of the local speed shops Good question; racing is a constant for a few years before I made the leap. learning process about limits, about ma- 1) How did you get involved in racing? I had done a few lapping events before turity, about endurance. It is important to 2) Why do you race? doing the racing school, even then take something of value from whatever 3) What are your short- and long-term breaking equipment. I realized that I you do, regardless of whether things goals? needed some instruction to improve my have gone right or badly. This should be 4) What have you learned from racing? abilities. true of daily life and work, as well.
My name is George Rau and am a member of MCO for 3 years now and an active road racer in the open wheel. My first year I raced for Peter Blackmore owned car ( formula first ) #45 and there is a picture of it with me in the car on the MCO website. I had to sit out the second year as explained below. Just got my copy of the link and thought maybe I could help fill some space for the next issue with some pictures of the car that I am building and will be ready for this season. I have been building the car for about a year and a half now. It was supposed to be ready for last summer, but I had a family mem- ber go through a very long and bad battle with cancer and with the subsequent death it took up a lot of time away from the fabrication and was not ready for last season. I have done 99% of the build my- self including the engine, with a lot of helpful advice from Bill Vallis.
Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 25 “Oh Captain, My Captain” some chore. It all comes down to attitude, When you sit behind the wheel of your doesn’t it? car, or any other motorized vehicle or equipment for that matter, are you the “They also serve . . . Captain, or just a Passenger? . . . who only stand and wait.” — and I have noticed, over the years, that that’s just about what we’re doing right good drivers are generally Captains, and now for the 2004 season. It’s now early this is often demonstrated by their posture February, and a crisis with our household and demeanour behind the wheel. They income threatens to have an extremely are fully aware of the characteristics and adverse impact on our racing budget limitations of their vehicle. They assume a — something that’s all too common with proper driving position, handle the wheel amateur race drivers. The upshot of this capably and with precision, while at the is that instead of spending money and same time being relaxed so they do not working on the RX7 right now, I’m spend- over-control. They are alert without being ing my time looking for ways to resolve tense, continually scan the horizon to all the financial crisis, and, with a view to the quarters of the compass, when the need future, researching possible improvements arises they handle the controls quickly and to the car in preparation for (hopefully) competently without abusing the vehicle, entering the Touring/GT Series. One pos- and when fatigued, know when to ask for sibility, with the help of RX 7 Heaven, will March 2004 relief. In short, they assume command of be a 13B engine from an ’84 first-genera- their vessel — oops! — vehicle. tion RX7, “J” ported, and with a 650 cfm Poor drivers, on the other hand, are Holley carburetor. On paper this should passengers just along for the ride. They boost our gross power to about 265 h.p., slump as if they’re ready to take a nap, although some of this will be offset by bal- especially the “one-armed paper hangers”, last as we’re about 100 lbs. underweight with one arm and wrist draped over the for the Touring class. I’ll also be having wheel, the other nowhere in sight (and a long, hard look at the suspension and I’ve often wondered what they do with it). doing some research there, as I think the Others tense up and grip the wheel like a handling could be improved. Well, that’s passenger on a ship gripping a handrail about all the news there is for now on my in a North Atlantic storm, staring straight future racing activities, so let’s have a look ahead and fearful of impending doom. If at another episode from my racing past. anything untoward happens, they’re either too loose or too tight to react properly, Learning the Ropes in Motor which really wouldn’t make much differ- Racing — the 1967 MGB ence anyway, as they’re not aware of their Even though my racing efforts of surroundings and they don’t know their 1963 in the Lotus 6 were less than vehicle or what to do. satisfactory (The Link April 2003) I still Then there are the chatterboxes, wanted to go racing, hopefully with better engaging in conversation as if they were financing. By late 1966, and a couple of passengers in the parlour car of a train, job promotions later, I was in the posi- looking at each other instead of where tion of being financially secure enough to they’re going. They are as equally unaware start considering it again. But there was a as those above, and just as incompetent. complication. Ditto for those who think they’re running I had figured out that I had enough a mobile office, or they’re in a make-up money to buy and start preparing a new parlour, snack bar, barber shop or reading MGB, when Carroll Shelby presented me room instead of driving a car. There are with a dilemma — not directly, but in the others too, but I think you all know what shape of the Shelby GT350 Mustang. While I’m getting at. The sad part about drivers visiting Mosport late in the summer of ‘66, who are “passengers” is that they usually I had the opportunity to have a good look don’t know it. They really think that as long at one parked in the paddock and was suit- as they obey the speed limit, which, by ably impressed. I was sill living in Toronto the way, many of them don’t, they’re good then, so in the fall I contacted the local drivers. And that’s the scary part! Shelby agent, I think it was Shanahan Ford, Oh yes, Captains approach driving and arranged for a test drive. I’ll relate my not only as a responsibility, but also as experience with the GT350 at some future a pleasure. Passengers approach it as time, but my impression could be summed a past-time, a trial of terror, or a bother- 26 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org
up as “I want one”. But I also wanted to it could with 95 stock horsepower, drifted Chevy in the background in the photo was race, and that was the dilemma. If I bought out then back in to the second apex, then our tow car. It had a custom-made frame the GT350, I wouldn’t have enough money scuttled along right smartly to turn three. hitch — two hefty pieces of angle iron left over for racing, but if I chose the MGB “Oh, so that’s how you do it”. I learned a welded to the frame in a triangle, with a I would have enough to eventually start lot that day. gusset and hole in it for the ball. Then, as preparing the car for racing. Racing won. About a month later, when I was back now, you had to keep your Novice triangle As I have some reasonably good on day shift with the weekend off, it was for your first three National (now Regional) photos, considering that they’re now 36 or off to my first novice race in the ‘B’at races, and Tony Simms was making a so years old, the rest of this story will be a Harewood Acres. (fiugre 3) Harewood cut-down wind screen for us similar to the sort of photo-essay. was laid out on an abandoned RCAF airfield one on his ’65 MGB. (photo 7) Tony was I bought the ‘B’ in January of ’67, and just south of Jarvis, Ontario, and it was a great help to us all year with advice on outfitted it as a road car, factory hard-top dead flat with a fairly interesting layout. racing and parts for the car. and all, as it would have to be my daily Sort of like Shannonville, but with better Around the time of this, my first, driver for the first part of its life. However, paving and not as many Mickey-Mouse return to racing, I was in the process of with its intended future use in mind, I corners. The event was the Clubmen’s Day re-discovering my Welsh heritage, so the also added the overdrive gearbox, Pirelli Trophy Races organized by my club, The DAC Trillium Trophy Races at Mosport saw Cinturato radial tires, which many drivers Sports Car Club — Toronto (SCC), and was the first appearance of my new helmet art used as “budget” racing tires, and a fac- just for Novices. Imagine, enough Novice — the Welsh flag “Y Draig Goch” (the Red tory-approved roll bar. With the car barely drivers for a full day’s races for all classes, Dragon). (photo 8) We also got our first a month old, and anxious to get some including closed- and open-wheel feature Registered Number for the car, “296” from action, I entered the BARC-OC ice races races! (photo 4) And I was there, happy the first three numbers on my Customs in mid-February. (photo 1) Not a wise as a pig in . . . well, you know. Shift work badge, so the bother of changing car decision. For the winter I had fitted some only allowed me to do one more race in numbers for each race meeting was no studded CTC snow tires, so was placed in ’67, and the car was nowhere near com- the “studded” class. Now with my two rows petitive, but at least I finished all my races, of studs against others running basically which was an improvement over my earlier “metal to ice”, I was outclassed and there efforts with the Lotus 6. was bound to be trouble. There was. In Shift work still interfered a little with the first corner of the first race, someone my racing schedule for 1968, but we did came up behind me at a much greater manage some time to work on prepping speed and nailed the right rear fender. So the car. My last Novice race was at the ’68 the “new” was off the car really early. SCC Clubmen’s Trophy Races, and it was I took my Driver’s School at Mosport the last appearance of the car in street in May of ’67 and my instructor was none trim. (photo 5) By the way, those hay other than Craig Hill, one of the best bales that lined the track were mostly old, closed-wheel racers at that time. (photo and with the weathering, they weren’t soft! 2) On the first lap at speed with Craig driv- After the SCC race meeting, we began ing, and don’t forget here that the suspen- to work on changing the car, and added sion was bog stock, he tapped the brakes our first two performance modifications; going into turn two, pointed it into the competition valving for the shock absorb- first apex, and then floored it! “Oh shit, ers, and tuned-length air horns for the S.U. this guy’s going to wreck my brand new carburetors. (photo 6) I didn’t have a car, and probably kill us!!!” Then it sort of trailer, so we added tow-hooks to the front hunkered down, or at least tried as best where the bumper used to be, and the ’61 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 27
more. (photo 9) Except for the tires, the 12th to 14th, both at Harewood. The most Gulf Canada National Championship Series car was modified as much as we planned recent modifications to the car, especially in 1969. His 1965 fully prepared MGB was for the season, and the changes lowered the racing tires, improved the lap times therefore up for sale, and would we be our lap times somewhat, although at 2:05s considerably, and at the BAC race meet- interested? (photo 12) Silly question. So plus at Mosport, we were still not really ing, while we still placed third i/c behind we put the ’67 MGB (now “old” 296) back competitive. We did, however, manage one the other MGBs of Cam Champion and into road trim, factory hardtop and all, third in class due to a couple of retire- Tony Simms, we were now finishing on the but kept the overdrive gearbox now fitted ments, although we were a long way back. same lap. (photo 11) The Thanksgiving with the close-ratio gears from Tony’s ‘B’ (photo 10) Speed Weekend, however, was a disaster, (soon to be “new” 296). We installed the August 25th was the highlight of our as we blew the engine in practice, finishing four-speed from Tony’s car in old 296, now season, the NTMC Sundown Grand Prix our season with two DNSs. with the stock gears, together with a good of Endurance. In researching my 1968 All in all, it wasn’t a bad season, used stock engine, also courtesy of Tony, season, I found a draft of an old account except for the blown engine of course, and waved goodbye to her as she headed of this race that I wrote for the Sports Car and we learned a lot, especially from Tony, off to Vancouver with her new owner. And Club’s newsmagazine, so I have made it who was a master of car preparation. with the lack of salt on the roads out there, into a separate article to be found else- Our finishing position in the Sundown was she may still be running. I hope she is! where in this issue of The Link. I’ll just especially satisfying, but you’ll have to note here that at this point we made some read about that in the other article. The Getting “Stuff” from Foreign improvements to the car, one planned, the one thing that impressed us the most, Parts others not. One unintended one, some cyl- however, was that unless you have lots of This was one of my recent posts on inder head work, was due to a blown head time and a very big budget, and we didn’t the Club web site, and I have included it gasket at the LASC Harewood National ear- have either, building a car from scratch here as the topic seems to come up fairly lier in August, another being widening the was not really the way to go. Buying a car often on various discussion boards. rear wheel wells to accommodate racing already prepared is the best route for most “A note about courier shipments tires. The planned change was the fitting of amateur racers, if a good, competitive one from foreign countries. They compete the racing tires for the Sundown weekend. is available at a reasonable price. And in mainly with the Post Office, not common We had two more race meetings the fall of 1968, one was. carriers, and importers (including private planned for 1968, the BAC Challenge Tony had purchased the new KiKi th persons) using the mails could have them Cup on September 14 and BARC-OC’s Mk.6A Formula A/5000 car, built by Doug sent to a local Customs postal clearance Thanksgiving Speed Weekend on October McArthur, and was planning to enter the centre for entry and release, and for
28 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org
private non-commercial shipments, they ments cleared at the port of entry, but and again clearing the shipment yourself also could be delivered to the local Post also charge a brokerage fee for clearing or by your own broker. Office and pay duties and taxes C.O.D. them without the importer’s Power of My advice, if you want to avoid the The courier industry lobbied long and Attorney. courier rip-off, is to call Customs for hard (I know, I was there) that this was By the way, to the best of my knowl- advice, and to check with the Post Office an unfair advantage for the Post Office, a edge, the Post Office still doesn’t get a and air and highway carriers to see if the Government agency, and eventually got it brokerage fee for mail or parcel ship- rates/delivery times, etc., are acceptable changed so that they could clear all their ments sent to local Post Offices with the in your circumstances. Personally, I would shipments on behalf of their customers at Customs charges C.O.D., because they only use a courier service if I needed the the first port of entry. are rated by Customs Inspectors sta- parts yesterday and cost was no object.” This got the Customs Brokers very tioned at regional Postal plants. And even upset, as the courier services would be if the postal shipments don’t qualify for Parting Shot clearing shipments for their customers, having the duties and taxes paid C.O.D., They say that the early bird gets the and they would lose the brokerage fee. importers can still (I think) have them worm, which I suppose is good. But when They argued their case not on this point, sent to a local Customs Postal Clearance you look at it from the worm’s perspective, however, but that the courier services are office where they can clear them them- it ain’t so rosy. After all, the early worm not trained, licensed brokers, wouldn’t selves, or have their own broker do it for gets eaten! have a Customs Power of Attorney them. signed by the importer, and that, not For shipments that can’t be sent by knowing details of the client’s business, mail, they can still be sent by truck “in they would probably rate the shipments bond” to the nearest Customs Highway incorrectly under the Customs tariff. The Sufferance Warehouse to be cleared brokers’ points were technically valid, but by the importer or his broker, although at about this point I was promoted out of this means of transport is a bit slower. the section dealing with this, and don’t There’s also the possibility of shipping by know how it transpired that the couriers air freight to the nearest airport that has not only got permission to have their ship- a Customs Air Sufferance Warehouse,
Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 29 (VA3KRT) Last month I told you why ama- medium a useful communications tool. It lent resource, containing lots of info teur radio (‘Ham radio’) at rallies is so is no good transmitting 100 Watts if you for beginners (go read http://www.rac. important. This month I’ll tell you how to can’t get pertinent and timely informa- ca/regulatory/begin.htm). get involved with radio, and then you can tion across. Can you believe it, a radio How do you go about getting this apply that to your adventures in rallying, license is FREE! The exam is free, too! qualification? First you should purchase, or other community efforts. As I write this the rules are changing beg, or borrow, the ‘RAC Study Guide for Why do they call it ‘amateur’ radio? a little bit regarding licensing of radio the Basic Exam, 6th Ed.,’ available locally In a nutshell, it means that an amateur amateurs. Currently, there are two main at Bytowne Marine Ltd and costing about radio operator cannot earn money levels of Ham radio licensing: Basic $45, taxes included. Start reading. through use of the amateur radio fre- and Advanced. To use a mobile (rally) Second, go to the Industry Canada quencies. You can’t get a radio license radio you only need the Basic Qualifica- website and download ‘the software to and then start a delivery, dispatching, tion. Many fear having to learn that generate amateur examinations.’ The or any other sort of service or busi- dash dot stuff, Morse Code. The good link is, http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/ ness that is commercial in nature. The news is that to work mobile radio you internet/insmt-gst.nsf/vwGeneratedIn- amateur radio operators use these fre- never need to learn Morse Code! Morse terE/h_sf05378e.html. This little nugget quencies for fun, leisure, several types Code opens up more frequencies you contains 1000 questions. This is the of community service, and exploration are allowed to operate on, but they are SAME software that the examiner will of new ideas in radio communications. not used at rallies, so your Morse Code use to generate YOUR exam. When you Many of the ‘amateurs’ in radio are very anxieties are unfounded. Since you run it on your home computer, it semi- professional people applying their knowl- don’t need it, I won’t say anything else randomly chooses 100 questions, all edge of radio with very high standards. about the Advanced Qualification. We multiple choice. Play with this program To begin, one must obtain a license have established that you only need a over, and over, again. This program to be a radio amateur. The fact that Basic Qualification. All radio licenses in lets you track your scores, too. Third, one needs a license typically means that Canada are granted by Industry Canada, also at the Industry Canada website, amateur radio operators know enough and administered by Radio Amatuers please refer to the Radiocommunication about basic radio theory, regulations, of Canada (RAC – www.rac.ca). By Information Circular 2 (RIC-2), Standards and operating procedures to make the the way, the RAC website is an excel- for the Operation of Radio Stations in
30 Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org the Amateur Radio Service and Radio- communication Information Circular 3 (RIC-3), Information on the Amateur Radio Service, provides information on various international agreements and arrangements related to amateur radio operation. These are on the exam, and The Flinstone Engine Mod not covered in the RAC study guide. Currently, you need only obtain 60% or better on the exam to pass. While studying both the book and the RIC’s, and running the exam generator, if you consistently get 60% or better on the test, locate an Industry Canada exam- iner. Mike Kelly, VE3FFK, is the rally- friendly radio examiner of choice. Mike has done it all, and now he’s added a lot of rally radio to his list of achievements. Find Mike, and you’re on your way. If you pass the exam, you apply for the license, including your preference of call sign. For example, MCO member Ryan Huber is VA3AWD, he drives a Subaru! Member Alan Ritchie is VE3TSD (time-speed-distance), and member Kris Krepski is VE3GTI, he drives a VW Golf GTI! My call is VA3KRT (Knot Racing Rally Team). Many people just use their initials. Finally, there is no annual fee once you get the license. If it isn’t already taken, you get to choose your call sign. The call sign is the VE3 (or VA3) ‘name’ you get as a licensed amateur radio operator. You often see these ‘call signs’ on license plates. Only a licensed Need a little more low radio operator can get those plates. In end grunt? Look no Ontario all licensed amateurs are either further. Dyno proven to VA3 or VE3, followed by a unique three add power to any engine letter sequence (Quebec is VE2 and VA2, application, import or do- Manitoba is VE4 and VA4, etc.). mestic. “When you hear Without going into a deep product the squeak, squeak ... the review, I can tell you that equipment competition is cat litter!” - costs aren’t so bad. For rallies you need Mad Skillz Dragmaster a mobile VHF radio operating in the 2m band (146 MHz). Brand new, state of the art, ‘rigs’ will set you back about $300 for a really sexy radio. There are large quantities of used equipment for much less. A good 5/8 wavelength magnetic mount (‘magmount’) antenna Mr. Momentum knows Driving can cost between $50 to $150, your choice. If you are really short on cash, What does a happy face sponge ball get your free radio license and borrow know about car control? Well in a MCO radios at rallies. There are usually more Winter Driving school class demostra- radios than radio people and they are tion, rolling the ball too much with typically happy to help you out. sudden weight shifts, turns that smile That’s it. Rally is good, radio is upside down and throws your car out of good, together, they are great. control.
Motorsport Club of Ottawa The Link Mar/Apr 2004 http://www.mco.org 31