SOS Insider
(Grand Island names in bold)

It was a busy weekend for the SOS with the second event of the season being held Friday night at the Ohsweken Speedway and followed up by a Media Day / Open House at the track on Saturday afternoon.  For all the details please read the following releases.  Also a reminder, to hear Friday nights event from Ohsweken visit www.oval1.com for the audio broadcast.

SOS Online

Styres ‘Rolls’ To A Sweep At Ohsweken
By Bill Oldroyd

OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY - May 14, 2004

The second stop in the season for the Southern Ontario Sprints saw the series return to its home track, Ohsweken Speedway in Ohsweken, Ontario.  A solid field of twenty-two sprinters was on hand including three drivers who were competing for the first time in a sprint car.  Track owner and 2003 SOS Champion, Glenn Styres of Ohsweken Ontario had a clean sweep, winning his Heat race, the Dash for Cash and topping the night off with a victory in the Feature putting him in the series points lead.


Styres success during the races however is not likely what most will remember on this night.  During his victory lap, Styres attempted to do his traditional victory donut, which always brings everyone to their feet, cheering.  However, things did not go as planned and Styres will now be looking to replace a pair of wings before his next race.


Series veteran, Dick Mahoney from Newmarket, Ontario started the feature from the pole and grabbed the early lead, followed by Adam West of Ridgetown, Ontario.  Grand Island, NY native, Tim Phillips had a spin on lap two while running in the third spot forcing him to the rear of the field.  Phillips would however fight his way back to challenge for the lead later in the race.


Meanwhile, Styres was making his way to the front in a big way.  He started the Feature in the seventh position and by lap two had worked his way up to third spot.  Cody Geldart of Mossley, Ontario was also on the charge from his ninth place starting position and by lap three was in fifth place.  After a couple of early cautions, Styres found himself in the lead on lap four however things were not going as well for Geldart as he was forced to retire early with mechanical problems.


Dick Mahoney, West, Warren Mahoney of Lefroy, Ontario and Mike Lauterborn from Rochester, NY were involved in an intense battle for positions two through five.  This went on for several laps with positions changing on every lap.  Billy Krull of Wheatfield, NY had worked his way from the eleventh starting position to join the battle on lap six making it a five-way fight for the top positions.  Several early cautions kept the field bunched up resulting in numerous position changes throughout the field to the excitement of the large crowd in attendance. 

Lauterborn eventually won the fight for second and then quickly ran down Styres for the lead on lap eight.  At the half way point in the race the running order saw Lauterborn in the lead with Styres second, followed by Warren Mahoney and West.  Phillips had fought his way back to the fifth position after an early spin and rounding out the top ten were Krull, Bob Crawford of Sutton, Ontario, Gary Evans of Thorndale, Ontario, Dick Mahoney and Jack Dillon from Belle River, Ontario.


The night appeared to belong to Lauterborn as he was pulling away from the field, however a blown motor ended his night, handing the lead back to Styres with six laps remaining.  Meanwhile, a four-way battle for the second position was still intense.  Phillips was the next driver to take aim at the top spot and was closing in quickly until a late race spin took him out of contention. 

After the race Phillips said; “You could wipe the tears of the top of my helmet, I could taste a victory”.


The green came out for the last time with two laps to go and once again, Styres had a challenger.  This time it was Warren Mahoney taking up the battle.  Several times Mahoney was able to get by Styres on the low side but Styres would fight back each time, taking home his first SOS Feature victory of the season.


Styres said; “I didn’t deserve to win this one!  My car was a hand-full all night and I think Lauterborn would have taken the victory if he hadn’t broke.”


Early season mechanical problems are still plaguing several teams, as only sixteen of the twenty-two cars were able to start the feature.  On the other hand, a couple of rookies had a very successful first night out.  Evans ran a very steady race coming home eighth in the Feature while Jason Haskell of Chatham, Ontario was running in the top ten most of the night and would eventually finish in the twelfth position.


Leaf Racewear Heat
1
 #33k – Kyle Patrick – Tilbury, ON
 5
 #1a – John Riegling, Chatham, ON
 
2
 #21 – Tim Phillips, Grand Island, NY
 6
 #99 – Al Gaukel, Cambridge, ON
 
3
 #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON
 7
 #93 – Daryl Turford, Stratford, ON dns
 
4
 #7 – Billy Krull, Wheatfield, NY
  
  
 

 

Wiseco Heat
1
 #6 – Cody Geldart, Mossley, ON
 5
 #18j – Jack Pillon, Belle River, ON
 
2
 #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON
 6
 #21h – Jason Haskell, Chatham, ON
 
3
 #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON
 7
 #18 – Steph Christiano, Tonawanda, NY
 
4
 #33 – Jamie Collard, Princeton, ON
  
  
 

 

Kenetic Photos Heat
1
 #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON
 5
 #32 – Mark Schulz, Newfane, NY
 
2
 #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON
 6
 #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON
 
3
 #41 – Mike Lauterborn, Rochester, NY
 7
 #77 – Les MacMillan, Belmont, ON
 
4
 #2 – Vinnie Christiano, Tonawanda, NY
 8
 #75 – Jim Sweers, Westover, ON dns
 

 

Pennzoil Dash
1
 #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON
 4
 #21 – Tim Phillips, Grand Island, NY
 
2
 #6 – Cody Geldart, Mossley, ON
 5
 #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON
 
3
 #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON
 6
 #33k – Kyle Patrick – Tilbury, ON
 

 

Signet Tool Feature
1
 #0 – Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ON
 9
 #18j – Jack Pillon, Belle River, ON
 
2
 #7 – Billy Krull, Wheatfield, NY
 10
 #41 – Mike Lauterborn, Rochester, NY
 
3
 #25 – Warren Mahoney, Lefroy, ON
 11
 #2 – Vinnie Christiano, Tonawanda, NY
 
4
 #30 – Adam West, Ridgetown, ON
 12
 #21h – Jason Haskell, Chatham, ON
 
5
 #10 – Bob Crawford, Sutton, ON
 13
 #93 – Daryl Turford, Stratford, ON
 
6
 #21 – Tim Phillips, Grand Island, NY
 14
 #1a – John Riegling, Chatham, ON
 
7
 #79 – Dick Mahoney, Newmarket, ON
 15
 #99 – Al Gaukel, Cambridge, ON
 
8
 #17 – Gary Evans, Thorndale, ON
 16
 #6 – Cody Geldart, Mossley, ON
 

Did Not Start

#33k – Kyle Patrick; #33 – Jamie Collard; #18 – Steph Christiano; #77 – Les MacMillan; #75 – Jim Sweers; #32 – Mark Schulz

 

MEDIA DAY / OPEN HOUSE 
Bill Oldroyd

OHSWEKEN – May 15, 2004

Ohsweken Speedway and the Southern Ontario Sprints joined together to host a Media Day at Ohsweken Speedway on May 15th.  Even though the weather didn’t cooperate it was a successful day.  Members of the Media were given the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about one of the ‘Best Kept Secrets’ in Ontario, that being sprint car racing.

Several SOS drivers and officials were on hand to answer questions and to provide information about sprint car racing.  The Media was then treated to a hot lunch (many thanks the Glenn Styres and company for all their hard work).  

Once lunch was over, it was time to take to the track.  Several SOS drivers put on a demonstration as they put their cars through the paces.  Both Dick and Warren Mahoney also did a ‘Topless’ demonstration as they tested their sprinter without wings.  If all goes as planned, the SOS will run a show sometime this year, with and without wings.

Members of the Media were also given the opportunity to actually drive a sprint car.  Anitka Rolczewski, a writer for the Toronto Star, Wheels section and a member of Racerchick.com did several laps behind the wheel of Daryl Turford’s sprinter.  It looks like we have created a new fan of sprint car racing!

Thanks to all the drivers for making this a successful day.