Pole Winners are Counting the Days Until the 21st Autumn Colours Classic
Easily one of the years most anticipated events; the Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – at Peterborough Speedway is a race like no other. Contended on the tight confines of a venue known as Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Oval, the 3 day action-packed thrill ride jams the pit area and spectator grandstands every Thanksgiving Weekend.
So treasured is an Autumn Colours checkered flag that track officials created a pair of unique qualifying shows that not only reward feature race winners with the inside front row starting spot for their respective division’s main event, they also help align the rest of the starting spots for the prestigious weekend.
Limited Late Model: Ryan Kimball is no stranger when it comes to earning a pole position for a marquee motorsports event. In September of 2012, he paced the field to the green flag at the American-Canadian Tour Invitational and Sunday, October 13th he’ll lead the pack to the line at the Super Bowl of Stockcar Racing.
Steering a freshly wrapped #73 McColl Chassis for car owner Wally Janzen, the 28 year-old from Norwood, Ontario – known by family, friends and fans as “Flyin’ Ryan” – will start from the inside of the front row in the Limited Late Model feature and also search for an Autumn Colours trophy behind the wheel of his own #16 Pro Late Model ride.
Thunder Car: After scoring 10 feature wins on the way to the 2012 track championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Speedway, John Baker Jr. is quite comfortable at the front of the pack. The Oshawa, Ontario speedster earned the Thunder Car pole position during the June 30th Chase for the Colours qualifying event.
‘JBJ’ is as pure a racer as you’ll find at any track and shares a true passion for the sport with his entire family. Always ready to lend a hand or some helpful advice to a friend or competitor, Baker is never at a loss for words when it comes to being interviewed in victory lane.
Mini Stock: Although he missed out on the 2013 track championship in the Peterborough Hyundai backed home track division, Chris Mulders parked his #99 4 cylinder piece in victory lane on a bright, sunny Sunday afternoon and took the first step toward clinching an Autumn Colours Classic win.
The Bowmanville, Ontario wheel twister is looking forward to getting back to competition after a layoff of more than a month and has to be considered as a favourite to take the Mini Stock checkered flag.
Four Fun: The 21st Annual Autumn Colours Classic has a place…and a race for everyone. Just ask Four Fun division polesitter James Townsend. The pilot of the #14 machine will pace the field to the initial green flag for the 40 lap thrill ride that leads off the feature race portion of this year’s Autumn Colours Classic.
Like Kimball, Baker and Mulders, Townsend earned his preferred starting spot as part of the Chase for the Colours event on the final Sunday in June. The entry level division delighted fans with some exceptional racing during the regular season and track officials are expecting the same performance during Autumn Colours.
OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Model: If selecting an underdog as the car to win would be considered a ‘sleeper’ pick, predicting a victory by Brandon Watson would be known as the ‘sweeper’ pick.
Dating back to his triumph at the 2012 Autumn Colours Classic – a win that also clinched the OSCAAR championship – the 20 year-old hot shoe from Stayner, Ontario has 3 consecutive Super Late Model wins at Peterborough Speedway. A win Saturday, August 3rd earned him the pole position starting spot for this year’s Super Bowl of Stockcar Racing and if he’s able to park his potent #9 machine in victory lane Sunday, October 13th it will mean a clean sweep of this year’s OSCAAR shows on Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Oval.
Open Wheeled Modifieds: With a resume that already includes more than 200 career trips to victory lane, Gary McLean can always make room for another checkered flag.
The veteran campaigner from Conn, Ontario earned a prestigious Autumn Colours Classic pole position starting spot when the OSCAAR modified teams shared the stage with their full-fendered cousins on the first Saturday night in August. 50 laps of action will fly by quickly when the Open Wheeled Modified teams come to play.
The 21st Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – gets rolling with practice and the first rounds of qualifying for the Four Fun, Mini Stock, Thunder Car, Late Model, Pro Late Model and Modified divisions Friday, October 11th and continues throughout Thanksgiving Weekend. Pit gates are unlocked opening day at 10:AM, with grandstand access at 5:00 and racing at 6:00. Full schedule details can be found at www.peterboroughspeedway.com.
