In professional sports, entry level players are called “rookies”, while in college and university classrooms, the most commonly used term is “freshmen”. The latter seems the most fitting, because a number of drivers are about to begin their racin’ education on Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval.

They say there’s a first time for everything, so with a lot of hard work and good helping of racing luck, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a first-timer wind up in Dart Heating and Cooling Victory Lane at the 22^nd Annual Autumn Colours Classic. With close to 10 different divisions in action and car counts in the range of 300, just about anything can happen. Peterborough Speedway owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse says it promises to be an interesting weekend.

“Some drivers and teams file early entries and that gives us an idea of who might be coming and what division they’ll be racing in,” said Josiasse. “Of course, with so many different teams rolling through the pit gates over the weekend, sometimes it can be troublesome to keep tabs on everyone who’ll be here.”

With a diverse and varied motorsports background, at first glance it might appear that veteran campaigner Max Beyore had done everything there was to do behind the wheel of a racing machine. After turning laps in a broad spectrum of racing equipment on some of the provinces best known venues – including the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City – Beyore is looking forward to his first start in Peterborough Speedway’s Autumn Colours Classic. The driver of the #91N – who is the series leading rookie – has been one of the strongest runners on the OSCAAR Modified tour and scored a main event win at Peterborough Saturday, August 2^nd.

The Limited Late Model field at the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing will be bolstered by an Autumn Colours Classic first timer. 22 year-old Joshua Stade is a regular runner at Sauble Speedway and has been turning laps in the powerful machine since he was 16. Having never raced on Canada’s Toughest 3^rd of a Mile Paved Oval, the Chesley, Ontario resident says he’ll be counting on Brian MacDonald to put a solid base-line set-up under his #17 Toyota, but also looking for some help from drivers like Gord Shepherd, Dwayne Baker and 2014 Peterborough track champion Ryan Kimball to find the quick way around. Stade says his team will be following a strategy of ‘test, test, test’ until he finds his comfort zone.

Sometimes sharing a car with another driver can be a great way to learn the different aspects of short track stock car racing. Sean Kennedy split time behind the wheel of the #9 4Fun machine with Cody Fenton during Peterborough Speedway’s 2014 season. The car they were running is the same one Ryan Oosterholt drove to last year’s track championship and it’s obviously a proven piece, so it was no real shock when Fenton found victory lane Saturday, August 9^th. Kennedy – who also had some strong runs in the car – will get his chance to shine when he takes the controls for his first Autumn Colours Classic.

Make your plans now to catch the Super Bowl of Stock Racing at Peterborough Speedway’s 22^nd Annual Autumn Colours Classic – presented by Lucas Oil Products – October 10^th, 11^th and 12^th. Pit gates open daily at 10:00. See www.peterboroughspeedway.com for details and click the ‘Autumn Colours’ tab.

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