When there is prestige and bragging rights on the line, its all about making the show. Peterborough Speedway’s APC Autumn Colours Classic is Central Ontario’s must win motorsports event and drivers in every division will do whatever they can to earn the best possible starting position in the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing. With close to a dozen different divisions in attendance, the Saturday, October 12^th line-up saw a second round of qualifying heats on a venue known for ‘Making Memories for Life’.

The first order of business on the day was a round of time trials that would set the field for the annual running of the Electric City 167 Late Model feature. Norwood, Ontario’s Ryan Kimball – who is making his 25^th straight Autumn Colours Classic appearance – set quick-time, with another home track favourite, Dan McHattie – from nearby Cavan, Ontario – lining-up alongside. Dustyn Mombourquette, Dale Shaw and Andrew Gresel will complete the top 5 in the starting order.

In heat race action, Jason Metcalfe had a pair of Outlaw Midget checkered flags, with brothers Dave and Mike Bradley sharing the others. Charlie Smith, Mike Thompson, Nolan Gould and former Autumn Colours Classic winner Ryan Babin had the SwitchTire Mini Stock wins. Mitch Wright, Jordan Latimer, Wes Cuthbertson and Dawson Drimmie locked into the Trailers Plus Ontario Legends Series feature with preliminary round wins.

Kingsway Auto Centre Junior Late Models made their 2024 APC Autumn Colours debut with Lyla Sikma taking a pair of heat race wins, while the others went to Josh Davenport, Lucas Finnegan, Carson Cousineau and Chase Stevenson. Todd Davenport and Shawn Chenoweth had wins in the final round of Jiffy Lube Super Stock qualifying, with Jordan Willms, Austyn Jennett and Phil Givens taking the final Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock heat race victories.

Jason Metcalfe and Dave Bradley were on the front row as the Outlaw Midget field came to the green flag for a 20-lap feature. The lead duo was joined by Mike Bradley as the broke away from the pack and started to put slower traffic a lap down with only a handful of laps on the scoreboard. A yellow flag – for a 2^nd turn incident with a dozen laps complete – slowed the pace, before the leaders picked-up where they’d left off on the restart. A serious incident in the 2^nd turn brought out a red flag and shortened the race, with Metcalfe, Mike Bradley and Rob Harrison completing the top 3.

With 20 starters in the line-up and 20 laps to settle the score, the Kingsway Junior Late Model feature had Lyla Sikma and Chase Stevenson on the front row. Stevenson took the early lead from his outside front row starting spot, with Josh Davenport, Carson Cousineau and Sikma in the thick of the fight. Stevenson maintained the lead through a pair of mid-race restarts, as he and Davenport built-up a half a straightaway lead. At the checkered flag, it was Stevenson, Davenport, Lucas Cousineau, Lucas Finnegan and Gracelyn MacInnes completing the top 5. The No. 99 of Brody Coates was the event’s hard charger, while the No. 11 of Carson Cousineau captured the hard luck award.

Bullring bullet points: Rookie Outlaw Midget racer Colin Grant was involved in a 2^nd turn wreck during the feature race. He was treated at the scene by track personnel and taken to a local hospital by First Responders. Series officials report the driver sustained bumps and bruises in the crash, but is expected to make a full recovery…The Ontario Bandolero division ran its second exhibition event during the Saturday portion of the APC Autumn Colours Classic. Now with title sponsorship from Berry Starter and Alternator, the event had a twist with track announcer Ben Hodgson wheeling the No. 8 car and providing live commentary to the Racing America broadcast. The race was won Chase Cousineau. Hodgson encountered mechanical issues midway through the event.

The 31^st annual APC Autumn Colours Classic wraps-up Sunday, October 13^th with main event action taking the spotlight, starting with the Late Model Electric City 167. Green flag action is slated to get underway at 12:30.

For the latest event details and information, see www.peterboroughspeedway.com and the track’s social media platforms or pages.