Giving thanks was easy as talented group of short track racers and a near capacity crowd gathered for the featured events of the 31^st annual APC Autumn Colours Classic – Sunday, October 13^th – at Peterborough Speedway.

Local favourites Ryan Kimball and Dan McHattie brought the KOD Disposal Late Model field to the green flag for the Electric City 167. Kimball – the 2024 Peterborough track champion – was the early race leader, as slower traffic was put a lap down with only 11 laps on the scoreboard. McHattie, who had been closing on Kimball took over the top spot with 17 laps complete. The race pace was slowed for an incident in the 3^rd turn, with the No. 71 of McHattie holding the lead on the restart and moving out to an advantage of more than10 cars over his closest challenger. Several yellow flags may have slowed the race pace, but McHattie – a multi-time track champion and former Autumn Colours winner – was the leader at the lap 82 competition caution. Picking-up where he left off following the mid-race break, McHattie lost the lead to Kimball in lapped traffic, with Andrew Gresel taking control of the event on a lap 123 restart. The former Autumn Colours Classic winner maintained the race lead through a series of late-stage caution flags to take the win. Dustyn Mombourquette, McHattie, Kelly Balson and Brandt Graham rounded-out the top 5 finishers.

A 40-lap tilt for the Trailers Plus Ontario Legend Car Series, presented by B & G Towing and Recovery. Matt Boyes and Wes Cuthbertson brought the starting field from the staging area for the season ending main event. Boyes was the early race leader, but the pace was slowed quickly for an incident on the front stretch. With the field back under green, Wes Cuthbertson was the new race leader and was joined by Cole McFadden and Adam Cuthbertson. Several caution flags slowed the field, with Mitch Wright taking the race lead following a lap 13 yellow. The No. 21 car has been strong throughout the year and his Autumn Colours Classic run was no exception. Wright held the lead for the balance of the main event to score the race win over Wes Cuthbertson. Jade Franklin, Cole McFadden and Jordan Latimer completed the top 5.

With Phil Givens and Jo Lawrence on the front row, the Battlefield Equipment Rental Bone Stock teams took to the track known for ‘Making Memories for Life’ with a 40-lap feature standing in the way of an Autumn Colours Classic title. With Givens leading, the pace was slowed by a pair of early race caution flags. Given and Lawrence broke away from the pack with a lead of about 10 car lengths over the 3^rd place runner before a late race yellow brought the pack back together for a last chance showdown. Lawrence pushed his No. 28 ride to its limits and scored the win. Givens took the checkered flag in 2^nd spot, with Spencer Riddell, Jordan Willms and Craig Cole next across the line.

Rob Bromley and Steve Book were on the front row as the OSCAAR Hot Rod runners rolled-out for their ‘A’ main event. From the drop of the green flag, the pair had control of the pack and started working through some slower cars with 10 laps on the scoreboard. With close to a dozen laps complete, Rick Spencer-Walt wheeled the No. 31 into the lead and held the position through a lap 14 yellow flag and the subsequent restart. Another caution period slowed the pace, but Spencer-Walt was up to the challenge and had close to a half track’s advantage over the 2^nd place runner. Rick Spencer-Walt was first to the checkered flag to claim the win. Bromley, Amanda Balson, Book and Tyler Hawn completed the top 5.

With 67 laps to settle the score on the table, the SwitchTire Mini Stock feature – in memory of Melissa Bullen – saw Shawn Taylor and 2023 Track Champion Nolan Gould leading the way. Taylor – who has an Autumn Colours Classic win on his resume – showed the fast way around during the early stages and was part of a group of 9 runners that was working through the pack with about 25 laps on the scoreboard. Doug Butler challenged Taylor for the lead and came out with the top spot as the lap counter showed 50 complete. Charlie Smith was the benefactor in a green, white checkered finish and parked his No. 95 ride in Dart Heating and Air Conditioning Victory Lane. Will Gibbons, James Townsend, Mike Nelson and Bobby Mercer chased Smith across the stripe.

Lane Zardo and Paul Pepper had the front row spots for the Jiffy Lube Super Stock 40-lap feature tilt. The Zardo name has been synonymous with success in the season-ending event at Peterborough Speedway and the 2024 edition was no exception. Even with multiple yellow flags throughout the race distance and some finger-pointing in the winner’s circle, Zardo managed to lead every lap on the way to his family’s latest Autumn Colours Classic triumph. Shawn Chenoweth got the best of torrid battle with Tyler Hawn and Todd Davenport to take the runner-up spot. Coltin Everingham was 5^th. Hard work by her crew allowed crowd favourite Marlie Owen to bounce-back from an issue that put her several laps down early to claim a top 10 finish.

A 50-lapper for the OSCAAR Modifieds closed-out the 31^st edition of the APC Autumn Colours Classic, as Wally Wilson and Steve Trendell brought the pack to the Great Canadian RV green flag. Early race leader Wilson held the dominant hand until T.J. Edwards claimed the top spot with a dozen laps complete. The driver of the No. 34 piece was a man on a mission and quickly had an advantage of half a track over the 2^nd and 3^rd place runners. The night’s finale ran from green flag to checkered without a yellow, as Edwards scored the win. Rick Spencer-Walt, Wilson, Trendell and Jason Keen completed the top 5 at the finish.

All finishing positions are unofficial and subject to scoring review and post race inspection.

Bullring bullet points: While early versions of the weekend weather forecast had many asking if events might be rescheduled or postponed, this year’s edition of the APC Autumn Colours Classic entered the record books without a hitch. Although cloudy and cool during Sunday’s championship finals, the raceday line-up was completed exactly as planned…With another version of the Super Bowl of Stock Car complete, track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse would like to thank officials, staff and volunteers who are part of the regular season and Autumn Colours Classic schedule.

Plans are currently underway for the 2025 agenda at the venue known for ‘Making Memories for Life’. Keep checking www.peterboroughspeedway.com or the track’s social media platforms and pages for the latest news and information.