CNMRA Chilliwack Report

Hosted by the Pacific Coast Mini Roadracing Association (PCMRA) Round 5 of the six round Midwest Motosports Canada ltd Canadian National Mini RoadRacing Series commenced August 8 and August 9 for the first time at the Greg Moore Raceway in Chilliwack BC. Local organizers PCMRA with the support of the CNMRA were able to secure the long coveted technical undulating sweepers and hairpins of the 1224 meter phenomenal race facility.

Almost a hundred class entries gathered together to celebrate the camaraderie, sportsmanship and competition that makes mini roadracing a unique racing experience. Practice started Saturday morning; a steep learning curve was in front of the racers on this newest race track to the series. An extremely unforgiving and uncompromising track, fairly narrow and with limited passing opportunities were to challenge the most experienced racers. A notable difference in the rider’s persona was noticed throughout the day as racers shared race lines and experiences as they gained confidence in their ability to decipher the course challenges.

Timed Qualifying took place Saturday afternoon. The fastest growing class for 2009 is the Formula Supersport Class thanks largely to Honda Canada and there support of 8 CBR125Rs that have accompanied the AMRA to Rounds 3, 4 and 5 of the series. PCMRA President Roland Sturt Smith earned pole for this class with a 1.08.227 lap time followed by Edmontonian Chris Mah with a close 1.08.48. National Sponsor for the 2009 Canadian National Mini Roadracing Series, Midwest Motorsports holds a particular interest in the Thumper Class: Roland Sturt Smith also set the pole time for this class with a 1:06.09 lap time, a respectable 4 second lead over Kelowna’s Trevor Timmer, followed by Timmer’s son Destry in third. The Formula Thunder class is currently dominated by AMRA’s Young Cody Conrad: he set the pole time for this class at 1:07.8, a full 1.2 second faster than the competition. Conrad’s Formula Thunder ride is a RM65 which was purchased from Bodhi Edie out of Warmen Sask. The extremely dedicated pocketbike entourage out of Edmonton lead by Chris Mah along with Pierre and Daniel Pelletier also did timed qualifying for the Pocketbike 40cc class. Chris Mah turned a very respectable 1.08. 8 on his GRC (note this is faster than the qualifying times for the Thunder Class) while the Pelletier brothers ran 1:11’s. Unfortunately times were not picked up on the Pocketbike Open Class which is considerably faster than the 40cc Class. The Thunder Class was the largest Spec Class of the event: Trevor Timmer earned pole with a 1:09.05 shadowed by AMRA’s Ian McWhirter (1:09.64) followed in third by Chris Mah (1:09.80). The Motard and the Formula GP Class are the ultimate Mini RoadRacing Classes. PCMRA Treasurer and ‘Rock, Paper, Scissor Champion’ Paul Ludwig earned pole on his Motard with 1:02.827 followed by Ian McWhirter (1:03.43) and in third local talent Jordan Aylen (1:04.2). Formula GP qualifying was dominated by Brian Ens on a borrowed Honda RS150R from Washington’s Peter Lenz who is currently recovering from a racing incident earlier in the season. Brian would have made Lenz proud as he set the track record during the qualifying session with a 1:01.317 time, over two seconds over second place AMRA Jay Fox (1:03.9) and rounding out the top three was Stuart Johnston (1:04.4)

Sunday Race Day: Despite threatening rain filled weather reports, race day commenced under incredible blue BC skies. After a quick practice session to reacquaint competitors with the race track after a night’s absence, racers started the day with the Formula GP Class.

Formula GP Class: Brian Ens seemed to be taking no chances with his track record set in Saturdays qualifying session by matching his track record to the thousandth of a second on lap six in heat one. Again following Saturdays qualifying example AMRA’s Fox came in with second place and Stuart Johnston in third, both riders had similar times to their qualifying results. Heat 2 of the Formula GP class started with a bang for Fox as he piloted his RS80 around Greg Moore Raceway. Spectators were awed as Fox showed a spectacular display of race craft for the first seven laps riding to the full extent of his capabilities. “I considered this the last race of my season as I will be in Shannonville for the final round in Saskatchewan. I put my head down and rode as hard as I could, but Ens eventually got past me” stated Fox. On lap eight Ens showed Fox the back of his bike and never looked back. Fox took two seconds of his time from heat one with a spectacular 1:01.634, Ens reinforces his position as track record holder with a 1:01.208. Fox ends his 2009 National season with 17 points over second place AMRA’s Rob Ross, with only 15 points available for the final round Fox remains the Canadian National Formula GP Champion.

Motard Class: Champion Paul Ludwig led the entire field for both heats with lap times of mid 1:03’s and high 1:02’s. Ian McWhirter was penalized in heat 1 resulting in disqualification for the heat which despite strong finishes in both heats put him into eighth place overall. Local rider Jordan Aylen received a jumpstart penalty in heat 1 putting him back a full 5 positions into last place, with a stronger finish in the second heat Aylen finished his Motard experience in fifth place for the event running consistent 1:04.4’s in both heats. Angus MacNeil ran his CR85 at his first national appearance for the 2009 season with a strong showing. MacNeil finished second overall for the class behind Ludwig, Ryan Appenrodt came in third place overall. For the 2009 season McWhirter carries the #1 position by thirteen points over Appenrodt. Appenrodt will be attending Shannonville for the final round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge leaving McWhirter unchallenged as the reigning Motard Championship.

The Thumper Class was tyrannized by Roland Sturt Smith, who once again was racing on his fellow competitor’s race machine. Trevor Timmer the proud supplier of three of the machines for the racers in this class was ultimately owned by them all. A fall late in the second heat allowed Trevor’s son Destry to come in second place in the second and determining heat. Ian McWhirter Currently holds the number one position in the Championship Title search with 12 points over Roland Sturt Smith.

The Spec Thunder is often referred to the ‘workhorse’ class of the series. The 125cc four strokes are used and abused on the track, but it is the riders that can tame these machines that often rise to the top in the other classes. Trevor Timmer who first made his appearance for the national series in Quesnel, once again proved his skills as he finished in first place overall with 1:07.86 followed by McWhirter with a 1:09.252. In third place was Jay Fox, followed by McNeil and rounding out the top is youth challenger Cody Conrad. The racers continue to be surprised by Conrad who is consistently stepping up his skill set, and expect a strong racing future from him. Overall Calgarians leads the series; Jay Baloch with a 12 point lead over Matt Bagshaw who carries four points over third place Rob Ross.

Formula Thunder, the modified version of the Spec thunder class, is being dominated by young Cody Conrad. Conrad has consistently finished in either first or second place for the duration of the 2009 season. Conrad currently leads the Championship by 24 points over second place Uncle Rob Haynes. Conrad is the current reigning 2008 National and Provincial Champion for the Youth 7-10 Class and the Provincial Novice 10-16 Class Champion.

The Spec Supersport 50 class was lead by PCMRA President Roland Sturt Smith for both heats on his YSR 80. Roland set a lap time of 1:08.24, a full second over the next best time of Stuart Johnson who ran 1:09.28’s. Jay Fox came in second after two heats followed by AMRA’s Chris Wilson in third. Overall championship points have Chris Wilson with a 4 point lead over Fox and 16 points seperating second place and third place SMRA president Emil Peev. With Fox’s attendance at Shannonville for the final round Wilson will be declared the 2009 National Spec Supersport Champion.

Formula Supersport Class, the Honda CBR125R monopolized class is dominated by Quesnel’s Ryan ‘Next’ Appenrodt. The Greg Moore Raceway was unable to usurp Appenrodt from his #1 position, however Appenrodt will also be in Shannonville for the final round leaving the overall championship title wide open for second place contender Chris Wilson. Wilson with a nominal 4 point deficit is almost guaranteed the championship. Third place is currently held by Bodhi Edie who will also be in Shannonville, forth place with 12 points behind Wilson is Chris Mah who will need a bit of luck to take over first place.

The Ladies Class was a great show of sportsmanship as Samantha McManus kept her pace equal with 10 year old Christy Conrad. With only the two class entries for this event Sam and Christy were left to play and enjoy themselves on the track; Sam crossed the finish line a bare inch in front of her younger and less experienced competitor. The Overall Championship for the Ladies class is will be one on of the fiercest for the series. PSRA’s Robyn Ham is leading her sister Brooke by one point going into the final round, and only three points separate tied for third place Jana Ham and Sam McManus. The Ladies Championship can deservedly go to anyone of these four winners.

The Pocketbike Open and the Pocketbike 40cc continue to be dominated by Chris Mah with 19 points over second place Pierre Pelletier in the Open class and the same 19 points over Daniel Pelletier in the 40 cc class.

Pierre and Daniel each have two points over each other for third place positions in each class.

The final round of the Midwest Motosports ltd sponsored Canadian National Mini RoadRacing Series takes place in Martensville Sask September 5-6, 09. Pre registration is available at www.amra.ca/AMRAnews; Camping is available at the track from Friday evening on. This race track has a place in the history of many National Racing Champions and is an experience not to be missed!

Thanks to all our sponsors: Midwest Motorsports Canada, Canadian Powersports Group, CNMRA, AMRA, CIMRA, SMRA, PCMRC, PSRA

2009 Midwest Motorsports National Mini Road Racing Series Top Three After Round 5:

Formula 80: Jay Fox, Calgary Alberta, Rob Ross, Calgary Alberta, Jay Baloch, Calgary Alberta

Motard: Ian McWhirter, Calgary Alberta , Ryan Appenrodt, Quesnel BC, Paul Ludwig Langley BC

Thunder: Jay Baloch, Calgary Alberta, Matt Bagshaw, Calgary Alberta, Rob Ross, Calgary AB

Formula Thumper: Trevor Timmer, Kelowna BC, Roland Sturt Smith, Surry BC, Destry Timmer Kelowna

Thumper: Ian McWhirter Calgary AB, Roland Sturt Smith, Surry BC, Trevor Timmer Kelowna BC

Formula Thunder: Cody Conrad Calgary AB, Ryan Appenrodt Quesnel BC, Rob Haynes Calgary AB

Spec Supersport: Chris Wilson, Calgary Alberta, Jay Fox, Calgary AB, Emil Peev, Saskatoon Sask

Form Supersport: Ryan Appenrodt Quesnel BC, Chris Wilson Calgary Alberta, Bodhi Edie Warmen Sk,

Under 21 Spec: Chris Wilson Calgary AB, Matt Bagshaw Calgary AB, Christopher Mah, Edmonton

Formula Under 21: Cody Conrad, Calgary AB, Dylan Jones Delta BC, Geoff Gerbrandt Martensville, Sask,

Spec Over 21: Jay Baloch Calgary AB, Jay Fox Calgary AB, Roland Sturt Smith, Surry BC,

Formula Over 21: Jay Fox Calgary AB, Ian McWhirter Calgary Alberta, Rob Ross Calgary Alberta

Pocket Bike Open: Christopher Mah, Edmonton, Pierre Pelletier, Edmonton, Daniel Pelletier, Edmonton

Pocket Bike 40cc: Christopher Mah, Edmonton, Daniel Pelletier, Edmonton, Pierre Pelletier, Edmonton