June 2009
Main Street Racing's Ken Baird will be racing in the upcoming
Honda Indy in Toronto in the Canadian Touring Car support races.
In June, he competed in two regular stock car races at Capital
City Speedway and the ACT (American Canadian Tour) 100 lap races
held in Ottawa as well.
Johnny Watzlawik and his son Nicky were
great additions to the crew and keep the stats, times and before
race pit checks in order.
May 2009
Main Street Racing's Ken Baird competed in two stock car &
two road race events in May.
Things are looking good at the stock car track with new crew
members Johny Bernhard & Ike Bottema joining veterans August
Milke, Bev Millar & Craig Dolman.May 2009
Main Street Racing's Ken Baird competed in two stock car &
two road race events in May.
Things are looking good at the stock car track with new crew
members Johny Bernhard & Ike Bottema joining veterans August
Milke, Bev Millar & Craig Dolman. Fourth in points less
than 20 points out of first with a second & a sixth in the
features; the season is off to a great start. The next race
is a 100 lap ACT Castrol tour race on Saturday June 13th and
the #2 Carquest car will be at Capital City Speedway's Fan Appreciation
night June 5th. Look for us at Kawartha Speedway June 19th for
another 100 lap race.
On the road racing front the season got underway at Mosport
International Raceway on May 13th with a 3 hour Sundowner Enduro.
Ken qualified the Mercury Cougar owned by 8 Legs racing in 7th
out of 29 GT cars with a lap time of 1m54secs in the rain in
only his 6th lap on the track in over 8 years. The start of
the race went well although having decided to change to dry
tires minutes before the race (which was a bad decision because
it started to rain as the pace laps started) we missed the grid,
so had to start from the rear of the field. So, in the rain
and on dry tires, Ken managed to be on 8th on the track by the
45 minute mark when a full course caution came out. After the
caution Ken was able to move into 2nd place by the time the
first hour was up. Eric Hochgeschurz fuelled the car and took
over the driving for the next 1 hour stint. But the mighty Cougar
failed him as the shifter first broke and then the oil cooler
failed shortly after. We repaired the car behind the wall &
Arek Wojciechowski took over the wheel for the last hour but
the car had no more in it as the left front wheel bearing failed
and would end our race.
We were able to repair the Cougar with parts borrowed from Eric
Numelin, for Arek to drive it in the Canadian Touring Car race
on Sunday, as the engine in his BMW had failed in practice.
He finished 9th in class & Eric was 11th in his BMW for
8 Leggs Racing.
The next race for the 8 Legs racing team was in Shannonville
for the DAC Trillium Trophy Race. Ken was up to speed quickly
in practice on the Long track configuration which he had never
driven before and was anticipating a good qualifying run for
the afternoon race. It would not be so. The RF axle of the Cougar
broke on the first hot lap of Qualifying. Having brought all
the spare parts with us that the team had, luck would have it
that we had a spare axle!
The first 20 min race on Saturday afternoon was interesting
having to start from the rear of the field of 32 cars. Ken moved
from 32nd to 15th overall, and 3rd in class (GT3).
Sunday consisted of two 20 min races. The first Ken finished
11th overall, and 4th in class; the second & final race
of the day finished 10th overall and 3rd in class podium finish.
The next scheduled road race is the Ted Powell Memorial Race
by the Mtorsports Club of Ottawa mco.org, at Calabogie July
23th to 26th, 2009. http://www.mco.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:2009-ted-powell-race-weekend-information&catid=4:ted-powell-memorial-race-current-info&Itemid=8
Ken is the newest addition to the 8legs
Racing team and has been racing in motorsports since 1991, starting
with karts then quickly moving to road and stock car racing, including
GT Sprints, ChampCar, CASCAR, ProTruck Series and NASCAR. Most
recently, Ken has been driving in the ACT Late Model Class, and
instructing with various clubs in Ontario and Quebec. Ken is the
owner/operator of Main Street Racing & Automotive Inc. in
North Gower, Ontario specializing in performance race setups.
Career Highlights
2008 - ACT Late Model, winner of Summer ShootOut
2006 - Late Model 3rd overall
2002 - six 1st place podium finishes in ProTruck Series
1999 - awarded the Dewar Trophy for Rookie Race Driver of the
Year
1998 - Jim Russell race school, Top in Class award
1995 - ProStock Champion
In 2009 ACT Late Model races at Capital
City and Kawartha will blend regular weekly stockcar racing and
road racing with the 8 Legs Racing Team at Mosport, Shannonville
and Calabogie, along with various instructing sessions for BMW
Ottawa and BMW Quebe
Capital
City 3 Wins in a row.
Only
the second night racing and the ACT Late Model of Ken Baird won
both heats and the feature on Wednesday Night Racing at Capital
City Speedway.
Last
Wednesday, June 4th, the Main Street Automotive CARQUEST Nepean
race car came in second in the Feature Race. This was the first
night of racing this season. The engine blew at the first race
of the season and Ken went to the US and picked up the crate motor
for the class on the day of the second race day. Third race day
rained out, but since then the weather has held and Ken Baird
and his 2 ACT Late Model have shown what they can do. And this
is the start of the Season. Let's Go Racing..
In
Instructor News, Ken has already been instructing at Calabogie
Motorsports Raceway this year and is heading off to teach at the
the New track at Mirabel, the new track facility that has opened
north of Montreal at the old Mirabel airport. This is a brand
new circuit that a few lucky folks got already a taste of and
the reviews are quite encouraging. For more information on the
actual facility please visit: http://circuiticar.com/ . The other
special element of this June 21st event is that it will be running
late afternoon and evening which should make things even more
interesting.
Main Street Racing and AutoMotive - North Gower Ottawa Ontario
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARQUEST ACT Late Model #2
MAIN STREET RACING
CONTACT: Main Street Racing
mainst@mainstreetottawa.com
www.mainstreetottawa.com
613 489-0980 - Box 37, North Gower Ottawa ON K0A 2T0
Call for Sponsorship Opportunities in Oval and Road Racing
Rent the Van Dieman ChampCar Lights for a Taste of Formula Car
Racing.
Performance Setups for Racing
Road and Oval Track Instruction
DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 2008
All 3 Wins for Main Street Racing's Ken
Baird and the CARQUEST # 2 ACT Late Model
Summer racing at Capital City Speedway is off to a good start
- Four racedays in so far for the ACT Late Models (American-Canadian
Tour Late Model Cars) but only the second for the #2 car, which
blew an engine at the beginning of the season. The new crate engine
is installed and on its first night garnered a Second Place in
the Feature. Next Night out the CARQUEST # 2 Main Street Racing
ACT Late Model, driven by Ken Baird, won all three ACT Late Model
races at Ottawa's Capital City Speedway.ca.. Look for many more
wins as the setup gets perfected and the racing heats up.
Only the second night racing and the ACT
Late Model of Ken Baird won both heats and the feature on Wednesday
Night Racing at Capital City Speedway. (http://www.capitalcityspeedway.ca/)
Last Wednesday, June 4th, the Main Street Automotive CARQUEST
Nepean race car came in second in the Feature Race. This was the
first night of racing this season. The engine blew at the first
race of the season and Ken went to the US and picked up the crate
motor for the class on the day of the second race day. Third race
day rained out, but since then the weather has held and Ken Baird
and his 2 ACT Late Model have shown what they can do. And this
is the start of the Season. Let's Go Racing..
In Instructor News, Ken has already been
instructing at Calabogie Motorsports Raceway this year and is
heading off to teach at the the New track at Mirabel, the new
track facility that has opened north of Montreal at the old Mirabel
airport. This is a brand new circuit that a few lucky folks got
already a taste of and the reviews are quite encouraging. For
more information on the actual facility please visit: http://circuiticar.com/
. The other special element of this June 21st event is that it
will be running late afternoon and evening which should make things
even more interesting.
Thanks to the Sponsors
CARQUEST Nepean (613) 225-9221
8 Cleopatra Drive
Nepean, ON K2G0B3
Main Street Racing and Automotive (613)
489-0948
And affiliate Main Street Consulting and the Main Street Building
2319 Community Way
North Gower, ON K0A 2T0
mainst@mainstreetottawa.com
Bernhard Turbo Trans
Visit www.mainstreetracing.com for news and past years notes on
Ken Baird and Main Street Racing.
Driver Ken Baird working with the Main Street crew of August,
John, (Craig couldn't make it) and Bev on camera with extra help
from Michael C.
CARQUEST Parts. You can call CARQUEST Nepean
225-9221 weekdays for great advice and assistance on your Car
Part needs. Main Street Automotive - regular maintenance as well
as expert repair work and honest, reliable advice. 613-489-0948
Main Street Racing & Automotive - Professional Service, Energy
Efficient and Performance Set Ups
Call 613-489-0948 for details.
Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Ken had quite the crash on Saturday, after
a visiting driver, new to the track, forgot to leave any room.
Here is a video clip - Squeeze
crashes Ken. If is 4 MB so on dial up will take awhile, an
hour or two. Ken is fine, but the car is quite done. New car in
the works, and looking for sponsors - signage available on the
bottom of the car..
Click
for Crash Pics Sept09/06
Pictures
courtesy of BuzzHaze.com
Photography
Calabogie
Track Video Link - another video clip of the new track but
it is 14 mb
link to a lap of Calabogie
http://www.picsphere.com/Video/CalabogieCarLap.wmv
Wednesday,August
27th, 2006
Photo
Courtesy of Buzz Haze Photography
http://www.buzzhaze.com for Racing
Photography
Old favourites are hard to beat!
#63 Leads off early.
Main Street Racing's # 63 showed that the
old favourites are hard to beat, even with new cars appearing
weekly. Ken Baird drove the #63 from 7th place to the lead in
under than 4 laps at the start of last Wednesday's Race. He lead
for the rest of the first half of the 50 Lap Price Paving Late
Model feature. Early in the second half of the Feature Race, damage
from an earlier heat race seems to be the cause of a rear control
arm bracket failing. That resulted in an abrupt end to the night's
racing. Thanks to Ken's driving exerience, he knew something was
seriously wrong. Ken came in to the pits quickly,... just before
the frame dropped to the ground. The crew quickly figured how
to lift the backend up off the ground to roll #63 onto the trailer,
to get it back to the race shop and ready for next week's race.
Ricky Rump won the $1000 prize and Dave Riopelle in #92 won both
of the heats handily.
Capital City Speedway's PRICE PAVING NIGHT
was good racing and great fun for all, but especially rewarding
for Main Street Racing's hard working Driver and Crew. Late Model
racing this year is a blend of fast and faster cars, fast and
faster drivers, with new and familiar drivers. This makes a constantly
changing pace, with new cars joining every week. Every race is
different, exciting and fast. Ottawa has a great StockCar Track
Facility, letting budding racers to seasoned veterans compete
close to home, giving fans of Motorsports a venue they can enjoy
all year.
Thanks to Charlie Price of Price Paving
in Kemptville for bumping up the prize money to $1000 for a Late
Model win, for the extra laps and for tons of give-aways including
Brand New Bicycles for some lucky kids. Time MCI and Movie Mat
donated more gift giveaways including NASCAR Jackets, Hoodies,
T-Shirts and Hats. Pizza Pizza made sure life was a slice.
And Chris Dolman, home for a couple of
weeks from the Navy, took on his old job of Spotter, working with
Ken, guiding the racecar through the field. For those who haven't
listened to spotters during televised races, these team members
have to know the racers, the track and the cars as well as have
6th sense for what could happen and is happening as they feed
information continually to their drivers. Chris is an expert at
it, his calm, calculated words and sense of humour adding a whole
extra dimension to the Race. Thanks Chris for your work, and take
care in the Navy. Chris now lives in Halifax, but we are trying
to convince him to fly back up for the Monster Jam, September
9th at Capital City.
Capital City's crowds have continued to
grow under the new owners and management. Sponsors are coming
out of the woodwork to sign up. September 9th Monster Jam will
have a full day of racing and the Late Models will be competing
for a $4000 pot. By Race Day this might hit $5000, so be prepared
for some very competitive cars and drivers at this end of season
finale. The new Owners and new management at the track have made
a world of difference and the Race Teams are upbeat and filling
the rosters. Sponsors are coming out of the woodwork and onto
the cars and walls and websites of the local motorsports.
This support lets new setups be worked
on all the time, continously improving the racecars performances
and the race teams knowledge set. A bit of rain slowed things
down at the beginning of the season but steady racing, good crowds
and good car counts are making for a very good race season. The
cars get faster and the racing more exciting. There are only 2
more Wednesday Regular Race Nights, apart from Saturday's Sept.
9th Monter Jam. That's Aug 30 and Sept 6th. Come and see local
racing at its best!
OTHER NEWS - Setups at New Hampshire Busch Race, Sanair ACT and
Kawartha Raceway.
Ken Baird and the Main Street Team have
been busy not just at the Capital City Speedway in Ottawa, but
at Kawartha Raceway in Peterborough and at Sanair 's ACT Race
in July pitting American and Canadian racecar drivers against
one anouther in that premier racing venue, and At the Busch Race
in New Hampshire in July with MacDonald Motorsports.
The ACT Late Models were going to Sanair
for the first time in seven years. Sanair is a 7/8-mile tri-oval
and the "La Mega Classique" is the first of three ACTion
Super Series races that pays $10,000 to the winner. Jacob McGrath
was the driver, using Riopelle's Late Model and Ken Baird and
Mike Kenyon working on the setup.
In Louden, New Hampshire, Randy MacDonald
had Ken to work on setup with first on the Busch East Race and
then on the Busch Race the next day. Watkins Glen was next on
the list, but other racing interfered so Ken will be back on a
Race Day later in the Season, after Racing here has had a chance
to wind up for the Season.
Three different venues and four completely
different racecars and setups with different drivers had everyone's
brains doing overtime to get the most out of the cars and the
teams. Made for a Very Good July and August for Racing.
Look for Ken Baird and Dave Riopelle at
the Milk Bowl at Thunder Alley in Barre Vermont at the end of
September. The #92 will be competing at that fun filled raceday
drawing up to ten thousand racing fans.
Deb Davis has continued to rack up the
wins in the Four For Fun races. Capital City Speedways KENYON
RACING PRODUCTS Wednesday Night Race Night race in July was an
exciting race to watch as she won the Four for Fun. She is going
to have to get a Mini-Stock for 2007 and show the guys how to
get the job done! Or Maybe a Late Model. Nice racing Deb.
Talking about getting a Late Model, Matt
Moffitt of the Main Street Team has his own Late Model now, so
look for MTM Racing to be out in the front as they work out the
kinks, and set the car up for the Capital City track. Though we
miss him and his family's help in our pits - he is great competition
in the Capital City Speedway's KENYON RACING PRODUCT http://www.kenyonracing.com/
Late Models Class as he was in the ProTrucks before and ProStocks
before that.
Wednesday,June
7th, 2006
Double Back to Back Victories
in Late Model Class at Capital City Speedway make up for two rained
out Race nights and a incident laden May 24th Race. Thanks to
Matt Moffitt for late night and weekend work fixing up the 63
Car while Ken was in Charlotte North Carolina.
The Victory Lap
“Herb” John Parks, Ken Baird,
Bruce Moffitt, Matt Moffiitt, Howard Moffitt and Craig Dolman
Photos Courtesy of Buzz Haze Photography
http://www.buzzhaze.com for Racing Photography
Ken Baird and the Main Street Team double
their wins with Back-to-Back Victories.
Capital City Speedway’s KENYON RACING
PRODUCTS Wednesday Night Race Night was fun for all last night,
but especially sweet for Main Street Racing’s hard working
Driver and Crew. With new cars and old favourites competing in
the Late Model Class, the racing is exciting and fast. Riopelle’s
new 92 was there and lightning quick in testing and will be a
challenge along with Ricky Rumps new race car. And was that our
fellow North Gowerian Deb Davis winning the Four for Fun we taped
- nice racing Deb.
In the first Late Model heat race, Ken
was boxed in, and it wasn't until the second Heat that Ken Baird
was able to show what the Main Street Car 63 and Crew could do
in this very competitive Late Model competition. Starting in the
middle of the pack, Ken passed the cars in from of him and took
a commanding lead taking the first checkered of the Season.
In the Feature, Ken started in sixth place,
but quickly moved to the front in the first lap, but a major,
rather spectacular, melee in the cars further back in the pack
necessitated a restart. The cars took their initial starting positions
and this time it was a false start. The third start saw Ken once
again quickly power towards the front and he got to second in
the first laps. He followed Waite's 88 for a few laps before overtaking,
on the outside, in corner 2, increasing his lead through the back
straight. By half way Ken had a significant lead. At ¾'s
of the race done, Ricky Rump's 96 and Dave Riopelle new 92 were
gaining on the 63 Car, but never got close. The finish of the
race saw Ken and his crew collect the Late Model Plaque and Prize
money from Cindy Kenyon, of Kenyon Racing Products. All in all,
a satisfying evening and great racing for all.
Great work by the crew, Craig Dolman, Matt
Moffitt, "Herb" John Parks, Howard Moffitt, Bruce Moffitt
and Ken himself, setting up the Car to get the most out of the
car and the track. Every minute the car was in the pit, the crew
was working on making it better – and they continue to. After
the Races at the Track Sponsor -Broadway Bar and Grill in Stittsville,
discussion immediately turned to making the car even better.
Thank you to all our sponsors, CARQUEST,
Tech Net Professional, First Place Renovations, G. W. Roofing,
Bernhard Turbo Trans and Barry Horricks and the Main Street Racing
and Automotive Corporation. Together bringing quality motorsports
to Ontario East.
Thanks to Kenyon Racing Products 15 Precision
Dr. Kemptville, Ontario 613-258-5345 or 1-888-536-9660
Main Street Racing – Ken Baird and
Crew:
Ken Baird, Matt Moffitt, “Herb”
John Parks, Craig Dolman, Bruce Moffitt, Howard Moffitt, John
Penner
Main Street Racing and Automotive - Box
37, 2319 Community Way, North Gower ON K0A 2T0
613-489-0948 kenbaird@mainstreetottawa.com
www.MainStreetRacing.com
Wednesday,
May 10th, 2006
Ken and the Main Street
Team are SECOND in Points after the Season Opener at Capital City
Speedway. The first Wednesday Night races of the 2006 Season went
well with great weather and better racing with a great crowd,
one of the biggest in years.
In the first heat race
the car was not performing greatly with a push in the corners.
We started third and finished third, holding our own in a very
competitive 10 Late Model start up race.
In the second heat the
car was better. Great work by the crew, Matt Moffat, "Herb"
John Parks, Howard Moffat, Bruce Moffat and Ken managed to let
Ken move from 5th to the lead of the race IN THE FIRST LAP. He
lead for the first half, the car fading in the second half when
Steve Munro and Brian Copp managed to squeeze by.
In the shortened Feature,
20 laps instead of 25 due to time constraints, Ken started on
the back row. This gave a short time to cut through the traffic.
Passing and avoiding incidents, Ken not only held on, but drove
the still awkward handling race car for a second place finish!
May 10th, 2006
February
2006
Capital City Speedway is under New Management
and Wednesday Night Racing with the Late Models is back on track.
Main Street Racing is returning to Capital City Speedway and we
will see you there.
Check here for updates and news items.
