Main Street Racing News

CONTACT: mainst@magi.com www.mainstreetottawa.com 613 489-0980 - Box 37, North Gower Ottawa ON K0A 2T0

Sept 17th, 2001
Main Street Racing Press Release.

Main Street Racing CarQuest #2 ProTruck Wins Second Place in an Exciting Race for the Checkered at Capital City Speedway

Ken Baird's CarQuest ProTruck Places Second in a side by side Race to the Finish Line with Billy Routcliffe

Ken Baird and Main Street Racing moved up through the pack at Capital City Speedway, starting in 8th place he showed what the CarQuest #2 ProTruck could do. Throughout the 30 lap Feature Race last Sunday, Ken just kept working his way ahead, passing each ProTruck in a miniature race of its own. On the last lap, on the last corner and through the straight, Ken pulled up beside Billy Routcliffe's #82 ProTruck but needed another lap to win. Billy Routcliffe of Manotick/North Gower area, won a well deserved race, having been in the lead a couple of times before this season when something happened to deprive him of the Final Win. Congrats to Billy - still winning races in over 30 years of racing. Bill Routcliffe's Web Site can be found at http://www.routlifferacing.com/ . You can check the points and profiles for all the drivers in all the classes at http://www.capitalcityspeedway.com/points.htm . Third Place went to Steve Munro of Carp. Steve Yendall and Matt Moffitt finished 7th and 8th , but finished well in the heat races with a 3rd for Matt and 4th for Steve Yendall. In the first heat race, things were going well until a close run by another ProTruck cut the valve stem of Ken's right front tire. He got another tire on but had to start at the back of the pack. The heat race gave him a eighth place finish, which combined with a down the wire finish in the Feature meant a Very Good Sunday of Racing at Capital City Speedway.

In the Mini Stocks, Dave Watchorn made a great come back - He won his first heat, third in the second, and then won the Mini Stock Feature to regain a fair portion of the points he lost with losing two engines in a row in recent events. Martin Walter was doing great, got a second and a first in the heats, but in the feature had a very hard run in with the 53 Mini Stock. Chris Dunham won the second heat. All seem ok, and Martin was working on his car that night, getting it ready to give Dave a run for his money in the last few races of the Season.

Earl Wylie was back in the running, and was in first place for half the laps of the ProStock Feature until he was spun, and he then had fun working his way through the pack. Great fun watching Earl's special style of driving which seems to be quite successful.

You can visit www.mainstreetottawa.com/status.html for past updates on Ken Baird and Main Street Racing. There are many great racing sites but by going to some of the local sites you can find out what is going on in your City Motorsports-wise. Check out www.mco.org for the Motorsports Club of Ottawa Web Site where you can sign up for Rally Races, Solo Races, Driving Schools or just attend the monthly meetings at Louis' Restaurant off Old Cyrville Road the first Tuesday evening of each month.Thanks to all Our Excellent Crew - Colin Lewis is the Car Chief and Chief Mechanic, Rob Jackson is Backup Driver, Jeff Brown and Chris Lewis are Crewmen and Leo Constantinou is the Race Cars Parts Professional. Pam Lewis, Chris Dolman and Bev Millar are the Team Assistants. Thanks for the extra help this week to August Mielke.Main Street Racings Sponsors this year are CARQUEST, Class 8 Collision, Shell Oil Thermoshell, G. W. Roofing, Bernhard Turbo Trans, R.V.S. Hydraulics, Kemco Radiator, Extreme Signs, Irish Rose ATV Nature Trails, Custom Welding, Barry Horricks and WineMakers.

Sept 11th, 2001

Main Street Racing CarQuest #2 ProTruck moves up 5 places at ANCA Regionals at Capital City Speedway last Sunday.

Ken Baird's CarQuest ProTruck Placing Consistently on the First of the Fall Sunday Races at Capital City Speedway

Ken Baird and Main Street Racing moved up through the pack in the 100 Lap , starting in 11th place and moving up to around 7th, as official results are not out yet. This was a Regional Race so the Quebec Drivers were there, making a full field of Pro-Trucks racing on very summer-like Sunday at Capital City's Speedway's Sunday Fall Races. Two of the Quebec drivers finished in the top five, and so did two of North Gower's Drivers. Matt Moffitt and Steve Yendall finished 2nd and 3rd, with Tim Kirby winning. You can check the points for all the drivers at http://www.capitalcityspeedway.com/points.htm .

In the Mini Stocks, Chris Dunham gets a win that he worked hard for, right to the end of the race. Martin Walter came second, almost getting the win on the last lap. Our other North Gower Driver had a continuation of his engine problems. Dave Watchorn lost his engine, again. This change from the 1st, 2nd places Dave and Martin usually get is making the end of season races even more exciting to watch.

Plans are still underway to raise the $10,000 needed to take Eastern Ontario's Canadian ChampCar Lights to the Fall Classic at the newly renovated Mt Tremblant Road Racetrack, Sept. 22 and 23. Any prospective sponsors can call and speak to Ken Baird at 489-0948. Tommy Hilfiger and friends have remodeled this track to modern standards and the track promises to be an international attraction along with all the other charms of this wonderful Canadian venue.

Apologies for the briefness of this release, but today's events in the United States make it appropriate. Our condolences to all affected by this horrific set of tragedies.

You can visit www.mainstreetottawa.com/status.html for past updates on Ken Baird and Main Street Racing. Two other racing sites you might like that we recently checked out are http://www.sportsdata.on.ca/ and http://www.gregogilvie.com/.

Sept 3rd, 2001

Ken Baird's CarQuest ProTruck Does Well at Ottawa and Montreal - a Great Week of Racing

Ken Baird and Main Street Racing got a fourth place finish in a nice, clean race at Capital City Speedway's last Wednesday night race of the Season. The remaining races of the season will be on Sundays at Capital City. First of these is the Sept 9th Sponsor's Night Race. It is a 100 lap race with Ottawa's and Montreal's ProTrucks battling it out in the last of the Regional Points Races. Ken Baird is the top Ottawa car in the Montreal Points Race and Sixth in the Ottawa Series. The CarQuest ProTruck raced in the 150 Lap ProTruck Race at Autodrome St Eustache and got a fourteenth place while dealing with a power steering problem. Steve Yendall won second place in his heat and in the Wednesday Night Feature Race, adding to his points. Steve is the points leader in Capital City to date. Matt Moffitt also did well with his win of the heat race and fifth place win in the feature. You can check the points for all the drivers at http://www.capitalcityspeedway.com/points.htm .

In the Mini Stocks, Chris Dunham gave Dave Watchorn and Martin Walter a run for their money but Dave and Martin were able to keep their 1st and 2nd places in some very exciting racing. They were at the Montreal Autodrome as well on Saturday. Martin finished sixth, and Dave Watchorn had some major engine trouble in the 17th lap and retired from the race. Lyle Perkins, North Gower's CASCAR driver, also had engine troubles, and had to forego the Delaware Speedway race. The next CASCAR race is at St Eustache Sept. 8th, the CARQUEST 150 Lap race.

Plans are still underway to raise the $10,000 needed to take Eastern Ontario's Canadian ChampCar Lights to the Fall Classic at the newly renovated Mt Tremblant Road Racetrack, Sept. 22 and 23. Any prospective sponsors can call and speak to Ken Baird at 489-0948. Tommy Hilfiger and friends have remodeled this track to modern standards and the track promises to be an international attraction along with all the other charms of this wonderful Canadian venue.

You can visit www.mainstreetottawa.com/status.html for past updates on Ken Baird and Main Street Racing. And there is a new site we checked out, http://www.sportsdata.on.ca/ and http://www.gregogilvie.com/ Thanks to all Our Excellent Crew - Colin Lewis is the Car Chief and Chief Mechanic, Rob Jackson is Backup Driver, Jeff Brown and Chris Lewis are Crewmen and Leo Constantinou is the Race Cars Parts Professional. Pam Lewis, Chris Dolman and Bev Millar are the Team Assistants. Main Street Racings Sponsors this year are CARQUEST, Class 8 Collision, Shell Oil Thermoshell, G. W. Roofing, Bernhard Turbo Trans, R.V.S. Hydraulics, Kemco Radiator, Extreme Signs, Irish Rose ATV Nature Trails, Custom Welding, Barry Horricks and WineMakers.

August 24, 2001,

Fan Appreciation Night at Capital City Speedway

Ken Baird and the CARQUEST ProTruck #2 had a fun night at Capital City Speedway's Fan Appreciation Day. Fan Appreciation Night is Main Street Racing's opportunity to meet the fans who make Motorsports so popular. Drivers like Ken Baird talk to fans, sign autographs, and have giveaways as thanks to the audience for making Oval Track Racing possible in Ottawa. This Wednesday Night was no exception. Matt Moffitt's team even had a special draw of 4 MTM Racing Jackets, which at least one North Gower Fan was very happy to win. The fans were visiting on the track so long at intermission that is was lucky the ProTruck Feature was a fine example of green flag racing with the new City's time limits on Racing. No Cautions and Kemptville's Kevin Ramsay won the Feature Race, leaving plenty of time for the Mini Stocks, the Mini Legends, ProStock and HobbyStock Features. Of the North Gower Drivers, Matt Moffitt finished ninth, Ken finished twelfth, Steve Yendall fourteenth having trouble with his transmission.

Mini Stocks - what can anyone say - it was Dave Watchorn and then Martin Walter, it was Martin then Dave, it was Dave and then Martin - the saga continues. Great fun to watch these guys duel it out, specially now that the other drivers are giving them such a run for their money.

This coming Wednesday, August 29th is the last of the Wednesday Night Races. Sundays will be the new racing day for the Fall at Capital City Speedway as the evenings are beginning to get dark earlier. The CASCAR races are finished at Capital City Speedway for the Season, so Lyle Perkins, our North Gower CASCAR Driver, has his remaining Race Events at Delaware Speedway and Autodrome St Eustache. Ken Baird and the CarQuest ProTruck will be heading off to Montreal for the 150 Lap ProTruck Race at Autodrome St Eustache.

Plans are also underway to raise the $10,000 needed to take Eastern Ontario's Canadian ChampCar Lights to the Fall Classic at the newly renovated Mt Tremblant Road Racetrack, Sept. 22 and 23. Any prospective sponsors can call and speak to Ken Baird at 489-0008.

And there is a new site we just checked out, http://www.sportsdata.on.ca/ which has the unofficial results from the races sometimes the same day. This site can provide all the services to run sports leagues, teams and individual sports including statistics, schedules, provide officials and timekeepers, order uniforms, take photographs, present awards and cater banquets. And they are based here in Ottawa as well as Huntsville, Kingston, Kirkland Lake and Toronto Leo Constantinou could not be at the track this past week, being busy with his brand new daughter, Zoë, but he continues, with CARQUEST, to contribute all week as our Race Car Parts Professional. You can call him at CARQUEST Nepean 225-9221 most weekdays and he will give you great advice and assistance on your Car Parts needs. Thanks to all Our Excellent Crew - Colin Lewis is the Car Chief and Chief Mechanic, Rob Jackson is Backup Driver, Jeff Brown and Chris Lewis are Crewmen and Leo Constantinou is the Race Cars Parts Professional. Pam Lewis, Chris Dolman and Bev Millar are the Team Assistants. Main Street Racings Sponsors this year are CARQUEST, Class 8 Collision, Shell Oil Thermoshell, G. W. Roofing, Bernhard Turbo Trans, R.V.S. Hydraulics, Kemco Radiator, Extreme Signs, Irish Rose ATV Nature Trails, Custom Welding, Barry Horricks and WineMakers. Ken has a new Sponsor for the CARQUEST ProTruck - WineMakers, a new Village Brew-On-Premises for Wine and Beer - also located in the Main Street Building at 2319 Community Way, North Gower.

August 20, 2001,

Good, Smooth Racing for Ken Baird and the CARQUEST ProTruck #2 Capital City Speedway's Feature Race on Wednesday, August 15th, 2001

Wednesday Night's Feature Race with the ProTrucks at Capital City Speedway was good, clean racing. There were only two cautions, one in the first half and one in the second, and racing finished within the specified time limits. Noise concerns are being met by the track limiting the time on each race to approximately one minute per lap. This means the 30 Lap feature has to be completed within the 30 minutes allotted. Cautions could potentially use up a lot of race time so all were glad the cautions were slight.

Ken came in Fourth in his heat race, right behind one of our other North Gower Drivers, Steve Yendall. Stephen Benoit won the Heat. The Feature win went to Carp's Steve Munro with Ken, working his way up from a ninth place start, finishing in Fifth position out of a field of seventeen. Steve Yendall was Seventh and Matt Moffitt, our other North Gower ProTruck driver, was Eleventh - not a usual finishing position for this successful young driver. All the North Gower ProTrucks finished with little to do to make them ready for the Wednesday Night's Racing except the perennial setup work to continuously improve performance.

North Gower's CASCAR Driver, Lyle Perkins, did well at the Raindate Race on Sunday, August 19th. He finished well and had good racing and little to fix as well. Ron Beauchamp from Ormstown Quebec won the CASCAR Feature.

Dave Watchorn and Martin Walter of North Gower took one win each for the heats, and Martin got First and Dave Second in the Feature. I wonder what these two neighbours talk about during the week - trade set up notes and then may the best driver win? Lots of fun to watch anyway you look at it. Was Nice to see Chris Dunham make them work for their wins. He was third and second respectively in the heats, making the North Gower boys work just a little bit harder.

Earl Wylie had a rather spectacular crash on Wednesday night driving his old hobbystock, while he waits for an engine for his Pro Stock. His throttle stuck on and he went right over the wall between corner One and Two. When the car stopped it looked like he had neatly parked it beside the fence. Earl was ok and his hobbystock is fixed and ready to race again on Wednesday.

This Wednesday, August 22nd, is Fan Appreciation Night at Capital City Speedway, so bring your cameras and autograph book as your favourite drivers will be parking on the track for the audience to come and see close up the Cars and ProTrucks with an opportunity to speak with the drivers and find out a bit more about motorsports in Ottawa.

Rebuilt andRacing Again - August 12th Press Release

The ProTruck #2's was off and racing after an intense effort by the Main Street Racing Team after last race's contact with the Wall.

The extra care showed as the ProTruck driven by Kenny Baird worked it's way from 7th to nosing into 1st in the first half of the feature. While Ken was working on getting into first, Tim Kirby's #10 bumped and spun Ken's truck, sending Ken to the back of the pack for causing a caution. Ken worked his way back through the pack to seventh again. And, this time, close contact in Corner One loosened some of the new body panels enough that Ken had to go to the pits for repairs. Ah, well, that's racing. Tim Kirby won the race, followed by Gilles Seguin and Dave Riopelle, after Danny Yeas had led for most of the race, losing his position in the very last lap.

Everything was back in order for Saturday's Autodrome St Eustache in Montreal Cummins Racing Event with ProTrucks and CASCAR. Ken Baird and Steve Yendall were the only Ottawa drivers in the ProTruck Series Races.

CASCAR had more Ottawa drivers, with Carp's Steve Munro and Ottawa's Al Long battling it out for first with Al Long getting the win. Sounds like the Min-Stocks at Capital City, with Dave Watchorn and Martin Walter. They seem to have running first and second down to a fine art. This past Wednesday saw Dave win. These guys are a treat to watch. The Mini-Stocks have great cars this year and one of the most popular series for drivers and fans alike.

And, talking about popular drivers, the ProStock driver Earl Wylie, his engine blew up big time. Well, last we heard form Earl, he was already planning where to get the next motor and how to be ready for Wednesday Night Racing.

Last Wednesday at Capital City Speedway definitely was a Fan Event for Action, but a bit hard on the pocket books of the Drivers. This week, August 15th, is regular racing with the ProTruck, Mini-legends, Mini-stocks, Hobbystock and Four for Fun, for those that want a less expensive taste of racing.

The next week, August 22nd, Race Vehicles be out and shining for Fan Appreciation Day at Capital City Speedway. Special thanks to the Crew at Main Street Racing for all the excellent work to get the ProTruck out there for the Races. Colin, Pam and Chris Lewis spent more time in the garage than home last week, and Leo Constantinou brought great pizza and great good humour to the scene. Best Wishes to him these days - he and his most patient spouse are expecting their first born any day now; Makes him run for that cell phone when it rings.

Main Street Racings Sponsors this year are CARQUEST, Class 8 Collision, Shell Oil Thermoshell, G. W. Roofing, Bernhard Turbo Trans, R.V.S. Hydraulics, Kemco Radiator, Extreme Signs, Irish Rose ATV Nature Trails, Custom Welding, and Barry Horricks. Again, Thanks to An Excellent Crew - Colin Lewis is the Car Chief and Chief Mechanic, Rob Jackson is Backup Driver and Crewman, Jeff Brown and Chris Lewis are Crewmen and Leo Constantinou is the Race Cars Parts Professional. Pam Lewis, Chris Dolman and Bev Millar are the Team Assistants.

July 26th, 2001,
Main Street Racing Press Release.

Ouch! Crunch! for Ken and the CarQuest Car At the Speedway,  The Kars Parade was Great Fun, and The Canaska Cup with MCO a great success and so was  Fan Appreciation Day in North Gower!!!

HEADLINE:  Main Street Racing’s Ken Baird Drives the Pace Car for Canaska Cup

Main Street Racing’s Ken Baird drove the Bytek Volkswagen Pace Car for the Canaska Cup at Shannonville, July 7^th and 8th. The Motorsports Club of Ottawa (www.mco.org) does the Canaska Cup along with the Twin Lakes Motorsports Club.  These races include the Canadian Challenge Cup, which was won by Ottawa’s own Jim Holtom, the Ontario Challenge Cup which includes Bob Armstrong of North Gower, Ian Madden of Ottawa’s Metric Auto, Jay Saslove and Mike Kilby of Richmond, to name a few.  Great Racing and you can camp for the Weekend at the track.  Great Fun and Thanks to All that Participated.

The first half of July was quieter at Capital City Speedway, but heated up to the CASCAR and the PRO Truck Mid Season Championships.  The three Steve’s, Steve Munro, Steve Benoit and North Gower’s own Steve Yendall were one, two and three.  Matt Moffitt of North Gower won the 1^st heat – Good going Matt.  Steve Munro of Carp won the second heat.

Ouch, Crunch! was what happened to Ken’s CarQuest #2 as Tim Kirby’s #10 touched wheels with Ken’s ProTruck, sending it airborne.  As this was in the middle of corner two, the Truck went straight into the wall  (so much for centrifugal force).  This stopped it abruptly and shortened a foot or two;  Or three. Colin Lewis, his son Chris and Ken are getting it back to running order as I write, so we should see the ProTruck Wednesday, August 8^th at the Speedway and then on to St Eustache-Montreal for the Saturday races.  James McCurdy, son of Sheila and Gary, did a Wonderful Banner promoting Ken Baird, his Crew, Sponsors and the #2 ProTruck.  We will post it in the Shop as a ‘Before’ picture. 

Dave Watchorn and Martin Walter played their normal back to front, me first, you second, entertaining the crowd.  They are fast – must be that North Gower water.  Dave came from the back of the pack in the 1^st heat to place second, Martin winning first place.  Dave won the second heat and Martin won the Feature. 

Earl Wylie, our popular Hobby Stock Driver, moved up to ProStock and came second in his Feature Race.  Not bad for a Rookie.  Way to Go, Earl.

Melissa Watchorn, and her Rosebud Stationary (10^th Anniversary) held a very successful North Gower Race Fan Appreciation Day on July 14^th, with RACE VEHICLES of all shapes and sizes, including Phil Dudgeon’s Go Kart, which won a 1^st Place at Quyon this July, ProTrucks, GT Race Cars, the ChampCar Lights Formula Car and, the crowd favourite,  Chris Lewis’ Racing Tractor, a winner along with Keith McLaughlin’s at North Gower’s Canada Day Celebration.  The CARQUEST ProTruck #2 was on display at both events, as well as the famous Kars Fair Parade.  Thanks to the Lewis’s, Chris Dolman, his brother and Sara.

The ProTruck #2’s Sponsors this year are CARQUEST, Class 8 Collision, Shell Oil Thermoshell, G. W. Roofing, Bernhard Turbo Trans, R.V.S. Hydraulics, Kemco Radiator, Extreme Signs, Irish Rose ATV Nature Trails, Custom Welding, and Barry Horricks.

Thanks to An Excellent Crew - Colin Lewis is the Car Chief and Chief Mechanic, Rob Jackson is Backup Driver and Crewman, Jeff Brown and Chris Lewis are Crewmen and Leo Constantinou is the Race Cars Parts Professional. Pam Lewis, Chris Dolman and Bev Millar are the Team Assistants.         

June 28th, 2001,
Main Street Racing Press Release.

MCO Lapping Weekend and Capital City Speedway Pro Truck Feature - Instructing at Shannonville Motorsports Park and CarQuest ProTruck #2 and Main Street Racing’s Ken Baird - 2nd in the Heat and Sixth for the Feature adds to the Season’s points moving Ken up in the Standings

: Main Street Racing’s Ken Baird Instructs at Shannonville and Races Ovals

Main Street Racing’s Ken Baird had a great time instructing prospective race car drivers last weekend. This included North Gower’s own Jenni Armstrong, who by the end of the weekend was showing all the others what a seventeen year old girl could do with her Dad’s RaceCar and a bit of Ken’s and other’s instruction. The Motorsports Club of Ottawa (www.mco.org) holds the MCO Lapping Weekend each year. This year it was at Shannonville Motorsports Park near Belleville last weekend, a road race track designed for technical expertise. A Lapping Weekend is a chance for all who want to learn how to drive on a real race track to do so with qualified instructors, track workers and safety personnel, in their own cars. Bob Armstrong of North Gower was Chief Instructor this year and did a great job. Thanks to all, especially all the volunteers that make the weekend affordable; it was a great success. Ken’s next MCO event is Pace Car Driver at the Canaska Cup – Everyone welcome – Shannonville Motorsports Park July 7th & 8th. Wednesday, the rains never came and we had a good night’s racing at Capital City Speedway with sixteen ProTrucks along with the Four Cylinder Mini Stocks, Mini-Legend, Pro Stock and Four for Fun. The CarQuest Pro Truck driven by Ken Baird was second in the Heat Race. The Feature gave him a Sixth Place finish, adding to the points total for the season. Jason Shipclark won the Feature, followed by Tim Kirby, Steve Yendall, Shaun Quinn, Dan Yeas and Ken Baird. All the North Gower drivers did well, as usual. Steve Yendall did particularly well, Dave Watchorn and Martin Walter were a treat to watch as they moved from the back of the pack to the front. Matt Moffitt solved a problem with his car and is looking for a top three finish next Wednesday, July 4th. Don’t forget North Gower Race Fan Appreciation Day on July 14th, 11 am to 2 pm at Rosebuds – Come and see RACE VEHICLES of all shapes and sizes. RACERS – Contact Melissa at Rosebud Stationery at 489-2094, if any of you would like to participate in any way, either by bringing a race car, or providing door prizes, or just by coming out to meet and greet. Earl Wylie, our popular Hobby Stock Driver, with no Hobby Stock Race, raced in the Four for Fun, where you can bring your own car and race. Someone had a spare, and Earl had fun showing his special style of racing in the 0.8 Car.

June 14th, 2001,
Main Street Racing Press Release.

: Wednesday's beautiful summer evening made the races at Capital City Speedway a classic night at the races. Sixteen ProTrucks raced the night away with the Four Cylinders, Hobby Stock, Pro Stock and Mini Legends. A good night was had by all. The CarQuest Pro Truck and Ken Baird collected great points with two third place finishes in the Heat Races and an eighth place in the Feature. In the final 6 laps of the Feature Ken was passing the second place car when they got together. The CarQuest front bumper came off and the parts on the track resulted in a caution and Ken, then second and the third place car were sent to the back of the pack. Ken worked his way up to eighth place in the last laps, giving a good points total overall. Tim Dorning won with Dave Riopelle and Matt Moffitt, also of North Gower, coming in second and third.

May 16th, 2001,
Main Street Racing Press Release.