Past Events Home Page
2003-Ontario-Lyndsey Monster Trucks and Tough Trucks
2003-Ontario-Canadian Truck Nationals
2003-Ontario-QDMA Mud Drags
2003-Ontario Off Road Racing Association Round 2
2003-BC-Kamloops Short Course Racing-Round 1
2003-Ontario Off Road Racing Round 1
2003-Ontario-Gopher Dunes Good Friday Mud Fest
2002-Ontario Off Road Racing Association Round 4
2002-Ontario-Oshweken August Long Weeken Mud Races
2002-Alberta-Lethbridge Tough Trucks
2002-Ontario-Canadian Truck Nationals
2002-BC Kamloops Short Course Round 2
2002-Ontario-Oshweken Canada Day Mud Races
2002-Ontario Off Road Racing Association Round 3
2002-BC-Kamloops Short Course Round 1
2002-Ontario Off Road Racing Association Round 1
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2003 ONTARIO OFF ROAD RACING ASSOCIATION ROUND ONE-HAVELOCK
Ken Sherrett brought his new Class 10 buggy all the way from St. Thomas, ON
Article and photos by Wes Kibble
The first race of the year always brings new excitement to the Ontario Off Road Racing Association. What new vehicles and drivers are coming out? What changes have been made to the race vehicles? Will so and so show up? While the actual car count was low, the three new vehicles that debuted at the season opener in Havelock, Ontario on May 17 and 18 showed that there is a rising interest in Ontario short course racing.
Neil Martel and his Ranger before the rollover.....
Everyone was concerned with the amount of rain in the week leading up the race, it worked out just fine. The track was moved to a different location on the property from last year, and in everyone's opinion, was a far superior track. I personally believe that it has the potential to become the best track on the circuit with some slight modifications. It is a very smooth and fast track, although some rocks started showing up after the topsoil was eaten away.
Neil Martel and his Ranger after the rollover.....
Saturday's racing started with the buggies qualifying heat. The Class 1600's and the Class 10's ran at the same time with the 10's starting first. Class 10 veteran Paul Robertson, from Georgetown ON, had a good battle with Stoney Creek, ON native Bob Joseph. The two put on an awesome show, but in the end the horsepower and suspension of Robertson's car outclassed Joseph's, which was basically a 1600 car with the restrictor plate removed. Ken Sherrett travelled all the way from St. Thomas, to race his Class 10 for the first time and found out that the brakes were locking up even when he was not pressing on the pedal. In the 1600 race, Ray Jennings of Binbrook was the only car to finish as Hamilton racer Randy Guenther smacked his elbow hard after landing on the big jump in front of the spectators and decided to pull in at the start finish line for some bandages after he felt it bleeding. Another Stoney Creek buggy racer, Jeff Zoskey, installed his new engine that morning at the track and could not keep the buggy running due to an extremely dead battery.
Brent Campbell brought out his brand new Dodge for some testing...it should rock when he gets the bugs worked out!
Two new Heavy Metal trucks showed up to race this year. Telley purchased a quick four wheel drive Chevrolet, but succumbed to tearing off one of the rear 4 link arms away from the frame in practice and was unable to make the qualifying race on Saturday. Veteran OORA racer, Brent Campbell of Cannington, brought out his new Class 8 Dodge. Brent has been working on this tube frame truck for the last two years and finally debuted it at the Havelock race. The custom A arm front suspension and rear 4 link worked very well, although it was actually a little to soft. He says he will have this fixed by the next race! In the heat race, Neil Martel provided some action by rolling his quick Class 7 Ranger, with double roll and a quick twist or endo thrown in for good measure. The Oxford Station resident was smiling after he got out and was able to straighten the left I beam in time for the main event. The fiberglass body was a different story however! That left the 2002 Heavy Metal Champion, Ed Sanderson in his Hummer look a like to run with Brent Campbell's Dodge. Ed, from Consecon, walked away from Brent as the new truck was having problems keeping belts on the engine.
Paul Robertson came out and put on an awesome show in his Class 10 Rabbit powered buggy.
The Saturday main event provided some great racing action. In Class 10, it was Paul Robertson, followed by Bob Joseph and Ken Sherrett, who succumbed to brake problems again. Ray Jennings and Jeff Zoskey had a good battle in Class 1600, with Ray coming out on top. Randy Guenther has in the heat of the battle until his car decided that it did not like turning left. He still finished, but some of his turns were really wide!
Ray Jennings cleaned up Class 1600 in his two seat buggy.
Steve Martel showed up from Kemptville and literally cleaned house in the Heavy Metal class with his Class 4 Ford. He made a few changes to the transfer case system over the year and Ford was really hooking up well. Ed Sanderson, in the Hummer look a like came out ahead of Neil Martel in his Class 7 Ranger, who was still suffering some side effects of his rollover earlier in the day. Brent Campbell's new Class 8 Dodge experienced belt problems again and he pulled off about halfway through the race as the engine started over heating.
Steve Martel really has his big Ford dialed in...he was unbeatable all weekend!
Sundays buggy heat races provided some of the best racing all weekend. Ken Sherrett got his brake problems fixed and led the Class 10 race for a long time. Paul Robertson and Bob Joseph managed to sneak around him as he started puffing white smoke from the exhaust. The 1600 buggies had another great race and finished again with Ray Jennings in first, followed by Jeff Zoskey and Randy Guenther. The Heavy Metal heat race had Steve Martel in his Ford leading the event from start to finish, followed by Ed Sanderson and Neil Martel in his Ranger, which was suffering some electrical problems.
2002 Buggy Rookie of the Year, Randy Guenther, had some minor problems over the weekend, but still had a lot of fun!
The Class 10 main event was a great battle, with Paul Robertson swapping the lead with Bob Joseph throughout the race. In the end, it was Paul on top again. The 1600 class had some great action as Ray Jennings once again took the win, followed by Jeff Zoskey and Randy Guenther, who was less than a car length behind at the end. In the Heavy Metal trucks, it was again Steve Martel followed by Ed Sanderson and Neil Martel, who parked after a few laps due to problems from Saturday’s rollover. Overall, it was a fun weekend. While the car count was down a lot, the racing action was still to the extreme. The next race in Brockville on June 7-8 should have a lot more race vehicles out.
Considering Jeff Zoskey installed his new motor at the track on Saturday, he had a decent weekend!
Ed Sanderson lost a few body panels over the weekend!
Bob Joseph, the 2002 Driver of the Year, moved to Class 10 in his 1600 buggy. While he was underpowered compared to his competition, he gave them a good run for their money.
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