Untitled Document

News Letter

Once again the race season has come to an end. Several new racers have jumped in this year and last, in the fantastic sport of racing lawn tractors.

Several new events were added over the past two years, such as the Canadian Grand Nationals and venues in eastern and central Ontario. The evolution of the sport has really grown, we have very competitive racing and an entertaining show for the host/venues. One only has to remember back when they got into the sport/hobby, may have seen a display show or home town Fair race event or even on TV. Got a set of rules went home and built a racer and patiently waited for the next race event. That’s where the race organization kicks in, some where to go racing, behind the scenes dedicated people volunteered their time, to meet with Fairs and other venues to hold top notch races, assist the venue with format/setup, awards, officials, liability issues, etc. etc. all in the effort for the racers their family and spectators to enjoy the event.

It was about this time last year that plans got underway for the 2007 schedule and the Canadian Grand Nationals, Year end Banquet and other matter’s pertaining to the friendly enjoyment of this sport. Generally the Oeltra group is made up of some great people and their families.
In all likelihood the Troy-Bilt Cup Series will be scaled back and the Grand Nationals, etc. will be difficult to see a repeat in Eastern /Central Ontario for 2008. It all starts the year prior , OELTRA racing is not your no frills racing, and requires a lot of support and volunteers.

A Big Thanks to all the Drivers, crew, sponsors, venues and to the fans for a fantastic 2007 Race Season
O.E.L.T.R.A. ,...Troy-Bilt Cup Racing.. Night of Champions Awards Banquet, will see the green flag drop on 24 November 1:00 pm at the Arden Community Centre. Arden Ontario.

approved for 10/30/07 release

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Red Neck 500( Parham Fair) 2007
by The Old Sod-Warrior

The Red Neck 500 2007 is now in the books, the racers and spectators where treated to a fantastic lawn tractor race event. A pretty darn good turn out of racers considering the jam packed 2007 Troy-Bilt Cup Series schedule.

Credit goes out to local racers Gary Neff and Colin McFie for helping to prepare the circuit Friday night at the fair grounds. The Parham Fair personal with the help of Hartington Equipment donated equipment went the extra mile , well 800 feet to give both the racers and fans a good show. Hot laps and practice time was almost a show in itself , getting everyone revved up for the opening rounds of heat races. The weather was great, the stands where full, representives from far away other fairs taking in the Parham Fair action and after some hair razing features it was “ how do we get you folks to come to our Fair” Answer: Do it the Red Neck 500 (Parham Fair) way . The return of the Red Neck 500 was a little of the back in the day plus the added value of the Troy-Bilt Cup Series organization and officiating. It was also fun to see the area’s local driver rivalry of Revell Fords entry driven by Rod Easton and that of the Canadian Tire (Cat Store) #13 piloted by Garry Neff (Hartington), plus locals Ross and Joe Nicol (Verona) giving it all it had to give. Areas of Central Frontenac and as fare away as Ottawa , Perth, Trenton, Kingston were well represented for the return of lawn tractor racing at the Parham Fair.

For Press release 26 Aug. 2007

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2007 Nationals

Well the 2007 Nationals held and hosted by Kawartha Downs and Speedway is now in the books. What started out as a day and half event ballooned to three days of turf pounding race and qualifying.

It all started off early Friday 27th July with race teams from all parts of Ontario setting up camp in the pits. Racers that had never even met each other pitched in to help the Oeltra crew set up the banners and circuit hardware . A fantastic large circuit was already in place with some great work from the Kawartha Speedway crew. We had the pleasure of having on hand and to Oeltra’s beck and call Derek Lynch track manager and race director for Kawartha Speedway, who also has a full time ride in the NASCAR/Canadian Tire Series (formerly CASCAR). With everyone itching to go racing and practice, plus the Speedway was running their Friday night race program and a giant car show. Kawartha Speedway officials took the time to escort hand picked National racers for the Troy-Bilt Cup exhibition laps on the Speedway circuit. Well to all the lawn tractor racers surprise the Speedway pace car picked up the racers for a pace lap, and woo hoo the green flag to go racing, no one was geared for the large paved circuit but it sure did get the attention of the stock car fans. Even more so when the racers parked up in front of the NASCAR booth after the checker. A fantastic time was had by all in the pits Friday night.

Saturday brought sunny skies and excellent track conditions to start of practice and time trials to determine the grid line up for Sunday feature racing. The Supr Mod Class seen 14 tractors just for qualifying, the top speed and best time of the day was laided down by # 21 Ryan Kerr lap time 16.78 seconds average lap speed of 38 mph. fallowed by #22 George Nussey at 17.19 sec. # 5 Rod Easton at 18.19 sec. the remainder of the field was all within 1.5 seconds. Stock Modified Class, led off with #38 Colin Mcfie at 20.03 sec. # 88 Robbie Price at 20.59 sec and third fastest # 42 Derek Davison at 21.25 sec # 44 Paul Hicks 22.06 , rounding off top five # 9 Stan Akey at 23.37 sec. Nationals Modified Class: Most racers were within 1 second of top time and the fastest three where # 14 Rod Easton logging in a 19.28sec. # 69 Tim Inchley 19.50 sec and # 38 Colin McFie at 20.18 sec. Due to having to repair the circuit the FT Open Class was using the Supr Mod times and all else would draw for grid line up. The Juniors were clocked in at 33 kph and that was the speed rule for race day. To keep the action going the track was opened up for Happy Hour ( controlled practice ) for each class. To keep the day of events even more interesting all racers where called to the staging area for a late day Dash for Cash race, using the timed trial grid each class was run , divying up a $300 purse put up by the Troy-Bilt Cup Series. The winners of the dough was , Stock Mod: #38 Colin McFie, Nationals Modified: #14 Rod Easton, Supr Modified: #21 Ryan Kerr, each of the top three racers in each class received some of the purse. Then the coolers opened up for a evening of watching old race tapes and get to know fellow racers.
Sunday Race Day , The weather was perfect, Kawartha crew rebuilt the whole circuit in the morning. The pits started to fill up even more with late comers, by 12:00 the staging area was packed ready to go, in fact the Supr Mod class had to be broke down into A and B features so that more could share in the huge purse and even larger trophies plus make it safe. With a short drivers meeting everyone was excited to hit the circuit. The top three finishers in each class went as fallows: Stock Modified: 1st place to #38 Colin Mcfie (Sydenham), 2nd Place # 44 Paul Hicks ( Grafton), 3rd #88 Robbie Price Nationals Modified: 1 st place #69 Tim Inchley (Sarnia area) 2nd place # 43 Paul Hicks ( Grafton) 3rd place # 25 Phil Beaudoin ( Perth) Super Modified (A) 1st place # 21 Ryan Kerr ( Petrolia) 2nd place George Nussey (Belle River) 3rd place # 13 Gary Neff (Seeleys Bay) Super Modified (B): 1st Place #6 Andrew Getz (Ottawa) 2nd Place # 45 Rick Rezniezek (Trenton) 3rd Place # 4 Derek Nieradka (Belle River) Power Puff Class: 1st Place # 14 Jessica “mowertician” Nevin (Kingston) , 2nd place #43 Sassy Cassie Hood (TO) , 3rd Place #25 Becca “The weedwacker” Fowler..... Juniors : 1st Place #25 Braden Fowler 2nd Place #36 Skyler Green FT OPEN Class: 1st Place # 22 George Nussey, 2nd Place, #21 Ryan Kerr, 3rd Place,#77 Don Simmons Following the final race of the day, the awards were presented it was high fives all around and congratulary applause for a weekend of top notch competitive racing and fun.