First Race of 2021 In The Books

This past weekend 13 mighty Canadian Vintage Modifieds returned to Flamboro Speedway for the first time in 2021 for the Hank Frank Season Opener presented by Ponderosa Nature Resort. The pits were buzzing with good vibes and were just happy to return to the track to compete against the best vintage drivers in the province. After practice it was the #18 of Jerrid Morphy taking the top spot with Mike Podd in the #5 and John Karley’s #19 rounding out the top three. The field was set to qualify but unfortunately a lingering rain cloud put a damper on that. Once the rain stopped and the track drying wrapped up we were ready to go back racing.

The #46 of Mike Klotz started pole with the #8 Ricky Willigar to his outside for the 30 lap feature. With a short feature you can’t waste no time getting to the front. Mike Klotz lead the first couple of laps before a hard charging Ricky Willigar wanted the top spot and made a move to the inside to get past Klotz bring along with him Mike Podd and Steve Murdoch. On Lap 6 Connor Ross in the 44 hit the turn 3 wall hard crumpling the right front. Connor had this to say “We were going into turn 3 and the peddle went to the floor, I don’t know what happened. Apparently I locked up the left front”. After the wreck Steve Murdoch was slowing up for a wrecking Connor Ross and John Karley had no where to go and locked it up and spun himself out. No damage occurred during the incident and was able to keep rolling. On the restart saw Ricky Willigar on the pole with Mike Podd to the outside. Mike Podd took the lead on the restart coming out of turn two with Willigar sliding back to third and T.J Marshall who started back in the tenth position slides into the second position. Podd was locking up the left front as he was diving into the corner a little too hot and allowed Marshall to close the gap and crossed over the #5 car and passed Podd on the inside. The #7 of Quintin Murdoch went for a spin in between 1 and 2 and pulled off the track after not seeing any apparent damage but would return to the track shortly after. On the ensuing green flag the #30 of Dale Lucas went for a spin down in turns 1 and 2 with his right rear tire coming clean of the axle. After a quick clean up the field took the green with T.J Marshall in first and the #5 of Mike Podd to his outside. After keeping up with T.J Marshall to his outside it allowed Jerrid Morphy in slide to the inside of Podd to take over the second place and try to chase down Marshall. On Lap 22 coming out of turn 4 the #8 of Ricky Willigar caught a slowing up Morphy and Willigar caught the #18 in the left rear which unfortunately turned the #8 into the outside wall at the start finish line which ended his day. On the restart it was once again Marshall leading the field with 8 laps to go with Podd within two car lengths of him. Morphy had a battle with the #17 of Joe Arsenault before pulling away and try to close in on the top two of Marshall and Podd but the laps just weren’t there and Morphy came home third. Taking the checkered flag in the Hank Frank Season Opener was T.J Marshall in first, Mike Podd finished second, Jerrid Morphy third, Joe Arsenault fourth and to round out the top 5 is Mike Klotz in the 46.

Thank you to all the teams that came out for the Hank Frank’s Memorial Race presented by Ponderosa Nature Resort. We hoped you enjoyed the race on GForceTv. If you didn’t catch the race you can head over to GForceTv on YouTube catch all the action from the day’s events.

Thank you to all our amazing club sponsors.

Young Driver’s of Canada

Sauble Falls Tent and Trailers

Touchwood Cabinets

Inside Track

Oakville Trailers

Georgetown Printing

Epic Racewear

B&B Decals

Creative Edge Signs and Graphics

Grisdale Racing Products

Flamboro Machiene Shop