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Rain ends race for Amy Castell

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Amy CastellRainy conditions proved problematic for open wheel driver Amy Castell at the BARC Grand Prix of Ontario this past weekend.  Downpours and heavy winds would arrive at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just in time for the Saturday race and would last for 24 hours, leaving the track conditions tricky for the race.

With the track surface soaked and areas left with standing water, tensions were high as the field used the pace lap to look for any places with grip.    Drivers would struggle with traction conditions as the race began, with a car hitting the wall in turn two, creating a full course caution after just a few laps.

Unfortunately for Amy Castell, she would find herself in a similar situation only a few laps after the course returned to green.

This weekend was a bit disappointing. We were running so closely to the front and had a sizeable gap to the car behind me. The rain just got the best of me into turn four and I made contact with the wall,” explained Castell. “All you can do from with things like this is figure out what you did wrong and do better next time; and I look forward to doing that.”

Assessing the situation after Saturday’s mishap, the team would decide to withdraw from Sunday’s race and focus their efforts on preparations for the next event, the inaugural Bay of Quinte Grand Prix.  The event will take place July 18-19 at Shannonville Motorsport Park and will feature DAC Trillium Trophy Races.

First nitro win for Mendy Fry

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Mendy Fry Saturday Night Nitro
Photo: Dave Kommel

Mendy “Nitro Kitty” Fry would earn her first nitro win Saturday at Auto Club Famoso Raceway’s Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro event, but the celebration was short lived with sad news of a fellow competitor’s fatal crash.

Photo Credit:   Dave Kommel

Good Vibrations Saturday Night Nitro

The Saturday Night Nitro event features a unique one-night format for racers:  each of the competitors only has one qualifying opportunity in which to secure a spot in the Quick 8 race format.    Those top 8 then battle in a single round for the the fastest pass of the night to take the win.

Mendy Fry and her Smokey’s Darkside 1978 Challenger Nitro Funny Car crew were able to post a 5.97 second quarter-mile elapsed time at 236.46 mph.   This was good for the No. 6 qualified position, earning her a spot in the show out of the dozen-plus entrants vying for the top 8 positions.

Mendy Fry Saturday Night NitroThe Darkside team would scramble to make some tuning changes between rounds to their Arias Hemi Chevy program, adding timing and increasing the nitromethane percentage.

The first pair in the Quick 8 program would be Roger Garten in the War Horse Funny Car against Matt Bynum in the Nitro Nick Funny Car.   Tragedy would strike shortly off the line when Roger crossed the centerline, crashing into Bynum.   Bynum was uninjured, but emergency personnel at the track worked to extract Roger from the wreckage, and transported him to the hospital.

When racing resumed, Smokey Alleman’s tuning calls would net an impressive two-tenths improvement, catapulting Fry and the Darkside Challenger straight to the top with a 5.72 second performance at 252 mph.   This was a career-best pass, not only for Fry but for the Darkside team and the Arias Hemi engine program.    Mendy’s nearest competitor, the California Hustler, posted a 5.81 at 253 mph, netting her the first nitro funny car win of her career by over a tenth of a second.

11694946_10154161034800200_8241140847704815763_nThe team was elated with the win, receiving the AA/FC Good Vibrations trophy and an outpouring of support from the community congratulating their success.

Wow, what a movie. We come dragging up to our front doorstep after 4 am, trophy in hand as evidence of my first nitro win EVER, full of elation and pride in my crew chief and crew.”

But the celebration would be short-lived, as the following morning came news that fellow competitor Roger Garten had succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the crash during the event.   The entire racing community was stunned and saddened by the news.

There really are no appropriate words. I am stunned that Roger lost his life in that crash, and offer my deepest condolences to his family.”

For Mendy, the win is bittersweet.   Though she did not know Roger personally, she was crushed by the news of his passing.    Understandably, her previous evening joy and excitement was instantly deflated at the unfortunate dangers of racing and the loss of a fellow competitor.

“Drag racing sure is a sport of contradictions,” she said of the sport’s risks and rewards.

Mendy Fry in Smokey’s Darkside

 

Representing: Jeff Leonberger

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Jeff leonbergerCheck out Ignite Team Elite member Jeff Leonberger sporting his Horsepower & Heels Pin up T-shirt at a Hot rod gathering in Maryland.

Jeff Leonberger – Representing Horsepower & Heels

Jeff is one of the key contributors who made our Clutchfunded campaign a success.   He has been a friend and a long-time supporter of Horsepower & Heels Racing, and always is there to support and encourage the team.

Thanks for all your support,  Jeff!

 

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