The Canadian Sport Compact Series ‘season finale’ is an event we’ve been looking forward to for months. CSCS is unlike anything else Demaras Racing competes in. With drag racing, drifting exhibitions, stereo soundclash and loudest exhaust ‘two-step’ competition, this is a long way from the road-racing which the F1200 normally competes in.
It was also the end of the Gearheads Giving Back fundraiser for SickKids Hospital. One last push across the finish line to collect as much money as possible for a worthy charity.
The fundraiser was simple; we raffled off a thrill ride in the No. 12 Can-Jam Motorsports F1200 car. Anyone interested in driving this open-wheel machine could buy a ticket for $20 each and at the end of the day we’d spin the drum and select a winner at random.
But first we wanted to show what the car could do on track. So the F1200 was pitted against some very quick cars in Time Attack, which is essentially a fastest-lap competition.
The car performed well, and attracted a lot of attention from the crowd. Seeing such a small race car chase down vehicles with triple the horsepower is thrilling; a real David and Goliath moment. Just goes to show that its all about power-to-weight ratio. The F1200 is so quick because it weighs only 1,075 lbs.
During the second run, driver Daniel turned up the wick. With the track sufficiently warmed up and rubbered-in from the morning sessions, the goal was to see how quick a lap time he could really set. But then disaster struck.
Only a few laps in, a crankshaft bearing seized and the race car came to a complete stop on track. In a way, it’s fortunate this mechanical failure occurred while racing for fun, not during a Canadian Formula 1200 Championship event, when points are on the line!
Unlike on a race weekend, we did not bring a spare engine. Normally it would have been a 20 minute task to pull the 1,200 cc powerplant and replace it with a race-ready unit. But this was supposed to be a fun weekend, so most of the tools and spares were back at the shop.
Once we determined that the repair could not be made at the track, we switched back into fundraising mode and brought the No. 12 F1200 car over to the main stage area.
While we were certainly disappointed there would be no more racing this day, it allowed us plenty of time to show off the race car, collect donation for our charity partner, and allow spectators the chance to sit in the driver’s seat…especially the little kids!
The number of folks at the CSCS event that came up to us and shared stories about how SickKids helped a youngster in their family was surprising. Really reminded us about the importance of supporting such an institution. That’s really why were at CSCS this weekend.
Late in the afternoon, once all the competitions had ended, Daniel was called up on stage by MC Davin to select the winner of the Gearheads Giving Back fundraiser. Demaras proudly announced that $1,880 in donations had been made to SickKids Hospital and he thanked the assembled crowd for their generosity.
After a few quick spins of the raffle drum the winning ticket belonging to Alan ‘Ludeboy‘ Junior was selected. At the conclusion of the Canadian Formula 1200 Championship in early October, Alan will enjoy a thrill ride in the No. 12 Can-Jam Motorsports Formula 1200 car.at TMP Cayuga. Congratulations, Alan!
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