Have a Safe and Spooky Halloween
Today: 2020 CRKC FINALS!
2020 has been a long racing season. After the “shutdown” came spring training, an exhibition race, 10 regular season races and 2 semi-final races. The season wraps up with one more race; the 2020 CRKC Finals.
Chris hopes he has one more podium in him this year. Regardless, it’s been a great year. Demaras has earned podiums, poles and wins in the 2020 CRKC Season. Getting to spend Friday’s at the track with #TheMigster, Grace, Justin, Damiano, Andy, Paul, Ivan and Ethan has been great.
Join Demaras at Goodwood Kartways today, Saturday, October 31st 2020, for the last race of the year!
Video: NSM NASCAR
Here’s video of Daniel Demaras’ third session of the day in Anthony Simone’s NASCAR Pinty’s Series racecar that normally runs as the No. 1 Silverline Tools Dodge Challenger.
On October 22nd and 23rd the car was decked out in sinister black with only the New Speed Motorsports logo in honor of the NSM NASCAR Test Day at Shannonville Motorsports Park. Thanks a million thanks Anthony!
Also, a special thank you to Zach Boam for remembering to turn on his GoPro!
Driving a NASCAR at Shannonville
~ by Daniel Demaras ~
This year, I’ve had a lot of firsts in racing. New Speed Motorsports helped me earn my first pole position, first win and first series championship. I also had my first opportunity to drive performance cars on a race track. At Toronto Motorsports Park I drove both a Ferrari F430 in August and a Reynard F2000 open wheel racecar in early October. However, the most exciting opportunity is one I’ve been waiting for since February, and it finally happened last week. A test in a NASCAR racecar at Shannonville Motorsports Park.
New Speed Motorsports press release before the start of the kart racing season spelled out the opportunity. To help promote the new team, top drivers in the TRAK Series and KartStars Series would get a one day test in Anthony Simone’s NASCAR Pinty’s Series racecar.
On Friday, October 23 2020, Jake Cowden (Briggs Senior), Zach Boam (KartStars Senior) Nolan Bower (ROK Junior) and myself (Briggs Masters) took on the challenge of stepping into a 3,500 pound, 600+ HP, V8-powered stock car and attacking Shannonville Motorsports Park’s road course. This was something new to all of us, and would take some figuring out.
After watching the other three drivers, I anxiously awaited my first session in the racecar. I climbed in through the window and squeezed myself into the seat for the first time. Anthony helped tighten up the seatbelts and put the steering wheel back on. Then, I started the car, put it into gear and headed out on track.
My first few laps were very tentative. I cruised around the track, figuring out how to properly shift and brake, feeling how much input the steering required. There was so much more to do than in my No. 412 Briggs & Stratton kart. As my session continued, I became more confident in my ability. Downshifting required briefly putting the car in neutral and rev-matching (without using the clutch pedal) before putting it into a lower gear. It was so much to do at this stage that I just kept my shifts to a minimum, mostly running in 2nd and 3rd gear. I was occupied enough just navigating the massive NASCAR around the twisty road course and trying not to lock up the brakes. I gained confidence towards the end of my session and pushed my braking zone even later going into the high-speed Turn 1 corner…and I ran wide into the grass. No major damage was done, but I understood the unforgiving nature of the car.
The feeling of driving the car was absolutely mind blowing. The V8 engine was deafeningly loud, I could feel my ears ringing as I drove the car, and there was no escape from the sound. Even off throttle, the engine was screaming. The G-forces through the corners surprised me. While I was strapped in tight enough not to move under braking, I found myself trying to hold onto the wheel or the shifter through the high-load corners. This car was a monster.
As I watched the other drivers, I became aware of how sensitive the brakes could be, and how crucial it was not to lock them up. When I went out for my next session, I drove faster while still remaining cautious. I had some oversteer in the tighter corners as a result of carrying too much speed, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle.
Just when I was feeling more in control, I was met with a new challenge. The car began losing power, only going when I absolutely floored the throttle. I tried to go through the gears to see if I had damaged one of them in some way, but it was the same is issue in every gear. I knew I had to pit, but the car lost power and I just coasted in. Once my panic dissipated I realized…I ran out of gas. I was so scared that I’d broken Anthony’s $200,000 racecar!
My third session was the best one of the day. One of the other racers got aggressive in Turn 1, jumped the curb and popped a tire, so Simone’s crew retrieved the car, bolted on a new set of slicks and sent me out on track. I was more proficient and confident in driving the car quickly. I was smoother with my inputs to the steering wheel and more aggressive with the gearbox. Although I triggered some nasty wheelspin a couple times, I kept it going as fast as I could. Compared to the other two sessions where I was just holding on, this time I felt I was in control. The pit board went up, signaling me to come in. I brought the car back into the pits and my dad walked over to the window to tell me I’d just set the fastest time of the day!
For my fourth and final session, I knew everyone’s times were getting quicker and I had to make one last push.
I knew that going out last would give me an advantage. With all the rubber laid down on track, I’d get the best track conditions…but I went too fast into the second last corner and spun off into the grass, ending my day early. That was going to be a monster lap time if I could have held it for two more corners.
Though I wasn’t perfect, the experience to test a real NASCAR racecar was unlike any driving experience I’ve had. Compared to my racing kart, visibility in the NASCAR is extremely limited, with huge A-pillars blocking your view. The Ferrari I drove at TMP was so easy by comparison; it had paddle shifters and even doors! The F2000 car was cool, but with only 200 HP, it was nothing compared to this fire breathing NASCAR that could spin the tires in third gear.
I spent a whole day with three other drivers that I normally see at the track each weekend during the summer. We’re friendly with each other, but after this day, its different. There were no egos. Nobody hid how scared they were, or how hard it was to drive the car. We all got to live out a dream together, while pushing each other to be as fast and smooth as possible.
I know what you’re thinking. Who was the best? That’s easy.
The star of the show was, of course, Anthony Simone. He dreamed up this entire experience and had the will to make it happen. Few people would allow a bunch of teenagers to borrow their car, let alone drive their NASCAR on a racetrack! But Anthony was both generous and trusting enough to give us this opportunity.
For that, I will always be grateful.
2020 CRKC Semi-Final
The racing ‘playoffs’ began this weekend at Goodwood Kartways with two rounds of CRKC Semi-Finals. With morning temperatures just above freezing, Demaras spent the time between sessions hiding in garage K-12 With 19 groups competing in the semis, the field was huge. Some racers only get to compete against each other in the playoffs, so everyone had to bring their “A” game.
In attendance at the track was Guy Vigliatore of Scarboro Subaru. The dealership on Eglinton Ave East has been a sponsor of Daniel Demaras’ for years. Guy came to watch his son Francesco race,
TheMigster was all smiles before the race. Brimming with confidence, he was up against his toughest competition of the year, and performed flawlessly. He qualified 6th, made strong passes, and finished his race in 4th place, just off the podium. Miggy is looking forward the the Final next weekend where he hopes to finish the season in the Top-4 in the championship.
Chris endured a difficult race. Qualifying in 5th place, Demaras knew a podium finish was within reach. The cold temperatures meant the circuit had very little grip, and waiting around for so many hours took its toll on the racers.
Demaras was careful at the start, watching for the inevitable Lap 1 pile-up, but the race started cleanly. On lap 3, Chris saw his opportunity. The racer he’d been chasing locked up his brakes heading into Turn 4, sliding sideways. Cautiously Chris applied his brakes while calculating which direction to swerve then…BOOM. Demaras felt the impact of a rivl’s kart against his rear bumper, just enough to send him spinning 180 degrees backwards. It all happened so quickly!
Frustrated with the incident, Chris put his head down and returned to the fight, making up 2 positions before the checkered flag to finish the Semi-Final a lowly P6.
The 2020 CRKC Finals runs on Halloween; Saturday, October 31st, 2020.
Last Race: NSM
Last weekend’s TRAK Race 13 was the official end of the club racing season at Goodwood Kartways, but NSM fielded three karts in the 3 Hour Endurance race known as Halloween Havoc.
Daniel Demaras sat out the race after a long and challenging day driving the New Speed Motorsports NASCAR Pinty’s Series race car on Friday.
In Cadet Division, young Rocco Simone would be teamed up with teamed up with Zhao and Deonnarine.
Rocco Ramirez and daughter Dimetra scrambled to prepare a Junior Division kart for Santiago, NSM teammate Elijah and conscripts Stefano and Mayer.
The all-star team was the Senior Division kart of Anthony Simone, Leonard D’Arrigo and Daniel Morad. Everyone was expecting big things from two professional race car drivers and the greatest mechanic at Goodwood.
The Le Mans style start created chaos and confusion as all the racers funneled into Turn 1 together (some coming off worse than others.
The lead changed hands several times in the highly competitive race,, with Daniel DiLeo, Marco DiLeo and Jordan DiLeo running 1-2-3 with less than half an hour to go.
But at the three hour mark, as the checkered flag fell the finishing order was:
Senior Division
- Marco DiLeo & Nolan Bower
- Kyle Rennie
- Dan DiLeo & Jeff Conte
Junior Division
- Ethan Pollack & Schwab
- Jordan DiLeo & Gavin Goldie
- Matte Ferrari
Cadet Division
- Pipe / Chan
- Simone / Zhao / Deonarine
- N/A
New Speed’s Cadet Division team finished on the podium, while the Junior Division team ended the race a respectable fifth. Unfortunately, the all-star Senior Division team ended the race 57 laps down in sixth place, the victims of mechanical gremlins.
HALLOWEEN HAVOC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Speed Motorsports will be competing in Halloween Havoc at Goodwood. Big boss Anthony Simone has teamed up with mechanic Leonard D’Arrigo and 2010 Rotax Max World Karting Champion Daniel Morad.
Also competing is NSM’s Rocco Simone who’ll be on track at Goodwood Kartways at the same time as his dad, but in a different class.
Rok racer Santiago Ramirez returns to Briggs racing, with NSM teammate Elijah Joshi.
BRIGGS & STRATTON MULTI CLASS ENDURO
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24TH, 2020
GOODWOOD KARTWAYS – THREE HOUR ENDURO!
$500 CASH PRIZE TO OVERALL WINNER + TROPHIES/PRIZES TO CLASS WINNERS
TRAK THREE HOUR ENDURANCE RACE – SCHEDULE
- 2:00pm – Gates Open
- 2:00pm – Registration Opens
- 3:15pm – Registration Closes
- 3:30pm – Mandatory Driver’s Meeting
- 4:00pm – Cadet / Junior / Senior – 30 Minute “Hot Pit” Practice Session
- 5:00pm – Start of “THREE HOUR ENDURANCE RACE”
- 8:00pm – End of “THREE HOUR ENDURANCE RACE”
- 8:00pm – Podium Presentation
IG: New Speed Motorsports
Here’s a social media post from NSM congratulating drivers for the great results, and team mechanics for the excellent wrenching.
Kid Karts: New Speed Motorsports
Before TRAK Race 13 started on Saturday, Goodwood Kartways scheduled a Kid Kart race.
Using heavily restricted Honda engines and extra small chassis, the Kid Karts were the hit of KartStars Nationals in August. Seeing Anthony, Cale, Leonard and even Dan Di Leo thrashing on Leo Simone’s No. 95 kart before the race showed the level of competitiveness in these men.
NSM’s newest racer Leo enjoyed his first race, and was proud to bring home a trophy. Look out Rocco!
Racing Family: New Speed Motorsports
In its first year, New Speed Motorsports impressed everyone in the paddock by taking two TRAK championships in 2020. The team is very much a family operation.
Daniel Demaras took the Briggs & Stratton Masters Championship on the strength of 2 wins and 4 pole positions. Demaras’ consistency of 9 podium finishes powered him to the points championship over Eli Yanko and Stephen Chan.
The video below shows the last lap of Daniel’s race, and the explosion of emotion from the NSM team when he crossed the finish line to secure the championship.
Rocco Simone‘s 3 wins and 4 pole positions earned him the Briggs Cadet Championship, while NSM teammate Elijah Joshi was fourth in the standings with 3 podiums and 1 win. Santiago Ramirez had 3 wins and 4 pole positions on route to 2nd in the Mini Rok Championship.
NSM isn’t a family run team because Anthony, Kathleen, Rocco and Leo are related. It’s because of the family environment they created.
