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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2007 33 Auto racer turns heads at Indy Pro audition Matt White plans to drive in series next year $600,000 to cover his costs, meaning he's targetting driving one or two Indy Pro races next year instead. fter winning this year's Like many auto racers, this is not Ontario Formula Ford auto- the first time money has been the racing championship, Matt main obstacle for White. He first White was looking for a new chal- started racing cars at the age of 18, lenge. If his performance at a recent competing on the Canadian Indy Pro test drive is any indication, Formula Ford circuit for three he can handle it. years, before the rising costs forced The 28-year-old local driver him out of the sport. showed off his abilities to the Brian White got back into racing two Stewart Racing team earlier this years ago, thanks to some help from month in Nashville, impressing the his friends. His girlfriend Carrie head man enough to earn an invite MacNaughton and buddies Mike to drive with the team Alviano and Ramon next season. Tavares helped him "These (Indy Pro) "(Stewart) seemed cars, the faster you come up with the pretty happy with the funding to join the drive them, the better whole situation. He Ontario Formula Ford explained his drivers in they grip. You're series in 2006, when 2007 weren't exactly telling yourself not to White overcame a the strongest on oval brake, because the number of car prob(tracks)," White said. car can do this... you lems to post a second"He's offered me overall finish. have to talk yourself opportunities to drive This year, he for him, though it's up through it." teamed up with Nigel to me to go find the Mortimer Racing and money to make it hap- Matt White benefited from driving pen. At least, now, I've a much more reliable got something to build off." vehicle. Until the final weekend of White likely impressed the Brian the season, that is, when he encounStewart team most with his adapt- tered transmission problems and ability. Driving on an oval track for borrowed team owner Nigel the first time, in a car much more Mortimer's 1998 Van Diemen at powerful than he was accustomed Mosport International. to, White managed to post times White finished third in that day's that were comparable to two-time race, locking up first place in the Indy Pro champion Wade season standings. Cunningham. The series win gave White someThat meant reaching speeds of thing in common with his father, 190 miles-per-hour (approximately David, who won the Formula Ford 304 km/h) on the straightaways, and title 27 years earlier. It also earned making turns at roughly 175 mph. him the test drive with the Brian Stewart team. Adjusting to extra power "We're at the point where we "Formula Ford cars only have accomplished what we wanted to do about 115 horsepower, and this car in Formula Ford," White said. "At had 450. It's a big step up. But once the same time, I had more fun (this you get the hang of it, it's like driv- past season) than I've ever had. ing a Formula Ford car -- just with Chances are I won't have a budget to a lot more power," said White. "I'd do a full season at the next level, so never gone that fast before. It's just I want to go back to Formula Ford a question of getting used to the next year to make sure I'm in a car downforce the car produces. These every second weekend and can make (Indy Pro) cars, the faster you drive the next step in Indy Pro." them, the better they grip; the more Maple Trust, a mortage broker, air pushes the car to the ground. helped fund White's final two races You're telling yourself not to brake, of 2007. White is seeking similar because the car can do this... you corporate assistance for next year, have to talk yourself through it." suggesting he can provide a day on Unfortunately, demonstrating an the track for company executives in ability to drive an Indy Pro car was return. the easy part. In order to compete in If interested in sponsoring White the series next year, White estimated or for more information, e-mail him he'd need to come up with about at mattwhiteracing@hotmail.com. A IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Matt White stands beside the Indy Pro car he drove during a recent audition in Nashville for the Brian Stewart Racing team. The 28-year-old driver has been offered a spot with the team next season. Hot start for MOHA rep squads Coming off a very successful 2006-2007 campaign, the Minor Oaks Hockey Association may be enjoying an even better rep hockey season this year. As of Monday, Oakville Rangers squads boasted a collective record of 284114-59, with 12 of the MOHA's 35 teams leading their Tri-County divisions. Eight more were in second place, with another three sitting in third. MOHA's biggest strength appears to be at the peewee level, where all four of its teams were division leaders. The triple-A team was 11-1-1, the double-A club was 12-1-1, the single-A squad was 9-3-3 and the AE (additional entry) team was 12-1-1. The atom age group is no slouch, either. The double-A (11-0-2) and single-A (13-0-1) Rangers were winning their divisions, with the triple-A club (10-3-2) in second and the AE team (8-3-2) sitting fourth. MOHA's triple-A, double-A and single-A novice teams were 12-0-1, 11-3-1 and 10-3-1, respectively. Also faring well was the minor peewee level, as the double-A (11-1-2) and single-A (10-3-3) Rangers led their divisions and the single-A (9-3-1) squad were in second. As balanced as this year's success has been throughout the age levels (only the minor bantam and midget levels were without a division-leading team), it has also been spread out through the skill levels. Triple-A teams were 69-3812 (four first-place teams), double-A squads were a combined 80-25-18 (three teams in first), single-A clubs were 69-25-17 (four teams atop their divisions) and AE teams were 56-26-12 (one division leader). Ten MOHA teams won Tri-County regularseason titles last year.