Canada Heads Up – Cayuga Race 3 weekend review….
As always we started the weekend off with a very well attended Test Session presented by Ian Hill Racing Productions/ JRPonline.com which set the track up for a great Saturday/Sunday event.
Saturday the Canada Heads Up – Shootout Series presented by Speedwire Systems, Nash Competition Engines, Head Rush Tattoo & Apparel and Miska Trailers hit the main stage. With track temps soaring into the 135+ F (!) range, most teams were a little shy to try to lay down record runs and as such both Super Street and EZ Street ETs were about a half tenth slower than previous races.
Paul Bhawan, from Brampton ON., lead the Super Street charge with a pin straight down the track 4.266 et and Nick Kokkas topped the EZ Street charts with a 4.46.
Nick Kokkas in his Mustang qualified #1 for EZ Street and Paul Bhawan – driving his very creative SplitFire Performance Datsun was the quickest for Super Street.
On the Bike side of things, the heat didn’t stop Jesse Vanbetlehem from laying down a blistering 6.829 @ 213.89 mph in Pro Bike — making him the fastest mph the series has ever seen at one of our events. SWB Bike #1 was Todd Sills with a great 8.466 et!
Jesse Vanbetlehem recorded the fastest terminal speed in CHU series racing at 213.89 mph! (1/4 mile) riding his awesome Suzuki.
Sunday was cut short with a rain out after E1 for all classes. Dilan Stevens, Paul Bhawan and Ralph Aulicino were set to move on to round 2 in Super Street.
The cooler track temps really helped the track bite for the radial class EZ Street. Ian Hill made the most of the situation by stepping up his #5 qualifying time (4.515) running at 4.42 @ 168mph in E1. Jeff Misra, Nick Kokkas, Matt Glassford, Anthony Daversa, Ed Mcguinn and Ian were all set for round 2 when the rain came.
Alexx Hill’s superb prepped Radial Class Chevy Nova.
Pro Bike saw JP Calandra, Regan Pallet and Jesse take win lights in round one with Regan showing a 7.136 et as he continued his quest to the 6’s! SWB Bike round winners were Shannon Poulter and Todd Sills as both ran mid 8.5’s, setting up for a killer final round!
Saturday Sportsman winners include: Ella Holt, Ross Booker, Chris Scarlata, Vasylyy Lukivskyy, Chevy Lightheart, Jason Jean, Mike Pereira, Lindsay Caldwell, and Kyle Van Beek.
The next CHU event is scheduled for Sept 20-21, 2025 at Toronto Motorsports Park.
Follow CHU on Facebook.com/canadaheadsup and on-line at Ontariogrudgewars.com
Posted by Ian Hill
Photos by Blake Farnan
