
Melanie Simmons looking forward to competing in
upcoming Quick 32 Sportsman Series
“I’m excited. This new series could not come at a better time.”
ORILLIA, ONTARIO (March 16, 2009) - Melanie Simmons can’t wait to get on
the track.
The 24-year old is looking forward to competing in the new Quick 32 Sportsman Series
presented by NAPA Auto Parts of drag racing for 2009.
|
“I’m excited,” said the Barrie office administrator recently. “This new
series could not come at a better time. We needed a change.”
“I love the idea of racing at different tracks,” she continued. “And this
series will be good for my sponsors.”
Starting in Junior Dragsters when she was 11 years old, Simmons has spent
many a weekend at the track. For the past several years she has driven her Top Dragster, a car
capable of times in the sub-eight second range at speeds up to 175 mph.
Sitting in the 255-inch LJ chassis is a 540 cubic-inch Chevy big block
engine with an Enderle fuel injection system pumping the methanol alcohol into the cylinders.
Painted a dark black, the car’s power gets to the rear slicks via a two-speed Powerglide
transmission.
|

|
Most of her racing has been done at the Grand Bend Motorplex, but she said she is getting
prepared to race at the other Quick 32 venues, such as Cayuga and St. Thomas Dragway. Simmons added that she
adheres to the side of caution when racing, and if something isn’t quite right during her run, she will back
off.
“I’ve got a lot of money and time in this car,” she said. “If I think it’s necessary, I will
shut down early.”
Simmons does more than just drive the dragster. Her father Roger Simmons, a former racer,
and crew chief on the Toyrific Racing entry, has her daughter perform mechanical duties on the car, and she
believes this is an important aspect to her racing.
“Dad makes me work on the car also,” she said. “It’s important to be involved,” adding that
she has a good rapport with Roger and the rest of the crew when it come to spotting issues with the car after
racing.
And she listens to her father, who raced a 1972 Vega and walked away when Simmons got into
the Junior.
“My racing hero is my Dad. He puts his heart into it. And he gets me to the track every
weekend.”
|
Main financial support for the team comes from Delta Faucet Canada, Jackson Transportation
Systems, and Barrie Harley Davidson. Crew members include Colin Steels, Dave Gregg, Suzanne
Simmons, and Tanner Simmons.
Simmons said she will stay with the dragster at present, and has no plans to get into a
door-slammer.
|
 |
“I love the dragster,” she said. “I really feel comfortable. And this new series is going to
be a sweetheart deal.”
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, will
compete six times, several times with the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca, as well as
selected special events, offering fans a great show of drag racing.
For 2009, dates include Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, starting with the
season opener on May 16 and 17 and the season-closer on September 19 and 20, at St. Thomas Dragway in Sparta,
Ontario on July 11 and 12, and the South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex on June 27 and
28, August 8 and 9 and September 5 and 6.
About: Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca, of drag
racing was started early in 2009 as an alternative for high-horsepower Sportsman-class teams to compete on a
regular basis.
With 32-car qualified fields comprised of the 16 quickest open wheeled cars (Top Dragster)
and the 16 quickest door cars (Top Sportsman), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series will feature the best in ET-style,
dial-in drag racing, competing on a Sportsman ladder and will pit door-slammers against dragsters in every race
day final.
Competitors in this Ontario-based series must comply with the IHRA Top Dragster and Top
Sportsman Safety rules and regulations, and the maximum dial-in will be 7.95 seconds for the
quarter-mile.
This new venture is providing $3000 to win for each event and $5000 for the annual point
award series champion, payouts very popular with competitors and will provide large fields of race cars.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series is committed in providing a professional atmosphere for its
teams. It will also provide solid media and logistic support to ensure it becomes one of the most popular drag
race series running Top Sportsman and Top Dragster race cars.
For more information, please
contact:
Bruce F.
Mehlenbacher
Director of
Operations
Telephone: (905) 772-1800
Ext. #22
Cellular: (905)
517-5345
Tim Miller
Media Director
Telephone: (905)
870-1456
1209 Kohler Road, Cayuga,
ON Canada N0A 1E0
Telephone: (905) 772-1800
Extension #22, Fax: (905) 772-1799
|