Press Release –
Victoria Park in Owen Sound played host to the Tim Horton’s Georgian Cup, Round #4 in the Canadian Snowcross Racing series. After being postponed from its original date due to a lack of snow, the Georgian Cup certainly didn’t disappoint. Hundreds of loads of snow arrived at the park leading up to the event which allowed for a great track to be laid out in front of the grandstands, featuring lots of air time making it a spectator and racer favourite.
Semi-Pro Open was first on the track for Saturday’s feature events. #217 Sean Macaulay (Rosko Powersports/Ski-Doo) got out front and held off his hard charging competitors to take the win ahead of #333 Jeremy Van Dolder (Ski-Doo) who finished second. #219 Jamie Byers (Supertrax/Byers Motorsports Polaris) followed behind Van Dolder to secure the final position on the podium in third place.
When the Pro racers took to the track for the Pro Stock final it was local racer #999 Michael Van Dolder (Dayco/Ski-Doo) leading the pack. Fans were on their feet as they watched their hometown hero lead the rest of the class around the track holding onto the front position for the first half of the race. #115 David Joanis (Bourque’s Polaris) eventually caught up and put the pressure on Van Dolder, and was soon joined by #73 Lee Butler (Royal Distributing/Factory Recreation Ski-Doo) who worked his way up from mid-pack to make it a three-way battle for first.
With only a handful of laps left to go, Joanis made his move and passed Van Dolder for the lead eventually settling in for the win. Van Dolder finished second place followed by Butler in third.
On Sunday, the Semi-Pro’s took to the track for the Semi-Pro Stock final. Off the start it was #381 J.B Dennis who took a strong lead. Unfortunately for Dennis, it would turn out to be short-lived as he sent himself cart wheeling along the rhythm section in front of the grandstands. A dazed and obviously frustrated Dennis walked off the track watching #333 Jeremy Van Dolder take over as the leader.
After Dennis’ crash, Van Dolder started to pull away from the rest of the pack as a heated battle for second took place behind him. #101 Andre Gervais, up from the Sport class, was doing everything he could to hold on to his current position in second place and hold off #287 Jeff Sanftenberg and #511 Jaymie McPhail. At the checkered flag it was #333 Jeremy Van Dolder (Ski-Doo) taking the win at his hometown race, followed by #101 Andre Gervais in second and #287 Jeff Sanftenberg in third. The race all the fans sat through the cold for, The Pro Open, took to the track next and it was filled with excitement.
The race had to be red-flagged after the start due to a crash following the first corner that left #202 Joey Sagan out of the race. With a complete re-start, it was Rockstar racer #73 Lee Butler taking the holeshot and disappearing from the rest of the pack with a considerable lead. 111J was near the front from the start but started to fade, allowing for both #98 Michael Island and #115 David Joanis to move past Orr and challenge #999 Michael Van Dolder for second place.
Island and Van Dolder battled back and forth for a number of laps before Island eventually made the pass for second place. At the finish line it was #73 Lee Butler (Royal Distributing/Factory Recreation Ski-Doo) taking first place with #98 Michael Island (Rosko Powersports/Ski-Doo) in second and #999 Michael Van Dolder (Dayco/Ski-Doo) rounding out the top three.
In the Pro Women’s class it was once again # 55 Angela Vacchino (Team Shorline/Arctic Cat) who got out front from the start and never looked back, taking her third overall win of the season. #111S Stacey Orr (Rosko Powersports/Ski-Doo) took second place ahead of Sport Women racer, #777 Caley Weese who battled hard with #318W Brittany Thompson for the third and final spot on the podium.
