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1999 was another banner year for the club. Long
time supporter and official of the S.O.S., Ken
Reading was elected President of the club, a
position which he filled admirably. During the
season the S.O.S. formed a partnership with VSM
Abrasives Canada which led to the club being known
as the VSM Abrasives Southern Ontario Sprints.
Ohsweken Speedway promoter Glenn Styres and the
club teamed up to create the Canadian Sprint Car
Championships that would see $2000 going to the
lucky winner. The series also made it's first ever
visit South of the Border to Ransomville Speedway
in New York state.
The club had another strong influx of rookies with
New York Modified star Ryan Coniam joining the
club behind the wheel of the Rick Burt owned #6.
Also joining the club after a brief 17 year layoff
from racing was former supermodified racer,
Charlie McCann. The S.O.S. continued to bring
drivers from pavement and the crop included Can-Am
midget star, Mike Galajda and Lancaster and indoor
midget standout, Warren Mahoney. Grand Island, NY
native Tim Phillips also was a rookie driving for
longtime club supporter, Bob Mesmer. Dean St.
Denis also joined the club with his #3b in honor
of former club member Ed Bellaire who was having
medical problems.
The season opener saw Jerry Whitney take his 3rd
season opener in 4 years as he took the win over
Joel Lehman and a much improved Mark Christiano.
The series' next stop was Ransomville Speedway and
the club did not disappoint the American crowd as
Lehman and Tom Huppunen did battle the whole race
before Huppunen finally made the winning pass on a
lap 17 restart. Mike Ling took a historic feature
win at Brighton Speedway as he upped his career
feature wins total to 7, the most career wins for
any driver in the club. Rick Wilson made his
sprint car debut in the Charlie Price #27C machine
and did not disappoint coming home a strong 2nd.
Round 4 was a war between 1997 champion, John
Riegling and Ling. Ling passed Riegling with the
laps winding down but with 2 laps to go Riegling
was able to get Ling back in lap traffic and the
Chatam, ON captured his first career S.O.S.
feature win. Joel Lehman continued his dominance
of the bullrings in round 5 at South Buxton, it
would be the club's final visit to the facility.
Riegling became the first 2-time winner at
Ohsweken in round 6 by passing Ryan Coniam who was
beginning to make his presence felt at the front
of the field late in the race. Lehman ran away
with the following feature at Brighton Speedway
and was beginning to take control of the points
standings. Rick Wilson won his first career sprint
car feature in a rain shortened round 8 at
Brighton Speedway. "The Joyceville Jet"
was now competing and was a contender with the
ultra-fast Empire Super Sprints. Bob Mesmer led
all 20 laps at Ohsweken Speedway in round 9 to
pull off a well deserved, first career career
victory. Finishing 2nd in a team car to Mesmer was
rookie Warren Mahoney who was having a tremendous
rookie season. Tom Huppunen found the bottom
groove during the series next stop at Ohsweken
Speedway and was able to pull away for his 2nd
career feature win. Joel Lehman steadied his
position atop of the point standings by taking the
victory at Brighton in the next to last race of
the season.
The season finale took place at Ohsweken Speedway
and was the inaugural running of the Canadian
Sprint Car Championship. With $2000 on the line
the S.O.S. took on all invaders including Tom
Taber's ESS car which was being driven on this
night by a crew member as Taber was nursing
serious injuries following a freak accident while
working on the car. Tom Huppunen grabbed the lead
from the pole position and just as he had the the
race before, "The Fenwick Flyer" hit the
bottom groove and began to put distance between
himself and the rest of the field. Garry Evans had
other ideas though as the 1998 series champion
came from deep in the field to roar past Huppunen
and take a commanding lead. Late in the race Evans
hopes to win the biggest race of his career were
dashed when he coasted to a stop in turn 4.
Huppunen again had the lead but now had to contend
with John Riegling who had also come from deep in
the field. The pair came off turn 4 on the final
lap side by side but it was Huppunen taking the
win by half a car length and pocketing the $2000
first place prize money. Joel Lehman flipped
violently in turn 4 and emerged unhurt, he
finished 17th but it was enough to make
him the champion after 2 years of being a
bridesmaid.
The Rookie of the Year battle was one that will
not soon be forgotten. Ryan Coniam and Warren
Mahoney traded blows all season long before Coniam
was finally able to secure the title in the final
race of the season. Coniam and Mahoney pushed each
other so hard that they were each able to finish
in the top 5 overall in points with Coniam
finishing 3rd and Mahoney taking 5th. Each driver
is a second generation driver, Ryan is the son of
2 time Oswego Classic winner and supermodified
legend, Warren Coniam while Warren is the son of
Can-Am midget star and fellow S.O.S. competitor,
Dick Mahoney. |