1999 SOS Season History

1999 Champion  /  1999 Standings  /  1999 Results /

1999 Canadian Sprint Car Championship

 

1999 Southern Ontario Sprints Champion
4z - Joel Lehman

     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.

1999 SOS Rookie of the Year
6 - Ryan Coniam

2007 SOS History

  -2007 Champion & Review
  -2007 Points Standings
  -2007 Series Results
  -2007 SOS Championship
   

2006 SOS History

  -2006 Champion & Review
  -2006 Points Standings
  -2006 Series Results
  -2006 SOS Championship
   

2005 SOS History

  -2005 Champion & Review
  -2005 Points Standings
  -2005 Series Results
  -2005 SOS Championship
   

2004 SOS History

  -2004 Champion & Review
  -2004 Points Standings
  -2004 Series Results
  -2004 Cdn. Championship
   

2003 SOS History

  -2003 Champion & Review
  -2003 Points Standings
  -2003 Series Results
  -2003 Cdn. Championship
   

2002 SOS History

  -2002 Champion & Review
  -2002 Points Standings
  -2002 Series Results
  -2002 Cdn. Championship
   

2001 SOS History

  -2001 Champion & Review
  -2001 Points Standings
  -2001 Series Results
  -2001 Cdn. Championship
   

2000 SOS History

  -2000 Champion & Review
  -2000 Points Standings
  -2000 Series Results
  -2000 Cdn. Championship
   

1999 SOS History

  -1999 Champion & Review
  -1999 Points Standings
  -1999 Series Results
  -1999 Cdn. Championship
   

1998 SOS History

  -1998 Champion & Review
  -1998 Points Standings
  -1998 Series Results
   

1997 SOS History

  -1997 Champion & Review
  -1997 Points Standings
  -1997 Series Results
   

1996 SOS History

  -1996 Champion & Review
  -1996 Points Standings
  -1996 Series Results

 

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