My Experience w/ NayKid Racing @ Grand Prix of Toronto (July 5 - July 8)

[Canuck_2k]

NayKid Racing has been chosen to represent the Dodge brand in two Canadian rounds of the SPEED World Challenge. NayKid Racing and Dodge first competed together in the July 8th Grand Prix of Canada at Toronto’s Exhibition Place.

I was one of the lucky fellas who were chosen to participate in the Grand Prix. The race at Toronto was very special for me because ever since I was 12 years old my Dad had always taken me to the racing events at Exhibition Place. I’ve always mentioned to my Dad that just once, I would love to have the opportunity to work with a racing team during the event.




There were various cars taking part in the Grand Prix with numerous races happening throughout the weekend. One of my good friends, Steve Anderson, was racing for the Canadian Touring Car Championship. I could not remember when so many races were organized over one weekend and I knew that for me it was going to be the best weekend ever.



I was warned by Cindi Lux that the hours would be long and very tedious and the crew would definitely put me to good use to ensure my time was utilized throughout the event. It was a privilege to be there!! Clean the car? No problem! Clean the wheels? No problem! Help to unload items off the truck? No problem! Help the mechanics make adjustments to the car and so forth – No problem! The long hours and the hard work didn’t bother me because it was an exceptional time for me.



I discovered that not too many race car drivers give the time of day to the fans. Cindi Lux and Scotty B White not only took the time to talk to their fans, they also signed autographs, and you could see how happy this made the fans. I admire these drivers for being available, because it shows they have a real passion and a professional approach to racing.



I cannot describe how I felt when I got to walk on the track heading towards the pit areas. I was definitely feeling very overwhelmed and yet very excited at the same time. As I walked closer to our pit lane, I could see the stands where all the race fans would sit and I could also see where my Dad and I used to sit. Right away I knew that I had to call my Dad to share the moment with him, to hear the cars revving up, getting ready to race was simply a fantastic feeling....





To summarize my experience throughout the event:

Black jeans to wear to be part of the crew - $100

SCCA Membership - $60

GO Transit 10 ride Pass - $47.68

To work with Naykid Racing with 2 Vipers, sweating, being close to the cars, hearing the roar of the engines, smelling the fuel at The Grand Prix of Toronto, a dream come true = PRICELESS...

[CS]

Very cool! Did you get a ride or anything?

[Disturbed]

Great post man! +2 for ya.

[rockin_b]

Canuck_2k .... congrats on the awesome experience. Scotty and Cindi are good people!

[mjorgensen]

I second that! Scotty and Cindy have always been about the team/fan relationship. They know what to do to keep um coming to the races!

Best of luck you guys with the rest of the season!

[boplaw]

Its on Speed right now.

[JGK95]

NOTE: (Sat. AM. July 14 on Speed Channel. Was this a rerun?)

The Race just finished when Cindy was in third and pitted!!

What tha heck!!

Cindy you had a podium finish!!

Granted I caught the race at the end during the yellow, but Third place was all yours unless I'm mistaken!

DOH!!

Jay K.

[Cindi]

Jay, I wish I was in third. Actually I was 2 laps down at that point in the race. I got black flagged by SCCA earlier in the race because I got hit in the rear and my rear deffuser got knocked loose and it was dragging on the ground. The officials didn't like it so they brought me in the pits for repairs. So at that point of a one lap shoot out at the end, I wasn't going to get in the middle of Fellows who was on a charge and mess up the outcome.

What you didn't see on TV was the "payback" Fellows did on the GTO for holding him up in Turn 1 and 2. It was not good. Fellows was pretty upset.

And this is exactly why I did a quick fly by in pit lane at that restart. My day was done and didn't want to mess up the outcome of the race.

Hope this helps explain things.

So we are rebuilding things for our next WC at Mosport. Hopefully we will have better luck there!!

Cindi

[JGK95]

Cindi,

You're a class act and I look forward to watching you and Scotty in the Winner's circle!



Jay K.

ps. As a side note. The GTO ate wall and you're right the cameras DID NOT cover it.



Fuuunnny!