June 12, 2003

The 2003 season is underway for PRTracecars.ca.  The last two months have been busy, preparing the 63 Corvette.

First, some changes within PRT should be mentioned.  Leigh Pettipas, team engineer/driver, has moved to the US, and is currently Car Chief for Simon Gregg in the BF Goodrich Trans-Am series, with Derhaag Motorsports (www.derhaag.com, www.trans-amseries.com).  Also, the 92 Trans-Am Camaro that PRT had been running in the Canada GT Challenge Cup, HSR and SVRA has been sold.

This leaves Eugene Pettipas, team owner/manager, Aaron Pettipas, driver/mechanic and Paul Machan, driver/mechanic. Aaron and Paul will be sharing races in PRT's 1963 GT-1 Corvette, competing in ARMS regional races at Atlantic Motorsport Park, outside Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Canadian Touring Car Series and Sprints with CASC-On at Mosport in Ontario, and a round at the beautifully re-done Le Circuit Mont Tremblant, just outside Montreal, Quebec.

Almost a complete tear down and rebuild has been done on the 63 Vette.  After some engine trouble at Mosport last year, it was decided to build a new motor for the car, one with a sizable increase in horsepower and torque.  The rev limit has been raised, but PRT believes this will be a reliable package, with no ‘weak’ components.  The size remains 358 cu in, but heads, pistons and carb (Barry Grant "Demon" that was on the Camaro) are new.  The suspension has seen some development as well; the most notable change being a set of custom valved Penske shocks.

Paul's season has already started with the first round at Atlantic Motorsport Park.  He competed in the very competitive Improved Touring Series driving Corey Smith's ITA Nissan 240SX. 

The action starts in the GT-1 Corvette at Atlantic Motorsport Park on June 22nd, 2003.

-PM-