Thursday, February 11, 2010

Derek Hawker team ready to debut Corvette for PMRA season

New Pro Modified team steps up from Sportsman ranks

CORBYVILLE, ONTARIO (February 11, 2010) – After running just one year in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Derek Hawker decided to upgrade and increase his racing effort, with the Pro Modified Racing Association.
His explanation was simple:
“I want to go faster,” he said. “It’s just my thing. I’m not a bracket racer.”
So the Hawker Racing Team, based near Belleville, Ontario, took his two-year old 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, removed the tunnel ram-injected engine, and replaced it with a 526-cubic inch Alan Johnson supercharged unit complete with a PSI Supercharger, Atchison Fuel System, and a Lenco three-speed on the back of the engine.
Hawker said the team will take it slow and easy for the first while with the Vanishing Point Split-Window Corvette.
“This will be our first go with this type of engine and set-up,” he said. “We’ll keep to the low side and start with about 2000 horsepower with the engine and go up from there.”
Hawker mentioned he has been racing since 1997, starting with a bracket car and working into quicker machines. He competed several times in Quick 32 events in 2009 at the Grand Bend Motorplex and the Cayuga Dragway at Toronto Motorsports Park.
The Hawker team consists of Crew Chief Scott Sager, but there is a strong family presence with the team’s make-up.
Derek’s wife Corrie along children McKenzie and Brittany are a big part of the team, and help out throughout the race weekends. Other teammates, Joey Soule, Kris Gowthorpe and Mike Birks are also on board to help the effort.
The car is sponsored by Hawker Construction and Empey Tire at present, while Hawker added he is looking for more sponsorship for the team.

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