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Sports Oakville Beaver By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2007 23 Hinchcliffe on track, on air this weekend in Toronto If you want to see James Hinchcliffe race this weekend, you'll have to head down to the Exhibition grounds in Toronto. If you want to hear him, you can just park yourself on your couch in front of the TV. The Oakville racer will be racing in the Champ Car Atlantic series race at the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto. It's his second year on the circuit and he's certainly not suffering from a sophomore slump. The 20-year-old is currently second in point standings on the Champ Car's top developmental circuit after joining the Sierra Sierra Enterprises team, having raced with Forsythe during his rookie campaign. The only thing that has eluded Hinchcliffe is a trip to the winner's circle, although not for lack of trying. He has been on the podium four times and has finished no worse than seventh in seven races. Although his own race won't be televised, as soon as Hinchcliffe finishes behind the wheel Sunday, he'll hustle up to the broadcast booth where local race fans will get a taste of his other talents. Hinchcliffe began doing race commentary for Champ Car's international feed last year. This year, Global, which broadcasts the race in Canada, will pick up that feed rather than having its own crew call the race. So far, his second job has been going every bit as well as his main gig. Toronto Star media critic Chris Zelkovich gave Hinchcliffe favourable reviews of his performance during the Champ Car race in Montreal, saying, "Hinchcliffe is not only polished, he's not afraid to call it the way he sees it, even though you might think a driver might be worried about saying negative stuff about people he might soon be bumping fenders with." Fortunately, there have been few bumps on the track this year. One of the big improvements for Hinchcliffe has been in qualifying. He has started from the front row five times -- something he did only once in his rookie season -- including back-to-back poles in Portland. He finished second in both Portland races, but would like nothing more than to notch his second career victory and close the gap on series leader, and Sierra Sierra teammate, Raphael Matos. "Everyone loves the opportunity to race in their home city," Hinchcliffe said. "A lot of people think it means added pressure, but, in all honesty, we put so much pressure on ourselves anyway that it really doesn't matter where you're racing. It simply means that after the checkered flag falls and if you've won the race or even finished on the FILE PHOTO BY BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER MULTI-TALENTED: Oakville racer James Hinchcliffe will compete in the Champ Car Atlantic series race at this weekend's Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto, then serve as a commentator for racing coverage on television. podium, it just feels that little bit more special." Hinchcliffe managed to avoid a first-turn pileup last year in Toronto and went on to finish sixth. This year, he'll use what he learned about the track in hopes of making it to the podium. "As much as it's a fun track to drive, the Toronto course is a tough one to race on. Last year was my first time racing there and it was tough to get to grips with a few of the corners and some of the surface changes, really in general trying to get into a rhythm on the race track," said the Oakville Trafalgar High School grad. "I've now got a seasonand-a-half's experience behind me and I know I'm going to have a good car heading into the weekend." Shikaze cycling siblings preparing for Rocky Mountain high They've raced around the clock and now they'll race over the Rock -- the Rockies, to be more precise. Fresh off a victory at the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice mountain bike race near Bolton, Oakville's Jeff and Greg Shikaze are preparing for an even bigger challenge -- the TransRockies Challenge, a week-long, seven-stage race through the Rocky Mountains that is considered one of the toughest races in the world. "There are places so technically challenging that you have to carry your bike," said Jeff. "In places, you have to carry your bike through a stream." The race attracts teams from around the world -- more than 20 countries were represented in last year's event. It is limited to 275 teams and it took just three weeks to fill those spots when registration began last November. "It's really all-encompassing," Jeff said in explaining their upcoming challenge. "It's a good opportunity to see some new trails and push ourselves to "It's a good the limit. It's a life experience." opportunity to see The brothers have been entering various races to prepare, but some new trails the Bolton race proved to be the and push ourselves most beneficial. Although the terto the limit. It's a rain may not have been as treachlife experience." erous as they'll encounter in the Rockies, it certainly tested their Jeff Shikaze stamina. Two-member teams took turns riding laps around a course for 24 hours. The Shikaze brothers completed 25 laps. Only one other team finished the race on the same lap. "For me, it helped my confidence," said Greg. "The challenge became as much of a mental challenge as it was physical. There were certainly periods in the wee hours of the morning where you question your sanity. You're at a part where you're far enough into it but you're still far from the end, but you push through. That will help with whatever challenge comes out west." And there will be many challenges. The 600-kilometre race tests riders with dramatic elevation changes. The second stage features a 2,600-metre change in elevation, meaning the two-rider teams can face 35-degree Celsius heat and snow in the same day. The brothers have also competed in some eight-hour solo rides, and although they don't have mountains, they've See Cyclists page 24 LUCK One summer I made a new friend. It was the best summer. Ever. We don't know what role luck played in the joy of finding a new friend, but we do know we need more than luck to give some deserving kids the same opportunity. Let's turn these memories into a reality for children at risk in our community. Here is your chance to make a difference in a child's life today by supporting The Hamilton Spectator Summer Camp Fund. Donations go directly to the Fund, which pays the camp fees of children whose families are unable to shoulder the cost of even a few days at camp. With your help, we can do it. For donations to the Summer Camp Fund, please call the Hamilton Community Foundation at 905-523-5600 or go online at www.thespec.com/scf or mail to the Summer Camp Fund, c/o The Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid Street, Hamilton ON L8N 3G. 00000695