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C8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 2, 2000 ENTERTAINMENT Every Friday Carmella Long August 4 T o w ncentre i Sweater Pu m a n ia August An Oakville Beaver Feature Editor: NORM NELSON Phone:845-3824, ext 255 Fax:337-5567 E-mail:nnelson@ haltonsearch.com TOP PHOTO: it had been some what of a hard luck season for Oakville's Matt White -- until last weekend. He finally took the checkered flag not once, but twice, in the Formula Ford 1600 series as he won the regu larly scheduled race at TroisRivieres as well as a make-up race (for a Shannonville rain-out). The dazzling week end doublehead er has vaulted him into third place, overall, in the series, and back in the hunt for the champi onship. BOTTOM PHOTO: Matt White, prior to the race, with David Clubine, one of the team owners. Matt White pulls off a dazzling doubleheader By Kathy Yanchus SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER I t was only a matter of time before 20-year-old Matt White ___roared to his first victory this season in the pro Formula Ford 1600 championship series. And an exciting win it was last weekend at the Grand Prix Players' of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, matched by his second victory the next day in a makeup race from an earlier rainout in Shannonville. "Both races were exciting," said an upbeat White. "Both races were similar." And both races counted towards his points total, giving him a shot at the overall championship. In the first event Saturday, thte Oakville resident started in third, nudged into second ahead of points leader Jonathan Macri and then passed leader Didier Schraenen. With the top six cars "nose to tail", Macri and Schraenen collided, ending their day at the track. "They took each other out and the same thing happened Sunday." White got the news via radio from his crew, and with the pile-ups behind him, cruised to victory both days. With two pro wins already to his credit last season in his rookie year, White was hoping to take the cham pionship this season, but a combina tion of bad luck and engine trouble plagued him and he had just about written himself off. It was becoming increasingly frustrating for the young driver who led every race but one, but never crossed the finish line. "I thought I was pretty much out of the championship. I didn't think there was a chance." Then came last weekend's daz zling doubleheader, catapulting him into third place overall with three pro races left to go this summer. "This was a turning point in my season." White admits the championship is still "a longshot, but it could hap pen." "I'm just relieved to get the ball rolling. I knew it was just a matter of time. We were pretty confident we were going to win. I just want to focus on winning all three races. The car was perfect all weekend. The team has done a lot of work." The sixth race in the Formula Ford series goes Saturday at Mosport with the American LeMans. "It should be an interesting race. It will be a bit of a game." White's ultimate goal is to be a world class race driver. The next step for White is the U.S.-based Formula Atlantic series, a financially daunt ing step reaching upwards of $300,000. Anyone interesting in sponsoring White, can contact his web site at mattwhiteracing.com or his father and manager, David, director of Public Affairs for the International office of Young Driver's of Canada, at 905-529-5501. Photos special to the Beaver by Michael Alviano The host Oakville Crusaders first-XV defeated Barrie by the above noted score (48-5) to extend their undefeated record to 6-0 atop Ontario's top senior men's `A' division. For the complete Crusaders round-up, see inside, page C-7. Also, check out our special team section in this issue, highlighting some of the other teams that are a part of the vibrant Oakville sports scene. BACK ROW: Chris Clark (head coach), Neil Auger, Ethan Gucfa, Domenic Miller, Wayne Homer, Gord Allen, Stuart Riley, Ryan Morrison, Chris McAlister, Steve Chong, Mark Jutronich (team coach) and Becky Delaney (water person). FRONT ROW: Chris Foster, Brian Anderson, Randy Warrington, Robbie Wolfenden, Charles Thompson, Layne Gardiner, Graham Bridges and Steve Gittins. SLOTS Mohawk Racetrack Slots features 750 slot machines ranging from 25 ^ to $5 . We've got progressive jackpots, great meals at the Market Place Eatery and the Terrace Lounge restaurant. We're open from 1 1 am to 3 am, 7 days a week for full gaming fun. Simply follow the sound of excitement to Highway 401 and Guelph Line. AT THE TRACK For information call (905 ) 854 -4053 . Mohawk SLOTS RACETRACK