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Driver's media day sees new heated rivalry emerge Continued from page 24 25 · Thursday, March 22, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com he writes for a magazine -- and now he wants to hog the track too? I later ask Hinchcliffe what the options are in this situation. "That's the art of the pass," he says. "You want him to do the opposite of what you want to do." I want to go faster, so in theory I'm executing the strategy perfectly, but it isn't working. On the fourth lap I drop the hammer on the straightaway. Lang swings wide and I see an opening. I make my move. "So what's the other option?" I asked Hinchcliffe. "The PT," he says in reference to fellow Canadian driver Paul Tracy. "The ol' chrome horn." Lang cuts back toward the wall but it's too late, I'm committed. Without Hinchcliffe's trademark `Stop' and `Go' signs taped to my feet to tell me what to do, I only have one option. I PT him. Next thing I know, I'm sideways across the track facing the wall. I quickly get myself turned around and get back in the race. And hey, I'm not in last anymore. Within a couple of laps, I catch up to another kart, Joe Hall of the Toronto Star. We wage a pretty good battle for a couple of laps. Coming out of Turn 1, I pull up beside him. This forces him to slow down in order get around a sharp corner. On the outside, with more track to work with, I keep my foot down. I rub the wall coming out of the turn but maintain my speed. When no kart appears beside me, I realize I've pulled off a pass. It's a huge rush. Hinchcliffe says that feeling never goes away. ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER I'M COMING FOR YOU: Local IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe (left) has Oakville Beaver sports reporter Herb Garbutt in his sights at the recent Hinchtown Media Challenge event in Toronto. "No matter what level you're at (what exactly are you trying to say James?)" he says, "we all love those basic, simple things. That's why we race." For the remaining nine laps I've got wide open track in front of me. I haven't seen Hinchcliffe since he blew by me in the first turn. I finally see him in the last couple of laps. Now I've got a new goal. Don't get lapped. The last time I see him, he's tweeting. Seriously. Isn't there a law against tweeting while kicking someone's butt? I never do get to experience driving past the checkered flag. I soon realize I didn't get restarted as quickly as I thought after my wreck. Apparently I got lapped while turning around. I finish fifth out of seven. I want the full IndyCar experience so after getting out of the kart I go all Danica on Lang. "You were killing me out there, man," I tell him. "I had no brakes," he says. "Brakes?" I think to myself. "You used your brakes?" (CHCH cameraman Sergio Spadafora would confirm he never touched his brakes either). Other drivers jump in to separate Lang and myself. (Portions of this story have been grossly fabricated in the interest of creating a completely fictitious rivalry.) Later, after cooler heads prevail, Lang explains our crash this way: "Blah, blah, blah, no brakes, blah, blah, cut you off." The official transcript of the conversation sheds a little more light. "I went into the turn and saw you off to the side. I didn't have any brakes so I didn't know if I should let you by but I thought I could get through the turn ahead of you," he says. "Those things happen. That was going 45 (mph). Can you imagine that at 200?" There's a lot of things I can't imagine about doing this for real, as Hinchcliffe does. For example, after just 16 laps my arms feel like I've just finished a testimonial for the Shake Weight. "I was surprised how much work it is to steer," says CHCH reporter Candace Devai. So for now, I have not managed to steal Hinchcliffe's job. I have gained an archnemesis, though --a Riddler to my Batman, a Newman to my Jerry, a Paul Tracy to...well, just about anyone who has ever sat in an IndyCar. Watch out Lang, I'm coming for you next year. -- Herb Garbutt can be followed on Twitter at @Herbgarbutt Ridge grad hoping to help Canadian men's soccer team qualify for Olympics Oakville's Kyle Bekker has been named to the Canadian team for the CONCACAF Olympic soccer qualifier, which begins today (Thursday) in Nashville with a game against El Salvador. Canada will square off against the host United States Saturday before wrapping up group play against Cuba March 26. Bekker led Boston College in points last season with 23. Half of his eight goals were game winners for the Eagles, who finished the 2011 season with a record of 14-6-1. The 21-year-old also led the team with seven assists. Over his three seasons at Boston College, he has 16 goals and 18 assists in 63 games. Bekker was named to the all-Atlantic Coast Conference first team and had Boston College's lone goal in a 3-1 loss to North Carolina in the ACC championship game. The Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament after being edged in penalty kicks by Rutgers. The Iroquois Ridge grad helped the Oakville Bluestars win back-to-back Ontario Cups and a national title in 2004. He also won a national championship with the Mississauga Dixie Dominators in 2006. Bekker played with Canada's national teams at the under-15 and under-17 levels. Minor Ball Hockey In Oakville Ages 3-20 yrs old · 7th Season Kids Minor Programs · Learn to Play Program for ages 3 to 6 years old for only $99 · Programs for ages 7 to18 years old for only $155 · Weekend games only and no practices · Season runs from April to the end of June All games played in local arenas. Full player and team statistics online. Members of the Ontario Ball Hockey Association. Register online or in person at National Sports on March 24 from Noon until 2pm. · Try out for our Aces Select Provincial Team · 10 games minimum including our Championship Tournament · 19 & 20 year old Juvenile Division Sunday nights for only $155 For House League and Select Programs for all Players Born 1994 to 2007 Teams and divisions are filling up. Spots are still available in most divisions. Do not be disappointed. Register Now. Register online at www.baseballoakville.com or download registration form and mail with payment. Or Visit our clubhouse on Saturday's From 9 AM to 12 PM at 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4 For more information email us at info@baseballoakville.com 2012 Player Registration For More Information Call 905-484-8478 Or Visit www.ballhockey4u.com