On the Road Again

The new for 2005 Apprenticesearch.com car, alongside driver Tim Norris. Click the image for bigger.

After a stellar rookie season driving, Tim Norris is on the road again with the Ontario Pro Challenge Series, once again driving for apprenticesearch.com. With a tuned-up engine and a slick red-and-white paint job, Tim and his team are set to improve on a strong first season that saw them finish third overall.

Looking back on that first season, Tim sees it as an incredibly positive experience. "I learned a lot about racecars," he says, pointing to the many ups and downs of last summer. "There was just so much to learn in such a short period of time."

The off-season gave Tim and pit crew chief Dave Buchanan the opportunity to apply the lessons learned over the summer months. "We did a lot of work on the car," he reflects. "With the help of my crew, friends and family, we were able to accomplish a lot in the off-season."

Another shot of the new apprenticesearch.com racecar. This year, Tim is driving a 2005 Ford Taurus. Click for bigger.

Not all of the lessons Tim learned were mechanical, however. He's also developed mental strategies to aid him in the coming season. "Your mindset is very important," he says. "It's all about consistency. You can't do anything crazy. You can't let yourself get distracted. You have to stay focused on the finish line."

Now, Tim is optimistic about his prospects for this new season. "I'm looking forward to it," he says. "With the car we have, I think we can be a Top 5 car every night."

After the initial night of racing at Sunset Speedway was rained out, Tim's first race took place May 28 at Flamboro Speedway. It was a strong showing that put Tim near the top of the leader board with the overall point standings. The June 11 race in Peterborough saw another strong showing, as Tim continuously bettered himself throughout the day. After a fourth place start in the first heat, Tim came on strong in the second, netting himself a second place finish that became a first place finish after a disqualification. The feature saw Tim start in the pole position. After a race that many in the crowd described as 'the best they'd ever seen', Tim came short on victory by less than a foot.

Though disappointed by such a close loss, Tim is happy with his performance so far, as the Peterborough race brought him to a tie for second place in overall points.

Tim and crew chief Dave Buchanan strike a pose beside the car. Click for bigger.

This season, Tim is once again joined in the pit by Dave and his father, Jim Norris. Giving emotional support and handling his public relations needs are Linda and Jessie Norris.

When he's not on the track, Norris continues to work in the skilled trades. He has recently been doing refectory brickwork for a number of clients, resulting in a lot of travel and long shifts. His work continues to reward, however. Recently, Tim and his family became the proud owners of a house.

The June 18 weekend saw Tim take to the track again at Sunset Speedway. The results of those races will be reported here when they become available.

 

-Matt Elliott

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