Ashley McCalmont's Busy Week: The Ups and Downs of Professional Racing

June 6, 2011 - Coming off a stretch where there were six vacant weekends between races, the GRAND-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge made up for the vacation time with two races on consecutive weekends, first at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut on the American Memorial Day weekend, then straight to Watkins Glen, New York for another race on Friday, June 3.

The Ancaster, Ontario, Canada-based CKS Autosport team, drivers Ashley McCalmont of Ancaster, and Eric Curran of Holyoke, Mass., responded to the challenge with a strong 12th place finish in their 2011 Chevrolet Camaro GS.R at Lime Rock, then a disappointing 25th in the Grand Sports class at Watkins Glen after Ashley was involved  in a lap 15 crash.

“The TTL/Golden State Margarine Camaro was very good both weekends,” said Ashley. “Kirk Spencer and our crew have done such a great job with it since we first raced it at Daytona last January. I’m enjoying working with Eric and learning from him, too. He’s a thorough, patient teacher. And personally, I’m pleased when my lap times get closer to his.”

At Lime Rock Park, Ashley took the green flag 23rd on the starting grid and quickly worked her way past five faster cars – this on a fast, sweeping track where there is really only one truly-safe place to out-brake a competitor diving into a corner.

“Our two Camaros are really working well now,” said CKS Autosport principal Kirk Spencer. “The development is continuing and everything we see in the Camaro’s future is positive. The next race at Road America is really going to be good for us because of all the long straights.”

The Watkins Glen International circuit’s race wasn’t so fortunate, however.

Ashley became involved in a wicked accident on the 14th high-speed lap, 40 minutes into the 2 ½-hour event. Curran made a one-lap effort to see if the car was drivable after repairs, and deemed if it was, it wasn’t going to be by him.

“These things happen in racing,” Curran said. “They’re frustrating, yes, but I don’t let it upset me. The important thing is that Ashley wasn’t hurt and the car is repairable. At least now Kirk and the CKS crew has three weeks until the Road America race. That’s do-able. Had this happened at Lime Rock, they’d have had an awful thrash to get us here. I’m really impressed with the improvement Ashley has shown as a driver, and the big increase in her confidence level. She’s getting a lot of input from the car on what it is willing to do, and she’s understanding what she feels in her hands and seat.”