Demoresville, ON- With his third season of action in Brighton Speedway’s Pro Stock division on the horizon, Wade Purchase is hoping a page from the past will help score some points on the racetrack and be a hit with the fans.
When the 19 year old, second generation speedster from Demorestville, Ontario rolls onto the local 1/3-mile clay oval for the season opener – Saturday, May 2 – his machine will carry body panels from a 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air the team resurrected from a local auto boneyard. In an odd twist of irony, the car originally rolled off the General Motors assembly lines 53 years ago. The Purchase Racing ride carries the #53 into battle each week at Brighton. Wade Purchase says it was a stressful, but rewarding experience putting things together for the upcoming season.
“There was nothing really wrong with the car as we ran it last season,” said the driver, who is Prince Edward Collegiate Institute graduate and works as a tire changer at Vanzuylen Alignment and Tire Centre in Picton. “We kind of stumbled upon the body by accident at Roblin’s Scrap Yard and thought it would be an interesting fit with the chassis and framework of the original car. We had some late nights and frustrating times in the shop getting the shell to work with what we had, but everyone kept looking at the big picture. I’m happy with the way things turned out and think we’ll have an interesting year.”
A new body and change in colour scheme won’t be the only difference for the Purchase Racing team during 2015. After finishing fourth in track points and second in the overall Triple Crown standings in the previous campaign, there are plans to follow the entire Duel in the Dirt series of events at Merrittville, Ohsweken, Humberstone and on the home turf of Brighton. The overall goal is to improve statistics that included four qualifying heat checkered flags, 5 top 5’s and 11 top 10 runs in feature events.
Purchase says that while he has yet to score an ‘A’ main win, his confidence level continues to grow week after week.
“Up to this point, almost all of my knowledge behind the wheel has come from one place,” admitted the youngster. “This will just be my third season, so I obviously haven’t learned everything there is to know, but I think it’s time to branch out a little and see some different tracks. It’ll help me as a driver to race other places and experience a variety of conditions and driving styles. With the car being reskinned, it may change the way it handles and performs. That’ll put some new pages in our book of raceday set-up notes.”
The #53 Purchase Racing Pro Stock is maintained and crewed by the driver’s father, Mat Purchase, Chris Dorland, Stephanie Purchase, Katie McKinley and Kali Michaels. Sponsorship for the 2015 campaign will come from Performance Auto Sales & Leasing, Team Re/Max of Wellington, Milpond Music & Entertainment, Paul Turner Auto Repair, Independent Starter & Alternator, Sweet Sounds D.J. Service, Vanzuylen Alignment & Tire Centre and Partsource. Team promotional and media services will be provided by Clarke Motorsports Communications.
Fans can keep up with the latest developments throughout the season by liking the team on Facebook. www.facebook.com/pages/Wade-Purchase-Racing.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com
613.968.6410
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