Newsletter | Leighton Motorsports

THE EASTERN SWING

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:22:07 +0000

COLBY CRAPO BACK IN ACTION IN PONTIAC MI

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY WALTON

I WANT TO START OFF BY WELCOMING TWO NEW TOP NOTCH SPONSORS TO OUR RACE TEAM. THEY BOTH HAPPEN TO BE FROM THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT BULLY DOG AND TOYOTA THROUGH BULLY DOG AND ROGERS TOYOTA. BULLY DOG IS THE LEADER IN PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS FOR BOTH GAS AND DIESEL PICKUPS ALONG W SEMI TRUCKS AND EVEN FARM EQUIPMENT. ROGERS TOYOTA IS THE PREMIER TOYOTA DEALER IN IDAHO AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. FEEL FREE TO COME AND CHECK OUT OUR 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4 DOOR CHASE RIG EQUIPPED W/ BULLY DOG'S WATCH DOG SYSTEM AND OUR KENWORTH W/ BULLY DOG'S PERFORMANCE SYSTEM AT ALL THE RACES.

NOW ONTO RACING. WE LEFT PRINCETON MN ON JANUARY 31ST FOR THE 1150 MILE TRIP TO FARMINGTON NY. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN NY IT WAS VERY WARM. ALTHOUGH ISOC HAD WORKED HARD TO MAKE ENOUGH SNOW, THE WARM TEMPS TOOK IT AWAY FASTER THAN EXPECTED. ISOC HAD TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION TO POSTPONE THE RACE FOR 3 WEEKS. WITH COLBY NEEDING RACE LAPS AND RATHER THAN JUST SIT AROUND FOR A WEEK WAITING FOR THE PONTIAC RACE, WE TRAVELED 270 MILES NORTHEAST INTO QUEBEC CANADA TO RACE. THEY WERE HAVING A CANADIAN NATIONAL AND IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE AGAINST THE TOP RACERS NORTH OF OUR BORDER AND ALSO SHOW OUR SPONSORS AND TEAM TO JENNY'S COUNTRYMEN. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND IN CANADA WE HEADED BACK SOUTH FOR A FEW DAYS TO THE HULTEN'S HOUSE AND SHOP. IT WAS GREAT TO SPEND A COUPLE DAYS JUST HANGING OUT W/ RAY, LISA, BRANDON AND JOSH. THEY LIVE IN UPSTATE NY WHERE, EVEN IN THE WINTER, IT IS BEAUTIFUL. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO SEE SOME AMAZING BUILDINGS AND BARNS FROM THE LATE 1700'S THAT ARE STILL STANDING IN GREAT SHAPE. WE CAN'T THANK RAY AND LISA ENOUGH FOR THE HISTORY, THE HOSPITALITY AND FUN.

LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS SOARS AT EAGLE RIVER WI

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:33:09 +0000

TREVOR LEIGHTON AND JENNIFER PARE: 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONS

DESPITE FRIGID TEMPERATURES LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS WAS ABLE TO LAND 4 OUT OF 5 PODIUMS AND 3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS PAST WEEKEND IN EAGLE RIVER WISCONSIN AT THE 49TH ANNUAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SNOWMOBILE DERBY. AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM WITH THIS BEING OUR FIRST TIME COMPETING THERE.

LEIGHTON & PARE PODIUM AT CANTERBURY

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:12:59 +0000

TREVOR LEIGHTON ON THE PODIUM

LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND AT SHAKOPEE MN. THIS PAST WEEKEND AT ROUND 5 & 6 OF THE ISOC NATIONAL SERIES. ALTHOUGH THE WEATHER FELT MORE LIKE APRIL, THERE WAS PLENTY OF MAN MADE SNOW FOR THE ISOC STAFF TO PUT ON AN AWESOME SHOW. RECORD CROWDS FILLED THE SEATING AT THE BEAUTIFUL CANTERBURY DOWNS STANDS.

PARE SWEEPS BESSEMER MI

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:56:44 +0000

JENNIFER PARE WINS THE WOMENS PRO/AM AT BESSEMER MI

LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS WAS HANDED A GREAT ADDITION ON DECEMBER 5TH. WE WERE APPROACHED BY TOM RAGER SR, OF POLARIS RACING, OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING THE AMAZING JENNIFER PARE TO OUR TEAM. IT TOOK US ABOUT 3 SECONDS TO SAY YES. JENNIFER IS A FRENCH CANADIAN FROM THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. SHE HAS BEEN RACING AND WINNING THE WOMEN'S AND SPORT CLASS AT THE CANADIAN CIRCUIT FOR YEARS. IT IS RARE TO SEE A WOMAN RACER IN THE SPORT CLASS BUT THAT NEVER STOPPED JENNIFER. IN 2009 SHE WON BOTH SPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE CANADIAN CIRCUIT. BEATING ALL THE BOYS. BUT, JENNIFER'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO WIN THE ISOC WOMENS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH JENNIFER SPEAKING MAINLY FRENCH BRINGS SOME VERY INTERESTING COMMUNICATION, BUT SHE IS AN AMAZING PERSON AND ALOT OF FUN TO HAVE IN THE TRAILER. ALL OF US AT LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HER AND ARE GIVING HER EVERY BIT OF SUPPORT WE HAVE TO HELP HER REACH HER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL

ROUGH START IN DULUTH

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:44:12 +0000

TREVOR LEIGHTON DULUTH NAT'L

Photo Courtesy of wfo foto

THIS PAST FRIDAY THE ISOC 2011/2012 RACE SEASON OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF IN DULUTH MN. BUT IN THE WEEKS BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS NON STOP PREPERATIONS GOING ON IN THE LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS CAMP. WE MOVED OUR SHOP AND OPERATION TO PRINCETON MN FOR THE WINTER. THANKS TO DOUG RUST, OF ISOC, WE NOW HAVE A SHOP BIG ENOUGH TO FIT ALL OF OUR NEEDS AND A PERFECT 4 BEDROOM HOUSE THAT THE TEAM LIVES IN.

RAY AND JOSH LEFT NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 25TH FOR THE POLARIS RACE SHOP IN WAUSAU WI. THEY ARRIVED THE MORNING OF THE 26TH AND HAD A FULL DAY OF GETTING THE SLEDS UN-CRATED AND LOADED INTO THE SEMI. THEY LEFT THE NEXT MORNING FOR PRINCETON ARRIVING THAT AFTERNOON. OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS THEY BUILT 4 RACE SLEDS, WENT THROUGH 2 PRACTICE SLEDS AND COMPLETELY RE-ORGANIZED AND INVENTORIED THE TRAILER. THE RACERS ARRIVED ON NOVEMBER 7TH AND IMMEDIATELY JOINED A LOCAL GYM AND STARTED TRAINING. I ARRIVED ON THE 14TH AND WE LEFT THE NEXT DAY FOR 9 DAYS OF RIDING AND TESTING IN AURORA MN.

LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:49:05 +0000

Leighton Motorsports and Trace and Wendy Leighton are excited to announce three new Members to their Factory Polaris Snocross Team. These new members
include, Ray and Lisa Hulten and Josh Swieton.

"We needed to go to the next level mechanically" stated Trace Leighton. "Tom Rager Sr., Polaris Race Director, approached me last season about the possibility of the Hultens and Josh joining our team for 2011/12. We were immediately excited about that possibility. With Ray's accomplishments in the racing world it was a no brainer." "I think this is now going to develop into one of the top teams in the country" said Tom Rager Sr. Tom Rager Jr, Assistant Polaris Race Director, also commented that "Ray definitely knows how to tune a snowmobile!"

Trace Leighton also noted that "The addition of Lisa Hulten helping with Sponsors is going to be a huge help to me throughout the entire year. We spent quite a bit of time with the Hultens and Josh last season and all agree they are going to be a huge asset to our team both on and off the track. They are great people!"

WRAPPING UP THE SEASON

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:49:55 +0000

I NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL THAT IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO GET THIS OUT. SINCE MARCH 2ND I HAVE ONLY BEEN HOME FOR A FEW DAYS AND TRULY HAVE BEEN BUSY TAKING CARE OF BOTH MY BUSINESS AND GETTING ALL OF THE RACE ITEMS WRAPPED UP. I HAVE ALSO ALREADY BEEN MEETING WITH EXISTING AND POSSIBLE FUTURE SPONSORS. RACING TRULY IS A YEAR ROUND EVENT FOR ME. ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE LAST RACE UPDATE OF THE SEASON, PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR SOME NEW AND EXCITING NEWS TO BE COMING OUT FROM LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS AND SOME OF OUR SPONSORS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THROUGHOUT MARCH WE RACED EVERY WEEKEND. ALTHOUGH RACING IS ALWAYS FUN, WE DIDN'T ALWAYS QUITE HAVE THE OUTCOME WE WANTED. WE STARTED OFF MARCH IN HAYWARD WISCONSIN. WE TRAVELED NEXT TO ELKO MINNESOTA, THEN ON TO LAKE GENEVA WISCONSIN. WE FINALLY FINISHED OUR TOUR IN JACKSON WYOMING AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HILLCLIMB. I'LL WRAP UP ALL FOUR WEEKENDS HERE IN ONE SHOT.

CRAPO GRABS 3RD INSIDE PONTIAC SILVERDOME

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:50:36 +0000

COLBY CRAPO ON THE PODIUM IN PONTIAC MICHIGAN

LEIGHTON MOTORSPORTS CELEBRATED THEIR THIRD PODIUM OF THE SEASON WITH COLBY CRAPO BATTLING VERY WET SNOW TO FINISH 3RD IN THE SEMI PRO CLASS THIS PAST WEEKEND IN PONTIAC MICHIGAN.

AFTER A VERY ROUGH WEEKEND IN NEW YORK, THE TEAM TRAVELED FARTHER EAST TO PIT-X, WHICH IS A PRACTICE TRACK 50 MILES EAST OF SYRACUSE NY. AT PIT-X WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME MUCH NEEDED TESTING AND THE RACERS WERE ABLE TO DO ALOT OF RIDING. BOTH OF THESE DEFINITELY PAID OFF. THE RACE IN PONTIAC WAS HELD INSIDE OF THE SILVERDOME. YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE OBSTICLES THIS CREATED FOR RACING. DUE TO THE SPACE THE TRACK HAD TO BE BUILT VERY TIGHT. FOR YOU THAT WERE AT THE SALT LAKE RACE, THIS TRACK WAS EVEN SMALLER. THEN THROW IN THE FACT THAT THE SILVERDOME HAS TO BE HEATED AT 51 DEGREES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ROOF UP AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THE SNOW WAS. IT WAS ACTUALLY LIKE RACING IN A SLUSHY YOU WOULD BUY AT YOUR LOCAL 7-ELEVEN. DON'T GET ME WRONG IT WAS A COOL VENUE TO RACE AT, IT JUST BROUGHT DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT BOTH THE RACERS AND MECHANICS HAD TO LEARN HOW TO CONQUER.

ASPEN TO NEW YORK

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:40:00 +0000

WE'RE THROUGH 2 WEEKS OF A 3 WEEK RUN AND BOY HAVE WE HAD SOME DAMAGED EQUIPMENT. THANKFULLY THE RIDERS ARE STILL ALL HEALTHY. WE'RE ALSO VERY HAPPY THE RIG IS STILL IN ONE PIECE AFTER A 3 DAY DRIVE THROUGH THE WORST STORM AND ROADS I HAVE EVER BEEN IN. COLBY AND I ACTUALLY DROVE THROUGH CHICAGO RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE WORST STORM THEY HAD SEEN IN ALMOST 50 YEARS.

WE STARTED THIS MARATHON OF RACING IN ASPEN COLORADO FOR WINTER X-GAMES 15. COLBY COMPETED IN THE SNOWCROSS EVENTS AND WE HAD A FREE-STYLER FROM NORWAY, STIAN PEDERSEN, COMPETE IN THE BEST TRICK COMPETITION. BOTH RIDERS HAD A TOUGH DAY.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE STORY TITLE TO READ THIS ENTIRE RELEASE.

RACIN' CLOSE TO HOME

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:09:09 +0000

WE HAVE ENJOYED 2 WEEKENDS OF INTENSE RACING CLOSE TO HOME. ON JANUARY 8TH WE RACED A NATIONAL AT THE BEAUTIFUL RIO TINTO STADIUM IN SANDY UTAH, WE FOLLOWED THAT UP THIS WEEKEND RACING A REGIONAL IN COURE D' LANE IDAHO IN BALMY 50 DEGREE WEATHER. I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE THE TWO WEEKENDS AS FRUSTRATION IN UTAH AND DOMINANCE IN IDAHO.