WHITBY, ONTARIO (November 4, 2011) – A new car and a new partner gave Eric Latino a fast and winning combination, placing the Whitby, Ontario driver third in the Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport and Global Emissions Systems Inc. this year.
Trading in his 1938 Chevy coupe for a new G-Force Race Cars 1969 Camaro, Latino qualified number one at three of the PMRA meets, and second in two other events in 2011. He was only eight points behind PMRA champion Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario when the season ended at the Cayuga Dragway in September.
Driving the Team Green Camaro, Latino consistently put down laps in the sub six-second range after he teamed up with prominent Pro Modified car owner Rob Sporring.
“He’s a great partner,” Latino said about Sporring. “We put our stuff together and had the best year we have ever had. He has been a great guy to work with.”
Latino debuted the new car, complete with a Cynergy Composites Inc. Body and a 521-cubic inch BAE Hemi at Cayuga for the PMRA opener, and although the team did not qualify, it did not take long to get the right combination for winning.
“We struggled with the first race,” he said, “but we figured it out pretty well after that.”
Running the new car in the 5.9-second range, Latino won the second and fourth PMRA events, and lost in the final of the last race. He recorded a season best with a 5.871-second, 244-mph pass on his way to victory in the second event, the Xtreme Mayhem Nationals at Cayuga.
Latino was quick to thank the efforts of team crew chief Paolo D’Alimonte.
“Paulo is a really good tuner,” he said. “He kept the car running, and he also kept the car from getting hurt.”
“Nothing on the car broke,” he continued. “The car was maintained well throughout the season.”
Assisting D’Alimonte were car chief Peter Olin, along with Matt Latino, Rachel Olin, Gord Campbell, Nick Campbell and Paul Bassil.
Special thanks to Mamma Rikki for her tender loving care.
When asked the difference between his former Pro Modified and the new Camaro, Latino said the new car is very smooth, which he believes offers a quicker race car.
“We really stepped it up this year, and we definitely learned,” he said. “The smoother the car the faster it goes.”
The Camaro also features a Lenco CS2 transmission, an Al Billes modified Kobelco K-11 14-71 supercharger, and a Leahy Fuel System with tweaking by Billes. Latino placed third in the PMRA points race in 2010.
“I also must thank our sponsors,” Latino mentioned. “They all came out strong, and allowed us to do what we enjoy.”
The green and black Camaro Pro Modified is sponsored by Quality Plus Compressors, Redline Automotive, Don Butt Auto Body, Global Emissions Systems Inc., Vibrant Performance, Magnum Auto Parts, Ellesmere Fabricators Limited, NGK Spark Plugs, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pro Racing Fuels, Resurrection Custom Painting, Mickey Thompson Wheels and Kendall Motor Oil.
The Annual “Night of Champions” Championship Point Award Series Banquet for the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) will be held at the Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre in Burlington, Ontario on Saturday, November 19, 2011.
Photo Credit: Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com and Bill Mehlenbacher Photography ~ www.nxphoto.com