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Times Advocate, 1999-09-15, Page 211#i-1775 2314844 •J lobos' \ is'17"" ads Exeter Times Advocate 'V`fedneedsy, die .15,1999 IE$T 6.I.C. RATES Your Inv.sdm..K Arnres8 t year 5.25a6 S year6•/% Exp Z3s�3 s 21 Golfing the extra hole(s) for healthy lungs By Craig Bradford TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER -- Who said golf isn't hard work? Exeter's Jeff Keller will know how much work golfing can be after he participates in the second annual Huron -Perth Lung Association Golf Marathon on Sept. 27 at the Stratford Country Club. Starting at 7:30 a.m. after ar light breakfast, Keller along with 13 et aviji golfers will attempt to get in holes before .4:30 p.m. Last year one golfer fit in 124 holes through the use of a cart. For the purists who won't go near a cart, a pairing last year fin- ished 72 holes all on foot. The golfers will have a good chance to reach their goal since the course has been closed to the public and reserved for their exclusive use for the day. The golfers will be treated to meals, snacks, carts and balls. More than $24,000 was raised by the 16 golfers last year and Huron -Perth Lung Association execu- tive director Deedee Herman would like to see at least that much raised this year. Each golfer must raise a minimum of $1,000 to participate and Keller, 28, said he's almost there with over a week left to go before the Marathon. Keller, who grew up in Dashwood and studied business and economics at the University of .Guelph, is a relative newcomer to the sport. A one- time critic of duffers (he preferred the baseball diamond), Keller changed his golfing colours through the urging of his friend,Bill Preston who took him out to the links for the first time two years ago. Soon addicted to the sport, Keller now his clubs_ in Wear et in fit in a few . ho s when e s not Work- ing as a financial planner with Stratford's Wilkinson, Steigmeier & Keller or spending time with his wife Keltie and his 18 -month-old daughter Aveleigh. Preston also introduced Keller to the Marathon. Preston managed to finish over 80 holes at last year's Marathon even though he quit early. Keller plans on doubling up his holes by hitting two balls at each tee. He'll "train" for the Marathon by playing as much golf as he can before the big event. Keller hopes to raise between $2,500 and $3,000 for the Lung Association through individual and business spon sors. "I'm shooting to do the 100 holes,". he said. "It's a good day and a good_ cause. Everyone knows someone with breath- ing problems.' A former coach with the Exeter intermediate girls "hockey team, Keller said four out of 12 of his players used puffers. He: also knows what it's like: to have breathing problems - he had acute asth ma as a child. Those who wish to sponsor Keller, either by th hole or by flat donation, can call him at 235-0108 _l (home) or (519) 273-7377 (work). For $200 or more, businesses that sponsor Keller can sponsor a hole and have. their. business .advertised_ Tax receipts are available. One in five Canadians suffers from some type of respiratory disease and it's estimated as many as 20 per cent of school-agedchildren have asthma.' Respiratory disease is the third leading cause of death in Canada. For more information on the Golf Marathon or the Lung Association, ' call the Huron -Perth branch at (519) 271-7503_ or log on to the Lung Association's website at www. on. lung. ca. "It's a good day and a good cause. Everyone knows someone with breathing problems." JEFF KELLER son races .Y nuts? Exeter's Jeff Keller is one of 14 golfers who will try to fit in 100 holes it the Huron -Perth Lung Association's second annual Golf Marathon on Sept. By Craig Bradford TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF McGILLIVRAY TWP. - Shawn Thompson knows Speedy talent. Shawn Thompson, 15, of McGillivray Township won the 1999 Grand Bend Micro Speedway jr. `A' Micro Sprint division championship. Next season he'II move up to the Mini Sp to d with aslightly bi - er and meter his way.. wheel.., :3 Thompson, 15, was recently crowned Grand Bend Micro Speedway's '99 Jr. 'A' Micro Sprint champion after accumu- lating six feature race wins, six second place finishes, one fourth, three fifths and one sev enth. His average feature finish for the entire sea- son was 2'.5 over 17 race nights. He finished with 1,732 points and a 172 point lead over the next competitor. "Real good," Thompson said when asked how it feels to be the champ. A young man of few words, Thompson said he likes the speed and competition of racing at Grand Bend Micro Speedway. He also likes meeting new friends from all over southern Ontario. In his third year of rac- ing, Thompson didn't get to the winner's circle all by Limself. He had his uncle, Jerry Thompson, in his pits. Jerry has worked on racing cars his entire life and built his nephew's car. And he has a unique and impressive pedigree: Jerry was Earl Ross's crew chief. Ross is the only Canadian to win a Winston Cup stock car race. He accomplished e the feat in '74, the same year Ross was named Winston Cup's rookie of the year.. A sibling rivalry also paid off for the Thompsons. Shawn's 12 -year-old brother, Jason, ended up fifth in total points in the Jr. `A' division this season. Jerry said the brothers worked together to achieve the best racing environment forthe both of them. "In this class aerody- namics are very inipor- tant," Jerry said. "Two cars working together will go faster than just one." Jason will inherit Shawn's blue #72 car next season for another go at the Jr. 'A' division. Shawn will move up to Mini Sprints next season meaning Jerry will have to build a slightly bigger, more powerful and faster car. Jr. 'A' cars feature 6.5 hp- motors p`motors while Mini Sprint cars have 9 hp motors. Jerry said the sport is growing in populari- ty. This season ,.- the Jr. 'A' divi- sion had about 15 cars each night and Jr. 'B' had about 12. Next seas",perry Despite the stereotype. that motor racing is an expensive sport, Jerry said racing cars at the Grand Bend Micro Speedway isn't as costly as you'd expect. He said it. takes between $6,000- $7,000 6,000=$7,000 to buy everything. you need to race: the purchase/construction of a car and trailer, the racing suit and a helmet. After the start-up costs,_ Jerry said the night to night expenses are rela- tively cheap: the $15 per; car/racer entry fee plus about a half gallon o 100 octane fuel. One set. of tires will do for an„ entire season. Jerry added week to week maintenance . costs are minimal unless the car is involved in an Occident. A big racing fan, Jerry said the action at Grand Bend Micro Speedway is exciting, adding almost each feature final has a -_,photo finish. It is as good as /racing as any other at any track," he said. Jerry had big thanks for Shawn's sponsor, AllSport, as well as Snap-Oin Tools, the N Speedway staff and I'I o, f f m a n ;Ambulance AMP anticipates there will-----' Service. be 1 = _ cars in Jr.