The penultimate weekend of road racing on the 2012 Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs – Ontario Region calendar was hosted by the British Empire Motor Club (BEMC) at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The event titled the BEMC 58th Annual BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Races was held on the weekend of September 15-16.

Founded in 1928 and incorporated in 1933, BEMC has one of the richest histories in Canadian motorsport. The club currently hosts two rounds on the Ontario Region schedule.

In Ontario, amateur competitors race at Mosport International Raceway, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Calabogie Motorsports Park to earn points towards the regional titles. Championships are contested in the following categories:

  • Grand Touring Category – The Grand Touring division is for race-prepared production vehicles. The cars competing in this category are prepared to similar rules. Some of these vehicles may be constructed with a tube-frame chassis. They are grouped according to their performance (based on the bracket that a car/driver combination performs). The quickest class features cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette, while at the other end of the spectrum are vehicles such as the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Rabbit. The Ontario Region offered Grand Touring competitors two different formats of racing:
    • GT Challenge – The GT Challenge series is a one-hour contest on Saturday that requires a pit-stop. This style of racing allows two drivers to share a car in a single event.
    • GT Sprints – Vehicles in the GT Sprints are categorized from GT1 to GT6 depending on their performance. A weekend of competition includes three races twenty-minutes in length.
  • Formula Category – These are purpose-built race cars. This is the largest category and there are a variety of regulations that govern these open-wheel cars.
    • Formula 1200 - Uses Volkswagen components and is powered by a 1200-cc air-cooled engine.
    • Formula Ford (FFA and FFB) - Utilize the four-cylinder 1600-cc Ford motor or the newly introduced Honda 1.5-liter engine with older chassis’ competing in the B category. Drivers score points towards the Ontario Formula Ford Challenge.
    • Formula Libre is a race group that includes many classes; some of the more popular are:
      • Formula First - Utilizes Volkswagen parts but is powered by a 1600-cc air-cooled motor.
      • Formula 2000 - These winged vehicles use a 2.0-liter Ford four-cylinder power-plant.
      • Formula 4 – Is another winged class with the most liberal rules.
  • Sports Racer Category – These are purpose-built closed wheel race cars. The class includes a variety of chassis’ which may be constructed by a competitor or a race car manufacturer. There is also a wide range of engine options used by the teams.
  • Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada – Also competes at CASC-OR weekends and have several classes depending on the age and type of vehicle. Categories include open and closed wheel Historic and Vintage as well as Group 70 for cars produced from the 1970s to 1986.


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