Labor Day was a big weekend for racing across the country, with Toyo Tires equipped cars winning a national championship in SCCA ProSolo, and during a drag racing final.
In Lincoln, Nebraska, two Toyo Tires-sponsored drivers, Tim Smith from Atlanta, Georgia and Ken Motonishi from Orange, California, went head-to-head in the ST (Street Touring) class of the SCCA ProSolo Finale. Both competitors race 1989 Honda Civic Si’s shod with Proxes R1R extreme performance tires. Smith captured the race win and scored enough points to win the ProSolo National Championship. Smith’s co-driver, Bill Bounds, placed second in the finale at Lincoln Airpark, while Motonishi finished third. For his third place finish and previous wins in the series, Motonishi is the runner-up in the ProSolo national championship points for a 1-2 Toyo Tires finish.
“My Proxes R1R tires continually do what I ask of them,” said Smith. “They make the car predictable. Having a predictable car enables me to drive fast… to win.”
In fact, 140-UTQG rated Toyo Proxes R1R equipped cars captured several podiums during the SCCA ProSolo Finale. Other finishes included a first-through-fourth to sweep STS (Sport Touring S); and firsts in the Hawk Super Challenge, Ladies Class 1 and the Ladies Challenge.
While Proxes R1R tires were dominating in Nebraska, Toyo Proxes Drag Slicks were winning on the quarter mile in Fontana, California. Team Toyo racer Bisi Ezerioha from Hacienda Heights, California, piloted his front wheel drive 2006 Honda Insight to the All-Motor class win at the IDRC Finals. His 28X9X15 Proxes Drag Slick equipped Bisimoto Engineering Honda cruised to an easy 9.6 seconds @ 145 MPH win in the final round.
“We were able to take advantage of the amazing consistency of our Proxes Drag Slicks,” said Ezerioha of his win. “I have never had a tire this consistent. It is also very reliable in the heat such as last weekend. In hot weather, most slicks tend to ball-up and get greasy and unpredictable, not my Proxes Drag Slicks.”
Also winning on Proxes Drag Slicks at Fontana was the Bisimoto-tuned L&T Integra competing in the ProAm Front Wheel Drive class.
“We congratulate Tim Smith for winning the SCCA Pro Solo national championship,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “We are proud of all our drivers that captured podiums over the Labor Day weekend on Toyo Proxes tires.”
