Cliche to Race Part-Time with ACT, VMRS
Etienne Cliche plans to enter three Valenti Modified Racing Series races at Lee (NH) USA, Monadnock (NH), and Oxford (ME) Plains. On the Serie ACT, he plans to enter two races at Autodrome Chaudiere and two additional races. Three races in the United States are in the works, but he could not comment on which races.
Cliche enjoys running in the Modifieds. His brother Marc-Andre was the first Canadian driver to race with the Valenti Modified Racing Series back in 2006. “It is a really nice feeling. Lots of hp’s (horsepower), 15 inch tires, low on the ground. I ran a lot of Go Kart racing in my young age and it’s like a big Go Kart. “
Cliche enjoys racing with Max Zachem, Chris Pasteryak, Joey Jarvis, veteran modified driver Dwight Jarvis, and Steve Masse. Cliche feels they are good drivers and have helped him whenever he has needed help to improve on the race track.
With Tom Curley from ACT and Tom Mayberry from PASS working together, the two sanctioning bodies will have doubleheaders throughout the season. There will be at Autodrome Chaudière on Saturday September 12th. “It’s been a hard battle between the two series and now it will let more chances to drive in both series for the drivrs,” Cliche said. “Quebec promoters work hard to maintain ACT in Quebec because of PASS and it works. “
Cliche still has an ACT Late Model but drove the Super Late Model for a car owner.
Cliche believes there is a competition level on the Serie ACT. He feels you have to race with the best to be the best. He also feels that the competition is more competitive on the ACT Tour than the Serie ACT. He has learned a lot with the ACT car with the crate motor and eight inch tires. He enjoys racing more in the United States than in Canada, but he enjoys racing with Jean-Francois Dery, Donald Theetge, Patrick Laperle, Dany Trepanier, Patrick Cliche, and Alex Labbe.
Cliche will be the spotter and crew chief for Rapahel Lessard on the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North Super Late Model series. The team approached Cliche this winter and asked for his help. Lessard’s father convinced Cliche to be a part of the team. Cliche feels that Lessard has a lot to learn on running the PASS Series and he wants to help him improve. Lessard has raced one year in the Sport Compact Series, a Honda 4 Cylinder at Autodrome Chaudière. He raced in the Serie Sportsman Quebec for one year. Cliche feels it’s a big project to run the full PASS Series schedule. He is going to try to make Lessard more competitive after each PASS race.
With the Oxford 250 being held on August 30, the Valenti Modified Racing Series will be a part of the event on Saturday night August 29th. He thinks it will be good exposure for the series. “For me it’s important to make it there in front of a good crowd. “
Canadians are very passionate about racing. Cliche has a Mechanical Engineering degree and believes it helps in racing. It helps take the feedback on how the car drives and makes the right setup decisions. He hopes his education creates more opportunities in the United States.
Cliché’s goals are to get an ACT win and top ten finishes in the Modified. He wants to find sponsorship to run Speedweeks 2016 at New Smyrna (FL) Speedway. He wants to maximize his experience to prepare for next season, hopefully with more Modified races
Sources: Matt Wiernasz/YankeeRacer. com