Ashley McCalmont - Rising Canadian Star

Ashley McCalmont, remember that name.

This talented Canadian racer is certainly getting noticed and making a name for herself as she competes in the North American Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, a respected production based touring class championship that supports the premiere Rolex Sports Car Series.

No stranger to the race track, the 24 year old from Ancaster, Ontario has spent most of her life around racing as dad Mike was a successful sportscar racer himself.

Ashley started racing Go-Kart’s at the age of eight, moving-up to the CASCAR Junior series and finally becoming a professional racing driver as soon as she was legally able to drive.

This year will mark Ashley’s third season in the Grand-Am series, she previously raced a Chevrolet Cobalt SS in the Street Tuner (ST) division. 2011 sees Ashley and team CKS Autosport  move up to the higher performance Grand Sport (GS) class driving a Chevrolet Camaro GS.R which she will co-drive with experienced racer Eric Curran. 

Four races into the season and the results are extremely promising with two top-20 and two top-10 finishes including her gutsy 7th place finish at the most recent race in Virginia two weeks ago. All the more impressive when you consider that the combined ST/GT grids often number around 60 cars with well known drivers such as Bill Auberlen, Terry Borcheller and Joey Hand. Girlracer caught-up with Ashley as she prepares for her next race at the classic Lime Rock Park, Connecticut, May 27th-28th.

Girlracer:    Ashley, It is typically extremely difficult for a driver to make it into motorsports and then progress-up the ladder. Can you describe some of the challenges you’ve experienced to get to where you are now?

Ashley:      “One of the biggest challenges that I have come across and I believe a lot of racers experience would be funding. Like any sport, to progress in racing you need a lot of practice, seat time and experience. Unfortunately, unlike soccer or baseball, practicing in racing costs a lot. Finding sponsors who will take a chance on an unknown driver when you start and are trying to make a name for yourself in the racing world is difficult. Luckily I have had a very supportive family who believed I could make it.”

Girlracer:    As we mentioned in our introduction, you currently race touring cars, was there ever any desire to race single-seaters?

Canadian Coin Collecting: Pleasures vs. Treasures

In Canada where money the popularity of coins has shown significant increase because the value of the paper money tends to deflate as much as 25% to 30% in a short period of time .

For this reason, coin manufacturers in Canada started making different kinds of coins to replace the value that was lost in the depreciation of paper money. Gold continues to thrive in various types of coins and their value continues to increase.

Coins function as solid emblems of a nations history . Canada has gained importance by producing Canadian coins serve as a means of monetary exchange and a source of historical enrichment.

Many coin collectors are enticed to try Canadian coin collecting. They know that collecting such Canadian treasures not only offer them remarkable diversion but can also provide them with additional value in the future.

So for those who wanted to start collecting Canadian coins, here is a list of some ways to get you started:

1. Do your homework

Like in any venture you must do your homework before you start collecting coins. Try to research how Canada manufactures their coins.

Learn the history of coins and how they may offer great opportunities to earn a profit and at the same time be an enjoyable hobby.

2. Finders keepers

To start the ball rolling, try to get as many coins or tokens as you can obtain without having to spend a great amount of money. Your parents or your grandparents may have some coins that they kept because they did not hold any monetary value at that time.

3. Use some guides

Coin collecting is not a complicated activity but it is not that easy either. You would likely need some references that will guide you in choosing the kinds of Canadian coins to collect.

You can refer to Haxbys Coins of Canada or other brochures that will provide you with adequate information regarding Canadian coin collecting.

4. Enjoy and have fun

The idea of coin collecting is not to get the most expensive and the rarest coins that you can find. What matters most is that you enjoy what you do and that you are amazed by the kinds of coins that you are able to obtain.

Coin collecting may differ from one place to another but Canadian coin collecting is sure to give a hobbyist great pleasure and not just mere treasures.

North American Coins & Prices: A Guide to U.S., Canadian and Mexican Coins

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to World Coins 2010, 13th Edition

Coin Collecting for Dummies

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to World Coins 2009, 12th Edition

Canadian Coin Collecting Kit