AL Blanchard's New Generation Racing Engines are gaining a reputation throughout the racing scene. At the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at Mosport June 15, Blanchard-built engines in were four of the cars in the race.

When Andrew Ranger raced to the top of the point standings in the inaugural season of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Al Blanchard was along for the ride.

He wasn't literally in the passenger's seat, of course, but Ranger's 10 top-10 finishes in 12 starts, were accomplished with an engine built by Blanchard's New Generation Racing Engines in a small shop located on Hwy. 20 in Pelham, not far from the first tee at the Peninsula Lakes Golf Club.

Building engines is nothing new for 41-year-old Blanchard, he's been doing just that since he was a teenager and before that, he watched his dad, Arnold, work on race cars.

He had his first race car when he was 16, beginning with the drags before switching to stock cars. He was a regular for several years at area tracks, but as his business got busier he found himself spending more time under the hood than behind the wheel.

With racing at Merrittville, Humberstone and several other area tracks in full swing, not to mention the NASCAR Canadian Tire series where four cars were using New Generation engines at the race in Mosport, Blanchard says business is booming.

"We're staying busy all year, which is good because it used to really tail off in the winter once the racing season is finished," said Blanchard, a graduate of E.L. Crossley Secondary School. "I think our reputation is decent, but it takes more than just the engine. You can get into situations where guys don't have the cars working right, you have to have everything working right to do well."

Blanchard says he tries to make as many races as possible, just in case.

At the NASCAR Canadian Tire series race June 15, Robin Buck had the third fastest time in practice -- with a New Generation engine under the hood -- but was unable to qualify when his engine blew. Blanchard rushed back to the shop, worked all night and rebuilt the motor in time to Buck to start the race at the back of the pack.

The Campbellville driver worked his way up to 19th before more power steering problems forced him to the pits and he finished 25th.

Blanchard says it was just the second time he could recall working throughout the night to rebuild an engine in time for a race the next day. The first was about six or seven years ago at the same track when Jim Lapcevich's engine blew.

"It was kind of a fluke what happened," explained Blanchard. "We don't make the parts and there's really not much you could do it about it.

"Luckily, it wasn't that bad but we were trashing. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing and it's tough to build a motor when you're rushed. It's not an ideal situation."

Blanchard admittedly operates on a shoestring budget with just two full time employees -- himself and his brother and one part timer -- and says it gives him a great deal of satisfaction to beat the big guys now and then.

"Our budget isn't as quite up to snuff as what some of these other guys have," said Blanchard. "With guys like Fitzpatrick (J.R.Fitzpatrick, who was sixth last year in the Canadian Tire series) it's blank cheque racing. When you're competing against guys like that it's tough. (Ron) Beauchamp has his own engine shop and they're full time so we're running against some pretty heady stuff."Blanchard says he enjoys what's he doing and plans on just plugging away.

"There's a possibility we might field a car some day, but with NASCAR making so many changes that's a distinct possibility," said Blanchard. "For now, I think we'll just stick to what we do best."