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ON THE FAST TRACK: Thomas Hensby, 14, hopes to become a professional speedway racer. The sport, most popular in Europe, involves riders racing stripped-down motorcycles around an oval track. Local teen has need for speed He's only 14 years old and in Grade 9, but Thomas Hensby has already identified what his passion in life is. "I love everything about speedway racing," Hensby says about the primarily European sport that involves riders racing strippeddown motorcycles around an oval track. "The more experience I get, the better the chance that I'll be able to turn pro when I turn 16." The 500-cc Jawa bikes that Hensby and other speedway racers use to compete are completely illegal to use on city streets. The machines are very different than motorcycles, as they have no gears or brakes on them. The speedway bikes also accelerate from 0 to 100 km in three seconds. "My friends all think I'm crazy to want to race in speedway because it's too dangerous," added the young teen, who never likes to sit still. "They're all still very supportive when I compete, though." Hensby was recently featured in England's Speedway Star magazine, which is distributed across the globe. His skill on the bike has attracted so much attention overseas that he's been sponsored for the 2010 season. Although he is very serious about pursuing a career in speedway, the young rider plans to experience everything that other teens get to experience, and have a lot of fun too. -- Daniel Perry, Special to the Beaver 33 · Friday, February 19, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Ice hopes goals are easier to come by against the Bluewater Hawks in the upcoming Provincial Women's Hockey League playoffs than they were during the regular season. Oakville (12-16-5-1) will face Bluewater (20-11-3) in the first round of the playoffs. A schedule for the best-of-five series had not been announced as of yesterday (Thursday), but most series will get underway next weekend. The Ice was held off the scoreboard in both regular-season meetings with the Hawks. Bluewater won the head-to-head matchups by 1-0 and 2-0 scores. Oakville finished 11th in the regularseason standings, while Bluewater was sixth. The Ice concluded the regular season last weekend by splitting a pair of games. Oakville edged the Burlington Barracudas 3-2 Friday before falling 9-0 to the Cambridge Fury Saturday. Allie BrindAmour-McClure paced the Ice against Burlington with two goals, including the game winner in the third period. Kristyn Capizzano had the Ice's other marker. Melissa Cescon SALES REPRESENTATIVE TEL. 905.845.4267 CELL 416.436.9294 M N LI ILT EW ST O IN N G Ice draws Bluewater in opening round A Family YOUNG COUPLES GO NORTH! Name In Real Estate For Over 35 Years. MOVE UP `N MOVE IN · Stunning 3 bdrm; 2+1 bathroom · Classic Glen Abbey 4 bdrm; 2+1 Bathroom end unit townhome · Massive Eat-in Kitchen; granite finish · Over 1800 sf on corner lot · Huge master bdrm w/ 5 pc ensuite · Maple H/W on main flr; new broadloom · Upgraded H/W, slate on main flr · Main flr den, laundry, huge bdrms · Premium maple kitchen cabinets · Over $25K spent since Jan 2010 $354,900 $647,000 Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage melissacescon@royallepage.ca · www.homesbymelissa.ca