October 17, 2008 by Steve Newman, Renfrew Weekender

There's a high price tag attached. Go-kart racer Nathan Blok stepped into new territory over the past two weekends, when his driving abilities were evaluated by the Autosports Academy of North America.

The first invite, which resulted in driving full-sized cars Oct. 5, came after a second-place finish in the Junior Rotax go-karting class.

The second invitation went out to seven drivers, including Blok, a resident of Beachburg and son of Stephen and Sandra Blok.

Sandra, who works at Renfrew's Bonnechere Manor long- care home, called the results of the second weekend "fantastic, with results that are almost unbelievable. Nathan is still riding high!?

Sunday's instructors consisted of three International Club Academy Racing (ICAR) members, two from France and one from Mirabel, Quebec. The fourth was Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductee Richard Spenard.

Following a morning field session of instruction on hell-toe shifting, a technique used for high-performance braking, the seven students, ranging in age up to 23, used a five-speed Mustang to practice their deceleration techniques. Later that morning they drove on a slalom course.

ICAR then unveiled it's new Formula car and asked five of the morning's seven participants, including Blok to continue riding.

As the shortest of the drivers, Blok road last, but not least. According to observers, he was the smoothest and fastest of the group. Consequently, he has been invited to participate in the 2009 European Autosport Academy open-wheel program.

"When I first heard the news that I was picked to go to the racing academy for evaluation, I didn't believe it at the time", said Blok

The invitation came after a special training session last Friday a Calabogie Motorsport Park after professional racing instructor Paul Swinwood volunteered to spend time at the track with Blok.

"We like supporting youth development," said Chris Fleming, co-owner of Calabogie MotorSport Park. "He 's forging a pretty interesting career, and anyone who shows that potential and passion deserves every shot they can get".

Driving over CMP's five-kilometer layout, added Fleming, was a chance for the teenager to "improve his skills and confidence to move up the ladder".


Although Blok has been invited to join the 2009 European racing circuit, it's not as simple as saying,"Okay, I'll go. The big challenge is to raise the sponsorship target of about 90,000 Euros, or about $140,000 to make participation possible.

"We have quiet a few sponsors, but we'd still have to go deep to find some more (to raise that kind of money?." said Blok's father. His sponsors, include Donley's Pool Service, whose owners are Blok's aunt and uncle, Kathy and Darragh Donley of Braeside.