Labor Day W/K , Capital City, Cornwall and Barry’s Bay Trip (27 to 31 Aug 2008)

2008_0802Image0276RICK @ the RACES (27 to 31 AUG)

Website Update
The ‘Retro’ reports have been put on the ‘back burner’ for a while , during this really busy time for me. Once I’ve settled in to my new home, it will become a winter project. Those of you that received these reports by e-mail over the past couple of years will know that I’ve now reached the latter part of 1986. With things being so hectic, I’ve only had time to edit and correct my first edition, but hope to have all of them up loaded on the website before too long.

During the week I got a message from Robert Wilms from Baarlo in the Netherlands. I’ve been corresponding with Robert for quite a while in connection with the gatherings he’s organized in memory of his local, and now defunct track ( The Baarlo Auto Speedway) . I used to visit there at least once a year between 1976 and 1993 and have a lot of fond memories of the place. Robert sent me some photos of some of the Dutch contestants in the forthcoming BriSCA F1 World Final at the Foxhall Stadium (Ipswich UK) on Sept 22.

I also had another message from Phil Elsden (ex 401) a BriSCA F1 driver during the 1980’s . He told me his son Mark is now racing and sent me some photos.

New additions to the Guest book include

Marc from Ontario , friend and race team sponsor

Martin from North Carolina, friend, journalist and photographer

Mike from Connecticut, friend and webmaster www.raceproweekly.com

Rob & Cindy Shaver from Ontario , friends and DIRT racing fans.

Robin from Yorkshire (UK) old racing friend and co-worker

Craig from Ontario, friend and webmaster of www.rickattheraces.com

Thanks for taking an interest

THIS WEEKS REPORT

With it being the Labour Day Holday Weekend, you’ll probably be expecting plenty of coverage from a whole bunch of races. Well, that’s not the case as this week I have only two events to report on.

On Wednesday (27 Aug) I was at the final mid-week show of the season at Ottawa’s Capital City Speedway. To round off the year, the remaining events will be on Friday’s (19/26 Sept) and on Saturday Aug 6 for a staging of the ACT LATE MODEL SERIES.

2008_0728Image02150209eThis Wednesday’s show sponsored by Local Heros , a Stittsville Sports Bar and Eatery had a good turn out of cars and fans.

2008_0728Image0238 It was good to see my friend Erin Joyce # 33 back in action with her Legend car after engine problems have kept her away for a few weeks.

2008_0728Image0203She led the feature for a while before succumbing to the might of regular winner Kevin Foisey.0209f

My night at Capital City Speedway was made even more enjoyable working with ‘Trophy Girls’ Kayla and Vicky from ‘Local Heros’.

2008_0728Image0254 2008_0728Image0269 2008_0728Image0257 2008_0728Image0265They joined me in Victory Lane and performed their duties with excellence. Thunder Car winner was Ken Fisher, Mini Stock was Doug Mold, 4 for Fun was Cody Dunham and Tim Dorning won the Late Model Feature.0209g

I wasn’t so disappointed about having to work late this past Friday (29 Aug) when I found out later that my intended destination was canceled because of rain. The final points night at Autodrome Edelweiss was ‘washed out’ , so Laurent Ladouceur became the 2008 track champion for the Modifieds.

On Saturday ( 30 Aug) , there were no racing plans on my agenda.

My destination was the Pierre Trudeau Airport in Dorval ( Montreal) to meet my daughter Carla. She was flying in from Austin, Texas for the Labour Day Weekend. With my forthcoming move from Maxville to Long Sault ( close to the Cornwall Motor Speedway), we thought it would be a good time for her to pay a visit. ( She still has piles of her things in the house that needed sorting ! )

Now you can see why there is a ‘Texas’ link inĀ  ‘Ricks Favorites’ on www.rickattheraces.com , and the reason why I only attended two events this week. While we were dining at East Side Marios on Cote Vertu in Montreal, my buddies were at my usual Saturday night choices of the Brockville Ontario Speedway or the Mohawk International Raceway. Early Sunday morning e-mails informed me that Bill Gill won at the BOS and John Lazore won at the MIR.

While Carla was sorting through her stuff , I spent Sunday evening at the Cornwall Motor Speedway where the 358 SUPER DIRTCAR Series was taking place.

While on my Pre Race walkabout, I bumped into a few friends for some photo opps

Rob Shaver gets an autograph from "Barefoot' Bob McCreadie
Rob Shaver gets an autograph from “Barefoot’ Bob McCreadie
It's always a pleasure to see Elise Lalancette of the Mario Clair Team
It’s always a pleasure to see Elise Lalancette of the Mario Clair Team

 

0209h 2008_0802Image0237

0209iThere were forty seven Modifieds in the pits and it turned out to be a cracker of a show with Danny O’Brien taking the 100 lapper.0209j

Not only was there a 358 Modified SDS race up for grabs, but the Pro Stocks were engaged in a Series race too.

0209kLong Distance traveler Pete Stefanski from the Buffalo area of New York took this one.2008_0802Image02240209l

Instead of my normal Labour Day Weekend trip to the Rolling Wheels Raceway ( Elbridge NY) for Mondays Big Block ADVANCE AUTOPARTS SUPER DIRTCAR race , Carla and I loaded up my Chevy with her ‘keepsakes’ and set off for Combermere Ontario.

0209mThis picturesque little town on the banks of Lake Kamaneskeg, and close to Barrys Bay was the first place we lived after moving to Canada from the UK in 1994. The reason for our trip was to meet up with Pat, ( Carla’s Mum) who was up from Maryland with her partner visiting relatives. We had prearranged this, so we could trans-ship Carla’s belongings into their car for the journey back to the USA.

So now you can see why I only have two race reports this week. Next week should be a lot busierĀ  with a full agenda planned for Saturday and Sunday.

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