RICK @ the RACES (3 / 4 Oct 2014)
Friday 3 Oct Fulton Speedway NY
The ‘Outlaw 200’ Weekend (Formerly the Victoria 200) , at the Fulton Speedway , New York, has always been the traditional ‘kick start’ of Super Dirt Week for the traveling race fans. It’s an event that I always look forward to, but unfortunately this year turned out to be the saddest.
As usual I’d been in touch with my buddy , www.rickattheraces.com web master Craig Revelle, prior to the weekend, and we’d arranged to meet up at the races.
I finished work in Cornwall , Ontario at about 5-50 pm on Friday, and with my HHR already loaded up, I set off straight away in the direction of Fulton. I knew I wouldn’t get there before the start, but being a weekend event, and not much happening that night for the Modifieds, it didn’t matter too much.
I got there at about 9:15 to find the parking lot and camping area absolutely packed, just like it was a few years back.
The Late Models were out on the track for their Feature, when I arrived, but by the time I’d parked my car, it had started to rain, and the race came to a stop. Management were determined to get the nights show in the books and once the rain had stopped, and the track had been packed, the race was able to resume.
It was about 11 pm when I joined my photographer friends, Mike and Joe Johnson, along with Chris Marks and John Meloling out on the middle.
The Late Model race was completed and won by Dale Caswell, then the IMCA Modified Feature that followed, was taken by Chris Fleming .
Up next was the Mod Lites, for their big race, and about half way through that, the rain returned, and the show came to an end. By now the time was 12:45 am and the remaining Feature for the Rookie Sportsman had to be cancelled.
With the bed made up in the back of the HHR , I slept well until the morning.
It was still raining when I awoke and the forecast wasn’t looking good for most of the day. I didn’t want to hang around the track in the wet so took off to the Great Northern Mall at Clay for some Breakfast and an internet connection at the Panera Bread shop.
When I returned to the track around lunch time, it was still raining as I joined a bunch of other friends sheltering under a canopy.
I hadn’t yet bumped into my buddy Craig, so asked the others if they’d seen him. One of the guys checked his I-Phone to see if he’d posted anything, and that’s when we discovered the shocking news.
There were several R.I.P Craig Revelle notices on Facebook, and one was by my good friend Joey Ladouceur. I quickly phoned Joey to verify, and to get more info.
The sad news was true, and instead of waiting around in the rain, I decided to head for home.