Autodrome Granby 358 SDS Race (25 Sept 2015)

DSC_0135 (Large) (2)RICK @ the RACES (25 to 30 Sept 2015)

Fri  25 Sept       Autodrome Granby , Que . 358 SDS race

After arriving back in Canada from the UK , on Monday 21 Sept , I have definitely been feeling a lot better than I did, four weeks ago, before I departed for a private medical consultation, and a good bit of convalescence .

When asked by a good friend to accompany him to Autodrome Granby the following Friday, I gave it some serious thought.

When Friday came around, I was still feeling pretty good, so the two of us headed up to Granby.

I’m still nowhere near back to full health, but I had a lot more energy and was missing the tracks and my racing buddies. We got there nice and early , so I was able to take things easy, relax at the infield food area and chat among  friends before the racing got under way.

The first people I saw were race officials Kathy Caldwell and Benoit Cabana. DSC_0113 (Large)They sat with me as I chomped into the first poutine I’d had for several weeks. It went down very well. Kathy was there helping out my good friend Mike Perotte the SUPER DIRT SERIES director.

In the pits I came across two more pretty female friends to chat with,  First was Elise Lalancette , from the Mario Clair Team who I have know for many years.

DSC_0116 (Large)While there, Mario’s brother , Gino approached me , and asked me to get a picture of his tribute sticker on his car to his recently departed, fellow racer Leon Gonyo.

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The Josianne Plante team was next, the young 358 Modified  race driver I first met last year, when she was racing the Speedsters.DSC_0117 (Large)Later in the evening, Josianne was to be presented on-track with her 358 Modified Rookie of the Year award .DSC_0142 (Large)Josianne wasn’t the only only member of her family racing that night, her young brother Maxime DSC_0085 (Large)was taking her place in the # 27 Speedsters.

There were a few of my local track racers present, but not too many. DSC_0037 (Large)Gage Morin

DSC_0116 (Large) (2)Jordon McCreadie

DSC_0053 (Large)Brian McDonald

DSC_0138 (Large)Chris Raabe

DSC_0126 (Large)Lance Willix

Once the racing got under way, I sat on the wall , in my usual Granby spot, on the inside of turn four. There were no heat races, as this show was a rain-date from a few weeks back when the race was stopped after only  four laps.

DSC_0098 (Large) DSC_0100 (Large) DSC_0134 (Large) DSC_0139 (Large) DSC_0144Winner at the end of the 96 laps was Kayle Robidoux

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With no heat races, the nights racing was finished well before the 11-00 pm curfew , so once the victory pictures were done, we were on our way.

I was back home before 1-00 am, and quite pleased with myself. It was the first time since my illness, that I have managed to ‘survive’ a ‘more or less’ typical night of racing, with out tiring myself out. It’s still early days, and I will be taking ‘baby steps’ like this for the time being. There was another 358 SDS race at Autodrome Drummond the following night, but I’m not ready for double headers just yet.

The rest of my week was spent at home in Cornwall, Ontario, where I took time out on Wednesday 30 Sept, to take some pictures of a piece of the cities history.  For many years I’ve been using the two bridges that link Cornwall to Cornwall Island and then to the USA, but for a long time , the tall span on the Cornwall side has become unnecessary . None of the tall ships that use the St Lawrence Seaway , pass under it anymore, as they use the one on the USA side.  So a new low level bridge was built which came into use earlier this year. Throughout the summer the old bridge has been undergoing demolition, and this week the central span was being taken down. I was there to get some pics.DSC_0147 (Large) DSC_0154 (Large) DSC_0172 (Large) DSC_0179 (Large) DSCN1077 (Large)

 

 

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