RICK @ the RACES (6/7/8 June 2008)
Fri 6 June Autodrome Edelweiss Que
Sat 7 June Fulton Speedway NY
Sun 8 June Cornwall Motor Speedway, On
I finished work early again on Friday , which once again allowed me to visit the Autodrome Edelweiss in the Val De Monts region of Quebec.
Just before heading up into the mountains, I called in at the ‘Tim Hortons’ in Chelsea for a coffee and donut where I bumped into Mario Shink , editor of SMAC magazine. ( a French language Auto Journal available in Quebec). I first met Mario a few years back, when we were both covering an ice racing event at Ste Genevieve De Batiscan, and we’ve connected at various events ever since. More recently, last weekends ill fated rain out for the NASCAR CANADIAN TIRE SERIES race at St Eustache.
Today, he was also on his way to Edelweiss to do some interviews.
There were double features on hand due to the previous weeks rain out and we had three welcome additions to the Modified ranks. Jasmin Leveille # 4, Paul Pekkonen # 98 and Skip McKenzie # 12R,
The most noticeable car in the pits was that of Ryan Foley # 12. Ryan’s partner is a school teacher in nearby Chelsea and the car had undergone a new look, courtesy of the kids . The car was taken to the school where they were ‘let loose’ to do the body work graphics.
Also in the pits I found Joel Doiron who was driving a car from the Geauvreau Team
The Modifed Feature winners were Brian McDonald # M96 ( rain delayed from 30 May)
and Pierre Dagenais # 124 in the regular nights feature,
with the Pro Stock race going to Denis Gauvreau # 72.
I had a mid morning start for my Saturday night racing destination , and once again I joined Roger Aubin , my regular traveling companion for the ‘long distance tracks’ . We used his Ford Escape , for the three and a half hour drive to the Fulton Speedway, New York. My local Saturday tracks were running that night, but a staging of the ADVANCE AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES race for Big Block Modifieds tempted us to make the journey further south. It was a hot and humid weekend and we intended to camp at the track overnight.
On arrival we soon got chatting to the other camping race fans, which included Clay Benfield from Reading PA. Welcome to the RICK @ the RACES mailing list Clay .
On my pit ‘walk about’ I came across a couple of good friends of mine that I first met a few years back at ( what is believed to be ) the first ever Euro Style Rally Cross in North America , at the Glad Rag Speedway ( Corinth NY). I got to know , the father and son AMEC Ice Race team of Claude and Claude Jnr Hutchings who were racing their Saabs on that historic day.
Over the past couple of years, Claude Jnr has moved on to Dirt racing and has been beating all before him at the Brewerton Speedway , in the 4 cylinder division in yet another Saab. For 2008 the sixteen year old has graduated to the DIRT Sportsman ranks and is currently doing well in the Rookie division that runs at Fulton. Apparently, according to his ‘Dad’ , he’s promised to have his hair cut when he gets his first win !
There were 44 Big Block Modifieds in attendance to contest the SDS race which included two Canadians, Pat O’Brien # 6 of Kingston (Ont) and Wallace Stacey # 66W of Kahnawake (Que).
During the front stretch pre-race presentations I chatted with Dale Planck # 77X. We discussed the heat and humidity of the night and the concerns of body fluids getting burned up during the 100 lapper which was about to get under way. He told me he’d been preparing for it.
After the pomp and ceremony , the race got underway where Billy Decker # 91 immediately shot into the lead. There were 96 green flag laps before the first and only only caution . Decker had dominated throughout but behind him, from second to sixth place , there was action a plenty. These places shuffled between Danny Johnson # 27j , Dale Planck # 77x , Brett Hearn # 20 , Matt Shepherd # 9s and Jimmy Phelps # 98h who were all in a fierce battle. The late caution, of course, closed the field , but once again it was Decker who showed his class , staying up front to take the checkers.
Following this round of the series, Planck and Decker share the top spot for points.
After the race I returned to the camping field, and after a few beers I retired for the night. Roger, made his bed up in the back of his Escape, while I was joined in my tent by a ‘little thing’ that became attracted to me during the course of the night !
That ‘little thing’ was a mosquito, and after it had eaten me alive for a few hours , I got up at the crack of dawn (4-30 am) covered in bites, thinking to myself , I’m getting too old for sleeping in tents !
Now, my latest plan is to buy a small van and convert it into a camper. Hotels are OK once in a while, but you miss out on all the tail gate parties and fun that takes place at the track. For me camping is the way to go racing, and if I had the money, I’d be hauling a fifth wheel camper.
My tent was taken down and packed away before 5-00am, at about the same time Roger awoke in the truck. Before long we were heading back to Canada and were at the 730 TRUCKSTOP at Cardinal on HWY 401 soon after 8-00am for breakfast. I have to plug this excellent eatery, as they do so much good in sponsoring our local racers. Drop in there if you get the chance.
By 10-00am Sunday morning I was back home.
Sunday evening I was on duty at the Cornwall Motor Speedway for the regular nights racing program and it was still hot and humid when I set up my chair in the shade, behind the ambulance on the center green. While waiting for things to start , I had a good chat with Tammy Jalbert , who is one of the St Johns Ambulance crew. She’s no stranger to racing and in fact , up until last year she and her husband Dan were Dirt Modified pilots. They have both been out of active racing, since their son Cory was involved in serious accident in the Bandit division at the Mohawk International Raceway ( FKA Frogtown Speedway) in 2007.
Tammy’s car was passed on to Mark Therrien # 17 and Dan’s went to Nicolas Vaillant # 72 . While Dan is putting his racing knowledge to use helping Vaillant , Tammy is giving her time to the St Johns. She told me all about the good work they do, and how it’s all done voluntary. If your local race track has a collection for their funds, try to help out if you can as I really admire these people.
The Modified heats went to Mitch Jock # 14, Brian McDonald # 151 KB and Roy Delormier # 27.
The feature was a very exciting affair with an outcome uncertain right to the end. The four cars in contention were the # 14 of Jock, # 16 of Gage Morin, the # 96 of Kyle Dingwall and the # 95 of Mark Hitchcock.
When the checkers fell, it was Hitchcock at the front to claim his second feature of the year. Coincidentally it was Mark’s car owner Jim’s ( Primrose) Performance Plus that were the nights sponsors.
One novel idea idea in use that night was a two-way radio link between the announcer Dave Murphy and Modified driver Joel Doiron # 40. When there was a break in the action for a caution, Joel was able to talk to the race fans.
The feature for the Pro Stock division was once again taken by my buddy Giles Godard # 27.
Looking ahead, I must mention Cornwall Motor Speedway’s ‘BIG ONE’ that’s coming up on Sunday June 22. THE TRIPLE CROWN , which is one of Canada’s biggest Dirt racing events of the year takes place that day. The WORLD OF OUTLAWS Late Models will be in attendance along with the ESS Sprint Cars and DIRTCAR 358 Modifieds