RICK @ the RACES
12 March , Motor Sports Expo, Syracuse, NY
After many weeks of standing around in the cold watching ice racing events it was nice to have an indoor function to attend this past weekend. The one event that North Eastern race fans always look forward to is the Motor Sports Expo in Syracuse. NY. It’s the place where you can shake off the winter blues by meeting up with friends and checking out what’s new for the coming racing season. For many fans, it was an opportunity to pick up the 2011 schedule cards for planning the years agenda.
On Saturday morning I left my place in Cornwall (Ont) for a leisurely drive south. I was in no hurry to get there because one of the attractions I wanted to see, didn’t start until 7-00pm.
Viewers of my website, www.rickattheraces.com will be well aware that as well as taking pictures of race cars, I also enjoy snapping pictures of pretty girls.
The Motor Sports Expo always combines the two, when the annual Ms DIRT beauty pageant takes place.
I arrived at the show in the late afternoon which gave me ample time to chat with friends and look around at the race cars. As usual there was plenty to see from both the dirt and paved disciplines of racing.
It was great to meet up with so many friends, especially former Ms Motorsports, Alyssa Sharman from Reading PA . As well as being one of auto racing’s most respected ‘trophy girls’ she’s also a dedicated race fan too. On this occasion she was attending the show in the role of ‘race fan’, but we’d previously made arrangements to do a ‘photo shoot’. We toured the show and she posed on various race cars. Thanks Alyssa ! 
By the time we’d finished the photo session it was time to watch the beauty pageant.
It was hosted by my good friend Doug Elkins of www.dougsdirtdiary.com and sitting amongst the judges I found two other buddies of mine, race drivers, Johnny Scarborough and Larry Wight.
During the break , Alyssa was interviewed by Doug where she gave an insight into what the girls were going through at this time.
When things resumed, out of the seven hopefuls, local girl Marissa Lynn was announced the winner. 
By now it was 8-00pm and time for me to head for home. My ‘webmaster’ Craig Revelle , had been at the show all day needed and needed a ride back to Canada, so he joined me for the return trek up I 81 . After a late night supper at Applebees in Watertown we were back in Ontario before mid night.