RICK @ the RACES
14/15/16 Oct Brockville Ontario Speedway (NORTH EAST FALL NATIONALS)
After the beautiful ‘summer like’ weather we experienced at SUPER DIRT WEEK , Mother Nature brought us back to reality seven days later. This past weekend the North East Fall Nationals were taking place at the Brockville Ontario Speedway and the turn around of weather, was more in keeping of what you’d expect for mid October.
The three day event which included SUPER DIRT SERIES races for all the DIRTCAR divisions was supposed to get off the ground on Friday night , with the Pro Stocks topping the bill . Going into the weekend, the points race was very close, and the 2011 championship was to be decided. Joey Ladouceur had a slim lead over his good friend Corey Wheeler and an exciting race was expected.
The forecast for the weekend wasn’t good , and sure enough , not long before the races were to begin, the rain started. As usual , my work commitments on Friday’s prevented me from getting to the track early, so luckily for me, I got word about the cancellation before making the trip.
With a busy program for the other divisions over the weekend, it was decided not to reschedule the Pro Stock race. That was a bit disappointing, for those of us looking forward to the final shoot out between Ladouceur and Wheeler.
Even though the weather forecast for Saturday didn’t look much better, it was still hoped to get the ‘show in’ and after an unplanned Friday night in my own bed, I set off from Cornwall, Ontario at 10-00am. It rained all the way to Brockville and it was only as I approached the track, ( located a few miles north of the city) , did the skies look a bit brighter. It seemed like we were on the edge of a weather front, and there was a slim chance we may get lucky. By the time I got there, the rain had stopped, but not long after , it started again.
I spent my time (from 12-30 to 1-30 pm) chatting with the DIRTCAR officials in their trailer while we waited to see if the rain would stop.
There’s heating inside there, so I could see no point in wandering any further!
The rain didn’t relent, and the management had no choice , but to postpone the action until Sunday.
The original line up for the weekend, was for SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES races, for Big Block Mods, 358 Mods, Sportsman, Pro Stocks as well as guest appearances by the Sprint Cars and Vintage Mods, but with just one day left to run , the program had to be shortened. The revised plan was to get racing under way on Sunday morning, with a program of 358 Mods, Sportsman and Vintage Mods. The Big Blocks and Sprints Cars, had to be shelved, like the Pro Stocks had before them. It was the most logical and sensible solution under the circumstances, even though it was certain to disappoint some people.
With the postponement announcement being made early , it gave me plenty of time to return home to Cornwall, in favour of camping out and partying in the rain at the track . I was back at my place by mid afternoon , and then later on, spent the night in my armchair watching the Ottawa Senators NHL game against the Washington Capitols on TV. It was a good game, even if the ‘Sens’ did get beaten !
(Webmaster Note: One of many beatings that the ‘Sens’ will take this year)
I was up, bright and early on Sunday morning, and was back at the ‘BOS’ soon after 9-00 am. Already the road leading to the track had a big line of race car haulers waiting to get in, and things looked good for a great day of racing.
The rain had given the track a ‘pounding’ and it wasn’t until after mid day that the grader and packers had made it fit for racing. With it being a big event, Henry Hannewyk ( the official BOS photographer) and myself were joined on the centre , by a few other visiting photographer friends. These included , Rebecca Eisele (from Can Am) Alex Bruce (Ransomville and DIRTCAR) , Dale Calnan (Ontario Oval) and Greg McPherson (Inside Track) .
It was while we were congregated on the infield that Dale got a notice on his ‘Blackberry’ about a terrible accident involving a lot of cars at the Indy Car race in Las Vegas. Shortly afterwards we learned the sad news that race driver, Dan Weldon had lost his life in the fiery crash that happened on lap 12. Weldon who was the reigning Indy 500 Champion came from Emberton (Nr Olney, Buckinghamshire) in England , just a few miles from where I used to live. Brockville announcer , Steve Young relayed the sad news to the fans and moments silence was taken as a mark of respect. Our deepest sympathies go to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Once the Brockville action got under way, we were in for our own batch of scary moments.
In the warm up laps, Brian McDonald did a wild flip, wrecking his car, while in the Modified and Sportsman Features , Bobby Herrington and Justin Wright did likewise. Thankfully all three drivers walked away without injury.
The Modifieds were the first to run their Features, and it was Billy Decker who took the victory after being chased ( and passed for a short time) by Carey Terrance.
Danny O’Brien who’d been in the Series points championship chase 
with Danny Johnson , got by Terrance in the closing stages to take second, but unfortunately for him, it not good enough to win the title. Johnson’s sixth spot was all he needed to secure this years Mr DIRT championship.
The Sportsman were up next, with a Feature that was plagued with cautions. 
The eventual winner was Chris Herbison, who earned his first ever SUPER DIRT SERIES win., while the Series championship went to Tim Sears Jr.
It was after 6-30 pm when the last Feature of the day, for the Vintage Mods took to the track.
Unlike the previous two Features, the Vintage guys ( and girl ! ) showed how it’s done, by running a green to checkers race, without any cautions.
Race winner was former Modified driver ( and now Sprint Car pilot) Ricky Wilson.
This ended a ‘rain-abbreviated’ version the 2011 North East Fall Nationals, and time for me to head for home. Coming up next , if my plan materializes, is the Eastern States Weekend at Middletown NY (21/22/23 Oct) , It’s always a favorite for me and I’m looking forward to it.