
RICK @ the RACES ( 3 to 7 August 2012)
3 Aug Mohawk International Raceway
4 Aug Brockville Ontario Speedway
5 Aug Cornwall Speedway (Rained Out)
6 Aug Merrittville Speedway (SDS)
7 Aug Cornwall Speedway (Karting Club)
This weeks report starts with a Friday afternoon trip across the International Bridge at Cornwall, Ontario, to the Mohawk International Raceway , my local US speedway at Hogansburg, NY. It was the August ‘holiday weekend’ in Ontario , so I crossed the border at 3-30 pm to avoid the expected late afternoon line ups. After spending some time in the Massena Walmart, I was at the track around 5-30 pm . As usual I spent time chatting with track photographer Andy Watts, and his mother Jane ( widow of ‘my buddy’ the late Mike Watts)
Racing was up to the usual high standard with Billy Dunn getting his fifth Modified win of the year while Mike Arquiett was a surprise ` career first` winner in the Sportsman. Dion Oakes won in the Pro Stocks while Matt Aubin got another Bandit win. A nice early start and a swift presentation meant I was home soon after 10-00 pm.
The next day found me heading down Highway 401 to my usual Saturday evening base at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. On the way there, and close to the track on Highway 29 , I stopped at an unusual road side eatery. Parked in a yard beside the road you will find `Deckers`. As you may have guessed by the name, the diner is a converted British double decker bus. ( a 1963 Bristol to be precise) . I was interested to check it out, because who knows , I may have ridden in it some time in the distant past. May be my chewing gum is still stuck under the seat ! I decided on a bacon / cheese burger and it was very commendable , so I may be stopping there again.
It had been another hot day as the B.O.S went into another race night free from the dreaded rain. `Touch wood` there have been no rain outs there , so far this year. There was a full program of all the regular divisions, with double the usual amount of laps.
The 60 lap Modified Feature was a great race with Dale Planck and Pat O`Brien ( who was in a brand new car) battling it out at the front for most of the race. Planck fought off many assaults from O`Brien before taking a well deserved victory.
The 50 Lap Sportsman race was won by Chris Herbison, the 30 Lap Street Stock by Derek Cryderman, and the 30 lap Rookie race by Quincey Roberts. The added laps meant a later than normal finish , so I ‘took off’ before the final race of the night, the Vintage Feature. In my absence the race was won by Steve Arbuthnot
It`s been a long hot summer and of course you hear people saying, “we could do with a bit of rain”… maybe, that’s true , but not on race nights please ! Well Rain was in the forecast for Sunday and with a doubtful mind I set off after lunch for my local Cornwall Motor Speedway. It was still warm and dry as I sat in the tower, getting work done on my PC prior to the races.
The radar didn’t look good and sure enough , just as the pits started filling up with race cars the rain started. The Canadian Nationals, the big show on the program, was unfortunately cancelled as `Mother Nature` intervened . ( The make up date is for August 19 )
So, I was home early on Sunday night and able to get a good nights sleep before my next excursion. As mentioned earlier, it was the August `holiday weekend` and on the `holiday Monday` the Merrittville Speedway close to Niagara Falls , Ontario was staging a SUPER DIRT SERIES race for Big Block Mods.
It’s a six hour drive from my home in Cornwall , so I’d booked a day off from work on Tuesday for the return journey.
After leaving Cornwall at about 7-15 in the morning, and making the minimum of stops, I was down in Niagara Falls `killing time` by 2-30 pm.
Merrittville is one of my favorite tracks for taking photo’s and I’m usually pleased with the pics I come away with . It was good meet up with my Scottish race photographer buddy Alex Bruce who lives in the area.
I always try to make the effort to attend this special August event each year which has become the Bob St Amand Sr Memorial race.
I started my evening by sampling the Pasta and Meatball supper that had been laid on beside the tracks bar.
After this I took a wander around the pits and chatted amongst friends , Jessica Zemken was there with Stewart Friesen who was driving the Jake Spraker car. Jess was in charge of applying the official decals to Stewart’s car, and I have to thank her for adding two extra ones. (my www.rickattheraces.com stickers)

Other Big Block Mods out on the track that day sporting my decals were the cars of Gary Tomkins and Billy Dunn. In the supporting races for Street Stocks, visiting Brighton Speedway driver, Leslie Mowat kindly put one on her car.
Most of the SUPER DIRT SERIES tour drivers were present, with one notable absentee. At the start of the weekend , Brett Hearn had become unwell and was subsequently admitted to hospital . The SUPER DIRT SERIES just isn’t the same without him, so I’m sure all race fans will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
The SUPER DIRT SERIES was heading to the I 96 Speedway in Michigan on Tuesday night and many of the teams present would be heading in that direction after the show.
After the heat races were over, it was local small block driver Mike Bowman who drew pole position, with Australian Pete Britten beside him. When the green flag dropped for the 100 lapper, Bowman was uncatchable with all the excitement happening directly behind him.
Matt Sheppard and Billy Dunn fought lap after lap for second place until Matt Williamson ( in another small block) came on the scene to split them apart. Although Bowman led from Green to Checkers , don’t be misled , it was far from boring ! It was really great watching the battle behind him, and wondering if he could hang on for the win.
Once the racing was over , I retired for the night to the back of my HHR, where I slept until Tuesday morning.
After a slow ride back , via Toronto and Highway 401, I was back in Cornwall by mid afternoon.
My racing week wasn’t over yet ! Tuesday is Karting Club night at the Cornwall Motor Speedway, so I went along there to watch the kids in action
