RICK @ the RACES ( 14/15/16 Sept 2012)
14 Sept Mohawk International Raceway (NY)
15 Sept Mohawk International Raceway (NY)
16 Sept Mohawk International Raceway (NY)
After a long hot summer of chasing racing, here there and everywhere, it was good to have a big two day event right on my door step this weekend. The Mohawk International Raceway at Hogansburg NY happens to be the nearest track to my home in Cornwall , Ontario. Oh ,Yes, ‘as the crow flies’ , it’s just a couple of miles from my house, on the other side of the St Lawrence Seaway, and slightly nearer than the Cornwall Motor Speedway.
This past weekend they were holding a mammoth event for all the major DIRTCAR divisions. Friday nights schedule included Big Block Modifieds and Pro Stocks while the 358 ‘small blocks’ and Sportsman were running on Saturday. As well as all this , the program was complimented by Late Models, Mod Lites and Bandits.
With M.I.R being so close to home, www.rickattheraces.com, web master, Craig Revelle, was making use of my spare room, saving him the need to travel back and forth to Gananoque each day. We crossed the International Bridge mid afternoon on Friday and were at the track around 5-00pm. The weather forecast wasn’t good, but on arrival we found the pits full of top names for this important Big Block and Pro Stock show. Some would be dashing away afterwards to the Grandview Speedway in PA for the ‘big buck’ Freedom 76′ race.
Before the hot-laps got under way I had my usual pre-race wander and chatted with, Dale Planck, Steve Paine and first time visitor to the M.I.R , Gary Tomkins. 
All the Big Block tour regulars were there including Alan Johnson, who’s missed a few events in the recent past . In the Pro Stock division, my buddy Rob Yetman was there from Albany NY.
As the cars came out for warm ups, the sky was getting darker, and just after the time trials were completed, we got our first spots of rain. Ten minutes later we were having a down pour. I found myself sheltering in the bar, taking advantage of Craig being ‘ the designated driver for the night’.
The officials waited as long as they could to save the show, but by 10-00 pm it was obvious the race wasn’t going to happen that night. Even more bad news came for race fans when word got around , that officials had awarded ‘turn up points’ to the Big Block teams for Friday. Apparently, this was to allow those with commitments at Grandview to ‘take off’ and leave , which in effect ‘short changed’ the M.I.R fans for the make up race on the following day.
Yes, it was decided to run the Friday night show on Saturday afternoon, then after a 90 minute break they would continue with the programmed Saturday show. Once we heard the cancellation announcement Craig and I headed back across the bridge to Canada , and were soon in ‘Shoeless Joes’ on Brookdale Avenue.
The gates were due to open at 11-00 am on Saturday and we were there soon after that. We’d lost some of the Big Block stars to Grandview but there was still plenty of talent on hand to ensure a good show. Brett Hearn took the early lead, but eventually got overhauled by Jimmy Phelps, as his car developed a rear end failure.
This caused him to pull out of the race , so then Dale Planck and Justin Haers became the threat to Phelps. 
Planck the M.I.R favorite had nothing for Phelps so that’s how they crossed the line.
Before the Pro Stock race took place, I was chatting with my buddy Joey Ladouceur on the start line. He happened to look down and saw a dirty old penny stuck in the clay. He picked it up and said to me “ that’s my lucky penny” . With that, he got in his car and went out and won the big race !
He had a few early challenges from Yetman, but made it look easy once again as he crossed the line for the checkers.
During Saturday afternoon’s ‘Friday Show’ there were also Feature races for the complimenting divisions of Bandits, Late Models and Mod Lites.
As usual most of my time at the M.I.R was spent with track photographer Andy Watts, and it was with him, and his mother, Jane, that I joined for supper. We took advantage of the 90 minute pause between the two shows and visited the Ponderosa Buffet in Massena. We got back to the track just as warm ups were starting and took our place back on center between turns 3 and 4.
In the short space of time that we’d been away, the pits had swollen in size as more and more cars had arrived, and the infield become the overflow area. The weather had turned quite chilly and we were in for a long night with lots of racing to get in.
Once the heat races were over , Andy and I took time out, once again ( while the Consi’s were taking place) for a quick dash down the road and a ‘coffee run’ to Tim Hortons . Yes I’m pleased to say that ‘Timmies’ are expanding quite a bit these days and they can now been found in various places in NY State.
The 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES race turned out to be a really good one with plenty going on, to keep the fans happy. Brett Hearn was driving the Bruno Lepage # 99
car while Big Block winner Jimmy Phelps was in the spare Roy Tarbell # 007 car.
Matt Billings made the early running and led for the first part of the race before track champion Billy Dunn came and took over.
Australian visitor Peter Britten looked good as he passed Billings, and at one stage it seemed like we might be in for a historic result. It wasn’t to be, Dunn held on to the lead, as both Britten and Billings made serious challenges in the closing laps. The end result was Dunn , Britten and Billings.
It was past 1-00am on Sunday morning when the Sportsman took to the track for their Series race and luckily caution’s were few and far between.. Mathieu Desjardins, who’d drawn pole position stayed out in front unchallenged as much of the action happened behind him.
Following him across the line were Chris Herbison and Brandon Easey.
It was 2-00 am on Sunday morning that Andy Watts and myself were out on the track taking the Sportsman Victory Lane Pics. I think that’s a record for me, and was sure glad I had no plans for Sunday afternoon racing.
Finally before signing off this week I must mention the happenings across the Atlantic. As many of you know, before emigrating to Canada in 1994 I was heavily involved in UK oval racing and still to this day, I take a strong interest. The highest level of Stock Car Racing in Europe is BriSCA F1, and their big race, took place at the Skegness Stadium in Lincolnshire, England this past weekend. Therefore, congrats go out to the new ‘gold roof’ , Lee Fairhirst # 217 who won the 2012 World Final.