RICK @ the RACES (4 to 7 Oct 2012)
4 Oct New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse NY
4 Oct Brewerton Speedway NY
5 Oct New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse NY
6 Oct New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse NY
6 Oct Rolling Wheels Raceway, Elbridge NY
7 Oct New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse NY
The first week of October means one thing to us North Eastern dirt racing fans, and that’s SUPER DIRT WEEK which is centered around the Syracuse area of New York. I’ve been going every year since 2003 and like everyone else, I’d been looking forward to it.
When this years SDW schedule was originally announced there was no mention, regarding the usual Wednesday night ( 3 Oct) 358 Modified series race, so I never bothered booking a day off work to cover it. At short notice ( about a month or so ago) , it was revealed that there would be a race, at Weedsport NY, but by then it was too late for me to get an extra days vacation.
I’d booked my days off, to begin on Thursday (4 Oct) so I had to just hope that I’d be finished early enough to dash down there Wednesday night. That didn’t materialize !
I earn my living as a truck driver, on contract to the ‘worlds largest retailer’ and as well a regular 53 foot trailer loads, my company also operate LCV’s (Road Trains of two 53 foot trailers).
My car was loaded up with all my gear ( including my bike ! ) ready for a quick get away after work on Wednesday, but it soon became obvious that it wasn’t going to happen. Overnight, there had been a serious accident on Hwy 401 at Joyceville which resulted in the road being closed. When this happens, LCV’s are not permitted to follow the emergency detour route and must park up and wait on the shoulder. Two of our drivers were affected by this, and with the highway not set to reopen for many hours, me and another driver were sent down, with out tractors units , ‘bob tail’, to ‘split’ the train and take the second trailers to Toronto.
This meant a long day, and ruled out any hope of finishing early. I eventually got home at 10-00 pm Wednesday night, so there was no Weedsport races for me. To make things worse, I had something arrive in the mail that day, that needed my attention quickly, which meant that an early start on Thursday morning was out of the question. After attending to the matter as quickly as I could, I left Cornwall , Ontario just after 8-30 am.
The SUPER DIRT WEEK media conference at the New York State Fairgrounds was due to commence at noon, so I never expected to make it. Lucky for me there were no long delays at the Ogdensburg border crossing and I was soon in the USA heading south. Things went well, I made good time and was entering the Fairground gates at mid day.
The car was quickly parked and I hurried over to the John Hill Media Center, arriving just in time to catch Joe Marotta doing his customary introductory speech.
As usual, members of the media were introduced to the sponsors and other special guests. One of these was Tim Frost, who took over as publisher of the National Speedway Directory after my friend Alan Brown retired.
Also there , were Stewart Friesen and Brett Deyo to announce their promoting partnership for a big SUPER DIRT SERIES race in 2013 at the New Egypt Speedway NJ, to be know as the ‘Dirty Jersey’. This will be a good one to look forward to, as New Egypt is a great track, which I visited for SUPER DIRT race back in 2003 .
After the conference a luncheon was served.
Following this it was time to wander round the pits, and check everything out. One of the first people I met was NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver Andrew Ranger who was with the Mario Clair crew.
Only two weeks ago while chatting at the Kawartha Speedway, he’d mentioned to me that he’d be at SUPER DIRT WEEK.
For this years SDW , I’d decided not to sleep in the HHR each night, so my next job was to check into my accommodation at the Holbrooks Motel at Phoenix NY.
From here I set off for my nights racing.
For many years the Brewerton Speedway has been the traditional Thursday night venue of SUPER DIRT WEEK but in recent times, politics have intervened and race fans now have to choose between going there or Rolling Wheels. Last year I opted for the ‘Wheels’ but for 2012 I decided to stay with tradition.
I arrived at Brewerton nice and early and as normal had a wander round the pits. I caught up with my friend Dawn Kamff who was busy polishing the Jason Rood 18 J car.
It turned out to be a good nights racing with Billy Decker taking the checkers followed by Stewart Friesen and Ryan Godown.
Once back at Phoenix , and before going to bed I spent some time in the Motel’s , bar and restaurant, where I found Dirt Modified driver Ryan Phelps and his wife Amber to chat to.
Next day (Friday) was going to be a long one at the Fairgrounds and I was in the Media Center well before 9-00 am to set up my stuff. I was joined by many of my media friends including www.rickattheraces.com web master Craig Revelle.
There was a lot of racing on the program and portable lighting had been brought in as the show went into the night.
The big races of the day were the Twin 20’s for 358 Mods and the Triple 20’s for Big Block Mods.
Small Block winners were Billy Decker and Danny Johnson, while the Big Block races went to Bobby Varin, Billy Dunn and Decker. So far it had been Decker dominating the week.
The Friday show was over by 10-30 pm , beating the rain that had been forecast and threatening to mess up the day. Somehow the wet weather managed to stay away from the Fairgrounds until later in the night.
As I awoke Saturday morning in Phoenix, it was pouring with rain, but I decided not to change my schedule and was still at the Media Center at my usual time.
It was obvious to all, that the wet weather was going to effect the events planned for the day.
The rain stopped around mid morning , but so much of the stuff had come down, it meant plenty of track preparation was needed. It wasn’t until after mid day that cars took to the track.
The big race of the day was the Gander Mountain 150 lapper for 358 Modifieds that was to be followed by the 30 lap SPORTSMAN race.
As normal , I kept my Saturday appointment at the AREA AUTO RACING NEWS booth where Ms Motor Sports was doing her bikini photo shoot. This year it was Samantha Legas who posed on the Keith Flack car.
The 358 race eventually got underway late in the afternoon, and I didn’t need to be a ‘rocket scientist’, to figure out that my evening’s racing plans were going to be effected.
After watching the opening laps of the 358 race, I made my exit , and set off for Elbridge NY and the Rolling Wheels Raceway Park, where the World of Out Law Sprint Cars were appearing as well as a ‘win and your in’ last chance Syracuse qualifier for Big Block Mods.
On route, I stopped off in Elbridge at one of my favorite Chinese ‘Take Aways’ for a tasty supper.
All the big names were at the ‘Wheels’ and it was Steve Kinser who took the win after he and second placed Donny Schatz passed long time leader Chad Kemenah in the closing laps.
The ‘win and your in’ Modified race was won by Chad Homan.
In my absence, back at ‘the Moody Mile’ Tim McCreadie won the Gander Mountain 150 lapper.
I hadn’t booked a Motel room for the night ( Saturday ) as I knew from past experience, with Sundays early start, I’d be getting very little sleep. My plan was to use the HHR for my final nights accommodation and after driving back to the Fairgrounds , I parked up close to the washrooms and Media Center.
Before retiring for the night at about 1-00 am I went along to check out the partying at the infield bar. As usual it was packed with race fans reveling and dancing along vendors row to the sound of disco music.
I had a really good nights sleep in the back of the HHR and if it wasn’t for my alarm clock, I may have been late to the Media Center.
Saturdays rain delay resulted in the 30 lap Sportsman race being postponed to Sunday, so another marathon day was in store. This race took place before the programmed Pro Stocks and headlining VP Small Engine Fuels 200 lapper for the Big Blocks.
Quebecer Mathieu Desjardins had been the Sportsman driver to beat in the lead up to the race and it looked like he was going to take this one too, but Rocky Warner had other ideas, and managed to get past him in the final laps.
The 25 lap Pro Stock race was up next and as I had a few buddies taking part in it, I had to remain impartial. Two of them Joey Ladouceur and Rob Yetman are both currently challenging each other for the Mr Dirt Championship.
As for the big race an the ‘Mile’, neither of them were a match for runaway winner Pete Stefanski. Joey got a creditable runner up spot while Rob had to be content with fifth.
SUPER DIRT WEEKS final race an main event , the VP Small Engine Fuels 200 for Big Block Mods was next.
Starting at the front row , it was Decker and Australian Peter Britten, but within the first few laps Brett Hearn had taken a commanding lead.
Hearn was still up there as the race passed the half way point, just as the sky began to get darker. In the Media Center we’d all been checking the on line weather satellite pics and the picture looked grim. There was a huge mass of rain heading our way and it didn’t look good.
By lap 113, it started coming down, and the cars were brought back to pit lane and covered in tarps . We all had to wait it out for a while, before the inevitable announcement was made.
With the race gone passed the half way mark, Brett Hearn was declared the winner, with Matt Sheppard second and Jimmy Phelps third. The presentation to a jubilant Hearn took place in side the Media Center, instead of the usual front stretch.
By the time all this had been done and I’d carried my stuff back to the car it was about 6-00pm, and time for me to head for home.
It was still pouring with rain as I traveled north up I 81 from Syracuse. After a stop to eat at the “Tilted Kilt’ in Watertown, I was back home in Cornwall about 10-45 pm.
Time to re charge my body batteries, and get ready for next weekends big one, The North East Fall Nationals at the Brockville Ontario Speedway.