RICK @ the RACES (18/19/20 Oct 2013)
1000 RV North East Fall Nationals
18/19/20 Oct Brockville Ontario Speedway
It’s become tradition in recent years, for the SDS action to move to the Brockville Ontario Speedway, on the weekend that follows SUPER DIRT WEEK , and after experiencing dry and sunny weather at Syracuse, we were hoping for the same, north of the border. I’d been recovering from Flu-like symptoms during SDW and had a follow up appointment with my doctor on Friday (18 Oct) afternoon. This meant an early (1-00pm) finish at work for me that day , and my weekend could start early too.
Friday 18 Oct
After getting away from the afternoon doctors appointment in Maxville, Ontario I went drove straight down to Brockville and was at the track by 5-30 pm.
The weather forecast for Friday was good, with only a slight chance of rain.
The headlining event was the final SDS round for Dirt Sportsman, and at the end of the race, the seasons champion would be crowned. 
Also on the program were the Vintage Mods and the Rookies. I spent the heats taking pics on the center along side my buddy, ‘Image Factors’ Dale Calnan. During the course of the night I had to run out of the way from the spinning Sportsman car of Nolan Swamp,
and a smiling Dale told me afterwards that he’d got a shot of me running .
It was a damp and chilly night, so I decided to watch the Feature races, in one of the booths, with my friend, Rosie Estevez, the trophy presentation hostess.
The first Feature was for the Rookies, and was won by Mike Gaucher.
Next up was the Sportsman, and the 50 lap SDS race was quite a good one, even though it got segmented mid way through, with a short rain delay. John Mills looked all set for the win, but was passed by Chris Herbison on the last lap. A steady drive by Brad Rouse gave him the 2013 Championship.
While I was taking the Victory Lane shots, I felt in my pocket and discovered my car keys were missing. I then checked up in the booth, and they weren’t in there either. This was when my panic alarm set in !
I had a spare set ‘hidden’ in the car, but I was locked out. By now it was about 11-30 at night and obviously getting very dark. I missed the final Feature ( for The Vintage Mods) while I dealt with the situation. With the help of Henry Boer of 1000 Islands RV, Craig Revelle and Rosie, we phoned the CAA ( my cel phone was in the car ! )
The guy from the CAA arrived within 20 minutes, and five minutes after that, he’d opened the car. Great Service !
In my absence Cole Dingwall won the Vintage race. I decided not to camp over night at the track, but instead return home to Cornwall.
Saturday 19 Oct
My first priority before heading back to the B.O.S was to get a spare set of car keys made up. I don’t like being without a spare set, so paid a visit to SEAWAY GM in Cornwall. With a brand new one in my possession I drove back down Hwy 401 to Brockville.
The racing was due to start at 1-00 pm and I was there by 12-00. The weather forecast was good for the day, but rain was expected during the evening. Quite sensibly, the powers in charge, decided to press on with the show as quickly as possible, to make sure of beating the rain.
The 358 Modifieds were topping the bill with their final SDS round, with the Patriot Sprint cars acting as the back up division.
Dale and I were joined in our turn 1 and 2 photographing spot by another good buddy of mine, Alex Bruce who’d traveled up from St Catherines, Ont. It was a nice afternoon to be out taking pictures with the sun shining albeit a little bit chilly.
I just happened to glance on the ground, and surprise , surprise, I saw my muddy set of car keys sticking out of the dirt. What’s the chance of that ? I could of dropped them anywhere on the center but just happened to be in the right spot to find them. It was in the same area where the night before ,I’d been chased by those errant Sportsman cars. I now had two spare sets of keys !
I was allowed by starter, Gary Vandermeer to stand on his rostrum for the start of the big race, and I managed to capture the ‘4 Wide’ Salute to the Fans.
Before that, of course, the National Anthems were played, and this time it was done with a difference. A guy ( I’m sorry I didn’t catch his name) did both Canadian and American anthems as a guitar solo. It was awesome and shades of the late Jimi Hendrix.
Once the green flag had dropped, Eric Rudolph took command, and he not only took the checkers, but the 2013 Championship too. 
Rosie was joined for the Victory presentations that day by Sereena
The Patriot Sprints ended the day with their Feature race which was won by Bryan Howland. Earlier in the day, their heat races were marred by a first lap wreck in which Paul Pekonen needed the attention of the medics.
The show was all over by about 4-00pm, and with no sign of any rain, but the radar predictions told us it was coming.
The nice early finish and the fact that wet weather was imminent , made it an easy decision for me to go home to Cornwall again, in favor of the outside partying that was planned.
Before heading for home, I joined Rosie, Sereena, Flagman Mike Verbeek and Craig Revelle at the nearby Luna Pizza for an early supper. I had Pork Souvlaki which was excellent !
Sunday 20 Oct
With no early morning visits to SEAWAY GM planned this time, I had a bit of a lay in, before heading back down Hwy 401 for the Final day of the North East Fall Nationals.
Once again the program was scheduled to start at 1-00pm and I was there by about 11-30 pm. The big race of the day was the SDS race for the Big Block Modifieds with the Go Nuclear Late Models as back up division.
There had been plenty of rain over night as they forecast and lots of puddles around the site to prove it.
I had my usual wander about the pits and had a good chat with Dale Planck’s wife, Leslie. We were talking about how the season was coming to an end and that she would have to miss Dale’s last SDS race of the year at the Charlotte NC World Finals. While that’s taking place, she will be competing in a special Marathon race at Disney Land in Florida in aid of Leukimia Research. Good luck with that Leslie, I wish you the best of luck.
Most of the Big Block tour guys were present and with the addition of the local 358 Mods, a field of 40 cars were on hand. Once again I got the ‘4 Wide’ shot from the Starters rostrum.
The two Gypsum Express cars of Larry Wight and Billy Decker were on the front row, and Decker capitalized on this, to control the race to the checkers.
The interesting duels of the race were further down the field as the other contenders tried to forge forward. The Doctor, Danny Johnson, followed Decker across the line, with Brett Hearn taking third.
This years 1000 Island RV North East Fall Nationals closed its doors with the Go Nuclear Late Model Feature race.
The less I say about this one, the better, as the 35 lapper dragged on for about an hour with caution after caution. Yawn ! Not impressed ! Corey Earl was the winner.
Even after having to endure that long drawn out Late Model race, the show was over by 5-00 pm and I was heading back to Cornwall once again.
Finally, to conclude the story about my lost car keys, on Monday I received an amazing photo that Dale Calnan had taken of me running from the spinning Sportsman car on Friday. Clearly in the pic you can see my keys in full flight as I make my hasty get away. Check out the pics !
