RICK @ the RACES (23/24 Nov 2013)
23/24 November Parts Peddler Show, Syracuse, NY
23 November DIRTCAR Awards Banquet, Liverpool, NY
Once again I received an invitation to attend the annual DIRTCAR Awards Banquet, which like last year was being held at the Holiday Inn at Liverpool, just outside Syracuse NY. The date also coincided with the Parts Peddler Show that takes place annually at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
I was looking forward to a busy weekend.
My original plan was leave early on Saturday morning, attend the show and then move on to the banquet. Last year I stayed at the banquet until about 11-00 pm before driving back home the same night. This was my intention again, and I was to be accompanied by my friend Rosie, from the Brockville Ontario Speedway, providing her passport renewal got back to her in time.
The first thing to make me alter my plans, was the need to get a small job done on my car at SEAWAY GM , in Cornwall first thing on Saturday. The drivers side interior door handle had snapped off, and after a week of having to stick my arm out of the window, so I could use the outside one to open it, I wanted it repaired.
Rosie had been watching the mail box each day hoping for the passport to arrive, but alas by Friday, there was still no sign of it.
That meant, after getting my car fixed at SEAWAY, I’d be going down solo.
I left Cornwall, Ontario at about 9-00 am and by 10-00 am I’d crossed the border at Ogdensburg and was heading south. Soon after this, the sky ahead looked grey, and by the time I’d got to Watertown, the snow was coming down quite heavy. I stopped for a burger at McDonalds in Adams, and watched as the white stuff kept falling. I carried on towards Syracuse and the conditions did get a bit better.
The forecast was calling for more overnight snow, so I decided to change my plans once again.
Instead of going straight to the Parts Peddler Show, I went straight to the Holiday Inn. I didn’t fancy a late night drive home through the snow storm, so booked myself into one of the few remaining rooms.
By now it was about 1-00 pm , so took off to the Fairgrounds to check out the show.
I got there just as the auction was taking place for the race cars. The Bicknell Modified was bought by Quebec driver Jasmine Laveille.
As usual there were a lot of friends wandering around so much of my time was spent chatting.
Cocktails at the banquet began at 6-00 pm so didn’t stay too long at the Fairgrounds. By now there was a about three inches of snow on the ground, and it was still coming down. Now that I was staying in Syracuse overnight, I could attend the show on Sunday too.
Once back at the Holiday Inn , I changed into my suit and got ready for the nights awards. As expected , there were plenty of my friends there and a great night of socializing was in store . I was seated with the Jessica Power and Chris Herbison party. The meal was excellent , Salad to start, Steak dinner then cheesecake for afters.
Once the meal was over Shane Andrews introduced the award winners while I joined the other photographers behind the stage to take the pics. My photographer friends in attendance were Bill Moore, Alex Bruce, Ken Dippel , George Smith, Jay Fish and Chris Marks ( hope I never missed anyone out ! )
It also happened to be Alex’s birthday, so Shane got him up in front of the crowd.
There were plenty of awards given out during the night, but the main ones were for the various Champions. Brett Hearn ( Big Block Mods) 
Eric Rudolph ( 358 Mods) Brad Rouse (Sportsman) and Dave Bissonnette ( Pro Stock).
The Gater Racing News , Sportsmanship Contribution to Motorsports Award was given to Paul and Cheryl Kirkland, the promoters of my local Brockville Ontario Speedway.
Once the presentations were over, my camera was put away and the partying began. After a great night of beer and socializing, I was crawling into my hotel bed at about 1-30 am. A lot better than driving home in the snow !
By Sunday morning the snow had stopped, so after a hearty Holiday Inn buffet breakfast I returned to the Parts Peddler Show to get a few more pics.
From here I went along to check out the new Destiny USA Mall in the city before heading back to Canada. I was back home in Cornwall at about 4-00 pm