RICK @ the RACES
29 May Mohawk International Raceway NY
30 May Brockville Ontario Speedway (Rained Out)
3 June Can Am Speedway NY. Sportsman SDS
On Friday night, I finished work at the nice early time of 4-00 pm which allowed me plenty of time for my usual trip to the Mohawk International Raceway. I was across the border and in the U.S.A by 4-30 pm, so did a bit of shopping before having my JRECK Sub at the TwinLeaf location close to the track.
It was a nice change to be there early, and not have to rush around like the previous week. I was able to get my camera stuff and lawn chair set up in the middle by turn four, long before the hot-laps began.
I wanted to try something different so once they got under way, I did some shooting from outside of the fence as the cars approached turn three. I was pleased with the results, and hope you like them too.
When the heat races started, I joined my buddy Andy Watts back on the middle.
During Intermission the Drivers Autograph session took place on the front stretch for the kids, where the Hogansburg & Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Service were giving out plastic ‘Fire Chief’ hats to the big Kids too !
We were treated to some great racing with Dudes Thompson, winning the Bandit Feature and Kevin Foster got a first time win in the Mod Lites. 
The Rookie Sportsman feature was won for the second time by Rick Reandeau, so one more win , and it will mean no more Rookie races for him.
In the regular Sportsman Feature, it was good to see Thomas Cooke, grandson of Billy ‘the Mohawk Express’ hold off Shane Pecore to get a win.
The Modified Feature was a real classic with Gage Morin leading for most of the race until Carey Terrance came on his tail with five laps to go. For the remainder of the race they dueled side by side and as they entered the last lap, it could of been anyone’s race. Chris Raabe was also up there with them, but when the checkers fell, it was Terrance ahead of Morin by a couple of feet, with Raabe following in third. 
I had a relaxing day at home on Saturday, checking out things on Face Book before heading off , at about 5-00pm (later than usual) for the Brockville Ontario Speedway. The weather had been fine all day in Cornwall, but before leaving home I was surprised to learn of race cancellations due to severe weather south of the border in NY State.
Once I got on my way , and was driving down the 401, it didn’t take long before I encountered heavy rain, but by the time, I got to Brockville it was dry again. Quite often the track gets lucky and misses the rain, so I was keeping my fingers crossed.
After an A & W supper , I was at the speedway just before hot laps, and at this time, there was still no rain. The sky in the distance was getting darker, and and I guessed it would only be just a matter of time before it reached us. I took my place on the middle, just before the warm ups, and was ready with my camera.
The Rookies (Ministocks) were out first followed by the Street Stocks as a few spots of rain began to fall. The Sportsman were next, and by the time they got on the track, the rain was getting heavier. Lucky for me, track photographer Henry Hannewyk was on the middle with his Jeep, so that’s where I took shelter.
It was obvious to us that the night was done, so I was given a ride back to my car by my chauffeur . It wasn’t long before the official cancellation announcement was made, and I was on my way back to Cornwall.
It rained for most of the night and it was still coming down on Sunday morning . It was no surprise to get a mid morning message from the management at the Cornwall Motor Speedway, letting me know they were calling off the evening show.
While I was at home on Sunday morning , I was shocked and saddened to learn the news that the TwinLeaf location, owned by Carey Terrance, which I regularly use on my M.I.R trips, had been severely damaged after an early morning fire. I was pleased to hear that no one was injured or lost their life.
I wish the Terrance family well, and hope they can soon rebuild their business.
So it turned out to be a day in doors, updating the new web site. It rained on and off on for the next two days, and Tuesday’s opening night for the Cornwall Kart Club also got lost.
During the week, Canada’s favorite coffee and donut store , Tim Hortons had been doing fundraisers for their Kids to Camp campaign , and my local stores were no exception. My good friend Dave ‘the Bulldog’ Bissonnette had his Pro Stock on display at the nearest one to my place, on Montreal Rd in Cornwall. Thanks to Krystal Plouffe McDonnell for the pics
On Wednesday, another sensible finish at work, allowed me to attend the Sportsman Dirt Series race scheduled for Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY. This was the place I first saw Dirt Modified racing, when I arrived in North America from the UK over 20 years ago.
I got off work at 4-00 pm and by 4-30 pm was across the border and heading to the track. It’s about a one hour, forty-five minute drive from Cornwall, Ontario, so was there in good time to get set up in the middle. It was good to see my photographer buddies, Rebecca Eisele and Don Simpson. 
The Sportsman cars were topping the bill with a 35 lap Dirt Series race while the support divisions were made up of the tracks domestic classes of Late Models, and their own version of the Pro Stock and Ministock type classes. ( I’m not sure what name they give to them)
During the intermission , I bumped in to Wayne Martin, and later his race driver daughter Christine. They have been friends for a few years now, and the last time I’d seen them at the races was in 2012.
Christine and her 358 Modified at the Five Mile Point Speedway in 2012
I was informed that , she’d been taking time out to concentrate on a new business venture , but hopes to be back on the track again in the near future.
It was then time for the Features, with the Late Model race going to former 358 Modified driver Lee Gill.
I watched the Features from the Control tower, and managed to get some pics of the pre-race balloon release in memory of local Sportsman driver Brandon Hagan who lost his life in 2014.
I was also in a good spot to capture the Four Wide Salute to the Fans lap.
As this took place I stood with track manager Chip Burdick, who pointed out to me, the Full Moon in the distant sky, and how he was superstitious and was a bit worried.
Well Chip’s worries were unfounded and we were witness to a very rare occasion for Sportsman cars. They remarkably went the full 35 laps from Green to Checkers without a caution.
The race wasn’t boring at all, as the lead position was fought throughout between Rocky Warner and Matheiu Desjardins. Warner was there at the end with Desjardins being tailed by the good running of Jessica Power.
The show was all over before, 10-30 pm, so was back home in Cornwall before 12-30 am.