RICK @ the RACES ( Super Dirt Week 2015)
Thurs 8 Oct Brewerton Speedway, NY
Sat 10 Oct NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Sun 11 Oct NYS Fairgrounds. Syracuse
For many years, the beginning of October , has meant just one thing for race fans in the North East, it’s SUPER DIRT WEEK at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse , NY.
With redevelopment about to take place at the site, this was sadly going to be the last year, and was being labelled as “The Finale at the Fairgrounds”
It was something all die hard fans did not want to miss.
Six weeks before SUPER DIRT WEEK , I was being pushed through Ottawa Airport in a wheelchair by my daughter Carla, ready to board a flight to London’s Heathrow, for a medical consultation in the UK.
After being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, earlier in the year, and not seeing any significant improvement , I had more or less, written off any chances of attending Super Dirt Week.
Well, the trip to the UK proved beneficial , and after a change in my medication and four weeks of convalescence I returned to Canada on Monday 21 September, with a lot more energy, and was able to walk through Ottawa airport under my own steam.
By the end of the week , I was able to join, my buddy Don, on a trip to Autodrome Granby.
The following weekend (2/3 October) it was the traditional ‘kick start’ for Super Dirt Week at the Fulton Speedway NY, for the Outlaw 200, but I wasn’t ready to risk this one. With winter-like, cold temperatures in the forecast, I continued with my program of rest, hoping I’d be fit enough to , at least attend ,part of Super Dirt Week that was approaching.
The gates opened for the “Finale at the Fairgrounds” in Syracuse on Wednesday 7 October, and by “Media Day” Thursday , I was feeling fit enough to join my buddy Don Simpson, for a trip. Thursday evening was the 358 and Sportsman SDS race’s at the Brewerton Speedway, and this is always a good one. After a quick stop at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse, where we took a few pics and met up with friends we headed to Brewerton. We stopped by the Pro Stock pits where we caught up with my buddies Rob Yetman , Chanty Lesage and the Dave Bissonnette team.
Don and I went along to nearby Brewerton, but kept our day short, and never stayed to the end. 
In our absence, Danny Johnson took the 358 race
while Dave Marcuccili was the Sportsman victor. 
Once back home in Cornwall, I was able to address things, and decide whether or not , I was good enough to head to down to Syracuse for the weekend.
The Brewerton trip had gone well and my energy level stayed considerably higher than it was a month previously, so was determined not to miss the ‘Finale at the Fairgrounds’
So on Saturday morning my friend Terry Kelsey and I , set off for Syracuse for a two day trip, very much scaled down, to my typical Super Dirt Week visits.
We were there about 10-30 in the morning, in good time for the traditional Miss Motorsports photo shoot at the Area Auto Racing booth, something I have rarely missed over the years.
As this was the last time for Super Dirt Week at the NYS Fairgrounds , the car used for the photo shoot was that of Buzzie Reutimann, the legendary winner of the first SDW.
“Buzzie” was attending the ‘Finale at the Fairgrounds’ with his son David, former NASCAR Cup driver
It was great to back at the ‘Moody Mile’ taking pictures with my photographer buddies on this memorable occasion.
I mingled and chatted with friends before taking a few pics in my usual spot on turn four 
Before Terry and I made our exit from the track, I took some victory lane shots of USAC Sprint Car winner Cody Swanson and the first twenty or so laps back on turn four, of the 358 ‘Salute to the Troops’ 150 lapper.
As mentioned earlier, this years trip to SDW was a scaled down version of my previous escapades, and instead of my afternoon exit for the evening show at Rolling Wheels Raceway for the World of Outlaw Sprint Car , Terry and I made our way back to the Quality Inn Hotel, where the Yetman Pro Stock Team were also staying.
Conveniently located across the road from the hotel, was the Ruby Tuesdays, bar and grill. It was my first time visit to this chain of eateries, and it got the big thumbs up from me.
Next morning we were back at the Fairgrounds before 10-00 am , for Sunday’s ‘finale’ day. The main races of the day were the big ones for the Pro Stock’s and Sportsman with the climax being the ‘200’ lapper for Big Block Modifieds.
My friend Rob Yetman, from Albany NY had won the Pro Stock race for the last two years, and was eager to do it again. From a front row starting spot, he commanded the race, leading until back markers allowed Francois Adam to slip by with one lap to go. Rob was having nothing of this, and in an exciting finish , he grabbed the lead back to earn a historic third win.
The Sportsman race was won by James Freisen # 52, with Rocky Warner second, and one of my local Cornwall drivers, Shane Pecore in third. After the race, the winning car was DQ’d following the tech inspection, so Warner # 1J was declared the winner.
The final race at the “Finale at the Fairgrounds” was the traditional 200 lapper for Big Block Modifieds, and after all the pomp and ceremony , Buzzie Reutimann in his famous # # 00 Dover Brake , Blue and White Coupe, led the field on the parade lap to the delight of the fans.
I took position in my usual spot and started shooting pics of the first twenty laps
In keeping , with my plans for a scaled down SDW this year, Terry and I had arranged to leave the Fairgrounds early , and before the race was at the half way stage, we were on our way back to Canada.
While eating our supper at the Pondorosa Restaurant in Watertown NY, we learned , Canadian, Stewart Friesen had won the historic “Finale at the Fairgrounds” . 
So, I’m pleased to say, I reached my goal , to be fit enough to attend this memorable event, albeit , in a reduced capacity, and was back home in Cornwall , Ontario by 10-00 pm.