End Of January 2025 BLOG
The end of January was much the same as beginning , with very little going on. It has to be my least favorite month.
Thankfully , watching Ottawa Senators games on TV have kept my sanity.
One racing event I ‘d been looking forward to, was the Mohawk International Raceway Awards Banquet that was taking place on the 25th .
When the COVID pandemic struck the world, a few years back, track banquets didn’t happen.
Now, with things returning to normal they are starting to come back. The Airborne Park Speedway, had theirs in November , which I missed due to other commitments.
So , for the M.I.R awards night, my buddy Don Simpson joined me for the picture taking .
The event was taking place at the 37 West Lounge, located a short distance from the Raceway, and Don had offered to pick me up. They have Yeungling (my favorite American beer) on tap, so I was glad he was driving.
Darryl Satekaronhies Mitchell was the M.C , and all the division champions were present to collect their awards from co-promoter Don Thompson.
Chris Raabe (358 Modifieds),
Tristan Ladouceur (Sportsman)
Dakota Sharp (Pro Stocks)
Kyle Reif (Limited Sportsman)
and CJ LaVair (MiniStocks)
It was a very enjoyable night, where I got to meet up with many friends while taking the pictures.
Here’s one showing three generations of the Ladouceur racing family.
This years Sportsman Champion Tristan with his father Joey and grandfather Laurent.
Proud Mom, Claudia Tarbell seen here with her son Bryan the Sportsman Rookie of the Year.
I’ve known Claudia for many years when back in January 2008, she was one of the top racers. At the M.I.R Banquet, in January 2009 , I photographed her picking up the 2008 Bandit (Mini Stocks) Championship.
The presentations were all over by 7-30 pm and I was soon at home , sitting on my couch , watching the last two periods of the ‘Battle of Ontario’ .
Pleased to report, the Ottawa Senators beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1.
On Sunday Morning I was up early to notch up my third Ice Racing event of the year.
I was off to the Khanawake , Mohawk Reserve, near Montreal .
Racing was taking place at the Marina, on an ice circuit that I’ve visited many times.
Racing began at 11-00 and I was there for the first bunch of races.
It was really cold so once I’d taken enough pictures for my gallery, I was on my way home again.
I was back home in good time to watch the Sens beat Utah on TV.
That brought me to the final week of January.
It was a week spent at home preparing for a road trip south to warmer weather.