RICK @ the RACES       (SUPER DIRT WEEK 4th to 8th Oct 2006)

RICK @ the RACES comes to you a little later this time, as I`m still trying to catch up on things, after being away from home at SUPER DIRT WEEK.

WEDNESDAY 4th Oct
My original plans were to leave my home in Maxville, Ontario,  on Wednesday 4th Oct, attend the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville for the 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES that evening , then arrive at the New York State Fairgrounds (Syracuse) early Thursday morning.

On Tuesday night, a waterlogged track and predicted rain for Wednesday caused Can Am to cancel early.

I then had two choices, stay at home that night and leave early in the morning for Syracuse or go straight there on Wednesday.

I couldn’t see any point in staying at home, especially when I knew the Infield Bar would be open, so, after getting an oil change done on my Chevy in the morning , I headed South.

As I passed the Can Am exit on Interstate 81 , it started to rain, and got worse as I got nearer to Syracuse, but luckily for me it had eased off to a light drizzle by the time I reached the fairgrounds.

It actually stopped for a about half an hour, giving me just enough time to put up my tent. No sooner had I put it up and got everything organized, it started to come down again… BIG TIME ! …  Once it had stopped , I waded my way to the Infield Bar, and it wasn’t long before I was chatting to people I knew…

THURSDAY 5th OCT
The sun was now shining, and I started the day in my typical Syracuse way ( hey , that rhymes ! )  frying up some bacon and tomatoes on my propane stove, followed by a hot cuppa tea. Then after a hot shower ( oh yes,  there are showers on hand at the NYS Fairgrounds) I wandered over to the pits to check out the cars.

One of the first people I bumped into was Jessica Zemken, who would be driving not only her Sprint Car and DIRT Sportsman during SUPER DIRT WEEK  but also a Native Poker sponsored Big Block Modified.

At noon, it was time to attend the media press conference and luncheon where speeches were made from the major sponsors, and Tom Deery, the new head of DIRT MOTORSPORTS.

Following this I watched a bit of practice, then took off in the direction of the Brewerton Speedway, stopping off at the local Walmart to stock up on ‘liquid refreshment’ for my cool box. As expected . there were many friends already at the track.

Brewerton was hosting a round of the 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES where Alan “AJ Slideways” Johnson took the honors.

As most race fans will tell you, this track, known as the “D shaped Demon” usually provides some of the best racing during SUPER DIRT WEEK, and this was no exception.

FRIDAY 6th OCT
With the weather forecast predicting sunshine for the rest of the week,  Friday turned out to be a perfect day for the start of the actual racing at the mile, with two 20 lap races for the 358`s and three for the Big Blocks.

There were no big surprises, with Pat Ward and Pete Bicknell taking the flag in the small blocks, and Billy Decker, Tim Fuller and Jimmy Phelps in the big blocks.

After picking up a Chinese Takeaway , of sweet n sour pork , rice and all sorts of other good stuff,  at nearby Elbridge, my Friday night racing diet was located at the Rolling Wheels Raceway for another round of the 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES .

This track has never been one of my favorites, I much prefer the smaller ovals, but the action was red hot on this occasion with the outcome in doubt right up until the flag.

At one stage, Brian McDonald, one of my local Cornwall Motor Speedway drivers looked to be in with a chance, after a great charge to third from a rear end starting spot, … he later faded and it was Fuller at the end to take the victory. Russ Hefti took the Sportsman race

SATURDAY 7th OCT
Saturday, dawned and the fairgrounds started to fill up with thousands of race fans, as it was the first of the weekends big races.

Before getting settled to watch the action, I toured some of the other attractions, which included a photo-shoot, ( for all us dirty old men ! ) of Miss Motorsports atop of the # 5 Rick Laubach car. The main race of the day was the “ITT Industries-Gould Pumps, Salute to The Troops” 150 lap 358 Modified race, and as somebody stated at the press conference, it will take longer to say the title, than the actual race !

This was won by Danny “the Doctor” Johnson  in his Native Poker backed , Quality Concrete-King Ent,Chiefs Tobaco Troyer.
The SUPER DIRT WEEK agenda for Saturday evening was either Rolling Wheels for Sprint Cars or Weedsport for Mods, but I decided to do neither.
After seeing Johnson take the small block race, I decided to miss the DIRT SPORTSMAN event, and head for Afton , New York , about an hour and a half away , on the other side of  Binghamton.

The New Afton Speedway had a Fri / Sat “special” going on that was labelled the “Short Track Nationals” and featured Modifieds, Antique Stox, Mini Sprints plus the usual 4 and 8 cylinder ‘junker’ divisions.

The Saturday show was scheduled to start at 4-00pm , so I got there a little late (6-30pm) but in good time to see the Consi`s and Features.

It`s a typical old fairground type track with the banked clay car racing oval, inside the horse track. It was a bit like Coventry in the UK , where the dog track separates fans from the cars. Actually as I sat in the stands, watching the antique stockers , it reminded me a little of the racing at Coventry in the early 70`s.

It had a really friendly ‘hill billy’ type atmosphere and I would guess , this was the only track, many of the locals had ever visited….  I cannot comment on the food, as all the concession stands had sold out early.

The Mods, which were my main reason to attend , were over 50 in numbers, and included two drivers also taking the night off from SDW , Bobby Varin and Frank Cozze (in a borrowed car).

Accord Speedway regular, Mike Ricci won the Feature , which was over by 9-00pm . The nice early finish allowed me to be back at the Infield Bar at Syracuse in time to join the party……… New Afton Speedway was another track I added to my TRACKCHASIN Totals .

TRACK # 151

SUNDAY 8th OCT
The final day of SUPER DIRT WEEK 2006 had arrived and with the sun still shining the Terrells Potato Chips 25lap DIRT PROSTOCKS was the first of the days big events to take place.

These full fendered late models never fail to provide action and the first casualty was Denis Gauvreau of Gatineau , Quebec who wiped out on the front stretch.

Taking the chequers was Cornwall Motor Speedway regular, Louie Jackson from  Akwesasne, my local Mohawk reserve.

It was now time for the big one, the Eckerd 200, the most prestigious event in Dirt Modified racing.

This is a race where not only skill and good equipment are a factor, but also pit strategies and of course luck.

When the checkers came down after 200 laps of the “Moody Mile” it was the “Doctor” once more, providing SUPER DIRT WEEK with a double dose.  Following him home was his older brother Alan “AJ Slideways” with Jimmy Horton getting third.
After a year when “Mother Nature” ruined many of the DIRT race dates, I`m pleased to report that sports premier event went into the books with almost ideal conditions, Sundays show was over in good time, and I was back home in Maxville before 10-00pm.