RICK @ the RACES (11 to 14 Feb 2009 Florida Tour)
Wed 11 Feb Volusia Speedway , Barberville FL
Thurs 12 Feb Daytona International Speedway
Thurs 12 Feb New Smyrna Speedway FL
Fri 13 Feb Orlando Speedworld FL
Fri 13 Feb East Bay Speedway, Gibsonton, FL
Sat 14 Feb Volusia Speedway , Barberville FL
A couple of years ago I was offered a cheap ( 90 bucks return) air ticket from Montreal to Orlando during Florida’s SPEEDWEEKS so I grabbed the opportunity to get in some winter racing. I rented a Pontiac G6 , and added five new tracks to my portfolio.
I had a great time down there, but in the long run, it worked out more expensive than I thought. The flight deal involved a seven day stay which meant a week off work. This year I decided to visit the same five tracks, keep my vacation days to a minimum , and I would drive down.
I earn my living as a truck driver, and following a prearranged early finish on Tuesday 10 Feb, I was ready to embark on my next adventure. My buddy Roger Aubin and myself were heading south for some winter action.
We left my place in Long Sault (Ont) soon after 2-00pm in Roger’s Ford Escape bound for Florida. It’s normally about a 24 hour drive to Orlando and our plans were to share the driving and do it non stop.
While one of us slept, the other would drive . The journey took us through eight US states, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. We made good time and with the minimum of stops, were at the Volusia Speedway near Barberville before 3-30pm on Wednesday (Feb 11).
Volusia was playing host to the ALLTEL DIRTCAR NATIONALS which are part of the Florida Speedweeks that precede the Daytona 500. 
Wednesday was the first day of the Big Block Dirt Modified Tour that was sharing the program with the World of Outlaw Late Models. We were there in plenty of time to relax in the sunshine before the racing began. We weren’t the only Canadians in attendance ! There’s always plenty of race teams and fans from north of the border that use the Speedweeks as good excuse to escape the snow.
In the Modified division , representing Ontario were Tim Kerr ( Picton) and James Friesen ( Niagra on the Lake) and from Quebec came Mario Clair (St Edmond) and Michel Chicoine (Ste Cecile De Milton).
Both provinces were represented in the Late Models too, with Peter Mantha from Gatineau, (Que) and Adam Ferri of Port Colborne (Ont).
The nights Feature races went to Wisconsin’s Dan Schlieper (WoO Late Models) and New Yorker, Pat Ward ( Modifieds).
Following the nights Features, we were back in the ‘Escape’ for another 45 minute’s of driving to our hotel in Orlando. We purposely booked the Rodeway Inn on International drive so we could meet up with some of my UK friends. Short Circuit Magazine Photographer, Dave ‘Smiffyman’ Smith was staying there along with Rolling Thunder Show promoter Vince O’Connor and his party.
There was no ‘lay in’ on Thursday (12 Feb) morning as our destination was the Daytona International Speedway for NASCAR’s GATORADE Duels. 
We had no intentions of attending Sunday’s 500, but the temptation of the two short distance races was too much to resist. I much prefer these, to the long drawn out 500. 
Both races (won by Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch respctively,) were over by 5-00pm allowing us to make a leisurely exit towards our evening destination.
Less than a 30 minutes drive away, is the New Smyrna Speedway where the NASCAR Tour Type Modifieds were the main attraction.
These , like the DIRTCAR Modifieds at Volusia, are based in the North East and were paying there annual winter visit to the warm south.
Winner of the big event was Ted Christopher from Connecticut. Once again Canada was represented , and included top Quebec ACT Late Model driver Patrick Laperle.
It was then back to the Hotel for ‘good session’ in the bar with our UK buddies.
On Friday (13 Feb) our plans were to ‘bag’ another two tracks, with the Orlando Speedworld our first port of call. The racing started there at 1-00pm and the divisions on offer were the miniature variety.
Joining the headlining Legends were
the Pro-Challenge ,
Bandolero’s
and Thundercars.
The main point of interest for me, was the attendance of one of my local drivers Kevin Foisey # 55 of Carleton Place, Ontario.
Kevin was the 2008 Legend track champion at the Capital City Speedway in Ottawa and over the course of last year I was taking his Victory Lane picture on a regular basis. 
After snapping Kevin in action on the track I moved to the pits to find out where he was parked. Once found, I had a good chat with him and his partner Kelly before it was time to hit the road again.
The destination for our evening agenda was the East Bay Speedway, about two hours away at Gibsonton, near Tampa.
East Bay is a dirt track and that night it was the turn of the IMCA / UMP type ‘grass root’ modifieds to take center stage. 
This time Canada was represented by drivers from the province of Saskatchewan .
Highlight of the night for me ( even the tour ! ) was meeting up, chatting and watching Modified legend ‘Buzzie Reutiman’ in action again.
Way back in the 1970’s, long before I moved to Canada, I’d heard about the great ‘Buzzie Reutiman’ # 00 . When living in the UK , I had a number of USA ‘pen pals’ send me photos and news about ‘Buzzie’ and his famous Dover Brake sponsored, blue and white coupe. Even though I’d never seen him race, he became my Modified driver favorite.
Soon after crossing the Atlantic to live in the mid 1990’s, one of the first DIRT Modified races I attended was at the Brockville Ontario Speedway. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a trailer turn up with the name ‘Buzzie Reuteman’ on the side. I chatted to him that day and told him the story of the pen pal updates. It wasn’t long before I found out that the Zephyr Hills, Florida driver was based in the Watertown NY area during the summer, and was a regular racer at my local tracks of Cornwall, Brockville and Can Am (Lafargeville. NY).
Well as time passed by , ‘Buzzie’ retired ( so I thought ! ) and his son David began to make the headlines. After a brief spell in NASCAR Trucks David secured a drive in the Sprint Cup Series driving a Toyota and was in one of the Gatorade duels, I’d seen the previous day. As for ‘Buzzie’ he’s now back behind the wheel of a Modified, with the same sponsors as his son. I had a chance to chat to him in the East Bay pits, where I recalled the time we met at Brockville. Just like on our first meeting, he was the same pleasant, easy to talk to guy as before.
In the nights feature, (won by Minnesota’s Ryan Aho) ‘Buzzie’ was out of luck, got involved in a wreck and was towed back to the pits.
Another thing that made my night, was East Bay’s top quality track food. I’m like most other race fans, and take note of what’s on offer. I remembered from my previous visit how good the food was. Back then the track restaurant had a tasty pork chop ‘special’.
This time the ‘special’ was spaghetti, but I chose a ‘made to order’ Tuna Salad Sub. I had fresh strawberry’s and ice cream for desert. I’ve visited many tracks over the years and I can’t think of many that beat East Bay for food quality..
After the caution plagued Feature , it was time to return to Orlando for another session in the bar with the ‘Brits’.
Saturday (14 Feb) was the last race day of our tour and the plans were to see the final night of the ALLTEL DIRTCAR NATIONALS at Volusia.
Because it was the last night, a large crowd was in attendance so it wasn’t difficult to bump into many friends and acquaintances.
From the day we arrived in Florida it had been warm and sunny, but just after the heats were completed we got our first rain shower. It held things up for a short time, but it was no big deal and soon dried up.
While waiting for the restart I took a wander around the pits, and came across Andy Smith the current BriSCA F1 Stock Car World Champion from the UK.
He was taking a look with his brother in law, sponsor and former driver Daniel Harter. It was only last September, during my UK tour that I witnessed Andy take the BriSCA F1 title at the Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich.
More rain was forecast for later that night, so once the show resumed, things got moving quickly .
Steve Francis of Ashland , Kentucky won the big World of Outlaw race while New Jersey’s Brett Hearn took Modified event.
Victory Lane presentations were over by 11-15pm and soon after, we were on the road heading north. At around 1-00am we found a cheap hotel beside the I 95 in Jacksonville where we grabbed a few hours sleep before making an early start on Sunday morning. Once again we shared the driving, taking turns to either rest or drive. We crossed the border back in to Canada at 1-00am, and after the ‘mandatory’ stop at Tim Hortons ! on the 401 at Mallorytown I was home in Long Sault at 2-30am