RICK @ the RACES (26 March 2011)

26 March                 Frontenac Mall Show, Kingston , Ont

26 March                 Cornwall Motor Speedway Banquet, Ramada Hotel , Ont

Saturday March 26 turned out to be quite a busy one for me with two events in Ontario for me to attend.

At 8-30 am I was on the road and heading down Hwy 401 from Cornwall in the direction of Kingston. The annual Frontenac Mall  show was taking place , which is always worth a visit. As usual there were many of my friends there, either taking a look or exhibiting their cars.

The first person I chatted to was veteran 358 Modified driver ‘Stock Car’ Steve Bilow. He’d got a brand new car ready for the 2011 campaign.

Other Modified drivers I bumped into included Todd Stewart, Matt Billings and Danny O’Brien. Todd who will be driving the Lasalle Motor Sports car this year had just returned from a family holiday in Florida , and was sporting a good sun tan.

Sportsman drivers Chris Raabe and Dillon Sallows were also there, Chris was there taking a look while Dillon had his car on display.

It wasn’t only the Modifieds and Sportsman you could see, there were Late Models , Vintage, Street Stocks and Go Karts too. Representatives were on hand from the Brighton Speedway while Brockville Ontario Speedway Promoter Paul Kirkland was there for his track.

I only spent about an hour at the show before dashing back to Cornwall. I had to be at the Ramada Hotel at 3-00 pm for a staff briefing prior to the Cornwall Motor Speedway banquet.

Promoter Ron Morin welcomed new Race Director, Scott Hanton who ran through the 2011 schedule and what was in store for the coming season. The meeting was over by 4-00pm , so I hastily returned to my house for a wash, change of clothes and to make my self look ‘lovely’ !

The nights festivities started with cocktails at 6-00pm with the meal and awards presentation following. The Track Championship awards went to the following,

Laurent Ladouceur (Modified) Chris Raabe (Sportsman) Joey Ladouceur (Pro Stock) Gaetan Amesse (Semi Pro) Ronnie Tyo (Mini Stock).

Tim O’Brien was presented with the Doiron Cup for Modifieds and Joey Ladouceur took the Mohawk Race Parts Series for Pro Stocks.

In previous years the Sheldon Legue Merit Award was given out to someone who had given great devotion to the sport. This year , it was decided to retire this award and rename it the Mitch Jock Merit award, in memory of the young Modified driver who sadly passed away last year. Sheldon Legue will still be remembered by the Pit Tower being named after him.

The first winner of the Mitch Jock Merit Award was veteran racer Denzil Billings.

Before signing off for this week, I must mention one other thing. You will probably notice that two of the top awards went to Laurent Ladouceur and his son Joey. I’ve been friends with the Ladouceur family for a long time now and it seems like only yesterday that we made a piece of stock car history.

Here’s me with Joey’s wife Josee.

Ten years ago I was asked by my friends at BriSCA ( British Stock Car Association) in England if I could find them a suitable candidate to represent Canada in Europe’s most prestigious oval race. The BriSCA Formula 1 World Final is an event steeped in history and dates back to the sports beginnings in the 1950’s.

BriSCA F1 cars are probably the nearest thing to North American Modifieds, but with one big difference. BriSCA F1 allows contact in the racing, which basically means if someone is in your way, “you move them” !  BriSCA F1 cars have strong bumpers attached to the front and rear and it’s not a sport for sissy’s.

My job was to be the ‘middle man’ and put BriSCA in touch with someone I thought could handle it. Laurent, a past Mr DIRT Series winner had all the credentials, he wasn’t scared to mix it on the track and had stacks of skill.

I forwarded his name and the negotiations took place. As a result Laurent flew to England and raced a loaned Mark Gilbank car in the 2001 BriSCA F1 World Final at the Hednesford Hills Raceway. Laurent Ladouceur made history by becoming the first Canadian to compete in this famous event. Stay tuned to my website www.rickattheraces.com , ( time permitting)  I’m hoping to include a special story on the event later this year.