RICK @ the RACES (17/18 December 2011)

With just one week to go before Christmas, my past weekend was another quiet one. Most of the time was spent tidying up my house and reorganizing the ‘Rick @ the RACES Racing Records’ room. During the busy racing season, this kind of stuff gets neglected, and a big sort out was well overdue. It’s surprising what I came across , after opening up some ‘long forgotten’ boxes. I found my old BriSCA F1 and F2 licenses from the 70’s and 80’s plus some old race day programs from my first few years in Canada. They included some ‘Redliners’ from the Golden Lake Speedway at Eganville and the program from my first visit to Ottawa’s Capital City Speedway back in 1995. The Golden Lake track was the first Canadian Speedway I visited after moving from England to Combermere , Ontario in 1994. Hopefully, these will be scanned and be appearing in future ‘RETRO’ reports.

During the racing season, I rarely watch much TV, but at this time of year things are different. Oh I’m so glad I’m a race fan, because if I had to watch TV each weekend, it would drive me nuts ! Boy Oh Boy there was so much crap on TV this past weekend.

In between the tidying up and other household chores, I stepped out to my local Walmart to do a bit of Christmas shopping and straight away, I bumped into some of my local racing friends. First of all I spotted Joey and Josee Ladouceur, and not long after pausing to chat, we were joined by Shawna Meyer , the good lady of Corey Wheeler . Both Joey and Corey were the leading lights in our local Pro Stock division during 2011. I’ve taken many pics of them both during the year, but this time it was my turn , Joey had his Camera phone and recorded the event with me surrounded by the lovely ladies .

With the weekend over, I was hoping to be finished work early on Monday night so I could attend a ‘surprise party’ for one of my friends.

It was Brockville Ontario Speedway promoter, Paul Kirkland’s 50th and without him knowing, his wife Cheryl had organized a party at Brockville’s Boston Pizza. I was finished work in Cornwall at 7-30 pm and was able to make the quick dash down the 401 to be in Brockville by 8-30pm.

There was quite a gathering of racing folk and included local favorites , Tabatha Murphy, Danny O’Brien and Kyle Dingwall. It was a good night out, nice to catch up with so many friends prior to Christmas.

Finally before signing off , I must mention the New Years Day Hangover Enduro, scheduled to take place at the Can Am Speedway , Lafargeville , New York. What better way to break in the new year !