Last month,  (June of 2016) started off in a bad way for me, with more health issues related to my MYASTHENIA GRAVIS condition. After a few days in hospital , and treatment by the docs, I soon regained  my ‘get up and go’.

By the end of the month I wanted to get back to doing what I love, attending races and getting back to my hobby of taking pictures. My last report ended on July 1 (CANADA DAY) after returning from a trip to the Canandaigua Speedway NY , for a SUPER DIRT SERIES race.

My intention was to drop into the CANADA DAY races at the Mohawk International Raceway for the evening show, before returning home, but rain had caused it to be canceled.

Saturday , 2 July, was the turn for my local Brockville Ontario Speedway and I was there for the regular show.

After a long lay off , it was good to see Dana Aikins # 8a , back on the track, this time in the 358 Modified division, having moved up from the Sportsman.

Winner of the Sportsman Feature was, Steve Barber #80 , after narrowly missing out on the number one spot, the previous week.

Winner in the Modified division was # 66 Kyle Dingwall.

The next day , Sunday 3 July, I was out of bed early to watch the Austrian Grand Prix , Live on TV. The last couple of years the F1 tour has really come alive, and I don’t like missing them.

Once again , there was  drama in the Mercedes team as their two drivers, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, came together on the last lap. Lewis survived , to take the Victory , while Nico got knocked back to fourth, allowing Max Verstappen (Red Bull) to take second and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) third.  Very Exciting stuff !

In the evening, it was my local Cornwall Motor Speedway , where the Go Nuclear Late Model tour were making an appearance. Not my ‘cup of tea’ , but as it turned out, they put on a pretty good show, without the abundance of cautions, I recall from their earlier days.

I took my spot on top of the VIP pit tower to take my pics.

It was Autograph night out on track during intermission, where the fans got to meet their favorite drivers. Out there also was track promoter Jacques Lavergne and former promoter Ron Morin.

After the autograph session, first up was the Feature for the Late Models.Their winner was Charlie Sandercock.

Next up was the Sportsman.

Brianna Ladoucer was the their winner , while a career, first Pro Stock win came to Kevin Fetterley Jr. This was pleasing to see, as I’ve known Fetterley family for many years.

The Modified division provided another win for Carey Terrance, where it was nice to get a Victory Lane shot, of him accompanied by his Mom and Son.

After about one month since my medical relapse , I was definitely starting to feel a lot better, and wanted to get out of the house and go racing.

This time last year, at the height of the summer, when many of the big events were taking place, I had to miss out, due to my illness.

Right now, and while I’m feeling so much better, I want to make up for what I missed last year. I’m taking the attitude ‘Life is no rehearsal’ , so I’m going for it, while I’m feeling good. You never know what tomorrow will bring,  Who knows, maybe I’m being foolish, but time will tell.

On Tuesday 28 June, the Super Dirt Series race at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway had to be canceled due to bad weather, and the rain date was set for Wednesday, 6 July, the day before my local Mohawk International’s series race on 7 July.

I had planned on going to the original Albany-Saratoga date, so while still feeling good, I figured I would go to the revised one.

I noticed that the night before, on Tuesday 5 July there was a Short Track Super Series race taking place at the nearby Accord Speedway, so thought,  I may as well do that as well. It would break the trip up nicely.

I had not been to the Accord Speedway for about 14 years, and on that occasion, I was there with my friend Ron Morin. I recall it snowed that night .

So,  on Tuesday morning I left home in Cornwall , Ontario , bound for the ‘bullring’ in the Catskill Mountains of NY. It was a sweltering hot day ( I believe, they said it was the hottest of the year) and it was a great drive down there.

I booked in to the Chelsea Motel in nearby Kerhonkson, stocked up my cooler with bottles of ice cold water and headed for the track. The weather was definitely a lot different to my last , and only ever, visit back in 2002. (Check out the yearly report for 2002. Go to ‘Reports By Month’ and click on 2002)

Back then, I was just getting into the media side of auto racing, and hadn’t even got a decent camera, so this time was different. Following many years of media involvement, I was now there , with credentials to take pictures. There were many of my photographer buddies there too, which always makes it fun.

When I pulled up into the parking lot, the first person I saw was Mike Knappenberger , who’s also one of my TRACKCHASING buddies. Mike joined me out on the middle.

My memories from that cold night in October 2002, are a bit faded, but I do recall , some excellent racing on a tight ‘bull-ring’ of a track.

Tonights big race ‘The Battle of the Bull Ring’ was part of Brett Deyo’s   SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES, with Sportsman and Slingshots as the back up divisions. This series is growing in popularity with both fans and drivers, and large crowd turned out on this scorching night.

Most of the big names,  in dirt modified racing were on track, and I found it a photographers paradise, for getting great shots.

As race track photographer, I just love this place ! As the nights big race unfolded, it turned out to be a great victory for Stewart ‘the ice man’ Friesen, over veteran Jimmy Horton and the ‘Doctor’ Danny Johnson.It was great to see , Jimmy Horton back on the podium for a SUPER DIRT SERIES race, it’s been a long time . Last time, I pictured him in Victory Lane was when he won the series race at the Susquehanna Speedway PA back in 2006.

Once the Victory Lane Shots were done, I was out of there. In the parking lot, I found the HHR , with one of the worst coverings of dust, I’d seen in a long time. Oh boy it was hot and sticky night, and I was sure glad I’d put some cold beers in the Motel fridge for my return.

The next morning was still scorching hot, and I had plenty of time to get to my evenings destination.

My good friend Dawn Kamff , used to live in this area of the Catskills, and had messaged me a nice tourist route to take. I took Hwy 44 over the mountains to New Paltz, and along the way, I stopped to take some shots of the view.

After a slow relaxing drive back to the Albany area, I was in Malta in good time for some lunch at the newly opened Panera Bread shop. Regular readers will know, that when I’m in the USA , this is one of my favorite eateries. Of course they have free Wi Fi which makes it even better.

Once at the track, I was one of the earliest arrivals, so managed to grab one of the few spots in the parking lot, that back on to a line of trees, much needed to shelter from the hot sun. Once parked in the shade, I had an afternoon nap , until the pit gates opened.

There were plenty of pre race activities going on, which meant ‘photo ops ‘.

This show was being promoted by top Super Dirt Series driver Brett Hearn (‘Brett Hearn Big Show’)  so he was busy  in many different roles.

Once things got under way, I joined my other photographer friends out on the middle as we awaited Chelsea Lynn Flach to sing the opening anthems.

After the heat races, the big race got underway after the traditional 4 wide salute to the fans

Once again ,  Stewart Friesen, the ‘ice man’  was on fire, and took command for most of the race.

When the checkers dropped , it was the second big win , in two days for Stewart. His wife Jess and young son Parker, were there to join him for the celebrations in Victory Lane, and of course ‘race promoter’ Brett Hearn.

The show was over by 10-30, and once the Victory Pics were done , I was on my way. With the minimum of stops, I was back home in Cornwall by 2-00 am.

I had to make a trip to the clinic during the day of Thursday 7 July, for more ‘blood work’ , before meeting up with my friend Chanty Lesage . She was accompanying me to the evenings SUPER DIRT SERIES race at my local Mohawk International Raceway, just across the International Bridge in Hogansburg N.Y

The heat wave continued, and once more,  plenty of cold water was taken with us.

It’s always nice when the leading series for Dirt Modifieds is on my back door, and it makes it even better when there are no weather issues. We had a few drops of rain during the drivers meeting, but that just served to dry some of the dust.

Once the drivers meeting was over, Chanty and I spoke to my friend Mike Perrotte, the SUPER DIRT SERIES director. I’ve known Mike for many years, since he was the track champion,  in the days when the place was known as the Frogtown Speedway). His # 35 Adirondack Auto sponsored 358 Mod was a top runner every week back in the day.

Of course,  his # 35 is now being driven by Frank Cozee in the SUPER DIRT SERIES. Mike , like me, was a close friend of “my buddy”, the late Mike Watts, who was track photographer at Frogtown/ MIR  until he sadly passed away. Chanty posed for a picture, before we carried on with our pit walk.

We also came across Ron Morin, and Paul Kirkland the Brockville Ontario Speedway promoter.

Sharing the program , were the Sportsman division, and I took the opportunity of getting a picture of my friends in the Brent Kelsey Team

Once the cars got on the track it was pretty obvious, Stewart Friesen was running his laps pretty quick  by using the high groove.

Young Madison Mulder also tried the high groove, but he pushed it a little too far.

The Sportsman also provided some action , when one of the marker tires took a hit.

Billy Dunn picked the number one spot in the re draw and led the first few laps of the race, as you’d expect from someone who has won so many times at this track. 

As the race progressed, and the checkers fell, it was Friesen again, who had forged to the front.  While wresting the lead from Tim Fuller, he was also fending off Dunn, and Danny Johnson who were third and fourth.

It made it three big wins in three days for Stewart.After another hot and sticky day at the races, and the desire to not get caught in the predictable big lines at the customs, we never stayed for the last race, the Sportsman Feature , and were soon back across the bridge in Canada.

With the Mohawk International Raceway, running on Thursday this week to accommodate  the SDS, it meant they weren’t running on Friday 8 July.

I decided that a ride to the Autodrome Granby in Quebec, would be a smart move, especially as wet weather was in the forecast for the coming weekend. My other possible Friday track (Brewerton) had canceled due to rain, so I left it to the last minute before leaving home. Thanks to my long time friend Caroline Champigny at Granby for giving me updated status reports. She is now on the staff at the track.

I got there a little late , as I got my times mixed up. I thought it was a 7-30 start time, but it was 7-00 pm. I didn’t miss much, but I was also got  delayed in the parking lot. While closing the door on the car, I cut my hand, so had to administer first aid to my self before entering the track.

Granby has always been one of the most challenging tracks for racing photography , with very few places on the middle to take pictures. The pits are located there, and there’s jersey barriers nearly all the way round, as well as net fencing.

To my dismay, the only good position, ( my favorite spot) which was a break in the jersey barrier on turn four,  had now been blocked with the damn concrete barriers !  There is a small break in the barrier on turn one, which I tried, but it didn’t offer me too much.

Lucky for me, during intermission I bumped into Caroline, and another Granby official I know, Yvan Lacroix who I explained the predicament . They quickly came to my rescue and suggested ( and arranged) for me to stand on the steps of the back straight flag mans podium. This worked well , and a big thanks to them both.

The Feature had to come under red flag conditions after Mathieu  Desjardins and Steve Bernard came together and hit the back wall . Both cars were extensively damaged, but both drivers were OK.

The long time leader had been Gino Clair , but by the time the checkers fell it was Granby expert, Kayle Robidoux there to take the honors.

On the way home, I went through a bit of rain, and was sure this was a sign of what was to come.

The next day, Saturday 9 July,  the weather finally changed, and with so much rain around and in the forecast, many tracks, canceled early. My local Brockville Ontario Speedway was one of these, and with the way things looked at home in Cornwall, I figured , this would be a good night for a rest.

As it happened , I later discovered, that one of my other local tracks, the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville  NY had survived. By the time I’d found out they were still running , it was too late to get there. Brockville regular, Danny O’Brien was the Can Am winner.

The alarm clock was set early for Sunday morning  (10 July) for the TV coverage of the British Grand Prix from Silverstone.

Any of you who have read my reports from the early 1980’s will know that I used to live just a few miles from the track.

When I awoke it was pouring with rain in Cornwall, and it was doing likewise at Silverstone. Unlike it was , the last time I was there,  three years ago.

The rain had stopped before the scheduled start time, but the track was still wet, so the first few laps were done behind the safety car. The track still had a few wet spots that caught out a few of the drivers as the race continued.

Once again it was Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes to capture another popular home win. Compared to recent races, this one was pretty uneventful  ( dare I say boring ?) , but you can’t win them all ! You can get a boring race, anywhere you go.

The rain continued throughout the day at home in Cornwall , and it was no surprise to hear the mid morning news that my local Cornwall Motor Speedway had canceled the evenings races.

After meeting up with my racing friends, Kathy and Chris CaldwellCraft for lunch,  I had an afternoon appointment with my doctor ( yes he holds surgery on Sundays !  )  to review my recent weekly blood tests, and then spent the rest of the day relaxing.

The rest and relaxation was a good thing, as I had plans for another mid week road trip. The SUPER DIRT SERIES was heading to the Five Mile Point Speedway on Tuesday 12 July , and I wanted to be there.

This time last year, I was in a poor state of health and missed many of these races, but now,  feeling much better, I want to make the most of it.

I left home about 9-30 am in the morning and after meeting my friend Dawn Kamff, for some lunch in Pulaski , NY, I continued down I81 to Five Mile Point.

I booked into the Wright Motel around 4-00pm which is located less than a mile from the track. It was another hot and scorching day so before heading to the track, beer was put in the fridge, and cold water put in my cooler to take with me.

On arrival , the first people I saw, were my photographer friends Alex and Helen Bruce, who I parked along side in the parking lot.

Once signed in to the back gate I had my usual wander around the pits, and had a quick chat with promoter Andrew Harpell. He was busy keeping the dust down with the water truck. I then visited the DIRTCAR trailer, to chat with the officials. The trailer had been given a face lift this year, with new ‘wraps’ and a tidy up inside.

During all this spring cleaning, my Rick at the Races Sticker , and Alex’s one for his photo’s, had been taken off.  Now with a freshly painted interior, Mike Perrotte, gave us the go head to apply new ones.  That’s pretty cool, where ever the trailer goes, the first thing you see in front of you, when entering, are our stickers. Thanks Mike.

There was also a nice little Ford Hot Rod parked up in the pits  not far away from the DIRTCAR trailer.

There were plenty of photographers in attendance, and instead of joining them out on the middle for the heat races, I chose to shoot from the pits on the back straight. I remember from my last visit to Five Mile Point, they had worked out OK.Sharing the program were a bunch of other divisions, including the Sportsman. They turned out to be a bit of a ‘pain’, with so many cautions in their Feature race, they had to leave the track and continue after the main event.  The Four cylinder division appeared to have a lot better drivers, who managed to complete their races without too much trouble.During the Intermission re draw I moved from my perch on the back straight, to the front to capture a few pics. Brett Hearn drew number one , for inside pole with Billy Decker getting # 2

I then joined my fellow photographers on the middle for the Features. As mentioned , the Sportsman event, turned out to be a disaster. There were so many stoppages in the first few laps, they were ordered back to the pits to let the main event take place first.

The dust was a major challenge to taking pics, but we did our best.

The big race turned out to be a good one , with various contenders up  the front  throughout the course. Decker and Hearn of course, then there was Stewart Friesen , Frank Cozee and Matt Sheppard. At one time it looked like Cozee was going to do it , but it could of been anyone of them. A lot of us on the middle , were hoping for that, as it’s been a long time since Frank’s had a big win. ( Last time I saw him get a big one, was Syracuse back in 2008.

It looked like he might just hang on to the lead, but in the end, veteran Frank succumbed to the ‘young gun’ Matt Sheppard when the checkers fell.

After the Victory Lane pics, the Sportsman returned to the track to resume their Feature, but I’d had enough of them, and made an exit to my Motel.

Once again, I really needed one of those cold beers I’d left in the fridge, to wash down the dust !

The next morning, Wednesday 13 July, I took a relaxing drive back to Canada, arriving home about 3-00pm in the afternoon.

The SUPER DIRT SERIES then moved on to the Grandview Speedway in Pennsylvania for Thursday 14 July, but I’d decided to give this a miss. In my absence, it proved to be another win for Matt Sheppard.

Friday , 15 July it was my local Mohawk International Raceway and I went ‘over the bridge’ early and met up with my buddy for a bite to eat at the Twinleaf Diner before the races.

The weather forecast was very  doubtful with a lot of rain in the area but the track was on the edge of it, and looked like we might be lucky and miss it.

The heat races got under way and the rain began. Not much of it, but enough to halt the proceedings, for an hour while things got dried out.

Following the unplanned track watering, a great tacky surface emerged which gave us some great racing.

Tim Fuller , as a ‘hired gun’ in the Chris Steele , # 3 car  ( that normally races at the Merrittville Speedway) charged through the pack, to reel in long time leader Chris Raabe, to take the checkers.

The Sportsman race was exciting too, with Thomas Cook , grabbing a late race win Bruce Makinson, who’d looked all set for a win.

Even with a rain delay of an hour, the racing was over before 11-00, and I was home at a nice sensible time.