REPORT (8 to 22 Nov 2016)
After returning home from my southern road trip on Monday 7 Nov, it was back to normal, dealing with doctors appointments and trips to the pharmacist to top up my med supplies.
With the racing season over, watching hockey helps pass the time.
On Thursday 10 Nov, I went along to the Civic Complex to see my local Cornwall Colts ( Juniors) in action against the Hawkesbury Hawks.
The next day, I went along to the Cornwall Motor Speedway, to watch one of my local Modified drivers, Brian McDonald who was putting in some testing laps.
With nothing much happening for me, in the racing world, at the weekend ( 12/13 Nov), boredom had already set in. I had planned to watch the Brazilian Grand Prix , on TV , but for some reason none of my available stations were covering it. All I could find was ‘American’ Football and a few other sports , that don’t interest me, so I decided to take myself off to another hockey game.
Lewis Hamilton won the race, narrowing the gap between him and Nico Rosberg,
I’ve been a long time fan of the Ottawa Senators , and up until my diagnosis of MYASTHENIA GRAVIS in June of 2015, I usually made a point of attending at least one home game each winter ( I’m a fan via the TV for most of their games)
On Sunday 13 Nov they were playing against the Minnesota Wild, with an earlier than usual start of 5-00 pm. I hadn’t got a ticket , so went on the off-chance, and was lucky enough to pick up a cheap one at the door.
The Sens lost 2-1
On Wednesday 16 Nov, I had one of my doctors appointments to attend before the weekend came around. I’m still undergoing various treatments to control my MYASTHENIA GRAVIS and that night I was surprised to see a piece about a breakthrough treatment for the disease on CTV’s Ottawa news.
CHECK THIS LINK to the CTV news report
Unlike the previous weekend, I was looking forward to upcoming one, as there were plenty of things happening.
It was the annual Parts Peddler Show in Syracuse NY (18/19/20 Nov) as well the 2016 DIRTCAR Banquet (19 Nov) . I also wanted to take advantage of the logistics to see the latest senior Cornwall Hockey team in action. For the 2016/17 season the new Cornwall Nationals are playing in an American hockey league, and on Friday 18 Nov, they were playing in Watertown NY.
I set off around lunch time on Friday for my weekend trip and was in Watertown NY by about 2-30 pm. I booked into the Ramada Hotel beside I81 and relaxed until my good friend Dawn Kamff had finished work. Dawn who lives near Watertown, not only shares my love of dirt racing, but she’s a hockey fan too.
While at the game we bumped into a few other racing people, including Can Am Speedways, Chip Burdick.
The Cornwall Nationals beat the Watertown Wolves 6-4.
After the game we had a late night supper before I retired for a night at the Ramada.
After a nice buffet breakfast in the Hotel , I headed south on I81 to Syracuse. I arrived at the New York State Fairgrounds, where the Parts Peddler Show was being held , at around 11-30 pm.
Once in the building I made my way to the ‘10,000 RPM ‘ Clutches booth, where I knew my buddies would be. I was soon hanging out with my good friends Becky Hammel , Chantal Lesage and Rob Yetman
I based myself here, in one of their chairs, when I wasn’t wandering around taking pictures.
The high light of each years Parts Peddler Show is the auction on Saturday afternoon of various race car frames. This takes place at the front of the hall , and attracts a lot of attention.
Around 3-30 pm I’d got enough pictures to satisfy the needs of the Rick at the Races Gallery, so made my exit , and set off to Liverpool, a suburb the other side of the city.
My evening plans were for the annual DIRTCAR Night of Champions, Awards Banquet, being held at the Holiday Inn, in Liverpool NY. Once settled in my room, I relaxed until it was time to put on my jacket and dress pants for the formalities to begin.
It’s always a honor and pleasure to be one of the selected photographers to be invited to this event, and it was good to meet up with the rest of the gang, Bill Moore Jr, Alex Bruce, Ken Dipple and Jeff Clemons.
After cocktails , the assembly moved into the banquet hall to take our designated seats. As usual Shane Andrews was the host and the meal was excellent.
Photographers , don’t normally spend too long in their seats. Once the awards began, we took our places in the presentation area back stage.
All four DIRTCAR divisions celebrated their various champions, and three out of the four were Canadians.
WORLD RACING GROUP , and DIRTCAR C.E.O Brian Carter was there to present the awards.
The Pro Stock winner Jocelyn Roy from , St Helene, Quebec.
Where as the Sportsman and 358 Modified winners were two of my local guys.
Shane Pecore from St Andrews , Ontario took took the Sportsman Championship
While Alexandria, Ontario’s Chris Raabe was the 358 Modified winner 
BIG BLOCK MODIFIED, SUPER DIRT SERIES winner was Matt Sheppard of Waterloo , New York
His wife Bethane, was also brought to the front for part in the team effort,
Once back stage there were plenty of pics to be taken and even my photographer buddy Alex Bruce joined in the fun,
After the awards , it was party time, which went on until the early hours.
Sunday ( 20 Nov) morning I left Syracuse, for the journey back to Canada.
The TV weather stations, had been giving out a ‘Lake Effect’ snow storm warning ( the first big one of the winter) for Sunday and Monday so no one wanted to get caught in it. My friend Chantal, followed me up I81 to the border as the snow flurries began. By the time we got back to Canada in the mid afternoon, the roads were starting to get slippery.
I was back in Cornwall by 3-30 pm and watched from my house as the snow got deeper.
I was due in hospital for two days of I.V.I.G transfusions starting on Monday morning, and even though I live just 5 minutes away , I was not looking forward to the morning drive, or digging out my car.
I invested in a taxi ride to the hospital , which put me in a better state of mind for my treatment.
By Tuesday my driveway had been shoveled by a neighbor and my car was mobile again.