WEEKLY REPORT ( 28 May to 5th June 2017)

Now that the racing season is fully under way, I’m planning to get my reports, back to a weekly thing, so here’s the first attempt. After the Cornwall races on Sunday 28 May, my area was again treated to more of the dreaded rain. Better it come on a week day than a weekend I say.

I had yet another doctors appointment set for Tuesday 30 May but it had to be postponed two days until Thursday.

I also had another engagement on Thursday that I was looking forward to. Over the past few years, thanks to social media, I’ve got back in touch with many of my fellow BriSCA F1 stock car drivers that I used to race alongside, during the Golden Years of British Stock Car Racing. One of those drivers from back in 1974, when I first got started, was ‘Ollie’ Martin # 161.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the day, we were rarely in the same race together ,due to geographics, but one that I can remember, was the Jaguar Championship at the Long Eaton Stadium in August of that year.

 As you know, I emigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1994, and through Face Book, I discovered ‘Ollie’  was living here too. He emigrated a few years before me and settled in the Kitchener area. We’ve been in touch for some time, and on Thursday 1 June we arranged to meet. Along with his wife and a couple of friends, they were travelling ‘out East’ to Newfoundland, and had to pass Cornwall on their way. They left Kitchener at 4-00 am and we planned to meet at the Tim Hortons at he Boundary Rd Exit of Hwy 401.  

As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun reminiscing about the Good old Days.

Thursday afternoon I was at my doctors appointment, which resulted in another  trip to the medics on Friday morning for a blood test.

Friday night meant racing at my local , Mohawk International Raceway, and I took a mid afternoon trip over the bridge, for some shopping and supper before the races. I had a short wander around the pits and got a few Rick at the Races stickers. attached to a couple of notable cars., that being Tim Fullers, and Tim McCreadies.

The weather was dry, but a bit chilly as I joined my buddy Don Simpson to take some pictures.

The first of the Features was for the Bandit class and was won by Gary Sharlow.  

The Modlite winner was Derek Elsworth.

Rookie Sportsman feature was won by Kurt Russell.

The first feature for the premier divisions, was for the Sportsman, and was won by Joel Hargrave.

The Mods were up next, and after two consecutive Tim Fuller wins at the MIR , we were wondering if he was going to do it again. This time they were using a handicapping for the feature and Fuller was at the back. Even so, he forged his way through the pack and was on Corey Wheelers back bumper as they went over the line.

Corey has been on a good run, with a win at Cornwall the previous week. The racing was all done nice and early, and I was back in my place around 11-00 pm.

Saturday 3 June meant my usual trip down the 401 to the Brockville Ontario Speedway. I took a leisurely drive down there, and had plenty of time to relax in Starbucks, before heading to the track.  

I had a wander round the pits and got rid of a few more of my stickers to those that had requested them. The Vintage Mods were on the bill this night and a few of their drivers wanted some.

It was also good to meet up with Kayla Charland again. She’s one of the Vintage drivers that I haven’t seen for a while.

Last time I saw her she was expecting her first child, and now a year or two later  with two kids, she’s back racing.

 

There was an unusual new addition to the Street Stocks division, this station wagon design,

As usual, these days, I spent the heat races out on the middle on turn 1 and 2 , taking pictures , and then watched the features in one of the booths.

Just like the M.I.R , the Modified Features so far this year have been dominated by one man, with Danny O’Brien getting two out of two. Handicapping was in force here too, so who was going to win.

There was a big wreck on the front stretch that took out two of the leading contenders when an out of control car caused Stephane Lafrance to end up in the middle of the track, facing the wrong way and a ‘sitting duck’ . He was hit by Brian McDonald and a few others, and as a result, both cars sustained serious damage. Luckily both driver were OK.

On the restart early leader , Joe Banks stayed out in front while Danny O’Brien continued to work his way through the pack. After a few more cautions Banks was still there, and as the two laps to go sign , came out, Danny was on his tail.

The crowd were on their feet and cheering the underdog , as the long time local trier held on to get his first career win the Mods.

It was an emotional night.

The Sportsman race also had a scary crash when race leader Steve Barber bounced off the wall at the end of the front stretch. The red flags came out, and luckily Steve walked away unhurt.  On the restart Shane Pecore drove the remaining laps to the checkers.

This was my cue to make a move, and head for home. I missed the last two races of the night, and was back at my place before mid night.

The weather forecast for Cornwall, on Sunday 4 June was not good and rain showers were expected.  

I took the ride across town mid afternoon and joined my friends Ted, Chantel and Tyrek Lesage by the Tech shack in the pits.  

The skies looked threatening, and spots of rain could be felt as the nights races began. Joining the program at the Cornwall Motor Speedway were the E.S.S  Sprint Cars.

I took my first batch of pictures from the pit tower, before moving to the middle for the features. The spots of rain got heavier , but not enough to stop the racing, so a smart decision was made to keep the show rolling, with no intermission.

By doing this, it saved the night, because a break would of lost the track.

The Features were ran quickly, and first off was the Rookie Sportsman which was won by Kurtis Cayer

 The Sprints were up next, and Jordon Poirier took his first ever ESS  win.

The features continued, as the drizzle came down and it was great to see Luke Whitteker storm away to Modified Victory after an absence of a few years,  

The Pro Stocks followed this, and Kevin Fetterley Jr held off a late challenge by Dave Bissonnette, to take this one.

The last race of the night was for the Sportsman and it wasn’t even 10-00 pm, which was great ! The race turned out to be a good one , with Derek Cyderman dominating this one and getting his first win in this division.

The racing was all over by 10-15, and the dreaded threat of a rain out had been beaten.

Well , that’s it, I managed to get the return of my ‘Weekly Reports’ done. Next week I’m going to be joined at the races by my Long Time buddy Robin Shaw , who will be over here in Canada from the UK on a racing trip.