WEEKLY REPORT (28 AUG to 4 SEPT 2017)

 

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WEEEKLY REPORT (28 Aug to 4 Sept 2017)

As the last week approached I knew I had a lot of appointments with the medics on my schedule, but didn’t realize  how the list would increase.

Monday (28 Aug)  was an easy day with nothing going on, but Tuesday was the first doctors visit on my schedule. It wasn’t for an important matter, and unrelated to my Myasthenia Gravis condition.

Wednesday I had another appointment with a different doctor.

On Thursday and Friday I had my monthly course of I.V.I.G transfusions booked at my local Cornwall Hospital. I was there at 9-00 pm on Thursday for Day 1, That went well and I came home early afternoon.

This was also the night of the Super Dirt Series at Lebanon Valley, which I had to miss this year. It was won by Brett Hearn.

That night I began to feel unwell, I had flu like symptoms where I was shivering one minute and feverish the next. I had stomach pains and was short of breath (which is normal for MG) and I had a sleepless night. I was tempted to go into the Emergency, but decided to hold out until my 8.00 am I.V.I G appointment in the morning.

I was still feeling bad when I arrived and informed the nurses. They decided I should undergo some tests before continuing with the I.V.I.G.  The results showed I had Pneumonia, and I was then admitted to the hospital while they treated me. Overall, I was there for two nights , Friday and Saturday, where I missed the races at my local M.I.R / Airborne and Brockville tracks.

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It was unfortunate I wasn’t able to be there at M.I.R for the first career win in the Sportsman Division of my good friend Brent Kelsey. He’s been so close to a win in the past, and finally managed to ‘park it’ on Friday night. Lance Willix took the Modified win.

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I got discharged from the hospital on Sunday afternoon. It had been raining all day and the 358 DirtCar series race at the Cornwall Motor Speedway had already been post-poned until the next day (‘Labor Day Monday’ )

Although I’d ‘escaped’ from hospital I was still very weak and had little energy. I’d basically written off my weekend and cancelled plans of attending the Big Block Super Dirt Series and DirtCar Pro Stock Series races at Weedsport NY on Labor Day.

My only salvation , possibly, would be to spend a few hours , across town at the postponed Cornwall race.  

I still lacked any get up and go, on Monday morning, but figured the best way of convalescence was to be at the Cornwall track watching the races with friends, sitting in the warmth of the control tower/media room.

This, I did, and once seated, in the very same chair that had been mine for over ten years, I never moved from that spot , until it was Modified Feature time.  

I took a few pictures up there , behind the glass with my regular Camera and lens, so they are not too impressive.  

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The Ministock Feature was held before the intermission and was won by Alexis Charbonneau.

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At the same time as Charbonneau celebrated in Victory Lane, so did newly crowned track champion Marc Dagenais.

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It was now Intermission time, where the re draws took place in front of the main Grandstand .

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As the Modifieds took to the track, announcer, friend Hugh Primeau asked me if I’d like to have the honor of giving the orders, of those most famous words in motor racing, GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES.

This I eagerly excepted, as it was something I’d never done before.

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The DirtCar 358 Modified race AKA The Canadian Nationals was a 125 lapper, with the now customary mandatory pit stop on the front stretch after 75 laps.

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It was a crazy race that had a lot of leaders , that all fell by the wayside, for one reason or another.

As the race came to the final few laps it was all down to Steve Bernard and Mario Clair who were battling it out for the lead. As the white flag came out, Bernard had the edge, but with just yards to go from the finish line, Clair managed to steal the lead.  

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A very entertaining race, where young Kevin Hamel # 13 hung on to score a very impressive third place.

After the Modified race I made my exit and headed for home. The 50 lap DirtCar Sportsman Series was still to run, as well as the Pro Stock Feature. As I left the parking lot and drove towards home I got a few spots of rain on my wind shield and by the time I got home it was coming down quite a bit.

In my absence , the Sportsman feature had to be stopped after 27 laps and leader Justin Lalancette was awarded the checkers.

DON SIMPSON PHOTO
DON SIMPSON PHOTO

Not only that, he captured the Sportsman track championship.

The Pro Stock race was cancelled.