November | 2017 | Rick at the Races

WEEKLY REPORT (31 Oct to 5 Nov 2017)

The big event happening this past week was the DIRT TRACK WORLD FINALS in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The long distance from my home in Cornwall , Ontario means I don’t get down there very often. It’s a fourteen hour drive. I attended the 2016 event when my buddy Ron Morin, gave me a ride , and once more he offered to take me again this year.

For the past month or so, my MYASTHENIA GRAVIS symptoms having been playing me up , and right until the last minute, I was undecided whether or not to make the trip. Ron was leaving Tuesday 31 Oct, when I reluctantly had to make the decision to decline his offer.

All week, I was sitting at home moping, and wishing I’d gone.

I had things at home that needed attending to, including a trip to the Ottawa/Gatineau area on Friday (3 Nov) and that day , I did something I’d never done before.

As you can imagine the traffic can be very busy in the nations Capital, on a Friday afternoon, what with the start of the weekend rush and all the construction, so I decided to come back home via the Masson to Cumberland Ferry.

It was a “first” for me.

The DIRT TRACK WORLD FINALS were a three day event, with the grand finale being on the Saturday night.

Big Block Modified winners on Thursday and Friday were Matt Shepherd and Matt Williamson.

It has become popular in recent years for those fans unable to get there, to watch the televised races at organised “World Final Parties’ . We’ve had a few of those in the Cornwall area in recent years.

This year was no exception. My buddy, and local Dirt Modified driver Corey Wheeler # 47S and his good lady, Shawna are expecting their first child in February, and his long time friend , Dirt Sportsman driver, Ryan Stabler # 77E had organized something special.

On Saturday, a guys night out, a “Diaper Party” was arranged in Ryan’s race car work shop to coincide with the live coverage from Charlotte.

I was invited, and was fortunate that my teetotal buddy, Don Simpson offered to be my designated driver.

About 25 of us gathered to drink beer , eat the delicious spread of food on hand and watch the races. A perfect way to spend the evening for those of us unable to be in Charlotte.

It turned out to be a great night, with plenty of my local race drivers in attendance.

A big THANK YOU to Ryan for putting it on.

Although the World Finals also feature World of Outlaw Sprint Cars and Late Models, it was the SUPER DIRT SERIES Big Block Modifieds that interested most of us.

We watched as Matt Shepherd stamped his seal of authority by winning the main event, and the season’s championship for the sixth time.

His win this year was an even more remarkable achievement.

After a mid season ‘suspension’ he’d had to play ‘catch up’ and going in to Charlotte, the points between him and Billy Decker were so close it could of gone either way.

A flag to flag win on Saturday night made sure of it.