My Wet Labor Day Weekend (3rd Sept 2024 Blog)

My Wet Labor Day Weekend. (3rd Sept 2024 Blog)

I ended the last Blog, after an eventful visit from my family and a weekend ‘racing double’ at my two local tracks.

Once a mid week medical appointment was out of the way, I was ready to go racing on Thursday 29th of August.

My buddy Don Simpson picked me up from my place in Cornwall, in his Chevy Cruz and off we went to the Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh .

It was a regular show of Modifieds, Sportsman , Rengades and Mini Stocks.

The track was in good shape and we were all set for a great night of racing.

Both me and Don, like the mid-week trips to Plattsburgh , because, in most cases , the divisions we want to see, are over early, and we can be on our way home at a sensible time.

The main divisions (Modified and Sportsman) arethe first features to run, and once they are over, we can make a hasty exit.

After intermission the Modifieds took to the track for their feature.

Vermont driver , Mike Fornwalt took the early lead, after fending off Jeremy Roy.

Eventually Fornwalt was overhauled by Tim Fuller.

Fuller looked a cert for the win, but as the laps wound down, a fast moving Mike Mahaney was homing in.

They fought cat and dog for a few laps until Mahahey stormed by on the top groove.

It was a very entertaining race to watch , and a ‘monkey off the back’ for Mike Mahaney, making it his first Plattsburgh win of the year.

Next up was the Sportsman feature.

This was another good race with the end result in doubt until the checkers.

Nick Heywood took this one

The two main divisions were all over by 9-15 pm and we were soon heading for the parking lot .

Even after a couple of stops on the way , we were back in Cornwall by 11-30 pm.

On Friday the 30th of August , I took a leisurely drive down to the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville , NY .

I got there early enough for a nap in the parking lot , before the action started.

It was the Tribute to First Responders , and the 2024 final points night for all of the divisions.

358 Modifieds, Sportsman, Limited Sportsman , Sprint Cars and Thunder Cars (Mini Stocks)

I based myself on turn one and two for the night.

Former Pro Stock Champion Bruno Richard was out in his Sprint Car

The heat races were all done with very few delays and the intermission began soon after 8-00 pm .

During the break , there was a great display of fire trucks and first responder vehicles doing a few laps with their sirens going.

It looked very spectacular .

First of the feature races was for the Limited Sportsman.

Points leader Logan Brown took this one , as well as the season championship .

The Sprints were up next for theirs.

Just like the Limited Sportsman, Points leader Josh Verne got the win and the Championship.

It was now time for the Modifieds to have their feature and to decide the 2024 Champion.

Early leader was Lucas Fuller , who was eventually passed by Billy Dunn, who went on to take the checkers.

Points leader , Tim Fullers fourth place was enough for him to secure the championship.

I caught the two Tim’s , Fuller and announcer Baltz having some fun following the win.

It was then time for Sportsman main event .

This gave Eric Nier his first ever win.

The championship went to Mike Fowler.

It was now 10-15pm , so I made my exit , while the Thunder Car feature was taking place .

In my Absence , Anthony St Mary won the race and Damien Bechler took the track Championship .

My Saturday plan for the Labor Day weekend was to attend a car show at nearby Camerons Point in the morning , followed by an evening at the Mohawk International Raceway.

A forecast of heavy rain brought a postponement of the car show to Sunday.

Then the M.I.R announced a cancellation following an afternoon downpour.

So it was a rare Saturday night at home for me.

It was bright and Sunny on Sunday morning , so I joined the Cornwall Olde Car Club for a cruise to Camerons Point.

I met up with a few ‘racing’ friends there and stayed until about lunch time .

A big storm was forecast for the afternoon, so I wanted to be home before it all began.

I got the Thunderbird back home and tucked up in the garage before the rain started.

There was a lot of it, and enough for the Cornwall Motor Speedway to re-schedule the Sunday evening show, to the Labor Day Monday.

This meant another night at home.

I was up bright and early the next morning, for another cruise in the Thunderbird.

Once again I joined the Cornwall Olde Car Club for a drive to the ‘Docksyde Last Cruise’ of the season , at Morrisburg.

It was a day time show , starting at 10-00 am, and around 100 old cars lined the banks of the St Lawrence Seaway.

I only stayed for a couple of hours, as I had the evening engagement at the Speedway.

After driving home and switching to my Impala, I was at the track at 2-00 pm.

The Labor Day weekend is the traditional ‘end of season’ championships at most tracks and Cornwall is no exception.

There was an earlier than normal start time due to it being postponed, and the races being all ‘extra distance’ .

The Modifieds were ‘wearing’ sail panels for this one.

I took up my regular spot on the pit tower, and because the early start meant more daylight , I shot the heat races from there as well as Hot Laps.

The first of the features, took place before the intermission.

This was for the Rookie Sportsman and was won by Fred Andje .

Fred is a former crew member for my friend Gilles Godard.

I remember when Fred was a teenager , helping Gilles out in the pits , and I took this picture at Super Dirt Week in Syracuse back in 2011,

Gilles told me earlier in the year that Fred was going to start racing, and here he is , with a first feature win, to his credit using the familiar # 27.

After the break and some track prep. the Modifieds rolled out for their 125 lap Canadian Nationals Feature.

Going into the race there were only nine points separating Corey Wheeler and Carey Tarrence in the points .