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Edelweiss, B.O.S and Cornwall (27/28/29 Aug 2010)

08312010jRICK @ the RACES (27/28/29 Aug 2010)

27 Aug     Autodrome Edelweiss

28 Aug     Brockville Ontario Speedway

29 Aug     Cornwall Motor Speedway

With the help of Mother Nature and an early finish at work on Friday, I managed to attend three events this past weekend. It was warm and sunny in the North East and all my local tracks went ahead on schedule with no rain related cancellations.

On Friday, I finished work in Cornwall (Ont) before 6-00 pm and was able to make a rare visit to the Autodrome Edelweiss, located in the Gatineau Mountains, a twenty minute drive north of Ottawa. The regular start time is 7-45 pm and thought I had plenty of time to get there for their 100 lap Modified Special. I hadn’t realized that the racing was starting earlier for this event, and as a result I missed the first heat.08312010a

Once arrived,  I soon got myself stationed on the center and started taking pictures alongside track photographer Al Patrick. On normal nights, it would be fair to say that Edelweiss struggles a little bit to get good car counts as far as the Modifieds are concerned. ( This is mainly due to the tracks location and the abundance of Friday night tracks in the area). So it was very pleasing to see that the 100 lap ‘Super Challenge’ had attracted a good field. There were 27 Modifieds in attendance.

08312010cRon Morin was also there with the Cornwall Motor Speedway Pace Truck so I joined him on track for the rolling lap parade. Thanks to Ron, the CMS Pace Truck now has a RICK @ the RACES decal on it.

08312010bThe track was in really good shape and it was no surprise to me when David Hebert from St Damase Quebec, crossed the line to take the checkers. When it comes to ‘long haul’ races David is one of the best in Canada. Kayle Robidoux gave him a good run for his money and the two of them ended the race inches apart. Early leader Steve Bernard wasn’t far behind them in third.

Many of the additional cars present were Autodrome Granby and Drummond regulars, who would be staying in the area for the Brockville Ontario Speedways staging of the 100 lap ‘Super Challenge’ the next day.

RICKS NOTE .  WE DID NOT REALIZE IT AT THE TIME,  BUT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TIME WE WOULD SEE OUR FAVORITE FORM OF DIRT RACING AT THE AUTODROME EDELWEISS. AFTER AN ENDURO CAR EVENT A WEEK LATER ,THAT FINISHED UNDER RAIN, THE TRACK CLOSED IT’S DOORS, AND RACING HAS NEVER RETURNED.

Brockville was on my agenda too, and I was there early enough to do the rounds of socializing before it all started. During the night, a few more RICK @ the RACES decals were pictured with friends, Sheldon Hoogwerf, Tabatha Murphy, Chantal Lasage, Bruce Makinson, Matt Billings and Dylan Evoy. clesage-sticker

Check out the new section ‘STICKERBUDDIES’ on www.rickattheraces.com.

08312010dI have to thank Lynda Makinson (Bruce’s wife) for arranging a photo shoot of the lovely ‘ Cheryl’s Angels’. Check out the photo section !

Once the action got underway I took my usual spot on the center with my Brockville shooting partner, Henry Hannewyk. There were 38 Modifieds in attendance and we knew it was going to be an action packed night. During the heats, I was given a photo opportunity, all track cameramen dream of. Right in front of me a big wreck occurred involving John Mulder, Mario Clair, Yan Bussiere and Michel Chicoine. As both Clair and Chicoine flipped over wildly, I looked on in amazement.

08312010e 08312010f 08312010gBy the time I realized that I should be capturing the action, It was too late and the shot was way out of focus. Oh well ! You can’t win them all ! Thankfully all the drivers concerned were unhurt but the Mulder, Clair and Chicoine cars were out of action for the rest of the night. The latter two drivers, quickly unloaded their spare cars from the haulers so they could compete in the consi’s.

Over the years, the BOS has always been considered good hunting grounds for the Kingston, Ontario brothers , Pat, Danny and Tim O’Brien. All three of them were in the big race and I think most people were expecting one of them to win. First it was Danny who looked like doing it, then it was the turn of elder brother Pat, but the one guy they couldn’t get passed was David Hebert.

08312010hHebert had the car hooked perfectly and there was nothing Pat could do to get by him. In the closing stages, when it looked like a possibility, a front end failure on the home straight put him out of the race.

08312010iAt about this time brother Danny had slipped back a few spots and it was deja vu , as Robidoux and Bernard followed Hebert across the line. How often does that happen ? I saw two 100 lap races in two days, at two different places and at both tracks, the first three were the same. Another great drive by David Hebert, who can always be relied upon to give it 100%.

08312010kDylan Evoy took the Sportsman Feature

The next day, after a three week hiatus due to rain, I was back at the Cornwall Motor Speedway. It was a regular show for Modifieds, Sportsman and Pro Stocks, with the Semi Pro’s and Mini Stocks taking center stage for their big races of the year.

ggodard-stickerAs usual, I was there early and before the racing took place, the Mini Stock of Ronnie Tyo and the Pro Stock of Gilles Godard’s were photographed with RICK @ the RACES decals on them, Thanks Guys !

The first Feature was the 25 lapper for the Mini Stocks which was won by Mike Gaucher. This was followed by the Modifieds which turned out to be a battle of the ‘young guns’ .

08312010lTeenagers , Matt Billings and Gage Morin showed great maturity as they raced like veterans side by side (and fairly) to the checkers.

08312010mAt the flag it was Morin, in an emotional first Modified win at his grandfather Ron’s track.

08312010nIt was good to see PJ Peters taking a long overdue victory in the Pro Stocks, while Chris Raabe notched up yet another Sportsman win in his record breaking year.

08312010pThe Semi Pro’s ended the night with their 25 lapper, which as expected had plenty of cautions. The eventual winner was Gaetan Amesse.

08312010oIt was beautiful night to be out racing as the show moved along nicely with no delays ( apart from the last race ! ) and was all over before 10.00 pm. Just what I needed after a busy week!

Finally, before I sign off for this week, I have to mention long time RICK @ the RACES reader, Randy Zimmer from Buffalo New York. Randy is one of the top USA Rally drivers who I first came across in February 2006 at the annual Challenge Sur Glace at the Bertrand Fabi Circuit in Sherbrook Quebec.

08312010sHe was competing in his Subaru and and I photographed him both on the track and during the podium celebrations after he gained a creditable third place.

The next time we met was in September of that year , at ( what is believed to be) the first ever European style Rally Cross to be held in the USA . Up until then the USA’s  idea of a Rally Cross was a pretty boring ‘one car against the clock’ affair . Randy was one of the pioneer competitors at that historic event which was held at the Glad Rag Speedway, Corinth NY.

Since then we’ve kept in contact and once when I needed info about the Buffalo Airport , on an occasion when my daughter was using it to visit me, he was very helpful.

08312010tWhen the RICK @ the RACES decals were mentioned in my weekly report, Randy was one of the first people to contact me. “Can you send me one for my car, as I’m racing at the first Rally America Rally Cross at the New Jersey Motor Sports Park on Aug 28/29” was his request. I was flattered, one was dispatched  immediately and the decal was on his car for the event. Thanks Randy, much appreciated.