RICK @ the RACES (9 to 12 July 2010)

10  July      Brockville Ontario Speedway

11  July      Cornwall Motor Speedway, Ont (SUPER DIRT SERIES)

12  July      Can Am Speedway , Lafargeville ,NY

If Mother Nature had cooperated , I would of had four events to tell you about this week, but alas, it was not to be.

After my hectic whistle stop tour of the UK , I was glad of a couple of ‘easy’ days when I returned to work last Thursday. On Friday I got lucky and finished early, which also signaled the end of the hot, dry spell that the North East had been experiencing. Around lunchtime torrential rain began to fall and decimated the chances of any racing taking place. I was in Montreal during the afternoon where flash flooding caused a number of roads to be closed. I still managed to back in to Cornwall, Ontario to finish work around 6-30 pm,  but the damage had already been done. My local tracks of Mohawk International Raceway and Autodrome Edelweiss had already been canceled.

There’d been so much rain on Friday, I was relieved to find out that my regular Saturday night home at the Brockville Ontario Speedway was unaffected.

I arrived early and met up with my buddy Jim Clarke, media guy and Kawartha Speedway PR man. Health issues have prevented him from making regular appearances around the tracks this year, so it was good to catch up with his news. I made my usual tour of the pits prior to the racing and chatted to many.

Steve Barber and his Sportsman crew were busy playing pranks on fellow driver Chris Herbison.

Apparently one of the announcers has a habit of calling Chis ‘Herbie’ so his normal # 63 was duct taped into # 53 and ‘The Love Bug’ was attached to the roof. Another Sportsman driver I chatted to was Bruce Makinson who had Julio Pasinetti helping him out. Julio is one of my friends from the Capital City Speedway in Ottawa where his daughter Jessica races in the Thunder Car division.

For those who are unaware, the Brockville area has quite a large community of folks with Dutch roots. With it being the football World Cup Final weekend a lot of talk revolved around this. Sunday’s Final was to feature the Netherlands versus Spain and Modified driver John Mulder was just one of them who’d be watching the game.

When the racing started, I joined yet another Dutchman, track photographer Henry Hannewyk on the middle to snap some action.

 didn’t have to wait too long, as young Luke Stewart ( the nephew of Modified driver Todd Stewart) performed a rollover in his Sportsman heat.

We had a first time winner in the Sportsman Feature when Mike Mainse took the checkers. Earlier in the night I’d been taking his photo for a ‘Hero Card’ and it was quite difficult to get him to smile. I should of waited ! . Incidentally, I have now discovered a way to get ‘grumpy’ faced guys to smile for photos !

If saying ‘cheese’ doesn’t work , I just shout out the ‘cheeky’ word for a certain part of ‘woman’s anatomy’ and It gets an instant smile … try it !

Modified Feature winner was Stephane Lafrance ,

Alex Gagnon took the eight cylinder and Jean Marc Larose won in the Rookies.

Sunday, it was the Big Block Modified SUPER DIRT SERIES at the Cornwall Motor Speedway and I was there extra early to get set up ( and hopefully find a quiet spot where I could keep up to date with afternoons World Cup taking place in South Africa) . I was without an internet connection when the game started so was out of luck. When it did return the game was at half time and with no score. ( Spain later won in Extra Time)

The heat wave had returned and things looked good for an excellent night of racing. One of the first of the touring teams to arrive was last years winner Jimmy Phelps who was followed in to the pits by a steady stream of the sports hot shoes.

I had a good chat with two times Cornwall SDS winner Gary Tomkins. He’d seen photos on the internet of my trip to Goodwood last week and was anxious to talk about it. Gary is not only a talented driver but he’s also very knowledgeable about world auto racing.

Steve Paine was also there, fresh from his win at the Canandaigua Speedway the night before.

Dale Planck drew pole position for the big 100 lap series race and had Billy Decker to his side.

Decker led for the first 66 laps until the fast moving Brett Hearn powered by on lap 67.

New Jersey based Hearn was a surprise ‘invader’ a few weeks back for the season opener where he took the checkers.  Once passed Decker there was no one to catch Hearn. Decker kept on his tail to take second with Steve Paine coming home third.

Ghislain Valade got his first time ever Pro Stock victory , Gaetan Amesse was the Semi Pro winner and Corey Barnes took the Mini Stock.

I was back to work on Monday morning and without the need to request an early finish, I got lucky. I was done by 5-00pm and was able to make a quick dash to Lafargeville, NY.

The Can Am Speedway were holding their ‘Summer Sizzler’ which was a feast of the best in Dirt track racing. After stopping in at my place for a few minutes I got away from Cornwall at 5-30, and pulled into Can Am soon after the advertised 7-15 start time .

Topping the bill were the All Star 410 Sprint Cars with 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Dirt Sportsman as the back up divisions.

The place was packed as word had got around that a very special

person would be in the Sprint Car line up. NASCAR SPRINT CUP driver Tony Stewart was accompanying his friend and Team Mate Jessica Zemken. I’ve known ‘Jess’ for many years and I’m really glad that the opportunities are coming her way . I have always thought she was a talented driver and all that was needed was the right funding. I chatted to her and her Mum prior to the racing.

As you’d expect, there were plenty of eager fans wanting to get a look at hers and Tony’s pit area so until the racing was over it had to be cordoned off .

It was also good to see PA Posee  member ‘Fast Freddy’ Rahmer up in my area.

The Big race for the Sprint cars was won by Tim Shaffer who I remember ‘snapping’ in Victory Lane last October when the World Of Outlaws appeared at Rolling Wheels during SUPER DIRT WEEK . Following him across the line was Greg Wilson with Tony Stewart third. Fast ‘Freddy’ was fourth and Jess came home fifth.

Winners in the other divisions were Billy Dunn (358 Mods) Tim Sears (Sportsman) and Dale Caswell ( Late Models) .

Occasional rain showers and a ‘wreck fest’ in the Late Model feature caused the show top go on a bit late ( after 1-00 am ) but on this occasion I didn’t care !

Tuesdays are now one of my days off, so had no work to rush back for. Instead, I slept at the track in my car then returned to Cornwall the next morning.