RICK @ the RACES (16/17/19 July 2011)

16 July                   Brockville Ontario Speedway

17 July                   Cornwall Motor Speedway , Ont

19 July                   Autodrome Granby, Que SUPER DIRT SERIES

This weeks report was going to be a short one with a meager one and a half events to cover until an unexpected opportunity came my way .

On Wednesday, ( 13 July) my regular weekly trip to the Capital City Speedway, didn’t materialize due to personal commitments and a Friday night visit to the Mohawk International Raceway , was once again not possible with my usual late finish at work.

On Saturday, I was undecided, where to go and ended up choosing between, either the Airborne Speedway at Plattsburgh NY or my regular Saturday location, of the Brockville Ontario Speedway where they were hosting the Patriot Sprint Cars .

I’m not the ‘number one’ fan of these Sprint Cars (or their local alternatives, the ESS), so a trip to Airborne seemed very tempting.

Let me digress, I can remember one Saturday night , a few years back, when I drove past the Sprint Car show going on at the Frogtown Speedway ( now known as the MIR) in favor of a three hour trek to the Modified races at the Bear Ridge Speedway, in Vermont. I’m a bit more tolerant of my local Sprints Cars these days and have to say , that I always enjoy the classy All Star and World of Outlaw Sprints when I get the chance to see them.

Anyway, with the busy life style I’m experiencing right now, I was swayed into taking the nearer to home, Brockville option and I arrived at the track soon after 5-30 pm. I was surprised to see how full the pits were, with plenty of Sprints and all the other regular divisions. Once again the weather had been hot and sunny so the evening was perfect for the extended program that included an on-track autograph session.

The nights winners went like this…

Steve Arbuthnot (Vintage)

Mike Mainse (Sportsman),

Jared Zimbardi (Sprint Cars) Jean Marc Larose (Rookies) Kevin Fetterly Jr ( Street Stocks)

and Danny O’Brien (Modifieds).

Unfortunately the Sprint Cars were having ‘a bad day’, and in fact it was one of the worst Features I’ve ever witnessed.

There were so many stoppages, that, a few laps from the end, they had to take ‘time out’ for refueling.

The long delays encountered, meant that the loyal Modified fans had to wait until around 11-45 before the conclusion of their Feature. The Street Stocks and Rookies then followed.

Sunday was another hot and scorching day as I arrived early at the Cornwall Motor Speedway, where once again the Patriot Sprints were paying a visit. I was surely hoping their race director, had taken steps to avoid a repetition of the previous night.

As usual I was stationed on the center , taking care of Victory Lane duties, when fellow photographer Bob Lefebrve received a message about a huge storm heading our way. It had already reached Ottawa and was destined to hit us within the hour.

The officials in the tower, had seen the radar pictures too, and the show was hurried along as quick as we could.

The Ministocks Feature was in the ‘books’ ( won by Daniel Desnoyer) and the Patriot Sprints were ordered on to the track, just as the first few spots of rain were felt.

Luckily , thanks to Bob’s warning, I was prepared, had packed my equipment and had moved up in to the tower before the big storm ravaged the track. The Sprints were sent back to the pits, before taking the green , and the night was over.

I thought my racing week was over until an unexpected early finish at work on Tuesday ( 19 July) allowed me to attend Autodrome Granby’s SUPER DIRT SERIES race. With a bit of persuasion , I managed to get my employers to end my day at 2-00 pm which gave me plenty of time for the two and a half hour drive into Quebec.

I always enjoy the SUPER DIRT SERIES when it visits Granby, and in fact it was at this track where I saw my first SDS race back in 1996. I think Steve Paine won that night, but I’m not sure.

The tour had been at Autodrome Drummond on Monday night (18 July) where Brett Hearn had clinched the Victory after Danny Johnson had his engine expire on the last lap.

All the regular tour drivers were at Granby and a new motor had been installed in the Johnson car.

During my pit walk about, I chatted to Gary Tomkins of Clifton Springs NY , who was driving the loaned Jasmin Leveillee 4K car.

I also bumped into ‘Racing Russ’ a race fan from Port Jervis , New Jersey, who I’ve know for many years. He’s a real ‘character’ of the raceways and is easily recognized by the bundle of ‘papers’ he always carries under his arm. Without the use of computers, he is a ‘walking mine of information’ and statistician, so maybe I should ask him to verify that result from 1996.  He is also a great lover of Canadian racing, and usually makes the long trip north of the border for the big events.

After the Sportsman and Pro Stock Features we were ready for the big one

Granby has very few good spots for taking action photos, so I was happy to grab a few shots on turn four before watching most of the big race from the stands. Justin Haers dominated the early stages of the 100 lapper but was soon overhauled by Matt Sheppard , David Hebert , Danny Johnson and Brett Hearn.

Sheppard and Hebert duelled for many laps with the Quebecer preferring the bottom groove while Sheppard stayed at the top. As the race progressed Johnson came into the picture to make it a three way battle, while Hearn and Martin Roy were close behind fighting for forth and fifth. As the checkers fell, defending SDS champion, Sheppard had gained the upper hand with Johnson and Hearn taking the next two spots.

After taking my Victory Lane shots, I had a quick chat with the jubilant Matt Sheppard, who told me this was his first ever Granby win.

The racing was all over at a very respectable ‘mid week’ time of around 10-15pm and after a brief stop at the McDonalds at Ange Guardien, for a bite to eat and some free Wi-Fi , I was back home soon after 1-00am.