Riverside Speedway Ice Enduro , New Hampshire (2 Jan 2011)

01052011b RICK @ the RACES (2 Jan 2011)

2 Jan 2011      Riverside Speedway (Groveton, New Hampshire)

First let me start by wishing everybody a happy and prosperous New Year. Behind the scenes this winter, there’s been plenty of changes at many of the North Eastern tracks as well as at  ‘sanctioning body’ level. A lot of things have been happening in the dirt racing world that haven’t been popular with the masses. I just wish we could turn the clock back because in my opinion , North Eastern dirt racing was a lot healthier in the Glen Donnelly days of DIRT MOTORSPORTS. I feel the same way as many other people I’ve talked to, and are hoping for a ‘rebirth’ someday.

The North Eastern Dirt racing season is still a long way off so for the time being you’ll find me at what ever racing events I can get to.

I got my 2011 racing campaign off to a good start this Sunday (2 Jan) with a road trip to the Riverside Speedway at Groveton , New Hampshire for their ‘Pre Hangover’ Enduro.

My original plans for this weekend had been to attend the Enduro at the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY but the recent rise in temperatures and the thaw that followed caused a postponement. With Can Am being a dirt track, it would have been a big muddy mess ! . The Riverside Speedway is paved, so the thaw turned out to be a bonus and the cars were able to race on the wet asphalt.

I left home in Cornwall, Ontario at 7-00am on Sunday morning in my Chevy HHR and headed up to Magog , Quebec, where after three hours of driving, I dropped down in to the USA at the Stanstead border crossing. I’d never been this way before so it was a new experience for me.

Once over the border, I was in Vermont , then after a 30 minute cross country trek I crossed the state line into New Hampshire. From here it was a further 30 minute drive to the track at Groveton. I was there before midday and the racing due to start at 1-30 pm.01052011a

I took a wander around the pits and then waited in my car until the action started.01052011f 01052011d During the normal racing season the quarter mile 01052011e01052011chigh banked Riverside Speedway host’s a typical bill of fare that consists of paved Late Models and Street Stocks. Today it was the turn of the low budget Enduro cars.

To get things going  ‘two cars at a time’, did a one lap drag race with the winner being decided by an elimination basis. Following this the 27 car enduro got under way which consisted of 150 laps. I had no intention of staying right to the end, but stayed there long enough to get a feel of the place, and to take a few photos. 01052011hI made my exit at 01052011i01052011gabout 2-45 pm, for the four hour return trip to Cornwall.

The Riverside Speedway at Groveton, New Hampshire became track # 188 on my TRACKCHASING Totals.