RICK @ the RACES (17/18/19 JULY 2009)

17 July                  Mohawk International Raceway (NY)

18 July                 Autodrome Drummond (Que)

19 July                  Cornwall Motor Speedway (Ont)

After several weeks of being closed, the Canada/USA border crossing at Cornwall (Ont) reopened this week. It was shut down following a recent Canadian government decision to arm it’s border guards. The frontier is located on the Mohawk Territory of Cornwall Island and there has been an ongoing dispute about the plan with the natives . After weeks of inconvenience and financial losses to many local businesses both sides of the Seaway , a temporary customs point has been set up on the Canadian shore.

I took advantage of the latest development this past Friday when a late finish at work reduced the options of which track I could get to. I hadn’t got time to get up to Autodrome Granby for their round of the LUCAS OIL CANADIAN DIRT SERIES , so opted for the short 15 minute drive to the Mohawk International Raceway, just across the Seaway bridge in Hogansburg , New York.

It was my first visit this season to the track everyone is talking about. Formerly known as the Frogtown International Speedway, that had a reputation for needing a little TLC, the new look Mohawk International Raceway is now a place to be proud of.

During the winter, the ‘old place’ was knocked to the ground and brand new buildings and grandstands have been built. The pits were re-surfaced , a new starters rostrum was installed and new flood lighting was erected in center of the track. The whole place is a credit to those responsible.

When sitting on the front stretch looking up at starter Austin Swamp on his new perch, it reminds me of the Rolling Wheels Raceway ( Elbridge NY) .

As for the racing, the headline event was a DIRTCAR SERIES race for ProStocks.

Pete Stefanski won the 50 lapper from long time leader Jody Swamp.

The next day, a familiar story of rainy weather in the forecast played a big part in my day. My plan was to attend the LUCAS OIL CANADIAN DIRT SERIES at Autodrome Drummond in Quebec, but all the meteorological websites predicted rain.

I played for time, and after making a few last minute phone calls and contacting someone who was in the area, I decided to risk it anyway. It was a wise decision as the night turned out to be warm and dry.

Over 35 Smallblock Modifieds were in attendance for the countries top Dirt Series. I have to complement the track staff for the hard work they did, manicuring the surface prior to the 100 lapper.

It provided a great ‘two groove’ track that allowed side by side racing throughout.

For the first quarter of the race Ontario’s Joel Doiron and Quebec’s Dominic Dufault fought neck to neck. As the race progressed these two slipped back to make way for the Canadian Series ‘ cream ‘ Mario Clair and David Hebert to rise to the top. At the checkers it was Hebert from Clair with Michel Chicoine in third.

On Sunday I was back in Ontario at the Cornwall Motor Speedway for a night where the Patriot Sprint cars took center stage.

Once again Mother Nature teased us with some early evening rain, but once the showers had blown over, a good night of racing was had.

I was in the pits at the time it rained and had to take shelter in the back of Gage Morin’s hauler, so it was good to see him take a heat win later in the evening.

The Sprint Car feature came under red flag conditions following a wild flip in the fourth turn by Brookfield, Connecticut driver Bubba Broderick. He walked away unscathed, while his unfortunate race car was flat bedded off.

St Pie, Quebec driver Alain Bergeron took the Sprint Car feature, while New Yorkers, Carey Terrance and Dion Oakes respectively won in the Mods and Pro Stocks.

OTHER STUFF

This past week one of my racing friends, Denis Back of Iroquois, Ontario sent me some photos from his recent racing trip to Washington State, on the other side of the continent. He payed a visit to the Skagit Speedway for some Sprint Car Racing.

I also received a Victory Lane photo from Sylvain Buisson, that he took at Friday’s LUCAS OIL CANADIAN DIRT SERIES at Autodrome Granby ( that I missed) . First, Mario Clair, second,David Hebert and third Kayle Robidoux

Thanks Guys !