RICK @ the RACES (19/20/21 JUNE 2009)
19 June The Irving Truck Stop (HWY 401. Cornwall, Ont)
20 June Brockville Ontario Speedway
21 June Cornwall Motor Speedway WoO LATE MODELS
Another hectic weekend has just passed and there’s still no sign of things slowing up for me. Last October I sold my house in Maxville, Ontario and moved to nearby Long Sault. I didn’t want to buy another place straight away so since then I’ve been living in rented accommodation. Now, more than six months later with bank interest rates at an all time low and plenty of property bargains to be had, I’ve been looking around for a new pad. Last week I put an offer in for a place in Cornwall (Ont) so between races and work, I’ve been doing a lot of chasing around. Work commitments and stuff connected to the house purchase, put a stop to any Friday night racing, but I did find time to attend the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday and Sundays WORLD OF OUTLAW Late Model Show at the Cornwall Motor Speedway.
After finishing work on Friday evening, I got an added bonus, that race fans can only dream about. I’m sure just about everyone in Canada, with the slightest bit of auto racing knowledge will be aware, that the WORLD OF OUTLAWS Late Models have been on their Great Northern Tour of Ontario, Quebec and up-state New York.
On Thursday night they raced at the Oshweken Speedway in South Western Ontario before their Saturday night date, some eight hours away at the Autdorome Drummond in Quebec. On my way home from work on Friday night I was passing the Irving Truck Stop on Hwy 401 in Cornwall , when I spotted something different. Not a bunch of regular transport trucks but a parking lot full of fancy race haulers.
The WORLD OF OUTLAWS ‘traveling road show’ had chosen this spot to do their repairs and bide their time until the Montreal rush hour was over. More than half of the large parking lot was taken up with 14 race teams and the place was a hive of activity. I pulled in with my car, and as usual I had my camera ready for action.
After spending more of my time on Saturday with the proposed house purchase I set off after lunch for a regular weekly show at Brockville, but not before checking out the internet. It was an overcast day in Eastern Ontario and rain had been forecast throughout the North East. By mid afternoon, already most of the racing north of New York City had been canceled, including the Outlaw show at Drummondville. Brockville was still on, so that’s where I was bound.
On arrival a big black cloud was on the horizon which looked very threatening. It seamed to get closer as the night went on, but luckily it never reached us.
Considering the gloomy weather forecast, the turn out was good for both fans and race cars.
Randy Gaudet clinched the Dirt Sportsman feature, in another typical multi-caution race for this division.
The Modified feature produced a result, which I doubt I will see again. All three O’Brien brothers of Kingston (Ont) were in this one, and they all followed each other across the line to take checkers. It also happened in age order with Pat # 6 the oldest as winner, Danny 7x in second then kid brother Tim # 88 in third.
We managed to get them all down to the start line for a historic Victory Lane photo.
I later found out that only Brockville and one other track in the North East, survived Saturdays wet weather. The other was the Airborne Speedway at Plattsburgh. NY
On Sunday, I had a well needed ‘lay in’ before my early start at the Cornwall Motor Speedway. With it being the biggest show of the year the gates were opened at 3-30 pm so staff needed to be there earlier. I like to get there soon after lunch most weeks, I then find a place to relax until the racing starts.
A big race of this stature meant some important guests were present. It was a pleasure to meet up again with Kevin Kovac , head of media for WoO Late Models and Brian Carter World Racing Group director, CEO & CFO
Thirty Late Model teams filled the pits, along with a good quantity of weekly 358 Dirt Modifieds and the visiting REVSTAR ‘Tobias’ Speedsters
There was drama during the Late Model heats when Jordon Bland 12b of Ohio did a wild flip in the first turn. His car landed flat on it’s roof and the race came under red flag conditions while he was extricated . He was then taken to the local hospital for a check up and X-Rays.
As the field began to line up for the 50 lap Feature we heard word from the hospital that Bland was OK and he wanted to get back to the track as quickly as possible to take up his guaranteed spot on the grid. Meanwhile his back up car was being unloaded from the hauler.
He made it in the nick of time and took his place on the grid.
After the traditional four-wide rolling lap the big one got under way with last years winner, Josh Richards of West Virginia setting the pace with local hero Tim McCreadie of Watertown NY in hot pursuit. Crowd favorite, McCreadie, making his return to the track following injuries sustained at the Chilli Bowl last winter, just couldn’t catch the ‘Kid’ Rocket. Richards must enjoy his visits to Canada, not only was this his second Cornwall victory, he also took the checkers at Oshweken too.
Worthy of note was the sixteenth placing of the earlier hospitalized Jordan Bland.
The Revstar Tobias Speedster race was won by Dominic Beaulac and Joel Doiron took the 358 Modified Feature.
Finally, I must add that, just on cue, during the intermission my cel phone rang. It was my real estate agent, calling me to say my house offer had been accepted. If things go to plan, I should be living in the city of Cornwall before the end of August.