RICK @ the RACES        (9/10 May 2008)

Fri 9 May          CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , OTTAWA , ONT

Sat 10 May        MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , NY

When I moved to Canada from the UK in late August 1994, it took me only two weeks before I saw my first taste of racing.

I managed to catch the season finale at the now defunct Golden Lake Speedway ( Eganville Ont). By spring of 1995, after enduring my first Canadian winter, I was eager to explore other tracks and the next place I visited was the paved Capital City Speedway, at Stittsville near Ottawa.

Back then it was run by a lady called Penny Bell , it was a thriving concern and had CASCAR Late Models as the headline division. Somewhere between then and 2006 it changed hands ( and names ! it was called the Ottadrome for a while) , it fell in popularity and the place became a little run down.

For 2006 the local Luskville Drag Strip promoter, Arnie Malcolm took over , he re-christened it Capital City and the place has been on the ‘up’ ever since.

Normal race night is Wednesday, but for the 2008 opener and for the rest of May it has changed to Fridays.

I dashed straight from work this past Friday ( 9 May) to attend the opener. It was a lovely sunny day and I traveled there with my sun roof open ( this was to be my downfall … read on !

On arrival, ( at about 6-15 ) in my haste to get in, I left my electric sun-roof open. I suddenly realized what I’d done, so quickly returned. Using my second set of keys, I turned on the ignition to close it.

I then entered the pits where I met Arnie, He was busy organizing things and looked very happy with the car count.

There were about a dozen Late Models in attendance and an abundance of cars from the other divisions, especially the Legends. Once again I met up with young Erin Joyce who was the 2007 Rookie of the Year in Legends.

I’d chatted with her a few weeks back at the Can Am Speedway NY where she was debut driving a DIRT Sportsman. She will be competing at the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday nights with the Sportsman and at the Capital City Speedway on Wednesdays in her Legend.

My buddy Jim Clarke, the announcer from the Kawartha Speedway was there to help plug an up and coming Late Model series between the two tracks. Arnie was also very enthusiastic about it, and told me of his hopes for it to expand to other tracks.
The nights racing went very smoothly and was over long before the 11-00pm curfew. The Late Model feature was ‘red hot’ with a four car battle for first place for the duration of the race. Sean Kennedy took the Checkers. Kevin Foisy won the Legend Feature and Ken Fisher took the Thunder Car race.

This was undoubtedly the best night at the CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY for many years, The car count was good, the racing was good and so was the crowd in the stands. Things are looking up !

Following the big race, I made my exit and returned to my car. I opened the door and wondered why my courtesy lights didn’t come on.

Then I saw my second set of keys still in the ignition and still switched on. It had been on for over four hours and of course my battery was dead.

Jim had already left , so my first thought was to call the CAA, which I did. They said somebody would be there within the hour and I should wait by the main entrance.

After a short time , I had another thought ! Maybe I could get a boost from one of the race drivers. I was just walking back to the pits when I bumped into Erin. I told her of my dilemma and she offered to help.

She said her Dad had a battery booster in the hauler and she’d be right back. Within minutes she returned with Michael, her Dad and it wasn’t long before the hood was up on the Chevy.

After the wiring connections were made, a turn of the key and vroom !  , I was mobile again.

A BIG THANKS TO ERIN AND MICHAEL

On Saturday I once again crossed the International Bridge from Cornwall (Ont) and revisited my local Mohawk International Raceway at Hogansburg NY.

When the racing season gets fully into swing, I have five local Saturday night tracks to choose from. ( I call local, two hours or less away from home)

These are the Airborne Speedway at Plattsburg NY, the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY, the Brockville Ontario Speedway, St Eustache Que, and the M.I.R.

During the course of the year I like to visit them all so everyone gets the honor of my presence ! Ha Ha , but at the moment I’m being forced to stay as near to home as possible, as my house is up for sale, and currently ‘on the market’.

I had a viewing with a possible buyer this Saturday, so the MIR , just 40 minutes away became my destination once more.

On arrival I could see the construction work of the new wash rooms, (that I mentioned in my last report) was progressing well and I’d guess they will be ready by next week.

It was a lovely sunny evening and there were 22 Modifieds in attendance as well as the support divisions of Pro Stocks, Semi Pros and Bandits.

One surprise addition to the Modified ranks was Jessica Zemken from Sprakers NY in the Lasalle Team car.

Her afternoon was spent at the pre-season practice session at Brockville before coming to the M.I.R.

She will be driving a Lasalle Motorsports car at selected events in 2008 , which will include the LUCAS OILS CANADIAN DIRT SERIES.

Two other rare visitor’s were Alexandria (Ont) Laurent Ladouceur and Kingston’s (Ont) Mark Hitchcock. Hitchcock was a regular at the track a few years ago, but in recent times has been an absentee.

The feature was dominated by Akwesane’s Perry Francis who raced virtually unchallenged to the checkers.

Denis Gauvreau of Gatineau , Quebec won the Pro Stock feature.
In this report I’ve already mentioned two very talented female drivers, and before I finish, I’d like to draw your attention to one more. She is Claudia Tarbell who won yet another Bandit feature at the M.I.R on Saturday night. This girl can certainly drive ! and I’d really like to see her get the chance drive something from a higher division.

Sunday was Mothers Day, and because of that, there was very little racing activity.  My plans for that day involve a drive to the Pierre Trudeau Airport in Monteal to pick up my Mum and Dad that were arriving from England.