RICK @ the RACES (4/5 April 2008)

Fri 4 April     Champlain Valley Car Show, Plattsburgh NY

Sat 5 April    Cornwall Motor Speedway Banquet , Ont

There was no racing for me this past weekend, but I did attend a few functions worthy of note.

I managed to finish work early ( 5-30pm) on Friday night which allowed me to make a quick dash over to Plattsburgh NY for the Champlain Valley MotorSports Show.

The show held at the Crete Civic Center and organized by my buddy Mike Watts is always worth a visit.
After crossing the border at Cornwall, Ont and driving through yet another snow storm, ( which I hope is the last one of this winter ! ) I arrived at the arena at 8-00pm. As usual there was plenty to see with a wide variety of race cars and customized street machines. One of the star attractions was the Mark Martin US ARMY car that he campaigned on the NEXTEL CUP SERIES last year. Looking very sharp were the Dirt Modifieds of Mike Perotte # 35 and George Foley # 34.

I stayed about an hour before heading back to Canada via Montreal.

Next day it was the Cornwall Motor Speedway banquet at the ‘City Limits’ , but before that I attended a special conference at the race track.

www.cornwallspeedway.com

The promotors of the 2008 LUCAS OILS CANADIAN DIRT SERIES out-lined the plans for this year.

The main difference for the 2008 schedule is the addition of the Mohawk International Raceway ( FKA Frogtown Int Speedway). In the past many of their local drivers have competed in the event, and the track is located at Hogansburg NY , just five minutes from the Canadian border.

Race Dates
July 18 Autodrome Granby (Quebec)
July 19  Autodrome Drummond (Quebec)
July 31  Mowhawk Int Raceway (Hogansburg,NY)
Aug 1    Autodrome Edelweiss (Cantley, Quebec)
Aug 2    Brockville Ontario Speedway ( Ontario)
Aug 3   Cornwall Motor Speedway (Ontario

Later at the banquet, I enjoyed a lovely buffet supper, of meats and all the trimmings. The large crowd were treated to some clever illusions by a talented magician before the awards were presented. All four track champions were there , Cory Wheeler (Rookie) , Marc Lalonde ( Semi Pro), Clayton Benedict ( Pro Stocks) and Alain Boisvert ( Modified) to collect their trophy’s,  as well other many other ( too numerous to mention) deserving individuals.

A good night was had by all, and it was nice to meet up with so many friends. Special mention goes out Mark and Angie Rinaldi who traveled up from Brighton ( Ont) .

I must mention just one other thing before finishing… I was a lucky winner of one of the door prizes. It was a vacuum cleaner for a car …. Very apt !
I think somebody must know what my car is like after a weekend racing road trip !

AS MONTY PYTHON USED TO SAY

“AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT”

2008 BriSCA F1 Stock Car World Final

Regular RICK @ the RACES readers will recall, ( Wow !  there’s a lot of ‘R’s ) , that I was born in Ipswich (Suffolk) in the UK.

It was at the local speedway, located on Foxhall Heath that I saw my very first stock car races.

My mother and father were keen followers of the ‘Witches’ Motor Cycle Speedway team and when stock cars were introduced in the late 50’s they went to see them too, taking me along as a small ‘toddler’.

From the mid sixties until 1994 when I emigrated to Canada I made return visits to Foxhall Heath on numerous occasions, and after all these years , it still has a lot of sentimental memories for me.

This year for the very first time, the Foxhall Stadium hosts the most prestigious event in UK oval racing.

BriSCA F1 Stock Cars which are the the original and premier division, have their 2008 World Final scheduled there on SEPTEMBER 20.

For many years , the thought of the event taking place at this venue, would have been unthinkable, due to politics within the sport . Fifty years later, a new breed of sensible minded people are making it happen.

As soon as I heard the news , I knew I wanted to be there. I’ve already been looking at suitable flights, and I’m planning to make a quick Trans Atlantic trip to the race in September.

I’m also hoping to attend BRAFIELD, Northamptonshire, the next day for the sequel . ( Possibly the races at SKEGNESS on Friday 19 too)