From Rick Young: Before I continue with this weeks report, I'll give you a quick update on my new website that was launched last week. Craig's been busy adding more stuff and our goal is to eventually get all my 'RETRO' reports tidied up and loaded. I also have stacks more photos to be added for each of the categories, it's just a matter of time. In the first week, I've had over 800 'hits' and ten people sign the guest book, so I'd like to give them all a big thank you. Thanks also to everyone else who has contacted me personally with good luck messages and positive input.
www.rickattheraces.com
and now on to this week's report...
30 Jul Capital City Speedway
31 Jul Mohawk International Raceway
1 Aug Autodrome Edelweiss
2 Aug Brockville Ontario Speedway
3 Aug Cornwall Motor Speedway
FIVE IN FIVE DAYS
As you can see, this week was a busy one, so I'll try to make the report as concise as I can.
Once again the weather played a major part in the proceedings, which started off on Wednesday (30 July) at Ottawa's Capital City Speedway. There was rain all over the area during the late afternoon, but somehow, it managed to skirt past Stittsville and the weekly evening show was able to take place.
There was a big wreck on the back straight in the Thunder Car feature which took out a number of top runners but Ken Fisher # 33 survived the carnage to take the checkers. Kevin Foisy # 55 once more took the the Legend Car Feature, while Tim Kirby # 10, became another new face in Victory Lane in the Late Models.
There were a couple of extra attractions in store that night too.
With NASCAR races taking place at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit ( Montreal) at the weekend Kent Nuhn # 18 dropped in for some demonstration laps. There was also a dragster on display.
Capital City Speedway has a drag strip incorporated into the front straight, and race fans were treated to a run by a jet powered Funny Car.
On Thursday night (31 July) I dashed across the border straight from work to the Mohawk International Raceway at Hogansburg NY for the first of four LUCAS OILS CANADIAN DIRT SERIES races that were happening over the weekend.
The MIR is so close to Canada ( a five minute drive from the border) that it's been included in the 2008 schedule for Canada's premier DIRT series.
Just on cue, as the cars had almost finished time trials, the heavens opened forcing a long rain delay putting the show back at least an hour.
Former CDS winner, David Hebert # 1 clinched the 100 lapper after fending off a late challenge from Jessica Zemken # 96z. The race finished shortly before 1-00 am.
This was when the problems started for Canadian fans. I guess the customs guys were not used to the local race track finishing in the early hours of the morning and not prepared for a huge influx of travelers. Most people had to wait in the line at the border, which stretched across the span of St Lawrence Seaway bridge for at least an hour. Not very nice, when all you want to do is get home !
The next day , ( Friday Aug 1 ) or later that day to be precise, the 'traveling road show' of the LUCAS OIL CANADIAN DIRT SERIES moved on to the Autodrome Edelweiss, in the Gatineau Mountains of Quebec. The rain stayed away for this one, where current 358 SUPER DIRT SERIES Champion , Mario Clair # 22 took the honors.
The weather forecast for Saturday's LUCAS OILS CANADIAN DIRT SERIES race at Brockville did not look good, and sure enough a late afternoon storm delayed the start time.
I was lucky and heard the news before I arrived at the track, so made arrangements with my buddies Jim Clarke ( Kawartha and 'occasional Brockville announcer') and Web Master Craig Revelle to meet up at the China Buffet in the cities 1000 Island Mall. There was no point in hanging around the track waiting for it to dry , when we could enjoy a decent supper !
After a good feed we drove up to the track to find the rain had stopped and the packing was taking place. I wandered around the pits and chatted to friends including Jessica Zemken who is is currently lying second place in the Brockville points , just one point behind Kyle Dingwall # 96 . Her regular ride in the Lasalle Motorsports car had lost oil pressure at Edelweiss the night before so she was going to use the spare Pierre Dagenais # 124 car.
Through out the night Mother Nature continued to tease us with more brief showers, delaying things even more. With the heats in the bag and two support division features completed, the grid for the 100 lapper took to the track just before midnight..
After just a handful of green flag laps and a caution for a wreck, the heavens opened once more. This signalled a premature end, as there was no choice but to abandon the race. All the hard work done by promotor Paul Kirkland and his staff to get the show in, had been in vane.
The race has been rescheduled for October 18. Unfortunately this clashes with the Eastern States Championship Week End at the OCFS, Middletown NY, which always attracts 100's of Canadian fans ( and race teams) each year for the annual end of season DIRT Racing finale.
As stated earlier, the NASCAR NATIONWIDE CUP race was taking place in Montreal at the weekend but for DIRT racing fans the LUCAS OIL CANADIAN DIRT SERIES was the place to be. One of my media friends, Sylvain Lauwers was in attendance, and sent me some of his photos. I've added one of his shots to my photo section, which shows Jaques Villeneuve # 32 in the pits with the famous Champlain Bridge visible in the background . Ron Fellows took the checkers there.
The sun was shining and it was hot and humid for the fourth and final LUCAS OILS CANADIAN DIRT SERIES race of the weekend at the Cornwall Motor Speedway. The usual touring teams were in attendance as well as a few extras.
One welcome addition driving the spare Carey Terrance # 66 car was Dale Planck # 66x. Dale from Cortland NY is a former Cornwall Track Champion and is currently having a very successful year in the SUPER DIRT SERIES.
He drew # 12 on the grid for the big race which provided a memorable spectacle for the fans to savor as he weaved his way to the front to take the checkers. Doing likewise, in a near identical car was team owner Terrance who chased him across the line to take second. A late caution had closed the gap, and I started wondering if , like in F1 Grand Prix racing, 'team orders' may come in to play. Luckily they didn't , and the large crowd in attendance were treated to a great finish to a great race.
PHOTO 1 The # 18 NASCAR car of Kent Nuhn at the CCS
PHOTO 2 That's yours truly posing by the Kent Nuhn car at the CCS
PHOTO 3 Tim Kirby # 10 winner of the Late Model feature at the CCS
PHOTO 4 Pierre Daganais # 124 in action at Edelweiss during the CDS
PHOTO 5 Two friends of mine at the MIR, Dave Heaslip # 84 and Jessica Zemken # 96Z
PHOTO 6 Jessica Zemken poses by the Lasalle Motorsports Modified at the MIR
PHOTO 7 David Hebert # 1 the CDS winner at the MIR
PHOTO 8 Mario Clair # 22 the CDS winner at Edelweiss
PHOTO 9 A Sylvain Lauwers Photo of the Jaques Villeneuve # 32 NASCAR car in Montreal
PHOTO 10 Todd Stewart # 72 and Yan Bussierre # 21 in action at the BOS before the rain postponement.
PHOTO 11 Joel Doiron in action at the CMS round of the CDS
PHOTO 12 Dale Planck # 66x wins his heat at the CMS
PHOTO 13 Dale Planck # 66x CDS winner at the the CMS with promotor , Ron Morin
PHOTO 14 THe first three in the CMS round of the CDS , LtoR , runner up Carey Terrance # 66, winner Dale Planck # 66x and David Herbert # 1 in third.
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