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BUDDIES BLOGS - Jim Clarke Jim’s
Journeys: 2011 Review/2012
Preview By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications February
22, 2012 2011:
My regular ‘gig’ at Kawartha Speedway got rolling for a 5th
year with master of ceremony duties at the annual award’s banquet,
followed by a couple of days at the Canadian Motorsports Expo and the
Long John 200 endurance event. Some
down time before things got underway at the end of May didn’t mean I
was glued to the couch. In
March, there was the chance to help Frontenac Mall in Over
the past few seasons, the promotional team at Mosport Speedway had asked
me about doing some fill-in work for their regular announcer, but my
timetable and theirs prevented things from coming together.
This time around, circumstances were different.
Glenn Butt had asked if I could do the opening night duties at
Mosport because of a scheduling conflict with their usual voice.
From there came the invitation to spend the entire summer at ‘ Kawartha’s
20-11 Friday runs left the starting blocks June 3rd and it
was a memorable season for a number of reasons.
Ken Donaldson Junior’s Better Carpet Thunder Car main event win
on opening night was his first of 5 and paved the way for the first year
chauffeur to earn a track championship.
On the subject of titles, Dan McHattie claimed his 7th
NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Model crown, while popular Hasiuk Trailer and
Container Rental Mini Stocker ‘Too’ Moroney took a seat at the
champion’s table for the first time in his career.
4 shows into the year, Bryan Mercer became the first track
regular to win the late model Summer Sizzler and pocketed $3,000 for his
efforts. 2011 was also a
season with no rainouts at the 3/8th mile Fraserville oval. On
a pair of off nights from K-D, I managed to get to do some travelling
and took-in the inaugural World of Outlaws Sprint Car event at
Brockville (won by Paul McMahan) and had Kawartha thunder car driver
Andy Ford as company for my first ever trip to Ransomville Speedway to
witness Todd Burley’s impressive victory at the Alex Friesen Summer
Nationals. 2012:
Unless my employment situation necessitates a change in plans,
I’ll start my 6th consecutive year as media/public
relations coordinator at Kawartha Speedway when the regular season opens
Friday, June 1st. Print
and electronic media outlets provided the track with some excellent
coverage during 2011 and I’d like to keep that going.
Some of Kawartha’s highlights include the late model Summer
Sizzler Friday, July 6th, OSCAAR’s Don Biederman Memorial,
August 10th and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series finale
Saturday, September 22nd.
The Mosport situation is currently up in the air, but I’d be
open to returning there as well. I
also write and distribute media material for teams at a variety of
tracks. If you’d like to
get the word out about what you’re doing, send me an e-mail anytime:
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com.
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Jim's Journey - February 22, 2012 Jim's Journey - August 13, 2009
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