BUDDIES BLOGS - Jim Clarke

Jim’s Journey’s

By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications

May 31, 2009  

 

It wasn’t a bad week.  Maybe an 8.5 on a scale of 10.  I’m beginning to think I should cancel my subscription to the Weather Network.  The crush I have on Carrie Olver isn’t helping to generate any better racing forecasts.  Its June already and some of my friends are talking about snow and hail and that just isn’t right.

 

Friday, May 29th:  2009 Season Opener at Kawartha Speedway

 

After a 2008 season that saw at least 6 complete rainouts, or rain shortened events I was looking forward to the first event of ’09 at my Friday night ‘home’ track.  This will be my 3rd season on the payroll and after sharing the announcer’s booth for my first 2 seasons, I’ll be doing some different things this year including co-ordinating the victory lane interviews, some pit area reporting as well as some extra writing and photography work.

 

Friday’s opener brought-out a packed grandstand and overflowing pit area.  The OSCAAR Super Late Models joined our regular 3 classes of Mini Stock, Thunder Car and Late Model racing.  Kawartha’s Late Models follow the American-Canadian Tour rule book and our 2009 track champion will earn a guaranteed starting spot in the ACT Invitational coming-up in September at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Friday night, we had just over 20 cars in the headline division – including several who’d made the switch from last year’s Limited Late Models.  Dan McHattie, the ’08 track champion and Brandon Watson claimed the heat race wins.  Their 40 lap feature event – along with the OSCAAR ‘A’ main both fell victim to rain and will be made-up at a later date.

 

One of the drivers in the Thunder Car division, Dan Price of Brooklyn , Ontario got a little creative with his 2009 piece.  He took last year’s chassis and hung a 1955 Pontiac body on it.  He says he has always been a 50’s car buff and did it to get a little more attention.  It certainly worked.  A number of fans and fellow competitors kept him talking about the car most of the night.

 

Keep an eye on www.kawarthaspeedway.com for developments throughout the season.

 

Saturday, May 30th:  Brockville Ontario Speedway

 

The season is just 2 weeks old and Brockville Speedway has already had its first repeat winner.  To no one’s real shock, it was the #7-Star small block modified of 2008 track champion Danny O’Brien.  After picking-up his opening night win from a front-row starting spot, his encore performance came from the 7th row and the ‘Pocket Rocket’ needed to work his way around some heavy hitters to get to the front.

 

Dylan Evoy earned his first sportsman feature event of the year, while Gerry O picked-up the mini stock main event.

 

Brockville has a solid crop of young drivers and 16 year-old Luke Stewart almost made headlines on just his second night behind the wheel.  The youngster – who is the nephew of DIRTcar small block modified runner Todd Stewart – purchased a TEO Pro Car from Watertown , New York racer Mike Adderly mid-way through the 2008 season.  Unlike so many of the young racers out there, Stewart is also his own car owner.  Sure, he gets a hand at the track from his father and uncle, but he pays the bills himself.  Saturday night, he came within a lap of scoring his first career qualifying event win and finished 2nd to Picton’s Adam Turner.  I’ve been friends with the Stewart brothers for a number of years and took Luke to meet Tony Stewart during an autograph session at Can Am Speedway in July of 2003.

 

Something else that caught my eye at Brockville was the #17 street stock of Darrick Eaton.  He brings his sharp looking racer to the track himself and isn’t just the driver, he’s also the only crew member who works on the car.  Saturday night, the guys from Adam Turner’s DIRTcar sportsman car were helping out a little.  Eaton’s car is one of the best looking cars on the track and each week before he heads into action, he covers the entire car with baby oil to stop the mud from sticking to it.

 

Sunday, May 31st:  Cornwall Motor Speedway

 

A tentative plan to visit one of my favourite tracks was postponed due to inclement weather.

 

This weekend:  Friday, June 5th:  Kawartha Speedway.  Saturday, June 6th:  Brockville Ontario Speedway .

 

Getting the word out:  A couple of my PR clients were featured in their hometown newspapers.  Northumberland News ran a story on Port Hope, Ontario ’s Willie Reyns, while the County Weekly News used my story about Demorestville , Ontario ’s Adam Turner.  To learn more about the drivers I work with, do an internet search for ‘Clarke Motorsports Communications’.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

HOME