Weekly Column

EASTERN STATES WEEKEND

ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

MIDDLETOWN, NY

This past weekend I joined hundreds of other Canadian DIRT racing fans for the annual pilgrimage south of the border to the EASTERN STATES WEEKEND at the ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY at Middletown NY. This years event, was it's forty-seventh year and included all the major DIRTCAR divisions. Just like last week's SUPERDIRT WEEK in Syracuse, the weather stayed dry, if not a trifle chilly!

A prearranged early finish from work, enabled me to cross the border at Cornwall (Ontario) just after 2-30pm on Friday afternoon. It's a good six hour drive and with the minimum of stops, I was in Middletown just after 9-15pm. The Friday night races had been completed when I arrived but that didn't matter too much. For anyone not familiar with the 'Eastern States' , it's one of the biggest 'social occasions' on the DIRT calendar and the track bar, 'The 31'st Lap' is always the hub of activity.

The first person I bumped into was Danny O'Brien # 17 D and his crew from Kingston (Ont). He's currently engaged in a points battle with St Catherines (Ont), Pete Bicknell # 42 for the 358 SUPER DIRTCAR CHAMPIONSHIP. Pete has a slight lead at the moment, and the chase will be decided at the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY this coming Saturday (Oct 25) . Danny told me he'd gained a third place in the qualifying heats which had taken place earlier in the evening.

I then had a quick word with Jessica Zemken, who was organizing a drive for the next day. She would be at the wheel of the # 27 Jerry Wildrick car of Sussex NJ.

I also chatted with 'Racing Russ' the well known DIRT race statistician from Port Jervis NJ , and , QUEBECDIRT.COM'S Linda Robert, and her friends from the Michel Chicoine # 97 Modified team ( Ste Cecile De Miton, Que).

After a long day, where I'd worked the morning shift trucking round Montreal, before driving down to Middletown, I was ready for bed at about 1-00am, so retired to the camping area.

Next morning I drove into town to my usual Diner for breakfast before returning to the fairgrounds for another long day. The first part of the day was the qualifying heats for BIG BLOCK Modifieds before the afternoon staging of the 358 SUPERDIRTCAR SERIES race.

While walking the pits, I came across CV ( Charles) Elms # 6 from North Haverhill (New Hampshire) . He's the promoter at the Bear Ridge Speedway in Vermont and the Canaan Fair Speedway (NH) who I'd met a few years back when visiting his tracks. I was pleasantly surprised that he not only remembered me, but commented on one of my magazine articles he'd seen.

There were a good number of Canadian's in the race but with the Series coming to a close, most eyes from 'north of the border' were on Bicknell and O'Brien. I was taking photos, like last year on the third turn, but to put it kindly , the race wasn't the most exciting I've seen ! Local hero Brett Hearn # 4 had a run away victory. The highest Canadian finish was from Pierre Dagenais # 124 (Gatineau Que) in nineteenth, who was followed across the line by Bicknell and O'Brien.

This race was over by mid afternoon and signaled the end of part one on the days program. Part two , a SPORTSMAN SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES race was to resume in the evening.

During the afternoon I chatted to Chris Raabe # 01 and his crew who were getting their car set up . Just like the 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES, the SPORTSMAN division is undergoing a 'Battle of Ontario'. Raabe from Napanee is currently leading the points with Greg Panunte #99P ( Port Colborne) and Mark D'Ilario # 08 ( Smithville) in hot pursuit.

Before racing got under way, I took 'time out' and went into town for supper. I avoided my former 'favorite' Chinese Buffet (which had given me a bad stomach upset last year ) and looked for somewhere different. I came across a place I'd never heard of before called the 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' so thought I'd give it a try. It wasn't a burger bar like the name suggests, but more of a family type restaurant surrounded in a tropical Island setting. The food was good and I'll make a point of returning next year.

Once back at the Fairgrounds, I decided to watch the SPORTSMAN races from the Grandstand instead of my usual spot on the center.

Raabe started twelfth in the Feature, and ran a comfortable tenth until the closing stages. A brush with the outer wall required a tow to the pits, and by the time he returned to the track it was too late. Local driver Mike Ruggiero # 4R took the checkers. Raabe's poor finish means that the SPORTSMAN division will also wait until this coming weekends finale at Can Am ( Lafargeville NY) to decide the winner.

Following the SPORTSMAN feature I moved in to the '31'st Lap' for the traditional NEW YEARS EVE party. This is best be described as a 'lively' affair complete with festive accessories like party hats, hooters and streamers. I must be getting old ! , Because I was too tired to last out to the end, and was tucked up under the blankets making zzz's long before I had done, in previous years.

I was up at 9-00am and drove into Middletown for Breakfast. Joining me in the Diner was Gary Tomkin's ( Former SDS Champion, # 84) mum and dad. I've been acquainted with Keith Tompkins, Gary's father, for quite a few years and we often have a good chat when we meet up. He told me about Gary's new sponsorship from the Americans Hockey Team and his forthcoming return trip to Australia for a racing holiday. After his successful visit last winter, he's been invited back again .

With breakfast over it was back to the track for the final day of the Eastern States 200 Weekend. Before the big event, the DIRT PRO STOCKS were engaged in their Series race and once again Canada was well represented. My buddy, Joey Ladouceur # 92 from Alexandria (Ont) was there as well as Denis Gauvreau # 72 , Bruno # 33 Cyr, Stephane Lebrun # 6 and Jocelyn Roy # 05 from Quebec.

Pete Stefanski # 2 from Wheatfield NY took the checkers with Ladouceur chasing his back bumper as they crossed the line.

One of the cars present on the big day was not actually racing. It was a beautifully restored AMC Gremlin bodied Modified from the 1970's era. This was the time in history when North American Modifieds and BriSCA F1's from the UK looked very similar in appearance. It was in the days before modifieds changed to 'uniform' sheet metal bodies and the BriSCA F1's decided to do away with stock bodies and add silly looking wings.... Oh if only we could turn back time !

That Gremlin sure was smart !

I was stationed in my regular turn three spot on the infield with fellow photographer's Jim Young and Ralph Corwin for the EASTERN STATES 200 Lapper, the headline race of the weekend for Big Block MODIFIEDS. There were no Canadian entrants in this one, although Pierre Daganais # 9 had contested the qualifiers in the former Bob McCeadie car.

As you'd expect in a 'long-haul' race, there were various lead changes but it was 'the Doctor' Danny Johnson # 66 who was there when it mattered. With less carnage than previous years, the race was over by 5-30pm, so after grabbing a few victory lane shots I was on my way out of the gate.

My strategy for the journey home was the same as for the drive down. I made just two short stops, the first in Malta NY for gas and a McDonalds 'to go' , then another for a coffee at Dunkin Donuts in Plattsburgh NY . I was back in Canada at 11-30 pm and home in Long Sault (Ont) twenty minutes later.

LOOKING FORWARD

The place to be this Saturday is the Can Am Speedway at Lafargeville NY ( located just 20 minutes from the 1000 Island border crossing) where this years 358 and SPORTSMAN SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES will be decided.

PIC 1 Danny O'Brien

PIC 2 'Quebecers on tour ' The Michel Chicoine team

PIC 3 Jessica Zemken

PIC 4 Martin Cagne 6g (QUE) and Tommy Flannigan # 72 (ONT)

PIC 5 Danny O'Brien # 17D (ONT), Matt Shepherd # 1x (NY) Mario Clair # 22 (QUE)

PIC 6 Pierre Dagenais # 124 (QUE) Jimmy Johnson # 77 (NY) Tim Hindley #94 (NY)

PIC 7 Michel Chicoine # 97 (QUE) Jimmy Phelps # 98 (NY)

PIC 8 358 Winner Brett Hearn # 4 in Victory Lane

PIC 9 The Chris Raabe team prepare their tires

PIC 10 Mike Ruggeiro wins the SPORTSMAN race

PIC 11 Yours Truly beside the beautiful Gremlin bodied Mod

PIC 12 Joey Ladouceur # 92

PIC 13 Pete Stefanski the Pro Stock winner

PIC 14 Gary Tomkins # 84 and Ronnie Johnson # 2

PIC 15 Danny Johnson # 66

PIC 16 Michael Storms # 4 takes off

PIC 17 Danny Johnson winner of the 2008 Eastern States 200

RACES ATTENDED IN 2008

1 JAN 19 ARENA ESSEX (Thurrock UK)

2 JAN 27 LAC MORIN (Que)

3 JAN 27 ST EULALIE (Que)

4 FEB 16 KAHNAWAKE (Que)

5 FEB 17 CLARENCE CREEK (Ont)

6 FEB 24 BERTRAND FABI CIRCUIT . Sherbrooke, (Que)

7 FEB 24 BEAUHARNOIS , (Que)

8 MAR 21 WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY (PA)

9 MAR 22 LINCOLN SPEEDWAY (PA)

10 APR 19 CAN AM SPEEDWAY,Lafargeville, (NY)

11 APR 20 CAYUGA COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY,Weedsport, (NY)

12 APR 26 MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY (Ont) 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

13 APR 27 HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY, Port Colborne (Ont)

14 MAY 3 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg (NY)

15 MAY 9 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , OTTAWA (Ont)

16 MAY 10 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY , Hogansburg (NY)

17 MAY 17 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY, (Ont)

18 MAY 18 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

19 MAY 24 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg (NY)

20 MAY 25 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

21 MAY 29 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) KART TRACK

22 MAY 30 AUTODROME EDELWEISS , Cantley, (Que)

23 MAY 31 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY, (Ont)

JUN 1 AUTODROME ST EUSTACHE, (Que) RAINED OUT

24 JUN 6 AUTODROME EDELWEISS Cantley, (Que)

25 JUN 7 FULTON SPEEDWAY (NY) SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

26 JUN 8 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

27 JUN 11 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa, (Ont)

28 JUN 21 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

29 JUN 22 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS

30 JUN 28 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa (Ont) RAINED OUT

31 JUN 28 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg, (NY)

32 JUN 29 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

33 JUL 3 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY Ottawa, (Ont)

34 JUL 5 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

35 JUL 6 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

36 JUL 9 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY ,Ottawa (Ont)

37 JUL 10 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont) SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

38 JUL 12 ICAR CIRCUIT, Mirabel, (Que)

39 JUL 12 AUTODROME DRUMMOND (Que)

JUL 13 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY(Ont) , RAINED OUT SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

40 JUL 16 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY,Ottawa (Ont)

41 JUL 18 BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY (Ont)

42 JUL 19 AUTODROME DRUMMOND (Que)

JUL 20 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) RAINED OUT

JUL 23 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY,Ottawa, (Ont) RAINED OUT

JUL 26 MOWHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg (NY) RAINED OUT

43 JUL 27 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

44 JUL 30 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont)

45 JUL 31 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg NY (LUCAS OILS CDS)

46 AUG 1 AUTODROME EDELWEISS, Cantley (Que) (LUCAS OILS CDS)

47 AUG 2 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont) (LUCAS OILS CDS POSTPONED)

48 AUG 3 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) (LUCAS OILS CDS)

49 AUG 6 AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY PARK , Plattsburg ( NY)

50 AUG 9 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont) (ACT SERIES RACE)

AUG 10 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) RAINED OUT

51 AUG 13 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa , (Ont)

52 AUG 16 CAN AM SPEEDWAY, Lafargeville, (NY) SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

53 AUG 17 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) SUPER DIRT CAR SERIES

54 AUG 20 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY Ottawa (Ont)

55 AUG 21 MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg (NY) 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

56 AUG 23 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

57 AUG 24 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

58 AUG 27 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa, (Ont)

59 SEP 1 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

SEP 6 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont) ACT SERIES RACE (RAINED OUT)

SEP 6 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont) 358 LUCAS OIL CDN / SUPER DIRTCAR (RAINED OUT)

60 SEP 7 CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) ENDURO

61 SEP 13 BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont) RUN WHAT YA BRUNG

62 SEP 17 ARLINGTON STADIUM , Eastbourne, (UK)

63 SEP 19 SKEGNESS STADIUM, Orby, (UK)

64 SEP 20 FOXHALL STADIUM , Ipswich (UK) BRISCA F1 WORLD FINAL

65 SEP 21 BRAFIELD STADIUM , Northants (UK)

66 SEP 26 CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont)

67 SEP 27 BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY, (Ont)

68 OCT 4 FULTON SPEEDWAY (NY)

OCT 8 NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS, Syracuse NY ( SDW PRACTICE DAY)

OCT 8 CAN AM SPEEDWAY , Lafargeville, NY (358 SUPER DIRT CAR SERIES RAINED OUT)

69 OCT 11 NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS, Syracuse NY ( 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES)

70 OCT 11 FIVE MILE POINT SPEEDWAY, NY

71 OCT 12 NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS , Syracuse NY (SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES)

72 OCT 18 ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY, Middletown NY (EASTERN STATES WEEKEND)

73 OCT 19 ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY, Middletown NY (EASTERN STATES WEEKEND)

My RICK @ the RACES race report goes out to a mailing list of about 200 people, which includes, family, friends and acquaintances, I've either met or known during my life in auto racing. Please feel free to pass these on or use on websites etc.

My RICK @ the RACES (RETRO) reports are a little different, as they are an ongoing account of my times spent at the races through the years. Some time in the future, once they have been tidied up and edited, I may look into getting them published. I still have a long way to go before I'm up to the present day, but in the meantime, please contact me for consent before before using ( websites or publications) Thanks Rick