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RICK @ the RACES ( 26/27 April 2008)
26 April
Merrittville Speedway, Thorold, Ont (358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES Race)
27 April
Humberstone Speedway.Port Colborne , Ont
An early season start to the 358 Modified Super DirtCar Series, meant a trip
down to the Niagra region this past weekend. The Merrittville track, located
just 20 minutes away from the world famous Niagra Falls was hosting the 2008
opener. This is one of the longest established venues in North America and
Saturday night heralded the start of it's 57th year in operation.
Like many of my long-distance race tours, I was joined on this one by my buddy
Roger Aubin and we used his Ford Escape. An early morning start ( 6-00am) saw us
parked up at our motel in Niagra Falls soon after lunch. With a few hours to
kill before the racing started, we did the 'tourist thing' and walked down to
see the 'Falls'. I usually manage get to Merrittville once a year, and on most
occasions I stay at the same place, The BlackStone Inn, which is handy for all
the resorts attractions.
We arrived at the track around 4-00pm and met up with another member of our
gang, Jim Clarke of Belleville who was parked by the pit gate. While standing
there 'shooting the breeze' I spotted Laurent Ladouceur , one of my local
drivers from Alexandria (Ont) in the line waiting to get in. Laurent ,who won
the 358 Super DirtCar Series in 1989 told me he was making his first ever visit
to the track.
The big event, also attracted quite a few other surprise visitors from far and
wide, including David Hebert from the Drummondville area of Quebec. Right now,
It's 'Stanley Cup' time , and Dave's crew were letting everyone know which NHL
team they support , with a large Montreal Canadiens banner hanging from their
hauler.
Carey Tarrance of Akwesasne NY had brought along two cars, one for himself and
one for Dale Planck.
While wandering the pits I chatted to Merrittville track promotor Pete Bicknell
who was also taking part in the Series. Pete has been a major player in the 358
division for many years and is tagged as 'Mr Small Block'. I also had the
pleasure once again, of meeting his eldest daughter Erica , (who is track
manager), and his wife Nancy.
The weather forecast had looked very doubtful during the week leading up to the
event, and much to the relief of most race fans, the usual time wasting SUPER
DIRTCAR SERIES lap trials were dispensed with for the evening. We went straight
into the heats, which is what most fans prefer anyway. The 38 car field was
split into 4 heats and two Consis.
The program also featured, Street Stox and a 40 lap Sportsman race which turned
out to be 45 minute marathon of cautions. For some reason the guys just couldn't
keep out of trouble, and following yellow flag after yellow flag the race
director thankfully ordered single file restarts. Eventual winner was Mike
Bowman.
The 100 lap SUPER DIRT SERIES race was just the opposite and went the duration
with only one caution. Cortland, NY's , Dale Planck was in a class of his own
leading from green to checkers. A flag to flag win didn't mean it was a boring
race, not at all ! Watching Planck ducking and diving while lapping most of the
pack, was a sight to savor. Runner up, was Kingston's (Ont) Danny O'Brien who
shadowed him for a while, but gradually slipped back as the laps ticked away. In
third place was New Yorker, Chad Brachman. It turned out to be a great night of
racing!
This early season sortie to the Golden Horseshoe area of Ontario allowed me to
add another track to my TRACKCHASING totals. On Sunday it was the season opener
for the Humberstone Speedway at nearby Port Colborne on the banks of Lake Erie.
This is another track with long history and was formerly known as the Gasport
Speedway.
It has been on my 'hit list' for quite a while but with the distance involved
and the fact that it runs on Sunday nights ( clashing with my local Cornwall
Motor Speedway) meant it's been a difficult one to get. The Cornwall season is
yet to begin ( May 18) , so this was my golden opportunity to pay a visit.
In recent years the highest division the track has hosted on a regular basis
have been DIRT Sportsman. I don't know why , but this fact gave me a
preconceived notion that the facility would be 'minor league'. I have to say I
was totaly wrong , pleasantly surprised, and very impressed. A new application
of fresh clay with a good banking, well positioned bleachers and a tidy control
tower/bar/concessions area all augured to make the place very different to what
I had expected. I would like to see it added to future Big Block and 358
Modified SUPER DIRT SERIES tours.
For my first visit, Sportsman topped the bill with MiniStox, Streetstox and
Trucks as the supporting divisions.
Many of the Sportsman, were the same ones I'd seen the night before at
Merrittville. Their 25 lap feature once again, provided plenty of yellow flags,
and eventually, the attrition rate allowed an exciting finish, with Tyler
McPherson losing his lead to Rob Pratt on in the final laps.
Yes, I enjoyed my visit to Humberstone and hope to get back some day, and maybe
, with luck see some 'Big Block' Modified Series races. The track is run by the
Cosco family and I'd like to thank Mrs Linda Cosco and her friendly staff for
being so helpful. I always like to get a souvenir track sticker where ever I go,
and she/they went out of their way to find some for me.
The show was over by 9-30pm , so a hasty exit was made for our 7 hour plus,
drive back to Eastern Ontario.
PICTURES:
PIC 1 Doing the 'tourist thing'
PIC 2 The Dave Hebert Hauler with the'Habs' banner
PIC 3 Dave Hebert on track at Merrittville
PIC 4 Laurent Ladouceur dices with either Tarrance or
Planck ( the cars look identical ! )
PIC 5 # 37 Kyle Jacobs in action at Merrittville
PIC 6 # 3 Chad Brachman goes drag racing at Merrittville
PIC 7 Dale Planck in the Merrittville Victory Lane
PIC 8 Posing by the Humberstone Speedway sign
PI C 9 # 777 Tyler Macpherson in the Humberstone pits
PIC 10 Humberstone Minstox action
PIC 11 Humberstone Truck action
PIC 12 Humberstone SPORTSMAN action
PIC 13 Rob Pratt # 38 , winner of the Humberstone SPORTSMAN
feature
