Last weekend, I
attempted to visit my first new track of the year, for the ice
races at St Edouard De Lotbiniere, which is near to the St
Croix Speedway, just outside Quebec City. It didn't work out
for me, and this is what I happened.
<<
21st JAN 07... "I had a dissapointing day ... I had
planned on going to the ice racing at St Edouard De Lotbiniere,
just south of Quebec City ... I got up early in minus 30
temperatures, and drove an hour to the Flying J Truck Stop at
Veudreuil ( nr Montreal) for breakfast... When I restarted the
car, the "Service" light came on... The ice track
was still another three hours away, so I wanted to find out
what the problem was before going any further... Eventually, I
discovered it was only a head light bulb that had failed, but
with uncertain weather ahead, I still chose to put it right
before going on... The problem was, like most modern cars
today, simple jobs like this , are not simple anymore, and
involve taking the front end of the car apart. I got it done
in the Walmart Service Dept , next to the Flying J, for 5
bucks 'labour' , plus the cost of the part, but by now, time
was pushing on, so decided reluctantly to abandon the trip,
and return home... so no new track for me today "
>>
Today,
Sunday, January 28th , I had another try, and had more
success.... but only just !
I had
planned on leaving home at 7-00am, but for some reason, either
the alarm clocks ( I have two) never went off, or I ignored
them and went back to sleep ! ... I ended up leaving home in a
hurry , at 9-00am . There was no time for my usual buffett
breakfast at the Flying J, just a coffee and croissant
"to go" from the local "Timmys". I made up
some good time and was pulling off Autoroute 20 soon after
midday. From here I thought it would be straight forward, as
St Edouard was just a short drive from the exit. Once I
reached the small town , there was no sign of any racing, and
very few people to ask directions. My command of the French
language is very small, and this is a "very French"
part of Canada. Even though I could ask "Ou est le Course
de Glace pour auto racing ? " I couldn't understand
the directions I was given and must have driven at least ten
miles in various wrong directions !. I was begining to feel
jinxed and wondered if I'd made the journey for nothing, until
I asked one lady getting out of her SUV, who , luckily was
going to the track herself , and if I cared to wait five
minutes, I could follow her.
I'm glad
I did , as I doubt if I would ever of found the place. It was
located way out in the "boonies" down ice covered,
gravel roads at the back of a Hotel and Restaurant , called
the RELAIS HAMEL.
Once
there, it was free to get in, as I guess the owners of the
place made there money from the excellent food and drinks
available. There were about 30 rookie type 4 cylinder cars in
attendance, which raced several times each during the
afternoon. Contact was allowed, and it was a very similar
style of event to what I saw at St Eulalie last year. The big
difference being the absence of large 8 cylinder cars. The
track was less than a quarter mile, kidney bean shaped, like
the Lac Cayamant track ( but smaller)
I did
manage a brief conversation with one guy, who told me they
raced every Sunday during the season, and next week it would
be non-contact ( probably for the more "race ready"
ACGQ cars)
This was
my TRACK # 152
RACES ATTENDED THIS YEAR
14th JAN
BROCKVILLE SPEEDWAY (ONT)
27th JAN
ST EDOUARD DE LOTBINIERE, ICE RACING (QUE)
