Jim’s Journeys – Friday, March 27th to Sunday, April 5th
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications
Friday, March 27th: Kingston Area Racing Preview Show, Frontenac Mall.
While it’s not racing in the truest sense of the word, the mall and arena shows that kick-off each season is a great chance to see the newest colours. The Kingston Racing Preview is also a good opportunity to do some bench racing. The day I was there, I had the chance to snap a few pictures and swap some stories with some of the drivers.
‘Stock Car’ Steve Bilow, Todd Stewart and Andy Lloyd were all in attendance. I’m not sure if I should include Mark Hitchcock in the ‘driver’ category since he retired his helmet and firesuit after the 2008 season, but ‘Hitch’ shared some classic memories from his career, including tales of the night NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader piloted one of his cars at Can Am Speedway. While some of the tall tales have certainly gained some added height each time they’ve been told, it was a very entertaining afternoon.
Some of the cars on display included the 2009 DIRTcar small block modifieds of Bobby Herrington, Andy Lloyd, Todd Stewart and Tim O’Brien. In addition to deigning and creating the graphics for his own #25 car, Herrington is also responsible for the design on the cars of Lloyd, Stewart and Todd Stewart’s 16 year-old nephew Lucas, who’ll make his maiden voyage in a sportsman modified at Brockville this season.
I also had the chance to visit with web designer Craig Revelle, who is responsible for the web-sites used to promote Todd Stewart, Chris Raabe and Mark Grier – as well as the racing history site www.speedwaynostalgia.com. Rob Clark of Cameron, Ontario was also on hand to talk about the 3rd edition of the Kingston Speedway Reunion, scheduled for June 13th and 14th at the Odessa Fairgrounds. Details of this event can be found at www.carkatz.com.
Saturday and Sunday, April 4th & 5th: Fast and Furious Motorsports Show, Cobourg Arena
For their second kick at the can, the folks at Northumberland News did a great job of putting together a motorsports focused event in an area without a dedicated motorsports facility. I was on hand for both days of this year’s expo, representing Fraserville, Ontario’s Kawartha Speedway. The 2008 championship winning thunder car of Willie Reyns from Port Hope, Ontario was part of our display.
Kawartha Speedway late model runner Norm Mayhew had his 2009 car on display in the booth of one his sponsors, Reflection Glass and Accessories. The owner/operator of Mayhew Graphics said he has been so busy over the past few months; there wasn’t time to prepare his own racecar. He used the time during the show to detail his machine, giving visitors a chance to see what goes into getting a car ready for action.
I wasn’t there, but: Congratulations to a group of Brockville Speedway DIRTcar sportsman runners who turned-in a solid effort Sunday, April 5th at Black Rock Speedway in Dundee, New York. Picton’s Adam Turner finished 4th, after starting 23rd. Napanee’s Chris Raabe – the defending Mr. DIRTcar champion – used a guaranteed starter position, coming home 9th. Brockville’s Matt Billings was 10th. Shane Pecore and Luke Whitteker were among the 49 drivers in attendance, but failed to make the 31 car starting grid.
Coming up: Tuesday, April 14th to Friday, April 17th I’ll be at Northumberland Mall in Cobourg, with racecars from Kawartha Speedway and Brighton Speedway Park. Friday, April 17th and Saturday April 18th, I’ll head for the 2009 season openers at Can Am Speedway.
Photo attachments: (by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications)
#1). 16 year-old Luke Stewart will campaign his #19 DIRTcar sportsman at Brockville Speedway in 2009. The Sydenham High School student purchased the TEO Pro Car on his own and recruited all the sponsors on the car.
#2 and #3). Cobourg’s Norm Mayhew used his time at the Fast and Furious Show to detail his 2009 Kawartha Speedway late model.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
