Drivers and Fans Pick Kawartha Speedway as Their Racin’ Vacation Destination.
By Jim Clarke, Kawartha Speedway PR
It’s not quite a field of dreams thing, but the management and staff at Kawartha Speedway have built a great racetrack and people just naturally want to be there. Serious race-chasers like to build their career ‘totals’, but the 3/8th mile oval has proven to be a destination for casual race fans as well. General Manager and Promoter Derek Lynch says the track is always happy to welcome visitors.
“We don’t have an on-site guestbook, but maybe we should”, says Lynch. “It would be interesting to see how many people from outside the area have come to the track throughout the year. It would help us build a mailing list and we could keep in contact with people. I know the cruise nights (weekly displays of classic and custom cars) always bring out some strong numbers. I’ve spoken to a number of people before our shows and I’m sure the rest of the staff has as well”.
The summer of 2007 saw Craig Scott of Moncton, New Brunswick bring his Thunder Car to Kawartha for a special. His story is hardly unique. Lynch says the Mini Stock invitational events usually draw a pretty good crowd. The rules for the 4 cylinder runners are practically universal, whether the regulars are used to a dirt or pavement track. In August of 2008, Mike Smith of Port Elgin, Ontario towed his Dodge Neon to Kawartha. The Sauble Speedway regular was in the middle of a vacation and finished 4th in his heat race. Smith also brought a group of followers with him. The video of his qualifying event is posted on his web-site, www.speedysmith.com <http://www.speedysmith.com/> . A week or so later, Bill Pearsall – who runs at Delaware – came to Kawartha with his #38 Mini Stock. He started last in his heat race and wasn’t much of a factor in the feature race, but told track officials he had a great time and hoped to be back. Donald Chisholm from Antigonish, Nova Scotia made only 2 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series starts in 2008. One was at his hometown event – the other, September 27th at Kawartha where he recorded a 10th place finish.
“We put our tentative schedule on the web-site back in November”, says Lynch. “The official version went up a few weeks ago. The goal is to give some of the racers who like to travel a little a chance to plan their schedules. The Mini Stock division had more than 45 different drivers in ’08. The class has a pair of 50 lappers – Friday, July 3rd and Friday, September 4th – in 2009. Plus, the Fan Appreciation Night Friday, July 17th is sponsored by Discount Car and Truck Rentals. They’re the presenting sponsor for the Mini Stocks, so you never know who might show up or where they’ll be from”.
Kawartha Speedway’s schedule is on-line now. The ’09 campaign kicks-off with an open test session Friday, May 22nd. Drivers and teams from any speedway or series can take to the spacious oval for some track time. There are extra-distance runs in each of the track’s weekly classes. The headline Late Models have 3 100 lappers, plus the American-Canadian Tour Summer Sizzler 200 Sunday, July 12th. The year wraps-up with the Dodge Dealers of Ontario Dodge Ram 250 Saturday, September 26th. Full details on the 2009 schedule are available at www.kawarthaspeedway.com <http://www.kawarthaspeedway.com/> .
Photo attachments:
#1). Port Elgin, Ontario’s Mike Smith brought his #66 Mini Stock to Kawartha for a mid-season run in 2008. (Jim Clarke photo)
#2). Bill Pearsall’s sharp looking #38 Mini made its maiden Kawartha voyage late in the 2008 season. (Jim Clarke photo)
#3). Antigonish, Nova Scotia’s Donald Chisholm brought his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Monte Carlo to Kawartha for a top 10 run in the ’08 season finale. (Jim Clarke photo)
