Twas the night before opening and all through the pits
Not a driver was yelling nor ogling some ditz

The racecars were resting. All done with the testing
Cause Saturday night begins the contesting

Each driver was trying his snug Nomex suit
With visions of victory and big Feature loot

The fans with a cooler and a new racing cap
Had just settled down for that last off season nap

When from the road outside there arose such a clatter
The sound of a hammer and fenders a batter

Up went the window and open the shutter
The sight that I saw nearly caused me to stutter

The moon shone like lacquer on the fresh spring grass
As I saw a pack of cars on the street racing past

Halfway down stood a man with a flag waving quick
I knew in a moment that it must be St Rick

Around the block they came rumbling again
As he shook the black flag to free up a lane

Now Baker! Now Shepherd, Now Quesnelle and McLeod
On Lewis, On Inglis, On Jongen and Murray

On both sides of the street and around the block
The pack running right quick according to my clock

The engines they screamed each lap into the night
When from far down the road came the flash of red lights

The siren’s call interrupted the header’s sweet rattle
St. Rick’s white flag signalled the end of this late night battle

One more time around was all that they needed
The checker would wave and the winner conceded

And then I woke up from my dreaming
by the moon’s silvery night
And realized it was still
the night before opening on Saturday night