Wild Opening Night At Flamboro Speedway
By Randy Spencer - Opening night, it's the night everyone looks forward to racers and fans alike. Unfortunately, wet grounds and the poor weather this spring put work at the track behind and last week's schedule was cancelled. Conditions improved this week and it was a go. To see the cars again and hear the roar of the engines was something everyone had eagerly awaited.
A few changes this year to the way the program is run and perhaps the biggest is we will now be running double features for each Flamboro home division. Previous years we would run double heats and one feature. The first race took to the track, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks and they were led to green by Josh Shantz in the 70 and Tyler Mayhew in the 24. The race ran well with just one notable caution when newcomer Alex Wood in the 01 car took a hard hit into the turn four wall. Shantz battled Derek Moesker who started 11th but made his way to a solid second place finish. At the checkered flag, Shantz with his fist in the air crossed the line first followed by Moesker and Michael Kenny third.
Twenty, Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks were up next for their first 25 lap feature event of the evening. It was an invitational and the 2014 Sauble Speedway Mini Stock and former Flamboro Mini Stock champion was on the pole. The cars came around and took the green and battled for position early. Last years Mini Stock co-champion Russ Aicken had a brand new car out and was still trying to work the bugs out slowed on the back stretch and took his car to the infield. Mike Holmes who tied Aiken last year in points is taking some time off and has put Derek Jackson in the car running it as #4 and he ran well and up front early. The 03 of Jake Gilbert was running well early but he slowed down the back stretch on lap 8 and retired to the infield bringing out the caution. On lap 18, the awesome Sheldon Bossom got mixed up with the 7 car of Paul Boyd coming out of turn four and the two slid to the infield and joined the pack on the back stretch. Boyd had a left rear flat and retired to the infield. As the race came around to the conclusion, Schwartzenburg continued to lead followed closely by Blair Wickett and Chad Ditner. As the checkered flag few that was the top three finish.
The Ray's Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars were the third race of the night and took to the track for their 25 lap first feature race. The 02 of Mark Burbridge was on the pole for this one and would have his hands full with a couple of hard chargers in Shawn Chenoweth and Shawn Arnott behind him. The cars settled in for a fine race with Burbridge leading the pack. The real battle was for second and third for most of the the race as the two Shawn's battled door to door and bumper to bumper throughout. Kevin Gallant had his back up car out and it was run by Brent Wheller. Gallant retired to the pits on lap 11. As the cars came around and took the checkered flag, Burbridge was first followed by Chenoweth and Arnott.
The Ponderosa Nature Resort Pro 4 Modifieds were up next for their feature with Dan Pettit leading nine cars to green. Mark Lucas, Aaron Turkey and Brian Nanticoke retired early with mechanical issues. The 91 of Robert Mercer in his new look ride started fifth but made his way to the front and battled throughout with Cliff Hodgkinson and held off the 0 car for the checkered flag. Chris Hale in the 10 came in third.
The Ontario Modified Racing Series powered by Torque Builders Inc. was the final race of the first round of features on the night. This was the club's Spring Shakedown race and 14 cars would take the green flag. The 88 car of Ryan Dick was unable to take the green after an hard hit into the turn three wall during practice. The 77 of Brad Stevenson and 63 of John Baker Jr. were on the pole for this one. The cars battled early and a mix up on lap 3 in turn 3 as the 98, 82, 61 and 40 all got involved. The race continued to battle without incident for several laps. An unfortunate crash late in the race as the 61 of Kevin Hinds had something break causing him to head for the turn one wall. He rode the wall and went up and over into the catch fence causing some fans behind the fence to be hit and the racing was halted while emergency personnel raced to the scene. Hamilton Emergency Services and Fire were called to the track to assist and remove the driver, seat and all from the car. Five people including the corner flagman were assisted with various injuries but all were released later that night after observation. "It's really a fluke thing, car racing is a dangerous sport. We try to do the best we can, but things do happen, " said owner John Casale. Racing was cancelled for the remainder of the evening as the investigation continued and the all clear was given Monday morning to continue racing for the following week. I personally want to say a big thanks to all those who jumped into action to help there fellow Flamboro family in their time of need. And to the doctor who came to the booth and asked if we needed help and was taken to the scene to help. Also a huge thanks to the Pro 4 Modified club, Glen Hils and all those that helped remove the old fence and put up new posts and fencing.
Please make plans to join us next week, May 9th as the Grisdale Late Models make their 2015 debut joined by the Ray's Auto Centre & Towing Thunder Cars, the Klotz Auto Repair & Engine Machine Shop Mini Stocks, the Ponderosa Nature Resort Pure Stocks and the season opener for the Ontario Pro Challenge series. This week we want to Pack the Stands. Thanks to Larissa Spencer and Cheryl Rutherford for setting up the facebook page and doing what they can to support racing at Flamboro Speedway. Weather looks good so make plans to join us! Pit gates open at 4pm, Grandstands at 5pm and green flag flies at 7pm.
Please check the website, www.flamborospeedway.ca for more details including the schedule, Admission Prices for the grandstands and pits and updated point standings for all divisions.
Photos by Derek at Racepulse.com
Unofficial Results
Pure Stock Feature #1 : #70 Josh Shantz, #51 Derek Moesker, #07 Michael Kenny, #90 Andy Wheller, #58 Peter Becker, #7 Matt Young (-1J), #44 Sam Heiben, #77 Jeff Miller, #17 Blair Mayhew, #24 Tyler Mayhew, #10, #01 Alex Wood (NF), #14.
Mini Stock Feature #1 : #86 Billy Schwartzenburg, #97 Blair Wickett, #61 Chad Ditner, #32 Gillian Hils, #36 Hudson Nagy, #4 Derek Jackson, #66 Sheldon Bossom, #42 Rick Robinson, #92 A.J. Miller, #73 Jordan Morris, #76 Shawn Taylor, #5 Stepheny Dean, #05 Dave Goodacre, #11 Nolan Quinton, #7 Paul Boyd (NF), #50 Chad Corcoran (NF), #03 Jake Gilber (NF), #71 Russ Aicken (NF), #38 Rodney Rutherford (NS), #37 Rob Hoskins (NS)
Thunder Car Feature #1 : #02 Mark Burbridge, #89 Shawn Chenoweth, #76 Shawn Arnott, #7 Bobby Mercer, #12 Justin Collson, #37 Brent Wheller, #31 Kevin Gallant (NF)
Pro 4 Modified Feature #1 : #91 Robert Mercer, #0 Cliff Hodgkinson, #10 Chris Hale, #93 Dan Petit, #24 Josh Lassaline, #8 Craig Shaver, #9 Brian Nanticoke (NF), #63 Mark Lucas (NF). #68 Aaron Turkey (NF), #23 Linc Erison (NS)
Ontario Modifieds Feature #1 : #77 Brad Stevenson, #2 Dwight Brown, #95 Robert Warnes, #62 Randy Hollingsworth, #09 Nick Lees, #32, #40 Don Beatty, #65 Bill Burrows, #62w Willow Barberstock, #82 Gary Tryon, #61 Kevin Hinds (NF), #63 John Baker Jr. (NF), #46 Ryan Babin (NF), #98 Rick Warnes (NF), #31 Josh Gruntz (NS), #88 Ryan Dick (NS)