By Bruce BonhamTHOROLD, ON — For the second time of the early Merrittville Speedway season, the weather man closed the gates early, sending a throng of racers and about 50 staunch, race-hungry fans home early.“It’s not a very good beginning to our 54th season,” said track General Manager Erica Bicknell, who had hoped the weather would clear come race night. But when it was evident that the rain was falling harder, the unfortunate call to cancel the event came at about 5:30 p.m.
Even though there’s been only the single night’s racing, last week’s Original Pizza Logs Sportsman 25-lapper was historic.Rookie runner Mike Bowman diced with veteran Dereck Lemyre for 20 laps, took the lead and became the first crate-engine equipped Sportsman to take the checkered flag.
Cheering like she’d won the lottery, co-owner Nancy Bicknell said the crate engine win proved racers could do more with less — compared to the dollars needed to field higher-priced, open engines.
When the Bicknell-Williamson ownership team decided to push hard for economical sportsman engines — and also a cost-cutting cylinder head for 358 modifieds — to preserve the classes and make it more affordable for primarily ‘weekend’ racers, many people protested. Last week’s win by Bowman sealed the deal for any remaining doubters.
“This is great!” exclaimed Bicknell in the scoring tower after Bowman took the win. “This proves to anybody who had doubts about this engine configuration.”
Soon after Bowman took his victory lap, Pete Bicknell further cemented the value of the inexpensive engine options by winning the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified 35-lapper with aluminum heads bolted to the block.
Next weekend marks the season’s first double header, when CAA presents member appreciation night, Saturday, with a special autograph session on the front stretch. Victoria Day Monday, Air Liquide hosts the action.
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