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For Release - Monday March 3, 2008 From Jim
Irvine - Merrittville Speedway Public Relations - 905-685-7223 – Winter Office
Thorold, Ontario (March 3) – Merrittville
Speedway’s 2008 Season Opener is 54 Days away and counting! For many race fans
this time of year can see an overlap of two Niagara sporting favorites; The
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Golden Horseshoe Division and Merrittville
Speedway’s 57th consecutive Racing Season.
One fan would surely like to see the two sports
overlap as he cheers for number 16 on the ice as a member of the Thorold ASI
Group Jr. B Blackhawks in addition to the number 16 in our Hoosier Stock
Division as well.
Merrittville Speedway L. St. Amand Enterprises
Wall of Famer Jeno Begolo is a regular around the local rinks following his
grandson C.J. Dickson who, in his third season is looking to help lead his
hometown team to its second Sutherland Cup Championship. While the playoff run
has begun, Begolo is also looking forward to the sophomore racing season of his
other grandson, Brent Begolo as the race team puts the final touches on the
more familiar number 16 which will see its first race as part of the Baron
Roofing Spring Sizzler 100 in the 25 lap Street Stock Open.
After capturing the league title this season,
the Blackhawks are in the opening round against the Wheatfield Blades. They
lead the series two games to zero and look to sweep the series after a home
game this evening (Monday Night beginning at 7:30) and a return to Western New
York Tuesday Night.
While the Niagara Ice Dogs have returned with
much fan fare and are increasing the awareness of the sport in a region that is
rich in hockey history, the member teams of the Junior B League continue to
provide entertainment value through-out the racing off season while providing
for the development of players.
Race fans owe it to themselves to check out a
playoff game and support one of the eight teams next season. To keep track of
the on ice action visit www.ghlhockey.com. Keeping track took on a whole new
meaning this past season as by clicking on the Poinstreak icon, you can watch
score sheets during actual games from your computer but it still can’t beat
catching a game live.
Like Merrittville’s race cars, individual
players don’t carry transponders; however a lap top and internet connection
have become new pieces of game day equipment for each team. Team personnel
provide constant updates so you know who scored or who is serving a penalty
within seconds of it happening.
Racing’s Hockey connection also includes former
Merrittville Karter and son of former Sportsmen standout Billy Baker. Thomas
Baker who as a Port Colborne Sailor is off on a playoff voyage of his own
against the Niagara Falls Canucks. St. Catharines Standard Motorsport Columnist
John Steckley is also a fixture at the rink keeping an eye on his nephew Kyle
Steckley and the Fort Erie Meteor’s rise to the occasion against the Welland
Jr. Canadians.
Behind the bench of the Thorold Blackhawks,
Head Coach Rob Hubbert is related to Merrittville Racers Wayne Conn and Boyd
MacTavish while Conn himself attends many of the games. The Blades, their
opening round foes, are being coached on an interim basis by Randy Chrysler who
has a history with the team before they joined the league and at Merrittville
Speedway with his race car.
Our wildly popular Enduro Series has its shinny
connection as current competitor Terry MacNeil made a name for himself on the
ice back in the day as number 9 for the Hawks before the sweater was retired in
honor of the team’s last number 9, Chris Risi who spent his entire five year
career as a Hawk.
Eventually, of the 8 teams, only one will be
declared Playoff Champion and that team will go on to face the champions of the
Western and Mid-Western Divisions to decide the finalists for the Ontario
Championship and the Sutherland Cup, a feat the Blackhawks accomplished in
2004-2005.
If Jeno Begolo has anything to do with it his
hockey and racing seasons will overlap as one season winds down and the other
starts up.
Many race fans are familiar with the Begolo
name at Merrittville. The Begolo name was first made famous by Jeno himself who
earned two championships of his own before handing the driving chores of the
number 16 to his son Jimmy.
Both father and son made a return to the track
last season with another number 16. The driver of the third generation edition
was Jimmy’s son Brent, who launched his own racing career as a rookie in the
Hoosier Stock Division.
The Begolo name made an impressive return to
the track including a trip to Victory Lane as Brent would score his first
career 20 lap Hoosier Stock Feature win on Saturday August 25th.
Brent can also be seen attending many of his
cousin’s games as well while preparing his number 16 Camaro, a car that his dad
actually drove as a street car when younger. The 2008 version, as well as 19
others will represent the five Dirt Weekly Racing Series Divisions at the Pen
Centre the week of March 31st to April 6th.
All three generations of Begolos will surely be
at the Pen during the show provided the Hawks are not in action!
The Thorold Blackhawks Booster Club have been
quite a fixture at Merrittville during the racing season with the 50-50 Draws
each and every event. When one of the three feature winners picks the lucky
ticket April 26th hopefully it will be yours as the Super DIRT Series Crowd
should result in quite a large winner’s share in just 54 days!
Your local Dirt Track is where it’s at and it’s
at Merrittville Speedway in just 54 Days; Saturday April 26th.
The star studded 358 Modified Super DIRTcar
Series Stars are set to challenge our home town heroes in the Spring Sizzler
100 presented by Baron Roofing.
Rounding out the show are 40 lap Sportsman and
25 lap Street Stock Events.
With plenty of free camping – it puts
Merrittville Speedway on the map as a must see event and it’s just the start of
2008 – you won’t want to miss a single event all season!
To learn more call 905-685-7223 until April 1st
or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.
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