|
Celebrating our 55th Season
With our 50th year of
continuous operation behind us, we embark on the
next 50, with our celebration of our 55th
season tonight. When we celebrate and reunite with
many of the former owners, drivers, crews of decades
gone by we relive for a few hours, events of the
past, and watch the evening=s
festivities unfold with racing of the present.
Recently, I had the opportunity
to visit two tracks rich in racing history. The
first was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which was
built in 1909 and the second was one of the oldest
dirt tracks in Pennsylvania, Williams Grove
Speedway, dating back to 1939. As a racing buff,
it was especially interesting to tour the Speedway
and Museum and become totally immersed in its rich
racing history, by seeing the cars and memorabilia
of decades long ago. At Williams Grove, in its 68
years of operation, while being, caught up in the
excellent evening of Sprint Car racing, home of the
Pennsylvania Posse, the speedway made mention of its
alumni, including Mario Andretti, A. J. Foyt and
many other drivers of decades past. Both
Speedways, one the biggest one day racing event in
the world, the other, the biggest little dirt track
in Pennsylvania, shared something in common, that
being Tradition.
Now you ask,
what does this have to do with Merrittville Speedway
in Thorold, Ontario?
(Jerry Winger in the late 50's)
Everything! Big or small, every
racing facility with a history, has a tradition.
Those of us on the Reunion Committee, myself, Jeno
Begolo, Bruce Swartz, Ted Renshaw and Jim Irvine,
Erica Bicknell, Terry Huffman &Mark Swartz have
worked hard over the last several years to establish
Merrittville=s
reputation- on reunion night, as one of the best
events on the racing schedule. From the Marino and
Cullen families, to the Kavanagh and Russell
families, to the Friesen and Uhl's, to the Irvine's,
have worked hard as families to establish
Merrittville Speedway as the place to be on Saturday
nights, since July 1, 1952. While tonight we
celebrate the feats of past racers, we will have
inductions to our Wall of Fame at intermission, and
the field of modifieds will compete to win the 55
lap Jerry Winger Memorial Feature. So while we
acknowledge the accomplishments of racers past and
present, there is one group who all of us need to
thank and that is the fans.
The generations of race fans who
have followed their favourite drivers every Saturday
night, since 1952, are the reason we are able to
celebrate 55 years tonight. In return, Merrittville
Speedway owes the fans, the best facilities, the
best shows and the best treatment possible. The
facilities at the Brickyard speak for themselves,
but there are always upgrades, better seating for
the fans and safer walls for the racers. Even a
track like Williams Grove, upgraded its seating and
shows. It celebrates its 68th season,
all year long with special events and in two weeks,
will feature the World of Outlaws Summer Nationals.
(Pete Bicknell)
Track owners and promoters owe it
to the race fans and to the race teams, to give them
value for their dollar and maintaining a tradition
of excellence in racing. Merrittville Speedway
has done that this season by reducing admission
prices&giving 1950's prices on hot dogs, as an
example.
The Reunion Committee in its
small way, has strived to establish the
AReunion Night@
as a value in tradition, both for the Alumni and
race fans. Sit back and relax, visit and reminisce
with your heroes of the past, enjoy the vintage race
cars and we hope you enjoy the special Modifieed
Dash for Cash, sponsored by Ed Mac Pherson
Construction & Philbrick Lawn & Garden Equipment &
The Jerry Winger Memorial 55 lap modified feature
sponsored by TRW. Who will we induct to our
Merrittville Speedway Alumni Wall of Fame?
(sponsored by L.St.Amand Enterprises) Stay tuned
during intermission.
July 15,2006 will truly highlight
our 55th year of continuous operation, &
the Bicknell & Williamson Families, current owners
of Merrittville Speedway, carry on our legacy as the
oldest Continuous Dirt Track in Canada.
Sincerely,
Rick
Kavanagh |
