6/10/2024
Merrittville Speedway
Merrittville Speedway Honors and Remembers the Past This Coming Saturday Night
THOROLD, ONTARIO (June 10, 2024) … Merrittville Speedway will be honoring and remembering Jerry Winger and Al Willard this coming Saturday night as CAA Niagara presents Nostalgia Night 2024 and Wall of Fame Inductions.
Hosted by Merrittville Speedway’s Reunion Committee, Bob St. Amand Jr, Erik Tomas, and Andy Imbeault will be inducted into the CAA Niagara Wall of Fame during the induction ceremony at 6:30pm presented by Auto FX Graphics & Signs.
Bob St. Amand Jr will join his dad, Bob Sr as a member of the Wall of Fame. Bob Jr would become Race Director in 1987 and was instrumental in establishing the one-way communication system and the use of transponders at Merrittville. Bob Jr continues to support many events and drivers throughout the region through both L. St. Amand Enterprises and St. Amand Auto and Truck Repair.
Erik Tomas has been part of Merrittville’s Announce Team since the 1970s, while putting regional, national, and international motorsports in the spotlight with the Raceline Radio Network weekly until his retirement this past year. With the support of Plazek Auto Recyclers, Tomas, and his partner – the late John Massingberd put Merrittville in the spotlight throughout the 1990s as the Super DIRTcar Series was aired on TSN. Tomas was recently honored with the John Massingberd Award by the Canadian Pro Mod Drag Racing Association.
“The Flying Frenchman” Andy Imbeault got his start during the 70s and was a two-time Sportsman champion at Merrittville in 1983 and 1986. Imbeault has enjoyed a racing career of more than 50 years that also includes the 2016 Eataly Foods Triple Truck Challenge championship and is still competing in Vintage Car races throughout the region.
The CAA Niagara Dedication Award will be given to two longtime scorers, Judy Gordon, and Kim Ashton.
Racing action will be headlined by the Jerry Winger Memorial 50 for the Commercial Auto Electric 358 Modifieds. The Al Willard Memorial 35 for the Semenuk’s Esso/Baron Roofing DIRTcar Sportsman, plus the RONA/Doidge Mod Lites, the Vansickle Pet Valu/PV on the Lane 4 Cylinders, and the NRVS Vintage Cars.
The Jerry Winger Memorial dates to 1959 when it was established by Winger’s crew after the up-and-coming driver passed away due to illness. In the beginning, Jerry raced his own cars and won his first championship at Merrittville Speedway in 1953. Jerry Winger was at the top of his sport in 1957 and would capture the points championship at his home track Merrittville Speedway. From 1958 on, Jerry developed an illness that would limit his driving in 1958 and 1959. During the 1959 season, the condition called nephritis claimed his life. One solemn night in 1959, Murray Stricker drove Winger’s car on the track one final time. When parked in front of the grandstands, the #10 was peeled off the car permanently. The owners of Merrittville Speedway decided to retire the #10 forever and to this date, no Modified racer can race as the #10. Also, in 1959 the Jerry Winger Memorial Trophy was initiated by his former car owners Hugo “Butch” Bogusat and Al Aalto. Every year after there would be a special race to compete for the trophy.
The Al Willard Memorial for the Sportsman will be in honor and memory of Allan Willard. Al was a longtime racer, crew chief, and sponsor at Merrittville Speedway and beyond for his children and grandchildren. Al was the co-owner/operator of Willard & Son Towing until 1977, when he became Vice President of Automotive Services at CAA Niagara until his retirement in 2002. He passed away in December of 2023 and in the words of the man himself, “Let’s Float the Ice”.
Pit Gates will open at 4pm, Alumni grandstands will open at 4:30pm, general admission grandstands open at 5:30pm, Wall of Fame Ceremonies will take place at 6:30pm, and racing will get underway at 7pm. For more information, check out the website at www.merrittvillespeedway.com and fans can follow along with My Race Pass.
CAA Niagara has served the community for more than 100 years. Providing year-round piece of mind and member exclusive savings, visit your local CAA Niagara location today, or find out more by visiting www.caaniagara.ca
Since 1989, Tim and his staff at Auto FX Graphics & Signs have worked hard producing wraps, lettering, signs, decals, graphics, and other services from their 5000 square foot facility in St. Catharines. Tim is a huge supporter of stock car racing and many of the cars on track in the Niagara Region are examples of his exceptional work. Visit their site at www.autofxgraphics.com for more information.
Don’t forget about all the activities and great food available throughout the week at the Merrittville Eats complex, featuring Merrittville Wood Fired Pizza, Merrittville Big Scoop, and Merrittville Smokehouse and Fried Chicken! You can stay up to date with all the info by checking out Merrittville Eats on Facebook.
Follow Merrittville on social media including Facebook (facebook.com/MerrittvilleSpeedway), Twitter (@Merrittville), and now on Instagram (@merrittvillespeedway). For results, point standings, and more, check out www.merrittvillespeedway.com
Article Credit: Steven Petty
Submitted By: Doug Leonard
