Finally it’s Time to Go Racing!

Is it just me, or did this year’s off-season seem a little longer than usual? It’s been the better part of nine months since we locked the gate at Speedway 660 and began our annual racing hibernation.

Well the long wait is pretty much over, because this Saturday night we will kick off the 2011 season. Fans all across our region are getting set to make tracks to Atlantic Canada’s fastest and most popular speedway to see the green flag drop at 7 o’clock.

Anticipation and Excitement
The Riverview Ford Lincoln Sales Season Opener is always a great time to see what race teams have been up to over the winter. Some cars will have new paint schemes, some drivers will be sporting new rides, some will be moving up a division and there will be several new competitors.

As exciting as it is to see the cars and get the season underway, another highlight is hooking-up with our racing family. After-all, we haven’t seen many of you since the curtain came down on the 2010 season. It sure is going to be great to see our dedicated fans, drivers and their race teams, sponsors and speedway employees and volunteers.

I plan on getting to Speedway 660 a little early for the opener to catch part of practice. But my first stop will be down at Joyce’s Pit Stop to get a big load of her “Famous Speedway Fries”.
Divisional Stories
I hear the car count in our Hanwell Village Mart Bandolero division has grown for their second year of competition. Ryan Messer, the 2010 Champ, and the other Bando kid drivers are pretty excited to get going. Young Ryan is still riding high after winning the INEX Winter Nationals down in Florida in February.
We also expect more competition in the four-cylinder division. The Bandos and four-bangers were such a hit last year that we will see them more often this season. These entry-level race teams will run ten times in 2011, including SpeedWeekend.

Does anyone have anything for Ricky Cashol in the RV World Street Stock Division? The veteran driver out of “Surf City” pretty much owns the street stock division! Or does he? Stay tuned to find out.

The Martins Home Heating Sportsman Division, at Speedway 660, is where it’s at in terms of car count and competition. A year ago Ken MacKenzie, from down Salisbury way, announced he was going to run full time with us. Little did we know that he would become one of our most popular drivers and win the division in his first try! Here’s wondering who is going to step up in Sportsman this year.

Speedway 660 is where the “BIG BOYS PLAY”. I’m talkin the Pro Stock Division. I ran into Derek Christie, at the Boyce’s Farmers Market the other week, and he confirmed he is making the move from Sportsman to Pro Stock.

Get Ready – Get Set – Let’s Race!
The Bando drivers are the real kids down at Speedway 660, but a new racing season sure brings the kid out in all of us! Saturday night is all right for racin and this Saturday at seven the 2011season officially gets underway.
See you there.