Western Speedway Opens Fifty-Six Years of Racing:
Langford, BC., April 4, 2009
Story and Photos by Ken KeatingThe silence in Langford was broken tonight as the sounds of race cars once again marked the opening of the 2009 season at Western Speedway. The Demo Classes and the new Bomber Series were the first to hit the new pavement after the whole backstretch was torn up and a more solid foundation laid down with the new asphalt completed Friday afternoon and in time for the opener.
Trophy Dashes, Heats, and Main Events were scheduled as well as a Van Chase. A street legal van, driven by Sean Connaroe, was to have a half lap lead on Demo Cars and Trucks to see who would be the victor. The object was for the Demos to catch the van and try and roll it over. If the van lasted four laps, he would be declared the winner. The driver who could roll the van would be the winner if indeed he was to accomplish this feat. The early bets were the cars would catch the van within two laps. Well, that didn't happen. Sean kept ahead of the chasers for three laps before being threatened by veteran driver, Mark Parkinson. As Parkinson closed in Sean pulled the van into the runout for the drag strip and dashed back onto the track much to the delight of the hardy fans. The Demos caught Sean again on corner four as Sean again tried to manouver through the run out. This time it didn't work as the four Demo drivers trapped the van and the engine quit to further complicate matters. With the rule stating the van had to roll, Peacey driving one of the cars, gave the van a push to get it going a bit. Within moments the four closed in again on the now damaged van. The predators again trapped the disabled van against the fence at the exit of turn four but no one was able to turn the van up-side-down so Sean was declared the winner in this unusual, but entertaining novelty race.
Because of the cold spring weather, the numbers in all of the classes were down, however, there was some pretty hard hits particularly in the Figure 8 class. The driver of the 01 car wound up on its side on the parade lap and later suffered a real hard slam into the wall at victory square. Sean Hitchings, last season's Champion was in form as he took the victory. Brian Wakelin led several laps in the new Bomber class but a neat move on to the inside on the last lap gave the win to Ron Begg as he led only one lap but it was the one that mattered the most.
There were only five Demo Cars last night but as many as twenty are expected by the end of the season. Demo Trucks joined the Demo Cars on track for a combined Feature race. Richard Milne won the truck event while Marc Parkinson won the Demo Car Feature race and that completed a very successful night as he tied the track record at 20.335 and won the Trophy Dash and the Heat race to complete a "clean sweep".
Next week Western Speedway presents the V.I. Rentals Stock Cars, the I.M.S. 4 Mini Stocks, and the Dwarf Cars. Last season Robbie Haslam and Ryan Wade combined to take the Stock Car title, Lois Pollard-Grant done what she had to do to take the Serious Coffee I.M.S.4 Mini Stock Championship, and Dave "The Hammer" Emmerson was dominate in the Dwarf Car Series taking the title. The "Lady From Sooke" will be back for 2009 in her #97 car. The Dwarf car count is expected to be greater and even more competitive.
On April 18th, the Stock Cars and I.M.S. 4 Mini Stocks return with the Late Models, formally the Sportsman Series. Robbie Haslam will not return to racing unless someone wants a driver for a night or so as his car is for sale. If he is not racing, he will have the flags in hand as a starter. We will miss you on the track Robbie. Last season, Jason Beaulieu won the Canada 200 in the Katana Boat Sportsman Series but he will be running in the N.P.P series in Alberta going after yet another title to add to his resume. Expect to see changes and new cars for 2009.BOMBER CAR CLASS:
TROPHY DASH: Ronnie Kiefert; Danny Matthews; Dennis Stewart; Brian Wakelin
FIRST HEAT: Gray Abbott; Teresa Johnson; Ray Wilkinson; Mike Rutty
SECOND HEAT: Ronnie Kiefert; Brian Wakelin; Danny Matthews; Chris Broughton
MAIN EVENT: Ron Begg; Brian Wakelin; Chris Broughton; Danny Matthews; Dennis Stewart
DEMO CAR CLASS:
TROPHY DASH: Marc Parkinson; Kirk Peacey; Mike Makaw; Joe Libertore
HEAT RACE: Marc Parkinson; Kirk Peacey; Joe Libertore; Mike Makaw
MAIN EVENT: Marc Parkinson; Kirk Peacey; Jim YoungDEMO TRUCK CLASS:
TROPHY DASH: George Haywood; David Cates; Richard Milne
HEAT RACE: George Haywood; Richard Milne; David Cates
MAIN EVENT: Richard Milne; David Cates; George Haywood; Paul ScotthorneMINI FIGURE 8 CLASS:
TROPHY DASH: Cam Wilkinson; Cody Young; J.J.Taylor; Shawn Connarroe
HEAT RACE: Cody Young; Austin Robertson; Shawn Young;
MAIN EVENT: Shawn Hitchings; J.J. Taylor; Austin RobertsonMINI VAN CLASS:
TROPHY DASH: Kail Beck; Larry Mansen; Dave Dewitt
David Lee photo
Dale Erdman photo
Dale Erdman photo
Barrie Goodwin photo
