V-6 division makes racing affordable
Merrittville Speedway this season is giving budding Blaneys and would-be Waltrips a chance to test drive racing.
Front-wheel-drive 6-cylinders, the newest division at the Thorold track, lets racing enthusiasts experience the thrill of speeding around the D-shaped clay track without the expense of investing in a purpose-built racer.
“I would love to go out in a Modified, but I don’t have $50,000 for a Modified,” Steve Conway said before finishing third in the first-ever V-6 feature in his 2003 Chevrolet Impala.
“This is a cheap way for me to go out and have the same experience, and be safe about it.”
The 34-year-old Niagara Falls electrician finds the new division much safer than the enduros he’s competed in for the past 15 years.
“It’s a little more controlled chaos out there,” Conway said. “Fewer cars, whereas enduro cars, you’ll run 40, 50 cars at once, and anything goes out there.
“That’s why I come to the V-6 division, it’s a little more controlled environment and a lot safer.”
Roll bars, full cages and stronger mesh in place of the front window are mandatory in the new division. In enduros, full cages aren’t required and chick- en wire would do in a pinch as a window replacement.
Other than those safety requirements, the Chrysler, Ford and General Motors cars eligible to race in the entry-level division are “bone stock,” right down to the engines that came from the factory.
“How it comes off the road is how we run it. As fast as you can come down Merrittville Highway is what it will do on the race track,” he said with a laugh.
Conway, who competed in the former Pure Stock division at New Humberstone Speedway in 2012, isn’t disappointed there won’t be cash payouts during the inaugural season of 6-cylinder racing at Merrittville.
“The winner will receive a trophy and a handshake in victory lane, get your picture taken with all your sponsors and family,” he said. “I don’t come out here to make money, I come out here just to have fun.”
Part of the fun is bringing his father, Steve Ricard, back to the track after poor health ended his racing career.
“I’m finally starting to get him coming back to the track,” Conway said. “That means a lot to me.”
A leading proponent for the new entry-level division along with Merrittville owner Don Spiece is Jim Small. The “semi-
“How it comes off the road is how we run it. As fast as you can come down Merrittville Highway is what it will do on the race track.”
STEVE CONWAY
6-cylinder division racer
retired” businessman from St. Catharines owns four cars in the division as well as sponsoring the division.
“There are so many of these cars around, and so inexpensive to build and drive,” he said. “It’s good for people sitting in the stands, ‘Hey, I want to try that.’ “Now, they can try it.”
“You can be on the track for $1,400, including buying the car, or less.”
John Couture finished second driving one of Small’s cars to Adam Plazek in the 12-lap, 6cylinder at the season opener Saturday night.
“This is different, and lots of fun,” the 42-year-old from Niagara Falls said. “They can start in a class like this and get some seat time.”
Couture is used to shifting racing styles. He went from racing Mini Stock in 2008 to competing in Sportsman three years later.
“That was totally different, it was really nerve-wracking when I started,” Couture said. “But now I’m back to a V-6 front-wheel driver, which is completely different again.”
Knowing there will be no payout at the end of the night doesn’t bother Couture. He said the reward is seat time.
“More experience for me, more wheeling it,” Couture said. “It’s so cheap to race them, you’re not worried about the money right now.”
Merrittville’s five other regular divisions also started points races on the track’s 67th season opener.
Alex Riley of Thorold edged Niagara Falls rookie Anthony Kelly in the 15-lap main event in Mini Stocks, while James Thompson of St. Catharines powered his way to a flag-to-flag victory in the 20-lap Hoosier Stock feature.
Ridgeway’s Josh Sliter, in Mod Lites; Port Colborne’s Chad Chevalier, Sportsman; and St. Catharines’ Mat Williamson, Modified 358; rounded out the Week 1 feature winners.