Driving school weathers storm’s aftermath
Merrittville Speedway pit area mired in mud but banked clay track ready for racing
An investment in banking has already returned big dividends to Merrittville Speedway, and the stock car racing season hasn’t even started.
Instead of postponing a driving school and chassis seminar after melting snow from winter’s last hurrah, hopefully, left the pit area suitable only for mud bog racing just a day earlier, plows and packer trucks worked wonders preparing the banked, D-shape clay surface for racing.
A head start in anticipation of the driving school, next Saturday’s test and tune and Spring Sizzler Saturday, April 22, didn’t hurt either.
“We have worked the track for a few weeks and had it packed pretty good in anticipation of the weather,” Pete Bicknell, the driving school instructor and the speedway’s defending 358 modified champion, said. “The track came in really nice and stayed in great shape right through to the last session in the evening.”
Bicknell, who during the off-season sold the track to Welland entrepreneur Don Spiece, did double duty behind the wheel Saturday. He jumped down from a packer truck after working with the track crew and into his race car to be the first racer to take a spin.
Mired in ankle-deep mud, pockmarked with puddles and rivulets of water from melting snow, the pit area was literally the pits. Getting onto the track was the biggest challenge drivers faced.
“The grounds weren’t in the best shape,” Bicknell said in an understatement.
“Thanks to Don and his team for getting the facility as best as it could be, and thanks to everyone in the school and evening session for their patience.”
Race teams have been as busy during the off-season preparing their cars for the test and tune as Spiece has been taking over overall operation of the track after 14 years of ownership by the Bicknell and Williamson families.
“Over the winter it’s been a work in progress,” the one-time pro stock champion and secondgeneration racer said. “From new and returning sponsors to new and returning staff and everyone who has helped, thank you.”
“With the 66th season just ahead, I’m confident that 2017 will be an entertaining one for the fans.”
For race teams in the five weekly classes, Saturday’s test and tune at Thorold track will be spring training and the pre-season all taking place on one day. Some crews will be testing out a new car, while some drivers will begin getting used to racing in a new division.
Drivers whose cars pass inspection will use on-track sessions later in the day to get seat time in preparation for features in the 358 modified, sportsman and modified lite racing classes the following week. The Spring Sizzler also serves as season opener for the Patriot Sprint Tour.
Action in the eight-cylinder Hoosier Stocks and four-cylinder mini stocks gets underway as part of the 2017 Championship Chase Kickoff Saturday, April 29.
Pit gates open at noon for race teams at the test and tune. Cars will start testing the track at 5 p.m..
Inspection sheets can be downloaded from http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/rules.html and Drivers are encouraged to complete their form prior to arriving at the track.
Grandstand admission is free this Saturday and concessions will be open.