The season finally began after a couple of weeks of bad weather dampened things to the point of either calling the first attempts off or else changing the event to Mud Bogging
And we might have gotten a lot of that in the parking lot let alone on the track. But when things finally dried up and got underway, the opening first days were, for the most part, worthwhile.
There are always a few problems that show up on opening day. Some troubles with the generator set that didn’t seem to want to come out of hibernation but that was rectified and those huge lights filtered their rays through the dust on the track once again. Our traditional South Alberta west wind was along for the ride but that didn’t keep the die-hards away; they just bundled up and enjoyed the show. One down side though: after the first night was over, George Mercer suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. The good news is that he is recovering and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
There were only two classes racing this weekend but they filled the venue and there was never a dull moment except for the slack times at the beer counter.
The N.P.P. Late Model Series was there with its vast array of entries, mostly Chrysler, but they can never get too complacent because there was also a contingent of GM ready to ruin their day. Could have used a few blue ovals in there to really stir the pot.
The I.M.C.A. Modifieds are always a welcome part to any race day, and they turned up aplenty, making those endless left turns exciting to say the least.
It’s good to see the sportsmanship that is displayed. A walk through the pits showed crews lending a helping hand to other crews so that all the cars could have a chance at the checkered flag. It’s something that other events could use, and I, for one, really appreciate.