From Tommy Goudge
While the Ohsweken Speedway sits silent awaiting the roar of racing engines in May, the Speedway staff have kept busy this winter. Ohsweken webmaster ImageFactor.ca has worked on revamping and renovating the Speedway website over the past few months, while Director of Racing Operations Ken Pelkie has put together another exciting schedule for the upcoming season, and continues to spend time on the road promoting the Speedway and its signature event – the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Meanwhile, Speedway co-owner Glenn Styres and his Styres Brothers Racing/Ohsweken Speedway/Rochester Americans Sprint Car team were in Florida for most of February competing successfully in Speedweeks events.
NEW WEBSITE
The new Speedway website is now officially online at www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and has many new features for fans and racers alike, including a vastly expanded history section and results archive. If you’re looking for something to do while the snow is still flying, check out the new Fan Zone with brand new desktop wallpapers and links to the official Ohsweken Speedway pages on popular social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.
A large crop of rookies are preparing for their first year in the Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Car division at Ohsweken, and the new website will feature Q&A sessions with the new drivers and familiar faces alike in the coming weeks.
The new online ticketing system is also in the works, and should be operational soon as reserved seats for the World of Outlaws events July 30 and 31, and the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16-18 go on sale this coming Monday, March 8. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 1-888-720-RACE. Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more ticket information.
CAR SHOWS
The Speedway booth has been a popular attraction at many area automotive and motorsports expos this winter, and will be set up for at least three more shows, including the Performance World show at Toronto’s International Centre coming up March 12-14.
The London Auto Expo March 26-28, and the Brantford Mall Show April 21-24 are also on the calendar, while a registration and information meeting is coming up on Saturday, March 27 at Brantford’s Best Western Brant Park Inn.
Test and tune day at Ohsweken Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, with opening night the following Friday, May 14.
FLORIDA SPEEDWEEKS
The Florida adventures for the Styres Brothers racing team ended successfully with 2008 Canadian Sprint Car Nationals champion Wayne Johnson in the winner’s circle at Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park. Wayne drove the Ohsweken Speedway/Rochester Americans #0x to the victory in the $14,500 to win Ronald Laney Memorial King of the 360’s event. It was the second win in that event for the Styres team, which also took the victory with Chad Kemenah in 2005.
The 360 Sprint Car portion of Speedweeks was also productive for Winnipeg driver Lou Kennedy, Jr., who made his first visit to Ohsweken in September. Kennedy finished in the top five each night, and emerged tied for the ASCS Rebel Region points standings.
Other drivers in the field of note to Ohsweken fans included Glenn Styres of course, as well as Lou Kennedy’s son Thomas, and regular visitors to Ohsweken like Jared Zimbardi, Darren Long, Jessica Zemken, and Tim Kelly. Long is the hired gun this year for Tim Norman and Joe Gaerte in the 3g, driven to victory by Shane Stewart in last season’s Canadian Sprint Car Nationals.
Niagara-area Modified racer Stewart Friesen drove Doug Emery’s sprint car to a ninth place in Saturday’s finale, and could be behind the wheel of a Sprint Car more often this year.
HISTORY PROJECT
Do you have old Ohsweken Speedway programs, photos, videos, or results pages just sitting around collecting dust? The Ohsweken Speedway history project can use your help. If you would like to contribute to the project, just send an e-mail to media@OhswekenSpeedway.com and share your favourite photos and other items with the world!
NEXT AT OHSWEKEN
Ohsweken Speedway’s fifteenth anniversary season is coming up faster than you think! Less than sixty days remain until the engines fire for the first time at the Speedway for Test and Tune on Saturday, May 8. Make sure to visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com and make your plans to attend Friday Night Thunder each week starting May 14, as well as the World of Outlaws Sprint Series events on July 30th and 31st, and the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16th to 18th!
ABOUT
Ohsweken Speedway is located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario approximately twenty-five minutes Southeast of Brantford, forty minutes Southwest of Hamilton, one hour and twenty minutes West of Niagara Falls, one hour and twenty minutes East of London, and one hour and twenty minutes Southwest of Toronto.
Ohsweken Speedway is a state-of-the-art Styres family-owned three/eighths mile clay oval racing facility featuring Musco lighting and seating for 7,500+.
Friday Night Thunder provides weekly racing at the track, featuring Corr/Pak Merchandising Sprint Cars, ESSO Thunder Stocks, ESSO Mini Stocks, and Bombers, along with touring series visits by the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, Empire Super Sprints, ASCS Patriots, and Mod-Lite Stars Championship Tour North.
The track’s signature event is the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals held in September each season. Up to eighty or more of the best 360 sprint car drivers and teams from across Canada, the United States, and beyond will converge on Ohsweken to contest the Sixth Annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals September 16th-18th, 2010.
Regular Friday Night Thunder admission is just $10, while students and seniors are $8, and Kids age 12 and under get in free. Please visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com for more information, or call 1-888-720-RACE!