It was an exciting year, with excellent racing in each of the track’s 3 regular divisions and even though the season wrapped-up less than a month ago, staff and officials at Kawartha Speedway are already thinking ahead to the 2012 campaign. Competition in the Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks, Better Carpet Thunder Cars and NAPA Auto Parts ACT Late Models was strong, with first time track champions in 2 of the 3 classes. General Manager and Promoter Derek Lynch says the Fraserville, Ontario 3/8th miler can’t rest on its past success.
“We have to look to the future and keep moving forward to give area race fans the best value we can for their entertainment dollar,” said Lynch. “There is always room for improvement and we’ll never grow as a facility if we think we’re doing everything right every time we open the gates.”
One of the areas where Lynch feels Kawartha Speedway can improve is with the thunder car field. While the on track product was great, he’d like to see car counts in the track’s ‘middle division’ grow in the next year. A total of 24 different drivers scored points in at least 1 event during 2011, but the average turnout was about 15 teams throughout the year. Lynch feels the economy might have been a contributing factor, but he also looks at the rule book at his own track – as well as other venues – as a possible issue.
“There were a couple of guys who moved into a different division, but I can think of at least 5 or 6 drivers who were with us in 2010 who didn’t turn a lap in 2011,” said Lynch. “I’ve spoken to some other area promoters who’ve noticed the same thing. Whether you call them thunder cars, street stocks, sportsman or pro stocks, they’re all essentially the same type of racecar. Aligning the rules package to a common set of specs might allow people to run more than 1 night a week and that would be a benefit to all of us.”
Kawartha Speedway will host an open meeting for thunder car drivers Sunday, October 30th at 1:00 in the track’s main grandstand. The session is open to drivers, crew members and promoters not just from the home track, but from any speedway that runs cars with a similar platform. Lynch hopes the forum will generate some honest discussion on the future of the class and looks forward to hearing from drivers on potential changes they’d like to see made to make the pack even stronger when the green flag flies in 2012.
“The meeting is open to everyone and I hope we’ll come away with some solid suggestions.”
For more information, visit www.kawarthaspeedway.com or contact Derek Lynch via e-mail, lynch15red@yahoo.ca.
PHOTO: Former feature winner in Hasiuk Trailer and Container Rental Mini Stocks, Andrew Swindells moved-up to Kawartha Speedway’s Better Carpet Thunder Cars in 2011.
Words and Photo by Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications
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