Column By: JOHN DOUGLAS / RPW – As the early season woes across the Northeast and Canada continue thanks to Mother Nature, a quartet of dirt tracks both above and below the northern border caved to snow and rain adding to the long list of tracks struggling to begin their seasons.
Land of Legends, Woodhull, New Humberstone and Merrittville all lost their Saturday night programs to the weather, however all have racing scheduled for next weekend with hopes for a much better result.
The winds and temperatures were just too much to have drivers and fans come out.” Owner of Woodhull Raceway, Ted White said.
The racing action will now kick off next weekend, May 4. This will be a complete show and will also have the bed sheet banner contest. Fans could take this cold and windy day to make up a bed sheet banner to bring and be judged on next weekend. More information will be posted later.
For New Humberstone Speedway, this week’s racing action will not be cancelled. In a statement online, Speedway management issued the following:
With wet weather surrounding the Niagara Region all weekend, management of the New Humberstone Speedway has been forced to postpone the Dawn of Destruction presented by ATTAR Metals to Sunday, May 5.
The show will begin at 12 noon and will feature a 75-lap, $3,000 to win Enduro along with the Erie Tracker Outfitters Speed Boat Derby, Flag Pole Race, Autocross, Figure 8, and a demolition derby. Grandstand gates will open at 10 am with pit gates opening at 9 am. Registration is still available for the ATTAR Metals Dawn of Destruction by calling the New Humberstone Speedway at (905) 834-4002.
For Merrittville Speedway this marks the second consecutive week fans and teams have been stopped by the always uncertain early season weather. Their racing scheduled for this week has been cancelled and will not be made up.
“Due to the unseasonably cold weather, high winds, and wet grounds, we were forced to cancel tonight’s racing program”, commented Merrittville Speedway’s Don Spiece. Merrittville Speedway management would like to thank all of the drivers, sponsors, families, crews, and fans for all of their support.
Next week’s program will officially kick off the 68th season of racing at Merrittville. The first 300 kids through the gates will receive goodie bags and checkered flags.
Land of Legends Raceway’s next scheduled events take place on May 4th, featuring Big Blocks, Sportsman, 305 Sprints and Street Stocks. Admission will be $20 for adults, kids under 16 free.