The weather co-operated with the racers on Saturday, July 27 at Saratoga Speedway for the running of the Gary Marcus Trucking/Courtenay Water Services-sponsored race weekend.
Four classes of race cars navigated the left-turn-only paved oval with the Old Time Racers Association (OTRA) making its first of two visits to the speedway this season. The IMCA Modifieds, the Bombers, and the Hornet A division were the other competing classes.
In the Bomber 30-lap main event Charlie Ackerman started near the back of the eight-car field and wove through traffic when he could in the mostly caution-free race. Ackerman won by a margin of 1.4 seconds over competitor Chad Taks. Gary Marcus, the race event sponsor, was caught up in a caution incident and was sent to the back of the pack after he had been running a strong second. Marcus fought back to finish fourth.
The Hornet A class of cars put on a good show as was commented by one of the OTRA racers.
The 25-lap main had Jimmy (Johnson) Antonik start at the back of the field of cars and he raced clean and green to the checkered flag, with Wes Pheaton finishing second.
Pheaton was disqualified in the post-race inspection of the vehicle, which allowed Nigel Neufeld to capture the second finishing position. Paul Burke as a result captured the third podium position.
The Old Time Racers Association highly entertaining 35-lap feature race was won by Jamie Morgan. Morgan was followed by Troy Tarbuck in second and Kail Beck in third.
These cars are vintage full-sized ‘jalopies’ powered by a straight or inline six-cylinder engine and sound great circling the speedway. The other feature race was also a 35-lap event. Stewart Lee driving the Chris Beaulieu-prepared modified was the first to the finish line with Campbell River’s Dano Bryant 2.910 seconds behind, taking second place.
The Brad Purdey modified took the third place position as the race finished under the lights.
Next weekend the Monster Trucks show up at Saratoga Speedway for both Saturday and Sunday nights brought to you by Quality Signs and A Step Ahead Engine and Machine.
The evening will feature car-crushing action, school bus stomping as well as the crash to pass cars, Figure 8 racing, Mad Max Extreme racing and both Hornet A and B divisions.
Check out Saratoga Speedway on the web and on Facebook for more information.
