20 ON TAP - CANAAN FAIR SPEEDWAY

On the weekend of July 17^th you could see the Senior Tour Auto Racers touring to their next stop.  Weekend after weekend you can see these vintage stock cars traveling on the highways in the Northeast.  This weekend they headed north to the Canaan Fair Speedway in Canaan NH.  On tap were 20 vintage stock cars that made the trip.  It was going to be a good day for racing with no rain in site.  Star started their day with warm ups in the afternoon.  The evening would give the Star Tour 2 heats and 2 features.  On tap first were the Sportsmen division for their 10-lap heat were Charlie Wilcox from Ct in his #111 coupe battle with Wade Worster from Me in his #32 coupe for first place.  When the checkered flag came down it was Wilcox taking the first checkered for the evening.  The Modifieds then hit the track for their 10-lap heat.  Dewitt Davis from NH in his #211 sedan showed the modifieds how it was done, by dominating at the half way mark to take the second checkered for the evening.  At feature race time George Powers announcer for Canaan Speedway wanted to do his famous on track start.  George has been doing an on track start with Star for many years now. I have to say what a head rush this is, standing in the middle of the track while the cars zoom by you.  Only George!  This man is one of the most colorful and pleasant people I have met through out the years. But when it was time for the feature races for Star the sun was just cresting the trees and made it almost impossible to see him on the track.  Disappointed, George was not able to do an on track start for the Sportsmen.  The Sportsmen rolled out onto the track to give the audience a great race.  Positions changed from lap to lap until Ron DaRos from Ct in his #33 sedan took over the lead and the third checked for the tour that evening.  This was Ron first win with the tour. Congratulations go to Ron for a great job.  Wilcox battled second place in his #111 with Worster in his #32.  Then on the last few laps to go Wilcox went too high and gave the room for Rick MacDowell from Ma in his #76 Pinto to slide to the inside grove to take over third spot.  Then it was up to MacDowell and Worster for second spot.  Who would cross the line first?  Worster took over the second spot from MacDowell and finished off with second to leave MacDowell to finish with a third place.  The top three were brought track side for an out of car interview and presented with trophies.  The modifieds were in the pits waiting for their feature.  Now the sun was down and no glare was on the track. Oh it was time…… George Powers now had his special time to jump out onto the track with his flags to do his famous on track start.  The Star modifieds rolled pass him for three hot laps until it was time to give the green flag.  George standing in the middle of the track jumping high to flag on the modifieds as they zoomed past him on both sides.  The fans roared George on.  What a site to bring back the way the starters use to start a race.  Bob Bateman from RI in his #17 Pinto and Danny Ferland from NH in his #21 Pinto lead the pack lap after lap until Bob Pringle from NH in the #84 took over the lead.  Bateman followed Pringle lap after lap refusing to give up second spot.  Then it was a battle between father and son as Danny Ferland in the #21 and Jamie Ferland in the #194 switched positions from second to third.  Locking in the pack it was going to be a toss off which Ferland would finish third.  When the checked flag came down it was Bob Pringle in the #84 taking the win for the modifieds.  Bob Bateman topped of the pack with a second in the #17 and Jamie Ferland in the #194 took over the third spot.  The top three were brought trackside for an interview and presented with trophies.  Star would like to thank Canaan Speedway and its staff for a great night of racing.  A special thank you goes out to George Powers for doing his special on track start.  Star will be returning to Canaan Speedway on August 14^th for their second appearance

CANAAN SPEEDWAY'S GEORGE POWERS DOES ON TRACK START