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Brighton
Speedway Promoters Mark Rinaldi (left) and Maria Morris (centre);
announcer Huck Flindall
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On
April 22, Brighton Speedway held its 2005 Pre-Season Press Conference
and Media Day. The event was held at the 1/3 mile clay oval located
on County Road 65, just south-east of the town of Brighton, Ontario.
Several drivers had their cars on display. Photos are below.
Brighton Speedway has created a program called "Race to Read"
to encourage Grade 3 children to read outside of school. Several
Brighton Speedway drivers visited local schools during the week
of April 18 to kick-off the program. The children will track the
number of minutes that they spend reading and the results, totalled
by class room, will be posted on the Speedway's web site. The participating
students will be recognized at the Speeday on May 21 for "Race
to Read Night".
Lucas Oil has recently joined Brighton as the sponsor of the points
fund. With the support of Lucas, 2005 will have the largest point
fund in the history of the track.
Track improvements have continued over the off-season. There have
been grandstand upgrades, additional fencing and extra lighting
in the pits. The biggest addition is the new Corporate Hospitality
Area and Beer Garden. It is locate beside the grandstand by turn
4. The area will allow Brighton Speedway's corporate clients the
ability to entertain guests at a night of the races.
The 2005 season offers an action-packed schedule. Admission to the
opening night on April 30 is only $2 with a donation to the food
bank. The following week, May 7, is the first visit of the Southern
Ontario Sprints.
The SOS cars return on June 11, July 9, July 30 and as part of the
Labour Day Classic Weekend double-header.
The "Victoria Day Dirt Works Weekend" is a two-day event.
Saturday night is a regular racing night. Sunday night features
the DIRT Sportsman Series, the return of Late Models for the first
time in many years and the first Brighton event of the Can-Am Challenge.
The Can-Am Challenge is a series for the Modifieds that takes place
between Brighton and Thunder Alley Speedway in New York.
The Labour Day Classic Weekend has the regular Brighton Speedway
classes plus the Southern Ontario Sprints on both Saturday night
and Sunday night. There will be live music following the races on
Saturday and fireworks on Sunday.
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A
member of the media tries out Greg Peake's Novice Division
car
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The
high-powered DIRT 358 Modifieds will be appearing on September 24.
Sunday afternoon is also a busy day at Brighton. On some Sundays,
there will be endurance races, motocross racing (free admission)
and ATV races. Other special events on Saturday nights are a small
car demo derby, school bus races, spectator racing, lawn mower racing,
New York State Mini-Sprints and the Mid-State Vintage Stock Cars.
The
highlight of the 2005 Media Day was a chance for members of the
media to take to the track in a stock car. Greg Peake, of the Novice
Division, was kind enough to allow the media members to use his
car.
I'd like to thank Brighton Speedway for putting on a great Media
Day. If you would like more information about Brighton Speedway,
check their web site at www.brightonspeedway.com.
Andy
Fletcher, Comp 4 Division
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Greg
Peake, Novice Division
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Elaine
Burke, Pro-Stock Division
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Ken
Ohno, Pro-Stock Division
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Tim
Burke, Canadian Modified
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Dan
Ferguson, the 2004 Brighton Speedway Canadian Modified Points
Champion, has moved up to DIRT Sportsman
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