Springtime is the kickoff for racing time at Western Speedway, and Saturday saw the track busy with season-opening action in four different classes.
In the bombers division, Mike Dionne took the checkered flag for winning the 40-lap main event, beating Bobby Cyr, Giles Cyr, Rich Gerhardt and Brian Wakelin to the line, in that order. Other winners were Aaron Cameron in the trophy dash, Wakelin in the first heat race and Don Hallgarth in the second. Sam Lagan posted the fast qualifying lap time of 19.79 seconds.
In the demo car/truck division, Smokin’ Joe Liberatore started the season in style with a win in the 15-lap main event. He finished almost nine seconds ahead of second-place finisher, truck driver Kenny Baker, who was seven seconds better than Billy Stidson in third. Jim Young wound up fourth and Denise Woodruff fifth in the main.
Warmup races saw Liberatore take the cars-only and combined cars/trucks trophy dashes, as well as the combined heat race, while Baker won the truck trophy dash. Fast times were recorded by Young (20.960) and Baker (20.852).
In the mini figure 8 class, Ryan Lewis captured the scheduled 40-lap main event by a comfortable margin ahead of Tanner Jacobs. Following up were Rhett Szevics, Kevin Knight and Kail Beck in third through fifth. Previously, Szevics won the trophy dash, Kyle Ridley the first heat and Beck the second heat race. Sean Robertson had the fast qualifying time of 13.81 seconds.
This Saturday’s card sees the non-wing sprint cars joined by the Old-Time Racers, stock cars, mini-stocks and dwarf cars. Time trials are at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 6:30.
If you're into sports car racing, the Vancouver Island chapter of the Porsche Club of America will be on the track in the morning and afternoon until 2:30 p.m.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com