How can you turn down an invitation to ride on a race track! Well you simply do not. That was the main feature of this weekend, a trip to Calabogie Motorsports a new race track west of Ottawa. We where in touch with the organizers of the Goodwood in the Valley day to see what they were putting together. Goodwood, as you may know, is a fun-filled event in the UK where vintage racers gather to take their rides around the track. Some for fun, but there is a serious side too, for those who really want to exercise their engines. Trackside, observers are free to peruse the field and see, up close, what was then the top engineering of the day.
The opportunity to get in on something like this, and perhaps add to its future, was too good to miss. We were in touch with the organizers to get an idea of what this was all about. The track and idea for the event are new, so we all thought it best to make a preliminary visit, make contacts and plan for the next years event.
The track itself is very new having only been completed this September and the facilities are not yet finished. The organizers were keen to have us, and we were "recruited" to come back next year and set up a display. What it will be is, well, no sense in spoiling the surprise, you will just have to wait. With this event being about racing, we would follow that theme, with appropriate "Singer Style".
This year's gathering was mainly just to get the wheels started. Admittedly, they said that October was not the best time of the year, but with the track having been open just about a month, there was precious little time in the rest of the season to have it any other time. Next year's Goodwood in the Valley should be earlier... wait for further news.
We were also invited to ride around the track. Not as drivers, yet, but as passengers. After the appropriate waivers were signed we were off. Phillip's ride was a sleek BMW. The driver kept him informed throughout the ride by providing a running commentary. What he was doing, how he was steering, application of the gas and brakes. A mini-schooling in the art of racing I would imagine.
My chariot was a Honda Si, from the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) no doubt! My driver definitely pushed this peppy little rice rocket around the track. Reaching over 165 Km (100 mph) in the straights and skidding through the curves... 20 of them! This is no oval track.
After regaining my balance, we thanked our host with a promise to return next year.
(To reproduce any or part of this blog, please contact the author)
The opportunity to get in on something like this, and perhaps add to its future, was too good to miss. We were in touch with the organizers to get an idea of what this was all about. The track and idea for the event are new, so we all thought it best to make a preliminary visit, make contacts and plan for the next years event.
The track itself is very new having only been completed this September and the facilities are not yet finished. The organizers were keen to have us, and we were "recruited" to come back next year and set up a display. What it will be is, well, no sense in spoiling the surprise, you will just have to wait. With this event being about racing, we would follow that theme, with appropriate "Singer Style".This year's gathering was mainly just to get the wheels started. Admittedly, they said that October was not the best time of the year, but with the track having been open just about a month, there was precious little time in the rest of the season to have it any other time. Next year's Goodwood in the Valley should be earlier... wait for further news.
We were also invited to ride around the track. Not as drivers, yet, but as passengers. After the appropriate waivers were signed we were off. Phillip's ride was a sleek BMW. The driver kept him informed throughout the ride by providing a running commentary. What he was doing, how he was steering, application of the gas and brakes. A mini-schooling in the art of racing I would imagine.My chariot was a Honda Si, from the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) no doubt! My driver definitely pushed this peppy little rice rocket around the track. Reaching over 165 Km (100 mph) in the straights and skidding through the curves... 20 of them! This is no oval track.
After regaining my balance, we thanked our host with a promise to return next year.
(To reproduce any or part of this blog, please contact the author)