Erik Tomas
' Raceline Radio Newsletter.... Later this week, I'll be heading out on a week's vacation. It'll be the annual Tomas family trek to Gettysburg Pennsylvania, scene of that classic 1863 confrontation between the Blue and the Grey that turned the tide of the American Civil War in favour of the Union and the Army of the Potomac, sending Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia back south and eventual defeat 2 years later. A nation, no longer divided against itself, survived to stand.
You can tell I'm a history freak, and this little town in southern Pennsylvania, not that far from Washington DC is one of our favourite places. We've been to Gettysburg at least 20 times, and each time we seem to find things on the battle fields we haven't seen before. The scope and bravery of the struggle that killed more than 50 thousand men counting both sides still boggles the imagination. Average age of a Civil War soldier? 17. All this happens over our remembrance day and the American's Veterans Day. Wear a poppy and take a moment to remember those who made the supreme sacrifice in the great wars so we can live the way we do. We owe them everything…
Did you happen to catch the World of Outlaws World Finals on SPEED from the dirt track at Lowe's Charlotte? Great battles for both the Sprint Cars and Late Models that I was busy with during the summer. But of course there's a Canadian angle to the showcase!
Old friend Roger Slack has had his hands full trying to get a decent racing surface on the clay down there. What to do? Hire those who have the knack at putting in decent dirt tracks. So almost the entire Bicknell clan made their way down to North Carolina.
Besides winning championships and building title winning modifieds, Pete Bicknell, with help from Howard Schram and Bryant Irvine, puts in the pool-table-smooth surface at Merrittville Speedway. Could they work their magic at Lowe's? Yes, but not without a lot of work that even had Pete's wife Nancy out on the grooming equipment. Pete took some deep passes with the grader to get the rough surface off, and to get rid of some chemical additives.
Just the right amount of packing and watering, and drivers of both the sprints and late models had great praise for the new surface. Ah yes, it often takes Canadian ingenuity to stage a great motorsport show! Daughter Erica's famous attention to detail and cordiality was pressed into service as well at Lowe's, handling the crush of traffic at the back gate. Take a bow all!
Talk to you again when we get back from Gettysburg! I'll give your regards to the ghosts.
What do YOU think?
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