LE ROY — Saturday nights are all right for racing in Caledonia. Since the spring of 1964, this club owned track hosts dirt track race car drivers from all over New York and Canada. When the track first opened it was paved, but years ago it was converted to a clay oval with banked corners that challenges all skill levels of drivers. Although the track is only 1/8 mile long, top drivers in methanol fueled cars (at $5/gallon!!) can attain speeds of 60mph or more.
From go-karts to 600cc open class, these cars provide some local, hometown, grass roots racing that many big time NASCAR stars began their careers with. Memorial Day weekend is known in the motorsports world for the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600. Cole MacDonald,11 of Mississauga, Canada started racing here this year. Every week, his family leaves home at about 9am to compete. The Oshweken Speedway is were he started racing seven years ago and is also frequented by Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart. MacDonald has been encouraged by Stewart to move up in classes, and to do that, he had to come to Limerock. His mom and dad are very supportive with his dad being his mechanic. His mom says “it’s better than being a soccer mom”! the younger MacDonald says “all I think about is racing”.
The Tri County Racing Club – which are all volunteers, welcomes about 60 cars in seven classes ranging from 5hp karts to over 110hp. Club President Jim Mitchell says that they get 300 spectators each week. The sport is remarkably safe for the drivers who range from four to 58 years old. Full protective equipment is required from helmets to fire proof suits with the cars having full roll cages. The EMT at the track says “in the last four years, six people have been transported to the hospital”.
If you are in need of speed, at a low cost, and family friendly atmosphere, albeit a bit dusty, Limerock Speedway has racing every Saturday night at 7pm. For a full schedule and results, visit their website at www.limerockspeedway.com.