HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-08-02, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2007. PAGE 7.
Aug. 14 - 19 the village of Walton
is to be transformed by the 16th
annual Celebration of Canadian
Motocross.
The Walton TransCan Grand
National Motocross Championship
has evolved into not just one of
Huron County’s tourist attractions
but the biggest event of its kind in
Canada. The influx of over 25,000
visitors consists largely of regional
day trippers from Toronto, London,
Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Barrie
and Windsor.
“In my 22 years as a motocross
journalist I’ve been to many
motocross tracks in Canada and
Europe, and Walton is definitely one
of my favourites. I know I’m
considered a traditionalists but the
Walton track offers the best of the
past and the present. Of all the events
I have attended, including GPs and
International MX, the Walton
TransCan Grand National ranks up
there with the best. My hat goes off
to Chris Lee and his family for the
passion they put into the sport of
motocross.” – Will De Clercq (MX
Performance Magazine –
Performance Racing News).
According to event manager Chris
Lee, “Broadcasting of our event over
national and international public
television channels introduced a
much wider audience than just
motorcycle enthusiasts to the sport of
motocross. And once they came to
Walton to see what it was about they
were hooked on the excitement, the
family atmosphere and the incredible
athleticism of the racers”.
This family from Timmins Ontario
wrote in about their TransCan
experience after last year’s event:
“We decided to go to the races after
seeing a commercial on television
late Tuesday evening. By Friday we
were on the road with the kids. What
a blast! The weekend was fantastic. It
was all very well organized and the
kids were awed. We will definitely be
going back next year and will be
bringing friends as well. Thanks for
the great time!” – Famille Lablond.
Approximately 20 per cent of the
attendance numbers are event
participants. The majority are
amateur competitors who emerge
from a qualifying process which his
co-ordinated nationally by the 6,000-
member Canadian Motorsports
Racing Club (CMRC). There is
representation at Walton from every
part of Canada and neighbouring
states. Professional racers make up a
smaller group that hails from an even
larger area from as far afield as New
Zealand. In addition the Walton
TransCan hosts a large annual
industry display.
While the event is managed by Tite
Racing Promotions the execution
relies on community organizations
such as Brussels Minor Hockey,
Blyth Minor Hockey, Walton Sports
Club and Seaforth Curling Club who
mobilize an army of volunteers. They
seize the opportunity offered to
accomplish the majority of their
annual fundraising requirements.
Rocket men
Frank Stretton, catcher for the Ritchie’s Rockets, couldn’t
come up with this throw to home as his team played their
long-time rivals from Jamestown on Friday night and then
again Saturday afternoon. The teams hadn’t played
together competitively in decades and the reunion brought
in people from all over the country, with one Rockets player
coming all the way from Langley, British Columbia. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
Gearing up for Nationals
Walton must have been quiet this
week, or I was too busy at the more
than successful Homecoming in
Brussels to learn much news.
Sherry McCall had a surprise short
trip with Marci McCall MacBain.
They flew to Los Angeles to watch
the taping of the show So You Think
You Can Dance. It was quite the
experience.
They also had dinner with the
hostess of the show Kat Daly, a friend
of Marci’s.
A community shower for Rachel
DeBoer was held at the Walton Hall
with Rachel receiving many lovely
gifts.
It’s holidays next week, so we will
catch up with all the news in a couple
of weeks.
Go girls!
The honour of throwing out the first pitch at the reunion game between Jamestown and Ritchie
Rockets to officially kick off the Homecoming 2007 weekend went to long-time Brussels
baseball supporters, and former players, twin sisters Fran Bremner, left, and Nora
Stephenson. Also pictured are Homecoming co-chairs Wayne Lowe and Gary Pipe, right.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
John Sanders graduated
June 14, 2007 from
Centennial College, Toronto
with an Ontario College
Certificate in Motorcycle
and Powersports Products
Repair Techniques. He is
currently apprenticing at
Vincent Farm Equipment,
Seaforth. Congratulations.
Love Mom, Dad, Christopher
and Alex.
Graduation
By Jo-Ann
McDonald
Call
887-6570
PEOPLE AROUND
WALTON
To find out more about offering high school students work experience contact the
Foundation for Enriching Education Perth Huron
at 519-527-0111 ext 231 or visit www.foundationforeducation.on.ca
Training students today creates a pool of
skilled workers for tomorrow
Sponsored by the Ontario Learning Partnership Group and the Provincial Partnership Council
Supported by The Ontario Ministry of Education and The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
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Renewable Energy Summit
August 8, 2007 - Noon to 9 pm
The Columbus Centre, Goderich
A Bridges to Better Business Event
Renewable Energy Trade Show
Children’s Activities
by the Scientists in School
Micro Seminars
Solar Car Demonstration
This Employment Ontario project
is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Centre for Applied
Renewable Energy
519-887-2694
Huron Small Business
Enterprise Centre
519-527-0305 x35
An Inconvenient Truth
Slide Presentation & Panel Discussion
7:00 pm with cash bar