HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-08-28, Page 8The way he was
In 1966 Jack McCutcheon posed proudly in Brussels Motors #73, owned by his brother Casey.
The car's mechanic was Mel McArter, while Mel's brother Gerald was the welder. (Vicky Bremner
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PAGE 8 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002.
Sports
Brussels man gets Hall of Fame honour
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
Celebrating the 50th anniversary
of stock car racing at the CNE
Speedway, Canadian Motorsport
Hall of Fame honoured drivers of
those golden years Aug. 17 in
Toronto.
And among those recognized was
Jack McCutcheon of Brussels. who
with his team, car owner, Casey
McCutcheon of Brussels Motors,
mechanic Mel McArter and welder
Gerald McArter spent 11 years
tearing up the CNE track until 1966
when it closed.
The four men attended the
celebration, to see McCutcheon, as
driver of the Brussels Motors #73
receive his plaque. A plaque was also
placed in the Hall of Fame as were
pictures of the car and a list of races
won.
Though McCutcheon was pleased
by the recognition, he was quick to
note that equal tribute should be paid
to the rest of the crew. "Casey as
owner, Mel and Gerald, they were
the guys behind the scenes. They did
The Blyth Figure Skating Club is
gearing up for the skating season.
Power skating is an important part
of what is offered by the club. Seven
levels of power skating are offered in
starting with Pre-Power. geared for
the young beginner. This introductory
program teaches basic skating skills
and technique which include
balancing, forward and backward
skating, stopping, turning and agility
skills.
There are three ribbon levels to be
mastered in the Pre-Power level then
the skater can move on to
CanPowerSkate.
The 'six levels of CanPowerSkate
teaches skaters to develop and
all the work, but basically this just
recognized the drivers."
McCutcheon raced at other tracks
in Ontario, including Flamboro and
Delaware Speedways, and the-
United States for many years. An
official program from Flamboro in
1966 states, "Jack McCutcheon of
Brussels had the honour of winning
the first feature race at Flamboro
Speedway as Ontario's newest stock
car track opened last night. More
than 60 modified racers were on
hand for the opening." (July 28,
1062)
The CNE track which opened in
1952 and closed in 1966 holds many
fond memories for McCutcheon who
raced there sometimes twice a week.
"Everybody knows the CNE used
to have the big grandstand. They
played soccer in the field, then built
the track around the field. At the
CNE they raced rain or shine and
when it was wet there were so many
ruts and mud, it was unreal."
Asked how many times he won,
McCutcheon said,"Not was many as
I would have liked."
And with 11 years of racing,
improve both their personal style of
skating plus improve the efficiency of
their skating. Once the individual
skates efficiently, the focus changes to
developing power and speed.
sometimes as often as five nights a
week, he proudly proclaims he only
"rolled once."
But his successes must have been
enough to, attract a following.
Actually, there was a big following
for the racing teams in those days.
McCutcheon says, "Many people
went to these events. You'd be
surprised by the number of locals
who attended and were part of the
whole thing."
Among those- was a , young boy
who, now as a 52-year-old man, still
remembers and excitedly greeted
McCutcheon at the recent award
ceremony. "He was really wrapped
up in our old '73."
The racers too became quite
familiar. "Everybody knew
everybody. Just like now, it was a
racing family."
That some of that family could be
re-united at the awards ceremony
was a rare treat for the racing team.
"It was just a good feeling," says
McCutcheon, "and nice to be one of
the ones remembered as being part
of something."
CanPowerSkate can benefit a full
range of skaters. Even figure skaters
may al so benefit from
CanPowerSkate as a cross-training
exercise.
A group of roller hockey players
from Blyth have been travelling to
Clinton all summer to compete in
the Clinton Roller Hockey
League. _
After a perfect regular season the
team- entered the playoffs in first
place.
The Hounds defeated the Firebirds
11-1 in the semi-final. They then
beat the Supermen 6-1 in the final.
Goalscorers in the final were Mike
Bromley with three, Jeff Ferguson,
Justin Peters and Mike Haggitt with
singles.
Haggitt led all scorers with 36
points during the regular season.
Peters led in goals with 21 and was
second in points with 31.
There were eight Hounds in the
top 20 scorers: Chad Haggitt, 28;
Chris Stewart, 24; Bromley, 19;
Kirk .Stewart, 19; Jeff Ferguson, 15;
Greg Blok, 15.
Tyler Stewart played very well all
year in the Hounds' net. Other
players were Ryan Robinson and
Kris Wilson. The team was
sponsored by Harvey's Plus in
Goderich.
Remembering
Jack McCutcheon of Brussels holds the plaque he recently
received for his time as driver during the CNE Speedway
days. The track opened 50 years ago. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
Blyth Greyhounds
roller hockey champs
Power skating part of Club
53 Women and Children
have been
MURDERED
in Ontario since June 2000
as a result of domestic violence.
We need YOUR HELP!
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
will be offered by the Women's Shelter, Second Stage Housing and
Counselling Services of Huron beginning Monday, September 9 at
7 pm. This free ten week training will be held at the Huron County
Health Unit Complex in Clinton.
For more information
and to register please call Tanya
524-5333 or 1 -800-265-5506