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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1994-9-21, Page 16MEN'S DART MEETING Wed. Sept. 28 8 p.m. EXETER LEGION v Page 16 Times -Advocate, September 21, 1994 Mlcro-sprint racing latest attraction at Speedway Local driver Mark Hickson from Lucan has become a real daredevil Making some final adjustments to one of the dragsters prior to a race on Sunday at the Grand Bend Speedway More racing A dragster warms up on the track on Sunday in Grand Bend. By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND - ti+lark Hickson is what you might call daredevil. In the winter, the Lucan resident stands between two metal posts and lets others take slapshots at him - he's a goalie. The summer months now belong to his other adventurous hobby - micrdsprint car racing. Sunday afternoon he strapped himself into his powerful miniature car and took on the new dirt track at the Grand Bend Speedway. The local speedway, in its first year of operation, has become very popular and on Sunday not only featured the micro sprints for the first time but the paved race track was busy. There were dragsters, funny cars, motorcycles and even mini drag- sters that the kids were racing and all trying to nab a piece of the prize money. Prior to his first race, Hickson said that racing has become a fami- ly attraction. "It's my first year, we started May 27," he said of him and his dedicated crew. "My cousin started me into it last year and my dad (Terry) used to race at Delaware." What his dad used to race and what Hickson was in on Sunday was quite different but the ob- jective was still the same - be the first across the line and watch as the checkered flag falls behind you. Looking over the dirt track, Hick son said, "it's a little rough on three and four (turns) other than that its okay." Micro sprinters spend their sum- mer either racing in Lambeth at Wonderland Speedway or in Bel- mont. Lambeth will be the site of the big 100 lap feature this week- end which, for many, will conclude the season. For those who attended the micro sprint racing on Sunday, there was a little similarity to go-karts. But as pointed out by Hickson, there is a big difference between the two. "They have a full roll cage and a fibre glass body and a 440 snow- mobile engine. They have to weigh a lot more than a go-kart." A go-kart probably weighs about 150 pounds while the micro -sprints are about 450 pounds. Safety is a major priority in all racing, and for the micro -sprinters it's even more as they have an add- ed safety feature. "You wear arm restraints so your hands can't come out of the cage," said Hickson. Helmets or course are mandatory. The track at Grand Bend had tight comers but nice wide straight- aways which made it even more ex- citing for the fans to watch. "It's quite a bit bigger than what we usually race on," said Hickson in comparing Grand Bend to Bel- mont and Lambeth. While race fans were watching the big cars speed down the quar- ter -mile on one side of the former Grand Beni Airport, others had brought their lawn chairs and sat around the micro -sprint track. Organizers had the racers entered in three -15 lap heats which was fol- lowed by a 20 lap consolation race and finally the big 22 car 40 lap feature. MAXIh1UM .- _ /AUDIO VIDEO 234-6308 1-800-463-2063 Driver Mark Hickson (glass- es) and other drivers wait for some last minute instructions prior to jumping into their mi- cro -sprint cars. The starter at GrancBend Speedway gives the green flag for the micro -sprints to start on the new dirt track. Promo day Coaches from the Exeter and Oletrlct Ringette Associa- tion were pleased with the turnout of girls on Thursday, night at a rinngette promotion day. Girls interested in the game were given a chance to try the sport. Here, novice coach Julie Ritchie, left; gives Kristen Regier a lesson. I.. �\7 i %. 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