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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-05-27, Page 1010 News Record • Wednesday, May 27, 2015 MacDonald, Henry set for rematch in Cyclists hoping to end Clinton Raceway's Drivers Challenge hunger in Huron County Two years ago, James MacDonald was winning Clinton Raceway's annual Drivers Challenge heading into the final race when Trevor Henry pulled off a last second victory. MacDonald got his revenge a year ago, winning his first title with a decisive victory over Jody Jamieson. Henry was third. On Sunday, May 31 the trio, along with five other top reinsmen, will suit up against each other again as the 35th annual Drivers Challenge hits the track in support of the Clinton branch of the Royal Cana- dian Legion. "Legions are having a tough time financially across the province. Every cause is a good one, but we think this will be a nice tie- in for us," said Clinton Raceway general manager Ian Fleming. Though it's a fun, relaxed atmosphere in which all proceeds of the day, includ- ing the drivers' fees, will go to the Legion, MacDonald said the drivers don't take the competition lightly. "Everyone's really com- petitive," he said. "You put a bunch of egos in together and one's a winner and you're going to get people trying pretty hard. There's no favours there, that's for sure." Henry, a finalist for the O'Brien Award for Canada's driver of the year in 2014, said pride is on the line. "It's always nice to have the bragging rights," Henry said, "But it's just a lot of fun. It's a good day out." The Drivers Challenge will pit Clinton's top three drivers of 2014 — Henry, Ryan Holliday and Bruce Richardson— against Mac- Donald, Jamieson, Doug McNair and Mike Saftic from the Woodbine Enter- tainment Group (WEG) cir- cuit and Canada's leading dash winner, Alfie Carroll, who turned 30 in early May, and is leading the nation with nearly 200 wins already in 2015. For the first time in its long history, the Drivers Challenge is being held at the beginning, rather than at the end of the season, to make room for the eighth edition of Clinton Race- way's biannual Legends Day classic that will close out the track's 16 -race sea- son on Sept. 6 in support of the Clinton Public Hospital. Henry, long the king of Ontario's smaller tracks and now a regular fixture on the WEG circuit, said he's a big fan of Clinton Raceway. "It's just good to go there and give back to the town of Last year's winning driver James MacDonald. Clinton," Henry said. "They do a lot of good there. It's a good town and a nice track and a good spot" MacDonald said he likes making the trip to Clinton because the Drivers Chal- lenge usually draws a huge crowd and, "The people there seem to appreciate it and they put on a good show." MacDonald currently ranks a close second on Can- ada's driver earnings list with over $1.35 million made in 2015. McNair is a close third ($1.23 million), following by Henry in fifth ($1.09 mil- lion), Jamieson in sixth Contributed photo ($980,000) and Carroll in eighth ($890,000). In the wins department, after Carroll, McNair cur- rently ranks sixth in the nation with 90 wins, fol- lowed by MacDonald in sev- enth (88) and Henry tied for ninth (80). The eight reinsmen partic- ipating in the Drivers Chal- lenge have more than 26,300 career wins between them and combined career earn- ings of around $300 million. All driver fees and pro- ceeds from the 35th edition of the event set for May 31 will go to the Clinton Legion. OFFICE HOURS The Office Hours for The Clinton News Record are as follows Mondays - 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 5pm Thursdays - 9am - 5pm Fridays - 9am - 5pm IlewsCli on Record 53 Albert St., Clinton, ON PH: 519-482-3443 www.clintonnewsrecord.com KIDS HELP PHONE FREE EMERGENCY CALL 14004%6Bill 5C<,I L'".ANC. P. IN TROUBLE Huron County cyclists of all expertise are invited to ride with Janet Boot, chair of the board of directors of the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre (HCFBDC), on Saturday, June 13. Boot is hoping to raise aware- ness of the work of the region's community food banks and gather financial donations for the distribution centre's focus on filling the shelves of these food banks. She will be riding a tandem bike with her daughter Natalie, and together they will be riding a route that will link some of the County's food banks, sharing information about the challenges that fami- lies and individuals face on a dailybasis. "There has been a noticeable increase in younger people, families with young children and elderly individuals having to use the services of our com- munity-based food banks. We have gone through economic challenges in these last few years and although we live in a highly -productive agricultural county, there are ongoing employment problems that create social crises,' said Janet Boot during a recent interview in her work to build awareness for the Distribution Centre's partnership with local commu- nity food bank operations. "Our food bank organizations and their volunteers recognize how important their work and ser- vices are, but together we can create an even stronger net- work, offering support and expanded services to help our neighbours who are having hard times". Starting in Wmgham at 8:15 a.m. at the North Huron Food Share at 405 Josephine St., the cycling group will be heading to Blyth and will be stopping at the Blyth Centre for the Arts on Main Street to share informa- tion about the important shar- ing organizations in Huron County who are available to assist residents with problems accessing good food regularly. From here the Wmgham rid- ers who have joined Janet can turn back to Wmgham or con- tinue on to Clinton with her. The next stop where riders can join the group, bringing their financial donations will be at the Clinton Salvation Army building, on Albert Street. At each community stop riders are invited to ride along as far as theywish. The next location for a riding break will be in Hensall at the corner of Hwy. 4 and County Road 84. The riding group will then continue along to the Exeter Food Bank, located on Main Street in town, right behind Noah's Ark Store. Finally there will be a celebration barbeque hosted for all riders and friends at the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre location at the corner of Hwy. 4 and County Road 10 on the grounds of Premium Transpor- tation fora BBQ. This riding event will take place, rain or shine andthehardy cyclists are encouraged to gather financial donations from family and friends to add to the financial donations collected along the mute. The pace ofthe ridewillbe about 15 km an hour and the vol- unteers of the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre express their appreciation for the support and guidance of the Huron County OPP as well as friends who will be manning the follow vehicles and volunteers along the route. Riders are reminded to bring their own water as well as be appropriately dressed for the weather conditions. With the support of the many volunteers and service organi- zations, the food banks of Huron County will continue to provide special services to those in need. Together the linked food banks as partners of the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre, they will continue to address the chal- lenges faced by too many of Huron County's residents in times of economic change. "If more people are aware of the daily struggles of too many of our neighbours, sometimes hidden along rural routes, we could unite to put ourselves out of business, working together to end Hunger in Huron sooner'; said Boot as she set out on her training ride recently. The Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre dis- tributed 545,000 pounds of foods and products throughout Huron County in 2014. Included in this shipping were a huge variety of fresh fruits and produce and packaged goods, For complete route and rider registration as well as financial donation information visit www.huroncountyfoodbank org and call 519-913-2362. The Huron County Food Bank Dis- tribution Center is a registered chanty and can offer charitable receipts for monetary gifts, gifts of service and gifts -in-kind. All financial donations will go directly to the cause of elimi- nating hunger in Huron Coun- ty's communities.