Track Talk column for Sunday, 5/31/20

By Lou Modestino (for Sunday, 5/31/20)  (Check out Lou Modestino’s Track Talk blog at http://www.patriotledger.com/section/blogs01 )

The Capeway Rovers Motorcycle Club in Middleborough announced that they  will start their 2020 racing season tomorrow, Sunday, May 31.  The track features MX racing on dirt.  The management of that venue received permission to open up that track which had it’s beginnings way back in 1934.  Both fans and competitors will be required to observe safety rules to prevent becoming ill from the Pandemic Virus that were outlined by the Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker.  At this time, the Capeway Rovers track is the only motor sports venue to be open for business in the entire  Northeast!  The action will get underway at 9 am on Sunday morning.

Elsewhere in the southeastern MA area, principal  R.J. Valentine of Hingham revealed that he is planning to reopen his X1 Outdoors, a shifter kart track,  on Rt. 18 in East Bridgewater soon, provided he can get the permission of the Town Fathers.  Valentine is also the owner of X1 Indoors on Wood Road in Braintree which will stay shuttered until the Pandemic diminishes in the area. 

We’ve been reading published reports that many northeast track operators and sanctions are on the verge of closing their short tracks for good because they are not getting any help from the states’ governors, particularly many of the dirt tracks in New York and Pennsylvania.  

In New England, Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH, has changed hands several times in the past few years.  That new owner defied the Granite State Governor and opened last Saturday, May 23.  The track held qualifying heats and feature events with just a limited number of fans in the grandstands.  

The local police then handed him a citation stating that he was in violation of the Governor’s edict.  It’s expected that he will be hailed into the local court and fined.  By the way, Riverside Speedway was once owned by C.J. Robinson of Scituate.  

Down at Seekonk Speedway, GM Francis Venditti is patiently awaiting the word from the MA State House on when he can open that 75-year old track on the Rhode Island border.  No doubt it will only open for practice without fans in the grandstands.  In that case, the practice sessions may go off but Venditti may pass until he can sell grandstand tickets 

Up in N. Woodstock, NH Cris Michaud has announced a PASS and ACT double header to be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7.  Those two  races will go without fans in the grandstands.  However, Michaud hopes that he can get enough revenue from the Pay-for-View internet via Northeast Sports to pay the bills.  It will cost viewers $15 for Saturday and $25 for Sunday! 

Information for this column came from press releases and flyers and personal notes.