Photo taken by Dale Calnan/ Image Factor Media
By Carin Sundin
OHSWEKEN, Ont. (June 12, 2018) – Ohsweken Speedway officials are pleased to have Middleport Mechanical Thunder Stock Driver Chris Dickie for the second edition of In The Driver’s Seat. Each week In the Driver’s Seat will showcase a driver from the Thunder Stock or Mini Stock divisions at Ohsweken Speedway and provide some insight into the life of the driver behind the wheel.
Dickie’s No. 1 Thunder Stock is supported by several partners, including Strickland’s GMC, Mead Mechanical, David Griffin Century 21, Classic Party Rental, Elite Stainless Exhaust, Clarence Street Dental, Oriental Restaurant, Cainsville Tire, Biehn Weed and Pest Control, Praxair of Brantford, Grants Mobile Auto Glass and Jackson Sign Craft.
Dickie also wants to give a big shout out to his crewmembers Ken Dickie, Pam Dickie, Tracy Hollingshead, Ashton Dickie, Tanner Dickie, April Arsenault, Len Syms, Brent Cronkwright, Chris Bird, Dale Robinson and Randy Hollingshead.
How old were you when you started racing? What division/class?
CD “The first time I drove I was 28 and started in the Street Stock division at Flamboro Speedway.”
How did you get involved in racing?
CD “My dad always took me to race tracks as a kid, so that gave me the itch. I grew up as a car guy as well, put the two together and here we are. We built our first car and never quit.”
What was your scariest situation in a race car?
CD “Scariest moment? I’m not sure, I’ve had some bad wrecks over the years but that’s all part of the game. Fire…fire is scary. I blew an engine one night and it was pretty much an instant ball of flames. I’m told I’m a little “heavy” so I don’t exit out the window as fast as I could”.
Do you get “race nerves” before a race?
CD “No, no race nerves. Usually I sit in the line on the warm0up track relaxing with my eyes shut, trying to guess how many orange stripes Jim Lampman will leave on my car that night. LOL”.
(Author’s note: If you don’t know Chris and Jim, they are great competitors on the track and friends off of it. They have a long running joke back and forth about orange stripes and orange cars)
What is your favourite race moment to date (as a driver, fan, growing up, etc.)?
CD “My favourite moment as a driver would likely be my fist win. It seemed to take forever to get that win, so it was that much sweeter when we finally reached the podium with the win”.
If you could race in any other class, which would it be?
CD “I’d love to drive a Dirt Late Model”.
What advice would you give anyone who is interested in getting into racing?
CD “The best advice I could give anyone is to set out to have fun. It’s a ton of work and money, even in the entry level divisions, so you better have fun doing it. Listen to good people but drown out the bench racers who think it’s easy and have never had their butt in the seat or wrenched on anything other than a wheel barrel. Also, ALWAYS have safety on your mind!”
What driver do you most admire? Do they influence your driving style?
CD “There are several drivers I admire in all levels of racing. The ones I admire the most are drivers and teams that do it all on their own, with a limited budget and have success. It’s hard work!”
If you could compete in any race, what would it be? Which track?
CD “Any race anywhere? Anything at Eldora would be awesome!”.
Do you have any race day or pre-race superstitions?
CD “Only one race day superstition. I always check my steering wheel quick connect 3 or more times. One time I didn’t check it and the wheel came off…I hit the wall…looked pretty foolish! True story!”
We want to thank Chris for his time in participating in this segment and wish Chris and his team a safe and successful race season with the No. 1 Thunder Stock.
2018 SEASON
Ohsweken Speedway’s 23rd season of weekly Friday Night Excitement features four divisions of racing, including the Kool Kidz-Corr/Pak 360 Sprint Cars, Strickland’s GMC Crate Sprint Cars, Middleport Mechanical Thunder Stocks and HRW Automotive Mini Stocks. Visit www.OhswekenSpeedway.com to view the schedule or call (519) 717-0023 for more information.
About Ohsweken Speedway: Founded in 1996, Ohsweken Speedway is a motorsports complex which includes a 3/8 (0.375) mile clay oval track. The facility is owned by the Styres family, and located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken’s weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, and Mini Stocks, while the season finishes each year with the annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Ohsweken Speedway also hosts weekly Micro Sprint racing on Thursday nights.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Phone: (519) 717-0023
Email: media@ohswekenspeedway.com
Website: www.OhswekenSpeedway.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OHSWEKENSPEEDWAY
Twitter: @OhswekenSpdway
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/OhswekenSpeedway
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OhswekenSpdway
Ohsweken Speedway thanks the following partners for their support in 2018: Arrow Express, Kool Kidz Ice & Water, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc., Renway Energy, Case IH O’Neil’s Farm Equipment, Hoosier Tire Canada, EPIC Racewear, McDonald’s Restaurants of Paris & Brantford, Ackland Insurance, Strickland’s GMC, Lucas Oil Products, Burger Barn, Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Creative Edge Signs & Graphics, Insta-Insulation, Middleport Mechanical, HRW Automotive, and Gale’s Auto Aftermarket.