Ken MacIsaac was at the recent information meeting for the Cape Breton Miners Memorial Speedway (CBMMS, formerly known as Island Speedway) where the new owners, Bill and Lynne Vasil, discussed their plans for the facility which is expected to reopen this summer after three years of silence.

An aerial view of the facility from the late 2000’s… (credit – Ken MacIsaac)

Ken’s notes follow with comments from several drivers after that…

• Main priority is ‘fans’.  The fans to be looked after first. If we put on a good show, fans will come, and sponsors will come naturally.

• Want  good entertaining races.

• Safety is primary concern.

• Want to encourage families to come.  Promote younger fans involvement.

• Encouraging  teams to designate someone on their crew to be an advocate, to intervene, to mediate with concerns to any issues that may arise.

• CBMMS will be part of a 2 track system.   Sportsman for sure, and whatever the car counts are, will determine the classes to be run.

• A structured race program, including pre-race tech, practice, pre-race meeting, B-features if car counts require it.

• Between two tracks (Riverside and CBMMS), eight dates for sportsman – four at each track.

• New website up soon, with race dates.

• July is busiest month for races.  There is no intention to race weekly.  Economies don’t support it.   Easier to have four to six big shows.

• Sportsman cars will be following Napa Sportsman Series (NSS) rules.   There will be three main rule changes this year, involving suspension, (control arms), transmissions, and fuel filler tubes.

• Sportsman cars will now require an external  fuel filler tube from the fuel cell, to the back deck.

• Rules for street stocks, minis, and/or trucks, to follow.  There may be some modifications to each set of rules, but nothing drastic.

• In order to keep expenses down, and cost effective, all cars will be monitored for aftermarket parts.

• There will be a similar points system for all divisions.

• Tires.  Street stocks can run sportsman tires, or new ones.

• No tire softener allowed.  This will be checked.

• Two-way radios optional for Sportsman only.

• Scanners will be mandatory for all other classes.

• Run at least four events, starting July 5.   All events are afternoon races or early evening, at least for the first year of operation.

• A lot of work to do at the track.  Priority is safety.  Concrete wall between turns three and four.  Will decide on turns one and two later, but would still like to have another 100 feet of straightaway.  Fencing upgrades, canteen, grandstands, tower, all need repairs.

• Plan is to pave pit stalls for parking.  Costly, but want level pit surface, particularly for sportsman cars.  May rent the ‘lot’ to teams. Safety is a priority.

• Want a pleasant place for folks to race.  Plan for ‘special events’.

• Plan for a ‘year end points fund’ in time.

• Maritime Sportsman Tour. No date this year, but definitely 2015.

• All sportsman races at least 100 laps.  All single day shows.  The four dates are set, and possibly a fifth date with a big race for either street stocks, or minis/trucks.  Car counts will dictate the class.

• There will be a point system, which will make it beneficial to run both tracks (NSS).

• Community involvement is another priority.

• Track will participate in maritime system of rules, including street stocks and minis.

Driver comments…..

Joey Rudderham – Street Stock #67….. “Well I was very happy with the meeting and the new owners’ intentions. They seem very professional.  For this season, it may be a surprise for a lot of people, but I’m not racing my own car.  I’ll be driving Steve Bennett’s #5.  We’ll run all the races in Sydney.  I still have my own car as a back up.”

Fred Broussard Jr. – Napa Sportsman #76…. “The meeting was positive. I like the maritime set of rules for all the classes to run the same at every track.  It makes sense to me.  This, I think would help draw other drivers and car owners to Sydney.  I also liked their idea of possibly lengthening the straights depending on how things go in the future.  As for us, we will be looking forward to racing in Sydney this summer.”

Jeff Gilbert – Mini Stock #62…. “It’s great to see racing come back to Cape Breton, and they seem very passionate about it.  I like how Bill seems very concerned with safety. I’ve got another Neon that I’m going to make into a mini stock for this summer.”

Chris Reid – Napa Sportsman #8…. “I was planning on cutting back a bit this year, but with this announcement, we’ll run a couple of cars at least once this summer. Providing the show goes well, and the car counts are good, we’ll do them all.”

Darren Price – Napa Sportsman #29…” I feel the meeting went well. It will be interesting to see the upcoming changes to the track. I’m glad it’s reopening, and look forward to racing there again. I will be running all the sportsman races here as well as Riverside.  Brian MacLeod (#19) plans on running all of the sportsman races as well.”

Colin Nickerson – Mini Stock #19….” I certainly plan to run all 4 events.  I  thought the meeting was a good turnout and a positive start.   I’ll be headed to Peticodiac this weekend to pick up another old carbeurated Honda from Petty Raceway.”

Andrew Starks – Napa Sportsman #7….. “I’d be interested in racing there for an event.  It’s a long haul for us though.  But I just started a crane apprenticeship, and I don’t know where I’ll be working or how much time I’m going to have this summer. We’ll see how it goes.”

Vance MacDonald – Napa Sportsman #27….”I just sold my car and trailer in the fall. I wouldn’t have sold everything if I knew this was going to happen.  I’m  going to help Vince Jones with his sportsman this summer. I’d love to get back there with my own car.  Maybe next year I’ll build a car over the winter.”

Brandon MacMillan – Mini Stock #42 ….” I still have my car! I want to have some fun trading paint and laps with all the former and new drivers. I think the track is headed in a good direction. The new name, involving all the kids and the public. It’s shaping up to be an awesome summer thanks to Bill and Lynne!”

Colby Smith – Napa Sportsman #77…. “Right now, my plans are to run the Napa series’ races at Riverside, and some of the bigger Sportsman shows in the maritimes.  I’d like to come there for at least one race this summer, but it’ll depend on the schedule, and funds.”

Lynden MacDougall – Mini Stock #18….. “I got rid of the Honda, but I’m building a Sportsman. I’ll be running all of the Sydney races, as well as Riverside.  Really glad to see the track open.”

Shawn Waterfield – Napa Sportsman #23…. “They seem to have the right idea for what the speedway in Sydney needs.  Besides the obvious repairs, it needs proper public relations, promoting and the fact they have all the plans in the world to include the community is great too.  I have every intention on supporting and running all the races there.”

Joanna Hogan – Street Stock #43……”I’ll be using my old car for sure, with a few changes of course.  Can’t wait for the first race day, and  by the look of the turn out at the meeting, Bill and Lynne are definitely bringing the racing family back together.”

Dale Richardson – Napa Sportsman #55…. “You KNOW  I’m coming to Sydney.  I’ve got lots of family and friends there.  I’ll be running all 4 races there.”

Alan Biron, crew chief for John Biron – Napa Sportsman #57….. “If we don’t sell our Sportsman, our plan is to run a couple of the races this year.  We didn’t run at all last year. We also plan on rebuilding the street stock we used to run, but not sure if it will be this year. We’re  going to see how things pan out first before jumping right back into it.”

J.J. Cusack – Napa Sportsman #43…. “I think it’s absolutely great that the track is opening up again. I had already planned to take this season off, just to catch up on bills.  But, my son Dyllan is determined to race this year at the track.   He’s going to run my old street stock.   I’ll be there working with him.”

Mike Rozicki – Street Stock #44….. “I missed the meeting, but I’m going to race all the races they hold,  plus go to Petty Raceway for some of their events.  I’d like to go back to PEI too. I plan to keep busy all summer racing. We already started to make changes to the car to meet the rules.  I’m just so glad I kept my car.  I’m even thinking of building a car for my daughter.”

Jerry Hayes – Napa Sportsman #6….. “I haven’t raced there in years, so I’ll have to wait and see what happens with the Sportsman.  But I’m going to race a street stock there a few times.  Best of luck to Bill & Lynne, I hope it works out for them”

Harry Ross White – Napa Sportsman #18….. “I plan on running Scotia and the Napa Sportsman series at Riverside.  I want to run as many races this season as I can, and I do plan on going to at least 1 race in Sydney.  I think it’s great for Cape Breton if they are able to get the place fixed up and running.”

Josh Benac – Mini Stock #3….. “I’m really excited to be racing here in Sydney again.  To me it’s not only home, but it’s home of some of the best racers around.  I have some really good sponsors and looking forward to putting a good show on.”

Phil Barkhouse Jr. – Napa Sportsman #99…. “I’d really like to run at least once in Sydney this summer, as long as it doesn’t conflict with my schedule. My plans are Petty Raceway for points, the Cat 250 weekend at Scotia, Speedway 660’s big weekend, and all the Napa Sportsman races in Riverside.  If I can squeeze it in, I’m there.”

Darren Wallage – Napa Sportsman #3…. “Not sure about Sydney yet. We’re going to run Petty and Riverside, and some big races.”