08/28/2026
This weeks Throwback Thursday will also spill over in to Fast Friday,since I had to catch up on some outdoor painting between the raindrops yesterday. I call this one Perseverance &Dedication!
I have picked three racing families who like others have deep racing roots at Merrittville Speedway & also contacted me with a couple of photos to share.
1/ It goes without saying that Ray &Brian Stevens continue to invoke many great Memories for all that knew them & for me personally Ray &Brian were always examples of perseverance &dedication , never allowing an obstacle to block their desire to live our racing life & compete from their modest shop on the Western Hill near Ridley College, sometimes on a shoestring.
I know in the early days Bruce Swartz, Ray &his brother Neville were inseparable when Ray started his driving career, as in later years were Ray &Brian, Harry Sittler & crew were when Brian started to drive his .
It is no secret that Brian &I became friends on the grandstand side long before he became a driver then ,being mentored by his Dad ,Ray ,&Harry Sittler,amongst others. One of my most favourite photos is the one posted here taken by Alex Bruce in 1985 &is included within our Photo Wall project at Merrittville.
This is how I remember both of them at their favourite location, in the pits on a Saturday night. -See photo.
Very pleased that Ray &Brian's legacy can live on through Melissa &Amanda. -Thanks!
2/ A couple of weeks ago I posted a Throw Back based on a request from Tim Hatt re; Alfie Roebuck, but I just received a photo with a request& I am hoping that our racing community can help?
Tim has been told that his old race car /Olsen Chassis is still arond the area locally. If anyone has information on it's whereabouts Please let us know or contact Tim Hatt directly. I have posted two photos of the Olsen chassis when Tim Hatt drove it&then after it was sold to former driver Ron Duplantis.-See photos.
3/ I received a couple of photos from Rob Disher. Rob has a long career of driving at Merrittville on dirt & at other tracks such as Flamboro on asphalt. Rob had a tough season in 2025 basically writing off his #17 in a crash then reconstructing a new very stock appearing #17 Monte Carlo then selling it to rookie competitor Spencer Maytum #12 who is 11 th in points for 2026- our75th anniversary season.
Rob is never one to follow a trend rather a traditionalist, who perseveres with the metric based Monte Carlo in the Hoosier stock division at Merrittville. While Rob had to miss most all of our 75th season while building this car, which he had hoped would be ready for Reunion night,it will also be an exercise in perseverance on a tight budget from his modest shop in Grimsby . when you see the photo &read the caption, you will understand.
Rob even without his car ready attended our 75th celebration as Alumni supporting the Reunion Committee's efforts &we Thankyou as we salute you for your 40th year of Dedication to our sport& hope to see your pink Monte Carlo in support of Breast Cancer Awareness in victory lane in 2027. -RickK.