Merrittville Memories by the Reunion Committee

06/05/2026

ATTN: Merrittville Alumni!

Reach out to a committee member, message us here, or email [email protected] to RSVP today!

06/04/2026

For this weeks Throw Back Thursday,I thought I would play a bit of THEN &NOW. I picked five of our CAA Wall of Fame families & posted photos both from back in the day at Merrittville &last week.
(New Photos courtesy of Steve Ruddy).

It was nice to race under clear skies with tremendous car counts in the pits &a packed grandstand full of families present for the Big Bike Giveaway hosted by Tim Breadman at AutoF/X Graphics & his Niagara Trail Maintenance Association. Over 125 kids went home with new wheels!

On track there were close to 29 Mod Lites in the pits which necessitated a Consi. and close to the same in the mini stock division where Cierra Keus would win her feature. So far this season the ladies are winning the division. Check out our story at the Merrittville Memories website-Ladies of Merrittville Speedway.

In honour of Brent Begolo winning his Feature in his new #16 Mod Lite & Brad Rouse holding off Lindberg on the high side ,making for a thrilling finish in the Modified finale, here is Then &Now in photos & please read the captions.
-Enjoy &Thanks-RickK.

06/03/2026

Recently attended the Friday &Monday Cruise nights at Merrittville. I swear Mother Nature is following us all around this year with cloudy skies ,but it was still a fun &relaxing chance to visit with friends &catch up on the car hobby. These photos are from Alumni member &race fan ,Helen Simpson. So pull off the car cover & polish up the paint &join us at Merrittville Eats in The Merrittville Speedway parking lot . It is all free &Thanks again Helen for sending the photos,adding to our Merrittville Memories!

05/29/2026

Attention Merrittville Speedway Alumni,

If you have not yet RSVP'd for this years 75th Anniversary Reunion Night on Saturday June 13th, please do so by June 6th.

Please RSVP to any of our Committee Members or send an email to [email protected]

*** If you are Merrittville Speedway Alumni and have not received an official invite, please message us here, contact a Committee Member or email [email protected] ***

05/28/2026

I am posting this weeks Throwback Thursday a bit early , so I can catchup on yard work tomorrow as we expect a sunny weekend in time for the big bike giveaway hosted by our sponsor, Tim Breadman at AutoF/X graphics at Merrittville Speedway.

Before that, I wanted to highlight in photos Larry Czinege who had a Championship career both as an engine builder at CRE, & also as a Championship Limited Sportsman ,Sportsman &Modified car owner driver. You will learn more about Larrys Championship career on June 13/26 during our 75th anniversary Reunion Night celebration.

We will also be awarding the Two Ricks, Rick Agnew &Rick Kavanagh with The CAA Niagara Dedication to Racing Award. It is a very humbling experience to receive this honour ,something very unexpected as I have spent most all of my career at Merrittville Speedway behind the scenes making sure others were honoured on our CAA Wall of Fame. Since 1995 ,writing Merrittville Memories & Chairing The Reunion Committee has been for the most part a fun journey in preserving our history at Merrittville & it is unbelievable to think that we will present CAA Niagara Wall of Fame plaques to our 89th&90th recipients this June 13/26. Since I was told the news ,I think of my Dad who will be 95 this year who started our family on this journey in 1955.-unreal.

For Rick Agnew ,I have known him since the Halliwell,H&H racing days, but Rick was also on the pit stand side by side with Bob St.Amand sr. working the microphone &chalkboard. Today Rick can be seen slightly elevated just off the turn two ramp with flags in hand ,as a safety flagman .Turn two is one of the best vantage points to watch a race from as cars go down the backstretch ,but I am sure that the drivers feel safer with Rick Agnew in the turn alerting them of possible hazzards.

I am sure that if I can speak for Larry ,Rick &myself , we are both humbled & honoured ,but we were just doing what ever it took to support this sport & Merrittville Speedway . We are fortunate to have the Oldest Dirt Track in Canada in our backyard& it is hard to believe it is the 75th,where has the time gone.

05/26/2026

I came across this post made by Mario Andretti,just after this years Indy 500. It does not matter at what level you raced ,but it is important to keep your priorities straight. We all travel a journey ,we just do not know where it leads. But appreciation &respect are two words that I take away from his post. Racing may be a means to an end but it is only one part of the journey. You are never too old to learn ,so get up every morning have a coffee near the garden, take Georgia for a walk & go tinker on your cars &just maybe the grandkids will stop by for a visit. Life is too short & who needs the stress. I spent 50years of going out the driveway everyday,it feels good to have some privacy & tranquility in rural Fenwick.

Mario Andretti recently shared a heartfelt reflection on his extraordinary life:
“At 84 years old, I wake up every morning grateful. I have a beautiful home in California, I spend time with my lovely wife Dee Ann, my children, and my grandchildren. Life is peaceful now. I play golf, I tinker with my cars, and I enjoy the simple things — something I didn’t always have time for when I was racing.

But when I close my eyes, I still go back to those golden years.
The roar of the engines at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway… the feeling when you drop the clutch and the car launches forward… battling wheel-to-wheel with legends like A.J. Foyt… winning the 1969 Indy 500… becoming Formula 1 World Champion in 1978. Those moments still give me chills.

I remember the danger too. We raced without the safety we have today. Every time I got in the car, I knew it could be my last. But that’s what made it so special. We raced with pure passion. No politics, just raw speed and courage.

I was lucky. I got to live my dream. I came from a small town in Italy, moved to America with almost nothing, and somehow became one of the few drivers in history to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and the Formula 1 World Championship.

Now, looking back, I don’t think about the trophies first. I think about the journey, the friendships, the sacrifices my family made, and the incredible life racing gave me.

To the young drivers today, I say this: Respect the sport, respect your competitors, and chase your dreams with everything you have. Because one day, you’ll be an old man like me… smiling at all the memories.

I’ve lived a hell of a life. And I wouldn’t change a single lap.”
— Mario Andretti 🏎️❤️

05/24/2026

Mother Nature so far does not like Saturday nights,so I thought that I would share some vintage race cars that will parade on track tomorrow at the Indianapolis 500 prerace . The race at Charlotte is under rain delay as I write this & the forecast calls for a wet Canadian GrandPrix for tomorrow.
Best of luck to all drivers tomorrow for safe racing!

05/22/2026

This weekend is Traditionally the biggest one in Automobile racing. While we will continue to celebrate our75th anniversary at Merrittville Speedway ,the Biggest Race in the World at Indianapolis will take place for the 110th time, the Canadian Grand Prix &The World 600 all will happen on Sunday. While Alexander Rossi is recovering from his crash he is cleared to race & will be on track today for carb day.
Unfortunately our sport lost a driver very suddenly ,yesterday who won his final race just a week ago ,Kyle Busch . Just last Monday night ,Hanna Rothwell told everyone why she had M&Ms painted on her race car,while in victory lane at Merrittville. Life is fragile.
Kyle Busch was a very intense competitor &Champion ,but more importantly a husband & father ,like the rest of us.
So as we watch the race cars all turn left this weekend ,whether it is at Merrittville Speedway ,Indianapolis, or Charlotte ,please keep the Busch Family in your thoughts &all the competing race drivers for a safe weekend Condolences to the Busch Family on such a sudden &tragic loss from all of us at The Oldest Dirt Track in Canada !
Rick K.

05/20/2026

Last evening I had a visit from the St.Amand/ Wininger family. Had a chance to visit with Bill ,Dave &Dean. At the end of our visit, The Wininger Family donated a bike for May 30th at Merrittville Speedway in support of our sponsor AutoF/X.
For this weeks Throw Back Thursday, of which I am posting early ,we take a look back at the restoration of MudBuss #1 .The race car has come together in less than 7months due to Deans never ending hard work ,with a multitude of help &donations from the local racing community .
As I am also immersed within the car hobby,I can appreciate the attention to detail that Dean has taken this project to. Dean shared that John Pierce would try to install the engine today &the hand painted art work involved in lettering the car is making MudBuss #1 look complete. When you see the completed car at Merrittville Speedway as part of our Legacy display on June 13/26,it will be 1981 all over again when it comes to life.
The Wininger Family ,Dave &Dave compete at Merrittville Speedway every Saturday night with their very nice #12 Mustang mini stock. Please read the photo captions.
See you on June 13/26 &if you are Alumni please make sure to RSVP by contacting [email protected].