Strong thunderstorms forced the postponement of Sunday, May 31^st's Mekkelsen Memorial day Classic at Thunder Road - round 2 of the ACT Texaco/Havoline Late Model Series.

The 150 lap event has been rescheduled for Sunday, July 5^th at 16:00.

Chris Fisher of Shelburne, VT won the first of 9 events on the Texaco/Havoline Late Model Series schedule sanctionned by A.C.T..

The Egglefield Ford Spring green, a 98 laps race, was slowed 11 times. Because of this the duration of the race was almost two hours and fortunately was not stopped for rain (the start had been delayed for rain). (details)

In a not so surprising release A.C.T. has announced that, due to the lack of pre-registration on the part of Quebec drivers, it has cancelled it's plans for a Quebec-drivers only Championship. This mini-tour consisting of six events to have been held at Plattsburgh (2), St-Félicien (3) and Sanair was to have a total championship fund of 15K of which $3K was going to the winner.

I say it is not surprising because drivers North of the border are still upset with the treatment veterant driver Yvon Bédard got last year during an Airborne LMS event in which he broke his heel and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. Coupled with the fact that these drivers have less performant cars they instead choose to compete in events held at Autodrome Chicoutimi and Autodrome Montmagny where dual track championships and a special combined championship, backed by Prolab, is being setup for them.

Meanwhile, in the same A.C.T. communiqué were are informed of Bédard's return to the Texaco/Havoline Series. We are unaware of other confirmed Quebec drivers at this time. The first race in the 8 race championship is held this coming Sunday at Airborne.

AMERICAN CANADIAN TOUR (ACT) the race sanctioning and promotional organization that produced the AMERICAN CANADIAN TOUR has announced it will administer the newly expanded 1998 Texaco/Havoline Late Model Series Schedule.

"ACT is in the early stages of a revival, having resolved the legal issues which disrupted it," said President Tom Curley. "The Late Models are positioned to have a key role in short track racing in the Northeast and Canada. They Deliver great racing for the fans and that should serve them well in this expanded Texaco/Havoline Series schedule."

The 9 race "Tour" will be competing in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Quebec. Surprisingly no events are scheduled at Autodrome Montmagny or Autodrome Chicoutimi (in Quebec), both hosting weekly LMS shows in 1998. It is at these tracks that the Circuit Ste-Croix LMS drivers will fall back following the recent announcement that the track will be adopting a special event only schedule.

At a recent rules meeting, during his address to competitors Tom Curley announced that the 1998 Texaco/Havoline LMS group would participate in an 8 race tour. Events are to be held at Thunder Road (2), Airborne (2), Canada (2), Canaan (1) and another New Hampshire (1) venue.

Meanwhile, there will be 17 weekly events at Thunder Road. With a similar number of events at Airborne the New England "smaller" series competitors will be racing more weekends (25) than the "bigger" Busch North Series!

Some of the things rummoured to be in Curley's future for the LMS group: spec Chevy 350 motors and a race a New Hampshire International Speedway.

M. P. Roy, Editor
Fabreville, QC

Mike Fortier Motorsport and it's driver Randy Potter will campaing a Late Model Sportsmen car at Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl and Texaco/Havoline Series events in 1998.

What's special about their team is they will be backed by "JUST HAFTA" brand racing apparel of Melbourne, Australia making it the first non-North American sponsor in the New England area and maybe in short track stock car racing.

An out-of-court settlement has been reached in the two-year legal battle involving Micheal Liberty, Oxford Plains Speedway and the former American-Canadian Tour (A.C.T.) and it's owner Thomas Curley. Details of the agreement were not available.

When A.C.T. folded two years ago, it did because of "an important sum of money" promised by Liberty for the drivers' point fund that never showed up in the Waterbury, VT coffers. Since I have no evidence that Curley had not kept is end of the deal I assume he got a good chuck of that money from the settlement or else why agree out-of-court? How much of it will stay in his pockets? My understanding (it needs to be verified) is that not all of the drivers received their paycheck that year. I bet A.C.T. will payup or be sued.

And once all is paid, can we assume A.C.T. will rise from the ashes? Will tour director Tom Curley go head-to-head with N.E.P.S.A. - once again runing "Tour Cars"/pro-stocks? Or will he attempt to run the LMS cars in a full tour (20+ events)? This reporter believes it will be a tour (15+ races) in LMS trim. Why? Last week Tom Curley was reportedly visiting tracks in the province of Quebec with Jean-Paul Cabana. I doubt it was to sign a couple of solo events.

M. P. Roy, Editor
Fabreville, QC

...Mike Fortier Motorsports has signed Randy Potter, a former Riverside Speedway Champion, for the full 1998 LMS Series calendar. They have secured partial sponsorship from The Logical view Co and are seeking additional help. Interested parties can contact Mike via email at lvc@ix.netcom.com

...It is rumoured that Jean-Paul Cyr's LMS equipement for sale and that he is in the market for a Busch Grand National North car. His plans would call for a participation in at least 6 BGNN events. Cyr was disqualified by Tom Curley during an event at Thunder Road in 1997 for a team member's pitroad actions judged detrimental to the sport. Cyr swears he will never turn a lap for Curley again!

...Tony Andrews has quit Mike Bruno's team where he was the crew-chief during the 1997 campaing and joined the Brian Hoar team.

...Joey Laquerre liked his 1997 Lime Rock truck adventure so much he has purchased a truck and plans on competing with it on a limited basis in 1998.

...Also in the truck department: Brent Dragon is rumoured to have sold all of his LMS racing equipement and is going truck racing with a big sponsor.

M. P. Roy, Editor
Fabreville, QC