By: Merrittville Speedway
June 25 2018
Thorold, Ontario – For 35 years, Cotton Inc has provided the best value on concrete foundations and construction materials.
On Saturday July 14th, Niagara’s complete concrete contractor is set to help Merrittville Speedway’s Reunion Committee celebrate the foundations of the sport by presenting the Annual Nostalgia Night that will feature the S&W Service Centre 358 Modifieds in the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial and the CAA Niagara Wall of Fame Inductions.
“On behalf our fans of today and our Alumni … we’re looking forward to honouring this year’s Inductees,” said Merrittville’s Reunion Committee Chairman Rick Kavanagh, “both Barry Davidson and Steve DeVos come from racing families … both were racers themselves before becoming Officials. We’ll leave the new CAA Niagara Dedication to Racing Award Winners to July 14th … it’s going to be a great night as always to get a glimpse of how racing was with the Vintage Race Cars on display and on the track. Hopefully many of our Alumni can join us as we celebrate 67 Seasons.”
Former Drivers and their crew members, Engine Builders and anyone that has been a part of the sport are reminded that the deadline is Saturday July 7th for RSVPs which can be e mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via phone to Committee Member Erica Bicknell-Jones at 905-687-2595.
For Alumni, the ticket includes a catered dinner and admission to the event for $15.
With his Dad Bob Davidson a racer growing up, Barry Davidson began his involvement as a teen ager working in the infield as a cornerman before becoming assistant starter until he became a racer himself at Merrittville and the former Speedway Park.
Davidson would return to his roots as an official retiring from driving to become starter at both Ransomville and Merrittville.
Barry would put the flags away to help out his grandsons Tyler and Dylan as they would join the Tuesday Night Kart Racing and followed Dylan into Saturday Night’s Mod Lite Division to the Sportsman Division where Dylan still competes today.
Also growing up in the sport, Steve DeVos’ first involvement came watching his Dad Jim who was a racer at Checkered Flag Speedway in Windsor.
After the family moved to the Niagara area, it wasn’t too long that he would attend races at Merrittville as a fan. In the early 80’s he would become a racer himself and through a Driving Career won Championships in 1987, 1992 and 2002 at his Saturday Night home.
In recent years, Steve also became an official that started driving the pace car, into the infield as a cornerman before becoming Assistant Starter to then Starter Doug Leonard. For the last 6 seasons, DeVos has been Starter.
The Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series program will feature the S&W Service Centre 358 Modifieds in the 50 lap Jerry Winger Memorial which honors the two time champion who passed away at a young age in the late 50’s due to illness.
The David Chevrolet Sportsman, Central Fabricating & Welding 4 Cylinder and Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre V6 Divisions and Vintage Race Cars will round out the racing action.
A huge part of the night is all the reminiscing that takes place in celebration of the track’s now 66 consecutive seasons. The Drivers of the past enjoy meeting with the fans of today – many that can remember the early days of the sport. Just as drivers today can be second or third generation, so too are some fans.
Race fans will want to stop by the newly renovated Honker’s Turn 1 Bar to check out the display of memorabilia from the collection of Reunion Committee Chairman Rick Kavanagh.
Just before race time at 7 PM, the 2018 Inductees into the CAA Niagara Wall of Fame will take place on the front stretch atop the CAA Stage at the start finish line. 2 Auto FX Graphics creations will honor the newest inductees Davidson and DeVOs in addition to the CAA Niagara Dedication to Racing Honorees.
Cotton Inc’s Nostalgia Night begins when the Pits Open at 5:00 and the Grandstands open at 5:30 with Show Time at 7:00.
Cotton Inc. has evolved over the last 30 years to provide everything required you’re your foundation packages using their own manpower, equipment and materials. Whether it’s a foundation or a basement floor, a driveway, patio or sidewalk – with Cotton you are sure to have everything coordinated with just one phone call.
Cotton will manage every step of your project to ensure your complete satisfaction. Cotton has the equipment and expertise to assist you with all your excavation projects. With it’s lugger and roll off service, Cotton can be your complete waste removal remedy – with bins of any size for removal and recycling of concrete, fill and construction materials in addition to paper, glass, metal and cardboard.
Cotton Ready Mix has a complete fleet of equipment to service your Ready Mix needs including conveyors, straight trucks and concrete pumps.
To reach Niagara’s Complete Concrete Contractor … call Cotton at 905-262-2000 or visit them on line at http://www.cottoninc.ca.
For further information – call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com
For all the news on Merrittville Speedway’s 2018 Season, Race fans and Race teams alike can follow Merrittville on Face Book https://www.facebook.com/groups/merrittvillespeedway/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/Merrittville?lang=en
MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY SPONSORS The 2018 67th Anniversary Bobcat of Hamilton Weekly Racing Series for Merrittville Speedway’s 6 Divisions is brought to race fans and racers by division sponsors – S&W Service Centre, David Chevrolet, Hoosier Tire Canada, Vansickle Pet Valu & Groomingdale’s, Central Fabricating and Welding and Dave’s Auto & Speed Centre in addition to many marketing partners Visit them at http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/sponsors.htm and visit them when you require their products and/or services.
Celebrating more than15 years of serving the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara Regions, Bobcat of Hamilton is a leading provider of compact equipment for a wide variety of markets – striving to empower customers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
To learn more about more about the Bobcat of Hamilton Advantage click on www.bobcatofhamilton.com.
Bobcat of Hamilton … One Tough Animal!