SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 MOTORCYCLE MOJO 53right until halfway through the last lap,
when O’Leary and Card crash three
seconds apart leaving Casas to take the
win. It is awesome racing!
After the Pro 600 race, I visit the pad-
dock area, which is fully accessible to
all spectators at a CSBK event. From a
distance, I see a familiar face relaxing in
Mitch Card’s pit area as a crew of three
mechanics repaired Card’s bike. I used
to race with Bill Card, Mitch’s dad, in
the Amateur 600 class and I remember
a lot of fun weekends at the track with
him. Bill was very good: he almost won
the National Amateur championship in
2003 and went on to an impressive Pro
career. In 2004, Bill was promoted to
the Pro ranks and raced for years in Pro
600 and Pro Superbike, as well as a few
seasons in the Thunder class.
I ask Bill if he missed the racing. “No.
I don’t think I could be as competitive
as I would want to be,” he says. “The
fastest I ever went here was a 1:24.7 [lap
time] and I was in the lead pack battling
Crevier. This morning, my son went out
and did a 1:24.1.” Then, Bill laments the
fact that he didn’t begin racing until he
was 33 years old – Mitch began when
half that age. Bill is still lean, and I
suspect he would be very competitive
today. The bikes and tires are so much
better today than they were 15 years ago.
Battling with Steve Crevier? Now,
I had to admit that was a better story
than my brush with motorcycle fame. I
decide not to tell Bill I once held open
the St-Eustache washroom door for
two-time CSBK champ Michael Taylor.
All-Day Action
The Pro Superbike race also is a
barnburner, with Jordan Szoke, Kenny
Riedmann and Ben Young battling it
out in a tight pack. I am convinced
Szoke was just biding his time, sitting
in the catbird seat and ready to pounce
on Riedmann and Young to take the
win. But it doesn’t happen that way, as
Young scores the victory.
After the Amateur Superbikes race,
it is time for some off-track demo rides.
I had signed up for two Honda rides
- on a CBR500R and a CRF250 Rally.
I have been interested in the 500 as a
sensible upgrade for my wife from her
CBR250R. My ride is silky smooth and
the ergonomics feel as small as the 250,
but my wife will be the real judge.
The 20-minute demo rides are free
and well organized, and they offer
Room with a view. Perched on a hill in an ideal location allows for a good view of the track while getting someshade from the relenting sun.