All Good Things Come To An End

Friday, September 25th ends Scotia Speedworld’s shortest season in history and the most anticipated one.

COVID-19 knocked the world for a loop and closed most outdoor sports and events. Public Health restrictions prevented racers from participating and fans from attending races. The most asked question in our world was “do you think we will be able to race this year?” A good question, but for the longest time there wasn’t an answer.

Four months and four days after the scheduled opening event of 2020, race teams competed on the tight paperclip that is Scotia Speedworld. The date was Aug 21st. The cars and stars were at the track, but fans were not. Gathering rules in Nova Scotia prevented Scotia from hosting fans. Looking from the pits towards the grandstands was an eerie scene. Flagman Rob Bowness was the only human to be seen when looking across the track. One man holding down the fort.

Friday, September 25, 2020 will complete our 2020 season. Sincere thanks to the drivers and crews of the cars that competed with us over our season. Your ‘never give in’ attitude was very much welcomed. Thanks also to our staff, for rolling with schedule changes and manning their positions on race day. They may be faceless to most but are the essential glue that holds racing together at Scotia. I have the honour of working with these folks during our racing season. They truly do what they do for the love of the sport. Finally, to the fans who have come to the races in increasing numbers. Thank you for sticking with us as we were able to open the grandstands. To those who, due to health issues or fear of COVID-19, who stayed away from the track, I understand and respect individual decisions to do what was best for you.

As we move towards Friday’s season closing race, I thank you all. The racing community is small compared to the general population, but we stuck together and worked through this. To those who wore their masks and self distanced, knowing that this is what we had to do in order to race, thank you.

Those of us living in Nova Scotia have had an exceptionally tough year emotionally and the Bluenose ‘stick-to-it-ness’ was evident to all. Every racer, staff person, crewmember, fan and sponsor were COVID-19 fighters. For that, I tip my hat and say thank you.

~Ken Cunning