Bailey

Our home town race!  Allan’s been going since it’s inception in 1986.  I’ve been going since I’ve had Allan.  Try as hard as Allan did we could not gain permission to bring Bailey so we stayed at the Delta Hotel Toronto. This year’s room was the nicest ever.  Bathroom was floor to ceiling windows. Love the view!

Pre-race activity… James Hinchcliffe @Hinchtown insisted on taking photos with us prior to the race. How could we refuse???

So glad the Stadium Super Trucks were back.  They are such fun!! Certainly a must see!!  Thanks @RobbyGordon

Next up Nascar Pinty’s  Series.

Everyone’s hero!  @robertwikens drove an Arrow-modified Acura NSX in the pre-race ceremonies.  He also gave the command for the 22 IndyCar drivers to start their engines.

 

 

 

The highlight of the weekend IndyCar  (Whoops too busy enjoying the race to take photos)

 

 

We are settled into the park.  We’ll be using Bailey as a cottage for the summer.  Next trip is August when we will be attending 2 Indy races.

Today is a do nothing, much deserved day.  Allan built us a fire.

Dinner and of course the Traeger smoke never gets old for Allan

For those of you who know Allan well, his relaxation includes reading Bailey manuals.

My relaxation includes sitting by the fire

Not our plate but love it!

 

Finally! Bailey pick up day! Sicards claim the repairs are all complete. We doubt it but are so anxious to get Bailey to the park.

Uber picks us up at 6am. It’s amazing how we normally get their worst drivers. This guy thought it was appropriate to drive at or below the speed limit in the fast lane.  While crossing the Burlington Skyway Bridge a pissed off driver decided he should let the Uber know the error of his way and cut us off so close we thought this was it.

Now at Sicards and of course everything is not done. To avoid another meltdown, I won’t recount the issues but we didn’t leave until 12:45 with still not everything done, 53267km.

We head to Newmarket through all the traffic, traffic, traffic…

Make it to Newmarket to load Bailey up, get fuel. Side story:  I’m parked off to the side in my vehicle waiting for Allan to fuel and decide to take a photo of Bailey.  The black tow truck had just pulled in to wait at the side for his next tow.  He sees me taking the photo and pulls up to me and asks “Why are you taking my picture?” Guilty of being more than a

Arrive in Sutton 430ish.  Our spot is very tight to back in to, a few wiggles and we’re in. This is one of the warmest days so far. The heat makes setting up a bit slower, but we get it done.

Final setup…the flag 😊

Now chillin and campfire time.

We have a leisurely breakfast and leave 10.

The turn 3 gate is now open but so narrow.  Allan paces it and determines we’ll make it.

Another race weekend over!

Today is filled with races. Our favourite of the weekend is the Nascar Pinty’s Series. The sun is shining so we brave the rickety Michelin overpass bridge and settle to watch the race at the start/finish line.

First the skydivers, GERONIMO! SKYDIVING TEAM

Oh no, where is the sun? It’s getting cloudy, very windy and cold! We stick it out as long as we can and then seek Bailey’s comfort.

 

Then a crash before our eyes. He gets it going and drives away.

The skies open up but fortunately all the racing is over.

We loved the weekend even with this crazy weather.

 

First race starts at 9am, it’s going to be a busy day.

We go to the front straight, whoa!! A very many step-up overpass Michelin bridge to get to the other side of the track. Neither of us are fans. Doesn’t look intimidating from this side.  

Make it and watch from the start finish line for a while.

On our way back to Bailey we stop at turn 2 but first we grabbed a bevvie.

Our neighbours arrive, they are from Quebec and have a Winnebago Gran Tour. Should have gotten a better photo, only see the back sticking out.

We do venture to turn 5 and watch there for a bit.

7pm a band is playing to be followed by fireworks.

The on track activities are over so we walk on the track back to Bailey where we’ll watch the fireworks. 

A well-deserved glass of wine and fireworks!

OFF to bed we go

Still looks like a shopping cart, but it a recycle bin!!

Cool being woke up with cars on the track. We have a great view from the captain chairs so don’t have to rush out.

Off next to check out the infield activities, not much happening today. We’re in the Beer Garden and I get a free beer. Allan selects a 61 which is named after the year the track opened.

The grounds are beautiful we walk through the wood heading back to Bailey.

More campers arriving.

Head to the stands at turn 2, awesome view!

Racing! So much fun 😊

Wake up very excited!  On our way to pick up Bailey for the race weekend at 10:30a.  Get to the campground, load up and off we go to Clarington at 11:28. 52,861km.

Drive to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park takes about 2 hours with only 1 “oh shit” wrong turn moment. 

We thought the gate at Peace Bridge was narrow, nope!  We now know what is narrow, the entrance to this park.  Fortunately, Allan was super cool we get through relatively easily.  

Allan knows the track very well having driven here in years gone by so we drive directly to corner 3 our spot 3O06, turn 3, 6^th spot.

Allan is happy installing his GenTuri! I don’t get it, but he loves it. He also uses the jack stands for the first time.

There is some track activity and we are pleased with our view. It’s not too busy yet giving us an opportunity to scope out the place.

What’s that across the track? A shopping cart mounted to the roof of a car?

We wander over and yes that is exactly what we’re seeing. 

This is Bailey as seen from across the track.

Allan is in heaven!  This just never gets old!!

We end the night visiting our neighbours fire.

 

 

 

Bailey reunion day!  It will be a short lived reunion but excited to get her. 

We leave for the dealer in Smithville at 8:40a, eta 10:22a.  Almost there but whoops, detour! The road we normally take is closed due to construction so we follow the Detour Route.  We drive and drive and drive, finally arriving at the dealer at 10:50a.  Forgot to take a photo 🙁

Head back, you have to love Toronto traffic – it’s brutal! It is worse than this photo depicts.  Make it home at 1:30.  We fill up with fresh water and Allan attempts to install our new Genturi but the connection fitting we require is not included.  Amazon here we come! 

2:21 Off to the campground. Kyle is here so he rides with Allan and I follow.

We know our actual site is not available yet because the trailer currently occupying it is not out yet.  It is still too wet to move.  Way too much rain this season.

We are storing it there, looks a little lonely, until Thursday when it’s off to the races. 

This will be our spot! The decorative well, trailer and deck have to be removed. Learned today we are to cut the grass, but at least we have 50amp.

We are pretty excited and doing the …We have a spot for the summer in a campground in Sutton, and have 50amp power which is more than we thought we’d get at this point.

We are picking up Bailey on Saturday, bringing her to the camp where our spot isn’t ready yet but they have agreed to store her.

Thursday, we pick her up and head to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, the track previously known as Mosport, for the Castrol Victoria Day Speedfest.

Weekend after that we bring Bailey back to the dealers as they still are not finished the repairs.

Anxiously excited, for the races, not bringing her back to the dealer!!