WINDSOR, NY

A nice crowd of approximately 50 people gathered at McBride's Restaurant and Pub in Windsor, New York, to help celebrate the completion of another fine year of speedway motorcycle racing on the East Coast. Most of the riders in attendance are still going strong with racing, as they are now competing in the North American Indoor Ice Racing Championship Series!

A great lasagna meal was put on by owner and speedway legend Tuff McBride. After dinner, promoter Jason Bonsignore kicked off the awards presentations with a gift to McBride for hosting the event. McBride, well known for his love of green over his career and his green leathers, was given a pair of green Vans tennis shoes with green shamrocks on them - very fitting for McBride! Bonsignore also presented McBride with the George "Iron Horse" Lewis award for most dedicated rider.

The following were awarded points or track championships: Spencer Portararo, as the Action Park, Champion Speedway and overall East Coast points winner in Junior Speedway; Henry Calpin, as the Action Park Support B champion; Brian Bailey, as the winner of the Champion Speedway and overall East Coast championship in Support B; Dwight Basa, as the Action Park, Champion Speedway and East Coast points champ; and Adam Mittl (leading, below), for winning both track titles and the East Coast title in Division One speedway.

Bonsignore had a list of special awards, starting with the Karl Humphrey Sportsmanship plaque, which was won by Josh Carr. Next up was the Gary Ford Rookie Of The Year award, which went to 57-year-old Don Wheeland, who had a fine rookie season! Most Exciting Rider of 2009 was Andy Crawford. Unsung Hero plaques were handed to Ron Hills, for his work promoting speedway on television; to announcer "Crazy Crash" Kraig Moss; to scorer Debbie Calpin; to worker Russ Cornell Jr.; and to sponsors Mike Banks of Fleetsource and Stefan Laessig of All Balls Racing. The Sponsor Of The Year was Mike DeFord at Bully Dog Technologies.

Bonsignore closed out the evening by thanking special staff workers such as Tim Mathewson, Russ Cornell, John and Tyler Vassil, Cindy and Kendal Brookes, Bill and Troy Hohn, Jen Brink, Dennis Craven, Kirk Valiquette, Karen Davis, and all who helped make the year possible. He concluded by saying that speedway will be back as strong as ever next spring for another great year and that the ice race series may be expanding to even more dates this winter. The group heads to Utica on December 20 and to Syracuse on December 27 for the next two tour stops!