1000 Islands Report (Special Edition) – OntarioOval.com Exclusive – By Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design - Just a few short weeks ago, the 2011 World of Outlaw Sprint car schedule was released, and much to the surprise of many area race fans, the Brockville Ontario Speedway was included, with an event lined up for Friday night, July 29th at the BOS.  This event will no doubt go down as the biggest in the rich, 40-year history of the Brockville Speedway.
 
“The World of Outlaw Sprints are about as big as it gets on a dirt, and we are very excited to host them this coming season”, says Paul Kirkland, owner of the Brockville Speedway for the past 15 seasons.  “The feedback we have received from local race fans has been outstanding.
 
Kirkland credits the DIRTcar Northeast Nationals, an annual event that was started back in 2009 as really establishing the BOS as a premiere racetrack.  “We feel that the Nationals really put the Speedway on the map.  Both years that we have done the Northeast Nationals, we had great crowds and great car counts.
 
The World of Outlaw Sprint car always draw a huge crowd at any track they visit, and in anticipation of that Kirkland will be bringing in extra seating for the event.  The Brockville Speedway will also be working with SLS Promotions, to work on sectioning off and numbering the seats in the main grandstand.
 
“We will be meeting up with representatives from SLS Promotions to section the grandstand, and number the seats.  Each ticket will include section, row and seat number like many other sporting events”, says Kirkland.  “A pit pass will get you into the pits, but if you come into the grandstand, you may have to stand, as the pit pass will not guarantee you a seat in the stands”.
 
The ever-popular Vintage Modifieds will join the Sprint cars on the schedule for the July 29th event.  With the event being held on a Friday night, many of BOS regulars are committed to running other tracks on other nights.
 
“We decided to go with the Vintage class to fill the schedule with the Sprint cars”, says Kirkland.  Many of our competitors from other divisions are already committed to running at other tracks on Friday nights, and we don’t want to jeopardize their points, and we don’t want to take away from the other tracks either.  Also, in the event of any rain on that night, it only made sense to include a division with wide tires, to help us keep the track worked in.  With no racing on the Saturday night following the World of Outlaws, and the Vintage cars, who run on a bi-weekly basis already scheduled for that weekend, it was the best decision for everyone involved”.
 
The Brockville World of Outlaw date is perfect timing for the series, as they race at the Ohsweken Speedway on the Wednesday night before.  From there, the teams will travel to Brockville for Friday nights event, then continue East into Quebec for a Saturday nigh race at Autodrome Drummond.
 
The remainder of the 2011 schedule for the BOS is yet to be determined, but Kirkland states that there will be no mid-week shows this season.  The Ontario Dirt Late Models will be back on the schedule, and the 3rd Annual DIRTcar Northeast Fall Nationals is on the schedule for mid October. 
 
In preparation for the fall nationals, Kirkland did point out that improvements would be made to the camping area located off turns three and four.  Crushed stone will be brought in to make access roads for the RV’s to avoid some of the problems that may occur in the case of wet weather.
 
2011 will be a season to remember for local race fans at the Brockville Ontario Speedway.  For more information, go to the official Brockville Speedway website at www.brockvillespeedway.com.

Craig Revelle – Finish Line Web Design – June 8, 2010 – For 39 years, Steve Bilow, of Kingston, Ontario has strapped himself behind the wheel of a racecar.  While most teams that he competes against are high dollar, heavily sponsored race teams, that are out there to win races and championships, “Stock Car” Steve is there for one reason…. to have fun.

The fun began for Bilow as a crewmember at the old Kingston Speedway.  He turned wrenches for Walter Pennock, and Jim Marlow.  In fact, the car number 20 that has adorned Bilow’s racecars for much of his racing career, was in reflection of the time he spent helping Walter Pennock who raced car number 20.

With spending so much time at the track, and in the race shop, Bilow himself was getting the itch to get behind the wheel of the car, and once he did, in 1971, the legend of “Stock Car” Steve began.

While winning a race would be nice, to be able to be out on the track, doing what he loves to do for so many years is something that many racers are not able to accomplish, and 39 years worth of memories means a lot to the driver know by many as “Stock Car” Steve.

“We have had a lot of great times over the years, and some pretty frustrating times too”, says Steve.  “I remember the night we won a B-Main feature at Can Am, we did a victory lane ceremony, and the crowd gave me a standing ovation.  That is something I will never forget”, recalls Bilow, describing his favorite memory of his storied career in motorsports.

There have been some tough times for Bilow as well.  Violent crashes, some wild flips have left some of his cars unsalvageable. He always persevered though, and always was back with a new car as soon as he could.

“The night that we flipped down the backstretch at Can Am, It was in the late 80’s or early 90’s.  I got up over another drivers rear tire, and did I wild flip, they say we flipped at least 9 times.  That was the worst crash that I was in, I was pretty sore for a while after that, but we bounced back, and was back at the track soon after”.

Bilow has raced at many different tracks all over Ontario, Quebec and through out New York State and Pennsylvania.  His favorite of them all is the New York State Fairgrounds.

“The mile is my favorite track by far”, claims Bilow.  “We have only raced their once due to the costs of racing there, but that was so much fun.  I still attend the race every year as a fan.

When Bilow is not at the track, he can be found working at his day job, at ALCAN in Kingston, working on his car at his Howe Island, Ontario home, or possibly out golfing, but where he really wants to be is strapped into his racing machine, out on the racetrack, and having some fun.

“I do this for the love of the sport, says Bilow.  “I have done this by myself for all these years, never having a major sponsor on the car like most people have.  I just want to thank all of the great fans for coming out to watch us drivers, and we welcome everyone to stop by after the race for a chat”.

It has been a great run for Bilow, and the legend continues, as he races weekly at Chapman’s Can Am Motorsports Park in Lafargeville, New York and at the Brockville Ontario Speedway on Saturday nights.

39 years and running for “Stock Car” Steve Bilow.  (Finish Line Web Design Photo)