Oh what a night!! 27th May 2006! Jim Hesmer Memorial.(New pics in links)

(one-two in the main, Aaron leads jeff)

After a week of wet weather the skies cleared and the sun came out for the season opener, The Jim Hesmer Memorial race, which was also the first event promoted by the SPG group. An excellent race track, no dust at all, set the table and the riders responded with some top notch exciting racing to the delight of the large crowd.
In a night that had lots to entertain the fans, plenty of passing, lead changes, tight finishes, spectacular rides and a spill or two, there was no doubt that the rider of the night was 20 year-old Aaron Hesmer who shook of the responsibilities of being the main man for the SPG group to wow the crowd with a dynamic performance as he went through the night unbeaten.
Four of his five wins were earned from the back and mostly with powerful bursts around the outside of his rivals instead of his patented inside line.His first win came when he slipped inside when Bobby Muszynski hooked up and drove across the track just regaining control before he hit the boards. His last came in the final when he caught and passed Jeff Orosz to take the win with American Brian Hollenbeck and Joe Heye following them home.
But the most exciting was a tremendous battle with Joe Heye in which Hesmer just found enough drive in the run to the line to catch and inch ahead of Heye as the flashed over the line. The winning margin couldn't have been more than a tire width!
Other spectacular moments came when Jeff Orosz picked up traction coming out of turn four and wheelied for almost the entire length of the straightas he fought for control. Being Jeff he won the battle and the race too. Then Peter Fornal looped and came off as he left the line in one race while American Andy Crawford slid off and into the boards a couple of times, one at each end of the track.
Bobby Muszynski, making his return to the track after a two year absence, is still the same exciting rider and but for the mistake in his first ride would have made the final. Rob Dixon was another to show well in a couple of races.
With one of his falls costing him points, Andy Crawford had to win his final race to take D2 honours which he did in fine style with Terry Rideout and Tim Murray swapping places behind him with Rideout finally taking second in the race and on the night.
Instead of D3 a Veterans class was added to the program. In this George Lavender from Welland make a dream debut , five comfortable wins in five races to easily finish in front of Alan Chisholm and Peter Fornal.
D one..Aaron Hesmer. 16 pts. Jeff Orosz. 15 pts. Brian Hollenbeck. 12 pts. Joe Heye. 12pts.
D two..Andy Crawford. 16 pts. Terry Rideout. 15 pts. Tim Murray. 12 pts.
Vets....George Lavender. 20 pts. Alan Chisholm. 15 pts. Peter Fornal.1 0 pts.
Thanks to Duncan Luke for this report and results.