Delaware Speedway: Night of Destruction this Friday

From John Houghton

NewsTalk 1290 CJBK night will be an evening not to be missed at Delaware Speedway. Friday night is the first scheduled Throne King’s RV Ramp Jump of the year. Kevin Overholt plans to pilot his Crown Victoria jump car, launch it over a set of ramps and straight through a pair of trailers.

Running support for the ramp jump will the wild Ultimate Sandblasting & Coating Chaos Cars in a special Friday night format. The last time the Chaos Cars hit the track, Gary Triska’s Blue Thunder took the win and moved to within striking distance of his chief rival, points leader Spencer Rabideau and his car Bush Bomb. What format the Chaos Cars run will remain a surprise until the day of the event, but fans can be sure it will be full of the crazy barrel turns and bus stops they have come to expect.

The evening, as well as a “night of destruction,” is aimed at supporting the Canadian Diabetes Association Clothesline Program, which hopes to collect four million kilograms of clothing during their 2009 campaign.

The Clothesline Program provides Canadians the opportunity to donate their reusable clothing and household items. It’s a free and convenient way for individuals to donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association, while doing their part to preserve our planet. 100% of the proceeds from clothing, which are sold at wholesalers across Canada, are used to support the Association’s mission of promoting the health of Canadians through diabetes research, education, service and advocacy.

Race fans and speedway staff are being asked to bring their reusable items to the race track that night to help the Diabetes Association reach its goal. Items accepted as donations include clothing, linens and shoes. The Diabetes Association will have trucks and staff on site to accept donations in support of Clothesline.

Also appearing at the track in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Clothesline program initiative is Strongman Len Elliott of London, Ontario. At 6’2, 375 lbs Len is the third strongest man in Ontario in Strongman competitions and the oldest competitor in the series at age 42. A strongman is person who performs feats of strength such as pulling trucks, farmers walk (walking distance with weights), grip holds events, Hercules holds, dead lifts (lifting weights off the ground) and much more.

“Six years ago I found out I am a type-2 diabetic,” explained Elliott. “This means I am dependent on insulin, but I do maintain my sugar with diet and other pills. Having learned that I tried out for strongman in 2004 for the first time ever. I trained for two months and placed seventh. Today I am the third strongest in Ontario.”

Len will be performing some of these feats of strength on the spectator hill throughout the evening, and plans to pull a truck down the front straightaway before the ramp jump.

“After getting the education from the diabetes association and seeing how valuable they are, I got involved volunteering doing presentations and weightlifting demonstrations for schools and groups,” said Elliott. “My principal message it to ‘get off your but’ - - I mean the ‘buts’ the prevent us from doing the things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle: ‘but, I’m busy, but I’m tired, but my tv show is on, but there’s not enough time’. The answer is to get off your butt and actually do something to be somewhat active. You don’t have to do what I do as a strong man, it’s about living a healthier lifestyle.”

The Throne Kings Ramp Jump itself will conclude the evening. Kevin Overholt has jumped through an RV once before, at the Delaware Speedway season finale last September. Overholt is very enthused about this jump and has been working hard this season to bring the jump to the track.

“There are many partners who came together to make this a reality,” said Overholt. “Ofners Auto Sales, Whitworth Towing, BDS Frame & Alignment, Rona (Commissioners & Highbury), A Daisy Limousine Services, Stewart Automotive, Paint Plus, AutoTrim Design, Ponderosa Campgrounds Thamesford, Crazy Night Productions, Cathcart Autoparts have all helped to make this possible.”

The main racing program on Friday will feature NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The Demar Aggregates Trucks, Delaware Super Stocks and POWERADE Modifieds will all be running their weekly racing programs. Gates open at 6:00 pm, racing starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available in advance through the speedway’s website www.delawarespeedway.com.