For Immediate Release
Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets
50th Annual Awards banquet
Best Western Cairn Croft, Niagara Falls, ON
November 22, 2015
by Cindy Lorenz
photos by Ralph Webb, Paul Husby and Cindy Lorenz
LUCAS OIL CAN-AM MIDGETS HOLD 50TH ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets held their Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday night for their 50th Anniversary Year. Mack DeMan picked up the Champion's Trophy for this very prestigious award driving TQ Midget #40 for Andy Mackereth. This was his 3rd consecutive Championship in the Lucas Oil sponsored car. Thanking his Dad, and Andy and Craig Mackereth for giving him this opportunity, he said it was an honor to win this Championship in the 50th Anniversary year.
A very special guest speaker attended the event and talked about the beginnings of the Club, where it has been, and the people in its past. Dave Cook, former Vice President and Media Director of the Can-Am Midget Racing Club brought back memories for those that were around 'back in the day' and taught the new drivers about the history of the Club and hopes that they will make us proud into the future.
Also in attendance on Saturday night were the family of the original owners of Johnny's Park in Beamsville, site of the very first race for the TQ Midgets, or attempt of one in 1965. Brian Romagnoli, son of the late owner John Romagnoli, his Mother Dorothy, brother and uncle all attended and reminisced about the time the TQ's first came to the track, how noisy they were, they went in the 'wrong' direction, and they wore helmets, compared to the go-karts that ran there. Then they brought out the very first poster from that 1965 season and presented it to Albert Banyard, one of the original founding members of the Club.
The Special Awards given out included 'The George McIntyre Memorial Rookie of the Year' to James Marche, 'The Rick Sykes Memorial Most Improved Driver' to Ryan Fraser, 'The Albert Banyard Sportsman of the Year' to James Marche, The 'Official of the Year' to Terry Watts, 'The Best Appearing Car and Crew Award' went to Ryan Fraser and 'The Harry Macy Mechanic of the Year' went to Craig Mackereth. The 2015 Annual President's Award was given to Albert Banyard.
Trophies with the special '50th Anniversary Can-Am Midget logo' were presented to the top 13 drivers and owners. They included..1. Mack DeMan, 2. Darren McLennan, 3. Ryan Fraser, 4. Rob Neely, 5. Brandon Zavarella, 6. Adrian Stahle, 7. Barry Dunn, 8. Tyler Turnbull, 9. James Marche, 10. Todd Cresswell, 11. Steven Murdock, 12. Craig Pitchell, and 13th Darren Dryden.
The celebrations went on until the early morning hours and everyone talked about looking toward 'Year 51'!
For more information on the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets including their long history, go to
www.canammidgets.com.
For more information, contact Cindy Lorenz at clorenz74@yahoo.com
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