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economist suntribine sports thursday aug 15 2002 27 tire problems plague gibbons in cascar race peter gibbons might have a recurring nightmare about last weekends trip to montmagny quebec to compete in the cascar super series snap on tools 200 race qualifying 12th for sundays feature race the stouffville resident manoeuvered his canadian tire chevrolet to the front of the pack by lap 139 and maintained his advantage for the following 30 laps before faced with a decision when you are leading with only 30 laps to go and the car is like a rocket should you pit for tires gibbons asked himself on lap 169 gibbons slid back to second handing the lead to eventual winner dave whitlock and found himself fight ing the car to get it to turn with 17 laps remaining the caution flag came out again and he brought his vehicle down pit road to try and rectify the problem the crew changed a right front tire and sent him back out gibbons would eventually finish eighth looking back gibbons thought he had run a race that should have earned him the checkered flag unfortunately his tires gave way at an inopportune time we had them covered i was half a track ahead and just cruising and then the tires went away the way the track was coming apart we must have picked something up he remarked i thought we had this one wrapped up i guess we will have to wait until next week to visit the winners circle he lamented gibbons next race on the cascar super series circuit is sunday at kawartha downs speedway in peterborough peter gibbons stouffville driver held the lead for 30 laps fastball could use some flair i attended an oshawa and district fastball league game at memorial park last week although the hometown mennos lost to mount albert it was a well- played contest that until the middle innings could have gone either way but something was missing an ingredient once so much a part of this great canadian pastime call it colour call it excitement call it passion call it what you like it wasnt there not on the field and not in the stands the razzmatazz once so much a part of this sport was strangely absent the scene resembled a cemetery and nine tombstones the silence was deafening spectators of which i was one cheered lustily when a mennos out fielder completed a dazzling running catch but his mates showed no emotion spectators roared approval when mennos manager howie burkholder turned in a sparkling double play but his mates reacted placidly there was vigorous applause when mennos hurler byron baranieski fired three straight strikes past a mount albert cleanup slugger but his mates responded inaudibly this i say is whats wrong with fast ball today its being played in a voiceless vacu um much like tennis golf and chess remember the game when stouffvilles bob hassard poled a pitch from port perrys bill harper that exited the park and landed in the old arena tim thomas parking lot ida his mates to a man lined up at the plate to greet their conquering hero remember the night when stouffvilles stan miller belted a ball over the rightcentrefield fence that ended up near the outdoor pool i do fans cheers were audible on main street remember the game when neil smith challenged a 60foot elm tree in leftcentre and drove a blast above its branches i dont but a published report says the crowd went wild that was then this is now the game hasnt changed performers are just as skilled but the razzledazzles gone its chinese checkers on an infield cut out players have no one to blame but themselves theyre the focus theyre the hub theyre the heart what they do or dont do reflects on the fans spectators react as much to what they hear as what they see its conta gious other additives are also needed for example the main diamond requires a scoreboard can you imagine exiting a hockey game and not knowing the result as in the good old days a public address system could also be utilized with some john philip sousa music before each contest starts import umpires with a little flare like thewilf morleys the swifty todds and the al piettes of yesteryears when a ball is a ball and a strike is a strike lets hear it spectators are just as interested as the pitcher and catcher maybe more so take up a collection any game worth its salt warrants an offering and a backstop screen cap is required while the town has done a sparkling diamond fencing job a roof section is obviously missing but these are extras all easily cor rected more important is the performance of actors on the field if theyre playing for themselves keep it subdued keep it quiet keep it to themselves if theyre playing for the fans then toss some theatrics into the equation itll pay big dividends like a full house every night i say let the backroom boys tear out their hair seeking solutions to a fast dis appearing sport theyll not find it there the answers are where the action is in small town ontario and let it begin in stouffville oto uttvi he rea vnupches welcome you wideman mennonite church sunday aug 18th 2002 1030 am worship service speaker sue fallon church office 6406219 for a ride call 6404185 stouffville baptist church a fellowship church 6273 main street sunday aug 18th 2002 missionary sunday worship service 1 100am with doug linda the boys the ferrett five all day evening service 630pm refreshments after please join us for a very special day august 25 th rev robert gatto your life either sheds a light or casts a shadow for information call 905640291 1 all welcome gqd bless we cafe iii the anglican parish of christ church 254 sunset blvd stouffville the rev robert a shields 905 6401461 sunday aug 18th 2002 1 3th sunday after pentecost 800 am holy communion 1000 am choral eucharist church school and nursery provided everyone welcome email christchurclistouffvillcsynipaticoca web site www3syrnpaucocachristchurchstouffvilie to advertise in this section please call tail reeves 9156402612 welcome to st james presbyterian church sunday aug 18th 2002 worship at 1030 am nursery provided speaker rev don muir if you dont already have a church home we invite you to explore faith hope love here sharing gods love everyone always welcome 6432 main st stouffville 6403151 stjamesstoufrvillesyrnpaticoca 1 bloomington gospel church s 13660 ninth line 905 6424414 sunday aug 18th 2002 pastor dr john howarth south of 47 highway formerly bloomington rd sunday school will resume sept 8th 1030 am worship service but im indispensable 1 kings 191921 evening service will resume sept 8th everyone welcome j springvale s baptist church jjj stouffville rd at kennedy rd 9058875651 senior pastor associate pastor associate pastor student ministries worship music coordinator bob flemming bill thornton jay sandiford heather thornton childrens ministries coordinator sharon russell sunday aug 18th 2002 945 am facing the giants in your life pastor bob flemming nursery provided q parkview village 12184 ninth line south stoufivule sunday aug 18th 2002 dr john moore evangelist sfoupie pentecostal church 6853 main st stouffville 905 6405696 sunday aug 18th 2002 1000 am morning worship 600 pm evening celebration call church for more information wje5 vivian baptist church 4733543 pastor robert okum on hwy 48 at vivian rd holding forth the doctrines of grace 945 am sunday school 1100 am morning worship 700 pm evening worship everyone is welcome a stouffville united church sb 34 church st n 9056401163 n worship minister rev robert nightingale sunday aug 18th 2002 1030 am worship service baby fold available upon request everyone welcome j 1 y sssttmsssssbmmsim