Shediac Can-Am Speedway--New Brunswick, Canada

It has become man and machine versus crustacean. "Le Homard Geant" (the giant lobster) had better move over because Shediac Can-Am Speedway has taken over as the New Brunswick, Canada, seaside resort area's number one attraction. Just completing its fourth season, the remarkably well-designed speedway has been a fast success story for owner Donald Brun. After seeing NASCAR racing facilities in the U.S., he built the track simply because he wanted to bring first-class racing to the fans back home. Now, as word spreads about the facility, it's the envy of promoters in both countries. Situated in the heart of "Acadie", half of the drivers and crew members speak French, and half speak English. But that doesn't matter--racing is a universal language that transcends such barriers.

"Goodyear tires and a 9:1 engine ratio are the same in both languages," race director Gary McLean is quick to point out. "We repeat announcements in French and English, but for the most part, it isn't necessary." Like most populated areas in Atlantic Canada, Shediac is on the seacoast. But, unlike the sleepy fishing villages that surround it, Shediac's two month summer population swells to five times what it is during the 10 months that preceed and follow. Why the great influx of people? "Le Homard" started it all. Shediac became the lobster capitol of the world. Then there were lobster festivals, and people discovered the miles and miles of stellar white sand beaches. (continued) One of those beaches, "La Dune De Bouctouche," is perhaps the best-kept beach secret in the world. Irving Oil, the gas giant in the Canadian Maritimes and now in New England, built miles and miles of elevated walkways for visitors to see those beaches.

That all led the way to everything from Tim Horton to KFC trying to move in on "Le Homard's" dynasty. Down the street from it all, Brun carved a 3/8-mile perfect oval, 55 feet wide with seven degree banking. The track has four grooves and a flawless asphalt surface. It overlooks the breathtaking beaches from its third and fourth turns. Within two years, "Le Homard" was the second biggest attraction in town. Shediac Can-Am Speedway was the place to be on Saturday nights. "We're totally fan-oriented," McLean explains. "From our bathrooms to our grandstands--everything is top-notch. We've been to the NASCAR tracks, and we built our track to be better." In a land of abundant lumber, McLean is first to note the quality of the boards the fans sit on. Canadians are renowned carpenters, and they take pride in their wooden structures. "Some of the big Winston Cup tracks need new boards. I couldn't believe the quality of the boards when I saw them," he explains. "Here, we designed the seats so the fans could walk between the rows, and we measured and calculated so even the shortest person in a row above could see over the head of a 6-foot, 7-inch person in the row below."

The track can seat 20,000 and has had crowds of 35,000 people when live music performances have complemented the races. Special events include three visits by MASCAR (the premiere touring Late Model division racing in Maritime Canada), and a four-track point series for the weekly headlining Maritime Sportsman division. Uniform tech rules with the other tracks in New Brunswick make the series work, along with a rule that each driver must run four regular shows at one of the tracks to race in the season-ending big point events. The cars have the Goodyear spec tires, Five Star bodies, and a 3,000 lb. minimum weight with driver. GM, Ford, and Dodge bodies with stock frames from Olds or Malibus, Chrysler products, and T-Birds are allowed. All brands of cars must run an engine ratio of 9:1. Shediac's abundance of cars is phenomenal. There are 70 Maritime Late Models in the province, and Shediac often pulls in over 30 of them. Two of the other tracks also run on Saturday nights. Street Stocks and Wildcats (Hobby Stocks) complete the program.

With such rapid success, McLean is looking south and west for more special events. "We'd like to see CASCAR come in from Ontario, and that's a possibility," he explains. "But, the fans want NASCAR Busch North or maybe the Pro Stocks from Maine. That presents some significant hurdles for us to cross." Bringing in the U.S. cars means paying in U.S. dollars, and they are worth about one and a half times the Canadian dollar. Also, customs problems could hold up U. S. cars. "They (the problems) are something most Canadian promoters would like to see solved," McLean says. "It's something for us to work on for the future." In the meantime, everyone's having fun in Shediac. Racing is big, and "Le Homard" is jealous.