A Victory in Memory of Harold Brown One Day After Grandfather's Funeral, Mitch Brown Wins at Ohsweken Speedway by Sean Allen -Brant News
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Edition #5 2014 Jul 21, 2014 A victory in memory of Harold Brown One day after grandfather's funeral, Mitch Brown wins at Ohsweken Speedway By Sean Allen -Brant News Mitch Brown still had a heavy heart on Friday when he strapped into his sprint car at Ohsweken Speedway. Harold Brown – Mitch's grandfather – died last Sunday. His funeral was last Thursday, just 24 hours before the race. Harold was a lifelong racing fanatic, having made a name for himself at the track HAROLD BROWN in the 1960s and 1970s. He passed along the passion to his son Doug, as well as grandsons Mitch and Jake. 1934 - 2014 "All my life, he'd do anything to be at the race track with us," Mitch Brown said. "It was going through my head that this was the first time he wasn't there…wasn't here with us." It was only fitting that Mitch would make a dramatic pass of the leader on the second-last lap to claim his first Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars victory of the season in Ohsweken. Mitch Brown climbed He said the victory in the feature race was cathartic for the atop his 360 Sprint Car to celebrate his victory whole family. at Ohsweken Speedway "The last four weeks have been really tough on everybody," on Friday night. Mitch said. "I think everyone in my family was there at the track on Friday to unwind and relax a little. It was great to win with everybody close to us there." Mitch came third in his qualifying heat to squeeze into the finale race. Photo by Gary Eves, Trailing eventual runner-up Shane Ross for most of the finale, for Brant News. it looked like Mitch was destined for second place with five laps to go in the 20-lap feature when a caution came out. "There was a lapped car between us and I thought that was it," he said. "But I knew if I could get by the lapped car quickly after the caution, I still had a shot." That's exactly what happened. Mitch moved back into position behind Ross, then took the lead on the second turn of Lap 18 to earn the checkered flag. During Mitch's victory speech, there were some moist eyes in the crowd at Ohsweken Speedway. "The only reason I'm here is because of that man," he told the crowd. "I loved him and I know all you did, too. We thank you for all the support." ... Continued on Page 2 www.mitchbrownracing.com continued Editor's Comments... A victory in memory of Harold Brown ... from Page 1 A good man has left us... The victory moved Mitch into second place in the Corr/Pak Harold Brown, the patriarch of the Brown racing family, Merchandising 360 Sprint Cars standings at Ohsweken passed away Sunday July 13th, 2014 following a long Speedway – just 26 points behind leader Glenn Styres. battle with cancer. Mitch has also been quite successful on other tracks this season, I had known Harold since his early racing days when he picking up three wins already at Brighton Speedway to lead the competed with the #1-10 and nickname "Little-Ben" Southern Ontario Sprints. emblazoned on his Supermodified cars at Toronto's CNE Raceway, Bridgeport Nilestown and Delaware Speedways and later at Flamboro Speedway and "We've been doing really well," he said. "We are right out in Oswego Speedway in upstate New York. When he later turned to Late Model front with a lot of guys who've been doing this way longer than I racing, I was there as well watching him win his share of races and becoming have, so it's nice to keep getting that experience that will keep a fan favorite around the Southern Ontario circuit. me there with them." When I became his brother-in-law back in 1964 - I had the pleasure of getting Mitch's brother Jake finished fifth place at the track last Friday to know him not only as a racer, but also as my best friend. in the Strickland's GMC Crate Sprint Cars division – the feeder division for the 360 sprints. I was there when his son Doug got into the sport of stock car racing following his successful career in motocross. And so that association continues today Mitch and Jake were asked to do a memorial lap in memory of through his grandsons Mitch and Jake albeit this time on dirt ovals instead of Harold before the races on Friday. pavement. Jake is in third place in the point standings for the crate sprint I have been a devout supporter of the Brown family's racing programs and division's inaugural season. hopefully will continue to do so through my reporting of their activities in this Harold's last personal attendance at Ohsweken Speedway was publication and subsequent press releases distributed to the local media, fans on June 6, when Jake won his first race of the season. and certainly the business sponsors who continue to support their racing endeavours. But in trying to compose a story to capture the results and emotions surrounding the events of last Friday (July 18th) at Ohsweken Speedway, just 24 hours following the funeral of the Harold Brown -I must confess I found it to be a daunting task. After all, my best friend was no longer there to accompany me. Thankfully, Sean Allen of the Brant News captured those moments extremely well in the touching article appearing on page 1 and continuing here on page 2 of this publication. A very fine Obituary by Susan Gamble of the Brantford Expositor reveals more about this long serving business proprietor, well-known racer and family man. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Brown family wish to acknowledge Ohsweken Speedway's owners and staff for the memorable tributes they provided to the July 18th program through their pre-race minute of silence for Harold Brown and the emotional parade lap with Mitch and his brother Jake at the head of the field...a truly "Class Act" from a classy group of people. And Thanks also to Dale Calnan, Gary Eves, Bill Oldroyd and Peter Anderson Harold Brown (standing between his son Doug and his grandsons Jake and who provided several of the photos appearing in this publication. Mitch) last stepped onto the race track back on June 6, 2014 - the night his grandson Jacob won his first ever feature race in a Sprint Car. Jake's car carries What a terrific group of people to make my work so enjoyable. the same name and number "Little Ben -1-10 as his grandfather ran back in his Ken Spencer Supermodified racing days. NEWS BRANTFORD-BRANT OBITUARY: Harold Brown, 1934-2014 By Susan Gamble, Brantford Expositor Wednesday, July 16, 2014 The patriarch of the Brown racing family, Harold Brown, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Brown, 79, a stock car racer, was also the founder of Brown Auto Service, an Eagle Place business institution. “He had four loves in his life,” said his brother-in-law Ken Spencer. “They were his wife, his family, his business and motor sports.” Known as an honest and talented mechanic, Mr. Brown built the business over the years and was followed in his work by his son, Doug Brown, and grandsons Mitch and Jake Brown. “During the past six decades, Harold extended the life of many a vehicle with his mechanical magic,” said longtime friend Peter Ham. “And he always demonstrated a keen awareness of his client's financial status and flashed his trademark smile.” Brown Auto Service is more of a going concern than ever these days and could “last another 50 years,” says his son. Even with his advanced years and health problems, Mr. Brown loved to be at the shop where he would greet old friends and chat to customers. The same family members who followed Mr. Brown into business trailed after him into the world of racing, following the circuit from April to September where the four Browns gathered a team of fans and helpers. “He had a passion for racing that he passed on to me and to my sons,” said Doug Brown. Mr. Brown was a steady player in the game, winning his share of races and even more admirers for his calm, gentlemanly demeanour. “He didn't let the highs be too high or the lows too low,” said his son. “He went to his last race on June 6 and it was the night my youngest son, Jake, won his first race. It was pretty cool that he got to see that.” In business, Mr. Brown was as loyal to his customers as they were to him, often working late into the evening to ensure their happiness. He doted on his wife of 53 years, Gloria, and they enjoyed cooking or creating crafts together. She died in May last year. “As a young man, he was a pretty hip guy with a hot set of wheels and a mischievous grin,” said his brother-in-law. “He spent a lot of time courting (his wife). They danced and even skated on occasion at various spots and arenas in the area.” Through the years, Mr. Brown also supported his children in their non-racing passions, attending numerous hockey games when Doug played and frequenting and volunteering at daughter Susan's figuring skating. Aside from his son Doug Brown (Lori) and daughter Susan Brown (Scott), Mr. Brown also leaves his grandchildren, Mitchell, Jacob, Benjamin and Aiden, and sister Joyce Teasdale.