Column: ‘Stockcar Steve’ To Celebrate 50 Years Of Local Racing In Canada During ’21 Season
Story By: JIM CLARKE / BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY – BROCKVILLE, ONT – Brockville Ontario Speedway marked its 50th anniversary season in 2019. Now, one of the best-known names in provincial short track racing will share the same milestone as Stockcar Steve Bilow celebrates a half century of racing with the first green flag of the 2021 schedule.
In a career that started in the Mini Stock ranks at Kingston Speedway, Bilow says that it’s the friends he has made over the years and the people in the sport that keep him coming back.
“Sometimes I wonder how I’ve managed to keep doing this for as long as I have,” admits Steve Bilow, who’s Small Block Modified machine carries No. 20 as tribute to his childhood racing hero Walter Pennock, who was enshrined in the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. “The best part of the sport at this level is the connection we have with the fans. Win, lose or draw, in the back of your mind you always know that you’re someone’s favourite driver. They’re cheering for you with every lap you take.”
Like many in the sport, Bilow says his team has felt the effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The 2020 schedule at Brockville was late getting started because of provincial restrictions but once things got rolling, the veteran racer not only enjoyed the chance to wheel his own equipment, but also serve as mentor and coach to family friend Nathan Lambert who was taking his first laps in the Rookie Sportsman division.
“I’ve learned a thing or 2 about this game over the years and its great to be able to share my 5 decades of experience with someone who is just starting out and help them fill some pages in their racing set-up notebooks,” the driver said. “The technology in this sport has come full circle since I first started racing. Cars are now being designed and built by a variety of manufacturers like Troyer, BRP and Teo instead of in the garage next to someone’s house. One thing that has stayed the same after all these years? When conditions are right, they’re still a lot of fun to drive.”
Heading into the kick-off of his 50th anniversary season, the 66-year-old from Howe Island, Ontario – who works as a production scrap handler at Novellis in Kingston – Steve Bilow’s ride will be backed by Doron Auto and Radiator, Bayridge Collision, Corcoran Excavating, Pristine Bulk Trucking and Radisson Greens Golf Course. Pre-race maintenance and prep work on the car comes from Rick Lambert and Johnny Morgan, along with the driver’s kids Chris and Heather and his wife Holly. Bilow says that without the help of his uncle, Ed Weeks, friends John and Kevin and some former racers like Pennock, Merv Serson and Jim Marlow he would never have made it to this very impressive milestone.
“It’s been an amazing run so far and I can’t wait to get back to the track.”
