'Big R': Dick Wilkinson Memorial set for Friday night

Submitted by Ransomville Speedway 

Ransomville Speedway will honor the memory of the oldest feature winner in speedway history on Friday, June 2, with the Dick Wilkinson Memorial for the Sunflowers of Sanborn Mini Stocks. Mark Cerrone Inc. will present the racing program that also features kids rides. 

Just one week after his 73rd birthday, Dick Wilkinson won the Fireball division (now Mini Stock division) feature to set a new benchmark for the oldest feature winner in the history of Ransomville Speedway. His involvement in motorsports spanned over 50 years, on both the dirt at Ransomville and on the pavement at Lancaster. Wilkinson owned a 358 Modified that was raced by Mark Sylvies. He then spent several seasons in the grandstands before getting the itch to get back behind the wheel in the mid 2000s.

Wilkinson served in the U.S. Army Reserve and the New York Army National Guard for a combined 40 years of service, and was a member of the Lewiston No. 1 Fire Co. Wilkinson passed away in February 2019. 

A full card of racing will also be presented this coming Friday night, featuring the Krown Undercoating 358 Modifieds, Hy-Tech Concrete DIRTcar Sportsman, KiPo Motors Street Stocks, and the Kevin’s Carpet Cleaning Novice Sportsman. 

Pit gates will open at 5 p.m. Grandstands open at 6 p.m. racing will get underway at 7:15 p.m. Grandstand admission prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (60-plus) and youth (12-17). Kids 11 and under are admitted free. Pit admission is $35 for members, or $40 general public.