by John Manzi, for the Delvin Miller Harness Drivers Association

Monticello, NY — After very successful competitions at Historic Track over the July 4th weekend the C.K.G. Billings Harness Driving Championship Series is on the move again this weekend with contests slated in the Canadian Maritimes at Charlottetown Driving Park on Prince Edward Island on Saturday (July 10) and at Summerside Raceway on PEI on Sunday (July 11).

Eight top amateur drivers will venture north of the border to compete at both venues. They include Steve “You’re Never Too” Oldford, “Tar Heel Tom” Williams, Dein “the Jupiter Gem” Spriggs, Dave “Linemaster” Ehrenberg II, Kelly “Sky” Walker, “Racin’ Jason” Sgrinuoli, Mike “the Mortgage Man” Mitchell, and Peter “the Past President” Gerry.

Photo courtesy of Billings Series

The new Billings officers are President Tony Verruso (right) and Vice President Steve Oldford (left).

While in Goshen the Billings Board of Directors met and when they departed some new rules were formulated and changes were made in leadership.

Peter Gerry, who successfully ran the organization for over 20 years, recommended a change in leadership and has stepped down. Consequently, and as a result of Gerry’s decision, the Board unanimously elected Tony “the Capo” Verruso as the organization’s new President. Steve Oldford was chosen as the new Vice President and will replace Gerry Fielding who has held that position for 20 years. However, Peter Gerry will remain active in the Billings Series and serve as the organization’s Treasurer.

Also at those meetings it was decided that beginning with the races in Canada this weekend, and continuing throughout the rest of the Billings season, all races will be “wild card” events no matter in what region they are contested.

“Since all members selected which region their points would be attributed to at the beginning of the season, we anticipate that by opening up the races for all the members that we will get more participation,” Verruso related this past Sunday while he was attending the Hall of Fame banquet in Trot Town, U.S.A.