High Octane and a Princess

Vancouver-based Reuters photographer Andy Clark has a long history with motorsport, starting with days he spent as a teenager on darkened summer highways north of Toronto in the late 1960s, riding in muscle cars and drag racing until the wee hours of the morning or until the cops chased him away. With his passion for the sport, Andy has spent his Saturday nights photographing at the Agassiz Speedway. Built in 1970, the speedway is a quarter mile oval track nestled into the side of Agassiz Mountain about 90 minutes east of Vancouver. The track hosts about 12 races a season beginning in April, running to late October. – Paula Nelson ( 23 photos total)

Late model sportsman stock cars compete in the premier race of the night at Agassiz Speedway in Agassiz, British Columbia, Aug. 11, 2012. From spring until autumn every two or three weeks, competitors and spectators gather on Saturday nights to watch or take part in the races for prize money, points and local honors at the 42-year-old race track. (Andy Clark/Reuters)

Margaret O'Reilly talks with Cameron Jones, as her daughter Chelsey uses on her mobile phone, at Agassiz Speedway during the Saturday night stock car races, August 11, 2012. Both Chelsey and Cameron compete in the races and hang out together when not on the track. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

A car spins out on the course at Agassiz Speedway during the final of the "Hit To Pass" stock car race, July 7, 2012. The popular race is held purely for entertainment and is included in the Saturday night races several times throughout the competition season. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Mark Richmond takes a break on the roof of his car while waiting for qualifying to begin at Agassiz Speedway, July 7, 2012. Most of the competitors are members of the non-profit society that runs the course but some come from other parts of the province and Washington State in the U.S. to take part in the races held every two or three weeks from April to October. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

A driver uses a sledgehammer to make repairs to his "Hit to Pass" stock car during a break in qualifying at Agassiz Speedway, July 7, 2012. The "Hit to Pass" races are very popular with spectators as drivers aggressively try to out do each other on the track. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Fast food and tools come together in the pit area of Agassiz Speedway during Saturday night racing in Agassiz, British Columbia, July 7, 2012. Local racing teams set up their equipment around the grassy edges of the infield pits to work on their cars between races. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Chelsey O'Reilly, 14, gets some last minute moral support from her mother, Margaret, before qualifying in the Streets stock car category, July 7, 2012. Chelsey drives a 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle that her dad raced in the 1990s and handed down to her when he retired from competition a few years ago. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Using flashlights, a pit crew looks over the damage caused after a crash in the 100 lap final of the late model sportsmen stock cars, Aug. 11, 2012. Unfortunately the damage was serious enough to end their racing for the night. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Drivers, pit crews and other volunteers all help to clear the track of debris and spilled oil following a stock car crash at Agassiz Speedway, July 21, 2012. All are asked to pick up a broom and help out when needed following the inevitable collisions during Saturday night races. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

A member of a stock car pit crew takes a break while the car is on the track qualifying during the Agassiz Speedway Saturday night stock races, July 21, 2012. Many drivers use family and friends to help them work on their cars and prepare for the races. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Fans gather in the stands at Agassiz Speedway during a late model sportsman stock car race in Agassiz, British Columbia, August 11, 2012. The speedway was built in 1971 and holds approximately 12 races a season from April to October, weather permitting. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

A stock car that has spun out is rammed by two other competitors during the Saturday night races at Agassiz Speedway, July 7, 2012. Many of the lights used to illuminate the track at night were donated by the police who had confiscated them after breaking up indoor marijuana growing operations. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Chelsey O'Reilly, 14, looks out from behind the protective netting in the window of her stock car while preparing to qualify during Aggassiz Speedway's Saturday night races, July 7, 2012. Chelsey is following in her father's footsteps taking up the sport and even driving the same car he used before retiring several years ago. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Race flagman, Joe Catton, taps his backside with a flag while signalling to a driver to move to the back of the pack during a race re-start at Agassiz Speedway, July 21, 2012. Catton is one of dozens of volunteers who help run the Saturday night races at the track, operated by the non-profit Kent Raceways Society. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

One of the youngest drivers at Agassiz Speedway, 14-year-old Chelsey O'Reilly prepares for a practice session with help from her dad, John, and sister, Crystal, in Agassiz, British Columbia, July 7, 2012. This is Chelsey's rookie year as a race driver and her goal, for now, is not to finish last in qualifying or the races. She met her goal on this race night. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Rookie race driver Chelsey O'Reilly,14, sports her good luck pink fingernails while waiting to take part in qualifying in the Streets stock car category at Agassiz Speedway, July 7, 2012. Although Chelsey had driven the car on the track before, she had to wait until turning the minimum 14 years old before the strict course rules allowed her to compete. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Dressed as a princess, Jennifer Knoepfel, is helped with her dress during the Saturday night stock car races, July 7, 2012. Jennifer dressed up in the long gown and tiara as part of her duties presenting the trophies to the winners of the night's competition. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

After finishing her race for the night Chelsey O'Reilly, 14, puts on makeup while talking to her mother, Margaret, in the pits, July 7, 2012. Saturday race nights are a family affair for the O'Reillys. Chelsey drives while her sisters work as the pit crew, her father is the mechanic and mother gives moral support. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Driver Troy Globe stands with the trophy girl after winning a sprint race during the Saturday night stock car races at Agassiz Speedway, July 21, 2012. Members of the non-profit race society gather every two or three weeks at the track east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley to compete for prize money and points and claim top local honors. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

A trophy won during the sprint races sits forgotten beside the track pit wall during the Saturday night stock car races, July 21, 2012. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Race flagman, Joe Catton, waves the checkered flag ending a stock car warm-up at Agassiz Speedway in Agassiz, British Columbia, July 21, 2012. Catton is one of dozens of volunteers who help run the Saturday night races at the track, operated by the non-profit Kent Raceways Society. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Kelly Moto sits in his street stock car as he is towed into the pits during the Saturday night races, July 21, 2012. Moto's race night was over early after his car suffered a major mechanical breakdown during qualifying. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

Terry Kershaw drives through a patch of late day sun while qualifying at Agassiz Speedway in the Street Stock category during stock car racing, July 21, 2012. The speedway is a quarter mile oval track that began as a dirt course 41 years ago. (Andy Clark/Reuters)#

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