A local online radio station teamed with a kart racing outfit to present a combined open house on the weekend.
CKRT Border City Radio and DKR (Didone Kart Racing) held grand opening last Sunday at their location at 1329 Erie Road South in Harrow. Both businesses are located in the County Towing building, and teamed up to invite the public to join them in the grand opening event. CKRT has its studio upstairs while DKR is on the main floor.
CKRT Border City Radio is a locally owned digital radio station that streams classic rock from the 70s, 80s & 90s around the globe, but is focused in Windsor and Essex County. Originally launched in February, owner/president Donna Tuckwell is from Amherstburg as are many of her staff and volunteers.
“It’s grown,” Tuckwell said of the radio station. “We’ve had amazing support from businesses, the public and media. It’s been great. We’re very grateful for the support.”
CKRT originally broadcast from studios in Tuckwell’s home, with a closet having been turned into the first studio before her husband Dan converted a spare bedroom into a studio. With more and more visits to the studio occurring by people and a desire to maintain a level of privacy, Tuckwell developed a partnership with the Didone family and moved the studio to their building in Harrow. They started in the new studio July 1.
“It’s perfect for what we need and what we do,” said Tuckwell, who does freelance reporting for both the River Town Times and Harrow News. “It gives us a commercial location.”
Tuckwell added they wanted to do an open house so the public could meet everyone and find out what they are all about.
Staff includes Tuckwell, Paul “P.D.” Desjardins, Johanna Vandenbogaerde and Donny White, with Tuckwell’s husband Dan also contributing.
The station has had its peaks and valleys, she added, and that things are on the upswing again. CKRT has a busy August, Tuckwell stated.
DKR Group - Derek Sr. and his son Daren Didone, have teamed up to launch DKR, a business aimed at sparking children’s interest in go-karting without breaking the bank.
“Racing has always been in our blood, so it was a natural step for us to enjoy it together,” said Derek Sr. People were able to tour the building, see the karts, and get the information on programs that are offered to get started in the fun of karting.
Didone said they race in the Point Pelee Kart Club with about 12 races per year in Leamington.
“We got into it last year,” he said.
They also sell and buy parts for karting out of their Harrow location. He said their towing business is still doing well, something they’ve been doing 45 years, and he added they were happy to partner with CKRT and use the extra room they have on the upper floor of the building.
People can listen to the digital radio station online at www.ckrtbordercityradio.com.
Area radio station CKRT holds open house with Didone Kart Racing
By Ron Giofu
Comments