by Gordy Killian
11/19
Greetings from your breadman. It
seems like my Hoseheads deal is cursed sometimes. My last effort was
sent from San Diego with no problem. The flight home must have put
the final nail in my laptop’s hard drive coffin, as the danged
contraption froze on my attempt to re-fire it. It was either
purchase a new hard drive or laptop. Then I discovered my late
wife’s surface tablet collecting dust. What seemed like a simple
solution took a typical Killian twist. Having no password to gain
access, I had to have the memory erased, and the gadget re-booted
and reset. Problem solved, right? Nah! Seems as though I’m not
smarter than a 5th grader when it comes to these contraptions,
necessitating some training in Its use. If you’re reading this, I
figured some things out thanks to assists from the Geek Squad and
Mark Garman.
Immediately following my last effort, I attended my first Trophy
Cup. Glowing reports from the previous year made this a must see
deal in 2014. Having the event at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare,
CA, one of my favorite joints, sealed the deal. The controversial
format that rewards racers for every good lap and move is as
confusing as it is rewarding to the paying fan. Drivers must give
their all every lap if they hope to take the lion’s share of the
purse and point fund that exceeds it. It wasn’t until the final day
that I started to grasp the concept, thanks in part to the
announcing duo constantly trying to keep the crowd abreast of the
constant changes. That system tends to penalize early success. It
also rewards the fans with constant charges from the rear that makes
for a higher entertainment level. Bang for your buck, if you will.
Willy Croft parlayed an advance from the B into A final and overall
wins. These were easily the biggest triumphs of his career, and
probably not his last such results. California is rich right now in
young talent that should put all sprint car series out west in good
hands for years to come. That and the high number of good tracks out
yonder should keep me coming back often. The format that draws the
ire of many, has already been tweaked for 2015. The idea is sound.
Minor tweaking is all it needs. I heartily recommend this event to
any race fan. I know it won’t take any arm twisting to get me back,
and it’s not just for the racing. Trophy Cup is as much an event as
it is a race. Many camp for the weekend on the spacious fairgrounds,
leading to camaraderie, hospitality and frivolity. Good friends
Leslie, Chiller and Mark know everyone involved in CA racing, and
always introduce me to great new friends on every visit. My crew
added the Thomases and Sampsons this time around, who provided
shade, seating and grub of the highest caliber one afternoon. The
chicken and short ribs were to die for. The conversation even
better. Thanks to all others in their merry band for a good time. I
hope to repay their hospitality should they ever venture to
Posseland. Further adding to the event was the post-race taco and
burrito feed with live music. As with other aspects of Trophy Cup,
donations were asked for that went to various charities. The biggest
such recipient is the Make-a-Wish Foundation that had its total
Trophy Cup donations surpass the million dollar mark. Outstanding!
Also outstanding were the tacos and burritos served at the Amigos
stand behind the grandstand. Oh my brother, testify. Huge and tasty,
they are. If other than race track food is required, Apple Annie’s
and the local Black Bear Diner should fit the bill. They did me
right. Reserved seats are recommended, especially on Saturday when
the joint is nearly filled to capacity. The reasons for that should
be obvious.
I wish I could tell you all was perfect at Trophy Cup. It wasn’t.
The track conditions that endear me to Thunderbowl Raceway were over
the top. The legendary cushion that rings the joint was downright
unruly, leading to way too much carnage and lengthy delays. Way too
often the welder was called to mend catch fence that couldn’t
sustain the many assaults it absorbed. Even the billboards along the
backstretch was subjected to undo stress from sprint car contact.
Quite frankly, the fence as presently constructed is dangerous. It’s
been announced that the issue will be addressed in turns 1 & 2
before racing resumes. Both ends need attention before something
really bad happens. Thankfully, those involved realize the issues,
and have started to address them. The constant wrecking made for 3
very long nights. At least the down time was spent conversing with
friends from around the world. Said down time also taxed the
abilities of the announcing duo that had clearly run out of shtick
by Saturday. I knew we were in trouble when they started looking to
the videographer for comments.
Having been home for a month, I’ve gotten to keep abreast of all
things about to affect short track racing. Get ready for possibly
the most pretentious off season in the history of the sport. A
reflection of the times we live in, I guess. The unrest appears to
be at the highest level I can remember in all facets. It started
with the formation of the Renegade series that now challenges the
All Stars. No surprise here, as Guy Webb has had a history of
alleged non-payment to competitors. I’m amazed it took this long.
I’ve heard Bert Emick has been helping the new group, so
dissatisfied he is with the direction his old group has taken. I-70
appears to be the new Mason/Dixon line in this new civil war being
waged mainly in Ohio. Bad move on the Renegade’s part was announcing
Frankie Kerr as it’s race director, something Mr. Kerr denies,
stating he’s just an advisor interested only in bringing some needed
integrity to sprint car racing. Putting the horse in front of the
buggy is never a good idea. Announcements are better served
accurately, lest credibility is lost. Todd Quiring has started the
National Sprint League, a Midwest alternative to the WoO that is
touting some serious point money for much less travel. They’ve
partnered with a number of good tracks for their schedule, including
a necessary understanding with Knoxville that establishes a
cornerstone to build on. The WoO have withstood challenges in the
past. This does appear to be the most serious such deal to date.
Rebellion in URC the corporation has led to a movement by the racers
back to the club format. The leader of the rebellion won the last
race sanctioned by the corporation, leading to his being denied a
victory lane interview by management. Not very smooth if you ask me.
Unrest in ARDC has made for short fields. So much so that USAC had a
fact finding meeting near me to see if starting a spec engine midget
class was feasible. Spec sprints continue to crop up all across the
company. Sadly, whether they’re 305s or crate deals, everyone seems
interested in going a different direction. Uniformity would be nice,
but appears to be just a pipe dream on my part. Tracks have been
closing and reopening at an alarming rate. Never a shortage of
clueless dreamers to take the place of those that have gone before.
Someone told me once that the best way to make a small fortune was
to take a large fortune and buy a race track. The new guys at
Rolling Wheels Racewayin NY took me to task for suggesting they
learn to crawl or walk before running with grandiose plans. Why do
people want to hit the home run before they develop a swing? An
amateurish release on Facebook led to my questioning their chances
for success. They smugly charge on, not realizing their first
impression was a bad one. I wish them well. I’ve never wished to see
any track fail. It’s just so frustrating watching a bad pattern
repeated over and over. One New England track foolishly announced a
schedule before finalizing the auction deal that would procure the
property. They remain tied up in court with no guarantee of actual
purchase. And so on, and so on. Fortunately, we do have a short
off-season to try to amend things. Wish I had more faith in the
process.
Ran into Ken Wagner at the Trophy Cup. I get to see him way to
infrequently. I also read that Tom Savage has written his last
column for Flat Out magazine. I mention them because both have
devoted their lives to the betterment of racing. Ken with his Wag
Times and Wags Bucks that generated funds for the low buck guys.
He’s retired now, and doesn’t get around to near as many races as he
used to. Tom has entertained me with his writings since I discovered
them 30 years ago. He’s been at it much longer. I always enjoyed his
style and way with words, only meeting him once. I mention them
because they have generously given their time for the betterment of
racing, while asking nothing in return. Thank you, gentlemen. Racing
can never repay the debt it owes you. I feel safe in saying neither
guy thinks they’re owed anything. Two class acts, for sure.
Hopefully this effort will correspond with my flight to Phoenix. The
first night of the Western Worlds will precede 3 nights of winged
sprints and supers on pavement in CA. Madera, Irwindale and Kern
County are the venues, the first and last satisfying my trackchasing
addiction. Chumpcars in Las Vegas might also be squeezed in. This
will probably be my last travel deal of the year. CA appears to be a
better destination than Buffalo. Adios.
10/14
Greetings from your breadman in San
Diego, CA. I’m in between race weekends on the west coast, and am
spending the down time with my cousin, Ernie, known to regular
readers of the past as mail dude. Last night’s lobster fishing
proved less fruitful than trying to see a race during a monsoon, but
was an enjoyable evening on the pier none the less. Hopefully,
Trophy Cup will ease the disappointment this weekend. Before that
happens I must pick up Bruce and Pat Eckel in San Francisco so they
may accompany me. The next “A Typical Weekend” may mirror my next
effort. Or not. Before heading south I had some track chasing to do.
Here’s the skinny.
Bakersfield Speedway bills itself as
the fastest third mile in the west. It’s really a quarter, and a
mighty fine one at that. This was the first night of the 29th annual
Budweiser Classic for 6 classes of stock cars from minis to super
late models. 200 entries gorged the pits, making for 300+ laps of
racing. Heats were held for all, followed by 4 features. A cushion
so nasty Janet Jackson should sing about it developed adding to both
the caution count and entertainment. I’ve rarely seen such classes
garner so much air time in an attempt to tame the savage groove. A
one spin and your out rule kept the cautions from rising to a
fatigue level. I wish that rule was implemented at every track.
Makes the whole deal run smoother.. The star studded field contained
stars like Earl Pearson Jr. and Matt Crafton, neither of which made
the mod main. Bobby Hogge IV and Brad Pounds finished 1-2 in both
the mods and late models. Other than the hard concrete stands that
took a 4.5 hour toll on my butt, my only complaint was a tiny
burrito. I expected more in this neck of the woods. I’d sure like to
return for some open wheel action here sometime. If late models
bounce like that, a midget might make it all the way to Ventura.
The following afternoon I took in the
Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Series at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports
Park. A 90 degree, cloudless day made for a tough day in the sun.
No, I didn’t pack any sunscreen. It’s been near winter back home.
After driving through deep sand to a parking area more than a half
mile from the grandstand, I trudged through the pits to my shade
less viewing point. Two junior classes raced on a short course not
countable by track chasing rules that discriminate by age, before
the serious UTV’s and desert vehicles tackled a longer version
nearly a mile in length. Watching such an event on one of these
permanent courses is much preferable to taking in a desert event
where you can’t see the whole course. The noon start let me watch
all 4 classes run before heading to my next destination.
Which was the Perris Auto Speedway
where a democross race was being held on the inner oval during thr
fair. Spectator drags were also on the card, but drew only 5
entries. Their early conclusion was followed by officials placing
obstacles (junk cars and big tires) along the way to hinder the
competitors. The 20 lapper went fairly quick with 3 different
leaders. The whole show lasted only 45 minutes, while leading to
track chasing controversy. What I saw resembled a road course event
viewed earlier this year at the Hilltop Speedway in OH. The track
chasing commissioner continued his run of inconsistent rulings by
declaring this venue an inner oval. I lobbied for that and road
course as past precedent had made both variations possible. The
commish continues to hide in his internet stronghold refusing to
discuss the matter. Woe is me.
The early ending made an easy triple
possible as I headed to the Wheel 2 Wheel Speedway in Victorville.
Four classes of micros were joined by sidecar motorcycles on a neat,
little eighth of a mile of racy dirt. The top class runs 500cc
engines, making for a brute of a racer on small for the class tires.
Each class ran 2 heats and a feature, except for the bikes which ran
numerous 5 lap races. It was Race for the Rack night, with many
giveaways being handed out on a night devoted to breast cancer
awareness. So glad I was able to donate to such a worthy cause.
Cancers of various kinds have caused my family and I lots of pain.
Hope a cure comes soon.
My main reason for heading west is a
first time visit to the Trophy Cup at Tulare Raceway. I’ve heard
nothing but good things about this event from it’s inception. There
are more than 100 entries ready to tackle maybe the best qualifying
system in short track racing. I’ve seen the rest. Could it be time
to see the best? People I respect have told me such is the case. All
I know is knocking this event off my bucket list is a no-brainer.
The talent level entered is off the hook. Tulare is one of my
favorite tracks. The cast of friends and characters on hand to watch
is second only to Knoxville. Methinks it’s going to be a good time.
Get back to you next week.
10/4/14
Greetings from your breadman. When last I put
fingers to keys I was in the media room at Knoxville Raceway. From
there it was off to my backstretch viewing perch to watch the final
night of short track racing’s greatest event. Little did I know that
events in Canandaigua, NY would tear at the very soul of racing. I
will get to the elephant in the pits, but not until I make some
final, late coming thoughts about what transpired that night in
Iowa.
First off I must congratulate Donny Schatz for
continuing his dominance of this event. Eight wins in his last nine
attempts is approaching legendary status. His notching 20+ other
wins this year is just further proof he’s the best driver of his
time. The NSCHoF needs to get his spot ready for his entrance. Would
I like to see others reap the rewards of a Nationals win?
Absolutely. I just hope they have to deal with Schatz when they do.
I don’t see Schatz passing that torch without a battle. Nor should
he. Such things should be earned. Will Brian Brown be the driver to
do it? I know he’s asking himself that question after a third,
second place finish. You could see the frustration in Brown’s face
at the post race press conference. He’s devoted his life to
achieving that goal. He’s given it everything he’s got, while coming
teasingly close. I’d seen that look before on Schatz’s face after
he’d been in the same situation. It would be a shame if Brown never
rises to the pinnacle. Racing can be cruel like that.
The Nationals themselves were a little odd this
year, mostly due to the wet weather. The track never widened out to
it’s most competitive self. It wasn’t because of the Herculean
effort of the track crew that faced one curve ball after another.
Day races there have been awful in the past, yet the Saturday
afternoon show acquitted itself very well with more passing than the
night shows. Again, credit to that track crew. They do a thankless
job with no shortage of critics. Allow me to raise my glass for a
job well done. It felt good to back in the media room with all my
old friends and some new ones as well. Knoxville will always be my
second home. The dream to retire there remains. Not doing so will
fill me with thoughts like Brown’s.
Now for the elephant. Half way through the Knoxville
Saturday night show, social media began providing glimpses of the
Tony Stewart/Kevin Ward Jr. incident. It got uglier with every
minute. The video that the major news and sports networks shamefully
showed thereafter was seen by large portions of the crowd during the
B. Everything trackside was now secondary to a constant barrage of
tweets, posts and texts. Before the night was over, the “experts”
had already lined up on their preferred side. It was sickening. A
word, if I may, to all the pathetic individuals that think this is a
competitive situation to see who can put out lap by lap and minute
by minute updates. You are not providing a valuable service. There
is nothing to “win”. The amount of false information provided only
made a tragic situation worse. The video people are worse. The
Martin Scorcese wannabe that provided the images seen round the
world should have his camera phone shoved up his backside. It’s bad
enough these camera people think they should be allowed to obstruct
the view of other fans to get their “works of art”. All that video
did was further divide the racing world, while allowing the
mainstream outlets to make us look like fools. The public officials
handed this deal did absolutely nothing to expedite this tragedy
toward a satisfactory end. The cynical side of me can only wonder
how many secret, monetary transactions have transpired during the
past 2 months. The marijuana angle was the last straw in a crappy
bale of hay. How such a critical piece of “evidence” could remain
hidden until it became time for the civil suit to begin is mind
boggling. Mere coincidence no doubt that such “facts” could
drastically affect the monetary settlement. The constant bickering
back and forth on social media just proved that our racing world is
just a reflection of the world we live in. Many of the things said
and posted so matter-of-factly had me wondering if I wanted to
continue in this medium. One hothead videographer even posted on
Facebook that the Ward family should only blame themselves for not
raising their son better. To my chagrin, I responded by calling him
a piss poor human being. My emotions got the better of me. Alas,
this nitwit continued to show his lack of judgment by posting a
photo of me holding my niece’s baby daughter while naming me a
bitter, old, fat coward. My reluctance to “settle this like men”with
physical violence has been mistaken for a lack of fortitude on my
part. It should make for an “interesting” discussion whence we cross
paths. The sad truth is there are only 2 people that know what
happened for sure. One of them tragically paid the ultimate price.
The other has yet to make public what went through his mind at the
time for reasons known only to him. His choice. While I wish he’d
fill us in, I (we) have to abide by his decision whether we like it
or not. His silence only casts doubt his way. He has to live with
that and everything else that comes out of this for doing so. What
the rest of us need to do is let this whole deal run it’s course.
Until we do, there will be no closure. Those of us that continue to
judge have absolutely no idea how we’d handle such a tragedy. How
about letting those involved do what they need to do.It’s the right
thing to do.
Two weeks after Knoxville I made a trip to Canada to
be with the ESS folk most affected by this deal. Upon meeting Steve
Poirier and his crew last year, an offer was made to stay with them
should I venture that way. What transpired was one of the neatest
deals I’ve had in the game. Traffic and construction lengthened my
ride to Autodrome Granby past the ten hour mark. I arrived to join
one of the largest crowds in the track’s history, barely able to
secure a seat in turn one. The original deal was to sleep in the
motor home that pulls the hauler. With that in mind, I used my
limited French to trade my ticket for a pit pass. Arrangements were
made to follow the hauler back to the shop after the club champ had
garnered a convincing win. That shop sits next to the family
business, and rivals any I’ve seen in short track racing. Remnants
and trophies from Steve’s racing career adorn the walls, with 2
backup cars and his brother’s 3 minisprints occupying the floor. My
motor home deal was upgraded to a room at the house, which started
as a me following Steve deal to us switching vehicles for the trip.
Steve let on that his first car was a Camaro, and the thought of
trying my 2010 version appealed to him. “Which one of mine would you
like?” led to him throwing me the keys to his Ford Raptor pickup,
and off we went into the Quebecois night. To say it’s surreal
chasing your own car in a foreign land with that driver’s vehicle is
an understatement. And yes, he was on the throttle. And yes, that
Raptor was surprisingly up to the chase. I had the basement to
myself in his beautiful home, and awoke near noon to find Steve
already gone to the shop. Walking upstairs, I found his lovely wife
and daughter sitting at the breakfast bar watching tv. Having never
met did not stop them from treating me as family, language barrier
be damned. From there it was off to the shop to join Steve, Kevin
and Real where they prepared a backup car for the night’s race at Le
Circuit RPM. The “ATM” would be parked for the night. I accepted a
ride in the motor home to the track which allowed me to meet Steve’s
parents and younger brother and another crewman. Jeff Cook handed a
win to Michael Parent by doing a 360 on the final corner. Hopes for
an early exit were dashed when Steve’s dad wanted to stay and watch
the second modified feature. Family is the #1 concern of the
Poiriers, making the decision to stay an easy one. Two late nights
in a row had the family sleeping in, but I was up early to notch
Calabogie Motorsports Park in ON to my list. That was followed by a
PST race at the Cornwall Speedway where I rejoined my hosts. Another
top 5 finish rounded out a great weekend for me. I can not thank
Steve, his family and crew for easing the sting of the past 2 weeks.
It gave me a view of a race team and family like I’ve never had.
Steve does have some mighty fine equipment. He does so by keeping
his priorities in order. Family and the business come first, which
makes the racing possible. Attempts to get him to join me at
Knoxville were dashed by his unwillingness to leave his business in
other hands. It takes a lot for a racer to fight off his racing
addiction. I applaud his decision under the circumstances. I REALLY
needed such a trip.
I’ve been to a bunch of other races during my
absence that I need to catch up on here. Hopefully, I’ll get to do
so before a first ever trip to the Trophy Cup transpires. If not,
please tune in to “A Typical Weekend” by Bruce and Pat Eckel on this
site. The new Indiana residents are long time friends and almost as
crazy as me when it comes to traveling. Adios.
8/9/14
Greetings from your breadman on a Saturday morning
in Knoxville. Rain had it’s evil way with the Nationals on Wednesday
and delayed the Thursday show a bit before we could finally get this
show started. The Wednesday night show displaced the Friday one,
bumping it to 11:00am this morning. The finale will go on as
scheduled later tonight. I will not so boldly predict another Schatz
victory. Someone needs to step up and beat him before I will
entertain the notion. 50 laps just slicks the joint into his
wheelhouse. Nothing personal, but I’d like to see someone else in
victory lane for a change. If Schatz does manage to continue his
dominance, I will tip my cap in respect . He’s earned it. By the
time this hit’s the net, we will know the results. A follow up will
be forthcoming in the wee hours of Monday morning as I await an
early return flight home from KC. I need to get home to get some
rest. What follows are my observations from the prelims.
1k - Chris Shirek: The North Dakotan was well on his
way to an A-main start when he was punted from the last transfer
spot in his heat by “Puntin” Ryan Bunton after a late caution.
Shirek supports this deal on a regular basis, and his best chance
ever for a good finish was taken away in an aggressive second.
Nineteenth in a prelim B had to be no consolation for a start in the
Saturday A or B. Bunton’s move did put him in position to lock
himself into Saturday’s A. I understand his aggression under the
circumstances. I just wish Shirek hadn’t been victimized in the
process.
2L - Ed Lynch Jr.: Ed’s meager finances have him on
a limited schedule in 2014. He always runs well at Knoxville, but
was crossed up in his heat and relegated to a C that provided no
transfer. That had to put a frown on Momma Jean’s face in the HoF.
Very little turns her disposition sour, she being 1 of the nicest
people to deal with in the sport.
4 - Jon Agan: The Knoxville 360 driver parlayed a
heat win into a tenth place finish in the A. That should get him
into Saturday’s B, which might be the best result he’s ever had in
the Nationals. I love it win the little guys are rewarded.
11 - Steve Kinser: It’s hard for me to watch the
King these days after having the pleasure of viewing his incredible
career. I doubt even Schatz can match the dominance Steve has
displayed in Marion County over the years. He’s still the only
driver “honored” with an anyone but banner flying overhead. If this
is truly the end of a remarkable tale, I simply say thanks for all
the incredible memories. No one has given me more.
15H - Sam Hafertepe Jr.: Other than spoiling Lynch’s
week, the Texan acquitted himself in my eyes with an awesome A run
that netted a second. While second after leading late had to hurt,
it was probably just a reflection of a disappointing year where
numerable of top finishes were taken away for one reason or another.
I witn essed a couple of those myself in TX. He’s in the A, and you
never know what can happen.
17B - Bill Balog: The IRA has always left this
weekend blank in their schedule so their members could attend the
Nationals. It appears that the “North Pole Nightmare” is the sole
member to do so in 2014. The Ira are a fun bunch to watch, and a
welcome addition to any field. Hopefully, an increase in their
participation will return. I don’t have enough time for numerous
trips to WI to quench my IRA thirst.
24R - Rico Abreu: The little man has had numerous
success’s in many classes across the country. Knoxville is another
kind of animal. Rarely does a driver bound into Marion County and
find immediate success. Rico is no different. Make no mistake, he
has the talent to do so. Persistent rumors of his following his
buddy, Kyle Larson, to NASCAR makes me think we’ll never see his
open wheel potential reach fruition. Our loss.
21 - Brian Brown: Schatz had his runner up period.
For Brown’s sake, I hope his isn’t as long. The talent and equipment
is there. Should he supplant Schatz for the lead, this crowd will go
as crazy as it did for his uncle, Danny Lasoski, when he broke
through. As for the Dude, his Thursday performance has him mired
deeper in the alphabet than he’s accustomed to. Should make for some
serious effort on his part to advance.
51 - Paul McMahan: His quick time had me making him
a serious contender. His lack of advancement on Thursday cast some
doubt. Still, he starts near the front, and he just might get it
straightened out. The driver he replaced in that car, Fred Rahmer,
Is fielding a 51R for Stevie Smith. They start in back of the A, but
if Stevie can keep from being lapped in the first segment, he’s good
enough to contend at the end.
71 - Kevin Swindell: A heat win was followed by a
DNF in the A. His uncle Jeff led half of the A until mechanical woes
relegated him rearward. Jeff needed to borrow a motor from the
Buffalo Wild Wings team just to enter the Nationals. That BWW team
has USAC champ. Bryan Clauson, in the saddle. I think he impressed a
few more than me with a competitive 5th place finish in the A. Good
drivers are good drivers no matter the class of car they race. Given
enough seat time, a good driver will adapt to any kind of racer. A
top finish will surely have the wingless crowd chirping.
1 - Sammy Swindell: This is Sammy’s 40th appearance
at the Nationals. Still being competitive at this stage of his
career is amazing. His driving by the infield entrance after
breaking in his heat for no apparent reason made the crowd give a
collective sigh. Just another typical Sammy move in their eyes. The
subsequent yellow cost another driver a transfer spot that would’ve
meant so much to them. His perceived, ill-tempered demeanor has been
justly earned over the years. I’vebeen lucky to see the other side
of Sammy. I wish he’d show that side more often.
This is your intermission break. Time to go watch
the Friday show under less than desirable conditions. Daytime shows
tend to suck anywhere. I’ll be back to finish this effort in the
break between shows.
I’m back. The Friday show wasn’t too painful. Cloud
cover and a little spritz kept the temps from rising, and the track
from rubbering up until after the World Challenge race had a few
laps in it. It just had to rain a bit for the 4th day out of 4. It
did make for possibly the best daytime show I’ve seen at Knoxville.
Doesn’t mean I’d like to make a habit of it. Danny Lasoski did come
from 7th to win the non-qualifiers race in dominating fashion. It’s
no wonder he hoped the track crew would let the surface alone. They
didn’t. Daryn Pittman made a late race pass of Tim Kaeding to win
the Challenge. I wish there were more than 5 Aussies entered. No New
Zealanders or Canadians were present. I’ve always liked the concept
of the race. I’m torn by their letting the highest finisher
(Kaeding) not locked into Saturday’s A being awarded the 25th spot.
Too much purist in me. The money’s sure good. I’m sure some of the
teams could use the extra income, though I’m willing to bet a pit
full of bald tires had a negative effect on the overall good. Still,
the track did make the best out of a bad, weather situation. We now
have some time to kill before the finale. Back to the prelim
analysis.
2 - Shane Stewart: He’s always been good here. His
win last night was easily the strongest I’ve seen him in the
Larson/Marks car. It does place him on the front row with Schatz. We
can only hope for a tussle of major proportions for the entire 50
laps. Quite frankly, the entire top 10 can pull this off with the
right circumstances. Throw in the usual surprise coming from the
back, and we have ourselves a race.
7S - Jason Sides: Double Down destroyed a car last
night, and just barely made it pitside for the non-qualifiers deal.
There remain no easy crashes here, and Jason rode out a doozy. At
least he’s unhurt and can take another chance to roll the bones.
11K - Kraig Kinser: The King’s son has not repeated
his previous success since returning from NASCAR. Were it not for
the late Stewart charge, he would’ve won last night. He’s won this
deal, and has always gotten around this joint. Must be something in
the genes, or water, or something. Previous experience counts for a
lot at Knoxville, leaving the Prince a serious favorite.
12 - Lynton Jeffery: The Aussie transplant was
moving forward until a shunt with a competitor left his ride
crippled. It took half the safety crew and a couple of deputies to
keep him from taking out his frustration on his perceived
antagonist. A lengthy interview revealed his passion, anger and
frustration. It was very public proof just how much these Nationals
mean to those that participate.
15 - Donny Schatz: No, he didn’t win his prelim.
Yes, he showed a potential crack in his armor. In spite of that he
starts on the pole. Until someone proves otherwise, you’d be foolish
to bet against him. There sure are a lot of people hoping.
19P - Paige Polyak: She’s the only female in the
field , and a rookie to boot. She has Mike Woodring guiding her, and
he’s proven to be quite capable of making female drivers better.
There may be better rookies in the field, but don’t be surprised if
this OH girl takes it.
27 - Greg Hodnett: He’s the high point man of a slim
PA Posse representation. I look for him to have the best finish of
my local cars. Brent Marks, Stevie Smith, Lucas Wolfe and Danny
Dietrich are the others. Thanks, guys, for representing. I wish
Central PA would shut down this week so more would come. Wishful
thinking, I know. I am happy that Dietrich pit a Weikert’s Livestock
wrap on his Beefmobile. That car has a rich, Nationals history.
Seeing it here brought back many memories. Doug Wolfgang’s alphabet
run remains the best of that bunch.
49J - Josh Schneiderman: His car failed to fire on 2
qualifying attempts. In the spirit of the Nationals, he has cured
it’s woes and ran the non-qualifiers knowing he would have to start
from the back. Many would’ve just packed up and gone home. He and
his team didn’t I wish them well on their improbable quest.
71A - RJ Johnson: We rarely get Floridians at the
Nationals any more. RJ’s reward was a hard crash and trashed racer.
I hope he keeps coming. He was showing some speed before disaster
set in.
81X - Lee Jacobs: This young man has impressed me
more every time I see him. One generation of the Jacobs and
Haudenschilds is winding down. One is waiting in the wings to stake
it’s own successes. I believe that new Renegade group will benefit
from their progression.
99 - Brady Bacon: As the t-shirts say, “I may be
posse, but I love Bacon.” Jaxx’s pop continues to run a varied
schedule that can only make him a better driver. He also remains 1
of the drivers that stays ahead of his marketing curve. Said
t-shirts are just 1 example. Stop by their trailer. Xia Xianna would
be happy to do business with you.
Time to wrap this and try to enjoy the rest of these
Nationals. There will be no sleep before my Monday morning flight
home. Airport time will be spent rehashing what plays out this
evening. Before this and that see the net, many of you will know the
results, and whether or not I have a clue about any of this. Feel
free to let me know either way. Adios.
8/7/14
Greetings from your breadman in soggy Knoxville, IA.
Last night’s scheduled opener fell to persistent rain to the chagrin
of all involved. That led to a lot of agonizing decision making,
with track management looking for a solution that would satisfy a
majority of the factions involved. At first it was announced that
the Wednesday show would be run first on Thursday followed by an
emptying of the grandstands, track prep and the admission of
Thursday ticket holders for a hoped for 11:00pm start of the
Thursday show. It looked like a seriously long night faced us all on
Thursday. That was chucked for the current plan of running the
Thursday show as scheduled, with the Wednesday show bumping the
Friday show to late Saturday morning/early afternoon and the finale
keeping it’s Saturday slot. Follow me? The second plan is what I
expected all along, and the best plan in my opinion. A few locals
hit social media with their objections to plan A. Plan B should help
in regards to community relations, whose good standings have
contributed to making the Nationals the premier event in short track
racing. You don’t get to a 54th edition without establishing a good
decorum with your hosts. They’ve done a pretty good job here in
Knoxville. The town’s acceptance of this event is one of the reasons
I want to eventually retire here. There is nowhere else on the
planet where I can converse with this many of my friends accumulated
from my worldly, track chasing adventures. There is nowhere on Earth
where such a large congregation of race fans assembles ready to join
a family, if you will. I made a few new friends in the motel parking
lot yesterday. A few more in the media center where I reunited with
my writing and photo homies. A couple more in the restaurant at
breakfast this morning. The racing attire worn by the majority in
attendance lets you know that interaction is wanted and encouraged.
That attire often hints at the locations these fans have come from.
I’ve yet to meet a race fan that isn’t curious about the racing
elsewhere in the country or the world. Meeting Aussie mates at
Knoxville has led me to 3 wonderful trips down under. I will never
miss an opportunity to repay their hospitality. I will forever be
indebted to the Nationals for expanding my chance for lasting
friendships infinitely to the point that I know I won’t get to
converse with all those I know in the 4 days scheduled. It’s the
gathering itself that is the reason for coming. Great racing has
often just been a plus adding to the enjoyment. Come join us, if you
can.
I’m not one to plug sponsors, but I’m going to make
an exception for Casey’s General Stores. Owner, Don Lamberti, got on
the racing and Nationals bandwagon long ago. I hope his stores have
benefited as much from the arrangement as racing has. I purposely
filled up my gas tank across the street from a competitor that
offered gas at 2 cents less a gallon to show my support for someone
that has stuck by the racing community for so long. Racing doesn’t
have enough supporters like these. I hope you will consider
supporting those that support our addiction. Thank you, Casey’s.
New this year at the Nationals is the presence of
the Winged Nation internet radio show at a stand set up by MRN. A
show is scheduled at 6:00pm daily. Feel free to tune in to Kendra
Jacobs and Steve Post on your favorite device. I’m sure the guest
list will be substantial and entertaining. It should make for a nice
edition to the Nationals.
Time to head back to the track where I hope to hook
up with National Speedway Directory owner, Tim Frost. This column is
named for that publication, after all. Tune in tomorrow when I hope
to report on some actual racing action. Feel free to use one of the
many internet video sources to form your own opinions. Adios.
Greetings from your breadman in York, NE. I never
take a direct path from my humble abode to the Knoxville Nationals.
This year is no exception. July 29 was spent at the Thunder on the
Hill show at Grandview. The 30th at the Action Track at Kutztown. I
had the a flight to Kansas City on the 31st from Baltimore at
6:15am, so I didn’t sleep at all after Kutztown. Thanks to the
controversial Kevin Eckert for following me home and keeping me
awake until it was time to leave. Contrary to recent allegations
from a pugilistic videographer, he didn’t steal anything during a 2
night stay at my crib. Needed sleep was had on the first leg of my
flight to Chicago. My KC arrival was followed by a drive to Lincoln,
NE where my track chaser addiction led me to a figure 8 race at the
fair at the Lancaster Event Center. As is often the case these days,
novelty events like this outdraw traditional racing. Hopefully, the
short track promoters of the world will rethink the status quo and
retool their shows enough to keep the sport ahead of extinction.
Further proof of Armageddon reared it’s ugly head last night , where
the once mighty Belleville Nationals drew a meager 14 Silver Crown
cars and 24 Jayhusker TQ midgets after luring 23 midgets to their
opening night. Where this event once drew 100+ midgets enabling the
track to split the field for preliminaries, it now draws so few that
support classes have to be added to make for a more complete show
for your dollar. The fact that the Silver Crown cars are no more
than a support class here is further proof that these 2 classes and
the event are way too close to extinction. Where you once needed an
advance ticket just to get a seat, the ample seating was less than
half full on a beautiful night. My reason for returning to
Belleville was getting a chance to watch racing on the inner,
quarter mile. I was stoked to see TQ’s using it, as it’s usually
cruisers or some such class. The need for a support class filled my
track chasing needs, while saddening me simultaneously. It pains me
to watch what was such a stellar event slip into obscurity. I’ve yet
to tire of watching midgets and Silver Crown negotiate the high
banked circle. That joy dwindles as the field thins and spreads out
quickly, the haves separating from the have nots. Even a dragged out
USAC show was completed before 10:00pm. Chris Windom was more than
half a lap ahead when his steed gave up the ghost on lap 43 of 50.
Cody Swanson benefited from Curb team misfortune to take the win and
pad his point lead. None of the 8, surviving cars were setting a
“blistering” pace at race’s end, unless you were referring to their
tires. The worn surface had turned unraceable with just a minimum of
racing. Midgets as a whole need to reign in the costs of fielding a
competitive ride. Poweri remains as the strongest club, and they
don’t draw all that well. USAC remains locked in a past going
nowhere. ARDC has seen their strong resurgence regress back to
former levels. NEMA, RMMA, Badger and Washington midgets flounder in
relative anonymity. Ozark and Texas groups are no longer heard of.
BCRA barely fills a niche in CA. If nearly 300 entries can be found
at the Chili Bowl, how is it the regional groups suffer so much?
Instead of trying to out spend the competition, the top teams need
to be meeting with them in an effort to save the sport. When the
last of us diehards stop coming to watch, the well heeled will have
no playgrounds left to play in. The rich seem to be so short sighted
in every faction of life. I guess I should expect no more in racing.
The Action Track shows remain a pleasant surprise
with their success. Crowds have retained a healthy level all year,
while the pit area overflows every week. That success appears to
have led to an unhealthy cockiness that has seen them schedule too
much racing for the time constraints they are under. Starting the
events earlier on a Wednesday night is detrimental to growing the
crowd as is ending past their 10:30 curfew. Lengthy delays in the
final 600 feature led to a 4 hour plus night, while drawing the ire
of a neighbor(s) that had local police nearly shutting the place
down before completion. One of those events found a car catching
fire, with slow reacting officials arriving with 2 fire
extinguishers they didn’t appear capable of using. Compounding their
ineffectiveness was their attire consisting of short sleeve shirts
and shorts. The flames were large, and they appeared rightfully
scared as they retreated from flare ups in the blaze. Thankfully,
the driver was able to exit before harm was done. Moments like that
make me appreciate the safety crews at Knoxville, quite possibly the
best in racing. Adding to the length of the show is the “need” to
interview the top 3 finishers of each feature upon completion. With
4 races on the docket, that added 45 minutes to the show they didn’t
have. Having that done literally in front of the crowd is a nice
touch if you have time. I doubt that any of the fans will mind if
you skip it on a Wednesday night. It is the actual racing they are
coming to see. That racing, especially the 600’s, is usually quite
good. Why risk the future of the track by needlessly going over your
time limit. Learning to live with your neighbors is a much better
strategy than pissing them off. I’m just saying.
Speaking of the Action Track regime, there’re rumors
circulating they’re considering purchasing or lrasing the recently
shuttered Evergreen Speedway. Talk is they will cover the third mile
of pavement with dirt and either add to or move their current deal.
Evergreen has a checkered past to be sure, with a sad pattern of
closing and reopening under various factions, all sure they can turn
the joint around. Real success has never occurred with the amount of
competition they face racing and otherwise in a less than stellar
location. Mahoning has always been more accepted by the pavement
racers. Dirt racing would go up against Big Diamond no matter the
night chosen. In spite of the current shortcomings of BD, assuming
you can steal away their business is arrogant and risky. The track
is too big for their Action Track classes except for possibly the
Speedsters, making transferring that show implausible and further
away from the remnants of the Reading Fairgrounds faithful that fuel
Kutztown success. Twenty miles to Kutztown is more conducive to
attendance than 80 miles to Evergreen. Other groups appear to be
interested in Evergreen. There never seems to be a shortage of
dreamers that think they can do a better job. Reality tends to slap
that taste out of their mouths after the deed is signed and they
find out running a race track is different in many ways from other
businesses. I greedily hope the dirt covering comes about, as track
chaser rules would allow me to count it as a new track. I’d be even
happier if someone found the way for Evergreen to be a profitable
venue. Good luck to whomever agrees to try.
The most recent ARDC/TSRS doubleheader at Grandview
was another artistic success, with 305’s providing an incredible 4
way battle for the win. Alas, as in the past, only a few hundred
witnessed it. These shows deserve the support of all open wheel
fans, yet get very little. Dropping the $15 admission to $10 would
be a step in the right direction. Pit admissions already assure the
breaking even point. Why not try to increase the profit margin by
trying any and all promotional tactics. There appears to be nothing
to lose and everything to gain. Better package deals with the
Saturday night races would be a logical first step. The last of
these shows for 2014 is scheduled for Aug. 31. A tough sell on a
holiday weekend with many other options. I sure hope this series
gets another year to try and grow. It deserves a successful fate.
Good friend, Liz MacGee, and her late companion, Al
Jones, have shared their hospitality and introduced many a fan to
the Knoxville Nationals. The past few years she’s been accompanied
by teenager and Hunterstown gokart competitor, Troy Wagaman. I’m not
sure if that will be true this year, as Troy has advanced to a 358
sprint at Lincoln. His first top 10 finish nearly gave Liz a heart
attack. I will understand if he stays home to race, but will miss
him just the same. Liz and Al (I sure miss you, Bro.) are the kind
of people that make the Nationals the great event it is. It’s the
people that bring me back year after year. Good racing is just a
bonus, and there’s been plenty of that over the years. I’ve sat in
Section W, row 25, seat 24 since they opened the backstretch
grandstand, and I will as long as my knees let me climb that high.
See you next week.
The day before the Nationals I intend to attend the
TORC show at the Buffalo Chip Campgrounds in Sturgis, SD. What
better way to precede the party that is Knoxville than the party
that is the biker rally in Sturgis. It’s probably not wise to start
Knoxville in an exhausted state, but what the heck. I intend to try
and report every day from the Nationals, but no promises. If not, a
lengthy effort will follow. Until next time I will be wondering if
this is the year the “Anyone but Schatz” banner flies over the
Marion County Fairgrounds. He’s earned it. Adios.
7/19/14
Greetings from your breadman. I have to start this
effort by apologizing to Dale Blaney for giving his brother, Dave,
credit for all his accomplishments in my last piece. I’d like to
blame it on the keyboard, but the v is 5 spaces removed from the l.
The Low Rider doesn’t receive all the notoriety and respect he
deserves as is. My mistake can only compound the problem. A recent
charge from 17th to 3rd at Lernerville’s Silver Cup against the best
the WoO has to offer was yet another example of the prowess of Lou
Blaney’s younger son. He was strong as well at the Doty Classic at
Limaland. He’s well on his way to an ASCoC title, and while some
might snicker at his perceived lack of competition, my recent stint
viewing that bunch during Ohio Speedweek has me deeming such a deal
worthy. It would be interesting to see how Dale would fare on the
WoO tour with some deep pocketed team. Today’s dry slick world would
be right up his alley. Only Donny Schatz puts a slippery center to
better use in this era of weight limits and tire rules. I usually
consider Dale as one of the dark horses at Knoxville. I hope I’m
present when he steps out of that shadow.
Speaking of Limaland, I had a great time at that
recent Doty race. Attending a great, one division show at a first
class venue while surrounded by friends from coast to coast made my
second visit to this racy joint in less than 2 weeks something I
need to repeat. The whole show was done by 10:00, something only
possible when the ever more prevalent, back gate mentality is taken
out of the equation. No offense to other divisions, but the fans of
the featured class have little interest in seeing anything else than
what they prefer. That’s especially true at a midweek show. I think
the huge crowd on hand speaks for that. Running out of seats and
parking when you have lots of both has to be a good thing. In this
environment when there are too many “special” shows and closing
speedways, it was nice to be a part of a success. Hard work and
preparation will still win out. The Doty race had plenty of both., a
reflection of the man that presented it. Many consider the Doty race
a nice start to the King’s Royal weekend. I’d go as far as saying
the appetizer is better than the entree, all things considered. Of
course that might be some of the euphoria left over from having some
of that fine, track ice cream brought to me by Levi Crowe. Moose
tracks rules.
The Silver Cup at Lernerville was yet another
example that midweek shows have no need for filler divisions. They
used to run the street stock class to fill the down time, but I’ve
yet to hear anyone complain since they’ve been removed from the
show. Again, no disrespect meant toward the streeters. There’re
nights when they can steal the show. If a midweek show is supposed
to be truly special, the headliners will have to do it themselves.
It’s what the fans expect when they plunk down the increased dollars
charged for same. Having a perceived, lesser class stealing the
thunder can be a detraction from the main draw. Can that be a good
thing? The established, midweek shows have stood the test of time
because they do many things right. They need to stay ahead of the
curve during the current economic situation. The increase in ticket
prices for these specials has got to have a negative impact on a
track’s regular show and those of surrounding speedways. These
things tend to be cyclical, and I believe we’re currently in a
period of over saturation. With weekly tracks dropping like flies,
adding midweek dates and competing with yourself too often seems
counterintuitive. The Silver Cup has consistently been successful in
spite of the lousy weather thrust upon it. The bright sun had many
scrambling for shades rarely needed at this event. Management had to
be pleased with the large throng that responded to the pleasant
conditions. The twin 30”s with all on the lead lap at the end of the
first feature inverted to start the second makes this a special
unlike all but the Trophy Cup. People wonder every year how long the
format will be retained. Here’s a vote for keeping the status quo.
Had the top of the track not gone away, the second race would’ve
surely exceeded the first in action, and the first might’ve
approached legendary status had the inopportune reds and yellows not
killed it’s momentum.
The 2 WoO shows gave me a couple chances to converse
with the sanction’s announcer, John Gibson. I don’t get to do that
enough with my friend of 30 years. We talked of the many differences
between the current, WoO caravan and his first days selling programs
for Ted Johnson. Gone is the humble minivan, replaced by a couple
haulers worthy of the top teams in racing. Results that used to have
to be phoned back to Dallas for enhancement and distribution are now
almost immediately sent to all sources world wide from a laptop. As
we conversed in the Lernerville pits, a fan stopped and asked John
to autograph a t-shirt already adorned with many a driver’s
scribblings. The fan said “You are part of the show, after all”. I
couldn’t agree more. Like all good announcers, John does his
homework. He researches the info of the locals he might be calling.
He keeps abreast of the doings of his regulars. He does his very
best to make sure all parts of the show are properly represented.
His thanks for same is to way too often be taken to task by the
clueless in social media. That college boy selling programs has
transformed into one of the best announcers in the business today.
Allow me to alter one of his signature calls. You wanted the best,
he calls them 4 abreast. Often imitated, rarely duplicated, my
favorite show in the booth, John Gibson.
Speaking of the booth, I was with the Grandview
Speedway in-car radio guy, Mark Garman, when he got a call from the
regular scoreboard and lap counter operator informing him of her
absence for that night’s racing. Faced with the task of assuming the
added duties, “the Shark” pleaded with me to fill in. I balked for
an hour, but with no other real plans I opted to ride along to
Bechtelsville. It was time for this breadman to go over to the dark
side (just kidding) of racing, and become a minor official at a
racing program. Up to the booth I climbed, where I was given some
simple instruction on how to operate the machinery. I was seated
between the announcer and the head scorer, feeding off them both as
needed. To say I learned a lot of behind the scenes activity at a
race is a gross understatement. I’ve always taken for granted many
of the actions I now know these people have to deal with quickly
under stress. I truly had no idea how many variables and situations
are thrust upon them every minute cars are trackside. Even a minor
electrical glitch barely threw them off kilter. It did briefly take
me out of the game until Mr. Garman worked his magic. Trouble
keeping up with the changing positions was conquered by feature
time. It didn’t help that the racing was so good that the positions
were in a constant state of flux. The only downer of the deal was
even though I had a great view of the track from my elevated perch,
I couldn’t really watch the racing as I needed to concentrate on all
things occurring near the front of the pack lest I lose focus of my
duties. Quite a shame, as the racing was as good as I’ve become
accustomed to at Grandview this year. The PA Speedweek show was
easily the best show I’ve seen this year as the 60 lap modified
feature blew away a really good sprint car race. I digress. I’m
really glad I took Mark up on his offer. The perspective I gained
far exceeded the wage I earned. I want to thank Penny, Jill, Vicki,
Jeff and Mark for patiently and graciously guiding me through the
task at hand and making me feel like a wanted part of their team.
Make no mistake. They are a team that enhances the overall enjoyment
of the show without the fan fare they deserve. They don’t get to
enjoy the racing they love so the rest of those in attendance can do
so. It takes special people to do so. Grandview is lucky to have
them.
The final stop on a recent trip west was at the
Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, OH. A $20 bill gained you entrance to a
4 division show followed by a school bus, figure 8 race. It was
standing room only by starting time. Concession lines were
continuously long during the 4 features for the regular classes.
Fans watched with little fan fare or emotion until it was time for
the busses. All fans returned to their seats, and a notable buzz
grew in the crowd. No one left after the regular racing. This crowd
was created by the busses. Seven of the oversized steeds took to the
narrow course. It wasn’t long until the inevitable collision
occurred at the X. One bus struck another in the rear and flipped it
on it’s side. The crowd went absolutely nuts. This was what they
plunked down their hard earned money to see. The kids were
especially thrilled. Is this the future of short track racing? Are
these novelty events the only way for tracks to generate a profit?
It scared me to see the kids virtually ignoring the actual racing
while going bonkers over little more than a live action, video game.
How will we develop the race fan of the future if they show no signs
of enjoying the traditional racing. Total prize money paid out was
minimal compared to traditional, special shows. Surely most of the
increased admission price went straight to the profit margin. Who
could blame a short track from diverting from traditional racing
towards a more viable, profitable show? I wouldn’t, though I sure
hope all the struggling short tracks find ways to step up their
programs to stave off this possibility. Time will surely tell.
The next 2 weeks should be quiet for me, as they
will be followed up by 11 days that will include the Knoxville
Nationals. I’m hoping to give my daily thoughts after entering
Marion County. The Days Inn in Newton will be my temporary office. I
hope to squeeze in 1 more effort before that, time and energy
willing. Plans include the Silver Crown cars at Belleville the
preceding week among other venues. The weather will steer me, as
usual. Adios.
7/4/14
Happy Independence Day, everyone. The holiday
usually marks the beginning of racing’s busy season. If that’s the
case, I might as well raise the white flag now. The past 3 weeks
have been more than hectic enough for me racing and personal wise.
Most importantly, my niece, Amy Spindler, graduated from the
Massachusetts Hospital School, and now begins the next chapter in
her life. Making that more special is Amy’s battle with all her
disabilities attributed to her having cerebral palsy. The many
surgeries, one this week, have done little to curb her spirits, nor
kept her from being the happiest person I know. My problems pale in
comparison to hers. She, and her fellow students have often been an
inspiration and tonic for me. I am so proud of and honored to have
known them. I wish the Class of 2014 nothing but happiness and
success. As for Amy, I love you and you go, girl!
While in New England, I looked for some racing that
would interest me. The Bentley Warren Classic for ISMA supers at
Oxford Plains Speedway fit the bill. Adding to the event was the
return to the driver’s seat by Bentley, himself, after a 4+ year
absence. It was like riding a bike, as he was up to speed from the
first hot lap session in Chris Perley’s backup. He parlayed that
practice into a 10th place finish. Not bad for a tavern owning
senior. That tavern with his name is located in Arundel, ME, and is
a biker bar of note that had a rally that same weekend purported to
have been expecting 1,000+ that weekend. Two busloads of his
clientele made the trip to the race to watch their hero. The dead
ringer for Rob Halford of Judas Priest drew my attention more than
once. Only his New England accent gave me pause. The racing itself
on the paved, circular third, was entertaining in all 4 divisions
other than the 32 (yes, 32) car, late model feature that bred yellow
after yellow after the first, fabulous 25 laps. I expected little of
the 75 lap super race with “Liquid” Lou Cicconi on the pole, but
Mark Sammut and Doug McKennedy challenged quickly and dropped the
brand new 61 to second for a while before succumbing in lapped
traffic. Supers at full song remain the most exciting and exotic
division racing on macadam. Somehow they stay 1 step ahead of
extinction, though the 17 car field I saw makes me wonder how much
longer. Two side notes, if you will. If you arrive way too early as
I did, you might use the Oxford Casino, 5 miles east of the track to
kill some time. I managed to break even. The track also has a stand
alone, candy store that sells a wide variety of candy bars and bulk
candy. It struck me funny that there was little room for the kids,
as the majority of the patrons were AARA members. I went for the
Hershey’s Cookies and Cream bars. Yum!
The next day was spent at the debut of the brand new
road course at Thompson Intl. Speedway. NASA club racing was the
attraction for the groundbreaking event that gave me an easy number
on my track list. They have sunk a lot of money in this deal they
hope will more than supplement property revenue. Check it out if
like that kind of thing.
I drove home from CT to be picked up by the Gater
Racing News bloggers, Bruce and Patsy Eckel, and Auto Racing Records
web master, Will White, for a ride to RFK Stadium in Washington DC
for a Global Rally Course race in the parking lot on a mixed surface
of dirt and pavement with jumps for factory backed rally cars. You
may have seen these guys during X-Games coverage in recent years.
These cars are not a soccer mom’s Subaru, being highly sophisticated
, high powered weapons. The show was well attended, but I doubt the
lengthy delays between the few, very short races was enough to bring
them back. Even the freeloaders watching from a nearby bridge left
after 1 race. While we could see the entire course from our perch
after standing to see over everyone else doing so, I preferred this
event as I saw it presented at the Dirt Track at Charlotte last
year. Many of my worst, racing, pet peeves reared their ugly head
here, but I will hold them in check for a future column. You might
want to darn a fire proof suit to read that one.
We slipped out of the Capital and made out way to
the TSRS and ARDC show at Grandview Speedway. Not before an
excellent meal at Cheddar’s in York, PA that made Patsy smile. This
show was not the artistic success it’s debut last year was. That
being said, I still think this is a sound concept that should be
successful if they keep the admission price at last year’s level.
They might want to offer their Saturday night crowd a discount rain
check deal to get them to sample the racing fare the following
night. There’s no harm in trying something that isn’t “how we’ve
always done it”. That’s a mantra racing can ill afford to keep.
After 2 days to get current personally, I joined
Baron von Thrifty, Rich Rauser, for my first return to OH Speedweek
since 1996. Atomic Speedway was the venue where 3 other divisions
joined 62 ASCoC entries for a long night of racing on a racy surface
topped by a nasty cushion just a few inches from the wall. Four
letters can explain what was to follow. HAUD! Today’s younger
drivers rarely have to contend with such conditions, and struggle
when they encounter them. Jac Haudenschild was raised on and excels
on them still at the ripe, old age of 57? Haud may be his own worst
enemy at times, but he remains 1 of the most exciting, entertaining
drivers in sprint car racing. It’s a shame he rarely removes his
wing, as there’s a new generation of wingless drivers he could be
schooling. 62 cars was an unexpected pleasure in this era of lower
car counts. Being reminded of it constantly by an exuberant
announcer for 3 days is not. Hearing that same guy falsely claiming
they’re “3 abreast” in the corner of your choice is a lousy trend
spread by many of today’s announcers. Stop it! You’re not doing
radio and the crowd isn’t blind. Stop insulting our intelligence. We
know what we’re watching. Sorry. One of those pet peeves slipped in.
Sharing a blanket with Brady Bacon’s wife and mother was an
unexpected pleasure, as was running into OKC’s Ron Ruyle Sr. whose
cowboy hat has absorbed dirt from many a fine speedway over the
years. The icing on the cake was being the recipient of lodging and
hospitality from Rhonda, John and Levi Crowe from Chillicothe.
Thanks a bunch. And for their fellow residents of OH, a warning.
Young Levi has received his learner’s permit, and is now behind the
wheel. Just kidding, little brother. They made a good time better.
The action shifted to Fremont Speedway the following
night, where we were down to 50 cars. That didn’t mean a reduction
in quality, as the field remained stout. This my first return there
since Kevin Eckert, Guy Smith and I started the weekend where Team
Defiance was born oh so long ago. We followed the Fremont race with
appearances at Sandusky , Michigan Intl, Millstream and Bryan
Speedways in a 24 hour period without purchasing a single ticket.
Details can be found in The Book of Sleaze should it ever be
written. Fremont has always slicked off. I know it and accept it.
Such a surface favors “the Low Rider”, Dave Blaney. His history of
success there bears that out. He has always had the patience and a
Donny Schatz-like ability to master a middle groove others don’t
occupy. It works for him. It kept him out of a dip in turn 1 that
foiled many of his rivals. A tricky top side contributed to his
march forward, while creating many yellows that killed the momentum
this race teased us with. 305’s and trucks had similar problems,
with the trucks having the best feature of the night. Wish it wasn’t
so, but that’s racing sometimes. I sincerely doubt it will be so
long between return visits this time.
The ride to Limaland was halted by a stop at Kathy’s
Korner in Fostoria, OH for some excellent coconut cream pie. Lee’s
Chicken in Lima also preceded my first visit to Limaland since they
flipped sides years ago. What we now have is 1 of the finest
facilities in racing. The original incarnation was anything but. All
that remains is the dust that is prevalent in O-dry-o. Fortunately,
that dust avoided us for all 3 nights of our mini tour. The cushion
was worn out in hot laps due to a very early start under the sun.
Four cars crashed in qualifying, with numerous others hitting the
backstretch wall as grip disappeared out of turn 2. It led to many a
fine driver being victimized by the ASCoC qualifying system. The
many stars starting in the back made all racing more entertaining, a
concept often lost in these days of prima donnas believing they’re
entitled to start up front not having to pass a single car. I
digress. The race was an eerie repeat of the previous evening, as
Blaney repeated his winning performance in a similar fashion.
Vanquishing recent demons was Byron Reed who notched a podium finish
reminiscent of old. Most watchable was James Mcfadden, who I feel
has the potential to be the best Aussie driver ever. A tall task,
indeed. I’m anxious to see how his career pans out. We were down to
2 divisions this evening, with UMP modifieds providing equal
entertainment. A large crowd was on hand on a hot day that I’m told
will pale in comparison to the gathering for the Brad Doty Classic.
I’ll let you know, as I intend to attend. Brad, himself, was
present. A class guy, always willing to converse with fans and
competitors. Having an ice cream stand available on a hot day was
most appreciated. I’m still waiting for mine, Levi. Many more of the
OH contingent joined us in the stands as the car count dropped to
45. A sign of the economic times, I guess. The quality remained high
all through the week, however. I still prefer quality to quantity
while greedily preferring both. Fans lament the lowering of entries
for races local and national. I fear the day the quality follows
suit.
I went almost directly from OH to PA Speedweek when
I stopped at Path Valley Speedway. The second ever promotion for
former driver, Fred Rahmer, has to be considered a qualified success
in many ways. He did a better job than many veteran promoters
currently do. He must have called in many favors as 44 sprints and
30+ winged 600’s filled the pits. Many were rewarded with extra cash
and contingencies available do to the hard work of all involved. The
hot, beautiful day drew a capacity crowd. The racing itself was
“okay” highlighted by a late, Lucas Wolfe charge that fell just
short of an ever widening Greg Hodnett 27. I love the event and
thought processes going into it. My problems come from the venue
it’s presented in. It’s just not large or capable enough to handle a
crowd large enough to make it a must-see event. There aren’t enough
seats (even though small sections were added), and those they do
have haven’t been maintained or have aisles. I counted 6, added
port-a-johns that inadequately supplemented the disgusting,
permanent men’s room with ONE non-working urinal. I can’t speak for
the ladies, but I fear the worst. The spectator area has little, if
any, lighting, making traversing the many pitfalls on the grounds
quite hazardous. Both of these issues are compounded on a long, hot
day where a big crowd has nothing to but drink alcohol or otherwise.
I took a spill in an unseen hole, and I never consume alcohol.
Concession lines were constantly long, and too much was scheduled
forcing fans to miss some racing to procure sustenance. Parking
isn’t the greatest with ingress and egress to the joint through 1,
narrow gate leading to a narrow back road, making for lengthy delays
in leaving. Adding Steve Post was a nice touch, but Postman, you
didn’t look good when you told us the “stock cars” (none present)
were returning to the garage area. (ditto) Too much time residing in
Charlotte? You did get to make the call of the German Shepherd
taking a dump in the infield. I can only guess where that stands
among your announcing career “highlights”. Don’t get me wrong,
brudda. You’re still head and shoulders above the majority of
announcers I’m subjected to. I was spoiled by Ruffner, Singer, et al
at an early age. I hope Rahmer continues to expand on the
promotional side of the guardrail. He raises the bar in a stagnant
group. That can only be a good thing. I just wish he had a better
venue to present this show. I just don’t know of a better option
available within the limited travel distance PA Posse members are
willing to travel. Two nights later, Grandview drew a meager 22 cars
for a similar event, and that’s an average of a 2 hour drive for
most of the competitors. I know I won’t be back at Path Valley until
improvements are made to the facility. Can’t afford or want any more
scars.
I still have a Grandview tale to tell about some of
the best racing I’ve seen this year. I need to hit the road for my
meandering path to Limaland, wherever that leads. I’m still mulling
it over, with Canada and MO yet to be ruled out. Adios.
6/13
Greetings from your breadman. It’s been an
interesting 2 weeks. May 31 found me attending a rare for me regular
show at Grandview Speedway. My history there goes back to the 60’s
when I saw the Reading Rocket, Russ Smith, win a flathead race long
before the thought of erecting a catch fence had occurred. Being a
half hour from home, I often used the joint as a weather option
during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The photo and writing days since
have led to a mostly adversarial relationship with management that
keeps me from singing their praises, deserved or not, while limiting
my appearances. One or 2 Thunder on the Hill shows for fellowship
purposes is all I tend to squeeze in. Last year I did a regular show
with some out of town friends, and found it curiously refreshing. A
ride offer by my neighbor tempted me, and out the door I went. I was
rewarded with 1 of the finest regular shows I’ve seen for a while.
Three classes ran 8 heats, 1 consy and 3 features in a timely
manner, while producing some outstanding racing. The sportsman class
closed the show at 10:03 with a yellow free, 25 lapper. There
weren’t more than 6 yellows waved the entire evening. Outstanding!
Three of the top 5 in the modified race started 20th or further
back. The racing was clean and exciting. I’d be hard pressed to find
fault or ask for more. Once might be a fluke. Twice might be the
start of a trend. I doubt I’ll take much coaxing to make it three’s
the charm.
The following night was spent at the Bedford
Speedway for an Appalachian Speed Week late model show. I spent the
night feeling a cold come on, while being subjected to not so good
racing on a rough, dry, dusty surface. Today’s mega haulers kept the
backstretch from view, lessening my enjoyment even further. Surely a
better parking plan can be formed pitside to improve the view. Too
many yellows that caused too many unnecessary caution laps on a very
large track dragged the show late into a Sunday evening. The event
stood as a stark reminder why so much time had elapsed between
visits. The next stretch could be even longer.
The USAC Eastern Storm is a mini series anticipated
yearly by many of my friends and I. Traveling an hour or 2 to get a
wingless sprint car fix is preferable to the day or 2 it takes to go
to Indiana or west. My luck in attending these events is less than
stellar. The cold I just spoke of had me too sick to make the first
show at Grandview. I wish I hadn’t sucked it up to go to Lincoln. A
weather forecast for rain after 10 didn’t deter us. Should’ve been
plenty of time to get in the first co-sanction of the 2 oldest
sprint car groups, USAC and URC. Alas, the forecast got worse as we
drove to the track. Still time to get it in before 9:30, or so I
thought. To their credit, the track did alter the schedule somewhat.
Just not enough. They could’ve moved all the traveling USAC stuff
ahead of all the local URC races. They didn’t. They could’ve done
away with time trials and used a draw. They didn’t. They could’ve
dropped a totally unnecessary semi. They didn’t. Had they just
started the A when they started the semi, they probably would’ve
gotten it in unless unforeseen reds dictated otherwise. They had a
real shot. They didn’t. No disrespect to URC, but the vast majority
of the fans in attendance were there to see USAC. The URC race could
be rescheduled. Not so for USAC. It’s funny how no thought was given
to finish things on the open for USAC Friday night. Tickets had
already been sold. I doubt that many on hand intended to attend the
sacred cow in Mechanicsburg over the completion of this show. It was
not a local crowd, per se. Any option that would’ve prevented what
transpired was preferable. Any fan with a smart phone could draw up
radar that showed the show was doomed. I made that same call an hour
before the rain came. As the track went into a “holding pattern”,
fans were left to their own devices trying to ride out a weather
pattern they couldn’t beat. Some fans used those smart phones to
call the track office to get an update. Some were told to gather at
the ticket booths for refunds. Word of that spread, and lines
lengthened. All this in a steady rain, mind you. When I asked an
acquaintance why they were forming lines, I was told of imminent
refunds. I expressed my doubts of same, and retreated to my nearby,
dry car. From there I saw the shade at the ticket window lowered.
There would be no refunds or explanation given. Twenty more minutes
went by before it was announced that the show was deemed complete
and would be finished before the 2015 race. Contractual obligations
with the sanctioning bodies was the justification given for the lack
of refunds or rescheduling. What a crock. Once you place an employee
on the phone telling fans refunds can be had, they need to be. It
doesn’t matter if that wasn’t true. Someone needed to step up and
take responsibility for the error, if it was such. Even a token
gesture would be welcome. None has been forthcoming. As I look at my
useless rain check, I see no mention of what that ticket entitled me
to. Don’t remember seeing it posted on the ticket booth. I guess we
can now all assume that we fans take all the risks. The sanctioning
bodies have their contracts. The track and/or promoters think so
little of the fans that they just make decisions up as they go along
regardless of how it affects those that pay the bills and generate
the profit. The promoters get to sit on the admissions for a year
and use it to generate income. The teams have to wait a year to
attempt to recoup their expenses, if they’re able to return at all.
And the fans? They’re in a similar boat, albeit with some holes in
the bottom. The real sad part is that all of this could’ve been
avoided with some better decision making. Did I mention the lengthy
hot lap sessions containing 7 or 8 cars? ARGH!
I passed on New Egypt to recover for Port Royal.
Watching a sprint car at full song at the Port never gets old.
Wingless versions, even more so. Adding ARDC to the show nearly
doubles your pleasure. Steve Drevicki may have dominated the
midgets, but 2nd through 7th was some really fine stuff highlighted
by Steve Buckwalter finding a preferred line through 3 and 4. Not to
be outdone, Robert Ballou turned first lap misfortune into a charge
from the rear to 4th that had many in the grandstand standing in
amazement. He has truly earned his Madman nickname over the years,
and the respect of most of the crowd that night.
Susquehanna came with a sorrier forecast that doomed
them from the start. Bedford’s early cancellation was just a prelude
to Susky’s fate. They had no real shot, but when hot laps commenced,
the fans flocked to their seats like moths to a flame. Time trials
would be completed before the inevitable rain would take the last
show of the tour away. The wise fans stayed in the parking lot as I
did, not willing to purchase a ticket for a doomed show. At least
Todd Fisher has given those that did buy in the option of using
their rain checks at any show remaining in 2014 with any difference
in price refunded. That’s what’s good for the fans, making it good
for business. The day wasn’t a total loss, as a stop at nearby
Rock-it Pizza always puts a smile on my face.
This weekend has me thinking Bear Ridge Speedway in
VT for some Sprint Cars of New England might quench my racing
thirst. I’ve been absent from the Home of the Coupes for quite a
spell. Sprint cars and midgets added to an already fine show makes
this a desirable choice, I hope. Adios.
5/31
Greetings from your breadman. In the beginning of
the year when the schedules started coming out, the ASCS Gulf South
presented a 3 race, Memorial Day weekend at 3 tracks new for me in
Texas. Getting new tracks in Texas on a Friday and Sunday is hard
enough. Getting them with sprint cars had me booking flights to
Houston. Even the South Texas Speedway dropping the Sunday show
didn’t matter, as the Golden Triangle Raceway Park picked up the
date and added the Southern Sprint Series 305’s to boot. Having the
ASCS national series off that weekend got me hoping some of their
regulars might drop by. Johnny Herrera, Matt Covington, Aaron
Reutzel, Brandon Berryman and Brandon and Blake Hahn did just that.
Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Travis Rilat also added to the quality of the
field. Paul Solomon one-upped everyone by making his first ever
American starts, his being from Melbourne, Australia after all.
Other than a plethora of unnecessary support classes and a general
lack of efficiency by those running the shows, I was in Heaven.
Here’s the skinny.
I nearly didn’t make it to or fro from Houston, as
there were weather delays each way. A freak hailstorm passed over my
Wyomissing abode just as I was ready to depart for the Baltimore
airport. Golf ball to baseball size stones created millions of
dollars of damage in my area without warning. A secondary storm hit
as I approached York, PA that stopped traffic on the opposite side
of US 30 I was driving on. I didn’t check into my Houston motel
until 1:30am. Coming home found worse delays as storms and flash
flooding created havoc with flights. My departure time changed 6
times, causing me to finally enter my driveway at 4:40am the next
morning. Sheesh! I’m getting too old for this. As for the racing?
The Cotton Bowl Speedway lies outside of Paige, TX,
and is a new, 3/8 mile of light brown dirt. As expected, it’s quite
a nice facility with many fan amenities. Odd to me were corners that
were nearly flat entering and exiting, with the only real banking
coming in the apex of the corners. Add a tricky cushion, and finding
a consistent line to run gave the joint character the 29 sprinters
had to deal with. Herrera disposed of Rilat after a stoppage for the
erratic Blake Hahn that turned a fabulous charge to 2nd into a
destroyed race car after missing his line. Reutzel made a late pass
for 2nd. A disappointed Rilat settled for 3rd in the Saumere 3c.
Other highlights of the evening were conversing with a group of
Albany, NY ex patriots, one of which was wearing a Lebanon Valley
Speedway t-shirt, (I never thought I’d be telling modified stories
in TX.) and downing the largest cheeseburger I’ve ever purchased at
a race track. The 3 support classes presented some better then
average racing, all before the sprint finale. I was still tired from
the previous travel day. A near midnight finish made possible by an
hour late start whupped my butt. Pre-race fuel was had at Lost Pines
BBQ in nearby Giddings, TX sure hit the spot.
I awoke too late for local breakfast, so I headed
toward the Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, TX. Driving through La
Grange gave me a ZZ Top vibe, but no breakfast. Schulenberg provided
Frank’s Restaurant, a legendary, local joint that more than
adequately filled the need. A stop in Victoria to procure lodging
preceded the 20 mile drive to the Shady Oaks Speedway that is aptly
named. Many trees dot the property that looks more like a campground
than a race track. There’s even a fishing pond with a bridge outside
turns 3 & 4. This is truly 1 of the prettiest race track settings
I’ve ever seen. The track itself is a fairly rustic, 3/8 mile paper
clip with dark, sharp corners. The sharpness of turn 1 caused many a
spin, with the proper line on the verge of losing it. To their
credit, the first time visiting sprinters adapted well as the
evening wore on. The previous night’s carnage lowered the sprint
count by 3 to 26. Once again, 4 support classes filled the tree
lined pits, while providing decent racing. Ironically, a track
sponsor gave away a large cooler at a track where you’re not allowed
to bring in any food or drink. That led to 1, long line at the
concession stand that required a 20+ minute wait most of the
evening. Blake Hahn went from zero to hero with a masterful,
aggressive run to victory that just added to the mystery of this
young driver. His flashes of brilliance makes me shake my head when
he steps on his. I hope he finds a way to pull it all together on a
more consistent basis. Watching him do so is mighty entertaining.
Matt Covington led early, but dropped to 4th as his engine
deteriorated. Rilat and Reutzel swapped spots earned the previous
evening. Kolt Walker garnered his best finis of the weekend with a
5th, followed by Herrera in 6th from 18th. Another long night found
me on the midnight train lodging. Even a Motel 6 bed is comfy when
fatigue takes over.
The 3rd night came at Golden Triangle near Beaumont,
TX. Back when the Lone Star Speedway opened (Sammy won in the Old
Milwaukee car.) I parked next to a banker from Beaumont that shared
some Jack Daniels with me and regaled me with Golden Triangle
stories. I’ve wanted to, yet never have been able to fit this track
in until now. Alas, it appears that the track has worn since those
long ago tails. A newer set of aluminum bleachers appears to have
replaced an earlier, wooden version, but little else seems to have
changed. The long, concession lines from the previous evening
followed me here, causing me to miss some support class heats. The
track is a real quarter on the inside of dark, TX dirt. The ASCS
allegedly asked for more water leading to a 90 minute late start.
That led to rearranging the running order of the classes and the
elimination of the intermission. Yeah! The 23 sprints were moved to
the 2nd feature of the night, and still finished at midnight. Kudos
to whoever put up the money to let all 23 cars start while
eliminating the B-main. Herrera started on the pole, but was being
blown away by Rilat until his steed quit halfway through. Covington
and Brandon Berryman also dropped Hollywood before he stormed back
for the win and a $500 bonus for taking 2 of the weekend events.
There were 34 of the 305’s on hand, and their feature was 4th,
ending at 12:30 with 2 features to go. And out the door I went.
This was my 2nd time I spent a weekend in TX with
the ASCS Gulf South, and found myself quite content doing so both
times. I want to thank Kolt Walker, Klint Angelette, Ray Allan
Kulhanek, Channin Tankersley, Tommy Bryant, Travis Elliott, Chris
Sweeney, Harli White, John James, JJ Simmons, John Pate, Brandie
Jass, et al, and the many support drivers that provided proper
entertainment no matter the time of night. Four of the support
features went non-stop over the weekend. You can’t ask for much
more.
This past Wednesday I accompanied Mark Garman to the
Action Track at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. They run speedsters,
slingshots and wingless, 600cc micros on the banked 1/6 mile. This
track is perfect for the 600’s that put on some incredible racing,
and they get a bunch of cars from throughout the area every
Wednesday during the summer months. Being in the center of town and
directly across from Kutxtown University, they have an early curfew
and a limited number of nights to race. I never come out of there
disappointed. Even if the races are found lacking, and that rarely
happens, the regular crowd that attends are some of the most
knowledgeable diehards in racing, coming from many local tracks and
a multitude of classes. That’s the appeal of the speedster class
that features drivers from many tracks, dirt and paved, towing as
much as 4 hours to run for $2000 to win. No points, just fun in a
class that is relatively affordable racing wise. The top 4 were
Billy Pauch Sr., Rick Eckert, Kenny Brightbill and Earl Paules, 2
dirt modified legends, an accomplished dirt late model driver and an
asphalt modified champion. The increased banking allowed the top 3
to run 3 different grooves, often 3 abreast. The 600’s were briefly
5 abreast. You will get your money’s worth. You’ll eat well also, as
1 of the fair stands is open. I’m sorry I missed out on the new salt
potatoes. Pups and pierogies filled in nicely. I hope to get back a
few more times this summer.
Not sure about the weekend, but the USAC Eastern
Storm will dominate my time this coming week. It’s not the same as
the USAC sprints coming to Reading on Indy car weekends at Trenton
or Langhorne, but it’s nice to be able to scratch that wingless itch
so close to home with many friends from around the country. It’s a
chance to repay hospitality to those that have taken care of me over
the years. A labor of love, for sure. Adios.
5/16
Greetings from your breadman. As usual, it’s been an
eventful 2 weeks since I’ve expressed myself here. Mother’s Day,
family gatherings and a Fitz and the Tantrums concert claimed some
possible race time, as they should from time to time. That concert
was held at Penn’s Peak, an incredible venue atop a mountain in the
Poconos that holds a maximum of 2,000 fans. It won’t be my last
visit, as I came away more than satisfied with the joint and the
music. If neo-soul, alternative pop is your thing, give Fitz and his
hard working, excellent band a listen. I’m glad I did. Kudos, also,
to the Nightmare of 1927 that opened for them. Making time for my
Mom and Mother-in law was a labor of love that I’ll never grow tired
of. I’ve been very blessed to have had them in my life, and love
them both dearly. As for the racing interspersed, you be the judge.
The first weekend in May satisfied my track chasing
needs. Six races at 6 new tracks for me in 3 different states in 3
days fed my addiction for such. Having 4 of them occur on a Saturday
when the ducks all lined up time and direction wise led to what we
in the hobby call a home run. They are rare in this hobby. Two races
in 1 day is a double, 3 a triple and 4 at 4 different venues is
hitting 1 out of the park in our lingo. Doing so without sacrificing
the standards of the hobby like a select few of the newbies tend to
do made it even more satisfying. That entitlement thing has infected
too many things in racing and the world. Alas, the track chasing
hierarchy has neither the stones or desire to preserve the integrity
of the many, fine folks that started this, while placing his
personal agendas ahead of such. It’s so frustrating, but I don’t let
it keep me from enjoying such weekends. I know this is an open wheel
site, but you may gain further insight into my psyche by reading on.
It is all still racing.
Having to be in Indiana on Saturday made it prudent
to try an Ohio track on the way out Friday. Moler Raceway was chosen
for it’s location near Cincinnati where a 5 division show was
presented on a high banked quarter mile that was fast and rough.
Being fairly new, it’s a decent facility, though I doubt it has
enough seating to present a top, traveling group. They took 45
minutes after the heats to try and grade some smoothness into the
surface to no avail. The ruts and holes tore pieces off many of the
race cars, leading to many more yellows than the racing itself.
“Insane” Duane Chamberlain used his super late model to show me the
speed and potential of the racing there, dominating his heat and
feature. I would love to see a better, quality field negotiate this
place. Open wheel snobs only have a Sept. 19 TQ race to gage their
opinion. They will really get around if the track doesn’t bounce
them out. I certainly won’t rule out a future return visit.
It was an early rise on Saturday to make the 11:00am
start of legends and bandaleros on the inner, quarter-mile oval at
Kentucky Speedway. Admission was free, needing only to sign a waiver
to enter the infield through the tunnel. They had 2, small, bleacher
sections set up, but I chose the warmth and comfort of my Camaro on
a cool, blustery day. Five classes numbering from 4 to 8 ran a heat
and feature wrapped around a 30 minute break. It didn’t take long to
present a less than riveting show as I’d hoped. There were other
fish to fry, so out the tunnel I went.
On the way to Ft. Wayne I stopped at the Bryant
Speedway, a kart track in the Indiana town of the same name. Senior
champs were the only countable class by track chasing rules (don’t
ask), and I was lucky to stumble upon a few entries. Again, there
was no admission for spectators, and I positioned my Camaro beside
the main bleacher section for a more comfortable view right before
the 4:00pm starting time. The champs were the 9th division on the
schedule, making the wait less tolerable. Karters are strange
creatures. Three of the classes had only 1 entrant that still went
out to “race” by themselves. Don’t see any fun in that. Having a 45
minute drive to track #3 and 2 hours to do so, left time for a fast
food and petrol stop. I was halfway home.
The Baer Field Speedway in Ft. Wayne was having a
demo derby with a countable, figure-8 race scheduled for 7:00pm. A
lawn mower derby scheduled to precede it was nixed when only 1
entrant showed. Unfortunately, the power wheels derby for kids was
not. Having 4 to 8 years olds crashing battery powered toys crash
into each other on purpose is not cute. It’s a miracle none of the
tykes were hurt. It was close more than once. This may have been the
worst idea I’ve ever seen implemented at a race track. The legal
ramifications of a child being injured would surely close any track.
Three figure-8 races followed with too few entries to make any
excitement on the muddy pit laid out in the infield of the permanent
paved ovals. Time limits were set and enforced to determine winners.
One race only had 1 finisher. The $15 necessary to view this lack of
entertainment seemed evne more steep after freebies.
I left Baer Field at 7:50pm, hustling across Indiana
to my final destination, the US 24 Speedway in Logansport, IN. I
arrived at 9:05pm to find an abandoned ticket booth and all 5
features yet to be run .I couldn’t have asked for more, as the 4
classes of micros and Kenyon midgets rewarded my diligence with some
excellent racing. Only 6 yellows waved with 2 features running
non-stop. The Kenyon midgets were the third and best race. I wish I
could tell you the driver’s name that almost pulled off an
incredible win, but the anemic public address system couldn’t be
heard above the roar of the racers. Not satisfied to follow his
peers around the bottom of this fabulous eighth mile, he assaulted a
tricky cushion with reckless abandon. Hit it right, he’d go forward.
Miss it, and back he’d slide. His determination found him crossing
under the white flag beside the leader. All went for naught when a
lapped car shut down in front of him as he entered turn 1. He
drilled the stalling car so hard, he damaged his steed beyond
repair. Frustrated, he sat in his racer pounding the steering wheel.
I was close enough to feel his pain, and applaud him for the
incredible, entertaining effort he gave the meager crowd on hand. If
anyone in the Kenyon group reads this, I’d appreciate learning his
name. It made a long day that much more enjoyable. I was only there
70 minutes and loved every minute of it. The first green flag waved
for me at 11:00am and the last checkered flew at 10:15pm. Mission
accomplished.
Sunday afternoon found me attending an autocross
enduro at the Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, OH. Hopefully, this
stinker will remain my worst race of the year. I truly have nothing
good to say about it. It’s races like that that make me question why
I do these things just to add a number.
On May 14 I washed the rest of that Ohio dust out of
my mouth at the WoO race at Lincoln. WoO announcer, John Gibson,
performed admirably the night after he personally watched his
beloved Pittsburgh Penguins lose a 7 game playoff to the NY Rangers.
Ever the professional, John made sure the large crowd received all
the pertinent info on all 48 drivers pit side. And a quality field
it was. While the forums tend to bash both the PA Posse and WoO
bastions, you’d have to be an ignoramus to not appreciate such a
large, talented field. The WoO and their 15 travelers have been
putting on some great shows. Stevie Smith became the 14th feature
winner they’ve had in 2014, and there’s still 2/3 of the season to
go. Fans have been complaining about a decline in posse talent, but
I’m here to tell you the young studs that have replaced the retirees
have been acquitting themselves well. Fred Rahmer and Austin Hogue
made their first WoO features in their first attempt. Tim Glatfelter
laid down a quick time and parlayed it into a feature start. Gerard
McIntyre Jr. nailed a solid 10th place finish. Kyle Moody also made
the main. Considering that local cars took the top 2 spots, I fear
the posse heads are going to howl above and beyond. And as usual at
Lincoln, there was Brian Monteith. Sometimes I hate the Edge, as he
makes me watch him instead of the battle for the lead. His exciting,
driving style tends to draw your attention, and rightfully so, no
matter what position he occupies. Congrats to Fast Freddie Rahmer on
his first WoO victory as a car owner. His driver talked of a
possible trip to Knoxville in August. I hope they make it so. Stevie
Smith has always been good there. If the team continues to gel, they
will be a factor there and any track they tow to. The second place
Hodnett team is also gaining momentum just might continue this dual
in Iowa. God help us all if the posse takes the Nationals. As a
Pennsylvanian, I would sneakily enjoy that.
There probably won’t be another column until after
my ASCS Gulf South trip to Texas for Memorial Day weekend. It would
be a gross understatement to say I’m really looking forward to it.
I’ve had great success with previous such weekends. Might sneak in
the WoO show at New Egypt first if the spirit moves me. Adios.
5/1
Greetings from your breadman. The weather just can’t
stop using me for it’s amusement. Plans get tossed aside at an
alarming rate as the weather’s unpredictability and the
meteorologists inability to forecast correctly wreak havoc on race
tracks and fans. Even my internet was lost the past few days as
storms rolled through constantly. Hopefully the head hoser’s
problems with Aol will not keep this effort from seeing the light of
day, otherwise I may have to find a new internet provider. I’m not
someone that accepts change very well, so I hope this reaches you by
Mother’s Day if not much sooner.
Normally I’ve been to a few shows at Lincoln by this
time of year, but weather issues wiped out early opportunities and
left it as the only viable option for me on Apr. 19. Fred Crouse and
his band of merry sprint car fans offer me 1 of their reserved seats
when I choose Lincoln, and threw in a ride as well. A designated
driver can be a valuable asset, hence the offer that guaranteed
party time for all. It’s a responsibility that I gladly welcome. My
reward for same was a nice field of 29 410’s, 25 358’s and 10
streeters. The rain that plagued so many shows leading up to that
night gave Lincoln what I call character. Two grooves were usable,
with the top rewarding good choices and penalizing less than stellar
lines. A yellow on lap 3 led to 2 others when the third place car
sputtered at the cone, stacking up cars behind him. Positions 2-11
were affected to the delight of handicapped winner of the week
prior, Alan Krimes, who took advantage of his good fortune to double
his win total. The 87 had advanced to the front row without having
to pass a single car. The majority of the fans around me voiced some
serious displeasure with the starting at the cone policy,
vociferously blaming the track and any driver they deemed
responsible for the carnage. Make no mistake, the large crowds that
attend Lincoln on a weekly basis are a passionate group to say the
least. Entertaining shows at a decent facility on a regular basis
have created an atmosphere rarely equaled in short track racing.
While the carnage did drastically change the outcome, it gave us a
consolation prize. The Edge, Brian Monteith, would restart at the
tail, and use that tricky cushion as few can to charge back into the
top 5. It’s nights like this that Monteith can be worth the price of
admission all by himself. Having quality playmates that Lincoln
provides on a weekly basis often makes for a good night of racing.
The 358’s held up their end of the bargain, as their race was run as
the track had reached it’s entertaining peak. I hope to get back to
the Pigeon Hills on May 14 when the WoO invade. Join me early and
enjoy the track cuisine. I recommend the beef brisket or crab cake
sandwiches that will kick up a rooster tail in your mouth.
Weather kept me local again the following Saturday,
making last minute plans to join Karen and Mike Lavignia for my
first visit of the year to Port Royal for the Bob Weikert Memorial.
The Port has hosted this event for quite a few years, with this
version paying $10,000 to win the 29 lapper. Next year’s version
gets a bump in laps to 40, and a winner’s share of $15,000. That’s
some pretty fair cabbage. The feature length matched the Weikert
car’s number for the majority of it’s iterations. All drivers of the
Beefmobile were mentioned in alphabetical order during intermission,
and what a list it is. Three of those drivers, Paul Pitzer, Len
Krautheim III and Danny Dietrich, signed autographs behind the
grandstand pre- race alongside an early , restored version. Double D
had a Weikert wrap on his 48 for the evening, and plans to do the
same at this year’s Knoxville Nationals. That’s a nice gesture
considering the car’s history there. The race was sanctioned by the
All Star Circuit of Champions that had little presence at the event.
No souvenir trailer was seen by me, a far cry from the days where
conversing with Brigitte Emick was an anticipated part of the
program. They did provide less than 10 invaders with mixed success.
A steady 20mph wind made for arid track conditions. Thankfully, that
wind was mostly at our back, keeping the fans from constantly
brushing off dust. First car out set fast time, leading that driver,
Greg Hodnett, to proclaim his 6th place heat inversion a tough deal
even though he only needed to pass 1 car to get to the dash. I
scoffed at the notion, yet Hodnett proved prophetic as he barely
made it, while others in his situation failed in their task. It did
set up a feature that would remind me of former glory along the
Juniata River. Hodnett and Dale Blaney waged combat for the first 20
laps. Blaney was trying to copy a win the previous week. Their
battle allowed Brent Marks, Chad Layton and Shane Stewart to join
the fray on lap 15. The intensity level was on high, as the wind had
blown off all the dust, leaving a variety of grooves from the very
bottom to scarce inches off the wall. This was the Port Royal I so
adored in the 80’s. Make no mistake, I love the quarter miles of the
world. But when you can add the speed of a proper half to the action
of a tiny bullring, Heaven can indeed be a place on Earth. Such was
the case this night. Stewart was making his debut in the
Larson/Marks car, and shook off enough rust to go from 4th to 2nd at
1 end, and back to 4th at the other. Hodnett finally found a little
security after negotiating lapped traffic to an advantage . The
other 3 never let up with Blaney having to go to a photo to claim
second. While all this was transpiring, Danny Holtgraver had
methodically and stealth fully risen to fifth. Had this year’s race
been as long as next year’s, the finishing order would have no doubt
changed in his favor, as he was coming. My group arrived at 5:00pm
to find a mostly full parking lot filled with fans enjoying a rare,
beautiful day. The atmosphere present turned a race into an event.
You can’t ask for much more. I think it’s fair to say I’ll be adding
this race to my 2015 schedule. I truly love traveling far and wide
to attend different race tracks. I intend to do some of that this
weekend. These past 2 weeks have reminded me that such travel isn’t
always necessary to find racing nirvana.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the
improvements made at Port Royal since my last visit. Widening the
track in turns 1 & 2 appears to have benefited the racers and
racing. New walls and guardrails all around the track top to bottom
have given the old girl a fresh, new look. Doing all this in 1 of
the most unique settings in racing just adds to the experience.
Seeing the track from the hill above town on Rt. 75 never gets old.
Watching sprint cars charge down a backstretch literally across the
street from actual residences that have history themselves impresses
me as much now as it ever did. I talked briefly to a fan at the Port
for the first time. We waxed nostalgic while I lamented the fact
he’d never get to see racing from the old, covered grandstand that
put fans right in the action. Somehow, I doubt he was disappointed.
Neither was I.
Perhaps the weather will actually let me follow
through with stops in KY, IN and OH this weekend. That would allow
me to regale you with tails of legend cars and figure 8’s and such.
Or not. If you get to read this in time, I heartily recommend you
take in the Wolford fish fry at the Lattimore Valley Fairgrounds on
May 4. It’s a great time that benefit’s the EMMR. Makes for good
food, fun and fellowship for a good cause. Adios.
4/17
Greetings from your breadman. My
uncle’s funeral left no time for any serious traveling, so I
accepted a ride to Selinsgrove with the Poirier posse, John Hoppel
and Rich Rauser. An ESS non-point show was on tap, and my affinity
for watching different sanctions made this an easy choice. Upon
arrival, we kidnapped Steve Poirier’s head wrench, Kevin Loveys, for
an assault on the buffet at Hoss’s Steak House, lest he run short on
the energy necessary to perform his duties at the high level the
“Fireball” has become accustomed to. Don’t know where Mssr. Poirier
got that nickname, (explanations are welcome) but he needs a new
one. Quebecois Clipper is my best to date, but suggestions will be
entertained. French versions will require translation for accuracy
of meaning. Anywho, After a gorgeous #28 was pulled from the hauler,
the 55 of Patrick Vigneault followed suit. Joining forces for the
trip from Quebec saved them $1000 in diesel fuel costs. I doubt that
many in racing, myself included, had any idea that such was the
case. When you factor in the many other costs, there’s no way any
long distance traveler could entertain the notion of breaking even
no matter how successful their evening was. I’ve seen many an
“expert” on racing on any number of forums and message boards take
teams to task for not traveling more. These teams had a 16 hour
round trip. Posse guys going to Knoxville have double that. West
coast teams, triple or more. The fact that short track racing has
survived this economic madness is a testament to all involved.
National and regional traveling series face even more ridiculous
numbers. In spite of perpetually rising ticket prices, purses have
not kept pace with rampant inflation. How can they? The lousy
economy affects every facet of the sport to it’s future detriment.
Four ESS teams came for the non-point show. More would’ve sucked it
up were there points involved that do little for a team’s budget. It
appears that race teams are mathematically challenged. That might be
all that stands between racing and it’s extinction. Next time you
notice a team that has come a long way to entertain you, take the
time for an extra thank you. Better yet, slip them some coin for the
fuel bill if you can.
The Poirier team started the night on
a good night when Steve notched a quick time award. His pulling an
inversion of 4 for the heats set up a mark Smith chop across his
right front that tore the pan hard bar from the chassis. Watching it
flop up an down in turn 1 kept my attention for impending disaster
that never occurred. The team’s anticipated, season opener ended in
10 laps, the broken steed disappointedly rolled back in the shared
trailer. With an early quit to his duties, Mr. Loveys joined our
brood in the grandstand. Participants rarely make great race
watchers, but they do add insight you can gain nowhere else.
Selinsgrove has been chastised by
some for moving from 358’s to 360’s this year. URC did the same a
while back. Lincoln, Trailway, Susquehanna and Williams Grove have
stuck with the former. Ironically to me, Susquehanna, that runs the
class infrequently, drew more entries this past Sunday than Lincoln
or the Grove. I’m not sure what the Trailway numbers have been.
Here’s the thing. I’m not sure what differences 2 cubic inches make,
but I can’t believe it really matters in the overall scheme of
things. It is imperative that racers learn to compromise for the
good of the sport. I went to a 358/360 doubleheader at Selinsgrove
last year, and guess what? The lap times were nearly identical,
shooting down any argument of inequality, power or cost wise. Again,
I remain open to enlightenment, and would love to hear all sides of
this deal. Selinsgrove did have 26 entries, 4 of which brought by
ESS, topping all but possibly Trailway. Just maybe it wasn’t such a
bad move after all.
Susquehanna ran 410’s and 358’s on
Sunday. Susky has remained consistent over the years no matter who
has run the joint. It remains a rustic joint, it’s steady
deterioration a result of the reluctance of any owner in the time of
my attendance to invest in meaningful improvements. It will be
dusty. Veteran observers don’t wear clothes they fear will be ruined
by the swirling, red cloud. Any inconveniences incurred will be made
up by the good racing that takes place after all the powder has been
lifted from the arid surface. Usually by feature time, 2 and 3
grooves are available for those skilled enough to take advantage. I
can only imagine how many career wins Don Kreitz Jr. would’ve
amassed had Susky remained a weekly, sprint car venue. He has truly
been the master there, adding yet another late, race victory in
entertaining fashion. I don’t think he gets near enough credit for a
career better than some hall of famers. Adding to the delight of the
fans that remained, Tyler Ross came from deep to win the 358 race
that had constant changing of the top 5 positions. Kudos to all the
racers that provided good racing on a weekend finally lacking in
winter weather. Thanks, also to all my homies that helped erase the
grief endured during the week. It was needed and appreciated.
This coming weekend has me succumbing
to my track chasing ways. Stock cars at Pike County in Raleigh, NC
is the featured attraction on Good Friday. VSS at Eastside remains a
viable, Saturday night option after karts at Ace Speedway. Could be
time for a long over due chat with French Grimes. If only I could
find that old t-shirt of his purchased years ago. It might even fit
again. The look on his face when he saw me wearing it at Knoxville
was priceless. Adios.
4/9
This
past weekend showed me just how futile it can be to make racing
plans. I drove to Richmond, IN on Thursday trying to make the
drive to Lincoln, IL Speedway less daunting. That race was
canceled as I drove. The POWERi race the following evening at
Wayne County, IL Speedway had been unknowingly moved to Macon,
IL. No matter. That, too, was canceled. Sprint Invader backup on
Saturday in Maquoketa, IA was moved to Donnellson, IA that had
them originally on Friday. No matter, as both nights were lost.
Springfield, Callaway, LA and Valley raceways in MO all bit the
bullet on Friday as did Jackson, MS and Moler, OH. Attempts were
made to contact numerous others, but last year's contact info
was no longer valid. That's an affliction that has contaminated
short track racing forever, it seems. Accepting the hospitality
of Brenda and Roger Ferrell for 2 nights in their Huntingdon, IN
abode made better sense than further travel. Thanks, guys.
Watching the debut of the WOFS figure 8 group at Anderson
Speedway seemed more prudent than stock cars in either KY, TN,
AR or LA. Not being so thrilled with the reconfigured
Lawrenceburg eliminated that choice, though reports the next day
made me think that might have been the best pick. Hard tires and
cold temps kept a shorter than expected field from reaching
their entertainment potential. At least the track moved the
starting time up an hour trying to keep the small crowd as warm
as possible. A most appreciated gesture had the show over by
9:00. It had been about 20 years since my last visit to
Anderson. Sadly, it looked as if not one cent had been
reinvested in the joint other than some pink paint on the walls.
The track sits in a town that's lost most of the union jobs that
ran the economy. Expecting more than basic survival may be too
much to ask.
Sunday
afternoon weather was near perfect, making a return to the Salem
Speedway to add the figure 8 track to my resume an easy choice.
My track chasing addiction leads me down such a path when the
tracks line up for me. A small crowd turned out to watch racing
on the inner oval, making tails of financial difficulty
believable. It would be a shame to see this legendary speed
joint pass into the night. Then again, if this show represented
the normal quality of the racing presented, the grim reaper
might be lurking behind a tree on the nearby golf course, My
first show there was a super modified race on the high banks.
Not having my camera gear, my friend, Steve Koletar, lent me a
spare unit. Right after positioning my self as the lone shooter
in turn 1, Bruce Robey, I believe, had a water hose let go under
the flag stand. The car rode the top of the wall into the
corner, burst into flames and barrel rolled down the banking,
coming to a stop in front of me. As the other photographers
flocked to my position, queries were made to find out if I'd
gotten the sequence on film. Even though I panned through to the
end, only the first shot took as the batteries in the motor
drive were dead. Dreams of an Open Wheel magazine debut were
dashed immediately. I briefly entertained the notion of dashing
my slinky buddy.
With
an early end to the Salem show, it was off to the Terre haute
Action Track where USAC Silver Crown cars shared a show with UMP
modifieds. My 5:50 arrival found me missing only the mod heats.
Silver Crown hot laps got my juices flowing as these brutes were
tossed hard into turns that showed signs of dryness. Qualifying
followed, with the mod feature up first at 7:00. Ken Shrader
made fairly easy pickings of the 23 car field, with Kenny
Wallace furthering a NASCAR presence in third. Heavy dust took
the whole field from view upon entering turn 1 at the start. An
immediate yellow led to single file restarts after all other
such shunts. The water truck made a much needed appearance
between features. USAC sent 21 to the post, made up mostly of
youngsters lacking the experience to handle such difficult
rides. Three great green flag laps seemed to always be followed
6 or 7 yellow ones in a hundred lapper where all laps counted.
The first 40 laps just seemed to tease, as the caution periods
sucked the life and potential out of the deal. The last 60 laps
were run on a rubber down surface that forced racers to the
bottom. The advantage of a powdery cushion had long abandoned
the Vigo County Fairgrounds. Cody Swanson was best suited to the
conditions, winning by half a lap. An early ending and strategic
parking made for a head start home. It was back to Richmond
where I started.
USAC
really shot themselves in the foot when they let the Silver
Crown division go to hell. I truly believe if USAC hadn't been
so stubborn and given this class due diligence, the WoO may
never have gained the foothold that propelled them toward being
the #1 sprint car sanction. No arguments about real sprint cars
don't have wings, please. Had USAC had the foresight to take
this class to all the fine half miles dirt and paved, the best
drivers would have followed suit. I saw them on the dirt halves
of Tampa, Eldora, Manzanita, Flemington, Hagerstown and Williams
Grove. I saw them on the dirt miles of Springfield and Nazereth.
I saw them run pavement in Richmond, Phoenix, Newton, Pikes Peak
and IRP. They were fabulous everywhere I caught them, and they
were just scratching the surface of all the tracks available. I
drooled at the thought of Jackson, MN, Irwindale, CA, Lacrosse,
WI, Port Royal and Selinsgrove, PA, I-70 no matter the surface,
Calistoga, CA , Thompson, CT and so on and so on. Didn't stop
USAC from letting foolish pride ruin the deal. Better to align
themselves with a NASCAR that kicked them to the curb soon after
they realized USAC couldn't deliver. Those castrated beetles
created for the super speedways were a farce. Terre Haute and
Belleville last year have me believing the fork will soon be
stuck in the class. It was once my favorite class. Now, the
memories are getting harder to draw on. Surely the race at
Syracuse, the worst dirt mile of all, will not be a step in the
right direction. The cars are more suited to nearby Rolling
Wheels.Oh, the pain.
As the
Salem show came to it's conclusion, I learned of the passing of
my uncle, Art Kochel. His family went with mine to the first
race I ever attended at the Reading Fairgrounds in 1960. Our
families did so many times in those days. As he got older he
would regale me with tails of the defunct Sanatoga Speedway. He
loved to tell me “They used to rattle those boards”. I never got
tired of hearing it no matter how many times he said it. The
smile on his face told of his enjoyment of those moments. Who
was I to stop him from saying it? This column is dedicated to
the memory of the man I simply called “Uncle”. Hopefully,
Selinsgrove and Susquehanna will bring new tails to tell next
week. Adios.
4/2/14
Greetings from
your breadman. During the time I had no place to write, I lamented
same. Now that I have lots more time to write, I fail to do so.
Maybe it was the looming deadlines that kept me weekly, preventing
procrastination. My former editors would probably suggest that Mr.
Holland just crack the whip for better, more frequent results.
Actually, the one year anniversary of my wife’s passing and the
final settling of her estate has dominated my recent time and
drained my spirit and desire. With that in mind, I’d like to tell a
few of her racing stories.
Suz was a
Jewish girl from Long Island that had never seen a race until she
met me at age 36. Her first race was an URC race in Drummondville,
Quebec. The 8 hour drive to get there was nothing for me, but a
rude awakening to what was to follow. I truly enjoyed trying to give
her a crash course in racing. Her picking up the meaning of stagger
and correctly referencing it during the program was further proof I
had a keeper. She volunteered to make a trip to the concession
stand, but returned empty handed and frustrated. Being in Quebec,
all the signs were in French, the language spoken by the employees.
We went back together, ending up with hot dogs, drinks and our first
sampling of poutine. The racing was uneventful. The search for
lodging afterwards was not. We ended up driving until 2:00am before
I wearily gave up the ghost in a Vermont rest area. So romantic. We
were rewarded the next morning with a fine breakfast in a small town
where fresh maple syrup was poured on our pancakes. That afternoon
was spent at New Hampshire International Speedway taking in racing
on the road course. This was not my best racing weekend ever, yet
somehow she stayed with me the next 15 years.
We went to an
SCRA race at the new Lakeside Speedway in Missouri one night. Suz
always had a problem maintaining some semblance of the running order
after a race started. That night she saw her first, horrific flip
when Cory Kruseman flipped nearly the length of the backstretch
before leaving the ballpark. Later in the A, she noticed an under
funded car that had charged from last to second at the finish. She
asked for the identity of the driver that had just performed the
prodigious deed. When I told her it was the same driver that had the
earlier crash, Kruser became her favorite driver. Half the racing
shirts purchased from that time forward for her contained his image.
Even our one cat bears his name. I never had to beg her to attend
any race he entered after that.
I was invited
to a kart track, the Outlaw Speedway in Somerset, PA, for a media
day. Suz got a big kick out of being signed in at a race for the
first time. She got an even bigger thrill when offered a ride in the
media race. To this day I think none of the kart owners were willing
to test the stress limits of their steeds under my considerable
girth. Anywho, the experience gave her a deeper understanding of the
racing she had watched to that point. Her speedy learning curve was
taken up a notch.
Suz never
could understand all the interminable delays inherent with a typical
racing program. She told me once there was more time for people
watching than racing. She did love watching the diverse crowds I
exposed her to. Often she would bring a crochet project along to
fill the down time. She felt uncomfortable bench racing with her
limited knowledge. It wasn’t long before she became known as the
crochet lady. It was rare when no one would strike up a conversation
on her area of expertise. She became more comfortable after that.
She was always amazed at the number of people that knew me or struck
up a conversation with me no matter how far flung the venue. I wish
I could tell her how many people have come up to me with kind words
for her. The positive impression she made on people just reaffirms
how lucky I was to have her in my life. I will always love and miss
you, darling.
A change in
weather made for a last minute decision to attend the Williams Grove
opener. Thirty 410’s contested a surface totally saturated with
winter moisture. Said moisture never allowed the groove to widen
even half the distance to the fence. The tricky cushion that
developed provided the majority of the small amount of passing that
took place on the evening. After a while, few contested it. All but
Brian Monteith. Even “the Edge” gave up the ghost after factoring in
the risk versus reward factors. Corey Haas led comfortably before
breaking. Greg Hodnett looked like a sure winner before his brakes
abandoned him. That left the race Gerard McIntyre’s for the taking.
His slowing to avoid back markers allowed the next 4 cars to catch
up, but fall short. It made for a good, early season win for the
young man. I know. Every win’s a good one. Stevie Smith started his
tenure with Fred Rahmer with a second. Rahmer may be even busier
since he “retired” now that he’s a 3-car team owner and burgeoning
promoter. Folks I know are already talking up his PA speed week show
at Path Valley. Most impressive was Trey Stark’s return to central
PA from his Washington home that netted a 6th place
finish. He’s caught my eye at numerous venues across the country,
and seems destined for a nice career pendant on some more seasoning
he seems wanting to accrue. Not so rosy a destiny appears to be in
the 358 class in central PA. Fourteen showed for the opener
dominated by Adrian Shaffer. The class’s expenditures have outgrown
the purses they race for. Openings in the 410’s made by driver
retirements and fewer teams have made it more sensible for some of
the 358 teams to move up. Spending 2/3’s the cost of a 410 and
running for 20% of their purse is more of a mathematical nightmare
than ever. 305’s, gents. 305’s.
Speaking of
305’s, Tony Moro, the promoter of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, is
trying to grow that class. He had a meeting where he invited car
owners and drivers and other area promoters to try and hash out a
common set of rules. Roger Hadan of Eagle Raceway attended, as he,
too, wants to grow the class. That type of thinking is just 1 of the
reasons he won the 2013 promoter of the year. There appeared to be
some of the usual griping, if you trust the message boards. Every
car owner seems to have one thing they don’t like. Often that’s the
only part they’d have to change. The biggest complaints always come
down to motors and tires. A URSS owner I talked to last year put the
dollar range per motor in that club between 8 and 14 thousand
dollars. 14 is already too high, yet teams resist every attempt to
reign in the numbers. I truly believe that sealed motors with a low
cost spec head is the only way to save the teams from themselves.
Engine builders need to lower their profit margins for the good of
the sport. If they can’t make decent money without charging
affordable prices, they should find another business. The overall
business plan for the sport can’t afford to stick by the status quo.
As for tires? A durometer rule should be presented to all the
manufacturers along with a maximum price. I’m sure at least one
tire maker will step up to the plate with the desired product. The
heck with all those that don’t want to follow. Thank you, Tony Moro,
for trying. I hope it all works out for you. I hope even more that
the state fairgrounds track is shortened to a third mile or so. That
would be a step toward affordability for all involved. Seeing such
an awesome facility reach it’s potential would be fabulous.
The weekend
coming remains in flux for me. The weather just won’t stop messing
with my plans. USCS at Toccoa, GA was washed away last weekend.
POWRi has moved it’s Saturday date from Wayne County in Illinois to
Macon. The Sprint Invaders have moved their Maquoketa, IA show to
Lee County in Donnellson, IA. Lincoln, IL and Terre Haute, IN remain
for Friday and Sunday. Attempts to bookend the racing with St. Louis
Cardinal baseball in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh look to be weather
threatened. My new track desires might lead me to Kentucky stock
cars, but Macon midgets will be hard to drive by. Last time I was
there for midgets I had to pull a USAC official that wasn’t paying
attention out of harm’s way in the infield. Terre Haute could be the
last chance I give the USAC Silver Crown cars. What was once my
favorite division is now just a caricature of it’s former self. How
sad. How maddening, considering USAC could’ve made this the premier
class on dirt with even a modicum of forward thinking. Salem’s
afternoon show might be squeezed in on Sunday, time permitting. No
disrespect intended, but I hope I don’t end up at the ASCoC show at
Attica. It will be hard for me to support a series that doesn’t even
release it’s schedule to the public. How does that happen with all
the resources to do so these days? Once again, feel free to converse
with the guy in the red Camaro with PA plates should you cross it’s
path. Adios.
3/10/14
Greetings from your breadman? That title may not
apply much longer, as I have my first job interview in more than 34
years coming up. How crazy am I, when I’m more worried that being
hired could drastically change my racing schedule? Fortunately, my
addiction to breathing methanol fumes isn’t strong enough to affect
my common sense. A steady income is required to follow this sport at
any level. The ever rising price of gasoline will ensure that the
costs of racing and everything else will follow suit. The inevitable
inflation will stifle the economy and make it even tougher for
racing to prosper. Now, more than ever, rules need to be tightened
and strictly enforced. Shows also need to be tightened up to a
manageable 3 hours or less, while becoming more entertaining.
Qualifying, whether it be group or single, should be the first to
go. All it does is waste time while leading track surfaces to
deteriorate. If you want to entertain your fans, you need to give
them more racing for their dollar. And please don’t hesitate to do
so with fewer divisions with fuller fields. Racers need to realize
they need to entertain us. They are not, nor ever have been entitled
to start up front. So many have forgotten that the racers and the
fans need each other. Both groups need the track operators that need
to make a profit to continue providing the events we crave. Yet none
of these factions want to give an inch for the overall good. Fans
are no longer able to afford an entire season of spectating. The
meager number of track schedules released so far are optimistically
dotted with high dollar specials. Fans will be forced to choose
between 1 special a month or 4 regular shows. Early season special
shows in the southeast and west coast have been dotted with $40 or
similar admission prices. The DIRTcar group and their top divisions
lead the way in that regard. Just like some race teams find
themselves in early season, financial woes, many fans are in the
same boat. Those familiar with my writing history know I’ve been
preaching this for years. It’s frustrating that racing seems no
closer to a solution, with the obstacles mounting exponentially. I
can’t remember a track handing out a questionaire to fans as they
enter in an attempt to figure what they want in a program. Awarding
some simple prizes for doing so should elicit more responses. Same
goes for the track web sites that go woefully neglected in many
ways. Racing keeps making the same bad assumptions because “we’ve
always done things that way”. The madness. There’s a better chance
of changing Washington politics than there is of changing racing.
Feel free to send your ideas my way. I’ll be happy to present any
thought provoking ideas here.
Recently I spoke of Bryan Clauson winning the Chili
Bowl in the car that started the Swindell streak at that event. I
had read and heard more than a few times that the winning car had
such a history. Sources for that information were those I’ve trusted
for a long time. Hence, I went with that info. Imagine my surprise
upon receiving an email from the crew chief of that Dooling 63,
Rusty Kunz, telling me it’s not so. He, too, has read and heard
those details, and wondered how such false info had become accepted
fact. The 2014 CB was the 8th appearance in the event by that car.
It had previously been driven by Boston Reid, Jon Stanbrough, Brad
Loyet, Danny Lasoski, Jerry Coons Jr. and Nick Knepper. The car was
powered by a 4 year old engine, and had many lightweight parts and
carbon fiber body panels added for this year’s event. Hiring Bryan
Clauson to drive the steed combined with the changes to produce a
winning effort. Those that have accepted and spread the false info,
myself included, have done a disservice to a deserving team. My
apologies if I attributed to that. Kunz even told me that some are
calling for an asterisk to be put behind Clauson’s name like he was
using some kind of PED like in other sports. Are you kidding me?
Make no mistake about it, Bryan Clauson is offered the good rides he
gets because he deserves it. He’s earned those rides with previous
success. That’s a pretty nice, talented group of guys that preceded
him in that ride. Clauson was the shoe that brought the car to
victory lane. Any doubt of his ability should be dashed by his fine
finishes in winged cars, most recently in AZ. This was just another
example of the power of the written word, and how it can used or
misused. Thank you, Rusty, for reading and responding. Quite
frankly, it was a hoot hearing from you no matter the reason. You
and the teams you’ve represented have provided many entertaining
moments over the years for me. Thanks. As for anyone else that might
take issue with me? Don’t hesitate to question me. I’d rather be
accurate above all else.
It’s hard not to notice the early season success of
Rico Abreu. He swept the opening ASCS weekend at Cocopah, and
followed it with a win in the Silver Cup final in Chico. To say he’s
a rising star is a vast understatement. I watched him win a Gold
Crown prelim at Granite City last October, and continue to be more
impressed with the little, big man every day. If I’m lucky, his
ability will peak during my first visit to the Trophy Cup at Tulare
in October. It’s time I experienced all the hype that show has
produced to this point. My only previous appearance at Tulare
introduced me to Kyle Larson and his talent and family. It also
featured an epic battle between Haud and King Kinser. Expectations
will be through the roof by October. Reuniting with Nor-Cal friends
will help ease any let down or disappointment.
The eastern sprint car openers remain plagued by the
incredible winter we’ve endured here in PA. More snow is expected in
2 days, probably adding to the problem. Williams Grove colleagues of
mine jonesing for a race of any kind attended a late model show this
past weekend at Smokey Mountain Raceway in TN. A family medical
situation in DE was all that kept me from joining them for the 10
hour, one way drive. I believe USCS has an event scheduled there
later in the year. It’s a racy joint that should present a fine
sprint car show if that’s your preference. Did I mention it’s also a
high speed joint if you feel the need for speed.?
The first weekend in April has the POWERi midgets at
the Lincoln and Wayne County Speedways in IL on Friday and Saturday.
MOWA sprints and Badger midgets are also on the Lincoln card. You
can cap the weekend at the Terre Haute Action Track with a USAC dirt
champ show. Now that’s an open wheel weekend. If only we could get
USAC or the track to let us in on a time schedule for that Sunday
show. How can you announce a show without having a time schedule?
That USAC has needed some real leadership for most of my adult life.
I’m fairly sure that’s no longer possible in my lifetime. Had USAC
done things the “right” way, we’d never have heard of the World of
Outlaws. It was never a fair fight between them and Ted Johnson. Ted
never allowed himself to be held back by the status quo USAC was so
reluctant to relinquish.
Weather could steer me to USCS at Hohenwald, TN on
Saturday. Southern stockers further south would be preferred. Should
you see a portly fellow behind the wheel of a red Camaro with PA
plates, stop and say hello. Adios.
Greetings from your breadman.
Another dose of fresh snow overnight further erased the rear view
mirror image of Florida warmth and sunshine. Computer woes that
preceded my 4 day excursion continued for a couple more days after
returning. Hopefully that is all remedied and this effort will get
back to the regularity I envisioned. My chance meeting with the head
hoser at East Bay has me believing I’ve settled in the right place.
To the chagrin of some, I hope we have a mutually beneficial
arrangement. That should get my former editor, Dave Kittey, to
laugh out loud. He, alone, knows what lies ahead for Mr. Holland.
Should you happen to attend an event at the scheduled to re-open Dog
Hollow Speedway, ask Dave for some sample stories. He loves telling
and embellishing them. Even more so if I’m present. I hope the new
team there succeeds in making Jim Michny’s dream reach fruition.
I almost didn’t make it to
Florida. Overnight snow arrived to coincide with my drive to the
airport. I was proceeding steadily toward Philly on an unplowed and
unsalted highway when the guy in front of me decided our pace was
too slow. As he tried to pass the car in front of him, he lost
control and fishtailed across in front of me. My turning to avoid
him caused me to swerve like a rookie street stocker, eventually
ending on top of a snow banked formed by a month of plowing. None of
my 4 wheels touched the ground as I straddled the accumulated
crest. Fortunately, a PENNDOT truck stopped 45 minutes later to
attach some chains and yanked me out in time to make my flight. Many
thanks to that unnamed driver that saved my bacon. No thanks to all
those that blew their horns or hollered derogatory remarks as they
drove by. No thanks to the jerk that started it all that continued
on his way oblivious to the situation he created. Humanity at it’s
finest.
I know this is an open wheel
site, but I don’t live by that type of racing alone. Allow me to fit
in a few stock car details, if you will. My first race of the trip
was the Battle on the Beach on the backstretch at Daytona. I missed
this show last year, and with this being the last time they would be
presenting it, the track chaser in me made this a priority. In spite
of the abundance of room behind the grandstand, all parking was done
on the apron of turns 1 & 2 of the big track after circling around
to the front and entering through a construction maze. After asking
an attendant if I could park any closer, he tersely told me I
should’ve arrived earlier. Two minutes later he offered to move me
closer for a tip. He denied my offer of the tip of my shoe. The
racing itself had more yellow than a bin full of lemons, yet was
still an improvement over last year’s televised debacle. The premise
for the event was a good one. The site chosen to present it was not.
NASCAR’s trying to keep the show moving by holding off throwing the
yellow flag and placing drivers in jeopardy was an unacceptable
travesty by a sanctioning body that continues to lose touch with the
reality of the racing they present.
Night 2 was spent at the
Volusia County Speedway for a UMP late model/DIRTcar modified
doubleheader. The racing was the best I saw all week, with the 2,
A-mains having only 1, early caution. That did not erase the
sickening in my stomach caused by paying $39 for a general
admission ticket. $39? Really? I don’t mind race tracks making
money. Racing will go away if they don’t. But there’s a fine line
between being successful and being greedy and taking advantage of
the teams and fans that support you. DIRTcar crossed that line big
time. The other 3 shows I attended were all $25 admissions If such
an admission policy is necessary to present such a show, that show
should probably not be presented. Doing so did more harm than good
in the eyes of many I talked to.
Night 3 found us chasing USAC
sprints to Bubba’s Raceway Park in Ocala. A 33 car, 1 division show
was presented at the odd shaped 3/8 mile clay playground piled atop
a paved base. That asphalt base allows for little to no drainage,
making any amount of rain a deterrent to running a show. Track prep
has always been a problem there. Underneath that asphalt is the
original, oiled dirt surface that is environmentally unfriendly.
It’s a tough deal. Ol’ Bubba had even had a tarp created to try and
shield the surface from Mother Nature.. It’s a work in progress.
While I give Mr. Clem credit for spending lots of cash to try and
remedy the problem, I can’t abide by his constant rants when things
don’t go his way. He just seems to go out of his way to burn every
bridge he crosses, while assuming none of the blame for lighting the
match. He’s lucky that racers will follow the money like moths do a
flame. That won’t last forever. I hope he figures things out before
the track goes under again. It’s an exciting place that deserves a
better fate. I was in the bottom row behind the flagstand for the
first hot lap session. Eight laps later I was covered head to toe
with sandy clay that took an hour to get out of my hair. The grin on
my face made it all worthwhile, as I realized I was doing something
so special to me. Watching sprinters on a damn fine dirt track. For
a brief moment, winter was gone. Racing season had truly begun.
A special note at Bubba’s was
Dave Darland making his 1000th USAC feature combining
sprints, midgets and champ cars. It was a reminder how lucky we as
fans have been to have had such a talented, class act to entertain
us over the years. They made a presentation to Dave during the show.
Photographer, Max Dolder, tried to encourage the crowd to cheer a
driver that deserves our support. Thank you, Dave, for the many
entertaining moments over the years.
Another story in the pits was
Texas driver, Nathan Moore. At the age of 31, Nathan has quit his
job to pursue his dream of running the entire 2014 USAC sprint
schedule. He’s doing so on a shoestring budget with the help of his
dad while towing his steed on an open trailer. The idea is as
whacked as it is applaud able. I happily bought 1 of his t-shirts
knowing the money would go directly toward purchasing a new, right
front wheel broken in a shunt on the track. It’s easy to buy a
star’s shirt. Do Nathan a favor and support him any way you can as
he chases his dream. Hopefully, my neighbor and I can help him cut
expenses if he makes it to the Eastern Storm. It will be worth it
trying to help someone who will truly appreciate it.
Night 4 we intended to return
to Bubba’s, but afternoon rain forced an early cancellation. I guess
the tarp needs some tweaking. East Bay dodged a front that disbanded
as it passed over the clay by the bay, and 51 , winged, 360 sprints
presented night 2 of the Ronald Laney Memorial. Alas, the threat of
rain left the track in the rubber down condition from the previous
evening. Haud was the last to leave the top (go figure) in the A
before joining the rest on the bottom. It’s a shame ERP couldn’t be
prepared to suit the quality, diverse field on hand. I’m sure the
sparse crowd on hand was happy just to see a race, my bunch
included. Wayne Johnson won the event fairly easily, but even he
couldn’t lap another car after the track rubbered down. I hope Wayne
doesn’t regret his decision to run the All Stars in 2014, as stories
persist that the 2013 point fund has yet to be paid. It’s no wonder
the 2014 schedule has yet to be released if that’s the case. Ah for
the good old days when down time at an All Star race could be spent
at the souvenir trailer conversing with Bridgette Emick. Further
diluting the All Star deal was Christopher Bell leaving the Holbrook
83 after 3 races to rejoin his 360 team at the ASCS races in
Arizona. What looked like a bright, resurgent 2014 with the All
Stars is dimming by the minute.
Before heading to East Bay,
my bunch stopped “down on the farm” for some grub. A patron noticed
our racing shirts and walked over to chat, wondering where that
Hagerstown Speedway that adorned my buddy Bruce’s apparel was. That
led to our learning that this gent was from Rock Rapids, IA, and
talk of tracks I’ve attended in that area. He explained that he used
to race up until an accident at the end of the 1989 season ended his
driving career. The resultant broken back kept him from defending
his 1989, Huset’s Speedway, 360 sprint title. His name? Bill
Klosterebuer. What are the chances of such an encounter? How lucky
was I to have it? By the end of our chat his wife had joined us. We
directed them to the scheduled race that night at Volusia which was
the closest race to where they were staying. That race was
cancelled as we drove to East Bay. I hope Bill’s group learned that
before venturing over. It was a pleasure meeting them. It’s the
moments like that that enhance these racing experiences.
Before heading to Florida, I
attended the Battle of Trenton in the Sun Bank Center in Trenton,
NJ. This was an AARN/Lenny Sammons promotion of indoor TQ and
slingshot racing on the floor of a hockey rink. Make no mistake,
this is not stellar racing, being more akin to a demo derby with
fancier cars. Remember that more yellow than a bin of lemons
statement earlier? It’s more of a social event to break up the
winter. However, you’d think they’d be better at presenting these
shows after 12 years. Fans were left standing outside in the cold 15
minutes after the stated door opening time. Employees were in
position to take tickets that kept pointing to their watches while
being inexplicably unable to do their job. The speakers at the turns
3 & 4 end of the arena were inoperable. I made an official aware of
the problem to no avail. One of the trackside announcers came down
to our end to ask a question. He got no response because we couldn’t
hear what he was saying, and then made a disparaging gesture and
walked away in disgust. Real classy. Worst of all was the lack of
attention initially given to a slingshot driver hurt in an accident.
It had to be 10 minutes until proper emergency responders were able
to access the driver for extrication. They spent that entire time
trying to realign the field. With the cars continuing to circle the
track, there was no way to cross and give aid. Why was no one
available in the infield? That this situation was allowed in the
state of NJ where racing is scrutinized more than any state is
unbelievable. Any thought of returning for night 2 was dashed by
this lackluster show and the thought of paying another $24 admission
and $10 parking fee.
I end this effort by thanking
Bruce and Pat Eckel for their hospitality in Florida. The Gater
Racing News bloggers offered me accommodations in their time share
condo while transporting me to and from the races. Check out their
“A Typical Weekend” column at the Gater News web site. I’m lucky to
have such good friends. Until next time I’ll be wondering if the
area openers will happen before Easter. Adios.
Left over chili and other stuff.
I have a bit of time before the Super Bowl starts,
and thought it to be as good a time as any to catch up after a
hectic couple of weeks. It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since
I went to Tampa, FL to see my beloved Arizona Cardinals lose a
heartbreaking game to the Steelers in the Super Bowl. That day
remains my favorite sporting event experience as a spectator ever.
In spite of my team’s loss, that weekend was a tremendous experience
where my emotions were on a roller coaster ride of extremes. I have
rarely felt so alive. What has that got to do with racing, you ask?
I drew many comparisons on Chili Bowl weekend. I’ve been to a
handful of CB’s, but none since it has grown to it’s current
stature. It has become an event unlike any other in the racing
world. There’s no other place where you can see so many talented
drivers from many other divisions assembled in a common class to
test each other’s skills. That common thread also assembles as
varied a group of race fans from all around the world as you will
find. Unite those 2 factions in 1 building under 1 roof, and you
have the makings of an unparalleled event. The bonds formed during
that week are worth the price of admission no matter how extreme
they’ve become. Make no mistake about it. Attending the CB for a
week has become an expensive proposition. I wish I could say the
purse has kept pace, but it remains a paltry sum when factored in
with the monetary success of the event. I digress. When MavTV
decided to broadcast the CB live, I thought it a great opportunity
to have a bunch of folks over to watch. Very few of my friends have
access to the channel, and my doing so led to an event now known as
Gordypalooza. Five invitees were kept away due to an overnight ice
storm that closed some mountain roads. 33 others, including 1 coming
from almost 5 hours away made the trip. What transpired is what I
have likened to an indoor Williams Grove infield gathering. There
was good food, racing and fellowship. And yes, there was chili.
(Thank you, Johnny Hoppel.) We even had a cake baked in the shape of
the local Dravicki midget with icing graphics (Thank you, Gail
Sassaman.) that looked worse for wear than any car that crashed at
the event after it was hacked apart and devoured. Only the roll cage
and nerf bars were inedible. Even my 2 cats were drawn into the
moment, and were unusually sociable from the get go. Animals can
sense favorable environments, and this was definitely one of those.
Fans from many classes of cars attended. That made the bench racing
as good as what was presented on the screen. And that was some
pretty good stuff. Fact is, reports from the entire week could make
an argument for the best CB ever. I read my friend, Ken Wagner’s
column on his CB experience here on Hoseheads. It’s full of stories
of family and friends and what makes the CB more than just a race.
Those things are much more important than what transpired on the
track. My reason for telling you this is that I wish all the things
that tend to divide the racing community can be put behind us. They
seem so trivial in comparison. Here’s hoping we can all get out and
enjoy the 2014 season in a manner that leads to some great memories
such as the CB tends to provide.
If you are looking for a definitive rehashing of the
CB, I suggest you go to www.sprintcarstats and read Kevin Eckert’s
blog that goes into incredible detail about the results of many
teams on hand. The guys in the H, I and J races deserve coverage,
and this is the only place where you can read any detail of same.
Hats off to my buddy for being able to amass such a large body of
work and being able to present it for our spectacular, spectating
pleasue. You may not agree with Kev’s views and opinions, but he is
the most extensive historian we have.
You may have seen that the flagman at the Ft. Wayne
Rumble was struck on his infield perch. With that in mind, I wonder
why the CB flagger is still allowed to work from the track surface
without any type of protection. Sammy Swindell’s inadvertent passage
through the infield should be proof enough of the folly of doing so.
I realize there is no way to totally protect anyone involved with a
racing event. However, I hope the CB organizers will consider other
options before next year’s event. It makes too much sense not to. In
this day and age, there’s no good reason to expose a flagger to
unnecessary danger.
Much has been made about the Swindell incident. Even
more has been made about his racing with the leaders afterwards.
Losing a lap for any reason doesn’t remove the right of any
participant to continue to try and improve his position. That would
go against the grain of a very basic racing principle. The object of
racing is to better your position from green to checker. I would
remove the move over flag from every flag stand. It’s every racer’s
job to pass every other driver in your way. No one should be
entitled to the kind of advantage a move over flag provides whether
the next driver is on the same lap or not. Drivers and fans need to
stop crying about it. It should always be an integral part of
racing.
I didn’t know that Bryan Clauson’s winning car was
the first, custom built car Sammy used to win the CB until after the
event. No disrespect meant to Bryan, but as far as I’m concerned the
Swindell streak continues. It’s often been said that a large number
of CB entrants could win in 1 of those cars. I know that Clauson is
more than talented enough to accomplish that. Still, his win will
help perpetuate that belief in the eyes of many. I have so badly
wanted to see the CB won by an actual midget racing team like it
used to be. I just wish it hadn’t taken an if you can’t beat them,
join them strategy to do so. It will happen sooner or later.
Time to watch the game. I humbly predict a 23-16
Seattle win. Take it for what it’s worth. Adios.
Holidaze.
The past few weeks have been hectic, to say the
least. The stretch between New Year’s Eve and this past Sunday was
as busy as any time during race season. Family and friends dominated
my time. No complaints, as I’m lucky to have them. My first warning
of busy times arrived via face book that Kevin Eckert would come
knocking on Dec. 31. His doing so led to near constant reminiscing
about racing and shared travels traversing the past 40+ years with
the man that retains more knowledge of that period than anyone I
know. The names dropped during his visit ran the gamut from most
famous to the most obscure. Allow me to dwell on the happenings.
Kevin arrived on the 31st with an invite to the Mega
Motor Sports party hosted by it’s head, Milt Acquilini. Grandview
Speedway jack of all trades, Mark Garman, arrived minutes prior, and
joined us for a mini Hell Patrol reunion. The commentary while
watching Lynn Schaeffer’s Thunder in the PA Mountains DVD was biting
with a level of sarcasm that no other group could achieve. What a
great time.
The aforementioned Milt, has worked on and owned
race cars for 40 years. He started by helping Dick Tobias and his
family for many a moon. His being hired to wrench an AJ Ernesto
midget led to his buying a dirt champ car driven by Jack Hewitt and
Mike Hess, et al. He sold that car to a team from Kentucky that he
still goes on the road to support. He’s also reunited with Rich
Tobias as the head tech guy at the Action Track at Kutztown. In his
spare time he assists Dave Darland as his schedule permits. The
stories he tells are long and entertaining, but none are as good as
the one he tells when as a Shillington Police officer he delivered a
baby in his squad car. Choosing gears, shocks, stagger and air
pressure has got to be a lot easier than that.
Christmas day led to a family gathering where I
presented a Brady Bacon t-shirt to a friend. That normally wouldn’t
be a big deal, except for the circumstances involved in it’s
purchase at the Oval Nationals at the PAS. The shirt had a year end
clearance price of $10, a bargain worthy of Baron Von Thrifty. I
handed the girl what I thought was a ten, but was actually a
hundred. The woman seller ran after me after discovering the mistake
to give me my change. She didn’t have to. Many wouldn’t have. Her
honesty made my day at a time my faith in humanity was waning. I
learned her name later in the evening. Thank you, Xia Xianna Bacon,
for your honesty and good deed. I hope this gets back to you, as it
was most appreciated.
Two days after Christmas, I took my mom to
Frederica, DE to visit her sister. Such visits lead to discussions
of the past. When the subject of racing comes up, my uncle likes to
wax nostalgic about the many nights he spent at the defunct Sanatoga
Speedway. Stock cars and midgets circled the near flat , quarter
mile of asphalt encircled by a wooden fence that was very close to
the seats. My uncles says they used to “rattle those boards”. I
never tire of hearing him tell me with a big grin on his face. I
just wish someone could tell me for sure that I saw a race there. My
inability to remember keeps that shuttered speedway off my track
list. Anybody see me?
New Year’s Day was spent at the home of Becky and
Woody Lando, after an invite was extended to join them for pork and
sauerkraut. I was drawn like a moth to a flame. As usual, the topic
du jour was racing during breaks in the football action. Subjects
chosen were enhanced by the presence of former Reading Fairgrounds
official, George Martin. Rehashed most often were the antics of Dick
Tobias as he tried to circumvent the weight and height rules at
Reading. Kudos to the Lando’s young son, Adam, who went out of his
way to keep my Diet Mountain Dews cold and available. I hope he
enjoys seeing his name here as much as he enjoys rides in my Camaro.
Good friends. Good food. Good stories. Good times.
Eckert now works for the Arizona Museum of Auto
Racing. He lives for his stats and the preserving of racing’s past.
We share a love of racing museums, and their importance to racing’s
future. I have a brick in the NSCHoF and have donated to other
smaller venues upon visitation. Trying to keep Kev’ entertained, I
suggested a visit to the Eastern Auto Racing History Society digs in
Orefield, PA. A late call to proprietor, Paul Weisel, led to a
private walk through the following day. Most of the displays refer
to the local racing scene. Allentown, Dorney Park, Nazereth,
Reading, Harmony and Evergreen Speedways are represented by photos,
programs, restored cars and lots of other memorabilia. There’s also
a Jim Shirey super modified, Stewart midget and former Steve Stapp.
Edmonds Midwest super from out of the area among many other cars on
display. Really cool were a pair of seats recovered from the
Allentown Fairgrounds that you can sit in for a photo op if you so
desire. I declined an invite to do so, fearing my girth might wreck
a piece of history. What made this visit better than previous ones
was being able to follow two, serious historians around the exhibits
while amazing, historical info spewed forth. I felt like a bystander
in an EF Hutton commercial. Some will tell you it’s rare that I just
shut up and listen. This was one of those times. I urge you to visit
and support the auto racing museums across the land. Please hit the
donation jar on the way out, or donate what you can via their web
sites. Allowing such places to disappear would be very sad indeed.
Before he left for the Chili Bowl, Kev’ and I
attended the AARN Motor Sports show in Oaks, PA. I hadn’t been to
this show since it was located in Ft. Washington, PA. Little has
changed but the locale. It used to be a place to gather season
schedules from the local tracks, but their participation seemed to
be at an all time low. Many beautiful race cars were on display, but
seeing tham stationary does little for me. Other than the
memorabilia sellers in the back, most of the vendors are geared
toward the racers themselves. Racing “celebrities” appear throughout
the weekend for interviews and autographs. That’s never interested
me. What brought me back was the chance to converse with local folk
my traveling rarely allows. I fear such shows will follow the racing
periodicals and run a descending course to oblivion. The internet
makes much of the show’s offerings unnecessary. There’s been talk
that the Reading Racing Reunion at the Fairgrounds Fair Mall on the
site of the former Reading Fairgrounds has probably run it’s course.
The economy hasn’t been kind to the mall with many vacancies in the
property. No customers means no traffic for those that wish to
display their wares during the show. I’ll probably still go to the
York Fairgrounds show, but only in the hope of running into French
Grimes to discuss future column material. If you enjoy these shows
you better get out and support them. It’ll be too late when they’re
gone.
I spoke last time of what I believe is the
importance of 305’s to the survival of sprint car racing. The day
before the AARN show I learned that the TSRS group was tossed from
the New Egypt Speedway schedule for asking for a purse increase. NES
will continue to have 305’s on their schedule under the “guidance”
of the NERS that will adhere strictly to the Race Saver rules
established by French Grimes for the original purse offered. Just
what we needed. Yet another example of how those involved in racing
are incapable of compromise for the good of the sport. I have no
doubt that many racers will support both groups, making those that
decide to pick sides look foolish. Midget racing in this area has a
similar history. Dissention in ARDC begot SMRC which begot ESMRA.
Bobby Cicconi made a nice accounting for himself by pilfering all
three. The fields of cars in all three sanctions were woefully
inept, made so by the stubborn few in charge that stood by their
guns for political reasons fathomable only to them. It took ARDC
many a year to climb out of the hole that was dug by a selfish few.
I have a suggestion for TSRS and NERS. Get together and hash this
out before the season starts. It makes too much sense not to.
The Chili Bowl has begun as I write this. I hope you
get to enjoy it in person, on the net or on MavTV. Looks like 30+
will join me in my humble abode for the MavTV deal. It’s probably a
good thing my neighbor is in Florida for the winter. I need her
driveway for parking anyway. Here’s hoping an actual midget driver
on an actual midget race team wins the thing. I probably have a
better chance to win the lottery. Adios.
This and That
First and foremost, thanks to all
that welcomed me back to this writing deal. The kind words were
appreciated more than you know. Don’t worry about me getting a big
head. A couple already pointed out mistakes, with one suggesting
some needed proofreading. In my defense, I can only say when I wrote
elsewhere I was always up against deadline and had someone do so
after it was sent. I was quite spoiled, mind you. I will try to do
better. I also stated the Madras Speedway was 2 hours west of
Portland, OR. If that were true, the track would be in the middle of
the Pacific Ocean. That would probably make the cushion more
difficult at high tide, while guaranteeing there would be no dust
problem. The track is actually 2 hours EAST of Portland in Oregon’s
arid center. Madras is so obscure that no one caught that gaffe.
It’s obscurity called out to me for years. Knocking that track off
of my hit list was as satisfying as the event was enjoyable.
It was announced that James McFadden
will be the shoe of the Gaerte 3G in 2014. I’m looking forward to
see how that pairing works out. When I was in Australia 2 years ago,
McFadden was the reigning WSS champ and on his way to a repeat. I
got to see him race 4 times, and each time his on track action had
the hair on my neck at attention. He was also a very personable guy
willing to interact with fans of all ages. The WSS often took the
opportunity to interview he and Brooke Tatnell in front of fans
before, during or after races. The good natured bantering between
the 2 was fun for listeners while remaining playfully respectful.
McFadden would tease “the old man” by telling him how his beating
him that evening was a given. Tatnell would remind the young stud
that he taught him many things, but not everything. The battles were
epic. It was a welcome part of the show put on by a WSS group that
has always been better at promoting than their American counterparts
no matter who has been running their shows. I digress. Upon
returning to the States, I often told anyone that would listen that
some American car owner needed to steal this Aussie talent away.
Last year he got to run bunch of races in the Jenkins 55, a good but
financially limited ride compared to some. The first couple nights
here in central PA didn’t garner the desired results. The PA
Posseheads were not impressed and vociferously told me so. A night
at Grandview changed everything. Greg Hodnett won that night, but
not before a great battle between he, Mark Smith and McFadden. There
was lapped traffic and incredible sliders with Smith trying to
maintain a line against the cushion. The space between Smith’s car
and the wall might have been 1 inch wider than a sprint car. That
was enough for McFadden to put 4 wheels above that curb through 3
and 4 and sweep around Smith for the lead at that time. The crowd
groaned “OH” all at once in disbelief of what they’d just seen. I’m
sure Smith never saw him coming. Needless to say, he made many a
Posse fan that night. It was by far the best racing move I saw all
last year. While it’s almost certain I’ll see him at Knoxville, his
presence just might draw me back to Ohio Speed Week.
Speaking of Knoxville, they’ve
announced that the Nationals A main will remain 50 laps in 2014. I
wish it wasn’t so, as the extra 20 laps just rubber up the joint
beyond the point of good racing. The Nationals are my favorite
event, period. What drew me to it was the fact that the biggest
sprint car race of the year was decided in 30 laps of fury. No
stroking, pit stops, fuel mileage runs, lucky dogs or previsionals.
You had to race and earn your way into that A, and then race the
piss out of your car to earn the prize. The 30 laps always had the
hares out front setting a torrid pace, yet there was always someone
methodically moving through the field as the track came to them. It
often made for a climax leaving the crowd wanting for more. Those
finishes led to the building of the backstretch grandstand that
would eventually be sold out as well. That hasn’t happened for a few
years for economic and other reasons. Changes were made to the
program in hopes of recapturing the magic and attendance. Progress
is slow. Scrambles were a bad idea and unnecessary risk to good cars
that have come and gone. Last year’s format was a step back in the
right direction. Fifty laps just bring too many unwanted variables
into the equation. Flat tires and fuel stops are not entertaining.
On the other hand, 30 laps of flat out fury do it for me. Some
traditions are worth preserving.
Speaking again of Knoxville, there
should be little doubt in anyone’s mind that Donny Schatz is the
master of that domain. Many thought he could not still win the event
last year after being relegated to the B main. I warned the doubters
he probably had everyone just where he wanted them. Having 50 laps
and a pit stop allowed him to pace himself and not abuse the car. I
truly believe he could’ve won the race in 30 laps. There just wasn’t
any reason to do so. He didn’t win the WoO tital in 2013, but he won
the most races. Many of those were the highest paying to boot. In
spite of his accomplishments, I feel he doesn’t get near the respect
he should. Part of that, I feel, is that he’s never had a real
rival, no disrespect meant to the drivers he races against. AJ had
Parnelli, Dickson had Bettenhausen. Kinser had Steve and Sammy. None
of Schatz’s peers have maintained a period of excellence that
matches Donny’s during his. It would be a shame if history looked
less fondly on Schatz because of that. He has earned enough
notoriety and respect that it wouldn’t surprise me if a “Anyone but
Schatz” banner flew above the Nationals. That would be a high honor,
if you ask me. And while I’m at it, late model teams should be real
glad he only views there class as a hobby. The race fan in me would
love to see some top late model team enter him in one of their big
races. Since the WoO sanction both classes, doing so seems like a
natural promotion. Make an exchange deal offering a late model
driver a ride in a big sprint race. Never mind. It’s much easier to
blame everything else for the empty seats than it is to do some
actual promoting.
Last year found me attending more 360
sprint car races than ever before. ESS, Patriots, URC, SOS, CSCS,
SOD, NRA and ASCS National and Northwest were sanctions that
entertained me. The 360’s were a class started as an affordable
alternative to the out of control spending being done in the 410’s.
It didn’t take long for the 360 speed junkies to follow their 410
brother’s path. down the road to the point that short tracks can’t
afford them. They are so blinded by their addiction that they just
expect fans to continue to pay ever increasing admission costs and
track operators to just forego profitability and increase their
purses. Blindly doing what the racers want is akin to letting the
tail wag the dog. It doesn’t make sense or work that way. If short
track racing is going to survive the downward spiral it’s in, racers
are going to have to reign in their uncontrollable spending. Nothing
bugs me more than listening to an owner or driver complaining about
the costs of racing while standing outside his million dollar
hauler. Many of these participants don’t even take advantage of the
hauler’s ability to satisfy a sponsor that just might help fill that
spending gap. All that square footage that could be used to advance
their team, yet many of these haulers are plain white. Too much
trouble to help themselves. The madness. This brings me to the
emergence of the 305 class. Once again, rules are set in place to
limit the spending while trying to save the racer from himself.
Sounds like déjà vu all over again. French Grimes was one of the
first to come up with a decent set of rules with his RACESAVER
series. He established pockets of same around the country with an
idea that was solid if the rules were enforced. With success,
moderate as it was, comes those that always think their ideas are
better. 305’s can now be found coast to coast. I wish I could tell
you the rules were identical. Similar, yes. Identical, sadly no. I
expect the class to grow for a while. The 410 and 360 guys’
continued resistance to common sense will see to that. Will the
305’s find a gps that steers them down a better path? History
dictates otherwise. The new way to overspend these days is with
shocks. Some teams have more invested in their shock packages then
the owners from 40 years ago had in their whole car. Add in the
engines, tires and fuel to the cost of transporting and you have
budget madness that has little shot to add up. Please, 305 owners.
Band together for the better of the sport. Tou might be the last,
best chance to save sprint car racing from itself.
Speaking of the 305”s, I saw them
provide excellent shows at 2 far flung venues. The first was a show
combined with the ARDC midgets at Grandview Speedway. They tried an
experiment where all the 305 participants were paid $150 no matter
where they finished. Not being able to garner extra cash for passing
did not detract from the racing whatsoever. The action was great.
Some might look down their noses at the 305’s, but the reality is
with the blight of racing surfaces that aren’t dry slick, you don’t
need all that power to provide competitive racing. It’s a shame
there was such a paltry crowd watching what might become a Sunday
night staple in 2014. We had good racing at a reasonable price. I
hope you join me in supporting them.
Nearly 1500 miles away I caught a
URSS show in LaCrosse, KS at the Rush County Fairgrounds. A nice
field of 26 cars using a passing point system put on an entertaining
show until a severe thunderstorm claimed the last 13 laps of the A
main. There was easily enough passing for even the most snobbish
sprint car fan. This was my second time watching this group race,
and both times I came away with a wry grin on my face. The cold,
hard fact is that the URSS saved sprint car racing in the western
plains states. With the travel distances between tracks being so
great, they had to come up with truly economical rules to compensate
for transporting expenses exceeded only by the WoO, USAC and ASCS.
If they can do it, there’s still hope for the rest of the country.
If only they listen.
I’ll wrap this up by wishing everyone
a happy holiday season. This is that aggravating time of the year
schedules and info are slow in coming. Hopefully, our patience will
be rewarded. Adios.
Welcome to the
return of Directory Assistance. My name is Gordy Killian. I’m what
is known as a track chaser, a person that tries to see racing at as
many different tracks as possible. My current track total stands at
1366 tracks. Those tracks lie in five Australian states, New
Zealand, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, six Canadian
provinces and all 50 states. My first race came at the age of 5 at
the Reading Fairgrounds. Flathead and modified coupes were the early
fare, with moves to many other classes to follow. I would read about
other parts of the racing world in NSSN, AARN and Illustrated
Speedway News while dreaming about visiting these far flung joints.
My Dad made infrequent forays into central PA to see the bugs at
Williams Grove, but the bargain that was Reading kept him home with
occasional visits to closer modified tracks such as Nazereth,
Hatfield, Allentown and Flemington. Acquiring a driver’s license and
a car changed everything, and I’ve been on the road ever since.
Reading started running modified/sprint car doubleheaders in the
early 70’s, and a driver named Steve Smith in his Black Bandit
number 19 blew me away by running laps like I’d ever seen at
Reading. I sprint car fan sitting near me told me “If you thing that
was good, you should see him run Lincoln”. I took his advice the
following Saturday, and have been a sprint car fan ever since. My
love of open wheel racing has expanded ever since, leading me to the
majority of famed tracks and events for same around the globe. My
first purchase of a National Speedway Directory at Rolling Wheels
Raceway in 1975 opened my eyes to how much racing there really was
out there. Thank you, Allan Brown and Nanette Ferguson. My racing
horizons expanded significantly outwards ever since. A buddy of mind
attended a photography school from which I “borrowed” what he
learned. I bought equipment and started shooting races in the 80’s.
That led to my submitting photos to Speedway Scene. A couple years
of that led to my writing an opinion column called Directory
Assistance. The object of that was to share my journeys while trying
to assist others that wanted to follow an NSD path. On many an
occasion I would interject some very strong opinions about just
about any subject in the racing world. Bashful I’ve never been.
Differences with my editor led to my ending the deal. A bit later a
mutual friend told me that the editor of RPM Racing News, Dave
Kittey, would like me to restart my column in his paper. We had a
wonderful relationship that lasted until AARN bought his
subscription list. Some of the RPM writers were retained. I was not
for reasons I was never given. It was their choice, and I respect
it. Now Mr. Holland put out feelers for new writers here on
Hoseheads, and he has accepted my request. As much as the loss of
the majority of racing papers saddens me, it’s time I tried the
forum that’s replaced them. I hope you enjoy my efforts. Feedback is
always welcome even if we disagree. Bob Jones of Williams Grove and
Todd Fisher of Susquehanna have woken me in my sleep to chew me out
for things I wrote. It’s been a fun ride, for sure.
The year 2013
started badly for me when my wife, Susan, passed away. Hitting the
road made for good therapy. Re-uniting with and making new friends
are what make track chasing the hobby I love more than any other. I
have been blessed by getting to meet so many great people around the
globe. One of those was Jon Evans, the Australian racing journalist
that recently passed away. Tom Schmeh of the NSCHoF introduced me
to Jon in 1997, and he went out of his way to help with my first
trip down under later that year. While there Jon introduced me to
many an Aussie character that I’ll never forget. That trip remains
the single , most enjoyable trip I’ve ever taken. It 26 days of
heaven and adventure. We crossed paths infrequently since then, but
I’m grateful for the those opportunities. RIP my Aussie brother.
This year
contained a number of highlights. An early one occurred over
Memorial Day weekend when Dick Rauser and I headed to a
multi-sanctioned 360 show in Waynesfield, OH. A stout field of cars
gave us a great show on a cold night at a rough track that made
consistent lines impossible. It wasn’t the most efficient show I’ve
ever seen as too many classes made for a long night. Our patience
was rewarded by a feature where there was too much action to watch.
It was a great start to a great weekend.
The following
day we drove to the 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, WI for an IRA
show on an egg shaped quarter covered with decent clay. This was my
second IRA show of the year, as I was fortunate to see Bill Balog
beat Mike Kertscher by 0.007 of a second 2 weeks prior. What an
awesome little race track. The odd shape makes hitting the right
setup difficult and makes for varied lines and great action. Helping
matters is having a very underrated IRA group putting on the kind of
quality show I’ve come to expect from them. Balog is the class of
the group, but the cast of characters chasing him is getting better.
“Rookie”, Jeremy Schulz, looks to have a bright future. Enhancing
our experience was an outstanding concession stand that sells
fabulous burgers and ribeye sandwiches to die for. Add cheese curds
to make a true culinary delight.
We spent
Memorial Day at a WoO show at Lawrenceburg Speedway. It was my first
visit there since casino money was used to renovate the old girl.
What we saw, and I use that term loosely, was one laned and follow
the leader in a thick shroud of dust. That’s something that should
never happen with a field of cars so talented. When they moved all
that dirt, they tore the very sole out of what used to be one of the
finest dirt tracks I’ve ever been to. My first visit found me
walking the pits and watching some teenager rolling in the mud
making adjustments under his mount. He fared poorly against the All
Star Circuit of Champions that night , but has had a pretty good
career since. His name? Jeff Gordon. A rain storm hit just before
another arrival. My photographer friend, Kevin Wertz, stood between
turns 3 & 4 in mud up to his knees to get some great, wingless
shots. It was foolish, for sure. But we saw that river bottom clay
at it’s finest that night. Back then a track didn’t have to be dry
slick to make it racy. That’s rarely the case these days. What was
the original high groove is now the low groove in the current
configuration. Moving higher cost drivers positions. Sometimes
“progress” is very detrimental. I hope it’s not always that way.
The beginning
of July had me headed to the Pacific Northwest for some ASCS action.
First up was a Northwest Speedweek show at the Coos Bay Speedway in
Oregon where my first contact was with Kevin Eckert in the parking
lot. We sat together the rest of the night, catching up during
breaks at one of the narrowest dirt tracks I’ve seen. The 4 abreast
parade lap was in jeopardy, but pulled off. Sitting on the other
side of me in my top row perch was the track promoter running his
show from there with a walkie-talkie. A drag strip lies between the
grandstand and the dirt track. Two fans decide that strip would make
a fine viewing area, and plopped down in 2 lawn chairs on the wrong
side of the wheel fence. I’m not sure if anyone would’ve noticed had
I not pointed it out. I would not have wanted to explain it to the
insurance company had something bad happened. Travis Rilat joined us
at intermission. Regretfully I could not provide him with the
concession recommendation he asked for. He ended up with a 4th
place finish. Cam Smith went on to a first ever sprint car win that
night. Watching a driver accomplish such a thing never gets old.
A week later I
attended an ASCS National Tour race at Billing Motorsports Park. As
I stood behind my Washington rental I heard a guy say “He’s from
Washington. Let’s give it to him.” Two gents approached offering a
free pass to the show. A friend of theirs was sponsoring the event,
and they gave their last pass to me. It led to my sitting with 6 new
friends for the night. We ended up being the last fans out of the
grandstand. The racing was pretty good, but the bench racing was
outstanding. It was ironic that Jason Johnson won the main. Earlier
I had met his wife, Bobbi, and newborn son, Jaxx. The win led to
Jaxx’s first appearance in victory lane. I also ran into my buddy,
Scotty Cook, who has held many positions in the racing world over
the years. The look on his face when he saw me was priceless. I will
always cherish those chance encounters.
The following
night the same show moved to the Great Falls Speedway, a track with
one of the worst parking lots I’ve encountered. The track sights
above the city, and the grandstand gives you a great view of the
town below. This show turned into my race of the year. Four
different drivers led at least twice during the last two laps, with
Tony Bruce Jr. tearing the win from the grasp of the other three on
the last corner. Two of those drivers came from row 10. For those
four drivers to put on that kind of a show on one of the darkest
tracks I’ve ever been to is even more remarkable. Montana may
epitomize the term, rural, but hospitality should be what it’s known
for. The only downer was driving on a road where they were applying
stone that put multiple nicks in my rental’s windshield. The
replacement cost was painful, but still less than the cost of rental
insurance.
I ended that
trip at the Madras Speedway, 2 miles west of Portland, OR in the
middle of nowhere. There lies a quarter mile dirt track that
features sprint cars among their 4 divisions. They get between 8 &
10 weekly, but here’s the deal. They alternate weekly between winged
and wingless. I don’t know anywhere else that does that. And no one
complains about it, or gets uppity about which way is better. I’ve
often giggled when winged fans argue with their wingless
counterparts. The fact is that both are capable of providing
greatness while being equally capable of complete stinkers. Most
tracks have a penchant for one or the other. Few provide an equal
playing field for both. The search for the latter keeps me on the
road. Feel free to join me in my quest. I look forward to it.
Adios.
Contact Gordy at
rpmgordy@aol.com