OVRP Dirt Oval Report 6/6/09

By: John Schoebel

Cuddebackville, NY – The 8^th race of the season at the Dirt Oval was held this past Saturday and the track conditions were the cause for some controversy. Throughout the day the track was very dry and dusty. Dusty conditions end up being exceptionally worse for the Slingshots as their tailpipe is pointing out to the right side of the car behind the right rear tire, causing the dust outside of the groove to be kicked up, making visibility dangerously low. For most of the kart classes, the dust is not a problem unless you get out of the groove; therefore most do not mind and actually prefer the dry conditions.

The cause for controversy came when the track was watered right before the features started. All day the track was dry and the dust was blown off to help improve track safety and visibility, but not watered. During intermission, the water truck was out doing laps giving the track a quick watering, which made many slingshot drivers happy (for obvious reasons) and angered many kart drivers. The common complaint I received was now their set up for the night was ruined because the track was wet instead of dry. Some words were not so kind from others, but understandable. Some said it was going to make for more wrecks, so I went through and checked for all the races with cautions, and the result was only a few cautions in the bigger classes. Not much different from the ordinary trends through the night. The track actually dried back up and was starting to get dusty again before all the racing was finished for the night.

I hear plenty complaints about watering the track, bumps, or other issues drivers have and want something said in my article all the time. The simple solution is to just bring it up in the driver’s meeting. Voice your opinion if you do not like the track being watered right before features and would prefer it to be consistent all night!

Clones: This weekend was the first weekend with an actual Junior Clone class. The class had 3 Junior Rookies which have been racing all season in the rookie class. Back in the beginning of the season everyone was told there are somewhere around 24-30 clone motors ready to be rented weekly for $25. So far there has been no Senior Clone class run after 8 races, while other tracks are having great success with them. Somewhere there is an issue that would cause this class not to take off. I’m trying to find a reason for it and would like your opinion on why you aren’t racing a clone? Email your opinions to Teamcal_js@yahoo.com!

Track Photographers: On a better note, both Ralph and Becky were at the track this weekend taking photos. Ralph is finally home from Indianapolis! To view photos he got from the event visit, www.ralphcorwinphotos.com. Ralph will now also have a photo highlights section here on www.newenglandtractor.com/racereport (link included for those reading from www.uskartracers.com!) Becky also still has all of her photos posted on www.bkphotos.net!

Feedback: I’m looking for feedback on the Race Report articles! Tell me what you think, what you like, dislike, suggestions, or any other changes I should make? Email your responses to Teamcal_js@yahoo.com! Also be sure to pass the word along where the results are being posted! Every week I get at least 2 people that ask if I am still writing, which means many still have not found the new locations where this article is!

Now on to the results from Saturday night; 101 entries (66 Karts, 20 Slingshots, and 15 Motorcycles)

Kid Kart:

1. (#125) TJ MacChurch (18.467 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 38.988mph)

2. (#320) Evan VanValkenburg (18.483)

3. (#77) Mackenzie Ross (18.761)

Rookie Champ:

1. (#3) Robert Mattera (18.495)

2. (#2) Jessica Mattera (18.412 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 39.105mph)

Junior Rookie:

1. (#88) Tyler Treacy (15.832 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 45.478mph)

2. (#65) Chad Cooper (16.569)

3. (#48) Ryan Doty (17.121)

4. (#5) Cameron Hadden (22.577)

Junior Clone:

1. (#9) Tyler Belanger (15.702 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 45.854mph)

2. (#2) Jessica Mattera (16.269)

3. (#4B) Samantha Mattera (16.670)

Junior 1:

1. (#4) Colin Belanger (15.462 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 46.566mph)

2. (#17) Sarah Hoeffner (16.081)

3. (#221) Jared Miller (16.105)

4. (#84) Jake Higginson (DNS)

Junior Stock:

1. (#1) Brendan Finley (14.614 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.268mph)

2. (#20) Toni Shipman (15.030)

3. (#86) Geoff Feola (14.994)

4. (#54a) Alex Wanerus (14.891)

5. (#10) Danny Hoeffner (15.065)

6. (#9m) McKenzie Hasenflue (15.255)

7. (#50) Spencer Kronyak (15.187)

8. (#13) Stephen Reynolds (15.133)

Lights:

1. (#2) Joey Bruning (14.812)

2. (#5) Clark McCollum (14.653 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.137mph)

3. (#5x) Stephen Gully (14.769)

4. (#11) Mike Synder (14.846)

5. (#5) Stehpanie Gully (14.907)

6. (#58) Dylan Potter (14.866)

7. (#42) Johnny Illanovsky (14.918)

8. (#9) Tyler Pirone (14.792)

9. (#02) John Doty (15.207)

10. (#27H) Emily Huston (15.118)

Mediums:

1. (#20) Joe Rivera (14.623 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.238mph)

2. (#5) Johnny Illanovsky (14.670)

3. (#82) Randy McCullough (14.850)

4. (#12) Steven Ozanian (15.320)

5. (#2) Joey Bruning (DNS)

6. (#11) George Johnson (DNS)

Heavys:

1. (#27) Roger Belanger (14.601 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.312mph)

2. (#33) Derek Botticelli (14.737)

3. (#72) Kevin Morgan (14.617)

4. (#1) John Diotte Jr. (14.634)

5. (#3s) Mark Stanley (14.770)

6. (#28) Tom Brundage (14.970)

Animal Medium:

1. (#7) Ryan Edwards (14.184)

2. (#21) George Bark (14.178 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 50.783mph)

3. (#58) Dylan Potter (14.562)

4. (#44) Vito Iannarella Sr. (14.300)

Animal Heavy:

1. (#11) Vito Iannarella Jr. (14.195 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 50.721mph)

2. (#58) John Schoebel (14.419)

3. (#60) Bob Clark (14.570)

Senior Stock:

1. (#72) Kevin Morgan (14.960)

2. (#28) Tom Brundage (14.898)

3. (#2w) Fred Willis (14.965)

4. (#07) Frank Hadden (14.892 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 48.348mph)

5. (#44) Gary Huston (16.383)

Senior Rookie:

1. (#26) Ian Petry (15.808)

2. (#53x) Robert Orzeck (15.778 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 45.633mph)

3. (#3m) Ryan Sacco (No times shown)

World Formula: (20 laps)

1. (#1K) Tommy Kosch (14.461 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.789mph)

2. (#17) Kenny Lund (14.904)

3. (L) Roberto Gonzales (15.118)

4. (#55) Don Boonsta (15.038)

5. (#53) Glen Varner (No times shown)

Junior Slingshot:

1. (#125) Seth Pacella (15.183 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 47.421mph)

2. (#44) Danielle Dickinson (15.388)

3. (#46) Kenney Johnson (15.458)

4. (#17) Matt Reiley (15.412)

5. (#22) Michelle Campbell (15.574)

6. (#10jr) Eddie Reiley (15.505)

7. (#58jr) Kevin Predmore (15.745)

8. (#88) Eric Scalone (17.131)

Senior Slingshot:

1. (#4NY) Charlie Lawrence (14.505 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 49.638mph)

2. (#18) Tyler Pirone (14.801)

3. (#20k) Kevin VanValkenburg (14.767)

4. (#29) Kayla Smykla (14.776)

5. (#3) RJ Smykla (14.721)

6. (#690) Gary Miller (15.007)

7. (#21) Fred Cannock (14.941)

8. (#121) John Mann (15.077)

9. (#87) Arnold Riley (15.060)

10. (#12) Michael Horton (15.027)

11. (#6) Michael Wolfe (15.386)

12. (#32) Steven VanValkenburg (15.376)

Open Amateur:

1. (#269) Jon Riley (16.011 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 44.969mph)

2. (#49) Tony Pino (16.091)

Open Expert:

1. (#3) Andy Karadontes (14.973)

2. (#41u) Pete McGirr (14.906 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 48.303mph)

3. (#24b) Kenny Dahlin (15.149)

4. (#27) Jay Ashcroft (15.004)

5. (#18) Dennis Norby (15.105)

6. (#41) Fred Broshjeit (No times shown)

Sportsman:

1. (#41u) Pete McGirr (14.764 – fastest lap of the race with an average speed of 48.767mph)

2. (#3) Andy Karadontes (14.929)

3. (#24b) Kenny Dahlin (15.039)

4. (#27) Jay Ashcroft (15.088)

5. (#18) Dennis Norby (15.128)

6. (#269) Jon Riley (15.802)

7. (#41) Fred Broshjeit (No times shown)

Fastest laps of the night

Fastest Junior kart: Junior Stock - (#1) Brendan Finley (14.614)
Fastest Senior Flathead kart: Heavys - (#27) Roger Belanger (14.601)
Fastest Senior Animal kart: Animal Medium - (#21) George Bark (14.178)
Fastest Senior Slingshot: (#4NY) Charlie Lawrence (14.505)
Fastest Junior Slingshot: (#125) Seth Pacella (15.183)
Fastest Motorcycle: Sportsman - (#41u) Pete McGirr (14.764)
Fastest of the Night: Animal Medium - (#21) George Bark (14.178)

Be sure to check out www.ovrpdirtoval.com for upcoming races and events!

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or what ever it may be. I can be reached at teamcal_js@yahoo.com