Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom Avenengo
Volume # 116
11/8/2012
Special notice: There will be no column next week, and columns
will be every other week, for a while.
First:
Well, for some
unknown reasons, I’m having problems with my column on both websites that it
appears on. A different one came up on
the New England Tractor website. A bunch
of stuff was underlined, and if you click on it, other things came up. Hey, sorry!
Second:
I’m really
trying to figure out where this column should start – be it with “
Third:
Might as well start
out here about “
Somehow, I can’t figure out what was going
through the head of the mayor of
Fourth:
The election:
By the time you read this, we might have a
good idea as to who the winners were and who lost out. Personally, I’m hoping for a change, and not
the “change” we were led to believe in, four years ago. Am I better off today, compared to four years
ago? I’d have to say no. And as things have been lately, and what I
can foresee for the future, we are in need for some new leadership.
Note:
I’m working on this particular part at 11:50 PM on Election Day
night. The paragraph above was started
much earlier in the day. I wonder how
many citizens will not be happy campers as I am, now? Watching the news, it seems that there are
“voting blocks” that carried our President to a second term, as of now. Those voting blocks are said to be Hispanic
and African/American. Need I say more?
Fifth:
Latinos Urged to
Oust Sheriff Over Deportations (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/us/politics/arizona-latinos-urged-to-oust-sheriff-joe-arpaio.html?_r=0
Found on Facebook:
Unbelievable how the New York Times - in the
aftermath of a brutal hurricane hitting NYC - still found space on its FRONT
PAGE to run a piece trying to defeat a county Sheriff 2,000 miles away. THAT is
how badly the national open-borders elites want to get rid of Sheriff Joe Arpaio this election. THAT is why George Soros, national
unions and La Raza have pumped millions into this
race - narrowing his lead with lies, and putting hundreds of activists on the
ground to turn out the vote against him. We MUST stand behind Sheriff Joe
tomorrow. If you live in Maricopa County , make sure to get everyone you know to support
Joe, and if you live anywhere else in America
Sixth:
INDYCAR: CEO Randy Bernard Fired During
Emergency Board Meeting
An emergency meeting by the Hulman & Co. board was convened on Sunday to weigh the
fate of Randy Bernard, who was ultimately fired.
Marshall Pruett | Posted October
28, 2012
An
emergency meeting by the members of the Hulman &
Co. board was convened on Sunday to weigh the fate of IndyCar
Series CEO Randy Bernard, who, at the end of the deliberation, was fired from
the role.
Bernard is being kept on in a token advisory
role, but is not expected to be involved with the series during the final two
years of his contract.
“We are very grateful for the tireless effort
that Randy has invested into learning, understanding and working to grow the IndyCar Series over the last three racing seasons,” said
IMS and now interim IndyCar CEO Jeff Belskus. “As both Randy and our organization have reflected
on the past season and as we look toward the opportunities ahead and how to
best take advantage of them, we agreed that the timing was right to pursue
separate paths.”
Bernard offered a rather neutral quote after
waiting most of Sunday to learn how the votes by the members of the Hulman & Co. board had been cast.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with the
entire INDYCAR community, its teams, drivers, loyal partners and fans,” he
said. “The last three years have produced some exciting, and some difficult,
times. But we have created a foundation for INDYCAR that positions it to grow
over the next several years, and I am proud of what everyone at INDYCAR has
been able to accomplish since I came on board.”
IMS' release on Sunday, titled "RANDY
BERNARD STEPS DOWN AS CEO OF INDYCAR," provides no official
explanation--positive or negative--for the board's hurried decision to remove
Bernard.
Bernard's position atop the IndyCar
Series--and the ownership of the series--has been the subject of endless rumors
and speculation of late.
Behind the scenes, that instability had been
highlighted by a failed bid by IRL founder Tony George to purchase the series
and, on Oct. 19th, his subsequent removal from the Hulman
& Co. board during an emergency meeting when he was given an ultimatum to
either relinquish his seat and save face or be met with forcible removal.
George chose the peaceful option, which was
reflected in the release
distributed by IMS,
but the wave of dissatisfaction that had been building against Bernard within
some members of the board, and by influential members outside of Hulman & Co., continued to escalate.
On Friday, and after the most recent report of
his firing, IMS sent out a thin quote to refute the assertion and did little to
calm the waters.
“Randy has not been terminated and his
employment status is the same as it was last week and last month,” said Doug
Boles, IMS' VP of communications. “At this point, Randy is not fired. That is
the case in the moment and in the future.”
Unfortunately for Bernard, "the
future" lasted less than 72 hours.
Sunday's
ouster of Bernard also comes after weeks of unfounded stories centered on his
imminent firing.
With enough bad publicity built around Bernard's
name since the season ended just six weeks ago in Fontana, and with a
noticeable lack of public support for Bernard from his bosses, it appears the
board had the justification it was looking for--mounting negative sentiments
regarding IndyCar's CEO--to call its second emergency
meeting in less than two weeks in order to cut ties with Bernard.
Belskus said on Sunday that a search for Bernard's
replacement will now take place, although no timetable was given, and plans for
the 2013 season will continue uninterrupted.
“The organization is full of talented
professionals, and we will continue to prepare for what will be a very exciting
2013 racing season,” Belskus said.
“Once again, INDYCAR is not for sale, and the organization remains completely
committed to owning and operating INDYCAR.”
After witnessing the gradual public dismantling
of IndyCar's most recent CEO, Belskus
could find naming Bernard's successor somewhat challenging.
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar
Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years
as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett
And, on the track forum, on
this:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?170199-Bernard-voted-out-of-office-by-IMS-board
Seventh:
Back on October 31st,
the racing family lost another member – John Cooper Fitch. I had seen him race numerous times, back in
the late 50’s and into the 60’s. Not only
was he a race driver, but also was quite instrumental in safety for racing,
too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitch_(driver)
Eighth:
Big changes coming to
Kutztown:
Rich Tobias and Doug Rose
have teamed up to bring Professional Auto Racing back to the
The headline class will be the
Tobias SpeedSTR’s, with $2,000.00 to win – and no
minimum car count, either.
More on this can be found
here: http://www.speedwayentertainment.com/
And, I inquired about there
being a minimum car count for that $2,000.00 to win, and this is the response:
Tom,
Thanks for your interest in
the SpeedSTR's and Speedway Entertainment.There
will not be a minimum car count for the SpeedSTR payout at Kutztown in 2013.It
is based on what we believe is a solid payout for this type of racing and the
venue we are presenting it at.
The Slingshot payouts are
based on car counts at many of the weekly tracks and during our tour races,but the SpeedSTR's
will not be based on car counts.
Interest from drivers of all
classes and areas have begun to filter in and we are currently building a car
for small block modified ace,Craig
Von Dohren and 2011 WoO LM champion,Rick Eckert.
Our Posse at the Path winner
Jeff Strunk is also looking to expand his schedule
with stops at Kutztown during the summer.Long time
modified star,Kenny Brightbill has expressed a desire to be behind the wheel of
a SpeedSTR and has even suggested a few chassis change ideas that we have
actually put to use for our 2013 chassis styling.
We are calling it
"Action Track USA",but for many local fans
it will always be known as Kutztown Fair Speedway.Track
officials,special event races and ticket,pit
and entry prices have yet to be finalized.
A teaming up with promoters
Bob Miller and Brett Deyo will hopefully be a win-win
for everyone.We will not be in conflict with their
midweek races at Grandview or New Egypt and there is a chance we will be
teaming up with one or both promoters to add more events for the SpeedSTR's at their events.This
will give the fans the chance to see both a Thunder on the Hill program and
what is being at the Action Track USA without missing anything.
The added clay has been purchased,Rich and Doug have been
making regular trips to work on the track surface and surrounding fan and pit
areas.
I have added you to the
SpeedSTR group email list.
Thanks,
Mike Feltenberger
Ninth:
Matt Sheppard Three-Peats: Crowned Super DIRTcar
Series Champion Third Year in a Row
Young Driver, Just 30, of
"It put my name in
the record books for a little while. It means a lot to me," said the
30-year-old Sheppard of Waterloo, N. Y. "The first one was great, you
always remember that; the second one was remarkable, it was just as good as the
first one; but to win the third in a row, just the face that nobody's ever done
it before, that's something really special."
Sheppard and the team
traveled with the series to The Dirt Track at
In the first feature race
of the weekend Friday, Nov. 2, Sheppard finished 12th and Hearn took 3rd, putting
"the Jet" within 60 points of the lead and further intensifying the
championship battle going into Saturday's finale. Britten took the initial lead
in Saturday's 40-lapper, but Hearn was right behind him, and a win for Hearn
would mean that Sheppard a 14th or
better finish to clinch the title. As a result, Sheppard found himself taking
fewer risks.
"When you're down
here just trying to win the race, you take more chances and you try to run a
little harder," Sheppard said. "I wanted to win the race, I wanted to
run up front, but on the other hand, you've got to finish the thing. That's the
most important thing.
"When you're in a points battle and you're chasing, you run as hard as you
possibly can," Sheppard continued. "When you're leading, you run
hard, but you have to be a little conservative too, so it changes the whole
aspect."
Nonetheless, in lap 31,
it looked like Sheppard might have a chance to steer his JB Motorsports 9s FX Caprara Car Co./Xtreme Lubricants/Bicknell
entry to its first-ever win at Charlotte, as he raced three-wide through the
turns beside Britten and Hearn. Hearn raced ahead along the front straightaway
and kept the lead, leaving Britten to finish second and Sheppard fourth after
he was passed late in the race by Jimmy Phelps.
"I actually thought
we were going to sneak up there and win that thing," said Sheppard.
"It seems the whole season long it takes us 60, 70, 80 laps to get up
front. We're more of a long run, long race type of race team. We got in that
one long run there and I started running those guys down, and then got up to
them. And then we got that caution at the end and it kind of hurt me a little
bit. I wasn't going to force the issue too much"
Sheppard said
consistency, in addition to speed, is key to winning
the series championship. Consistency helped him with the track championship at
Canandaigua Motorsports Park, adding 1000 bonus points to his total, and
consistently strong finishes in series races helped earn him 1,439 series
points.
Of Sheppard's 13 starts
in the series, the only timee he was unable to break
the top ten was Friday's feature during PEAK World Finals presented by
"Not many people
have been able to put together that good of a consistent season three years in
a row," Sheppard said. "That's what it takes. You've got to be
consistent, but you also have to be fast. You can't just have one or the other.
You've got to have them both."
In addition to his wins,
one of the biggest highlights of the 2012 season for Sheppard was a
second-place finish - for the VP Small Engine Fuels 200 during NAPA Auto Parts
Super DIRT Week XLI at the New York State Fairgrounds in
"Running second at
Going forward, Sheppard
hopes to see a win at The Dirt Track at
"I sure would like
to win one of these things down here," Sheppard said. "I've been
second a bunch of times, I've been up front, but I haven't won one yet."
After three great seasons
in a row in the Super DIRTcar Series, Sheppard and
his team are looking forward to another great one in 2013, starting with UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment
Tuesday, Feb. 12, through Saturday, Feb. 23, at
Tenth:
Hey, before you know it, it
will be December 25th. Here
are some links to various websites where you might find some interesting
things, gift-wise, for family and friends.
http://www.aarn.com/
(subscription)
http://www.hotlapsracin.com/hotparts.htm
http://www.modelroundup.com/category-s/94.htm
http://www.pitstopbooks.com/videos-snyder.html
http://www.tbrwins.com/ (Kart items)
http://www.racerspreferredmodels.com/
Eleventh:
This past Tuesday I received
the Fall Newsletter from the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, via
snail mail. Sadly, their website still
is not back up and running.
However, if you might be
interested in nominating a driver for induction in 2013 (which would be held in
2014 at the Chili Bowl in January) here’s some info for you:
Send an e-mail to them
at: Kingdoodlebut@sbcglobal.net. In the title, put in NOMINATION FORM. You will receive an application which you can
fill out and return, or you could contact them by mail or phone. Deadline for applications this year will be
December 31st, 2012. Anything
received after that date will transfer to the following year’s nominating
process. Only typewritten applications
are accepted.
Those that will be inducted
for 2012 will have their induction ceremony on January 11, 2013, in
And, if interested, the
quarterly newsletter might very well be sent out via e-mail in the near
future. If you’d like the newsletter via
e-mail, use the e-mail address above, and in the title, put in: ADD ME TO YOUR LIST.
Twelfth:
Names. Some can be
complicated to pronounce. Take my last
name for instance. You can’t imagine how
many pronounce the last two letters (go)¸as jo “Avenenjo”. Or, they get confused when the see the double
“en’s” – and only pronounce one - “Avengo”
But, I constantly hear two
race driver names always miss-pronounced.
Mike Ruggiero and Rich Scagliotta.
Every announcer I’ve heard so
far pronounce Mikes name as Rue jare io. I think it should be Rue
gee air oh. The “i
& e” come before the “r’. No “I”
after the “r”.
As for Scagliotta,
I have yet to hear an announcer pronounce the “i”. I’d say it should be Scag
lee ottah, but announcers pronounce it Scag lotta. Why?
Thirteenth:
How woman survived brutal Formula One crash
In part:
“Maria De Villota, 32, made
headlines back in March when she joined the Marussia
F1 team as a test driver. In her first test, however, she completed one lap of
the circuit and then her car "suddenly accelerated" into the back of
a truck.
BBC presenter Chris Mann witnessed the crash:
"The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it,"
he said.”
“De
Villota was on the operating table from that
afternoon through the next morning, being worked on by hospital neurological
and plastic surgery teams. It was then that she lost her eye.”
More
on this, including a photo of an MRI of her head and the injuries can be seen
here:
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/how-woman-survived-brutal-formula-one-crash.html
Fourteenth:
Atta boy, Sherriff Joe! Some good election news, for a change!
Controversial Arizona
http://news.yahoo.com/controversial-arizona-sheriff-arpaio-wins-sixth-term-073445881.html
Fifteenth:
After the storm: True scale of Sandy's devastation across Eastern
Seaboard emerges as death toll hits FIFTY and damage set to top $50BILLION.
A ton of photos.
Sixteenth:
I really wish that the
Coming up:
11/9, 11/10 &
11/11 Novemberfest – Karts & Slingshots racing.
Re-scheduled to the
above dates due to “
Note: From a posting on Facebook:
“Oakland Valley
Speedway
The
weather looks nice and sunny for this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!!!
Hopefully mother nature stays on our side this time.
If you are planning on coming to drop off your trailer
early, please be sure to give us a call, to make sure we are there.
203.241.5741”
November 11, 2012:
The annual Stan Lobitz Movie party, lunch, auction and sit down dinner,
with all of the proceeds going to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR).
Lobitz Catering Hall – Route 940
One never knows who might show
up – like Eddie Sachs, Jr. or Arlen Kurtis, son of
noted race car builder Frank Kurtis – who have been
guests in recent years. A good time is
had by all with lots of bench racing and b*ll busting
being done throughout the day. Vendors
are also present.
Things get off to a somewhat
slow start at around 9:00 AM, and then it’s an all day thing that ends with the
sit down dinner usually a little after 5:00.
When I go, it’s I-84 West to
I-81 South. I get off on Route 80 East, then hit Pa Route 309 South – the first exit after leaving
I-81. From Port
Best part: it’s FREE.
Found
on Jayski’s website:
Bruton
Smith comments on many NASCAR issues:
Bruton Smith, the eccentric
billionaire whose Speedway Motorsports Inc. owns eight
NASCAR tracks, held court in the Texas Motor Speedway media center on Saturday
and addressed a wide range of subjects. Here are some selected notes from his
lengthy media session:
• Smith said NASCAR needs to work at
"making the racing more exciting." He said NASCAR has made some good
moves in recent years - notably double-file restarts - but needs to implement
additional improvements. Smith's primary suggestion to improve the racing is to
slow the cars down and thus make it easier for drivers to make bold moves.
• Races with too many long green-flag runs are
not exciting, Smith said, and he suggested a smaller fuel tank would force
drivers to make more pit stops. Fuel-mileage races, he said, are "boring,
boring, boring." One solution could be a minimum number of cautions per
race to serve as TV timeouts.
• Drivers are "maybe not as eager"
right now and NASCAR needs more racers who have a "mean streak."
• Despite a decline in TV ratings and
attendance, Smith is still supportive of the Chase. He sounded concerned,
though, that the playoff drivers get treated with kid gloves.
• There are no plans to make further adjustments
to
• No consideration has been given to moving an
SMI race to give
see more at SB Nation.(11-4-2012)
Drivers
team supporting those affected by Superstorm Sandy:
The American Red Cross greatly appreciates the outpouring of
support from the racing community. From sharing the "text 'REDCROSS' to
90999 to give $10" message to financial donations to volunteering, your
support means a world of difference to those affected by Superstorm
Sandy. If you're looking for additional ways to support or you're not in the
position to give financially, we wanted to remind fans that giving blood or
platelets is an amazing way to show your support and it could help save a life.
Biffle is supporting the Red Cross by helping them offer the
chance to win signed racing prizes for those commit to give blood over the next
two weeks. Recruit the most friends and family to give blood and you could be
attending the
AND
The Greg Biffle Foundation is
receiving multiple requests from animal rescue groups that have been devastated
by Hurricane Sandy. These organizations are working diligently to rescue
homeless and displaced animals, provide emergency vet care, offer pet food and
supplies and provide foster homes until families are able to collect their
pets. Please make a donation today and help us offer some much needed
assistance to these wonderful rescue groups, more info atbifflefoundationdonation.com.(RFR)
AND
Lowe's announced it will donate $1 million to disaster relief
and rebuilding efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Lowe's will
work with its national nonprofit partners to provide both immediate and
long-term support to local communities across the Northeast. As part of the $1
million pledge and to help raise awareness for hurricane victims, Lowe's will
match the earnings of five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson from
Sunday's NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway, with a minimum donation of
$250,000 to the American Red Cross. Johnson and Hendrick
Motorsports together will donate an additional $48,000 to the Red Cross. In
addition to the Red Cross donation, Lowe's will use the remainder of its $1
million commitment to fund local projects in areas of greatest need as
identified by its national nonprofit partners. Starting Nov. 1, Lowe's stores
throughout the
Fire destroys garage of Sterling
Marlin:
A fire has destroyed three race cars and caused hundreds of
thousands of dollars in damage at a garage in Middle Tennessee owned by retired
NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin. Marlin told The Daily Herald in
Earnhardt Ganassi
switching to Hendrick engines:
The "Earnhardt" in Earnhardt-Childress Racing won't
use the company's engines beginning in 2013. Earnhardt Ganassi
Racing will use motors leased from Hendrick
Motorsports starting next season, a team representative told reporters at Texas
Motor Speedway on Friday. The move is surprising considering ECR was formed as
a joint engine-building effort between Earnhardt Ganassi
and Richard Childress Racing. EGR has struggled over the last two seasons with drivers #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #1-Jamie McMurray, and
team owner Chip Ganassi apparently felt a change was
necessary in the engine program. RCR team owner Richard Childress said he
wasn't surprised by Ganassi's decision to pull out of
ECR and said he's been aware of the possibility for quite some time. Childress
said his team will have "a couple" new customers next season - though
he wouldn't say who - and also has an existing sponsor in Furniture Row Racing.
ECR will retain its name because the teams "have a different relationship
with the engines," Childress said.(SB Nation)(11-2-2012)
Danica
still working in 2013 Nationwide, Indy 500 plans:
Danica Patrick is still working
on her 2013 racing schedule. She knows she will be running a full Sprint Cup
schedule for Stewart-Haas Racing, but she's still working on racing in two
other series: the Nationwide Series and the IndyCar
Series. Patrick, who competed in IndyCar full time
before moving to NASCAR full time this season, has driven all of her 55 career
Nationwide races for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR
Motorsports. Whether she will drive for JR Motorsports next year is to be
determined. The team has hired Regan Smith to run a full schedule next year and
is looking for sponsorship for a full-time team for Cole Whitt. It will run a
third car in select races for Earnhardt and possibly could run races with
Patrick. "I would love to do a dozen or so races next year in the
Nationwide Series," Patrick said Thursday at Texas Motor Speedway. "I
would like to do some that are really challenging tracks that are good for just
getting laps on to help in the Cup car. Patrick also would like to get back in
an Indy car next year to run the
Lowe's Racing
for Relief matching Johnson's winnings:
Lowe's announced it will donate $1 million to disaster relief
and rebuilding efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Lowe's will
work with its national nonprofit partners to provide both immediate and
long-term support to local communities across the Northeast. As part of the $1
million pledge and to help raise awareness for hurricane victims, Lowe's will
match the earnings of five-time Sprint Cup champion #48-Jimmie Johnson from
Sunday's NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway, with a minimum donation of
$250,000 to the American Red Cross. Johnson and Hendrick
Motorsports together will donate an additional $48,000 to the Red Cross. In
addition to the Red Cross donation, Lowe's will use the remainder of its $1
million commitment to fund local projects in areas of greatest need as
identified by its national nonprofit partners. Individuals can join forces with
Johnson and Lowe's to help provide assistance by donating at their local Lowe's
store. Donations also can be made at Lowe's American Red Cross Online Donation
Site, or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS
(1-800-733-2767). Since partnering with the Red Cross in 1999, Lowe's and its
customers have contributed more than $23 million for disaster relief.(Lowe's
PR)(11-2-2012)
Dodge hopes to return to NASCAR:
The chief of Dodge Motorsports is hopeful that the
manufacturer will return to NASCAR in the not too distant future. "Going
forward, we're going to take the year off, evaluate the potential," Ralph
Gilles told ESPN.com after a panel discussion on the future of motorsports at
the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show. "We also did a lot
of data mining. Part of the issue our management team wanted was, what are we really getting out of NASCAR? We only have two
cars out of a huge field. Are we getting our money's worth? Ironically, this
year we got beyond our money's worth. How you can replicate that? I don't know.
That's what we're looking at right now." The matter of returning to the
sport, whether that is in 2014 or another year in the near future, is finding
an organization as strong and viable as Penske Racing. The lack of such a team
left Dodge with little option but to pull out in 2013. "The Dodge brand is
interested," Gilles said of a return. "It would be hard to replace
Roger [Penske], because Roger has a long-term deal with Ford. The capacity
isn't there to have that right now. It's going to be tough, but we'll have to
look at it." Gilles said the move toward more brand identity with the 2013
car could help expedite [Dodge's return].(ESPN)(11-1-2012)
New team to
debut at
Hearing that a new Sprint Cup Series team
will debut at Phoenix International Raceway this coming weekend. David Reutimann will run the #44Xxxtreme Motorsports Chevy. Supposedly Frankie Kerr, formerly
of JTG Daughtery Racing is the crew chief. The team
is housed at the old TRG Motorsports location in Mooresville, NC.(11-5-2012)
UPDATE:
Xxxtreme Motorsport announced its
entry into the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The
car, owned by John Cohen, will have veteran driver David Reutimann
at the helm on Sunday. No Label Watches will be sponsoring the #44 Ford Fusion, with Frankie Kerr sitting atop the pit box as the
team's crew chief. Cohen said the #44 Ford will be finishing out the year at
Homestead-Miami Speedway and running a full season next year. "I'm looking
forward to the 2013 season and building a solid program."(Xxxtreme Motorsports)(11-6-2012)
UPDATE 2:
David Reutimann will attempt to
qualify for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Advocare
500 at Phoenix International Raceway for a new, start-up race team. Xxxtreme Motorsport is owned by businessman John Cohen, a
Howie
Mandel to Host NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards:
When the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards get underway
later this month in
Dollar General expanding sponsoring
of Joe Gibbs Racing:
As many companies are trending away from full-season
sponsorships in the Sprint Cup Series, Dollar General is moving toward a
36-race commitment. CEO Rick Dreiling said the
discount retailer will increase its spending on NASCAR for the sixth
consecutive year, backing Joe Gibbs Racing's #20
UPDATE - Brian Vickers to run full NNS season with JGR:
Joe Gibbs Racing announced that it has signed a new expanded
partnership agreement with Dollar General for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
season. The new agreement means Matt Kenseth, the
2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, will drive Dollar General's familiar
yellow and black #20 car in 17 Sprint Cup Races next
season beginning with the Daytona 500 in February. In addition, Dollar General
will return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and will compete with a full
championship season sponsorship with Brian Vickers at the wheel. Vickers will
return to the Nationwide Series on a fulltime basis in 2013, 10 years after he
won three Nationwide races and became the youngest driver to win the Series
Championship at the age of 20.(JGR)(11-6-2012)
2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE
Championship Points Standings:
[after
Texas, race 34 of 36]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [5 wins], 2339
2) #2-Brad Keselowski
[5 wins], 2332, -7
3) #15-Clint Bowyer [3 wins], 2303, -36
4) #5-Kasey Kahne [2
wins], 2281, -58
5) #17-Matt Kenseth [3
wins], 2267, -72
6) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2267, -72
7) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2266, -73
8) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2259, -80
9) #56-Martin Truex
Jr. [0 wins], 2259, -80
10) #16-Greg Biffle [2
wins], 2256, -83
Drivers who have been
eliminated:
11) #29-Kevin Harvick
[0 wins], 2238, -101
12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2188, -151
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship
Points Standings without Chase:
(classic system using
current points but NOT the chase system)
[after Texas, race 34 of 36]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [5 wins], 1210
2) #2-Brad Keselowski(X)
[5 wins], 1191, -19
3) #16-Greg Biffle(X)
[2 wins], 1164, -46
4) #17-Matt Kenseth(X)
[3 wins], 1161, -49
5) #15-Clint Bowyer(X) [3 wins], 1155, -55
6) #56-Martin Truex
Jr.(X) [0 wins], 1121, -89
7) #11-Denny Hamlin(X) [4 wins], 1104, -106
8) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X) [1 win], 1087, -123
9) #29-Kevin Harvick(X)
[0 wins], 1079, -131
10) #5-Kasey Kahne(X)
[2 wins], 1065, -145
11) #14-Tony Stewart(X) [3 wins], 1060, -150
12) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 1048, -162
13) #24-Jeff Gordon(X) [1 win], 1044, -166
14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 969, -241
15) #99-Carl Edwards [0 wins], 965, -245
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
(X) = a Chase driver.
Rhinebeck
Speedway
1947
ARDC
Midgets
Sept. 9 1. Mike Nazaruk
Sept. 16 1. Johnny Ringger
Sept.
23
Sept. 30 1. Ted Tappett
1948
ARDC
Midgets
May 11 1. Ted Tappett 2. Ray Nestor 3. Bob Disbrow
May
18
May
25
June 1 1. Tony Bonadies
2. Stan Disbrow 3. Larry Shurter
June 8 1. Ray Nestor 2. Stan Disbrow
3. Steve McGrath
June
15
June 22 1. Stan Disbrow 2. Bob
Disbrow
June 29 1. Bob Disbrow 2. Johnny Rice
July
6 rain
July
13 rain
July
20
July 27 1. Ray Nestor 2. Johnny Carpenter 3. Johnny Rice
August 3 1. Steve McGrath 2.
August
10
August 17 1. Stan Disbrow 2. Dutch Schaefer 3. Johnny Rice
August 24 1. Johnny Carpenter 2. Buddy Chase 3. Stan Disbrow
August 31 1. Johnny Rice 2. Dutch Schaefer 3. Stan Disbrow
Sept. 7 1. Dutch Schaefer 2. Bob Disbrow
3. Johnny Ford
Sept. 14 1. Larry Shurter 2. Dutch
Schaefer 3. Bob Disbrow
Sept. 21 1. Dutch Schaefer 2. Bob Disbrow
3. Art Cross 50 laps
Sept. 28 1. Chet Conklin 2. Tony Bonadies 3. Steve
McGrath Offy
Sept. 28 1. Chet Conklin Ford Feature
1951
July 20 1. Bert Brooks 2. George Flemke 3. Cliff Riggott
News from the AARN:
Covering two weeks here, this week, and not as in depth as what has
been done in the past.
From the October 23rd issue:
Randy Hannagan had a slight problem – to race
or attend a banquet.
What was causing the problem was that if he raced, he’d lose all the
point monies that he and his teams owner won. So, in a way, he was forced to attend the
banquet, and be forbidden to “go to work”, so to say.
This also, in a way applies to some of the race drivers from Big
Diamond and possibly
Todd Heintzelman:
Makes note that the Williams Grove Speedway will NOT have a banquet
this year, with awards already given out at their last racing event.
Note: Might that be a coming
thing for other tracks, maybe?
Lenny Sammons:
Mr. Sammons made mention of two local drivers in his column – Billy VanInwegen and Tyler Dippel. Mike Petruska was
not happy racing at New Egypt, what with the traveling and those tolls on the
New Jersey Turnpike. Now, with no big
blocks at New Egypt in 2013, that’s more of a reason for him saying he won’t
return in 2013. He might run just
special shows with a “name” driver, or, he could return to OCFS – IF he was
able to get a top “shoe” in the seat of the # 66. As you probably already know, Danny Serrano
has been released from New Egypt.
Ernie Saxton:
Ernie, like a lot of us, is not happy with the “fuel economy racing”
that we see with NASCAR, today. The
Daytona Beach City Commision has approved the
Speedways Planned Master Development Application. Daytona will be adding seats
and escalators at the track, along with night clubs, theaters, shopping
outlets, office buildings & more across from the
From the October 30th issue:
Ken Kuhlman:
Ken makes mention of the very last race held at the Reading Fairgrounds
– that being a 50 lap race on June 29, 1979.
Dave Kelly won that race and can you guess what he won, purse wise? Would you believe $2,000.00? Yup!
And, that was 33 years ago, folks!
Today’s purses are not much different. Are they? How about the cost on racing, today – even
taking away those “Stacker” trailers?
Lenny Sammons:
Tells us that Eric Beers will not be a
regular in 2013, on the NASCAR Whelen Modified tour. He’ll be spending quite a lot of time racing
at Mahoning.
John Snyder:
Cites the “parity” in racing, today. (That leads to us not seeing too much
passing, folks. No room left for
ingenuity, due to the book sized rule books, folks).
Not only does it apply to NASCAR – as an example – Jimmie Johnson won
the pole and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was 20th fastest – 0.117 seconds
slower. Greg Biffle,
in 30th, was 0.300 seconds slower than Jimmie. The slowest qualifier was Scott Speed being
0.522 seconds behind Jimmie. Mike Bliss,
and JJ Yeley, both DNQ’s
were only 0.613 seconds slower than Jimmy.
At OCFS, at Eastern States, Brett Hearn time trialed with a lap of
21.620 seconds. Randy Chrysler, in 28th,
was within a second of the Hearn time.
In the race, Hearn had a best lap timed at 21.859, while Vince Vitale,
who also ran the whole race had a best lap time of 22.792 – less than a second
difference.
And in this weeks (11/6/12) edition:
In AARN
This
Week:
Big
Diamond Raceway
Sold To
Jake Smulley
Lucas
Oil LM Champ Owens
Sweeps WoO LM Stars At Charlotte
Hurricane
Aftermath:
Speedways
Survive,
Some
Race Teams Badly Affected
Speedways Honor
Champions
As Banquet
Circuit Begins
Matt Sheppard I
s First
Three-Time Consecutive
Super DIRTcar Series Champ
WoO Sprint Champ Schatz
Stumbles In
Finale Weekend
Hagerstown's
'Brawl In The Fall'
Moved To
Late Winter, 2013
K&N East At
'The Rock':
Rookie Reddick Wins; Larson Champ;
LaJoie's Prior Penalty Costs Him Crown
Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:
From last column:
“Well, it looks like this might be the last of this
section for this year.
I know I’m probably missing some, this week.”
Actually, I do have some to report on.
Back on October 20th, Roger Coss was 10th at Wall Stadium. And, on the 26th, he was 2nd
in the 100 lap Modified feature at Mahoning.
At Five Mile on the 26th, in the RoC Sportsman feature, Brian Krummel
was the winner with Anthony Perrego 2nd. Perrego was leading
on the last lap when he got a flat tire.
Tyler Dippel and Brand Szulewski
were DNQ’s.
On the 27th, in the RoC
Modified feature, Danny Creeden was 14th.
Molly Chambers was 3rd in the wingless
600 Micro Sprint feature and 7th in the 600 Micro Sprint winged
feature at the Greenwood Valley Action Track.
There’s a Jeff Gallup mentioned as finishing 12th
at
Billy VanInwegen was 20th
in the 40 lap SDS race at
Press Releases:
News from
Promoter: Doug Hoffman - 610-398-4923
'Poker Series' Publicity: Brett Deyo - Deyo99H@aol.com or
845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/Nov. 6, 2012
Interest
Reaching Fever Pitch As Wild Card Weekend Approaches
At
This Friday and Saturday (Nov. 9-10) the
five-eighths-mile clay oval in Logan Township, N.J., lights up with a
full-slate of racing activities as first-year promoters Doug and Gena Hoffman close the curtain on their inaugural
Bridgeport season. Drivers and fans from across the Northeast
have declared their intentions of visiting the
Among the weekend highlights, of course,
will be the crowning of 'Poker Series' champions in the Crate Sportsman and
Modified divisions. Also seeing action during the weekend are 358-Modifieds,
Open Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks (in two events), TSRS 305 Sprint Cars and the
Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club.
Some of the invading drivers who
have publicized their plans of visiting Bridgeport include Duane Howard,
Doug Manmiller, New Yorkers J.R. Heffner and Bobby Varin (slated to drive the Tom Umbenhauer
No. 19 small-block), Billy Pauch Sr., Ryan Godown, Mike Gular, Wade
Hendrickson and a host of others to challenge the Bridgeport regulars led by
track champion Rick Laubach, Jimmy Horton, Ryan Watt,
Richie Pratt Jr., Michael Barone, Eric Kormann and more.
Friday night's (Nov. 9) program is
headlined by a 30-lap Small-Block Modified Championship paying $3,000 to the
winner, $500 for 10th place and $225 to take the green flag. The only
'small-block exclusive' event to be contested at
The following weight/engine rules have
been established for the event: Pennsylvania-legal spec head (2,350 lbs.); DIRTcar-legal spec head (2,350 lbs.); Open 339 cubic inches
(2,400 lbs.); Open 363 cubic inches or ported spec head (2,450 lbs.);
NASCAR-style 363 cubic inches or less (2,500 lbs.). The tire rule is American
Racer right-rear 48 or harder; left-rear 44 or harder; 33 or harder across the
front. Sail panels are not permitted. All cars must utilize conventional
windows.
Also on Friday, Crate (602) Sportsman complete their five-race 'Poker Series' of events with a
30-lap event paying $1,000 to the winner and $75 to take the green flag. New
Egypt (N.J.)
Outlaw Stocks take part in a pair of
Friday events: a rain-postponed event from Sept. 22 that will crown the track
champion and a second 20-lap feature with a long list of lap money and bonuses
coordinated by Joe LaClaire of Black Flagged Racing.
Competitors looking to secure practice
laps in advance of Saturday's events will be permitted to do so on Friday
night.
For Friday night, gates open at 5 p.m.
with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Friday pricing is $25 for Adults, $23 for
Students (with ID) and Seniors (65 and over) and $35
for the pit area. A two-day
On Saturday (Nov. 10), attention turns to
the 40-lap finale of the five-race 'Poker Series' for big-block/small-block Modifieds. The fifth and final hand of the series offers a
$5,000 top prize should the winning driver post a $20 "gambler's fee"
prior to the start of qualifying ($4,000 without). A full Race of Champions
purse is set for the remainder of the field: $1,000 for fifth, $500 for 10th
and $300 to take the green flag.
Saturday Modified weight rules are as
follows for the event: Pennsylvania-legal spec head or DIRTcar
spec head engines: 2,350 lbs.; all other small-blocks under 363 cubic inches:
2,400 lbs.; all engines above 363 cubic inches: 2,500 lbs. The tire rule is
American Racer right-rear 48 or harder; left-rear 44 or harder; 33 or harder
across the front. The tire rule is American Racer right-rear 48 or harder;
left-rear 44 or harder; 33 or harder across the front. Sail panels are not permitted.
All cars must utilize conventional windows.
The overall Modified 'Poker Series' payout
is lucrative. At each Modified 'Poker Series' event, the winner receives an Ace
(A), second a King (K), third a Queen (Q) and so on down to the 13th-place
finisher receiving a Deuce (2). Following the completion of the five-race
series, the driver with the best poker hand earns $2,500, second $1,500 and
third $1,000. The driver with the worst five-card hand receives $1,000. Drivers
must participate in all five events to be eligible for a point fund.
For the fans, the Modified feature field
will be staged behind the grandstand on Saturday night: a popular attraction
during the season.
Open Sportsman weight rules are as
follows: open engine with two-barrel carburetor with aluminum wheels (2,500
lbs.); open engine with two-barrel carburetor with steel wheels (2,450 lbs.);
and Crate Sportsman under
The popular TSRS 305 Sprint Cars (20 laps)
and Garden State Vintage Stock Cars will join the show. Lap sponsorships for
the TSRS 305 Sprint Cars are on sale at $10 per lap by contacting mike@bpspeedway.com.
Gates open Saturday at noon. Hot laps are
planned for 2:30 p.m. with racing to follow at 3 p.m.
Saturday pricing is as follows: $25 for
Adults, $23 for Students (with ID) and Seniors (65 and
over) and $35 for the pit area.
Weekend camping is encouraged on the
speedway grounds. Post-race parties and bonfires are in the works on
Friday and Saturday.
For further
information on Bridgeport Speedway, visit www.bpspeedway.com.
Bridgeport Speedway, located just minutes from
Stock Cars will join the show.
XCEL CHASSIS ANNOUNCES BIG CHANGES FOR THE
2013 SEASON
They say all sports have an off season
except when it comes to racing. Doug Borger, owner of Xcel Chassis series, held
a meeting on October 28th at the Polk Township Firehouse to discuss plans for
the 2013 season.
" At the
end of each season I like to bring everybody together to go over the rule book
and make any revisions we need to. Over the winter cars are being prepped and
the guys know what direction we are headed, The way I see it why wait till next
year when they guys can start now" explained Doug.
One of the biggest rule change comes to the air pressure on the right rear tire
after the feature. The previous rule was a minimum of 10 lbs when teched. The revised rule is as follows .
If the tire is below 10 lbs the 5 minute clock will start.
After 5 minutes the
tire is rechecked. If the tire pressure remains the same you will be
disqualified. If the pressure continued to drop you will not be disqualified
but given a warning. Only 2 warnings will be given per season. On the third
time you are automatically disqualified and no clock will be used.
Fuel pressures for Suzuki motors will
have to be at 43 to 51 lbs. All cars will have to use high pressure blue fuel
line and must run 87 to 93 octane with 10% ethanol.
Participants are to keep all fuel receipts available for tech inspectors.
The top 9 will be eligible for the
redraw and the previous race winner can start no better than 12th.
Over the winter Doug informed the crowd that all cars and motors
(including spares) must be brought to the Xcel Chassis shop. Cars will be
inspected and all motors will be resealed. " It's
time to update the seals on the motors. The new technology out today warrants
all the motors have two seals and the last seals were over 3 years old. I told
the guys if the car is not teched and/or the motor is
not sealed you cannot race. Over
the years I have teched at the track on race day but
with the new rule the last thing I want to do is tear apart a motor at the
track. We have plenty of
time over the next few months to have every car done. The excuse I live far
away or have no time doesn't work when the majority of the guys are able to get
it done.
The big door prizes normally handed
out by the luck of the draw will go to the top ten. The 2013 tour champion will
now receive the free frame and body kit. This now brings the total for the
champion to over
$3000 dollars and with the remaining prizes being awarded to the top ten,
everybody will see an increase.
Doug was pleased to announce the addition
of Penn Can Speedway to the mix. " Reed Miller
and Al Wilcox run a professional racetrack in Susquehanna, PA and is popular
with my drivers. They are a home track for the 2013 season. We have agreed to the following dates.
April 19th&26th, May 10th&24th, June
7th&21st, July 12th&26th, August 2nd &9th and September 6th. Reed
and Al will be releasing all the needed information soon so keep checking their
website at www.penncan.com
The biggest news coming out of the meeting was the announcement
that was the Bilstein shocks would be the official
shock for the series. Bilstein is a great company to
work with and is a proven shock in the racing community. They have worked with
me to build a special shock program for the series. What we have come up with
fits the drivers needs and stays within the
affordability motto I stand for. By
the year 2014 all cars must have 2 Bilstein shocks
and by 2015 all four corners must have Bilsteins. The
reps for Bilstein and I agreed to give my guys one
year to make the change but I don't expect it to take one year before you see
every car make the change to Bilsteins.
The overall feeling as the drivers
left was the series is headed for bigger and better things for the 2013 season.
Some dates have already been announced and a weekend in April will not be
filled. April 26th&27th will be open so teams can chose to go out west.
Mississippi Thunder and Iowa Track will be announcing the biggest show to date
for the western division of Xcel Chassis Series. " I
wanted to give the guys who run here a chance to travel out west. I know Nick
and Brian Mady are committed since they have already
went out and can't say enough how good the racing is along with the tracks
hospitality. My first trip out there was awesome and everyone should definitely
mark this one on their calendars.
The Xcel Chassis 600 Modified Series
is heading into 2013 with a renewed vigor. Keep checking the forum board which
can be found on the lower left hand corner of the website at www.xcelchassis.com.
Borgers Important Updates
Borgers PR
Media Contact
Bob Snyder
The Borgers Speedway Starz Of Tomorrow Quarter Midget Nationals
scheduled for November 17 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled April
2013.
Saturday November 10 will be a regular
show of Karts, MicroStocks, Quarter
Midgets, TQ/Asphalt 600 Sprints, Wingless Dirt 600 Sprints, and AllStar Slingshots. This show will start with early
practice at1:00 p.m. It will be run as one show the 4:00 p.m. start of the big car portion is no
longer in affect.
Saturday November 10 will be a regular show
of Karts, MicroStocks, Quarter Midgets,
TQ/Asphalt 600 Sprints, Wingless Dirt 600 Sprints, and AllStar Slingshots. This show will start with early
practice at1:00 p.m. It will be run as one show the 4:00 p.m. start of the big car portion is no
longer in affect.
Season Finale Saturday November
17. We hope to have the OctoberFest Series checks for the TQ, Dirt 600
Sprints, and AllStar Slingshots and the trophies for the
Kart OctoberFest Champions ready to give out at this
event.
Saturday December 15 Borgers Speedway Awards Dinner held at the
garage at 5:00 p.m. Tickets $20 per person. Season point award winners must be
present to receive their awards. I
will post a list of who is getting awards later this week. Tickets can be purchased at the two
remaining races of at the garage week days from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Tickets can also be
ordered by sending a check to
Borgers Speedway
Glenn Borger
397 Route 115
2013 Schedule
Saturday January 12. Open Practice for any racecars. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $20
Pit pass per person but no entry fee for cars.
Saturday January 26. Open Practice for any racecars. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $20
Pit pass per person but no entry fee for cars.
These early season practice sessions are weather
dependant. Check on the Borgers Facebook page and the speedway web-site www.borgers-speedway.com or
contact Bob Snyder bobsnyderphoto@enter.net BorgersSpeedway Hot Line 570-992-8131.
Saturday March 23. Open Practice for any racecars. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $20
Pit pass per person but no entry fee for cars.
Saturday March 30. Open Practice for any racecars. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $20
Pit pass per person but no entry fee for cars.
Saturday April 6. Season Opener. Karts, MicroStocks, Quarter Midgets,
TQ/Asphalt 600 Sprints, Wingless Dirt 600 Sprints, AllStar Slingshots 1:00 p,m. early practice with heats starting
at 2:00 p.m.
We are working on a full schedule with
many special events we hope to have ready by the end of December.
We are currently working on getting
trailers in on Friday night and will be checking on the camping on speedway
grounds for Saturday night.
The weekend pit pass and grandstand costs
for both days are as follows:
Pit pass is $30 for each day.Trade your Saturday wristband in on Sunday and the
price is $15 for Sunday.Bonfire and cookout will take
place Saturday after all events are completed.The
cookout will consist of hot dogs and hamburgers,sodas
and snack items supplied by Herr's.If anyone wants to
bring an item,it will be greatly appreciated.
General admission will be $15 each day but
a Saturday ticket trade-in on Sunday will reduce the ticket price to $10.
Kim Kamper would
like everyone to know that she will be accepting contributions for the
Hurricane Sandy Relief Drive.Food,clothing,monetary
contributions will be greatly used when she gets back to the
The Saturday race for the SpeedSTR's will be a regional event ,the
Sunday will be the final National event.The top 4
National races will be used along with your regional finish bonus points.
The Junior National will be run on
Saturday with a definite point champion coming from this main event.I will do the 5 point per race and have it there for
all to see.Remember you can run as an All Star on
Sunday with no Pit Stops.
The Saturday Slingshot National will be
the Pit Stop Challenge.It will be done on lap 10
giving 15 laps to the finish.The PSC will see the top
10 change a RR tire and head to the checkpoint on where they will restart as
they reach this area,providing all lugs are on and tight.Pitting will be allowed but you will restart at the
rear of all cars staying on the speedway.Sundays race
will be a Free Pass / Wild Card event with no point deductions and can
be used to replace your lowest current race used.To
be honest right now there are 35 teams that could swap National spots
right now and have a chance at the
Sunday SpeedSTR event is slated as the
first A Main and is the deciding race for National points.I
will do the regional updates on Saturday night and have the scenario laid out
for everyone on Sunday.
See everyone this weekend.
Thanks for your support
Speedway
Entertainment
Home of the Slingshot by
www.speedwayentertainment.com
Race 101, LLC Press Release
Leaf Racewear
provides custom style to RACE 101 program
Award-winning graduate to
receive custom race suit
November 7, 2012,
"We're proud to add Leaf
Racewear as a marketing partner," said RACE 101
founder and instructor Tony Blanchard. "Leaf has earned a reputation for
providing great quality and safety, and we appreciate the support."
Leaf Racewear
specializes in custom racing suits and team apparel. The company was formed in
the 1980s, and it continues to flourish in the competitive motorsports apparel
industry.
"I've seen what RACE 101
is doing for young racers, and we're pleased to get involved," said Leaf Racewear owner Colin Grandy.
"We try to support young talent, and this gives us a way to be involved
with a great group of people."
In addition to the custom
racing suit Leaf Racewear is providing the Premier
Driver it is also offering preferred pricing to all RACE 101 students.
"It's important that our
students maintain an impressive image," said RACE 101 marketing instructor
Adam Ross. "It can be costly to achieve, but with the phenomenal support
of Leaf Racewear it's much more attainable."
For more information on RACE
101 visit www.RACE101.net, and to see what Leaf Racewear
offers visit www.LeafRacewear.com.
The Premier Driver for the
Class of 2012 will be announced at the annual Graduation Ceremony and Gala
Dinner in
Leaf Racewear
will be attending various trade shows this off season. For great deals on race
suits and accessories, see Leaf Racewear at the
upcoming Parts Peddler show in
For more information contact
Adam Ross at adamrossenterprises@gmail.com or 519-212-8632.
I
get e-mails:
Note: Sorry
for the length!
To all of my friends. This says it all in one short message. At least in my never to be humble opinion.
- - - - - - -
I told you so, again and again for four years. OK, so Obama did not cancel the
elections; he did one better, he put the veneer of the
"will of the people" on it. Voting is the best revenge...? He never
had to say, against whom.
After a hundred years of creeping socialism, the bolshevik
revolution in
I am angry because with this election the American people have issued a death
warrant against me and all the other elderly among us. Nobody will ever repeal obamacare, or stop its natural evolution to total,
totalitarian universal "health care" -- that is, rule by death
panels. Nobody will save Social Security and Medicare by putting them on sound
financial footing. They will solve their fiscal problems by hastening our
premature deaths with the simple and unappealable
denial of care.
I am angry because I am too old and too tired to fight anymore, and I don't see
anyone coming up to take up the slack. The Republican establishment went out of
its way to purge Ron Paul supporters from its ranks, and thereby the GOP lost
the clarity of vision and the youthful energy, enthusiasm and drive that are essential
to victory.
I am angry because no amount of explaining the details penetrated the thick
sculls of voters, especially the young. Six decades of progressive agenda
running rough shod over America's education system has produced an electorate
that is simply too ignorant of the basic facts of economics, and especially our
history and our founding principles and values. I have spent the past four
years writing and writing and explaining and explaining, but even my own sons
either refuse to read and learn, or are simply
incapable of understanding what I mean. It is as if the purpose of American
education has become not only to make sure our children remain ignorant but
also that they be unable to learn, or refuse to learn especially from their own
parents. The inability to learn is the definition of stupid. The deliberate
effort to bring about such a result is the definition of pure evil; yet that is
precisely what has been perpetrated against our own children in the name of
education. I have fled communism so my own children will be raised in freedom
and never know the horrors of ideological and economic slavery; now in my old
age I am condemned to watch helplessly as they are dragged down the path of
learning all about it in their own personal experience.
I am angry because with this
vote the American electorate has displayed unparalleled stupidity, as evidenced
by the totally incomprehensible inconsistencies between their votes and their
responses to polling questions. For example,
* More than half still blame BUSH for the economy, even though Obama had FOUR
years to fix it -- and it was Democrat progressive policies that caused the
collapse in the first place.
*
*
*
This list grows as more of the vote is analyzed. It stands as an indictment of
the very idea of "democracy," because we divorced the right to vote
from the responsibility to be informed and to make a thoughtful choice.
I am angry because too many Republican candidates lost because of their stupid,
incomprehensible and indefensible comments about rape. Foot in mouth disease is
not exclusive to Joe Biden, and is fatal for Republicans.
I am angry because the Republican establishment still puts "bipartisanship"
over principle, "compromise" over principled stand, no matter how
many times they get their noses rubbed in the fact that Democrats only want the
Republicans to just go along to get along; and even in defeat the Republican
establishment persists in this attitude no matter how many of this kind of
candidates are rejected by the voters. At a time when the Republican House and
the Republican minority in the Senate is called upon to fight a rear guard
action against the coming onslaught of further if not final "fundamental
transformation," they will be too busy trying to maintain party discipline
in the face of the eagerness of some to "get along" with the
"mandate" that Obama had just won.
I am angry because Romney could not bring himself to deploy the same kind of
ruthlessness against Obama that he has unleashed against his conservative
Republican rivals in the primaries -- even when events such as the
I am angry because the vote counts in too many states are only a hundred
thousand or so in favor of Obama -- well within traditional ballot box stuffing
range.
I am angry because with Obama as president and the Senate still in Democrat
control, there is no stopping UN Agenda 21, the UN Treaty On Small Arms, the UN
Treaty On The Seas, UN taxes, UN control of the internet, the EPA's war on coal
and other fossil fuels, cap-and-trade, "renewable" energy and other
"green" boondoggles, etc. -- an endless list of globalist
totalitarian outrages against the Constitution, civil rights, freedom and the
free market.
I am angry because racism is alive and well --among DEMOCRATS. They have
particularly singled out conservative blacks for defeat, and indeed Allen West
and Mia Love both LOST. Blacks are allowed to succeed only if they are far left
-- if then.
I am angry because the flame
of liberty here in
I am angry because the Founding Fathers have foreseen all this, as evidenced by
their own writings and accounts of their observations, yet NOTHING in our
education has made sure we are familiar with their personal experiences and
wisdom as something we all should value and benefit from.
At this point the only rational response to this course of events is to follow
the example set forth and explained in "Atlas Shrugged" -- except
that Atlas not only has to shrug, Atlas must actually throw off the yoke. Put
another way, we have to follow the recipe provided in Saul Alinsky's
"Rules For Radicals." As in "Atlas
Shrugged," the able among us must stop producing, running their
businesses, growing their businesses, hiring or even just keeping their
employees. Owners, officers, managers, engineers and inventors must cash out
and close up shop. They must simply withdraw their services from a society that sees
them as evil exploiters who don't "pay their fair share." Who will be
the real life "John Galt" to tell them that? And as in "Rules For Radicals," the "Atlases" who shrug must
also overload the system by putting themselves and their employees on the dole.
Let the leaches, who vote themselves endless varieties and amounts of
"benefits" and "entitlements" at the expense of the
productive few, figure out how to pay for it when there are no more taxpayers,
only beneficiaries. This is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Doctors are
already being driven out of their practices by the laughably low reimbursement
rates from Medicare. Insurers are soon to follow. Let's see how well the
leaches will do with universal health care when there are no more doctors, and
the work of insurance companies is handled by the government monopoly staffed
by bureaucrats with the expertise and efficiency of the DMV or FEMA. People who
have run out of their 99 weeks of unemployment are increasingly moving onto the
disability rolls. Let's see how well the system will do when there are no more
makers, just takers.
Until and unless this happens, current and future generations of Americans will
never learn the value of freedom and the value of producers in the economy. As
befits a culture that worships at the altar of "I have the right to make
my own mistakes," people will have to learn at their own expense. The
tragedy is that the rest of us also have no choice but to be victimized by the
stupidity of the majority.
Found on Facebook:
From one who works on
electric lines
“Remember when years ago a storm or hurricane came through and
the utility company's would work together and stuff got done within days. That
doesn't happen anymore. Oh yea and they actually had a full staff back then
too. Not a skeleton crew like now. We are short on help and equipment. These
upper management peeps are so out of touch. It's all profits over people. Get
used to waiting for roads to be cleared and lines to be raised. They think they
are doing a stellar job!!!! You have no idea what a shit storm I walk I into
everyday. Unacceptable!!!!”
Some things said by those that are not happy
with the election outcome:
Well I guess it's time to stand on the FOOD LINE, thanks
NOBAMA.
Was thinking about buying some new equipment and hiring a few
new guys...Now I tell ones I have about the 32% increase in their ins cost
Final post today for politics today (maybe!) A FB friend asked me
last night what exactly Romney would have done to improve my life if elected. I
thought about this question for a while. It struck me as kind of odd, and then
it hit me.
Liberals love to quote JFK, but do they really
believe any of what he said. This election wasn't about me and my quality of
life. It wasn't about whether or not the well-to-do should be taxed more. It
wasn't about whether or not we should invade
This election was about our country. This
election was about our freedoms, liberties, and upholding the very document
that the nation was founded on. Unfortunately I feel that too many people (both
liberals and conservatives) voted with what was in their own person
al best interest, and not that of our
country. And maybe, just maybe that is where we as a nation have lost our way.
Maybe we have become a country so consumed with itself that we cannot look past
our own selfish needs and wants. Maybe we would rather have the government take
care of us and give us handouts rather than working hard for our keep. Maybe we
would rather see those less fortunate in our own country suffer while we
attempt to spread our version of peace and democracy around the world with
taxpayer money.
The modern political machine has failed us whether it be
blue or red, democratic or republican, conservative or liberal. It really
didn't matter which one of the two "popular" candidates were elected
last night. Because you don't raise $934 million and $882 million respectively
from just Jay-Z, Kid Rock, and Oprah. Both of them owe favors, and now that one
was elected the paybacks will begin. All we can hope for is that one day soon
the masses will wake up and open their eyes to realize that they have been lied
to, cheated, and sold to the highest bidder by our own government.
To
anyone that voted for Obama please post on this site or message me privately
and provide me with a few specific reasons (or at least one reason) as to why
you voted for that person. If interested please also go on to say why you did
not vote for Romney. For the record I voted for the better of the two
candidates, the one with a proven business record of turning businesses around
- not the one that has simply done the opposite. I also did not vote for the
one that bows before our enemies and was directly responsible for the killing
of Americans abroad by not providing them the support they required and
deserved as heroic Americans.
My "former fellow Americans" - this
country is NOT about what you can get from it, it is about what you can put
into it and make it. We are on the road to this Country being just a shell of
what it once was and what it can be and what our fore fathers had intended.
For those of you who did no research prior to
voting for Obama - I now beg you to finally look closer at
the person and policies you voted for. AND when you are floored by what you
learn and you will be floored - you must as an American press for change for if
we continue down the same path we have for the last 4 years there will no
longer be a Country to fight for.
Also, take a moment to remember the sacrifice made by every fallen
A democrat once said: "Ask not what
your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country".
How long has it been since you heard that spoken by an elected representative?
I will tell you how long it has been (in not exactly those same words). JUST A FEW HOURS. And you know who said it, Mitt Romney.
The
This is YOUR Country. NEVER take it for granted.
Just read Obama is the first president since FDR to be
reelected despite a rise in unemployment. Congratulations, Mr. President, your
work is done!
COINCEDENCE??????
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Barack Obama 4 more years!!!
Some
non-racing stuff:
Note: Just titles and links from now on.
Military
Absentee Ballots Delivered One Day Late, Would Have Swung Election For Romney
http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/11/military-absentee-ballots-delivered-one-day-late-would-have-swung-election-for-romney/
OBAMA ADMIN DENIES BENEFITS
TO VICTIMS OF HASAN'S 'WORKPLACE VIOLENCE'
ABC Refusing to Cover Obama Benghazi Lie
http://www.mrc.org/press-releases/abc-refusing-cover-obama-benghazi-lie
EXCLUSIVE: CIA operators
were denied request for help during Benghazi
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/26/cia-operators-were-denied-request-for-help-during-benghazi-attack-sources-say/
Power equipment continues to sit in
Central Park days after marathon canceled
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/power_equipment_continues_marathon_iHlKX36iYhg2MpKAQ8LiZJ?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local
How long will Election Day last in Ohio
http://news.yahoo.com/how-long-will-election-day-last-in-ohio-we-could-be-counting-votes-after-thanksgiving-1105123245.html
Storm-weary voters in U.S. Northeast face delays, confusion
http://news.yahoo.com/sandys-aftermath-causes-nightmare-commute-housing-crisis-042518279.html
It's a 50-50 nation, give or take
http://news.yahoo.com/50-50-nation-151916925--election.html
Just before Hurricane
Sandy, Obama signed executive order merging Homeland Security with private
sector to create virtual dictatorship
http://www.naturalnews.com/037871_Obama_executive_order_dictatorship.html#ixzz2BZCWjxjY
Suzuki will stop selling cars in the U.S.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2012/11/05/suzuki-leaves-car-business-bankruptcy/1684843/?kjnd=thUQ%2BFVykRRbSKEYeqKNVBxIPTf%2BQdZLiO%2FOzxDwcm%2FbgMS8WQAl5SwHG7pHGIIj-bb41de1a-f58d-4594-800a-23a0bd81e72a_2XeKhI7en7ZM1MD%2BP2WW6Q0xcXsjeXqn8Qzrx8ColDJSOTAjeUOuATMhYkoM1tOX
Video
time:
Since
my next column won’t be due out until Thanksgiving Day, and since Gordon
Lightfoot was born on November 17, 1938, I thought I’d put up a few videos of
him. He is one of only a few that I know
of that survived a ruptured aneurysm on one’s aorta, that happening in
2002. Enjoy these videos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgGnddEesAg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbMEb1T8CN0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TQ2VUFbyDc&feature=related
The above link is part one
of a concert. Part two can be picked up
over on the right of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-ij_iTQt2w&feature=related
Note:
I was not aware of the passing of Terry Clements, the guitar player for
Gordon Lightfoot - for 40 years, until I checked out a couple of the above
videos. He’s really featured in the
first link above – the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald video.
Lightfoot guitarist Terry Clements dies
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/25/terry-clements-obit.html
Photos:
Note: The photos are not available on Dirt Track
Digest, only on New England Tractor - http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Back in the
day, they would race Midgets on tracks up to a mile in length. Below is the start of a 100 mile Midget race
at the mile track in
Closing with these:
NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT
TOP-10 "Only In
1) Only in
rich at a $35,000.00
a plate campaign fund-raising event.
2) Only in
discriminates against
black Americans when they have a black President, a
black Attorney
General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black
while only 12% of the
population is black.
3) Only in
responsible for our
tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the Treasury
Department and Charles Rangel
who once ran the Ways and Means Committee,
BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in
favor of higher taxes.
4) Only in
of Allah and have the
media primarily react by fretting that Muslims might
be harmed by the
backlash.
5) Only in
become American
citizens wait for years in their home countries and pay tens
of thousands of
dollars for the privilege while actually considering letting
anyone who sneaks
into the country illegally just 'magically' become
American citizens.
6) Only in
budget and sticking
by the country's Constitution be thought of as
"extremists."
7) Only in
cash a check or buy
alcohol, but not to vote.
8) Only in
whether oil companies
are gouging the public because the price of gas went
up when the return on
equity invested in a major
Oil) is less than half of a company making
tennis shoes (Nike).
9) Only in
from the people than
any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion
dollars more than it
has per year - for total spending of $7-Million PER
MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have
nearly enough money.
10) Only in
income taxes - be
accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who
don't pay any income
taxes at all.
Again - Special notice: There will be no column next week. And columns will be every other week, for a
while.
Wishing all race
fans, drivers, teams, team owners and sponsors to remain safe and out of harms
way!
As usual, you can reach me
at: ygordad@yahoo.com