Racin' & Different Stuff:

Racin' & Different Stuff:

By Tom Avenengo

Volume # 141

05/30/2013

First:

My surgery went fine. We were expecting to see the surgeon somewhere around 9:30 on Friday morning, so I could be released and on my way home. Somehow, that wasn’t the case so it seems. Surgeon was a no-show on Friday. Seems he has “Office Hours” at one of his offices. My daughter, Judy, got to the hospital at the stroke of 10:00 AM. Shortly thereafter, I noticed the breakfast wagon going passed my room. N problem, I figured, since I’m getting gout of here! At around 11:00 AM I mentioned to the nurse that I never had breakfast, and also asked if she knew where the surgeon was, so I could get released and on my way home. She said she’d see to I that I got some “eats”. She had no idea about the surgeon, though. Around 1:30 in the afternoon a tray was delivered to my room. Chicken breast (like rubber), cold peas, baked potato – no butter, peach halves in a small bowl, cup of water & a tea bag, and some 1% milk. Oh, and still no surgeon in to clear me so I could escape.

Eventually another doctor came to see me and said she would start the paper work for me to go home. That was around 3:00. An hour and a half later we were on our way out of the hospital – ready to go up the NY Thruway in what was the beginning of rush hour traffic.

Second:

Of course I was given a “to do” list. Funny, but some of the meds I’ve been on – it was said I should stop them. Some meds that I had never heard of, were also listed as should be discontinued. Must some of the stuff they gave me while in the hospital, I suppose. I’m doing this on Monday and my left side of my face is still somewhat still numb. Soreness in my throat comes and goes, but not as soar as it was previously. It should be an interesting conversation between my regular doctor and me, when I get to see him.

Third:

On Sunday, I watched the Indy 500 and later on the World 600. To me, it was one of the better 500’s, with a lot of passing for the lead. I fell asleep during the 600, however. Indy had something like 68 lead changes among 14 different drivers. It was getting to the point that whomever was leading, you just knew they’d get passed at the end of the homestretch. With 10 laps to go, I ventured downstairs and told the wife that she really should put the race on, since you never knew who would be leading at any particular time. Then there was a yellow for an accident. Indycar does not use the “Green/white/checker”, like NASCAR does. A restart with 3 laps to go and you just knew it was gong to be an exciting finish. Then there was another yellow, and that’s the way it ended – under yellow. That’s the way it’s always been. It wasn’t broke, so no need to fix it.

Fourth:

Last weekend, here in the Northeast, “Mother Nature” did her thing – again. Most tracks were rained out on Friday and Saturday. Quite a few times I read on the Internet about tracks using Sunday as a rain date. That sounds good, but I’m wondering – would the towns that the tracks are in let them run on Sunday?

Fifth:

From last week:

In his career he ran just about everything, and retired very young. He won 31 percent of the NASCAR Cup races he entered, 25 percent of the Indy Car races, and 5 percent of the Formula One races. What is his name?

Answer: Dan Gurney

Sixth:

I asked this question on the OCFS Facebook page: “We can use either our wrist bands OR Veteran ID this week, right? If Veteran ID, then wrist band the following Saturday?”

Their response: “This week is wrist bands only - no veterans ID”

So, I have no idea as to whether OCFS will have a “Veteran’s Day” night, or not. At most times, they don’t respond to my questions.

Seventh:

Some interesting things said about “Security” for the Indy 500:

Just Curious About any Local TV/Newspape/Radio Coverage on The 'Security' Disaster

Link: http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?176967-Just-Curious-About-any-Local-TV-Newspape-Radio-Coverage-on-The-Security-Disaster

Eighth:

Some small stuff:

Per the rules of the RoC, Brett Hearn was a DNQ for the Victoria 200 this past Monday at the Utica/Rome Speedway. He was not eligible for a provisional starting spot, either.

Tony Kanaan got $2,353,355.00 for winning the Indy 500.

The Vic 200 is now only a 100 lap race, so why say “200”?

I was somewhat surprised to see that Bobby Santos, IV, had no ride for the Little 500.

Last Saturday, the ATQMRA TQ’s raced at Wall Stadium. Best I can find is that they only had NINE cars there?

On Wednesday, June 5^th, the wingless USAC Sprint Cars invade the Grandview Speedway. Mark Smith, Mark Bitner and Billy Pauch, Jr. are the only three names mentioned that are from this area and will be in action. Sad, huh?

At Indy this year, there were 11 American drivers in the race. Bet you can’t name them!

Also, at Indy this year, the overhead camera shots did show that there were quite a few empty seats around the speedway.

At Dover this coming weekend, as of Wednesday at 1:45 PM:

43 entrants for the Cup race.

38 entrants for the Nationwide race

35 entrants for the Truck race.

Not good news, folks!

Ninth:

Found on the Dirt Track Digest forum on Tuesday, 5/28/13:

Re: Tyler Dippel Disqualification

We would like to apologize for the delay in delivering our ruling regarding the full “penalty” pertaining to Tyler Dippel. We would like to express that there was never a debate as to whether or not Dippel should be disqualified it was a concern of what would be a “proper” punishment to fit the crime.

We would also like to state that although we are not a DIRTcar sanction Sportsman class we are aligned with DIRTcar as we follow the majority of their rules and regulations with a few minor exceptions for our facility. DIRTcar’s rules for the GM Crate Classes states under 11.1.I.a.1:

In the event of any illegal internal modification to any GM Performance Parts Crate Engine and/or DIRTcar Spec engine and/or tampering of any manufacturer and/or DIRTcar seal a 1-year suspension and indefinite probation period and/or the engine may be impounded immediately and/or loss of all earnings based on the current race season, including but not limited to points, point fund awards and/or or race winnings

After careful deliberation between LV Management and advisors, the following are the list of penalties that were applied to Dippel:

Disqualification from the May 18th event.

Loss of points from the May 18th event.

Loss of the $2000 purse money from the May 18th event.

The said motor will not be permitted to be resealed or reused.

Dippel must start last for the next two (2) budget sportsman features.

Dippel has been placed on probation (see DIRTcar Rule).

Dippel must pay an additional $500 fine (added to the Budget Sportsman point fund).

Once again we thank you for your patience with this matter. We are certain that the penalties applied will deter GM Crate class competitors from utilizing illegal parts in the future.

Yours in Racing,

Howard Commander - Lebanon Valley Speedway

Tenth:

Some say the king of racing is dying a slow death. When it comes to the Indianapolis 500, TV ratings are dropping, attendance figures are sliding and there's a lack of interest amongst the general public. Outside the racing bubble, the storied event faces cries of irrelevance, as folks continue to disregard happenings within the 2.5-mile oval.

But as last Sunday’s Indy 500 proved, where the Indy 500 saw a record number of lead changes and fan favorite Tony Kanaan steal the crown, the race deserves more.

Unusual among sporting events, the Indy 500 has to share its big day with two other races: NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 and the Formula One Grand Prix of Monaco. Last year, NASCAR’s event, which does not posses the same allure as the series’ Daytona 500, garnered more eyes than Indy, boasting national TV ratings of 4.4 vs. Indy’s 4.3. And while Formula One struggles stateside, on the world's stage, no other series comes close to its popular appeal, marking F1 as the most watched form of auto racing.

But anyone who viewed all three races last Sunday would have a hard time justifying why the Indy 500 does not count as number one. The show on the track was fantastic. And the stories — with rookie Carlos Munoz finishing second, AJ Allmendinger rebuilding his career after a drug scandal in NASCAR, Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves searching for that illustrious fourth Borg Warner trophy, a local Hoosier in Ed Carpenter taking the pole, the Andretti curse, and, of course, Tony Kanaan’s years of heartbreak resulting in a deserved shower of milk — filled the race with meaning.

Yes, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 had it all, and yet overnight TV ratings dipped to a reported 3.8 — the lowest since the race began airing live in 1986. If the product's so great, where are the fans?

It’s not just the event at Indianapolis that spells spectacular IndyCar racing; the street race in Brazil a few weeks back saw James Hinchcliffe snatch the win from Takuma Sato in the final bend, in what was perhaps the most exciting road course event in years, including F1 races. (Compare Indy to Monaco on Sunday, where the pole-sitter never surrendered the lead.)

Simply, if non-Indy fans watched, chances are they’d be hooked. Hell, if NASCAR fans took a gander, they likely would too.

More on this can be found if you go here:

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/indianapolis-500-remains-greatest-spectacle-racing-humpty-needs-203430375.html

Coming up:

Next week, I’m pretty sure it’s on June 5^th, it’s the USAC Wingless Sprint Cars and the ARDC’s Wingless Midgets in action at the Grandview Speedway. That’s a race my son, Eric, grandson, Brett and I have always wanted to attend. On Wednesday night, via Facebook, Eric and I were talking about it. It seems that he has a birthday coming up – May 31^st. Methinks it’s time I treated him to that show. Both he and Brett work at the same place so the main problem would be for them to get off a littler early.

Taken, in part, off of Facebook:

Orange County Fair speedway's 2013 Nostalgia night is June 8th. Hope the weather is great and all can make it. Please spread the word. Drivers that said they will be here; Carl Van Horn, Frankie Schneider, Bobby & Steve Bottcher,Gerald Chamberlain, Carl Reynolds, Jerry Wilson, Hank Goranson, Del buss, Rich Eurich, Bob Schmitt, Bob Schoenberger, Steve Makocy, Ed Davis, Stan Sherman, Joe Romer, Sam Rogers Sr and Jr, Ron and Scott Goodrich, Ed Stevens, Lou Inezo, Rich Marenelli, Red Muir, Loren Holland Sr, Bruce Quinn,Ed D'Angelo,George Van der Wall and we are still waiting to hear back from other drivers.

Free INDYCAR Test - Pocono

Thursday, July 4

We're opening the gates, for FREE, to the IZOD IndyCar Series open test at Pocono Raceway on Thursday, July 4th!

Come see breathtaking speeds as every IndyCar Series driver entered will be testing from approximately 10 am - 4 pm ET!

Parking information, updates on drivers testing and more will be updated as the event draws closer!

Tickets to the July 7 Pocono INDCYAR 400, marking the first time "The Tricky Triangle" has hosted an open-wheel event in 24 years, start at $25. All Kid's Tickets (ages 12 and under) across our entire Grandstand are half-off! To purchase tickets visit www.poconoraceway.com or call the number below.

1-800-RACEWAY (722-3929)

Ticket Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm ET

Going back in time:

On May 30^th in:

May 30^th, back in the day, was the date that they ran the Indy 500 – regardless of what day in the week, it was. At the end of this trip back in time is a link to May 30^th and just what did happen over time. What’s below is just a small sample of May 30^th history.

1925

Chuck Arnold... Born ... Arnold drove sporadically in the USAC Championship Car series, racing between 1959 and 1968, with 11 starts, including the 1959 Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 3 times, with his best finish in 5th position, in 1959 at Trenton.

1929

Bill Spence ... Died ... AAA driver from the late 1920's. He was killed in the 1929 Indianapolis 500.

1933

Mark Billman... Died ... AAA racer 1930's. He was killed in the 1933 Indy 500.

1939

Floyd Roberts... Died ... AAA driver who raced in the 1930's. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1938 with a record speed of 117.2 mph. He led for 92 laps. The following year, 1939, driving the same car, he was killed in a crash on the backstretch after hitting a wooden fence at near 100 mph. Roberts was the first former winner and defending champion of the race to have been killed while competing.

1955

Bill Vukovich was killed in a chain-reaction crash while holding a 17-second lead on the 57th lap of the 1955 Indianapolis 500. Vukovich was exiting the second turn, trailing three slower cars , driven by Rodger Ward, Al Keller, and Johnny Boyd, when Ward's car swerved as the result of a strong gust of wind. Keller, swerving into the infield to avoid Ward, lost control and slid back onto the track, striking Boyd's car and pushing it into Vukovich's oncoming path. Vukovich's car struck Boyd's, became airborne, and landed upside down after going over the outside backstretch retaining wall and somersaulting several times, killing him.

Note: There's been a special Internet website on the death of Bill Vukovich. It's quite lengthy, and there are some photos that are rather graphic. It can be found here: http://www.vukovichaccident.com/

1964

Eddie Sachs ... Died ... He was known as the "Caped Crusader of Auto Racing" and "Clown Prince of Auto Racing" for his personality at the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. He was the father of race car driver and NASCAR car owner Eddie Sachs, Jr. His career included eight USAC Championship Trail wins, 25 top-five finishes in 65 career AAA and USAC starts, including the 1958 USAC Midwest Sprint Car Championship. He won consecutive pole positions (1960-1961) for the Indianapolis 500, finishing second in 1961 for his best finish. Sachs and sports car driver and Indy rookie Dave MacDonald were killed on the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500 in a fiery crash involving seven cars.

Note: To see who won the Indy 500 on May 30th over the years, you can go here: http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/history/may_30.html

Found on Jayski’s website:

http://www.jayski.com/

FOX Sports Follow-up Statement - Camera rope: Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know that the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released last night. As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt. At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is underway, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely. The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old. According to the company, it had been factory-tested by the manufacturer and its breaking strength is certified before shipment. It was also inspected by CAMCAT upon receipt last June. The rope was certified to have a breaking strength of over 9,300 pounds. The force exerted during last night's race was less than 900 pounds. FOX Sports is reviewing with CAMCAT equipment maintenance records, history and installation information and will share those findings with NASCAR and CMS.(FOX Sports)(5-28-2013)

Stewart not happy with blocking: #14-Tony Stewart said he loves rookie #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. "like he's family," but is fed up with how Stenhouse and other young drivers are racing. "Ricky Stenhouse, I'd choke him right now if I could get to him," Stewart told Sirius XM Radio after Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600. "One more lap of having to mess around with him... " Stewart cited his strong anti-blocking stance as the reason he's upset with Stenhouse, who also happens to be the boyfriend of Stewart's own rookie driver, #10-Danica Patrick. Stewart did not name her specifically. Stenhouse and Patrick were involved in a wreck Sunday night that ensnared defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski, who shouldered the blame for starting the crash that knocked him out of the race. "Everybody that thinks this crap of blocking is productive, they don't know honestly what racing is all about," Stewart said. "And the guys that do it who think it's acceptable, I lose respect for them every day." Stewart said he wants to sit in on one of NASCAR's regular rookie meetings just to hear what NASCAR officials tell the drivers. When he was a rookie in 1999, former official Gary Nelson used to sternly tell Stewart and his peers about the on-track etiquette.(USA Today)(5-28-2013)

Note: An easy way to stop the blocking - get rid of the mirrors and the spotters. Only have radio communication between the track and the drivers.

News about the Air Titan track drying system: NASCAR chairman Brian France said during a Saturday state-of-union address that the new Air Titan track drying system has been a success, particularly at Talladega Superspeedway where it allowed Saturday's Nationwide Series race and Sunday's Sprint Cup event to be completed on the same day. So why doesn't every track have the system? France said NASCAR, which owns the right to Air Titan, is in the process of educating tracks on the cost savings from getting the event completed on the scheduled day versus the cost of purchasing the machines. "In fairness to different tracks, they hadn't seen that work in a real live condition [before Talladega],'' France said. "Now they have. My hope is that we will get the cost down, number one, and that every track who is in risk of having rain will be using the system.'''(ESPN)(5-27-2013)

NASCAR TV Negotiations update: NASCAR chairman Brian France said during a Saturday state-of-union address that negotiations for a new television contract that would go into effect in 2015 are "getting down to the last bit of it.'' France said his hope is to renew with the incumbents. Fox already has renewed from 2015-2022 for a reported $300 million a year. ESPN and TNT are the other current partners. NBC also is a player for a major portion of the 36-race schedule. "My hope is to remain where we are,'' France said. "But that's why you have negotiations and discussions. We'll have to see how that plays out.''(ESPN)(5-26-2013)

Brian France not in favor of moving race from Charlotte: NASCAR chairman Brian France is not in favor of moving a Sprint Cup race from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Las Vegas. Earlier this week, Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith said there was a 70% chance he would seek to move the October Chase race from CMS to his 1.5-mile track in Sin City. That would leave the hub of NASCAR with only one point race, the Coca-Cola 600 in May, and the All-Star race held the week before. France said during a Saturday state-of-union address at CMS there have been no discussions with Smith or SMI, but his preference is to "make the events where they are more successful.''

"We have gotten a long way with our position in motorsports because we've had historically important events, like this weekend, that happen every year that people can count on,'' France said. "That said, for one reason or another, a certain market is not performing as well, it may be a better opportunity. We've seen that in the last five, six years or longer. We'll take a look at it. My preference would be to keep the event here in Charlotte.''(ESPN)(5-25-2013)

Zipadelli says Cars to Blame: Greg Zipadelli, the competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing and longtime confidante of Tony Stewart, said the team has fallen behind on technology relative to the top NASCAR Sprint Cup teams. Zipadelli said the combination of adding a third car for Danica Patrick, converting to the new Generation-6 cars and shuffling personnel internally has left SHR well behind top teams like Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports so far this season. Coming into Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, #39-Ryan Newman is 17th in points, #14-Stewart 21st and #10-Patrick 28th. Thursday night, Newman qualified 10th for the Coca-Cola 600, with Patrick 24th and Stewart 25th.(full story at SPEED)(5-25-2013)

Some racing stuff:

Honda is now the sponsor of USAC’s Midget Series – USAC National Midgets, Ignite Midgets and .25 Midgets (1/4 Midgets). A racing version of the Honda K 24 engine will become the new Spec Engine for the Honda Ignite Midget Series. No, I have absolutely no idea what the “Ignite” Midgets are!

Former OVRP Dirt Oval runners:

Even with rain outs on Friday and Saturday, last week, there still was some racing getting done.

At Five Mile, Billy VanInwegen was sixth in a modified feature, while Anthony Perrego was 2^nd, Brad Szulewski 4^th and Tyler Dippel 12^th in the Sportsman feature.

Alex Bell was 4^th in the 50 lap Modified feature at Thunder Road, in Vermont.

At Utica/Rome, in the RoC Modified race, Billy VanInwegen was a DNQ, while Tyler Boniface was 9^th in the Sportsman feature and Andrew Reeves a DNQ.

In the CRSA 305 Sprint Car feature at Five Mile, Josh Pieniazek was 3^rd and Emily VanInwegen 21^st.

At Utica/Rome, on Sunday, Billy V was a DNQ.

Roger Coss was 3^rd in the Modified feature at Mahoning Valley, while BJ and Tifany Wambold were DNQ’s for the Street Stock feature.

Nick Pecko was 11^th in the RoC Modified feature at Oswego.

Jacob Hendrshot was 4^th in the 270 Micro Sprint feature at Hamlin, while Kyle Rohner was 3^rd in the wingless 600 Micro Sprint feature. Tyler Pirone was 19^th in the All Star Slinghot feature, with Paul Tigue 4^th in the Junior Slingshot feature.

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

Note: Don’t forget – if you’re a subscriber to the AARN, you can have the free digital version. That is available on Tuesday mornings.

From their May 28^th edition:

Lenny Sammons:

A good part of his column was devoted to an interview he had with Steve Kinser, at the New Egypt Speedway. Steve will turn 59 on June 2^nd. He’s been with the WoO since 1978 – when they first started.

Steve says his problem is that he is not qualifying good, and that puts him from mid-pack to further back. “I think the problem is the big fat driver that’s in the seat, if you want to know the truth about it”, Kinser said. He wonders if others are “juicing” their tires – something that really does not get checked all that good. One thing Kinser is not too fond of – the cutting of the purses from $10,000.00 to win down to $6,000.00 to win – on races held during the week. The stands are still packed, he says.

Ernie Saxton:

Ernie says he slept through most of the NASCAR All-Star race. I don’t think he was alone. It seems that whatever they (NASCAR) comes up with, to make the race more fan friendly and enjoyable, just does not work. Ernie was not too happy with those that are going into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, either, leaving his comments on that until next week.

Gary London:

I always enjoy going back in time with Gary. He’s from about the same era as I am – give or take a few years. Gary, like Ernie, doesn’t think much of that NASCAR All Star race, either. What he did find quite enjoyable last week, was the Freedom 100 from Indy – a race for the Indy Light cars.

Some of his “Indy trivia”:

For the first 50 years of the 500, there ere only five drivers with multiple wins. Tommy Milton and Bill Vukovich with two wins, Maury Rose, Wilbur Shaw and Louis Meyer had three wins each.

Arie Luyendyk’s record winning speed has stood for 23 years, until this year.

Al Unser, Jr. is the only defending winner that failed to qualify. Troy Ruttman (3 times), Rodger Ward, Bobby Rahal, Emerson Fittipaldi and Buddy Lazier have all missed the race as former winners.

AJ Foyt was the oldest at 57, to race in the 500, while his grandson, AJ IV was the youngest, at 18. Mario Andretti was the oldest to lead the 500 – at 53, while his grandson, Marco, was the youngest, at 19.

Ray Harroun and Juan Pablo Montoya are the only to that have won in their only start. Jacques Villenueve had a second and a first in his only two starts.

Wilbur Shaw had four races in a row where he won three times and was second in the 4^th.

George Snyder made the most starts, 22, without winning. In 1957, the winners of the previous four 500’s were not in the 57 race.

Rodger Ward, Duane Carter and Eddie Johnson are the only three drivers to have run an upright dirt car, a roadster and a rear engine car. The last time a front engine car qualified was in 1968.

The JC Agajanian owned # 98 “Calhoun” car that Parnelli Jones drove to his win in 1963 – that was the only win ever for that car.

Don Branson had the last win for a Roadster – that coming in Phoenix in 1965. In 1948, the famed Novi race car (s), had their best ever finish – a 3^rd place, with Duke Nalon driving.

Michael Andretti, who never won the 500, is in 10^th place with laps led at 431. In the 1970’s, Mark Donohue was the only single winner for that decade. In 1992, AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears competed as four time winners. Six other former winners and three eventual winners were also in that 1992 race.

This Week

In AARN:

Pettyjohn Brothers Win

Super Late Model Features

At Hagerstown,

Winchester, Hesston

Dirt Modifieds Debut

At Thunder Road;

Mueller Wins Historic Race

Steve Kinser Opens Up

About Career Slump,

Tire Softening

Tony Kanaan Wins

His First Indianapolis 500

Horton Has Winning Hand

In Bridgeport Tire Killing

Mod Race

Friends Of Former

NASCAR Great Dick Trickle

Struggle With His Death

Hometown Boy Dave Hess, Jr.

Beats World Of Outlaws Late Models

At Wayne County

Mike Colsten's FMP Mod Win

Evokes Extraordinary Emotions

Big Memorial Day Weekend

Selinsgrove 410 Sprint Win

Bagged By Brent Marks

Bloomington Speedway

Sprint Driver Josh Burton

Fatally Injured In Crash

Press releases:

This could be quite interesting:

For Further Information Contact Scott Daloisio mailto:sdaloisiosports@aol.com or (909) 226-7768

THE WORLD’S FASTEST SPRINT CAR – MEET DAMION GARDNER, THE MAN BEHIND THE MADNESS!

(CA, May 28, 2013) In August, sprint car racing megastar Damion Gardner plans to inaugurate a land speed record for sprint cars at the celebrated Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Why does a driver who has had so much success racing sprint cars on sticky clay oval bull rings across the United States want to go faster than any sprint car competitor on a tough, salt surface? What inspires the wiry racer and what makes him tick?

The easiest way to get the answers was to pepper the passionate driver with the relevant questions. In this session, he was straight and to the point about where it all commenced and about his day with destiny on the patch of salt that first felt the wheels of a car in 1907.

Q: How and when did you get started in racing? Was it something that started when you were a kid?

Gardner: No, not when I was a kid. I was always into cars and hot rods. I had junker four wheelers and motorcycles and we would race them around, but my family didn’t race. We always did stuff with cars. Fixed em’ up and stuff. For some reason, I always wanted to race cars. Everything was a race. When I got older, I started truck pulling and then I met a guy and we started racing cars.

Q: How old were you when you started truck pulling?

Gardner: About 16. That was more or less because I wanted to do something with anything that had a motor in it. I was always working on them and driving them. I just wanted to do something in racing. Truck pulling was my first opportunity at competition so that is what we did.

Q: Did your dad pull as well or did he just help you?

Gardner: My dad did it, too. My dad had a buddy with a truck who did truck pulls and my dad had a big four-wheel drive truck. His buddy talked us into going to the first truck pull. That turned into us hauling our truck (on a trailer) to the truck pulls because it had gotten so big and bas ass that you had to have a trailer to haul it. The guy who used to haul or bad ass truck to the races wanted to race cars. He owned a 76 station and he bought me my first race car. Pretty much all of these guys I was involved with, as long as I worked my ass off on the cars, they would help me out with them.

Q: Correct me if I am wrong. That first racecar was a dwarf car?

Gardner: Nope! My first year I only raced four races and it was an enduro car.

Q: You are telling a guy who announces your sprint car races that you started in enduros? I am loving this.

Gardner: Yeah, yeah (laughing) enduros.

Q: How long did you race the enduros?

Gardner: I pretty much did it one season and it was four races. Enduro cars were supposed to be cheap. The first thing I learned is they weren’t that cheap. I spent a lot of money making it look cool. I wanted it to be my racecar and I did a lot of work to it. After four enduro races it was just junk.

Q: So then it was on to dwarf cars?

Gardner: Yeah, the same guy that bought me the enduro car bought two dwarf cars and we started racing them. I raced dwarf cars for a couple years and then I bought a sprint car.

Q: Was it a 410 sprint car?

Gardner: I bought a 360 winged sprint car at first. I raced it up there (Northern California) two years and then I bought a 410.

Q: You raced the 410 in the old NARC Series?

Gardner: Yep! I ran NARC for two years and then I went to non-wing racing.

Q: At first in non-wing racing you stayed here in California.

Gardner: Yeah. My first non-wing race was at Perris and it was basically on a fluke. Perris used to start the season earlier than anyone in February with a day race. My buddy Kevin Urton – he is kind of my mentor - every year he would call me and say we should go to Perris. We would be in the shop and we had no money because I never got any of my sponsorship money until April. We would be sitting in the shop in like January and he would call me up and say, “Hey man, you should go down to that SCRA race at Perris.” For two years I would tell him that is too far to go and this and that. Finally he called me the third year and said, “If you do not go with us, we will go.” So I went down to Perris for the first time in February of 2002 and never went back (to wing racing).

Q: You did fairly well right off the bat in non-wing cars didn’t you?

Gardner: Yeah, that was the whole thing. The first time we did not qualify good. We qualified like 20th, but by the time the day was done we started 18th in the main near the back and finished sixth. The next one came up and we decided to go again. My sponsors at the time worked on the car, too. They got jacked up about it. They did not mind traveling and they did not mind spending some money. It was kind of as much up to them as it was to me. They wanted to go. The second time I don’t think we made the show. We went back again and by that third time you could see I was making strides and making up some ground there.

Q: You ended up doing very well. You won mains, you won the 2005 USAC/CRA championship. You went back east to run the USAC National Sprint Car Series. You even won the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. How does any of that transpire into going to Bonneville and trying to go 200 miles per hour in a sprint car and set land speed records?

Gardner: It is a lot of different things. Basically, I do not know (laughing). It is me getting older and having done a lot of things in sprint cars. Meaning, I have done the national series and won races in sprint cars and midgets. I guess it is trying to do something outside of just your norm. in sprint cars. It is like a splash. Perris Auto Speedway, SCRA and Ron Shuman probably did the biggest things in my career as far as getting me known and getting my name out there. Other than that it has been only me doing self-promotion and the lot. Even the way I drive when I race. I try to splash bigger than anyone else. That is how I make money. It has kind of disenchanted me with the way the whole sprint car world is. We have all been doing it the same way for forty years and we are just getting beat up by other sports, you know? Monster trucks, supercross and any other sport like that. You name it and they are just going over the top of us, because they are figuring ways to get to the kids and all of that. So, I was trying to think of a way to make another splash. I thought, I like Bonneville and I like hot rods and it would be cool to go to Bonneville so that is why I am going.

Q: Did this just come to you over night or had you been thinking of it for a while?

Gardner: I basically lost my sponsor. He passed away last season and at the end of the year it did not work out with the family (the sponsor’s family) and it ended (his relationship with that sponsor) abruptly. I did not want to scrape it together and go run for peanuts trying to make it back on the national tour. I was thinking what could I do that would be fun and make a splash. Me and Steve Watt were sitting on the Speed Demon streamliner at P.R.I.. I was talking about what can we do with a sprint car that is extreme. What could we do? Obviously he comes from working on the Speed Demon and he is a fabricator and he does great stuff. He said, “Why don’t we go to Bonneville?” I said, “That is perfect!” Some other friends of mine were talking about taking a sprint car and doing a flip and all of this stupid crap. Guys with motorcycles do two or three flips. That is not for a sprint car really. I thought Bonneville would be cool. Making it the fastest sprint car on the planet is all right.

Q: I was going to ask you why you chose Steve “Biggie” Watt, but you kind of answered that. He is involved with both sports and you were both at the right place at the right time.

Gardner: Exactly! I was walking around P.R.I. trying to think of some ideas of what I could do outside the box. Obviously I was going to have time this year to do it because I do not have a job (laughing). I just happened to roll up on him and we were just talking. Next thing you know, it all came together.

Q: Was he receptive to it right away?

Gardner: Oh yeah, right away. It is just one of those things where we are trying to put the money together now, getting sponsorship and getting people behind it. We have a lot of product people who are behind it and who have given us stuff to make this happen. There won’t be anybody saying I do not have the money to finish it or I do not have the time to do it. Biggie knows that if I make a commitment to get something done, I will get it done. He knows that so he does not mind committing his time and effort because he knows I will be right there with him.

Q: What is your biggest fascination about Bonneville?

Gardner: My biggest fascination is the old schoolism of it. The rawness. I was kind of born in the wrong era. I appreciate the old school guys who build their hot rods, come up with new ideas and they stab it together themselves. Then they go out to the track or the speedway and watch what they have done and see what they can achieve with their hands and their tools. You look at NASCAR and even sprint cars now. We just buy everything off the shelf. Some kid with a rich dad can pretty much have a car better than yours because he has more money. When it comes to Bonneville it is still kind of a raw sport where a lot of guys are still doing a lot of stuff in their garage. They show up and see if they can go fast.

Q: You say you like the idea of building cars in your own garage. How much extra fabrication are you guys going to do to this car in Biggie’s shop?

Gardner: There is going to be a lot of fabrication and a lot of trick stuff. It is not going to be like taking a regular sprint car. It is going to be all narrowed up and have a trick body. Aero is probably going to be the biggest problem with this car – keeping it on the ground because it is so light, has so much horsepower and it is short. It is going to want to spin out and hopefully it doesn’t fly through the air, you know? That is part of what we will have to do. It is still pretty kind of grass roots. Me an Biggie will fab. a lot of the stuff ourselves and with help from our friends in the industry. It is going to be a lot of one off stuff. We gain and try to get as much knowledge as we can, but at the end of the day, none us really knows what it is going to do.

Q: This car is one of your pavement cars from when you raced the USAC National Series, correct?

Gardner: Yeah, it is a 2010 Beast Chassis pavement car with a 410 Shaver.

Q: Same engine as you ran in it back then?

Gardner: Yep.

Q: What is the fastest you have ever driven anything in the past and how fast do you think you will go at Bonneville?

Gardner: The fastest I have ever gone? Gotta’ be whenever we went to Iowa or Richmond in a sprint car and it would be 146 (MPH) or something. When I say 146, that is an average so top speed would probably be around 160.

Q: You are talking of going over 200 at Bonneville!

Gardner: Yeah, I could be wrong, but I think 200 is achievable. A sprint car has reached pretty close to that. There have already been sprint cars that have gone in the 170’s and 180’s. I think the Silver Crown Cars at Milwaukee have gone almost 200, but the problem was they could not keep the back of the car on the ground. That is a problem we will be facing. So I think 200 is pretty achievable or something just over 200. 250 is probably going to take some extra work, you know?

Q: You have not tested the car yet, but that is coming soon. You and Biggie are prepping the car. How are you prepping yourself? Both your body and your mind?

Gardner: Nothing more than I do just to drive a regular sprint car every weekend, which is working out and staying in decent shape. I think what is prepping me mentally, once again it is no different than my weekly sprint car prep, is just doing my homework and making sure that I feel we have all done work and understand the mechanics and have done all the research we need to have put in this car. If we have done that, when I get to the track that is going to equate to confidence. I am going to be confident that we have put together a good piece and we know what we are doing.

Q: Throughout a majority of your career, you have driven on tight bull rings a half-mile or smaller. What if anything can you take from those tracks that will help you run flat out in a straight line at Bonneville?

Gardner: I don’t know. Just general experience of the car, feeling the car and understanding the car. I think we have learned from bigger tracks like Iowa and Phoenix in a Silver Crown Car about the wind. It is more about aero and how the car moves around and what it feels like. That is probably all you are going to get from the other stuff. I have also been talking to my friends who have taken winged sprint cars to mile tracks. Talking to those guys to get all of the knowledge I can to get a better understanding on what we are going to be dealing with.

More information on this exciting pursuit of pure speed will be forthcoming over the next few weeks and months. Be sure to share the news with all of your friends in the world of speed.

Gardner’s endeavor will be documented in a made for TV documentary titled "The World's Fastest Sprint Car."

Please visit the brand new “World’s Fastest Sprint Car” website at: World's Fastest Sprint Car

Media, to contact any of the principals in this endeavor, please contact Scott Daloisio at sdaloisiosports@aol.com or call 909 226-7768.

Attention dirt Modified race teams from the following speedways:

· Big Diamond Speedway

· Bridgeport Speedway

· Delaware International Speedway

· Grandview Speedway

· New Egypt Speedway

If you are interested in competing in the Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. ‘Dirty Jersey 60’ Super DIRTcar Series event at New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 – and you have a legal Modified for the event (rules can be found at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com) – we want to help you out with your tire expense.

We have acquired 10, brand-new DIRTcar Hoosier tires that we will distribute, via random draw, to teams wishing to compete in the ‘Dirty Jersey’ event. If you plan to attend, e-mail Deyo99H@aol.com with your name and contact information prior to Monday, June 3, 2013.

We will announce the 10 winners at the Super DIRTcar Series opener Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at Rolling Wheels Raceway.

Please keep in mind, if you win a tire and do not attend the event, you will be responsible for the cost of the tire.

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!

Brett Deyo & Stewart Friesen

I get e-mails:

Made in the USA

ACE HARDWARE - Made in the USA - Very Encouraging

READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM!

LOTS OF GOOD INFO HERE!

Costco sells Goodyear wiper blades for almost

Half the price that you Will pay

On the outside and they are made in the U.S.A.

Read and do the following.

Unfortunately our politicians and top CEO's have

Pushed for trade to China and Mexico for years so Americans are now out of work.

Did You Know that there is no

Electric coffee maker made in the US and that

The only kitchen appliances made in the US is

Viking? This Information Came from the a report by Diane Sawyer.Hopefully this has Changed or will Soon!!

I DIDN'T KNOW HALLMARK

CARDS WERE MADE IN CHINA ! That is also why I

Don't buy cards at Hallmark anymore, They are

Made in China and are More expensive!

I buy them at Dollar Tree - 50 cents each and made in

USA

I have Been looking at the blenders available on the

Internet.

Kitchen Aid is MADE IN The US . Top of my list already...

Yesterday I was in WalMart looking for a

Wastebasket. I found some Made

In China for $6.99. I didn't want to pay that much so I

Asked The lady if they had any others.

She took me to another department

And they had some at $2.50 made in USA . They are

Just as good. Same As a kitchen Rug I needed. I had to look, but I found some made in The USA - what a concept! - and they were $3.00 cheaper.

We are being Brainwashed to believe that everything that comes from China and Mexico is cheaper. Not So.

One Light Bulb at A Time..

I was in Lowe's the other day and just out of cur iosity, I looked at the hose attachments. They were all

Made in China . The next day I was

In Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I

Checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA .

Start looking, people . . ...In our current

Economic situation, every little thing

We buy or do affects someone else - most often, their

Job.

My Grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is Now Marked "made in Mexico ." I Don't buy it anymore.

My Favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico ...now I

Have Switched to Crest.

You have to read the

Labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger . . . I needed

60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets

I was in the light bulb aisle,

And right next to the GE brand I

Normally buy -- was an off-brand labeled,

"Everyday Value." I picked up

Both types of bulbs and compared them: they were the same Except For the price . . .the GE bulbs

Cost more than the Everyday Value

Brand, but the thing that surprised me the most was

That that GE was Made in MEXICO

And the Everyday Value brand was made in - you guessed

It - the USA at a company in Cleveland, Ohio .

It's Way past time to start

Finding and buying products you use every

Day that are made right Here.

So, on to the next

Aisle: Bounce Dryer Sheets... Yep, you guessed

It, Bounce cost more money and is made in

Canada . The Everyday Value Brand cost< br>Less, and was MADE IN THE USA ! I did laundry

Yesterday And the dryer sheets

Performed just like the Bounce Free I have been

Using for years, at almost half the Price.

My challenge to you

Is to start reading the labels when you shop for

Everyday things and see what you can find that is made

In the USA -

The job you save May be your own or your neighbor's!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to

Others in your address book so we can

All start buying American, one light bulb at a time!

Stop buying from overseas companies - you're

Sending the jobs there.

(We should have awakened a decade ago....)

Let's get with the program and help our fellow

Americans keep their

Jobs and create more jobs here in the USA .

I passed this on .. .. . Will you???

If you care about American workers, you will pass it

On.

So, is what follows true?

Oh! You didn't know he had a military career?

Bill & Hillary got about $12 million for their to-be written memoirs.

Here's some help for them since their memories are getting old.

BILL CLINTON’S MILITARY CAREER

Bill Clinton registers for the draft on September 08, 1964,

accepting all contractual conditions of registering for the draft.

Selective Service Number is 326 46 228.

Bill Clinton classified 2-S on November 17, 1964.

Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on March 20, 1968.

Bill Clinton ordered to report for induction on July 28, 1969.

Bill Clinton refuses to report and is not inducted into the military.

Bill Clinton reclassified 1-D after enlisting in the United States

Army Reserves on August 07, 1969, under authority

of COL. E. Holmes.

Clinton signs enlistment papers and takes oath of enlistment.

Bill Clinton fails to report to his duty station at

the University of Arkansas ROTC, September 1969.

Bill Clinton reclassified 1-A on October 30, 1969,

as enlistment with Army Reserves is revoked by

Colonel E. Holmes and Clinton now AWOL and

subject to arrest under Public Law 90-40 (2) (a) -

registrant who has failed to report...

remain liable for induction.

Bill Clinton's birth date lottery number is 311,

drawn December 1, 1969, but anyone who has

already been ordered to report for induction is INELIGIBLE!

Bill Clinton runs for Congress (1974), while a fugitive

from justice under Public Law 90-40.

Bill Clinton runs for Arkansas Attorney General

(1976), while a fugitive from justice.

Bill Clinton receives pardon on January 21, 1977,

from President Carter.

Bill Clinton becomes the FIRST PARDONED FEDERAL FELON

ever to serve as President of the United States.

All these facts come from Freedom of Information requests,

public laws, and various books that have been published,

and have not been refuted by Clinton.

After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, President Clinton

promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia,which killed five U.S.

military personnel,

Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia,

which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel,

Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa,

which killed 224 and injured 5,000,

Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole,

which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors,

Clinton promised that those responsible be hunted down and punished.

Maybe if Clinton had kept those promises, an estimated 3,000 people

in New York and Washington, DC, who are now dead

would be alive today.

THINK ABOUT IT!

It is a strange turn of events.

Hillary gets $8 Million for her forthcoming memoir.

Bill gets about $12 Million for his memoir yet to be written.

This from two people who spent 8 years being unable to recall

anything about past events while under oath.

Sincerely,

Cdr. Hamilton McWhorter USN (ret)

PS.

Please forward this to as many people as you can!

We don't want this woman to even THINK of

running for President!

Should the U.S. pull out of Chicago?

Body count: In the last six months, 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago compared to 221 killed in Iraq, and Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the entire US.

President: Barack Obama

Senator: Dick Durbin

Congressman: Jesse Jackson Jr.

Governor: Pat Quinn

House leader: Mike Madigan

Atty. Gen.: Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike)

Mayor: Rahm Emanuel

The leadership in Illinois - all Democrats. Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago.

Of course, they're all blaming each other. Can’t blame Republicans; there aren't any!

Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. Can’t blame Republicans; there aren't any!

State pension fund $78 Billion in debt, worst in country. Can’t

blame Republicans; there aren't any!

Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. Can’t blame Republicans; there aren't any!

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois. And he is going to “fix” Washington politics for us???

George Ryan is no longer governor; he is in the big house. Of course he was replaced by Rod Blagojevich who is...that's right, also in the big house. And Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned recently. That’s because he is fighting being sent to…right again, the big house!

The Land of Lincoln, where governors make our license plates!!!

Found on Facebook:

This came out on Tuesday, 5/28/2013:

RIP Midge Miller, a true racer and a real good guy.

Found on the Internet:

I DONT KNOW WHEN THE TRACKS ARE GOING TO APPLY COMMON SENSE AND CREATE A NON-DISPUTABLE CLAIMER RULE ON ALL "CRATE" CLASS MOTORS.THIS ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR TECH AND WOULD ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM WITH TAMPERING

Some non-racing stuff:

Ever wondered why 'bad' news about the Obama administration hardly ever gets covered by the MSM?

Guess this may be part of the answer!! I received this from a good friend who checks the accuracy of EVERYTHING!

Who knew? Just about everyone but the general public??!!

Certainly the legacy media people all knew, and have known for months! The

conclusion to draw is there certainly is more to be known about Benghazi, the IRS brouhaha, tapping phones at the AP, etc. The only question: who at the NYT and the other major papers is

connected to the WH, DOS, DOD, EPA, etc, etc, etc?

This may explain a few things..

White House spokesman Jay Carney is married to a woman that is employed by ABC.

Hillary Clintons Deputy Secretary is Tom Nides. He's married to CNN President Virginia Moseley.

Top Obama official Ben Rhodes (who changed Benghazi talking points) is brother to CBS President David Rhodes.

Obama special advisor Elizabeth Sherwood is a sibling of ABC President Ben Sherwood.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder personally approved a decision to subpoena Fox News telephone records as the Justice Department investigated an unauthorized leak regarding North Korea, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The U.S. Justice Department did not mention the subpoena when it issued a statement on Friday describing how Holder had vetted a decision to seek a search warrant for the contents of an email account used by Fox News reporter James Rosen.

The revelation that Holder approved subpoenas that sought Fox News phone records shows that his involvement was broader than the Justice Department had earlier acknowledged publicly, as details continue to emerge in the controversy.

A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, current and former law enforcement officials said that under Justice Department procedures, the attorney general's approval is required before a subpoena is issued for journalists' records.