Racin' & Different Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 150

                                                   08/01/2013

 

 

Racin’ & short’ stuff:

 

HEY!

 

Please do not forget the “Scandals” – Benghazi, the IRS etc, etc.  Our mainstream media seems to be hiding all those quite nicely, huh?  Believe me, they are not PHONY!!!

 

OMG, what a week we’ve had!  We’ve had a house full of people since last Wednesday evening, until this past Monday evening!  A pretty big pre-wedding BBQ on Friday with a little over 40 people.  Thank God my son, Eric, manned the grill for cooking the burgers and hot dogs while I tended to the deep fried chicken tenders.  His week was also quite hectic with having to drive to Virginia on Thursday to get his son, Dillon, and then take him back on Sunday – over 600 miles each way.  On top of that all the wedding stuff he had to do and get done for his daughters wedding – yes, my granddaughter, Samantha Avenengo is now Samantha Decker.  Such a beautiful bride and Shane being such a handsome groom.  They were meant for each other.  Grandson John Rizzo drove up from Florida in his “Hot Rod” and methinks I’ll have a photo of Sam & Shane in my photo section this week, a photo take with the car.  OK, photo has been put into the column!  You folks on DTD – you have to go to the New England Tractor/Race Report website to see it - link in photo section!

 

Have you ever opened your car door when you’re too close to the car, and the bottom of the door, the pointed part, on the bottom edge, gets your leg – when you’re wearing shorts?  Hurts like a b*tch a few days later.  Then it gets inflamed.  Then you’re told that there’s an infection there.  Then your doctor does not have office hours after 4:00 on Friday, until Monday morning, so you get an appointment for 4:30 on Monday afternoon?  Uh huh.  Happened to me.  Leg and ankle are kinda sore.  Some “weird” feelings, too.  Hoping it isn’t too serious!  Well, yes, I do have an infection.  500 MG’s of Cephalexin four time a day will hopefully clear it up!  As of Wednesday, it looks like it’s working!

 

 

Things I’ve heard:

 

Back in 1991, my son, Eric, had a Modified Stock Car that he ran at OCFS.  On our first time there, an official, Joel Murns, asked us about our “Race Safe” system, since he did not see the antenna sticking up through the roof (it was on the car, but attached to the inside sheet metal).  That was 22 years ago.  Later on, I got to be friends with his wife, Linda.  Linda and I were part of a group that started up the “Strictly Dirt” fan club.  Linda and Joel were part of the OCFS team, with Linda a mainstay in the OCFS office, and Joel doing his usual jobs on race nights.

Earlier in this racing season, there were “rumors” of how Linda was “terminated” from her office job.  From what I’ve heard, it was not done too nicely.  That, after at least 25 years with OCFS.  Yes, it sucks.

 

A friend of mine sent me an email the other day, telling me that he wanted to take in a race at the track in Bethel.   He said he’d like to hook up with Joel, who was the flagger there.  Huh?  Bethel races on Saturday, like OCFS does.  Joel  - no longer at OCFS?  Huh?  Well, sad to say, it sure looks that way.  With a little investigating, a mutual friend sort of confirms that.  Another nail in the OCFS coffin, I’d say. 

Now the question is:  After the 2013 Eastern States Weekend, will it all come to a sad end?  Time will tell.  Time will tell.

 

 

 

ACME Extreme Downhill is coming to where I live, in Port Jervis, NY on 8/31 & 9/1.  Check out the video in the link, below:

 

http://www.freerides.org/events/acme-extreme-downhill/

 

 

 

Sprint cars at Reading video & Tommy Hinnershitz interview

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b4g_QNx14v0

 

 

 

 

 

The late Dick Trickle – an interesting read, for sure.  Might I suggest you save the link for a future read, when you have some spare time?

 

http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/7/30/4567960/dick-trickle-suicide-nascar-profile

 

 

 

It’s been 23 years – back to August 2nd, 1990.  That’s the day my father, Lucien G. Avenengo, the one that got me into all this racing stuff, left us.  Oh, we had some good times together, and also some times I try to forget – especially after he and my mother divorced in the late 1940’s.  Still and all, I guess I did consider him to be some kind of a “Superman”, like a son of mine thinks of me, today.  Of course I miss him.  Knowing him as he was back then, I doubt he’d be a happy camper, what with how things are going in our world today.  I have a photo of him in a race car that I’m told was his.  Problem is – photo is too small, I think, to put in a column.  I think if I enlarged it, it would get too blurry.

 

 

 

Found on the Internet on auto racing:

 

 

50/50 last night at Eldora

 

over $17,000 went to the lucky winner

 

an odd question,, but one that should be asked.... Where did the other 50 % go ?

 

 

 

 

There’s Racing, and Then There’s Passing

 

http://montedutton.com/blog/2013/07/29/theres-racing-and-then-theres-passing/

 

 

 

 

Kurt Busch may run IndyCar season finale, working on Indy 500 deal

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-07-31/kurt-busch-indy-500-indycar-race-season-finale-charlotte-double-sprint-cup

 

 

 

 

New CEO Irving evaluates GoDaddy's place in racing

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ceo-irving-evaluates-godaddys-place-194441952--spt.html

 

 

 

 

 

Found this on the OCFS website:

 

“Attention Drivers and Teams: HANDICAPPING FOR ALL DIVISIONS

Posted: July 25th, 2013

 

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATLEY - HANDICAPPING FOR ALL DIVISIONS FOR HEAT RACES

WILL BE BY A THREE WEEK AVERAGE AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE NOW

WILL BE THAT ANY FEATURE WINNERS WILL START WHERE THEIR AVERAGE HAS THEM (IN OTHER

WORDS A FEATURE WINNER MAY START ON THE FRONT ROW OF A HEAT - WE ARE DOING AWAY

WITH THE OLD RULE). THE FEATURE LINE UP WILL STILL BE THE SAME - A FEATURE WINNER CANNOT

START BETTER THAN 7th IN THE MAIN EVENT.”

 

 

 

 

What follows is, in a way, pretty true!

 

Money, Not Talent or On-track Success, Has Become the Measuring Stick by Which Teams Choose Which Drivers to Keep

 

Brickyard 400 Winner Ryan Newman Has No Ride for 2014, but Teammate Danica Patrick Does -- And That's a Shame

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/brickyard-400-winner-ryan-newman-no-ride-2014-153000839.html

 

 

Note:  Some interesting comments under this article, for sure!  Here’s one:

 

“NASCAR is killing the golden goose. Did you notice the thousands of empty seats at Indy? That place holds 250,000 and I bet at least 100,000 seats were empty.

When your PRIMARY marketing target is a nice looking woman who is a "field filler' at best, you are in big trouble.”

 

 

 

 

Coming up:

 

Vintage at Loudon – already in progress:

 

http://www.vintagecelebration.com/

 

23nd Annual Vintage Racing Celebration

July 30 - August 4, 2013

 

 

 

Accord - Tuesday, August 6th.

 

BD Motorsports Media LLC and Accord Speedway Co-Promotion

51 laps, $5,100 to win for the Modifieds

plus Sportsman (Opens and Crates) $1,000 to win.

 

 

Here is the admission information for the Accord mid-week show on Tuesday, August 6, 2013:

 

Pits: $35 (everyone)

 

Grandstands:

Adults - $20

Seniors(65 and over) - $16

Kids 11 and under - $5

 

Found on Facebook on Wednesday, 7/31:

 

Sportsman teams, another great piece of news for the NY Truck Parts Battle of the Bullring at Accord next Tuesday night. Ultimate Restoration has bumped the winner's share to $1,500 for 25 laps! $100 to take the green courtesy of Above All Auto Repair plus a $100 halfway bonus.

 

 

 

A return of the “Racing Expo” at the Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, N.J. is scheduled for the Sunday of the Labor Day Weekend.

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

All cars finished the race at Indianapolis, first time since 2008:

For the third time since NASCAR mandated the 43-car rule in 1998, all 43 cars finished the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first time this has happened since 2008.

The last two: on September 16, 2007's Cup race at New Hampshire was the first time all 43 cars that started a Cup race finished it since

on September 7, 2008 all 43 cars finished at Richmond

on July 28,2013, all 43 cars finished at Indianapolis.(7-28-2013)

 

 

First time pole sitter and outside pole sitter finished 1-2 since 2011:

#39-Newman started on the pole and won the Crown Royal Presents the Samuel Deeds 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and #48-Jimmie Johnson started 2nd and finished 2nd. The last time two drivers started and finished 1-2 was in July 2011 at New Hampshire when #39-Newman won from the pole and #14-Stewart started 2nd and finished 2nd.(7-29-2013)

 

 

Will crew chief Borland leave and go with Newman?

Brickyard winner #39-Ryan Newman and crew chief Matt Borland are an effective pair, as they proved once again in Sunday's race. Given that Newman has been given his walking papers from Stewart-Haas Racing, effective at the end of the year, will Newman and Borland market themselves as a package deal to a prospective car owner?. When asked about his status at Stewart-Haas, Borland was noncommittal. "At this point, I'm not sure what next year is going to bring," Borland said. "Right now, 100% of my focus and our whole team's focus is on doing as best we can in these next six races (before the Chase field is set) and the next 16."

"Going to open up a fruit stand in Statesville if anybody is interested," Newman joked. "Do I get to drive the tractor?" Borland asked. "You get to drive the tractor," Newman said with a smile. "You also get to change the oil in the tractor."(NASCAR Wire Service)(7-29-2013)

 

 

Hamlin has no plans to cut back racing sched:

There are days when Denny Hamlin's back hurts so much he can hardly move. When he wakes up in the morning, it sometimes takes four hours before he can stand up straight and feel stable. His persistent back pain, caused by bulging discs, only got worse when he fractured a vertebra in the March race at Southern California's Auto Club Speedway. He needs surgery to fix the bulging discs, and some observers have called for Hamlin to give up on his longshot Chase hopes and have the procedure done now to make sure he has enough time to heal before 2014. But Hamlin told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday he plans to "tough it out" for the rest of the year. "It's tough because there are no backups in our sport," he said while relaxing in his motorhome before qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm the face of our team  the (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) team, FedEx, everyone  so you can't just insert another player for the rest of the year and have no one know the difference. You know, I've got to do whatever I've got to do to just get through the season, honestly. And then I can figure out what I can do to (feel) better next year. But right now, we're just in a mode of trying to finish races."(USA Today)(7-28-2013)

 

 

Kurt Busch looking into running 2014 Indy 500:

#78-Kurt Busch tested an IndyCar at the Brickyard in May, and has a clear interest in potentially competing in the Indianapolis 500. That curiosity was further piqued Saturday, when he stood down in Indy's canyon of a frontstretch before qualifying sixth for the 20th edition of the NASCAR event at the 104-year-old track. "I can honestly say, standing out on the grid ready to qualify, that our qualifying is a lot less nerve-wracking than it would be to be ready for a full day, four laps at a time, and putting an open-wheel car on the grid," Busch said. "I was trying to chew on some of those emotions. That way, if I do come back in the month of May, I can chew on them and not be so nervous." On May 9, Busch took part in an IndyCar rookie test on the 2.5-mile speedway and passed it by turning a speed of 218.210 mph. Although neither the driver nor Andretti Autosport, the open-wheel team that supplied a vehicle for the test, were prepared to make a run at this year's Indy 500, Busch is clearly intrigued by the idea. "It's something you want to do as a dream," Busch said. "Sometimes you have to throw away common sense when you have a dream, and to go and do it. We'll see if it turns out. A lot of guys would love to do it, but there's that 600-mile race you've got to do that same night. So that's the big focus for a stock-car guy." Busch recently had a 45-minute telephone conversation with former Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr., an IndyCar and Indianapolis 500 champion who made the jump full-time to NASCAR in 2008. Hornish came away from that discussion believing that Busch would attempt the Indy 500 eventually.(NASCAR.com)(7-28-2013)

 

 

Sad News - Randy Earnhardt: Randy Earnhardt, one of four siblings of seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt Sr., has died. He was 60. His nephew, Dale Earnhardt Jr., said in September that Randy had recently been diagnosed with cancer.(Sporting News), will post service info when available.(7-28-2013)

 

 

Latest on Earnhardt Jr.'s new sponsor:

#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke with the media at Indianapolis and one of the questions was about his new sponsor that has not been announced:

Q) FANS AND PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY SEEM VERY CONCERNED THAT YOU HAVEN'T ANNOUNCED ANY SORT OF SPONSORSHIP FOR THE RACES THAT ARE STILL OPEN. ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL?

Earnhardt Jr.: "Yeah, I think that we have had a lot of good conversations with a few potential partners about what we can do in 2014 and beyond. Anybody who has got any sense about how the corporate world works knows that it's too late into the season, too late in the year to expect to put together a package for the rest of the season that is going to turn into a multi-year deal. It's just all the dollars and cents are accounted for at this point in the year. That doesn't mean we can't put some things together and do some creative stuff with some people and some partners that we already have or whatever. I don't think it should be a cause for concern. We are in really good shape regardless with our partner National Guard and the races that Diet Mountain Dew has on the schedule. We are in pretty good shape there. It is important to try to fill out what we have this season and we will. I don't have any doubt at all that we will get that done. I think we almost have to look forward beyond that to try to find out who is going to be the partner that we can put a long term deal together that matches up with what we want to do in the future."(Team Chevy)(7-27-2013)

 

 

NASCAR wants to return to Eldora:

NASCAR officials deemed Wednesday night's inaugural Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway enough of a success to warrant strong consideration to keep the dirt track owned by Tony Stewart a part of the schedule in 2014. "Felt it over-delivered on everything they'd done,'' NASCAR vice president Steve O'Donnell said Thursday. "Terrific turnout, really happy with how the competitors performed all night, so all in all, a great night for NASCAR and the sport. "We'll take a look at it and have conversations with Tony ... and still want to go through the garage area and meet with team owners and competitors and get their feedback as well. And want to see the ratings. So far everything we've seen, it's something we'd certainly entertain doing again for 2014." The race drew a 1.20 rating, making it the 10th-most watched Truck race ever on Speed, now Fox Sports, with 1.4 million total viewers, and the most-watched sports program for the day on cable. O'Donnell, who played a key role in NASCAR's return to dirt in a national series for the first time in more than 40 years, said it would be premature to think other dirt tracks will be considered for the schedule moving forward. He also ruled out the Nationwide Series racing at the Rossburg, Ohio, half-mile track next year.(ESPN)(7-26-2013)

 

Note:  I still believe that if they were to race the Cup cars on dirt, there is no dirt track in the US today, that could handle the crowd.  The mile tracks – Syracuse, DuQuoin & Springfield, Illinois, don’t have the seating capacities.  On top of that, the tracks are almost as hard as what Eldora was – which to me isn’t dirt track racing.  Throw dirt back onto Bristol and maybe even Richmond for a Cup or Nationwide race.  Oh, and drop that “guaranteed” starter crap, too.  Not fast enough – go home.

 

 

Last time a race winner skipped the next race? With Brian Vickers not running the Sprint Cup Series race at Indy this week, yet winning the last Cup race run at New Hampshire on July 14th, who was the last race winner NOT to attempts the following event?

That would be Brad Keselowski, who won at Talladega in April 2009 running the #09 Chevy for Phoenix Racing and did not run the following race at Richmond in May 2009. Before that it was Jamie McMurray, who won at Charlotte in October 2002 in his 2nd career Cup start and didn't race the following week at Martinsville.(7-25-2013)

 

 

Sale of Phoenix Racing still pending:

UPDATE 5:

Justin Allgaier, rumored as a possible driver for the #51 Sprint Cup car, said Wednesday that he has not talked to anyone about that ride since reports surfaced about team owner Harry Scott possibly buying Phoenix Racing. Allgaier drives for Scott's Turner Scott Motorsports in the Nationwide Series.(Sporting News)(7-25-2013)

 

 

ESPN & TNT decided not to renew with NASCAR:

According to a Sports Business Daily report, ESPN and Turner ditched NASCAR  not the other way around. ESPN and Turner Sports each informed NASCAR in early July that they did not intend to bid on the available television rights packages, Sports Business Journal reported Monday. The rationale was similar for both organizations  declining television ratings made NASCAR a less attractive property. Turner, according to the report, "ultimately decided that more NASCAR races weren't worth the investment." ESPN, meanwhile, "had soured on the sport because of declining TV ratings, an aging fan base and a tough ad sales market." The report casts a somewhat negative light on both NASCAR  apparently abandoned by two high-profile broadcast partners  and NBC Sports, which will pay $440 million per year for rights through 2024.(Sports Media Watch)(7-30-2013)

 

 

Kurt Busch looking to run IndyCar finale:

#78- Kurt Busch says it is a "good possibility" that he'll race in the Izod IndyCar Series finale in October at Auto Club Speedway to prepare for next year's Indianapolis 500. "We're working on it," Busch said during a break in testing Monday at Watkins Glen International. "We just have to keep our fingers crossed." The IndyCar season finale, a night race, is Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway the following day. Busch was encouraged by his May 9 test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He passed the IndyCar rookie test and had a top lap of 218.210 mph in a car from Michael Andretti's team. Busch's effort is contingent on sponsorship. If money isn't found for Busch to run at Auto Club Speedway this season, he says he would feel "blind" at Indianapolis next May "and that's just going to be too much to make up."(Motor Racing Network)(7-31-2013)

 

 

NASCAR announces some personnel moves:

NASCAR announced several moves aimed at continuing to strengthen its touring & weekly series and broaden the level of experience within the competition department.

Former crew chief Chris Wright has been named the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Director, while Kip Childress transitions to become the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Director. In addition, veteran team manager and Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tony Glover has been appointed as the NASCAR Touring Series Technical Director. Les Westerfield, who has served as the interim NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Director during the first half of the season, will resume his role as NASCAR Touring Series Technical Coordinator and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Race Director.

As a crew chief, Glover has 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins, including Daytona 500 victories working with Sterling Marlin (twice) and Ernie Irvan. He also accumulated 45 Coors Light Pole Awards with 11 different drivers and guided two drivers to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year honors.

Childress has been the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Director since 2008. His tenure has been highlighted by strong competition, diversity and growth in the series. Previously, he served as an official in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and is a third-generation NASCAR official with more than 20 years of experience in the sport.

Wright has been a crew chief, shop foreman and consultant for teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1, as well as Late Model teams. The University of South Carolina graduate spent more than five years apiece with Robert Yates Racing and Team Rensi Motorsports.(NASCAR)(7-31-2013)

 

 

GoDaddy sponsoring Stewart at Pocono:

Walking through the garage this weekend at Pocono Raceway, #14-Danica Patrick will spot another driver in a GoDaddy firesuit. And it won't be because GoDaddy IZOD IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe took a wrong turn on his way to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington. It's because Patrick's boss and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart has joined the GoDaddy team for Sunday's GoBowling.com 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono and will drive the #14 GoDaddy Chevy. While Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy Chevy for SHR, will be behind the wheel of her iconic green car at Pocono, Stewart's will be painted primarily black.(Stewart-Haas Racing), see an image of the car on the #14 team paint schemes page.(7-31-2013)

 

 

 

 

Did you know that we have “racing” here in Port Jervis, NY?

 

RC World Depot Port Jervis New York

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDcN5j6QhZA&feature=share

 

 

 

 

Former OVRP Dirt Oval racers:

 

Davie Franek finished 9th in the URC feature at the Potomac Speedway in Maryland.

 

Bobby Morris won the Sportsman feature at Bethel, with Rich Coons 3rd and Kyle Redner 5th.

 

Roger Coss was 17th in the Modified feature at Mahoning Valley.

 

Danny Creeden was 3rd, Kyle VanDuser 11th, Mike Doty 12th and Tyler Dippel 20th in the Modified feature at Accord.

In the Sportsman feature, Anthony Perrego was the winner with Brad Szulewski 3rd.

In the held over Spec Sportsman feature, Tyler Boniface was 2nd.

In the regular Spec Sportsman feature, Boniface was 2nd, again, with Mike Traver 5th.

Jason Roe was a DNS in the Lightning Sprint feature.

 

In the NEMA Lights feature at the Waterford Speed Bowl, Kenney Johnson had a second place finish.

 

Kyle Armstrong was 9th, Bobby Hackel, IV 17th and Kolby Schroder 18th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.

 

Kyle Rohner was 3rd in the Sportsman feature at Penn Can.

 

Mike Mammana was 20th in the Modified feature at Big Diamond.

 

In the wingless 600 feature at Borgers, Paul Quear was 3rd.

 

Jacob Hendershot was 3rd in the 270 Micro feature at Hamlin.  Corey Ziegler was 5th in the Rookie 600 feature.

 

At Kutztown, Molly Chambers was 7th in the 600 Micros. 

Danny Buccafusca was 5th and Ben Whitaker 17th in the All-Star Slingshot feature.

 

Tyler Dippel was 10th in the RoC feature at Grandview on Tuesday night.

 

At Five Mile Point, On Wednesday, 7/31, Danny Creeden was 19th in the Modified feature.  In the first Sportsman feature, Anthony Perrego is shown as a DNS.

 

26 names this week.

 

 

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

From their July 30th issue:

 

 

Lenny Sammons:

 

Makes mention of Fred Rahmer retiring after this season.  What does Brett Deyo do right?  Part of his success is due to him having a lot of contacts, and the respect of the racers.  Anthony Perrego will be in a Jerry Higbie car at Accord next Tuesday.  Bigger news for the young driver – he’ll be a team mate to Billy V in the Sherlock Modifieds for Eastern States.  So far, for 2014, the plan is to run Modified and make A/S their Friday track.

 

Lenny also had another article that dealt with the various forms of handicapping at the tracks.  No, I’ll not get into that mess!

 

 

Ernie Saxton:

 

Ernie seems to think that with the huge TV contract that NASCAR has signed with NBC that they could run races with zero fans in the stands and still come out ahead.  10 years at 4.4 billion. (Look for a ton of commercials, folks). 

I have to agree with Ernie about the truck race at Eldora – way too much down time for us TV viewers.  While we had “down time” they were racing Late Models on the “dirt” track.  Why not let the TV viewers see that action, too?

Ernie questions whether Norm Benning will get fined by NASCAR for his showing of a certain finger to a driver after he qualified for the truck race.

At Eldora, where they do have a liquor license, one of the drinks is called “Toilet Water”.  It’s a mixed drink with a Tootsie Roll in it.

 

No money in auto racing – 29.7 million spent on the purchase of the 1954 Mercedes GP car that was driven by Juan Manuel Fangio.

 

Ernie has little hope now for Danica to make the “Chase” for this season.  Well, he never thought she had a chance. 

 

Ernie was asked if it was illegal for a race track to hold events without insurance.  He doesn’t think so.  But he does say this (and I agree) – when you go to race at a track for the first time, there are two things you need to do:  Make sure they have insurance that covers the racers needs and that there is an operating ambulance and first aid personnel on the grounds.

 

A college football game at the Daytona Speedway?  Florida & Florida State?

 

Have to agree with Ernie on this, too:  Once the football season starts, ALL other sports take a back seat to football.  Yes, even NASCAR with it’s “70 million” fans!

 

 

Earl Krause:

 

Wow!  In his column, Earl made mention of the passing of Bob Resco, Sr – back in 2001, something I was not aware of.  His wife, Mona, who loved auto racing, left us in 2009.

 

 

Steve Barrick:

 

He had a short article on the ground breaking for the new road course at the Thompson, CT. Speedway.  The course will be about 1.7 miles in length.  It will be mainly for club racing, with a limit of no more than 200 members.  Racing, at Thompson, started back in 1940.  At that time, it was the first purpose build paved auto racing facility in the US.

 

 

Kevin Rice:

 

He tells us that the sale of Canaan Fair Speedway (s) is nearing completion.  Home for Friday night dirt track racing and Saturday night NASCAR  pavement racing has a sale agreement now in process.

 

 

Bill Utter:

 

Note:  I’ve been waiting for this news – the last sentence in Bills column:  Bobby Varin is working on some things and it’s possible he could return to Fonda on Saturday nights.  Somehow, I’m surprised that Bobby and the Petruska team lasted as long as they did at OCFS.  With only two feature wins (one a “gimmie win”?) the venture lasted longer than I expected it to.

 

 

A full page ad on page 19 about the up-coming racing event (Jersey Rush) at the New Egypt Speedway on Tuesday, August 20th.  410 Sprints, Big Block Modifieds (no sail panels) and Small Block Modifeds, with sail panels.  Rain date is the next day – August 21st.

For more info on this, call Bob Miller at:  443-513-4456 or Danny Sammons at:  609-888-3618.

 

 

The eighth annual “Friends of Mike” race has two major changes for this year.  First it’s back to a week night – Thursday, August 29th, and second – it will be at the Bridgeport Speedway.

 

 

Are you aware that at Accord, on Tuesday, August 6th – rain date on the 7th,  that there will be a pre-race chicken BBQ for $7.00?  Chicken, baked beans and macaroni salad is the menu.  I believe that Dave Morehouse will have one of his collectible trailers on hand, and a pre-race “meet & greet” with drivers from both divisions is planned.

Complete rules for this event can be found here: 

www.bd-motorsportsmedia.com

 

 

 

This Week

In AARN:

 

Fred Rahmer’s ‘Retirement Plan’

Becomes Public;

Will Quit Driving At Year’s End

 

Mahaney’s ‘Crazy 8s’ Mod Win

At I-88 Speedway

Worth Over Eight Big Ones

 

Cody Darrah In Winners’ Circle 

In World Of Outlaws Sprints

 

Big Win For Bonsignore

On NASCAR Whelen Mod Tour

 

Eldora, Dirt Racing

Get Big Boost From

NASCAR Camping World

Truck Race

 

Ground Broken

For New Thompson Speedway

Road Course

 

ISMA’s Hy-Miler Nationals Victory

To Dave Shullick, Jr. - Finally!

 

Kahne WoO Sprint Mates

Pittman, Darrah

Win Big In Northeast

 

 

 

 

 

 

This date in racing history:

 

Just some of the events on August 1st, in:

 

1953

Tommy Hinnershitz won the AAA Eastern Sprint Car race over Johnnie Parsons at the Delaware State Fairgrounds,Harrington, DE.

Ray Brown won the AAA Midget race at the Freeport Speedway, Freeport,NY.

 

1961

Jerry Richert won the IMCA Sprint Car race over Buzz Barton, John Leverenz, Johnny White and Ralph Donaldson at the LaCrosse Fair Speedway, LaCrosse,WI.

 

 

1962

Jerry Richert won the IMCA Sprint Car race over Scratch Daniels, Harold Leep, Roger Lane and Pete Folse at the LaCrosse Fair Speedway, LaCrosse,WI.

 

1964

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits became the first drag racer to run the 1/4 mile at over 200 mph. He drove his Swamprat dragster to 201.34 mph at Island Dragway in New Jersey.

Don Branson won the USAC Midget race at the Champaign Fairgrounds, Champaign,IL.

Russ Klar won the ARDC Midget race at the Danbury Fairgrounds, Danbury, CT.

Don Gillette won the URC Sprint Car race at the Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington,DE.

Bill Wimble won the NASCAR Sportsman Stock Car race at the Fonda Speedway, Fonda, NY.

 

1965

Johnny Rutherford won the 250 mile Atlanta 250 USAC Indy Car race at the 1.5 mile paved oval Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA. Mario Andretti was second followed by Billy Foster, Jim Hurtubise and Chuck Rodee.

 

1969

Todd Gibson won the USAC Sprint Car race at the Berlin Raceway, Grand Rapids,MI. Gary Bettenhausen was second followed by Bill Puterbaugh, Rollie Beale and Dee Jones.

Jerry Wall won the ARDC Midget race at the Freeport Speedway, Freeport,NY.

Ralph Quarterson won the Sprint Car race at the Lernerville Speedway, Sarver,PA.

 

1971

Richard Petty became the first NASCAR driver to win over $1 million in a career when he won the Dixie 500 at Atlanta, Georgia. It was also the 551st start in his NASCAR professional career.

Note:  Somewhat different today, I'd say?

 

1988

Sheldon Kinser... Died ... He was the 1977, 81, 82 United States Auto Club (USAC) National Sprint Car Champion. Winner of the prestigious Tony Hulman Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track, 1981. Six time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1975-79, 81. Best finish, 6th, 1981. Sheldon had never driven a rear engine car or raced on pavement until he quailified 26th and finished 12th in the 1975 Indianapolis 500. Quite an accomplishment for a rookie driver. Son-in-law of the late Bobby Grim, 1959 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Nephew of former sprint car driver Bobby Kinser and cousin of World of Outlaw drivers Steve, Kelly, Randy and Mark Kinser. He was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1992.

 

1998

Len Duncan... Died ... Len Duncan, of Lansdale, PA, had a racing career spanning seven decades, beginning in 1928 and continuing into the 1980s in TQ midgets! In 1953, 1954 and 1955, when AAA had a working agreement with the American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), he was the AAA Eastern Midget Champion, and during the thirteen years between 1955 and 1967, he won the ARDC title eight times. During World War II, Len had the honor of being assigned as President Truman's driver during one of his visits to England. He drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1954 and had relief from George Fonder. The pair completed 101 laps and placed 31st. Mario Andretti credits Duncan with having a great influence on his professional life.

 

1999

Tommy Hinnershitz... Died ... Eastern AAA driver from 1932 to 1960. Also known as "The Flying Dutchman", Hinnershitz ran in the Indy 500 three times with a best finish of 9th in 1948. He captured seven Eastern sprint-car championships and posted 103 feature victories during his 30-year racing career. While he first gained success and popularity near his Pennsylvania home, racing at the Reading Fairgrounds and Williams Grove Speedway, he also was very popular with fans and fellow racers in the Corn Belt. From the very start of his career, Hinnershitz preferred driving his own cars as opposed to wheeling machinery owned by others. He was an excellent mechanic and did all the work on his cars, including rebuilds on his Offenhauser engines. During the midget racing boom in the late 1930s, Hinnershitz wheeled an outboard-engine car with great success on the board track at the Nutley (N.J.) Velodrome. He was one of a handful of racers, who won races on dirt, asphalt and boards. He retired from driving in 1960, only hours after his friend and rival, Johnny Thomson, was killed in a race at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Hinnershitz was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in the first class in 1990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press releases:

 

NEWS FROM                                                                                                              

Orange County Fair Speedway                                                                                   

239 Wisner Avenue                                                                                                     

Middletown, NY10940 

 

CONTACT

Mike Gurda

845-342-2573

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

STOCK CAR RACING RESUMES SATURDAY, AUGUST 3

AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

Six race meets remain in the chase for track championships

 

MIDDLETOWN, NY (July 28)……..Following a week’s hiatus, stock car racing resumes Saturday evening, August 3 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York. On tap is a full night of qualifying and feature races for four of the track’s racing divisions---DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Sportsman and Rookie Sportsman, and Street Stocks.  And as an added attraction, the Vintage Modifieds--- the cars of yesteryear---are also on the card.

 

It’s Big Bro the rs Big Sisters of Orange County Night at the historic Hard Clay speedway, with the program sponsored by Pine Bush Equipment and McGannon Excavating.

 

With just six more nights of racing left in the season-long point chase to determine track champions, all the top drivers will be out to score as many points as possible.  In the headline DIRTcar Big-Block Modified ranks, Tim Hindley (1336 points) holds a substantial lead over both defending champion Jerry Higbie and Craig Mitchell (both 1284). Former titlist Tommy Meier (1264) is in fourth place, while Bill y VanInwegen and Clinton Mills are tied for fifth (1250 each).

 

Brian Krummel, the 2010 Sportsman champion, is on top of his division with four wins and 1228 points to his credit.  He’s being pursued by Anthony Perrego (1208), who also has four victories but is 20 points in arrears. Jimmy Spellmon and Joe Conklin (each 1158) are tied for third, with Frank Venezia (1152) just six points back in fifth.

 

In Street Stock racing, Stephen Kammer (1348) is on top, with Jim Maher (1335) in second place, Emerson Cargain and Charles Donald (each 1330) tied for third, and Ron Constable (1221) in fifth place.

 

Admission prices for the August 3 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for Children 12 and under.  The full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm.

 

Advance ticket sales and track information for all remaining Orange County Fair Speedway race dates, including the 52nd Annual Eastern States Weekend, can be found at the Orange County website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from the Track Office. Call 845-342-2573 during business hours.         

 

 

 

 

Media Contact: Brett Deyo – Deyo99H@aol.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/July 30, 2013

Superior Remodeling & Elmo’s Auto Body Team Up For ‘Bull Rush’ To Boost New York Truck Parts Battle of the Bullring Starting Field To 26 Cars; Awards & Bonuses Add Up For “Big Race A Little Guy Can Win”

ACCORD, NY – Modified drivers entering the New York Truck Parts ‘Battle of the Bullring’ will have a third shot to qualify for the 51-lap feature event on Tuesday, August 6 (rain date: Aug. 7).

Thanks to marketing partners Superior Remodeling and Elmo’s Auto Body, a Last Chance Qualifier and two additional, fully paid positions have been added to the return of midweek Modified racing at Accord Speedway. The ‘Battle of the Bullring’ is headlined by a 51-lap, $5,100-plus-to-win main event for the big-block/small-block Modifieds. Open and Crate 602 Sportsman go 25 laps for $1,000 to win, completing the open-wheel doubleheader.

The event is a co-promotion involving BD Motorsports Media LLC and Accord Speedway management and marks the return of midweek racing to the Ulster County oval for the first time since May 14, 2003. A diverse field is shaping up for the unique event.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are planned for 6:45 p.m. with racing promptly at 7:15 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $20, Seniors (65 and over) pay $16 and Kids (11 and under) are $5. There is limited indoor seating available for $25. Pit admission is $35.

Upon entry to the speedway, Modified drivers will draw for their heat-race starting position. Following the 10-lap heats and consolations, the first six drivers failing to qualify for the main event will be invited to participate in a final, five-lap ‘Bull Rush’ last chance qualifier. Thanks to the marketing support of Superior Remodeling and Elmo’s Auto Body, the top-two finishers from the ‘Bull Rush’ will enter the feature event in fully paid 25th and 26th starting positions ($300 each).

“We were looking at avenues to send more teams home with money,” said event co-promoter Brett Deyo. “Thanks to our new sponsors, we’ve been able to increase the starting field by two more cars for the main event.”

With the Super DIRTcar Series off racing in Michigan on Aug. 6, the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ is a “big race a little guy can win” offering a lucrative payout. Fifth place is guaranteed $1,000, with $500 for 10th and $300 to take the green flag.  There is lap money and a long list of bonus awards to sweeten the pot for competitors.

The list of special awards has grown significantly since the event was announced in June. The current list of bonuses is as follows (as of July 30):

·         Joe Winne Memorial Dash for Cash for Modified heat winners paying $555

·         A guaranteed ‘King of the Catskills’ redraw position for the Modified winner (the King of the Catskills takes place on Sept. 20 at Accord)

·         $100 certificates from Bob Hilbert Sportswear to the first, second and third finishers in the Modified main

·         A complete radiator and shroud courtesy of Art’s Radiator ($750 value) distributed via a random draw of all Modified drivers excluding the winner

·         A Last Chance ‘Bull Rush’ presented by Superior Remodeling and Elmo’s Auto Body offering 25th- and 26th-place starting positions in the Mod main ($300 value each)

·         A $500 certificate toward the purchase of a body from Jack’s Used Race Car Parts & More (sixth-place Modified finisher)

·         $200 cash to the Modified Halfway Leader courtesy of HigFab

·         Modified Hard Luck Award sponsored by Shiley Fabrication to include a set of bumpers and rubrails

·         $150 cash to the leader of lap 40 in the Modified event in memory of late car owner Rene Downes

·         A $100 gift card to Behrent’s Performance Warehouse for the last Modified on the lead lap

·         A $500 gift certificate to D&D NAPA for a Modified driver finishing 11th to the back of the field

·         A $100 certificate to S&D Bodyline given away via random draw of Modified racers

·         $50 cash to the highest finishing Big Diamond (Pa.) Speedway Modified regular courtesy of Tim Long

·         Lap money for both the Modified and Sportsman divisions (laps are still available by contacting Brett Deyo at 845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com)

For fans, there will be a pre-race chicken barbecue on site offering chicken, baked beans and macaroni salad for $7. Attendees can also try their hand at a mechanical bull as part of the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ festivities. A collectibles trailer will be on hand and unique ‘Battle of the Bullring’ apparel will be on sale. A pre-race meet and greet with drivers from both divisions is also planned.

The field for the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ is taking shape, with invaders including Stewart Friesen of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., Mike Kolka Jr. of Middletown, N.Y., Bobby Varin of Sharon Springs, N.Y., Mike Mahaney of King Ferry, N.Y., Kenny Tremont of West Sand Lake, N.Y., Billy Pauch Jr., of Frenchtown, N.J., Jimmy Davis of Ballston Spa, N.Y., Elmo Reckner of Ballston Lake, N.Y., Doug Manmiller of Shoemakersville, Pa., Mike Gular of Green Lane, Pa., Brian Weaver of Windsor, N.Y., Brett Tonkin of Carbondale, Pa., Kevin Albert Jr. of Lebanon, Pa., and more.

Track regulars looking to defend their home turf include point leader Jackie Brown Jr. of Hurley, N.Y., Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., Kenny Boniface of Pine Bush, N.Y., Danny Creeden of Middletown, N.Y., Danny Tyler of Cottekill, N.Y., Jeff Heotzler of Wallkill, N.Y., teenager Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., Tommy Meier of Waldwick, N.J., brothers Mike Ricci of Tillson, N.Y., and Rich Ricci Jr. of New Paltz, N.Y., and others.

Both the Modified and Sportsman divisions feature liberal rules to allow maximum participation. Complete rules have been posted at www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com.

 

Lap sponsorships are on sale at $20/lap for the Modifieds. Contact Brett Deyo at Deyo99H@aol.com to get involved. Additionally, marketing partnerships for the ‘Battle of the Bullring’ are still available starting at $500. To get a business involved in a “once in a decade” event at Accord, reach out to Brett Deyo by phone at 845.728.2781 or via e-mail: Deyo99H@aol.com.

Accord Speedway, a neat-and-tidy quarter-mile clay oval nestled in the hills of Ulster County, is located at 299 Whitfield Road Accord, NY 12404. The speedway is on the web at www.accordspeedway.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Racing video:

 

Man, maybe Tony Stewart should stick to racing the “Taxicabs” instead of playing around with Sprint Cars?  How many accidents in these past few weeks?  Here’s one he had the other night, July 29th, at the Ohsweken Speedway, video by Jake Phelps:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=no5EXYbXGPE

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of the week:

Note:  Not available on DTD.  To see the photo, you have to go to:

 

http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

As mentioned above, a photo taken on July 27, 2013 – granddaughter Samanatha, her husband, Shane Decker, and grandson John Rizzo’s “Hot Rod”, shortly after they said their wedding vows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I get emails:

 

In memory of Walt Brown, Cecil Green and Bill Mackey, 62 years ago today, Williams Grove and Winchester. -Terry Reed, Fairfield, Ohio

 

 

 

THE END OF AN ERA.......

 

The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson , MO

has closed its doors forever.

 

The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.

 

Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss,

close it And sell the contents. He complied.

 

Note the follow-on article truly the end of an era.

 

Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at auction...

 

Roy 's 1964 Bonneville sold for $254,500, it was estimated to

Sell between 100 and 150 thousand dollars.

 

His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of

This Is Your Life sold for $10,000 (EST. $800-$1,000).

A collection of signed baseballs ( Pete Rose, Duke Snyder and

other greats) sold for $3,750.

 

A collection of signed bats (Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter,

Bob Feller, and others) sold for $2,750.

 

Trigger 's saddle and bridle sold for $386,500 (EST. 100-150 K).

 

One of many of Roy 's shirts sold for $16,250 and one of his many

cowboy hats sold for $17,500.

 

One set of boot spurs sold for $10,625.

(He never used a set of spurs on Trigger).

 

A life size shooting gallery sold for $27,500.

 

Various chandeliers sold from $6,875 to $20,000.

Very unique and artistic in their western style.

 

Roy 's first Boots

A signed photograph by Don Larsen taken during his

perfect game in the world series against The Dodgers

on Oct. 8, 1953, along with a signed baseball to Roy from Don,

sold for $2,500.

 

Two fabulous limited edition BB guns in their

original boxes with Numerous photos of Roy, Dale,

Gabby, and Pat sold for $3,750.

 

A collection of memorabilia from his shows entertaining

the troops in Vietnam sold for $938.

I never knew he was there. His flight jacket sold for $7,500.

 

His set of dinner ware plates and silverware sold for $11,875.

 

The Bible they used at the dinner table every night sold for $8,750.

 

One of several of his guitars sold for $27,500.

 

Nellybelle sold for $116,500.

 

 

A fabulous painting of Roy , Dale, Pat , Buttermilk, Trigger,

and Bullet sold for $10,625.

 

One of several sets of movie posters sold for $18,750.

 

A black and white photograph of Gene Autry with a touching

inscription From Gene to Roy sold for $17,500.

 

A Republic Productions Poster bearing many autographs of the

People that played in Roy 's movies sold for $11,875.

 

Dale 's horse, Buttermilk (whose history is very interesting) sold

below The presale estimate for $25,000. (EST. 30-40 K).

 

 

Bullet sold for $35,000 (EST. 10-15 K). He was their real pet.

 

Dale 's parade saddle, estimated to sell between 20-30 K,

sold for $104,500.

 

One of many pairs of Roy 's boots sold for $21,250.

 

Trigger sold for $266,500.

 

Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures of Robinhood,

With Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland?

Well Olivia rode Trigger in that movie.

 

Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby.

Roy bought Trigger on a time payment plan for $2,500.

 

Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together.

 

Trigger even out did Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie

Son of Paleface in 1953.

 

It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever.

So it 's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy,

The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt. Friday.

Thanks to Capt..Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers and Capt. Noah

and all those people whose lives touched ours,

and made them better.

 

It was a great ride through childhood.

 

HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS

Don 't send to anyone under 50... as they won 't understand or care!

 

 

 

 

 

Found on the Internet – non racing:

 

There are a few people that I really despise.  What follows is about one of them:

 

NBC plans Hillary Clinton miniseries, part of TV event strategy

 

Not too many are happy with this!  A few of the comments:

 

"The timing of the release of this series is suspect at best - out and out campaigning at worst. Are they also planning mini series for the other possible Democratic and Republican primary candidates? If not then it is shameless partisanship."

 

"NBC will be airing a four-hour Hillary Clinton campaign ad, not a biography, so we should expect the focus to be on the courageous woman who was fiercely loyal to her husband, not the power-hungry woman who clung to his coattails. Hillary Clinton is no Tammy Wynette, but that's who NBC will try to convince us she is. Hillary Clinton has a long history of deceiving the American people in order to protect what she believes she is entitled to - the U.S. Presidency - and she will be as disappointing (and dangerous) as the first woman President, as Barack Obama is as the first black President."

 

"Shame on NBC. Who will play the SEALS and military personnel that Hillary and Obama killed with their "what difference does it make" attitude? Who will play Lewinsky and do we get to see the exit out from under the desk? That will take a wide shot! Who will play the parents of the SEALS and military killed?"

 

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/nbc-plans-hillary-clinton-miniseries-part-tv-event-124953768.html

 

 

 

One thing about Hillary, she is proven. Proven she can Lie, Proven deceit , Proven she can and will blame others, Proven she can not make the big decisions (Benghazi), Proven she doesn't care (again Benghazi " what difference does it make" ) Proven she can have people " removed mysteriously" ( whitewater) etc etc.

 

 

From an email:

 

Food for Thought

 

Just a quick refresher course Lest we forget what has happened to many " friends " of The  Clintons .

 

 

1 - James McDougal - Clintons convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr 's investigation.

 

2 - Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown .. The murder happened just after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.

 

3 - Vince Foster - Former White House Councilor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock 's Rose Law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide. (He was about to testify against Hillary related to the records she refused to turn over to congress)

 

4 - Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown 's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The rest of the people on the plane also died. A few days later the air Traffic controller committed suicide.

 

5 - C. Victor Raiser, II - Raiser, a major player in the Clinton fund raising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.

 

6 - Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock ,September 1992. Described by Clinton as a "dear friend and trusted advisor".

 

7 - Ed Willey - Clinton fundraiser, found dead November 1993 deep in the woods in VA of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day His wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.

 

8 - Jerry Parks - Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock .. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock Park 's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton He allegedly Threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house.

 

9 - James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people which contained names of influential people who visited Prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas

 

10 - James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an apparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater..

 

11 - Kathy Ferguson - Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson, was found dead in May 1994, in her living room with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she were going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones Lawsuit, Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones.

 

12 - Bill Shelton - Arkansas State Trooper and fiancée of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancée, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site of his fiancée.

 

13 - Gandy Baugh - Attorney for Clinton 's friend Dan Lassater, died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client was a convicted drug distributor.

 

14 - Florence Martin - Accountant & sub-contractor for the CIA, was related to the Barry Seal, Mean , Arkansas , airport drug smuggling case. He died of three gunshot Wounds.

 

15 - Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died Of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a Suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.

 

 

16 - Paula Grober - Clinton 's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9,1992. She died in a one car accident.

 

17 - Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating Mean Airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists, apparently, in the middle of his investigation.

 

18 - Paul Wilcher - Attorney investigating corruption at Mean Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993, in His Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death.

 

19 - Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington , Virginia apartment balcony August 15,1993. He was investigating the Morgan Guaranty scandal.

 

20 - Barbara Wise - Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised, nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce.

 

21 - Charles Meissner - Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash.

 

22 - Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton 's advisory council personally treated Clinton 's mother, stepfather and Brother.

 

23 - Barry Seal - Drug running TWA pilot out of Mena Arkansas , death was no accident.

 

 

24 - Johnny Lawhorn, Jr. - Mechanic, found a check made out to Bill Clinton in the trunk of a car left at his repair shop. He was found dead after his car had hit a utility pole.

 

25 - Stanley Huggins - Investigated Madison Guaranty. His death was a purported suicide and his report was never released.

 

26 - Hershel Friday - Attorney and Clinton fundraiser died March 1, 1994, when his plane exploded.

 

27 - Kevin Ives & Don Henry -Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena Arkansas airport drug operation. A controversial case, the initial report of death said, due to falling asleep on railroad tracks. Later reports claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury.

 

 

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES/HENRY CASE:

 

28 - Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck, 7/88.

 

29 - Keith McMaskle - Died, stabbed 113 times, Nov 1988

 

30 - Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.

 

31 - Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.

 

32 - James Milan - Found decapitated. However, the Coroner ruled his death was due to natural causes"?

 

33 - Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.

 

34 - Richard Winters - A suspect in the Ives/Henry deaths. He was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.

 

THE FOLLOWING CLINTON BODYGUARDS ARE DEAD. ALL DIED OF MYSTERIOUS CAUSES OR SUICIDE

 

36 - Major William S. Barkley, Jr.

 

37 - Captain Scott J . Reynolds

 

38 - Sgt. Brian Hanley

 

39 - Sgt. Tim Sabel

 

40 - Major General William Robertson

 

41 - Col. William Densberge r

 

42 - Col. Robert Kelly

 

43 - Spec. Gary Rhodes

 

44 - Steve Willis

 

45 - Robert Williams

 

46 - Conway LeBleu

 

47 - Todd McKeehan

 

Quite an impressive list! Pass this on. Let the public become aware of what happens to friends of the Clintons !

 

HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT?

 

SURELY YOU JEST!!

 

 

 

 

 

Now here’s one foolish question:

 

Will Your Congressman Retire Richer Than You?

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/congressman-retire-richer-110100673.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Facebook:

 

Found this on Tuesday evening:

 

Just when you thought we couldn't possibly have a worse DHS Secretary than Big Sis, the Congressional Black Caucus has made its recommendation to Obama to replace her: Congresswoman (and escaped mental patient?) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)!

Yes, the same Lee who once asked a NASA official "Will the Mars Rover be able to show the flag the astronauts planted there before"? The same Lee who complained that hurricane names were too "lily White" and demanded they be named after "Black folks". Yes, THAT Lee.

Here she is showing her mastery of world geography, in describing how "North Vietnam" and "South Vietnam" are now "living side by side in peace".

Come to think of it, she would fit in PERFECTLY in this Administration.

 

Note:  Can’t wait until us “White Folk” are in the minority, so we can rule.

 

 

 

 

 

Non racin’ stuff:

 

Obama: Benghazi, IRS Abuses Are “Phony Scandals”

 

http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/phony-scandals/

 

Note:  I’d say that the ones that think those things are phony should look into a mirror to see some real phonies!

 

 

 

 

 

Music video:

 

Hey, I can’t help it; I just love to hear this guy!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGqx5S9TMaU

 

 

 

Maybe a little “Southern Comedy”?

 

Dennis Swanberg - Bengy and the Zipper

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWH-VToohro

 

 

 

 

 

Joke of the week:

 

Where I live, here in Port Jervis, NY, we’re very close to two other states – New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  What’s nice is that one can go to either state and get cheaper prices and fewer taxes on some things, like gas for the car.  We’re separated from Pennsylvania by the Delaware River.  But like most people, we always think that folks from other states/areas talk kinda differently – like this, below:

 

TALKING PENNSYLVANIAN

 

For those who think we Pennsylvanians 'talk funny' or use 'big words'...

 

Once a Pennsylvanian, ALWAYS a Pennsylvanian!

 

About Pennsylvanians: You've never referred to Philadelphia as anything but ‘Philly’ and New Jersey has always been ' Jersey .'

 

We don't go to the beach -- we go ‘down the shore.'

 

You refer to Pennsylvania as 'PA' (pronounced Pee-Ay).

How many other states do that??

 

'You guys' (or even 'youze guys', in some places) is a perfectly acceptable reference to a group of men and women.

 

You know how to respond to the question ‘Djeetyet?' (Did you eat yet?)

 

You know that the Iggles play football and so do the Stillers.

 

You learned to pronounce Bryn Mawr, Wilkes-Barre , Schuylkill , the Poconos, Tamaqua, Kutztown, Tunkahannock, Bala Cynwyd, Kishacoquillas, Duquesne and Monongahela, also Conshohocken.

 

And we know Lancaster is pronounced Lank-ister, not Lan-kaster.

 

You know what a ‘Mummer’ is, and are disappointed if you can't catch at least highlights of the parade.

 

At least five people on your block have electric 'candles' in all or most of their windows all year long.

 

You know what a 'State Store' is, and your out-of-state friends find it incredulous that you can’t purchase liquor at the mini-mart.

 

Words like 'hoagie,' 'crick,' 'chipped ham,' 'dippy eggs', 'sticky buns,' 'shoo-fly pie,' 'lemon sponge pie', 'pierogies' and 'pocketbook' actually mean something to you. (By the way, that last one's PA slang for a purse!)

 

You not only have heard of Birch Beer, but you know it comes in several colors.

 

You know the difference between a cheese steak and a pizza steak sandwich, and you know that you also can't get a really good one anywhere outside of the Philly area. (Except maybe in Atlantic City on the boardwalk.)

 

You know that Blue Ball, Intercourse, Paradise, Climax, Bird-in-Hand, Beaver, Moon, Virginville, Mars, Bethlehem, Hershey, Indiana, Sinking Spring, Jersey Shore, State College, Washington Crossing, Jim Thorpe, King of Prussia, Wind Gap, and Slippery Rock are all PA towns ... and the first three were consecutive stops on the old Reading RR! (PS - That’s pronounced Redd-ing.)

 

You can identify drivers from New York , New Jersey , Maryland or other neighboring states by their unique and irritating driving habits.

 

A traffic jam in Lancaster County is 10 cars waiting to pass a horse-drawn carriage on the highway. (And remember ... that’s Lank-ister!)

 

You know several people who have hit deer more than once.

 

Driving is always better in winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

 

As a kid you built snow forts and leaf piles that were taller than you were..

 

You know beer doesn't grow in a garden, but you know where to find a beer garden.

 

You actually understand all this and send it out to other Pennsylvanians or former Pennsylvanians. It's scary, isn't it!

 

YEAH! THAT'S GOOD OL' ‘PA’ AND WE LOVE IT!

 

And send it to people that never lived in PA and confuse them, because nice matters.

 

 

 

 

 

Until the next column!

 

I can be reached, via e-mail, at:  ygordad@yahoo.com