Mostly Racin' Stuff

                                                   By Tom Avenengo

                                                      Volume # 204

                                                        12/04/2014

Some personal/family stuff:

My wife, who left us on July 3, 2014.

 

Avenengo-Joan-CROPPED

 

Remember, photos can only be seen on the New England Tractor/Race Report website, which is linked to at the end of my columns.

 

I was fortunate to have spent Thanksgiving with quite a few members of my family, down here in Cape Coral.  The only family members that are down here in Florida, my brother Raymond (Jim), and my sister Cathy & her husband, Hank are way over on the east coast, spent the holiday at my sisters.  Other than that, my daughters Sandy and Sarah, along with their kids and grand kids were in attendance.  Something like 19 all together, I think.

 

More memories:

 

It was on a Thanksgiving morning, back in the late 1940's, when my father was able to shoot a pheasant in our back yard - and that was for our Thanksgiving dinner.  I vaguely remember my grandfather - my fathers dad.  He was quite well known in Montvale, NJ, where we lived and also in NYC.  On top of being an excellent chef, he was also a wine maker, with the grapes being grown on the property.  I can still recall that huge vat in the barn where the wine was held.  My grandfather always wore an overcoat - to keep in warm in the cooler months, and to keep the heat off of him in the warmer months.  And, he always walked with his hands held together - behind his back.  From what I've been told, he helped my mother quite a bit with her cooking.  At one time, my grandfather was the mayor of Montvale.

 

 

Racin’ stuff:

Brett Deyo - Gary Palmer and the Accord Speedway:

Wow!  Quite a lot of pissed off people up at the track last Saturday when they had to pull the plug on the big racing show that was scheduled.  It's kind of hard for me, who was down here in Florida, and not there, in person, to comment on what did and didn't happen.  A majority of the info I got was the same as what you might have seen - on the Internet - on Facebook and also on racing forums. 

All I can say is that ya have to give them credit for at least making an attempt on getting the show in.  Would having cars run in the track have helped?  Who knows, for sure?  Did putting calcium down on the track in the morning hurt?  Who knows, for sure?  I've read that it was 12 degrees at night.  Might it have been better to have left the snow on the track until Saturday morning - as insulation?  Who knows, for sure?

In a way I can see the problems with issuing an immediate cash refund for those that bought tickets.  I'd venture to say what they have come up with should work as far as those that want their monies back - send in your ticket or wrist band by December 12th (or 13th?).  Between Deyo, Palmer and the town, they'll come up with a date next April to run the event.

 

Note:  What follows was posted on the Dirt Track Digest Forum on Sunday, 11/30/14:

Here is a response from Brett Deyo's FB page

 

For those of you that have a few minutes, give this a read. It gives a better understanding of what happened yesterday and in the days leading up to the Gobbler.

Here is a look back at what happened yesterday at Accord Speedway from our perspective…

On Wednesday, the snow storm hit the speedway. Throughout the day, Gary Palmer and I spoke frequently on the phone. By nightfall, as the snow subsided, we had a conversation regarding the status of the race. He felt we would be able to race so the plan was to go ahead with the event – I was encouraged to hear his enthusiasm knowing that as the facility owner, he would have to handle the hard part of getting the track and grounds ready. As such, I left my wife behind on Thursday (Thanksgiving, she stayed back in PA to have dinner with her family) and headed to New York to get ready. At the same time, the Palmers canceled their Thanksgiving so Gary, with some help of volunteers, could clear the speedway of snow with a skid steer and plows. Meanwhile, Gary’s wife Donna and son Gary Jr. shoveled off the grandstands to get ready.

Friday morning dawned and I was at the track by 8 a.m. shoveling in the pit and grandstand areas while Gary continued his long hours of not only clearing snow, but fixing broken/frozen pumps and kitchen equipment that comes with running at a facility of this type that late in the year. By late afternoon on Friday, the track was, we felt, ready. Equipment had been on the track Friday and it was firmed up just as it had been the year before. I left the speedway Friday night feeling that we would be in great shape for the next day, and the publicity for the race reflected as such.

Saturday morning arrived. At 10 a.m. I walked from the turn two pit gate to the frontstretch, on the racing surface, with no problem, not even picking mud up on my shoes, to position some sponsor banners on the infield (some of the early arrivals to the track, including Street Stock racer Gary Ronk, can confirm this, as he helped me carry some of the signs down). I did this without getting any mud on my shoes. This is how firm the track was at the time we opened the pit gates. Again, even at that time, as we had a line of cars coming into the speedway, I felt very good about the day’s events. Honestly, I was smiling at the large turnout of race cars we had (133 was the total).

Moments after I went back off the track, Gary began treating the track for the day just as he did a year ago. However, this year was actually just a bit warmer. The calcium used on the speedway did its job, but it did it too well. The warmer temps and no sun at all led to the moisture to be pulled to the top of the surface. The more he ran in the track, the more it got sloppy. We would not have known it would react this way because 1) he prepared the track exactly the same way last year and 2) it was so firm in the days prior to the event.

When we have events at Accord, the Palmers and I are 50-50 partners on the promotions, it isn’t a promotional fee or track rental, we all have a part in the event. Typically, Gary handles the track, Donna handles the concessions, Gary Jr. works the pit gate, their daughters Melissa and Sara handle the ticket booth and I handle the promotions and running of the races. Very often, once gates are open, we go our own ways. This was the case on Saturday.

At about 11:25, Mike Ricci called me over and told me I needed to take a look at the track – it had taken a very bad turn. I hadn’t seen the surface personally since the time the pits were opened at 10 because we had started registration, the draw, etc. and it became hectic. When I walked to the turn-two gate, saw Gary was struggling to run it in. He stopped and told me that he would try to scrape the slop off the top of the surface with a skid steer. So, the skid steer began to work the track.

At that point, it became evident the skid steer would not be enough. Gary and I spoke at that time about canceling, but he felt, since people were already there, he should try working the track with the grader (even though he made a tremendous amount of work for himself by scraping off clay that will now have to be put back on the track before spring). As he got the grader going, I held a drivers’ meeting to tell them what was happening and poll their opinions. The overwhelming response was to hold the event in the spring, but we left it as giving Gary some more time in the grader.

After about 40 minutes more, it became evident that even the grader, at its weight, wasn’t able to hold a straight line on the track. It was sliding down the banking. Gary stopped on the track, we spoke, and decided we had to cancel. There was no way a race car would even be able to get on the track without immediately sliding down the banking and getting stuck, so calling the cars to the track wasn’t an option. And I am not a big fan of putting our racers through the process of using a $50,000 Modified as a packer vehicle.

Because of the shape the track was in, we didn’t feel it would be possible to even attempt the Dec. 6 weather date.

At the point where we canceled, not only had two of the ticket takers used for the busy time gone home, but the money brought in had already been placed in individual envelopes for payout later in the day. Gary was still on the grader trying to fix some of the mess that had been created and Donna was still cooking as there was a line out the concession.

I spoke with racers personally in the pit area as they left and explained we would work with them on refunds. It was announced for fans to hold onto their wristbands. This is one area where I feel better communication would have helped greatly, and it’s now in the notebook for the future.

Once the chaos of canceling settled down, Gary, Donna, Melissa, Sara and I were able to meet. The policy at Accord, and most Northeast tracks, is simple: no refunds. There are even signs at the Accord gates stating there are no refunds – this was visible to all who paid to get in. However, we all agreed this was a unique circumstance and we needed to rectify it. After some discussion, we opted for the mail-in refunds. This allows people who are coming back in April to do so and those who would like their money back to get it.

This was not an everyday situation and it required some discussion. Most fans were patient; a few weren’t.

Earlier this year, in August, we had rain during the second consolation for Modifieds at the Battle of the Bullring. We opted to finish the event the next night at no cost to the folks who had come the day of the rain out because we felt it was the right thing for racers and fans. We could have picked another date, scheduled a new division or two and charged again to see the same main events that were already paid for. But we didn’t. Instead, we charged everyone one and had our overhead doubled: track prep, lights, insurance, ambulance, staff and more. This was a huge financial loser for all of us but it was the right thing to do for our customers, the track and my series.

Believe me: the same people who took it on the chin for our supporters did not set out to screw the same people a few months later.

If I had to sum up yesterday, I would call it a series of unfortunate events. I’ve been on both sides of the cancelation issue. The outrage and complaints I received for trying to race yesterday mirrored the uproar after we canceled an event at Big Diamond at 9 a.m. with 80 percent chance of rain to save people money and it never rained.

We don’t always make the right call, but we always try.

Thanks for reading and happy holidays. We will announce the reschedule date as soon as it is approved by the town board.

Refund Information: Tickets or wristbands: mail to Accord Speedway 299 Whitfield Road Accord, NY 12404 prior to Dec. 13.

 

Link:  http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52652-after-two-full-days-accord-speedway-is-ready-for-the-gobbler/page-5

 

New Jersey Mandating Head & Neck Restraints

Yankee Racer (November 28, 2014) - New Jersey will mandate head and neck restraints for drivers at ovals beginning January 1, 2015. Any vehicle in subchapter four of the regulations is subject to the new rule. All race cars except Quarter Midgets are covered, including cars intended for adults. Specific divisions are not provided to prevent loopholes.

Detective M. Kowalski of the New Jersey State Police wrote the tech bulletin that will be sent to track operators by the superintendent. According to the tech bulletin, “All drivers participating in asphalt or dirt oval racing subject to NJSA 62-4, will be required to wear a head and neck restraint system meeting SFI specification 38.1.” The equipment “must have an SFI tag,” according to Kowalski. He expects to meet with track operators within the next month and a half to review this.

Kowalski, who joined the unit six years ago, said the cost has come down and more information is available about the reliability.

“With all the data that’s out there from HANS and all the other companies that have done the crash testing, they’re pretty much a proven device at this point,” Kowalski said. “It’s just like a seat belt. We know they work. We know they save lives.”

A HANS Device or equivalent cost was at least $1,000 six years ago. The product is available for $400-500 now. Kowalski said that the product having “a lower cost alternative” was important in make the new rule.

“I’ve seen several crashes where we believe that a head and neck restraint like that would have saved a life. … We’ve been waiting to make it a standard in New Jersey for the last couple of years.”

Kowalski said the changes are the indirect result of Amanda Gambacorto’s fatal crash at Wall (NJ) Stadium Speedway. The Stony Brook (NY) University student crashed a Three Quarter Midget during the Green Flag Driving Experience on August 16.

“This is the most recent crash that we’ve had where a head and neck restraint may have played a role in a different outcome in a crash,” Kowalski said. “…We believe it would have reduced the probability of this type of injury.”

Gambacorto died of a basilar skull fracture, the same injury that killed Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Jr. and Dale Earnhardt in a 10 month span from May 2000 and February 2001. One of the most common injuries, the Motorsport Memorial site listed at least 11 examples on their database. Gambacorto’s head hit the steering wheel, bent the steering column forward, and broke her neck.

“There’s two reasons why that happened. One her head moved forward with her body because the seat belts were loose because of the cushioning and two she didn’t have a lot of room between her head and that steering wheel because she was spaced so far in the seat. So when her neck did stretch, which all necks stretch in a frontal impact like that, she hit the steering wheel and then the steering wheel forced her head back while her body was still moving forward. Had her head moved more with her body and had not stretched as much, we may have reduced the amount of impact or injury that she sustained from hitting that steering wheel.”

The lessons learned from Gambacorto’s crash have been implemented with changes for 2015.

The driving school used four to five inches of one inch thick seat cushions to move Gambacorto closer to the pedals. This placed the driver beyond the lateral support that the containment seat provided. Kowalski estimated that the usual distance between the chin of the driver’s helmet and the steering wheel was reduced from 15 to seven or eight inches. The seatbelts are also loosened as the driver is moved forward.

“Without a HANS Device, your neck can stretch in excess of 11 inches on an impact like that. … All these things played a role, but if she would have had a head and neck restraint, I believe she probably wouldn’t have broken her neck the way she did and if she was properly seated in that vehicle, I don’t believe she would even have an injury.”

The state police modeled another rule after NASCAR. “A maximum of three-quarters inch thick SFI 45.2 permanently affixed energy impact sheet foam will be allowed for use within the seating system to provide impact protection.” This seat foam does not compress. The new rule bans foam padding to change a driver’s seating position. In case a driver cannot reach the steering wheel or pedals, “the fixed seating position must be altered by permanently moving the seating system in order to accommodate the driver’s size.”

“That crash was very educational for us because there was no rule regarding spacing a driver forward in the seat, using any type of foam or cushion and those two things the head and neck restraint and that seat cushioning were the most significant factors that played a role in that crash and it was my understanding that many people swap cars and from time to time they do use padding here and there. But if you saw the pictures of this vehicle when we got there, the amount of padding when you look at it and you go that’s not right. You just don’t know why. When we stuck another driver in there and figured out what the situation that created, we realized how bad that scenario was.”

Track operators must apply for a racing license from the state. Compliance with Chapter 62 is necessary to be granted the license. Kowalski’s team enforces this through “safety audits or compliance checks.” This includes a weekly presence at the track from inspecting a race car, observing on track action, safety equipment like ambulances and fire extinguishers.

“It is the tracks’ responsibility to enforce the rule. It is our responsibility to make sure the tracks are enforcing the rule. …Ultimately that responsibility does fall on the track to enforce it and we’re there on a weekly basis stopping in to make sure that they’re following the rules.”

There is no grace period for the rule. He provided an example of the new rule next season. If seven drivers do not have HANS or equivalent devices at Wall Stadium, they would be told to leave and not return until they obtain a HANS Device.

“You can’t race today. They’ll either get it or they won’t and then that’s really a short transition period without a whole lot of ways.”

He does not foresee a large problem with compliance as championship contenders would not want to miss a week of racing. The teams impacted by this would be smaller teams or support classes like Street Stocks and Enduros. One example Kowalski provided as the four cylinder cars at Wall. Some people already use “excellent setups” with HANS or equivalent devices, while others use 30 year old seats.

Kowalski estimates that HANS or equivalent devices are already in use at New Egypt Speedway by at least 50 percent of drivers and could be 80 to 90 percent in some divisions like the Modifieds.

Kowalski observed that most Sprint Car drivers are already using this safety equipment. He cited younger drivers in father and son teams. “They pretty much have every safety device afforded to them ’cause their parents want them to be safe to begin with.”

“I don’t know how big the effect’s going to be on the racing environment in New Jersey, but at this point, with those lower cost alternatives, I have a feeling that there’ll be a little bit of opposition in the beginning, but it won’t be that difficult to get everybody compliant.”

Kowalski has learned during his time with the unit that you cannot make an “educated decision” in the first three years. After working with drivers and promoters, he was able to see what rules needed to be enforced and what made a difference.

“Some of the other things that we’ve done, I don’t believe that they have as significant an impact on safety as something like making a head and neck restraint mandatory. This is something I back 100 percent.”

Although he supports the adoption of head and neck restraints, Kowalski cannot definitively say that the device would have saved a life. “It’s impossible to actually say that. We have no proof. There’s no way to prove it, but we can basically determine that not having the HANS Device would be a contributory factor as to why the type of injury occurred.”

“We know the safety device exists and we know that there’s cheaper alternatives out there now. Now’s the time to make this mandatory.”

Kowalski estimated that 50 percent of racers use a head and neck restraint. With the data that has been collected over the past decade, the product has proven to be a lifesaver. “We’re just going to kick everybody else in high gear and get the stragglers to follow suit by making it mandatory.”

Kowalski also investigated Jason Leffler’s crash at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, NJ on June 12, 2013. Leffler’s Sprint Car crashed in a qualifying heat after a part broke on the car. While Leffler was using a Simpson Hybrid head and neck restraint, the seat was not a full containment seat. The Butler seat had lateral support “tabs.”

“Something now I wholeheartedly believe that if Jason Leffler … had a full head surround on both sides. The only reason that he had the injuries that he had is that he hit that wall basically perpendicular. He did a 180 and hit as he was parallel to the wall and his body and his head moved straight towards that wall and his head hit the wall. If he had that full containment seat, his head and neck never would have stretched in that direction. He would have been down in that seat and it would have prevented that type of movement altogether.”

“I’m not going to make a containment seat mandatory, but a head and neck restraint I definitely believe plays a role.”

Kowalski also said a new product in development will increase driver safety, HANS and equivalents that provide both lateral and “frontal impact protection. So I think you’re going to see another move forward in safety devices, where not only do they protect against that 30 degree left or right radius from a frontal impact, but you’re also going to see these newer devices protecting against side impacts as well, and neck injuries.”

For more information, visit http://www.njsp.org/divorg/operations/mv-racetrack-info.html.

 

 

Hmm, some interesting things being said on both Facebook and on the Dirt Track Digest Forum - both having to do with a possible Big Block modified race in Georgia, as the DIRTcar teams head to Volusia for their February races.  As of now, a support class would be some wingless midgets.  However, I do believe that this particular midget group does have some restrictions as to what kind of engines can be used - like Ford Focus.

 

This reminds me - Jeff Johnson, who runs the New England Tractor Website, where this column appears every week, did head down to Florida with is son Kenney, and their Ford Focus midget to compete with that Florida group.  Kenney had a straightaway lead with two laps to go when his engine went "Poof".  He did manage, I've read, to be able to make it to the checkered flag in 2nd place.  Jeff & Kenney will be splitting their midget racing time in 2105 between dirt and NEMA.

 

 

What with me sending my column in a day earlier, last week, I just missed the news of the split between DIRTcar and the Orange County Fair Speedway.  It's been said that OCFS, while being independent, will still go with Hoosier tires.  I have not seen it in print, yet, but I imagine the Brett Deyo promoted Hard Clay open will have an open tire rule.  No sail panels, this year, I've read.

Just what does a track gain by being sanctioned by DIRTcar?  Top of the list has to be insurance.  That shouldn't be too hard to get.  Does a track have to pay a weekly sanctioning fee to DIRTcar?  If so, there's monies saved.  How much of a "kick back" does DIRTcar get from Hoosier and other companies - more saved if independent?  Personally, I'm not overly enthused about how point fund monies are raised and more so how they're distributed - usually the top 10 get point fund monies.  I feel that all regular competitors should get at least something from the point funds.

 

 

As many of you might know, Kyle Larson can now run a few selected midget races, now that the NASCRAP season is over with.  His first was this past week at the Turkey Night  out in California.  He had this to say on twitter: 

"Felt decent in practice. 98 laps is gonna be long tomorrow. Racing stock cars has made my neck weak! Head was pinned to the headrest! Haha"

 

 

Brad Keselowski says truck team lost $1 million in 2014

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/brad-keselowski-says-truck-team-lost--1-million-in-2014-153717681.html

 

 


 

 

Found this on the South Jersey Dirt Racing forum:

 

Could we be in for a platinum agreement for mods    

 http://theboard.southjerseydirtracing.com/TrackThisThread.asp?Url=DisplayMsgJH.asp&ForumID=27&MsgID=2231231&Page=1&Big_Daddy=2231231

 

On the day after the cancellation of the Gobbler, which is a loss for everyone involved, comes the official closure of the 2014 racing season.  Now things go dark for a few months in the northeast, but just like baseball hot stove, there is still plenty to talk about. 

            ;    As I skimmed through the pages of ARRN I came across the Lenny Sammons interview with Tom Deery.  The end of the article is what I see as the most troubling to us the fans. 

Tucked away in eight paragraphs seems to be an outlining for drivers and tracks to pick a side for whom they want to race for.  Now in that interview Derry states that he doesn’t see anything like platinum agreement being instituted for Super dirtcar drivers, basically forcing them not to race anywhere else without permission. 

            ;    Now it’s hard to take that at its word when a few days after the electronic version of AARN posts, Big Diamond and Orange County both drop Dirtcar sanction after Deery kind of makes a note that in 4-6 weeks everyone will know what is going on.  Gee that was quick.

            ;    So the inevitable will come, and Dirtcar will have sanctions on their drivers meaning some of the top talent from New York will not be able to compete in the Mid-Atlantic States.  The platinum agreement can work for a sprint car organization that is national, but for a tightly regional type of dirt track racing which needs every penny, mainly now from the back gate, this can’t be good for a slowly dying form of entertainment. 

            ;    Now I’m not saying that we here in the Mid-Atlantic we don’t have great drivers that don’t put on great shows, but what I enjoy the most about going to the mid-week specials, and special shows in general, is getting an opportunity to see drivers that I wouldn’t normally see on a regular Saturday night.  So with that I would hope that the powers above will avoid a decision that focuses on the individual entity and not the whole wellbeing of the sport which so many of us love. 

 

A comment on the above, on SJDR's forum:

I don't think it would ever be accepted by the drivers and teams. Too many of these guys are to the point where they race for a living, and with the SuperDIRT series only having 20 some dates compared to the Sprint Series having 90 some dates (both from the 2014 schedules) there would be no way that I could see anyone committing to only racing the DIRT series, or even DIRT sanctioned tracks when there is a ton of money to be made outside of the DIRTcar umbrella.

 

 

 

 

Back in time:

 

Some early December happenings over the years:

December 1st:

1963 - Wendell Scott was the first man of color to win a NASCAR race.

2004 - The one that got me involved in writing about motor sports - Lenny Calinoff, passed away.  Sad to say, I only met Lenny one time - at the AARN's Motor Sports show in PA.

December 2nd:

1960 - That's the day this writer was inducted into the US Army.  Can remember it quite well - quite a bit of snow on the ground.  Took a bus from Nyack, NY to Ft. Dix, NJ.

December 3rd:

1937 - Bobby Allison born

1951 - Rick Mears born

1964 - Bobby Marshman died - see photo of Bobby in my photo section.

1988 - Al Tasnady died

December 4th:

1982 - Keith Kaufmann won the USAC Silver Crown race at Nazareth - a race that was called after 54 laps

2003 - Iggy Katona died

2006 - Len Sutton died

2008 - Rick Weld, the youngest of the Weld brothers, died.

December 5th:

1932 - Jim Hurtubise born

1938 - JD McDuffie born

December 6th:

1914 - Billy Cantrell born

December 7th:

1941 - Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

1984 - Lee Roy Yarbrough died

December 8th:

1940 - George Snider born

December 9th:

1926 - Ed Elisian born

1934 - Wayne Weiler born

1942 - Sheldon Kinser born

1979 - Larry McCoy died

1992 - Colby Scoggins died.

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Several NASCAR drivers running Snowball Derby: 

The NASCAR season may have ended but that hasn't stopped several of the biggest names in the industry from racing deep into the off-season as drivers from all three national touring divisions have filed entries for the Snowball Derby Super Late Model race at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla [on Sunday, December 5]. And for the first time in event history, the Snowball Derby will also be available for Pay-Per-View viewing as part of Speed51's online streaming service - 51 TV. While entries continue to pour in for the Dec. 7 race, a healthy contingent of drivers, including NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and Super Late Model supporter Chase Elliott, have declared their intentions to enter the event. Elliott is without a doubt the headliner of the event but a variable directory of talented drivers have filed their RSVPs, including former winners Steven Wallace (2004) Johanna Long (2010) and defending winner Erik Jones and his stout Kyle Busch Motorsports #51 Toyota Camry. Other entries familiar to NASCAR fans are John Hunter Nemechek, Corey LaJoie, Spencer Gallagher and Grant Enfinger.(Popular Speed)(11-30-2014)

 

 

ESPN's NASCAR personalities transition to new roles: 

ESPN's affiliation with NASCAR, providing coverage of the second half of the season's Sprint Cup Series races as well as the entire 33-race Nationwide Series schedule, came to an end earlier this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway. ESPN had been a television partner for the sport since 2007 and overall, had been involved in NASCAR coverage for 28 years.
Allen Bestwick will remain in the booth, serving as the lead announcer for the Indianapolis 500 and ESPN's association with the IndyCar Series. He will also be involved in college football and basketball, pro tennis and golf coverage.
Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch served as pit reporters for ESPN. Burns will join NBC Sports next season when that network begins its Sprint Cup affiliation while Little will move over to FOX Sports as a pit reporter.
Welch has worked the IndyCar series as well for ESPN and could possibly resume those duties. Jarrett, the 1999 premier series champion, Petree and Punch have not announced their plans for 2015 and beyond.
Former driver Ricky Craven and reporter Marty Smith will remain entrenched with the Bristol, Connecticut-based network and tethered to NASCAR.
Those out front for the pre-race NASCAR Countdown show included host Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace. Briscoe will move into the role of an anchor for SportsCenter starting in January and is expected to do other in-studio work as well. Daugherty, the former NBA standout who currently co-owns the JTG Daugherty Racing Sprint Cup Series team, will transition to ESPN's coverage of college and pro basketball. Wallace, like Jarrett a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has not announced his plans for next season.
NBC Sports will begin its portion of live NASCAR race coverage at Daytona International Speedway in July of 2015. In addition to Burns, former ESPN reporter Mike Massaro will join the group as a pit reporter, along with Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast. Krista Voda will serve as host of pre- and post-race shows for NBC; Rick Allen (lead announcer), Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte (analysts) will be in the booth.(
NASCAR.com)(11-29-2014)

 

 

Foyt remains hospitalized: 

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt remains in a Houston hospital, more than two weeks after he had triple-bypass surgery on his heart. Anne Fornoro, the spokesman for Foyt's two-car IndyCar team, said in a release Wednesday there was a post-surgical complication, but that has now been resolved. She did not elaborate on what the complication was. Larry Foyt, the team director and Foyt's youngest son, says his father is doing "really well," though doctors have not said when the elder Foyt might be released. Larry Foyt also says his father is improving each day and is expected to make a full recovery.(Associated Press)(11-28-2014)

Note:  Been there done that - but with 5 arteries by-passed.  I was a lot younger than what AJ is.  Still, I'm kinda worried about this deal with AJ, though.

 

 

Update on Steve Byrnes: 

Fox Sports' Steve Byrnes, who has been on leave from the network while battling Stage 4 head-and-neck cancer, tweeted Wednesday evening, "My Oncologist just called and said my PET scan showed 'progress.' Thanks for your prayers, and Happy Thanksgiving. Grateful!"(11-27-2014)

Note:  I'm not too happy reading this.  Best we knew, my wife was cured of her cancer.  Then it came back - with a vengeance.  Best wishes going out to Steve and his family.

 

 

NASCAR will address side skirts next season: 

Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's executive vice president and chief racing development officer, held an impromptu fan question-and-answer session Tuesday on Twitter while waiting for his flight to take off. Here are some of the best nuggets from his replies to fan tweets:
- This season, teams found it was legal for crew members to yank the side skirts just in front of the rear wheels during pit stops, which created an odd image during races (it provided an aerodynamic benefit). But NASCAR plans to address the flared side skirts with a rule change next season, O'Donnell tweeted.
- One fan asked O'Donnell if he could change the Chase for the Sprint Cup format back to how it was from 2004-2013 (officials have said they view the new format as a major plus for the sport).
"No, but thanks for asking," O'Donnell tweeted, including the surprised smiley face emoji.
- The finale will remain at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the foreseeable future, O'Donnell indicated. A fan asked if NASCAR considered moving the championship race to different cities.
"We have, but drivers love (the) track and it has been some great racing," O'Donnell tweeted. "We are happy there."
- There are no plans to add a road course to the Chase, O'Donnell tweeted. There are currently two road races on the 36-race Sprint Cup Series schedule - Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International -- but neither are in the 10-race playoff.
"Not right now," he said. "Still like (the) mix where they are at."
On a similar note, O'Donnell said NASCAR would look at changing the lineup of Chase tracks in 2016 (it's the same for next season).
- With the new testing ban now in place, some teams are hopeful to use Goodyear tire tests as a chance to try different setups on their cars.
How many Goodyear tests will there be next year? O'Donnell said the exact number is still to be determined, but estimated 10-12.(
USA Today)(11-27-2014)

 

 

Ryan Blaney focusing on Cup in 2015: 

Ryan Blaney, who won races in both Nationwide and truck in 2014, doesn't have full sponsorship for any series. He will run at least 12 Sprint Cup races for Wood Brothers Racing and will split time in Xfinity with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano and maybe run a few truck races for Keselowski's team. Blaney isn't even worrying about running full time anywhere next season. He sees Cup as his future and is working on finding more money to add Cup races, whether that be with the Wood Brothers or a third Penske car for select events, for next season. "I hope we can get it upwards to 17 to 20 (Cup races)," Blaney said. "We're working really hard to get that done. I'm going to be racing a lot next year and fortunate to be in great cars, so I can't worry about it too much. My mindset is try to do more Cup races, just with that is the ultimate goal, obviously, and try to get more experience in that. I want to try to find more Cup races instead of Nationwide just because it progresses you a lot faster learning the cars."(Sporting News)(11-27-2014)

Note:  Not being nasty here, but what if his last name wasn't Blaney?  Would he still be where he is, today?

 

 

Kurt Busch gets delay on protection hearing: 

A Delaware family court commissioner has granted NASCAR driver Kurt Busch's request to delay a hearing on a protection from abuse petition filed by his ex-girlfriend. Busch's attorney asked for the delay in court papers filed last Friday, saying Busch is participating in a race car rally in Italy and that his return flight is Dec. 2, the same day as the scheduled hearing. The postponement was granted over the objections of an attorney for Patricia Driscoll, who said Driscoll wants a no-contact order entered as soon as possible. The new hearing date is Dec. 16. The family court matter is separate from an ongoing criminal investigation by Dover police into Driscoll's allegations that Busch assaulted her inside his motorhome at Dover International Speedway in September. (Associated Press)(11-26-2014)

 

 

 

 

 

National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame

 

For quite some time now, their website has been unavailable on the Internet.  It was a great site with photos and some history of all of those enshrined in it.

Over time, I've questioned when they might get their website back up so we all can see it.  I did send an email this past Tuesday.  On Wednesday, I received this response - slightly edited. 

 

"The reason we are down is funding, it takes money to operate a first class web site.  In the beginning we had an angel that handled the cost of our website, but alas the angel went to heaven full time and no others have come along to take his place.

 

Since this is a non-profit organization that relies truly on donations only, funding is an issue.  In this day and age the people who enjoy the history of our sport and have supported it are slowly going away.  We are looking for possible new ways of getting funding for our site, but we want to make sure once we get it going it is sustainable so we do not lose it again.  

 

I wish more Midget organizations would get involved.  BCRA and ARDC have been supporters of this group.

 

Thank you for your interest.

 

NMARHoF Secretary"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Track Forum:

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php

 

Silly Motorsports Rumors Debunked

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/162014-Silly-Motorsports-Rumors-Debunked

 

 

Indycar news

Rule book is out, no standing starts, double points for Indy 500 and Somona only

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/190699-Rule-book-is-out-No-standing-starts-double-points-for-Indy-500-and-Sonoma-only

 

 

 

From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:

 

Hard Clay Open

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52643-hard-clay-open/

 

 

AFTER TWO FULL DAYS, ACCORD SPEEDWAY IS READY FOR THE GOBBLER

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52652-after-two-full-days-accord-speedway-is-ready-for-the-gobbler/

 

 

 

A LOOK AT YESTERDAY'S GOBBLER EVENT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE...

 

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52657-a-look-at-yesterdays-gobbler-event-from-my-perspective/

 

 

 

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

Eric Mauriello Cruises To Turkey Derby Mod Tour Victory

 

Accord’s Gobbler ‘Thawed Out’

 

AARN Christmas Gift Giving Guide Ideas

 

Orange County, Big Diamond To Be Independent From DIRT In 2015

 

Lancaster Speedway Deal With Bill Catania Falls Through

 

Williams Grove’s National Open Expands To Three Days

 

Blewett Claims Wall Mod Win In Thriller

 

Mike Tidaback Injured In Wall TQMidget Crash

 

Plus:

I found the following while going through the digital version of the AARN on Tuesday:

 

That Weedsport race on the Friday & Saturday prior to ESW Sunday - was set up by DIRTcar on the Sunday of the ES 200.  DIRTcar has no problem with any of its drivers (as of now) heading to OCFS on Sunday of ES to attempt to qualify for the 200.  As I said "As of now".

On the Sunday of ES, there is a WoO Sprint Car race scheduled for U/R.  Nice, huh?

The thing between DIRTcar and OCFS as far as why OC has dropped from DIRTcar is actually a "He said/she said" thing, with both sides bitching about the other.

Gurda had general dissatisfaction with DIRTcar's handling of the ES 200, and was taking specific offense to the booking of future sanctioning agreements with a renunciation of association with special events promoter Brett Deyo.   DIRTcars  Deyo ultimatum more or less sealed the deal as to why OC dropped its DIRTcar sanctioning.

Skotnicki, said that OC has fallen short in its relationship with DIRTcar in regards to the ES 200.  Minimum purse of $250.00 did not meet the minimum purse requirements of a DIRTcar SDS event of $300.00 to start.  Also, having it as a 3-4 day show wasn't good.  (Uh, DIRTcar, it's been that way for quite a few years now, ya know?)  Also, Skotnicki contends that the OC facility is "substandard" (Hell, Mr. Skotnicki, where have you been these last 5-10 years while the place has deteriorated - ya never noticed that, over the years?)

 

Bad news for racers - do not expect the cost of racing gas (VP) to come down.  Blame is being put on all the chemicals that are added to the gas.  Yes, I know, the price of gas has come down, but the "double talk" from some exec, as explained to the AARN, tells why racing gas prices more than likely won't drop.

 

The Accord 2015 schedule had already been sent to the town and approved.  For the re-scheduling of the show from last week, they'll need to have the proposed date reviewed by the town board at the next scheduled meeting.

 

Stewart Friesen collected $37,000.00 for being the U/R driving champion in 2014.  $10,000.00 from the track, over $5,000.00 for being the NASCAR Whelen All American Series champion, $12,000.00 for claiming the NASCAR New York State title and over $10,000.00 from American Racer tires.

Note:  I've been told the driving champion at OCFS over the years, gets $2,500.00 which I think is what one gets for winning a modified feature.  Kinda big difference between U/R and OC, huh?  I think U/R also dwarfs what the Valley's driving champion gets, too.  I really wonder how much does Hoosier give to OCFS for its champion.  Anyone know?

 

Dave Zubikowski will be adding three Hig-Fab chassis and two Morrison engines to his stable of race cars.  Pretty sure he sold a couple of his "old" cars already. Jeff Strunk is scheduled to be in a Zubi car for at least 20 shows.  Jerry Higbie will be in one for some special shows.  Darrell Ford will return to Accord in a Zubi car.  There will also be a small block for Matt Janiak to run.  Matt, from what I've read, will not be running sportsman in 2015.

 

Danny Tyler and Jim Winchell have split.  Gary Mann and his driver Anthony Perrego are trying to decide where they might run in 2015.  Original  plans were for OCFS, but with OC going Independent, and the Mann team looking for home track DIRTcar points, well, now their problem is where to race for those points.

 

Donnie Elliott will have a new Hig-Fab car for 2015.  Gary Edwards was set to drive the # 21 that Clinton Mills drove at OC in 2014.  Danny Creeden plans on adding a new Hig-Fab car in 2015.  He's currently looking for a ride at Accord.  He'll return to OC with his small block and also run some special shows with it.  Mike Ricci will be at OC weekly in a Willy Auchmoody car.  His brother, Rich, will be in an Auchmoody big block in selected BB shows.  Nothing definite anymore on Rich being at the Valley in 2015, since the Rifenburg cars were sold and Halmar backed out of buying the three cars when some of the equipment had been sold.

 

 

Like the state of New Jersey, the Thompson, CT Speedway has made head and neck restraints mandatory.

 

 

Tony Stewart news:

 

Tony Stewart undergoes fourth surgery on right leg

 

http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/tony-stewart-has-4th-surgery-on-right-leg-120314?cmpid=tsmtw:fscom:nascaronfox

 

 

 

Press Releases:

 

USAC HONDA NATIONAL/WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: November 27, 2014 - Perris, California - Perris Auto Speedway - "74th Turkey Night Grand Prix"

 

      QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Tanner Thorson, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-17.359; 2. Christopher Bell, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-17.378; 3. Brad Sweet, 67z, Kahne-17.399; 4. Darren Hagen, 56, 5IVE-6IX-17.458; 5. Chad Boat, 15x, Boat-17.494; 6. Rico Abreu, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-17.517; 7. Zach Daum, 5D, Daum-17.532; 8. Tracy Hines, 24, Parker-17.563; 9. Damion Gardner, 4, Klatt-17.598; 10. Bryan Clauson, 63, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-17.610; 11. Kevin Thomas, 56x, 5IVE-6IX-17.648; 12. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-17.650; 13. Kyle Larson, 71k, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-17.680; 14. Trey Marcham, 73, Ford-17.714; 15. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-17.730; 16. Dave Darland, 17N, Team 17-17.807; 17. Jake Swanson, 25, Rodela-17.836; 18. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen-17.901; 19. Alex Schutte, 28, Schutte/McElwee-17.915; 20. Mike Spencer, 57, Ecker-18.150; 21. Ricky Shelton, 71T, Full Circle-18.212; 22. Cody Swanson, 71s, Swanson-18.232; 23. Johnathon Henry, 17, Team 17-18.235; 24. Nick Chivello, 27, Chivello-18.364; 25. Scott Pierovich, 35, Pierovich-18.400; 26. Isaac Chapple, 52, Chapple-18.406; 27. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-18.439; 28. Jarid Blondel, 98, Blondel-18.543; 29. Kyle Edwards, 39E, Mitchell-18.713; 30. Andee Beierle, 5B, Daum-18.869; 31. Terry Nichols, 1P, Nichols-19.276; 32. Tony Everhart, 55T, Everhart-19.530; 33. Doug Hunting, 2, Hunting-19.964; 34. Britton Bock, 67x, Bock-NT.

 

      QUALIFYING RACE: (12 laps) 1. Henry, 2. Chivello, 3. C.Swanson, 4. Pierovich, 5. Shelton, 6. Pankratz, 7. Blondel, 8. Chapple, 9. Beierle, 10. Edwards, 11. Nichols, 12. Hunting, 13. Everhart. NT

 

FEATURE: (98 laps) 1. Christopher Bell, 2. Darren Hagen, 3. Kyle Larson, 4. Zach Daum, 5. Rico Abreu, 6. Tanner Thorson, 7. Bryan Clauson, 8. Tracy Hines, 9. Johnathon Henry, 10. Dave Darland, 11. Damion Gardner, 12. Trey Marcham, 13. Isaac Chapple, 14. Alex Schutte, 15. Jake Swanson, 16. Cody Swanson, 17. Jarid Blondel, 18. Shannon McQueen, 19. Nick Chivello, 20. Randi Pankratz, 21. Andee Beierle, 22. Kevin Thomas Jr., 23. Chad Boat, 24. Tyler Thomas, 25. Brad Sweet, 26. Ronnie Gardner, 27. Kyle Edwards, 28. Mike Spencer, 29. Ricky Shelton, 30. Scott Pierovich. NT

--------------------------------------------------------

**Shelton flipped on lap 19 of the feature. Boat flipped on lap 76 of the feature. Gardner flipped on lap 98 of the feature.

 

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-21 Thorson, Lap 22 Bell, Laps 23-28 Thorson, Laps 29-98 Bell.

 

FINAL HONDA NATIONAL MIDGET POINTS: 1-Abreu-1,045, 2-Bell-1,035, 3-Hines-999, 4-Clauson-954, 5-Daum-865, 6-Thorson-792, 7-Chris Windom-594, 8-Michael Pickens-499, 9-Darland-452, 10-T.Thomas-408.

 

FINAL HONDA WESTERN MIDGET POINTS: 1-R.Gardner-774, 2-Marcham-682, 3-Blondel-651, 4-Schutte-468, 5-Chad Nichols-433, 6-Bell-389, 7-McQueen-374, 8-Thorson-358, 9-Pierovich-340, 10-Chivello-337.

 

FINAL HONDA WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINTS: 1-R.Gardner-774, 2-Marcham-682, 3-Blondel-430, 4-Schutte-415, 5-Bell-389, 5-McQueen-374, 7-Thorson-357, 6-Pierovich-301, 8-Abrue-298, 10-Sean Dodenhoff-283.

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         DECEMBER 1, 2014

DICK JORDAN                                                                                                                                                  

 

ABREU, GARDNER GRAB USAC CHAMPIONSHIPS;

BELL BECOMES 50th "TURKEY NIGHT" WINNER

 

 

            Rico Abreu withstood the challenges of teammate Christopher Bell and Tracy Hines to emerge as the 2014 Honda USAC National Midget Championship at the conclusion of Thursday night's series finale in Perris, Calif.

 

            Abreu, of Rutherford, Calif., finished fifth in the 74th "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Perris Auto Speedway as Bell became the 50th different winner of the classic. Abreu's final margin in the standings was 10 points over Bell and 46 over Hines, who was eighth in Thursday's feature.

 

            Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif. finished 26th at Perris but emerged with his second Honda USAC Western Midget crown in the process. He is also the Western Dirt Midget king for 2014.

 

            Bell led the final 70 laps of the "Turkey Night" finale in a dominant performance in the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports Toyota TRD/Curb Records Bullet/Speedway Toyota. Teammate Tanner Thorson won the pole for the 98-lap race and led the first 21 laps. Bell led lap 22 and Thorson the next six before Bell finally took over. Darren Hagen finished second at the checkered flag ahead of Kyle Larson, Zach Daum and Abreu.

 

            Isaac Chapple finished 13th to win the annual "Don Basile Rookie of the Race" honors.

 

 

FINAL HONDA USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINTS: 1-Rico Abreu-1,045, 2-Christopher Bell-1,035, 3-Tracy Hines-999, 4-Bryan Clauson-954, 5-Zach Daum-865, 6-Tanner Thorson-792, 7-Chris Windom-594, 8-Michael Pickens-499, 9-Dave Darland-452, 10-Tyler Thomas-408.


 

FINAL HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINTS: 1-Ronnie Gardner-774, 2-Trey Marcham-682, 3-Jarid Blondel-651, 4-Alex Schutte-468, 5-Chad Nichols-433, 6-Christopher Bell-389, 7-Shannon McQueen-374, 8-Tanner Thorson-358, 9-Scott Pierovich-340, 10-Nick Chivello-337.

 

FINAL HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET DIRT POINTS: 1-Ronnie Gardner-774, 2-Trey Marcham-682, 3-Jarid Blondel-430, 4-Alex Schutte-415, 5-Christopher Bell-389, 5-Shannon McQueen-374, 7-Tanner Thorson-357, 6-Scott Pierovich-301, 8-Rico Abreu-298, 10-Sean Dodenhoff-283.

 

 

"PR" found on Facebook on 12/3/14:

 

 

SpeedE61@aol.com

2015 scheduling is well under way with many new exciting venues. to ensure Speedways the best possible show we need Quality attendance for the money they are paying us .Here are a few events that need to be booked but i need to know what teams will support these promoters Sept 18 Oswego Speedway  ROC championship weekend  Sept. 20 thunder mountain  Oct 17 Penn can speedway April 25 Mahoning Valley speedway.  These are all $3000 to win events let us know ASAP so we can finish the 2015 Schedule . Thanks Rich

 

Speedway Entertainment
Home of the Slingshot by Tobias
Home of the SpeedSTR
www.speedwayentertainment.com

 

 

 

 

Contact: Chris Dolack

World of Outlaws & DIRTcar PR

704-795-7223 | cdolack@dirtcar.com

 

CBS Sports Network Returns World of Outlaws Racing to Primetime Spotlight on Sunday Evenings in December



NAPA Auto Parts Super Dirt Week kicks off coverage at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday,
Dec. 7, followed on consecutive Sundays by Bad Boy Buggies World Finals

CONCORD, N.C. - Dec. 3, 2014 - CBS Sports Network kicks off three consecutive weeks of broadcast coverage at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, with NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week featuring the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series.

Veteran play-by-play broadcaster Dave Rieff joins color analyst Shane Andrews, the voice of the Super DIRTcar Series, as well as reporters Tony Bokhoven and Bob Dillner to deliver all of action in a two-hour CBS Sports Spectacular showcase from Big-Block Modified racing's biggest annual event.

On Sunday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 21, the Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals takes center stage at 5 p.m. ET for three hour shows. The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws Late Model Series and Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified Series invade the sold-out Dirt Track at Charlotte for the electric, crowd-rousing 2014 season finale weekend.

Rieff and Andrews are joined in the booth by sprint car hall-of-famer Brad Doty as Bokhoven and Bobby Gerould cover the action in the pits.

CBS Sports Network is available across the United States through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. In Canada, CBS Sports Network is available on Cogeco (744), Bell Express Vue (HD 1432, SD 413), Rogers (416), BellAliant (479), Sasktel (425) and Eastlink (134). For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Sunday Broadcast Schedule on CBS Sports Network

DATE

TIME

SHOW

Dec. 7, 2014

6 p.m. 
Eastern

NAPA Auto Parts Super Dirt Week XLIII at the New York State Fairgrounds

Dec. 14, 2014

5 p.m. 
Eastern

Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte

Dec. 21, 2014

5 p.m. 
Eastern

Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte

 

In case the above does not come out:

Dec 7, 2014 - 6 PM Eastern  NAPA Auto Parts Super Dirt Week XLIII at the New York State Fairgrounds

Dec 14, 2014 - 5 PM Eastern - Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Dec 21, 2014 - 5 PM Eastern - Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals at the Dirt Track at Charlotte

 

 

 

 

Tyler Walker - remember him?

 

Arrest warrant issued for ex-driver Tyler Walker.

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/02/nascar-arrest-warrant-issued-for-ex-driver-tyler-walker/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

 

 

 

Coming up:

Indoor Kart Racing!

22ND ANNUAL N. Y. S. INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP

New York State Fairgrounds    •    Syracuse, NY

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Gates open 11 AM, Racing 11 to 5 PM (race times approximate

 

 

Christmas:

 

Yes, it's getting closer and closer.  Here are some links to some websites that might interest you as far as gifts go:

Someone in your family a race driver?  If so, you might want to give this some thought - Insurance - http://www.stida.com/

 

Models & toys:

http://www.davesracing.com/

http://www.hotlapsracin.com/hotparts.htm

http://www.modelroundup.com/category-s/94.htm

 

Books, videos etc:

http://www.coastal181.com/

http://www.emmr.org/

 

Racing papers: 

http://aarn.com/ -A gift to someone for a years subscription is $51.00.  If you go for two gift subscriptions, then the second will cost $49.00

 

To see if you're a racer, or not:

http://speeddls.wix.com/ssspeedways-gokarts

 

Go-Kart stuff:

http://www.tbrwins.com/

 

This week’s photo:

 

As I made mention above, here's a photo of the late Bobby Marshman taken at the Danbury track, during a midget show.

 

 

 

Non racin' stuff:

 

I, like you, get a ton of emails.  Some good, some bad, some not even worth opening.  Over time, we learn what emails we can check out just by who sent them.  Here's one I received this past Tuesday:

 

What really died at Auschwitz?


 

Here's an interesting viewpoint:


 

The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish

writer Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez and published in a

Spanish newspaper on Jan. 15 2011.


 

It doesn't take much imagination to extrapolate the

message to the rest of Europe - and possibly to the

rest of the world.


 

THIS WAS IN A SPANISH NEWSPAPER:

"EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ"

By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez


 

"I walked down the street in Barcelona and suddenly

discovered a terrible truth - Europe died in Auschwitz .

. We killed six million Jews and replaced them with

20 million Muslims. In Auschwitz we burned a culture,

thought, creativity, talent. We destroyed the chosen people,

truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful

people who changed the world.


 

The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life:

  science, art, international trade, and above all, as the

  conscience of the world. These are the people we burned.


 

And under the pretence of tolerance, and because we

wanted to prove to ourselves that we were cured of the

disease of racism, we opened our gates to 20 million

Muslims, who brought us stupidity and ignorance,

religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and

poverty, due to an unwillingness to work and support

their families with pride.


 

They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful

Spanish cities into the third world, drowning in filth and

crime. Shut up in the apartments they receive free from

the government, they plan the murder and destruction of

their naive hosts.


 

And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for

fanatical hatred, creative skill for destructive skill,

intelligence for backwardness and superstition. We have

exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and

their talent for a better future for their children, their

determined clinging to life because life is holy, for those

who pursue death, for people consumed by the desire for

death for themselves and others, for our children and theirs.

 

What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe .

 

A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality

that they imagine America can suffer defeat without any

inconvenience to themselves. Recently, the UK debated

whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum

because it 'offends' the Muslim population which claims

it never occurred. It is not removed as yet. However, this is

a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world

and how easily each country is giving in to it.

 

It is now more than sixty years after the Second World War

in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial

chain, in memory of the six million Jews, twenty million

Russians, ten million Christians, and nineteen-hundred

Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned,

starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated.' Now,

more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the

Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the

world never forgets.


 

This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people.

Be a link in the memorial chain and help distribute

this around the world.


 

How many years will it be before the attack on the

‘World Trade Centre’ 'NEVER HAPPENED' because it

offends some Muslim in the United States ?

If our Judeo-Christian heritage is offensive to Muslims,

they should pack up and move to Iran , Iraq or some

other Muslim country.


 

Please do not just delete this message; it will take only

a minute to pass this along. We must wake up before

it's too late.

 

 

 

This weeks joke:

 

Hmmm, a joke?  Maybe, maybe not.  A lot depends on just how true what follows is:

 

JOE vs. JOSE
You have two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal". Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California ..

Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted.

Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Ready? Now pay attention....

Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00.

Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.0 0 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays medical and dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00.

Jose Illegal has full medical and dental coverage through the state and local clinics and emergency hospitals at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00.

Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps, WIC and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has 9,631 ..00.

Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month Federal Rent Subsidy. Jose Illegal pays out that $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegalstill has $ 31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for car insurance. Some of that is uninsured motorist insurance.Joe Legal now has $7,231.00.

Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal has to make his $7,231.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, etc..

Jose Illegal has to make his $31,200.00 stretch to pay utilities, gasoline, and what he sends out of the country every month..

Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.

Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same elementary school.

Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches, while

Jose Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch.

Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program.

Joe Legal's children go home.

Now, when they reach college age,

Joe Legal's kids may not get into a State School and may not qualify for scholarships, grants or other tuition help, even though Joe has been paying for State Schools through his taxes, while

Jose Illegal's kids "go to the head of the class" because they are a minority.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same police and fire services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Do you get it, now?

If you vote for or support any politician that supports illegal aliens... You are part of the problem!

We need to keep this going--we need to make changes ASAP!

It's way PAST time to take a stand for America and Americans!

What are you waiting for? Pass it on.

 

 

 

 

Until my next column – next week

 

Columns are available on the Dirt Track Digest at:  http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/ (Click on “Recent Columns – and I hope it works!)

 

And:

 

http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

 

 

As usual, I can always be reached via email at ygordad@yahoo.com