Mostly Racin' Stuff

                                                   By Tom Avenengo

                                                      Volume # 207

                                                        01/08/2015

 

 

 

Some personal/family stuff:

 

First off, I sure hope everyone has a Healthy and prosperous New Year, and we all have a better year that the one we just dumped.

 

On Wednesday, December 31st, I saw a new "Primary" doctor.  One of the reasons for the change is because this one is connected with the Lee Memorial Health System, and everything about me is right at his finger tips, via computers.

It was less than a minute of him just observing me that he told me my left side is weaker than my right side.  Hmmm?  Interesting!  Why?  Well one of the main reasons is the possibility that I had a small stroke.  It also, as he said, would affect my walking (it does), among other things.  He strongly suggested I sit down when taking my showers. 

 

As you've already noticed, no longer am I picturing my late wife, Joan, and no more of the "Memories".  Oh, I imagine I'll be making some comments/and my thoughts on my wife.  I think she'd be somewhat pissed if I didn't.

 

Here's one: 

This past Monday we went to Miceli's Restaurant, which is maybe five miles away.  Monday is their Pizza night.  They also have live entertainment there.  On Mondays it's J R Bradford.  He basically sings C&W, 50's and 60's stuff.  The wife would have enjoyed  that - and would have enjoyed watching the women get up and dance to the music.  Funny, that it's basically just women that get up and dance.

 

Also:

 

Last Saturday night, my daughter Sandy, granddaughter Kalina, great grandsons Gavin, Naji & Evan and grandson John went to the Three Palms Speedway.  Admission was still only $5.00 - mainly due to the fact that there are no grand stands there.  Word from the track is "they're coming".  Crowd was quite a bit larger than opening night.  Kalina was rather upset because they didn't have French Fries on their menu!  They still have those three dollar 5" in diameter hamburgers, though - and they sold out on them.  Best we can tell, they're not bought frozen, but

made there on the premises with regular chopped meat.

Also in attendance that night was noted racing driver Buzzie Reutimann.  Buzzie wasn't there to race, but to give laps around the track in a David Reutimann # 00 NASCAR car - well, to those that could pay the fee, of course.  Thinking of all my family and friends up north while at the races and we were in shorts & short sleeved shirts, with temps in the high 70's to low 80's.

Look for a photo of Buzzie in my photo section towards the end of this weeks column - one that was taken at an EMPA Convention a "few" years ago - like in 2006?  Damn but the time flies!

 

So, onto this weeks column:

 

Racin’ stuff:

 

I've been saving up some things over these past couple of weeks.  At this time of the year, there really isn't all that much, racing wise, going on.  Some facts, some rumors, some good and some not so good.

 

A little sad news.

Well known race driver and former OCFS Sportsman Champion, Russ Meyer, as usual, went down to his sons place in Georgia.  While there, he fell and broke a hip, on December 28th.

 

 

From Facebook: 

A message from my Dad:

I would like to inform everyone who knows Jiggs , Russ Meyer race car driver #5, or even known as Charles Mabey that he has fallen and broke his hip in Georgia. We will try to keep everyone informed on his recovery..

 

Update on Jiggs from last night. He's doing good! Surgery was this morning and he's resting and so glad he was able to get some food! Doctor said it was a clean break and the bone stood in place since Friday night! The doctor is very optimistic about his recovery and expects him to do well tomorrow when he has to see how he does at walking and getting up! Tomorrow depends on his therapy decision! He's a very tough and lucky man!

 

Here ya go - where he can be reached:

 

Russ Meyer address.

Charles Mabey C/O Martin Mabey 35 Red Oak Ln Hazelhurst Ga. 31539

 

Note:   At around 12:45 PM on 1/5/15, I tried calling him on his cell.  Message said he wasn't available to answer phone at that time.  I did send him a "Get Well" card with a note with it.  Around 1:00 PM on 1/5/15, he gave me a call. (I had to have given him our phone # in the note).  Yes, he did break (cracked) a hip.  He said he was still in the hospital (re-hab).  He sounded good and was in good spirits.  Yup, he' a tough old bird!

 

Note:  Come to think of it, I have a photo of Russ that was taken at one of the OCFS's "Nostalgia Nights".  Check it out in my photo section.

 

And some more sad news:

Obituary Harry R. "Rick" FLAMMER

FLAMMER

Harry R. "Rick", 64, of Greenwood Lake, NY on Wednesday, December 24, 2014. Born in East Paterson, NJ, he was the son of the late James V. and Edna Mae (Alnor) Flammer. Mr. Flammer was the owner/operator of a Mobil gas station in Hewitt, NJ for many years and was a resident of Greenwood Lake for the past ten years moving there from West Milford. Surviving are two sons, Richard J. and Scott R., three sisters, Patti Flammer , Lynda Flammer and Lorrey Alford all of Florida. Friends may call at the Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford on Tuesday from 5 to 8 PM. Disposition private. richardsfuneralhome.com

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=harry-r-flammer-rick&pid=173643261#sthash.DL90lrKe.dpuf

 

 

Also:

 

Reports: Only manufacturer of NASCAR-themed trading cards may be ceasing operations

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/04/reports-only-manufacturer-of-nascar-themed-trading-cards-may-be-ceasing-operations/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

 

 

Welcome to the EMPA

Eastern Motorsport Press Association

EMPA ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS FOR 2014 SEASON

Ballston Spa, NY - Voting is complete for the awards presented annually by the Eastern Motorsport Press Association, with formal presentations set for the association’s annual convention, to be held Jan 2-4 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Valley Forge, PA.


The newest inductees to the EMPA Hall of Fame will include longtime Thunder Road promoter and ACT series organizer Tom Curley, perennial NHRA champion Frank Manzo, longtime MRN broadcaster Barney Hall and a pair of outstanding drivers who excelled on both dirt and asphalt, Mike McLaughlin and the late Doug Hoffman.

Modified and sprint car hero Stewart Friesen was the runaway winner in voting for the Richie Evans Memorial Northeast Driver of the Year, while Donny Schatz’s dominant World of Outlaw campaign brought him similar honors as the Al Holbert Memorial National Driver of the Year.

Voting for the John Blewett III Young Guns Award presented by New England Fuels was neck and neck throughout the process and ended in a dead heat between two youngsters with tremendous futures. Duplicate awards will be presented to teenager Tyler Dippel and Anthony Perrego, who is barely out of his teens. Both had outstanding dirt track campaigns with Dippel also enjoying success in a series of asphalt ventures

 

 

Former Dirt Oval Racers:

 

Both Tyler Dippel and Anthony Perrego are just two of the many that have honed their skills on the OVRP Dirt Oval, in Karts and/or Slingshots.  Huge congrats go out to both of these youngsters for their accomplishments!

 

At the indoor racing in Trenton, Joe Kata, III was 12th in the Slingshots.

Chris Daley won the Champ Kart race, with Joe Pacovich 2nd  and Cale Ross 4th

 

Tyler Dippel:

 

As many of you know, there have been "discussions" as to just how old Tyler is.  I noticed in one article in the AARN that the writer says that he's been 14 years old for a couple or a few years now, but finally will be 15.  One thing noticeable - he has grown some.  He's quite a bit taller than Anthony Perrego!

 

 

Quick question for ya:

 

Whatever happened to the RTA - Race Teams Alliance in NASCAR?  Remember how they had most every Cup team signed up?

 

Michael Schumacher 'Cries' When He Hears Family's Voices, Is Unable To Move,

Speak:

 

http://www.ibtimes.com/michael-schumacher-cries-when-he-hears-familys-voices-unable-move-speak-report-1772596

 

Ganassi sets lineups for Rolex 24 at Daytona

 

Names:  IndyCar Series champions and Indianapolis 500 Winners Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan join 2014 NASCAR rookie of the year Kyle Larson and All-Star race winner Jamie McMurray in the No. 02 Target/Ford.

Scott Pruett and Joey Hand will team with Charlie Kimball and Sage Karam to form the lineup in the No. 01 Ford.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ganassi-sets-lineups-rolex-24-daytona-224921103--spt.html

 

 

Report: FIA admits rules loophole to allow for 2015 F1 engine development

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/02/report-fia-admits-rules-loophole-to-allow-for-2015-f1-engine-development/

 

 

 

Marco Andretti set for Andretti FE debut in Argentina

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/02/marco-andretti-set-for-andretti-fe-debut-in-argentina/

 

 

Council to hear proposed changes to NASCAR hall loan

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/02/5421267/council-to-hear-proposed-changes.html#.VKdbUCvF8_o

 

 

BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM TO BE SOLD TO WSSU

 

http://yesweekly.com/article-19219-permalink.html

 

 

 

 

Modified Rules Bulletin 2015.

 

Hmmm!  Somehow, I seem to remember DIRTcar wanting to do something so the race fans could distinguish Big Block Modifieds from Small Blocks and both from the Sportsman cars.

Well, in a way, I guess they've done it?  I, like many others, kinda thought that maybe "Sail Panels" might be added to the Big Blocks, at least, back when they were looking for some kind of a change.

The new changes - the letters "B B" on the Big Block car numbers, and the letters "S B" on the Small blocks.  So, all three classes still have the exact bodies.  So, I feel it will still be kinda difficult for "non" fans to tell the three classes apart.

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52788-modified-rules-bulletin-2015/

 

 

 

 

Every year, Chris Romano sends this out to the Yahoo! Race History Group.

 

Apologies for being a bit off topic.  I humbly submit my annual remembrance of those who left us this year.
Join me once more this year remembering those in the sport who left us, for Auld Lang Syne….

Ernie Derr was a 12 time IMCA stock car champion, putting a lock on the division in the years when he raced.  He was 92.  Bud St. Amant, racing patriarch and car owner for his son and ASA champion Gary left us this year at 73.  Al Hammond was a three time Oxford Plains champion with 81 wins, and a Maine Hall of Fame member.  He died this year at 70.  And let’s not forget the Flying Finn, Reino Tulonen of Fitchburg, a cutdown ace in the glory days who died at 89.  John Colby, a southern New Hampshire track regular in the late 60’s died at age 76.  “Lil Dan” Guadiosi, 3 time West Haven Speedway champ left us this year at 88.  Richie Cass, who plied his dirt modified trade mostly at East Windsor died of cancer at 67.  Jim Boniface, veteran New England Pro Stock and Modified driver left us all too soon this year of cancer at age 60.  Bobby Ballantine, veteran dirt Modified and Late Model driver in the mid-Atlantic,  who took a wild flip in the Grand National race at Daytona in 1981 also passed away in 2014, at age 77.  Jim Sauter, 71, veteran Wisconsin short tracker and patriarch of his racing family left us this year.  Peggy Smith, Long Island racer, 59, died of cancer.  She was a Grand Am champion at Riverhead, and the track’s only female champion.  At just 17, Joey Laquerre, a kid with a brilliant stock car future ahead of him in Vermont was killed in an ATV accident. Hudson Speedway champ Ron Normandin was claimed by cancer at 63.  Former Plainville Stadium Modified competitor Elliot Beverage left us this year. Bill Schmitt, a four time Winston West Champion, who won over three decades from the 1970’s to 1990 died this year at age 78.

 

Hoss Ellington, former Sprint Cup car owner, who employed the Allison’s, Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, and Ron Bouchard died this year at 79.  And let’s not forget  Junie Donlavey, 90, veteran independent Cup car owner, who gave a lot of Cup drivers their first rides.  Way before the days of “driver development,” if you wanted to make it in Cup, Junie gave you a shot.  Ray Fox, 98, master NASCAR engine builder, crew chief and car owner left us this year, as did John Chisholm, 68, who built Riverside Speedway in Antigonish, Canada.   Tom Mitchell, owner of Circle Bar racing, active in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions died this year.  Ed Whitaker, a veteran car owner who helped pilot Harry Gant to fame in the Busch Series left us.   Dan Ford, 78, veteran NASCAR and sports car crew chief, worked with the giants of NASCAR and was crew chief for Mario Andretti’s  1967 Daytona 500 win.  Earl Ross, the only Canadian to win a NASCAR Winston Cup race, in 1974 at Martinsville died at age 73.  Glen Borgers, owner of Borgers Speedway in PA died this year.  Lee Allard, a veteran Modified owner whose cars were driven by royalty such as Geoff Bodine and Greg Sacks died of cancer at age 76.  David Riggs, a multi-time Southern Modified champion owner died at 77.  Paul Kuhl, longtime promoter of Flemington Fair Speedway, guiding it from dirt to pavement, to the end, died at age 87.  Bill “Speedy” Smith, founder of Speedway Motors, one of the largest distributors of racing parts died this year at age 84.  As a car owner he won the Nebraska Modified Racing Ass’n championship three times.  Bill Mitchell, who pioneered data acquisition in racing died at 67.  Denny Darnell, longtime publicist who guided public relations for R.J. Reynolds in the heyday of their NASCAR sponsorship died at age 70.

 

Open wheel racing lost Gary Bettenhausen at age 72.  Despite hardship, tragedy, and just plain bad luck Gary B soldiered on to race 21 times at Indy, and was a two time USAC Sprint Car and Silver Crown champion.  Fellow Sprint Car racer Rollie Beale, the 1973 USAC Sprint Car champ died at 84.  At age 90 we lost a giant of the Indy roadster era, A.J. Watson.  It’s fair to call Watson an artist, whose cars were almost too pretty to race.  George Zarounian, a veteran USAC car owner left us at age 93.  Frank Weiss, former supermodified driver, IndyCar driver, and fabricator died at age 69.  Rod Reppert, who drove in ARDC and URC died at age 63.  USAC veteran Sprint Car driver Wib Spalding died at age 81.  Richie “Root Beer” Brannan, expert engine builder, died at 67. At just 42 long time Sprint Car supporter and founder of indianaopenwheel.com Bill Gardner passed away.   Newt White, 1973 UARA midget champion, died at age 80.  Bill Spoerle, a master restorer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, died at age 80.  Bruce Bromme, Jr., died at age 62. He was an SCRA championship winning Sprint Car chief mechanic.  Harvey Lennox, veteran Canadian Supermodified driver left us this year.  John A. Miller, 81, built engines for All American Racers  from 1965 to 1978.  Bobby Unser called him the best ever.

 

It was a tough year for my old friends in the Northeast Midget Association.  Three time car owner champ and former President John McCarthy left us at age 84.  As a kid he played cribbage with Ted Williams while a ball boy for the Red Sox.  He went on to earn an MBA and worked for Wyman Gordon for 29 years.  He fielded the first Lindblad Badger for Dave Humphrey and helped to revolutionize midget racing in the northeast.  He was inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame in 2007.  Bill Estabrook was a long time NEMA supporter, and founded the Johnny Thomson Memorial Award, given for the last time this year. He was 83.  Gig Stephens raced everything that was open wheel, from midgets to Indy Cars in the golden years of roadsters.  Another MBA holder, he was a successful cargo airline founder.  He died this year at age 87. Barbara Dyer-Cullen, a longtime NEMA supporter, especially of her team with driver Brian Cleveland, died at age 67.

 

The straight line set lost Rich Kernodle, Virginia drag racer and engine builder.   Tom Anderson had great success in the NHRA as a Funny Car driver and engine tuner.  Kenny Safford enjoyed success in the 1960’s as a NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car driver.  Jim Cunningham owned and drove Pro Stocks at Mid-Atlantic drag strips, and was a former operator of Capitol Raceway.  He left us this year at age 67.  TJ Reece, drag racer at Coastal Plains, died of natural causes at the track during a meet.  He left us way too soon.  Raymond Beadle, The Blue Max, who began his career in the NHRA and ended it as a NASCAR car owner, a champion in both divisions, died at age 70.  Stuart Williams, founder of Extreme Outlaw Pro Mod Series, died of cancer.  Scott Weney left us too soon at age 55. He was the owner of S&W Race Cars and 2000 IHRA Funny Car world champion.  Dale Armstrong, 73, was a veteran NHRA competitor and crew chief for Kenny Bernstein.

 

US Road racing lost John Bishop at age 87.  The Founder of the Int’l Motor Sport Ass’n, he guided a renaissance of road racing in this country.   Charlie Earwood, 90, veteran SCCA official and former Sebring GM died at age 90.  Clay Young, a two time IMSA Kelly Challenge champion and ARCA racer died at 66 of lung cancer.  Veteran Canadian driver Al Pease, a two time Formula One entrant, left us at age 92.   Bill Morris, veteran SCCA competitor in upstate New York and Dan Carmichael, veteran SCCA Formula Atlantic competitor left us this year.  Dr. Dick Thompson was a multi-time SCCA Nat’l champ,  but known primarily for his talent behind the wheel of Corvettes.  He was inducted into Corvette Hall of Fame in 2000, and died this year at age 94.  Dave Causey died at age 84. He was a long time sports car driver and independent Can-Am competitor.  Veteran independent Trans Am and Can Am  competitor Warren Agor died at age 72.

 

Across the pond we lost Jack Brabham, three time Formula One World Champion and the only man to do it in a car he built.  Black Jack started his career racing midgets on dirt and went on to build a company that not only found success in Formula One, but dominated Formula Two in the 1960’s.  He kicked off the rear engine revolution at Indy in his little Cooper.  His very accomplished life ended at age 88.  Brian Hart, who built engines for Formula One died at age 77.  Emilio Di Guida, a sports car racer in the US and his native Venezuela died of a heart attack at age 50.  Journeyman Luca Moro succumbed at 41 of a brain tumor.  Nigel Stepney was veteran Formula One  mechanic who admitted to providing McLaren with proprietary information from Ferrari during his time there.  The “spygate” scandal effectively ended his F1 career but he went on to a winning career in sports cars.  He died in an auto accident at age 56. Mike Smith, veteran British Touring Car competitor in the 1980’s died at age 59.  Martino Finotto, 1979 European Touring Car champion, and veteran Touring Car and Sports Car driver and owner died of cancer this year at age 80.  Len Terry worked with Colin Chapman designing some of the legendary Lotus cars of the 60’s, and was the man who penned Dan Gurney’s Eagle in 1967, maybe the most beautiful F1 car ever.  He died this year at age 90. John Crossle founded the Formula Ford company that bore his name, and it became springboard for many future champions.  He was 82.  Jonathan Williams barnstormed around Europe in Formula Two and sports cars, and landed one lone Grand Prix for Ferrari.  The raconteur died this year at age 72.  Andrea DeCesaris drove for virtually everyone in the Formula One Paddock, and crashed most of those cars.  The veteran Formula One driver died in a motorbike accident in Rome at age 55.  Francois Guiter, an Elf executive who supported many French F1 drivers passed away this year.  Vale Jim Morton, a fixture in Aussie motorsports and mentor to many Aussie Touring Car competitors died after a brief battle with melanoma.  Jamey Blaikie, 52, a former director of Porsche motorsport in Australia, was killed in an auto accident on Fiji.

 

Death didn’t take a holiday on track in 2014.  Vintage racers had another tough year.  At age 69 Denis Welch died in the crash of his Lotus 18 at Silverstone during a vintage event.  Garry Whyte was killed in the crash of his 1921 Gnome Cyclecar, also in a vintage meet at Silverstone.  Dr. Al Fleming, 69, was killed in the crash of his Lotus Elan at a vintage meet in Hockenheim.  Lee Duran died in the crash of his 1934 MG Special at at Lime Rock.

 

Lamont Freeman-Akins, 48, died in a crash at Maryland International Raceway drag strip.  Jerry Harkrider, 57, was killed in the crash of his Sports Mod at Oklahoma Sports Park.  David Minx, Sr., 34, was killed in the crash of his dragster at Houston Motorsports Park.  Big John Schaak, 52, died of a heart attack after finishing third in the Dillon Motor Speedway street stock opener.  Victor Jimenez was killed  in the crash of his BMW touring car at Mexico City.  Danny Lefebvre, died in the crash of his mini-stock at Cornwall Motor Speedway, Ontario.  Jordan Milarov, 25, was killed in a crash at the Bulgarian Hillclimb Championship.  Scott Semmelmann, 47, died in a Sprint Car crash at Beaver Dam Raceway in Wisconsin.  Gonzalo Clopatofsky Gutiérrez, 36, was killed in the crash of his touring car during testing in Columbia.  Kevin Ward, 20, was killed in an on-track incident at Canandigua Speedway during a Sprint Car event.  And at just 15, Niokoa Johnson was killed in the crash of her car at Bubba Raceway Park in Florida on the second lap of qualifying.  It was her first time in a race car.

 

The fourth estate lost David Farr, SPEARS Southwest Tour late model photographer.  Veteran Florida journalist Marty Little left us all too soon.  Veteran National Speedsport News writer Mardy Buckley died at age 83.  The Voice of Riverside Park, Rollie Jacobs, died at 86.  Gary Lee, veteran broadcaster who together with the late Larry Rice brought us Thursday Night Thunder on ESPN died at 63.  The Voice of Myrtle Beach Speedway, Bobi Summers, left us too soon at age 54.  Eoin Young, chronicled the history of McCLaren, it’s founder Bruce and driver Denny Hulme for many years.  He died at age 75.  Veteran NASCAR reporter Ben Blake died at age 61.  Darin “Mo Dee” “McLaugherty, veteran drag race announcer in Eastern North Carolina passed away suddenly this year.  And let’s not forget actor James Garner, who as Pete Aron in the movie Grand Prix captured the imagination of generations of race fans.  Garner went on to race in the Baja off-road races and owned a Formula 5000 and sports car team, and could always be found at Indy, Raceway Park, and Terre Haute in the Month of May.  His stellar career came to an end this year at age 86.

 

And what will we do without Earl Grant and Irene Venditti.  Earl flagged the first Spring Sizzler and spent many years as the flagman for NEMA.  I got to watch him wave the flags when I covered the club, and he became a life long friend.  It’s not an understatement to say he was a giant on the flag stand.  He took the checkers this year at age 78.

 

If D. Anthony Venditti was the spark plug behind Seekonk Speedway, then his wife Irene was its heart and soul.  Mrs. V. carried on the Konk tradition long after D. Anthony left us, and was the nicest woman in motorsports.  She had a kind word for everyone.  There is a huge void at the little bullring with her passing.

 

So join me in raising a pint, shedding a little tear, and remembering lives well led, for Auld Lang Syne.

 

Joyeux Noel, Bonne Annee.

 

Chris Romano
New Bern, NC

 

 

 

To what Chris sent, we can add these:

 

As always, thanks to Chris for his annual salute. If I might also indulge by going OT aside from the open wheel portion and follow my tradition of noting some other 2014 passings from the racing world, particularly those from the Western U.S.:

 

ROAD RACING

Ronnie Kaplan, 87, ran Ronnie Kaplan Engineering in Oak Grove, Illinois and the factory AMC Javelin team in SCCA Trans-Am competition in 1968 and 1969. Among Kaplan's Javelin drivers were Peter Revson, George Follmer and Bob Tullius.

 

Riddelle Gregory, 86, did not devote his career to racing as his noted brother Masten did, but Riddelle also raced sports cars in the 1950s.

 

Tony Settember, 87, had a lengthy road racing career, beginning in 50s California and continuing through Can-Am and Formula 5000 with a sojourn to F1 and Europe in the early 60s.

 

STOCK CARS

"Leapin'" Lee Havens, 84, is likely one of the least known on this list, but to anyone in the Coloradan Desert area of far Southern California, Arizona and northern Mexico, he was the man to beat. After starting out in open wheelers at San Diego's Balboa Stadium, Havens had a lengthy career as a top-flight dirt tracker in the area with many championships and more wins. I have little doubt he could have been a force had he travelled further afield.

 

Ed Hoffman, 78, was a top late model racer, first in the Chicagoland area, then throughout the Midwest. He raced with USAC, ARTGO and ASA.

 

Roy Trantham, 73, made 6 starts in NASCAR's top series in 1968.

 

Donnie Tilford, 58, was a second generation dirt track late model racer, most notably at California's Placerville Speedway.

 

Ed Spencer, 85, was a force to be reckoned with in Pennsylvania modified racing and father of Jimmy and Paul.

 

Billy Standridge, 60, made 23 starts in NASCAR's top series from 1994-1998.

 

Don Wilson, 83, was a Colorado legend and member of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame. He raced modifieds and midgets quite successfully in addition to late models. Wilson raced throughout the Western U.S. and won several major open competition pavement late model races.

 

Wilbur Rakestraw, 85, long time Georgia racer made 30 starts in NASCAR's top series from 1956-62.

 

George Behlman, 70, San Diego area racer was a top contender during the reign of the tube-framed, fiberglass bodied "super stock" era and ran NASCAR's Western series for a year in the 70s as well.

 

Layman Utsman, 81, only made 3 starts in NASCAR's top series, but like so many of these fellows, had a career far beyond that. He was a top dirt track racer in East Tennessee.

 

Ed Negre, 86, had a career that spanned the country. Beginning on Washington state short tracks, on to IMCA late models and finally, NASCAR's top series, where he made 338 starts as one of the "independent" stalwarts. Negre later fielded a car as an owner and Dale Earnhardt made his debut in Negre's car.

 

Cap Pidgeon, appx. 60, was one of the top stock car racers during the last decade or so of Ascot Park.

 

Rod Eulenfeld, 78, was a Florida short tracker, most notably around Jacksonville, who made 6 starts in NASCAR's top series from 1964-72.

 

Don Tilley, 78, was better known for his involvement with motorcycles and motorcycle racing, but he also made 6 starts in NASCAR's top series from 1964-66.

 

Ron Strmiska, 73, was a rugged and winning pavement late model racer. One had to be to duke it out with the regulars on California's 1/4 mile Stockton 99 Speedway.

 

Fred Zack, 78, another local hall of famer, Zack went from Wisconsin short tracks to some starts in ARCA.

 

Bill Schmitt, 78, was a four time NASCAR Western series champ after moving up from Shasta (CA) Speedway. Schmitt scored top 5 finishes when the national stars ran at Riverside and also raced against them at Ontario, Sears Pt., Phoenix and made one trek to Daytona for the '500'.

 

Leonard Evans, 84, of Wenatchee, Washington, fielded late models for his son Garrett Evans, in the Northwest and around the country.

 

OTHER CATEGORIES

Steve Estes, 65, was involved in racing as a fan, driver, owner and historical preservationist. He was involved with the Racers at Rest Project, which places markers on previously unmarked graves of open wheel racers.

 

Drino Miller, 72, only briefly raced sports cars and off-road, but made his mark building cars and engines, most notably VW engines and buggies for Baja races. He also fielded a VW-powered midget for Roger Mears, Danny McKnight and Sleepy Tripp.

 

Jim Soares, 68, was one of the top dirt track prep men around. Period. He last worked on the clay at Petaluma Speedway in Northern California.

__._,_.___

 

Posted by: jim.thurman@att.net

 

And:

 

Sadly, there are so many passings as our sport moves on, that there is a part two. This time, on-topic and noting open wheel passings.  I sincerely apologize for anyone I missed and hope the short passages (due to already excessive length) do justice to these folks and give an idea of some of their accomplishments in the sport.

 

OPEN WHEEL

George Zarounian, 93, raced midgets, as a driver then many years later as co-owner with son Gary. The Zarounian midget, with "Sleepy" Tripp driving, scored more than 80 wins in USAC Western competition and 11 in USAC National races. The Zarounians also fielded a Silver Crown car that scored 15 wins. Other drivers that raced for the Zarounians included Bud Kaeding, J.J. Yeley, Donnie Beechler and Kasey Kahne.

 

Harold Leep, 81, was a legend in Oklahoma and Kansas, where he dominated super modified racing and went on to become an inductee of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

 

E.J. Dolner, 88, raced in the Midwest before relocating to the Sacramento area.  He fielded winning super modifieds, sprint cars and Silver Crown cars.

 

Edd French, 69, moved from dragsters to stock cars to super modifieds and finally on to sprint cars, where the El Paso, Texas based driver would nomadically run with BCRA, IMCA, NCRA, WoO and ASCS, among others.

 

Chuck Tontz, 90, raced midgets in the Pacific Northwest and was 1961 Oregon Midget champion.

 

Jay East, 86, one of the most popular So Cal racers with fans and fellow racers, East began in jalopies, through the CAR modifieds and into CRA sprint cars, where he won 8 features on both dirt and paved tracks. Jay was remarkably competitive until a 1980 career ending flip at Ascot.

 

Bud Eastin, 76, only raced nine years, but racing super modifieds in Utah in the 60s/early 70s meant going up against some super greats.

 

Charlie Musselman, 86, was a top Pennsylvania sprint racer in the 50s.

 

Jerry Blundy, 86, another Hall of Famer, Galesburg, Illinois' Blundy raced IMCA and won all 3 of the open races at the old California State Fairgrounds (1968-70). A vastly underrated racer with many wins at many tracks.

 

Darrell Dockery, 77, Arizona's Dockery dabbled with Champ Cars, but excelled on dirt in sprint cars. He will be remembered by anyone who saw him as he defined excitement with his gutsy manuevers.

 

Dave Fitzgerald, 57, was a Utah based super modified racer who won the 1985 & 1986 USAC Utah championship and 3 races in USAC's short-lived national super modified series. Tragically, he died in a plane crash.

 

Ron Horton 66, moving from the sportsman at Antioch (CA) Speedway, Horton went on to a standout career in NARC sprint cars in Northern California, posting 16 wins and 9 top 10 points finishes.

 

Ted Foltz, 81, another Colorado Motorsports Hall of Famer, Foltz was best known for his runs on Pikes Peak, where he won the open wheel and stock classes, but Foltz also raced sprints with BCRA.

 

Ernie Lamm, 91, raced hardtops and super modifieds around Sacramento in the 50s/early 60s.

 

Ed Sneva Sr., 85, raced around Spokane, Washington before concentrating on building innovative cars for his son Tom. Ed always came up with interesting, and winning, ideas.

Jim Thurman
Palmdale, California

 

 

 

NORTHEAST: Clock’s Ticking; 2015 Season In Doubt For Waterford Speedbowl

 

http://racechaseronline.com/2015/01/northeast-clocks-ticking-2015-season-doubt-waterford-speedbowl/

 

 

Ex-NASCAR racer pleads guilty in high-speed chase

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ex-nascar-racer-pleads-guilty-high-speed-chase-185552551--spt.html

 

 

 

 

 

A little Chili Bowl info:

 

Go to the link below, and you can get to see just who is racing on what nights.

 

http://www.chilibowl.com/news/?i=26617&clk=featureNews

 

And, as of 1/7/15, there are now 327 cars on the entry list.  Out of all of them, there are five that do not have a driver listed, yet.

 

http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

Back in time:

 

A few things about the first week in January from years back:

 

JANUARY 1 

1945

Jacky Ickx -- Born -- (F1 & Sportscar Driver)

 

1950:

The last midget race was held at Hinchliffe Stadium in Patrson, NJ.  Along with the midgets were stock cars.  It was called "The Gasoline Bowl".

 

1971

Scott Riggs --- Born -- (NASCAR Cup Driver)

 

1981

Mauri Rose ... Died ... Rose won the INDY 500 three times; 1941, 1947 and 1948.

 

 

JANUARY 2 

 

1969

Robby Gordon ..... Born 

 

2003

Leroy Warriner ... Died ... an American racing driver from Indianapolis who attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 every year from 1951 to 1958 without succeeding. 

 

 

JANUARY 3 

 

1915

Joe Sostilio ... Born ... Sostilio raced both sprint cars and midgets.

 

1918

Allen Heath ... Born ... West Coast open cockpit driver who raced for years, despite losing a hand in a racing accident.

 

1926

Mike McGreevy ... Born ... Race car driver.

 

1932

Coo Coo Marlin ... Born ... NASCAR driver and father of NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin 

 

1956

Willy T. Ribbs ... Born ... Sports Car and Indy Car driver

 

1969

Michael Schumacher... Born ... Formula 1 driver

 

1980

Wally Meskowski... Died ... Sprint car builder and Indy 500 crew chief

 

1988

George Rice "Joie" Chitwood ... Died ... American racecar driver and businessman. He is best known as a daredevil in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show.

 

2009

Sam McQuagg... Died ... Sam was the 1965 NASCAR Rookie of the Year. 

 

 

JANUARY 4 

 

1910

Dee Toran ... Born ...( Eastern Midget racer )

 

1967

Donald Campbell killed while attempting to break the world water speed record on Lake Coniston in the UK.

 

1989

Graham Rahal ... Born ... Indy & Road racer. Son of Indy car racer Bobby Rahal

 

 

JANUARY 5 

 

1965

Billy Wade NASCAR Grand National driver, died when his Mercury crashed during Goodyear tire tests at Daytona Intl. Speedway. 

 

2000

Ottis Stine... Died ... Otis was a Pennsylvania Sprint Car driver who was a founder member of the York County Racing Club in 1979. 

 

 

JANUARY 6 

 

1924

Dick Rathmann (Actually it was Jim)... Born ... AAA & USAC driver from the 1940's, 50's & 60's

 

1926

Pat Flaherty ... Born ... He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1950, 1953-1956, 1958,1959, and 1963 seasons with 19 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1950, 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1959. He finished in the top ten 9 times, with victories in 1955 and 1956 at Milwaukee as well as the 1956 Indianapolis 500.

 

1980

Tex Enright ... Died ... Tex was one of the best known starters on the East coast. 

 

1989

Jim Hurtubise ... Died ... An American race car driver who raced in USAC Champ Cars (including the Indianapolis 500), as well as sprint cars and stock cars (USAC and NASCAR). 

 

2000

Sam Schmidt paralyzed after he broke his neck in a crash while testing his IRL car at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Florida.

 

 

JANUARY 7 

 

1968

George Constantine... Died ... F1 driver. Constantine won the SportsCar Race at Watkins Glen in 1956 and NASSAU Trophy in 1959. 

 

2007

Bobby Hamilton... Died ... Hamilton had three wins in the former NASCAR Winston Cup series in a roughly-10-year Cup career, then stepped back to the Craftsman Truck Series and turned his own team into a championship effort, winning the 2004 title. Hamilton died of neck cancer, he was 49.

 

JANUARY 8 

 

1956

USAC.. The United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned its first race, a Midget race indoors on a 1/10 mile oval on the concrete floor of the Allen County Coliseum Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The race was won by Indy 500 veteran Gene Hartley.

 

1978

Bobby Hamilton Jr.... Born ... NASCAR driver

 

 

 

Florida Sprint Car info:

 

Again, special thanks go out to Rich Golardi for his Sprint Car schedules.  Here is a link to it.  Notice the arrows in upper left corner?  Click on the arrow pointing to the right and the next month comes up.

 

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=gc3bg4n941p1mlck9f24232mpc%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Deadline nears for Rockingham Speedway sale: 

Owners have three days to sell the historic Rockingham Speedway or agree to auction off the property in order to avoid foreclosure. The clock is ticking on Superior Court Judge David Lee's October consent order, which set a Thursday deadline for the signing of a sale or auction agreement on the former NASCAR track. The speedway must change hands or go on the auction block by March 15. Unless a last-minute extension is granted, the Oct. 14 consent order calls for a sale or auction agreement to be signed on New Year's Day. As of Monday afternoon, no legal filings in the case had been added since October, according to the Richmond County Clerk of Superior Court's office. Co-owner Andy Hillenburg said in October he hopes to bring racing back to the Rockingham Speedway with the help of the as-yet-unnamed group of investors. If a private sale falls through, the consent order calls for Hillenburg and co-owner Bill Silas to sign an auction agreement. If neither a sale or an auction is scheduled, the foreclosure complaint is likely to come back before the judge.(full story at the Richmond County Daily Journal)(12-30-2014)

 

 

Crew Chief Changes for 2015: 

Many crew chief changes for the 2015 season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the list:
#1-Jamie McMurray: Matt McCall takes over for Keith Rodden who left to head back to Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 team of Kasey Kahne. McCall comes over to CGR from Richard Childress Racing where he was the race engineer for the #31 Chevy of Ryan Newman.
#5-Kasey Kahne: Keith Rodden returns to Hendrick Motorsports after spending a year as Jamie McMurray's crew chief on the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevy. Rodden was a lead engineer with the #5 HMS team for a couple of years before leaving HMS for CGR in 2014. Former long time Kahne crew chief Kenny Francis was promoted to Vehicle Technical Director at HMS.
#6-Trevor Bayne: nothing has been announced, but former Carl Edwards crew chief, Bob Osborne, has been rumored as the crew chief for Bayne. Longtime Roush Fenway Racing crew chief Jimmy Fennig will not be the crew chief as he retired from the road and will work in RFR's shop.
#10-Danica Patrick: Daniel Knost switched crew chief spots with Tony Gibson in October. Gibson moved over to be the crew chief for Kurt Busch on the #41 Chevy.
#11-Denny Hamlin: Dave Rogers comes over from Kyle Busch's #18 Joe Gibbs Racing team, replacing Darian Grubb, who moves to JGR's new 4th team, the #19 JGR team of Carl Edwards.
#18-Kyle Busch: Adam Stevens moves up from JGR's Nationwide Series team to take over for Dave Rogers, who heads to Denny Hamlin;'s #11 JGR team.
#19-Carl Edwards: Darian Grubb moves over from Denny Hamlin's #11 JGR team as Edwards crew chief on the new JGR team in 2015.
#21-Ryan Blaney (part-time team): Jeremy Bullins comes over from Team Penske's Xfinity Series #22 team to replace Donnie Wingo, no word what Wingo's plans are in 2015.
#27-Paul Menard: Justin Alexander took over for Slugger Labbe after Charlotte in October 2014. Labbe was promoted 
#34-David Ragan: TBA - late in the season Jay Guy moved over to Front Row Motorsports #38 team of David Gilliland after crew chief Frank Kerr parted ways with FRM.
#36-Reed Sorenson: no word who will replace crew chief Todd Parrott, who left Tommy Baldwin Racing for a job at Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series program. Also, no official word if Sorenson will return as driver in 2015.
#38-David Gilliland: Jay Guy moved over from Front Row Motorsports #34 team of David Ragan late in the 2014 season after #38 crew chief Frank Kerr parted ways with FRM.
#41-Kurt Busch: Tony Gibson switched crew chief spots with Daniel Knost in October. Knost moved over to be the crew chief for Danica Patrick on the #10 Chevy.
#78-Martin Truex Jr.: Cole Pearn promoted from lead race engineer to crew chief and takes over for Todd Berrier who took a management role at Joe Gibbs Racing.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Greg Ives takes over for Steve Letarte after leading Chase Elliott to the 2014 Nationwide Series championship. Letarte leaves the crew chief ranks and moves into the NBC booth to cover the Sprint Cup Series races in 2015.
See more changes for the teams, sponsors and drivers on the 2015 Team / Driver Silly Season Chart.(12-29-2014)

 

 

Indoor Races at Atlantic City in January: 

Tickets are on sale for the NAPA Auto Parts Atlantic City Indoor Race. The extremely popular two day auto racing event is set to take place on Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31 inside Boardwalk Hall. The event will be the thirteenth running of the Gambler's Classic and will draw over 200 competitors from throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada. "We are extremely excited about this year's Atlantic City Indoor Race," said event promoter Len Sammons. "The event continues to grow year after year and has truly become the mid-winter happening for auto racing and is an event people look forward to all year." Premium front row and lower level tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so those hoping to purchase those seats should act quickly. "The past couple of years the front row has sold out in a matter of minutes," stated Sammons. "That just shows the excitement that exists for this truly unique event." Tickets for the event will be available at the Boardwalk Box Office located right on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-736-1420. For more information visitwww.aarn.com or call the Len Sammons Motorsports office at 609-888-3618.(12-28-2014)

 

 

 

New Sprint CEO involved in soccer: 

 

You may have heard that NASCAR lost its title sponsor the other day, that telecommunications giant Sprint is pulling out of the draft after the 2016 season. What you may not have heard is one of the reasons why: Soccer. Sprint has a new CEO, and while he's from south of the Mason-Dixon line, it's real far south, farther south than Kannapolis, N.C., or even Hueytown in Alabama. Marcelo Claure is from Bolivia. When he became CEO of Sprint in August, it was agreed by a board of directors and stockholders and such that Claure should eliminate 3,700 jobs and $1.5 billion from departmental budgets. Sprint's initial agreement with NASCAR was $750 million for 10 years, so that must have seemed like a good place to start, especially if you're a soccer guy and not a car guy. Claure owns a soccer team in Bolivia and is trying to bring Major League Soccer to Miami. His partner is global soccer icon David Beckham. Ain't that a corner kick to the head? "You certainly don't want to lose a sponsor like that," Las Vegas Motor Speedway president Chris Powell said, "but I don't think this is a comment on the business of NASCAR. I think it's more a comment on Sprint's business. That's what I'm seeing from a distance."(Las Vegas Review Journal)(12-27-2014)

 

 

 Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Bubba Wallace will drive the #6 Ford Mustang for the team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series next season. The signing pairs NASCAR's winningest NXS team with a young driver widely regarded as one of the most talented up-and-coming competitors in NASCAR. The 21-year-old Wallace has posted five wins in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, including four trips to victory lane in 2014.
"I've had a remarkable journey over the last few years thanks to people who have put me in a position to win the races that I have," said Wallace. "When I first joined the sport, many said I would never compete with the real drivers. Now, as I join the winningest team in NASCAR history, I take that as a responsibility to add more wins to the team's legacy and help tear down the barriers for the next generation of NASCAR drivers."(Roush Fenway Racing).(12-18-2014)

 

 

 

From Track Forum:

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

 

Aero kit 2015 Q&A: 'Not going to be a spec car'

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/191266-Aero-kit-2015-Q-amp-A-Not-going-to-be-a-spec-car

 

And, a link to Robin Millers "Mailbag":

 

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/111978-robin-miller-s-mailbag-for-december-24-presented-by-honda-racing-hpd?showall

 

 

 

From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:

 

Sherlock Motorsports closes its doors

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52767-sherlock-motorsports-closes-its-doors/

 

Uh oh - looks like there is a correction that came out on Facebook on 1/2/15:

 

"Whoa whoa whoa! Hold the rumors! We would like to thank everybody who told us NO on the previous status of not racing this season. Our crew would like to let you all know to disregard the last comment because it was a bad hack! But since we are all hearing this we thought now would be the best time to announce that you WILL be seeing the TEN car back and better than ever! Randy Sherlock and his daughter, Erika Sherlock, have joined great forces and they have decided to begin a whole new generation of Sherlock Motorsports racing!! We are all very excited to see what this upcoming season brings!!! Look out for the TEN! Good luck teams!"

 

Note:  As of 1/2/15, I have no idea as to what a "whole new generation of Sherlock Motorsports racing" means.  Same drivers?  Staying with DIRT?  More than likely more on this in the immediate future.

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

This week in the AARN:

 

Jankowiak’s The Best General In Battle Of Trenton Indoor TQ Race

 

URC (The Company) Pulls Plug; URC (The Club) Now In Charge

 

Eastern Motorsport Press Association Convention Held; AARN Staff Members Claim Top Awards

 

Dan Harpell Out At Yates County; Owner Hoag Leases To First Time Promoter

 

Track Mogul Catania Takes Over Ace Speedway In North Carolina

 

Cocopah Winter Heat Sprint Races Snared By Paul McMahan. Kyle Larson

 

Injured Lou Cicconi Resting Comfortably At Home After Trenton Indoor Crash

 

Steel Block Bandit Late Model Series Off For 2015

 

Rookie Long Island NWMT Owner Darrow Set To Name ‘15 Driver

 

RoC Pavement Schedule For ‘15 Includes Lancaster Speedway Starts

 

Also other thing found in the paper:

 

Dan Harpell to focus on new Penn Can promotion.

 

Joey Logano has been added to the list of those that will be appearing at the AARN's Motor Sports show.

 

Matt Hearn will be the crew chief for Tyler Dippel when Tyler runs big block shows.

 

Dippel will not be chasing points down south with PASS.  He will be running the Brett Deyo Series along with DIRTcar events.

 

Anthony Perrego will be running at OCFS on Saturdays.  He will not be rcing at Accord or 5 Mile.  Since OC is no longer DIRTcar sanctioned, Perrego is hoping to run on Fridays at Penn Can, IF Dan Harpell goes with DIRTcar.

He'll not run all of the DIRTcar SDS events, missing those up in Canada.

 

ARDC Midget driver Alex Bright is expected to announce tht he's secured a national Midget ride for USAC and POWRi events for 2015.

 

At Daytona, for ARCA practice, the fastest time was turned in by Sean Corr.  Sean has been a pretty regular competitor at OCFS.  52 cars took time.

 

Per a recent economic impact study conducted by the East Stroudsburg (PA) University Economics Department, the Pocono Raceway has been responsible for $257 million in revenues for the state and local communities, as well as for area businesses, like hotels and restaurants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Facebook  - racing related:

 

Found on 1/5/15:

 

ECS Auto Stores

Ecs is happy to announce that we will be the official parts and tires dealer at Accord Speedway for the 2015 race year! We are looking forward to being there and wish everyone a great season.

 

 

 

 

 Press Releases:

 

Todd Fisher

Contact: Lillian Bell

(717) 292-1696

 

The 32nd Annual Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show in January Will Now Be Two Days

John Krall Named Dirt Trackin’ Show Director

Newberrytown, PA (January 6, 2015) –The doors of the 2-day Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show presented by the Jack Giambalvo Family of Dealerships will swing open on Friday, January 23, 2015 to many race fans, drivers and supporters of local short track racing in the Central Pennsylvania area in York Memorial Hall Expo Center at the York Fairgrounds in York, Pennsylvania.  The planning and organizing of the show has now been set in full motion as the racing seasons of Central PA have come to an end. 

The 32nd Annual Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show at the York Expo Center (Memorial Hall) will begin on Friday, January 23, 2015 (4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.).  Saturday show hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The set-up day will be Thursday, January 22.  

John Krall, a recognized announcer for many local speedways in the past, has been named the Show Director, by Todd and Rhonda Fisher, the show’s producers.  “We are extremely excited to have John on board helping out with the show.  His never-ending enthusiasm will be very beneficial to the show as he loves the local racing industry and many of its personalities,” said Todd Fisher. John will be helping Jaynee Zeigler with the production of the Ms. Dirt Trackin’ and Junior Miss Dirt Trackin’ Contests as well as a Saturday night program featuring the “Families of the Local Racing Scene.”

“Jaynee did a fabulous job with the Ms. Dirt Trackin and Junior Miss Dirt Trackin Contest last year.  She worked very hard and they were very popular with everyone,” continued Fisher.

“The show is a great place for drivers, teams, fans and promoters to come together in one spot,” said Krall.  “I am ready to help make this a fun show for everyone.”

The Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show has been a long standing event in the Susquehanna Valley area since its inception in 1984.  The main focus of the show has always been a preview of the upcoming dirt track seasons at many of the area speedways.  “Years ago, race fans would look forward to being able to get their schedules for the upcoming season and seeing the new paint designs on the racecars.  The internet now allows them to do this well before the show happens,” stated Todd Fisher, show producer.  “That’s one reason we are trying to add more to the show that people cannot get on the internet.  We want to create an atmosphere where fans and participants can come together during the off-season to relive the seasons past as well as looking forward to the upcoming racing season,” he continued.   

 

Many speedways are expected to be on hand to promote their events to race fans for the 2015 season.  Many racers will also be displaying their rides for the upcoming season, showing off their sponsors and new paint schemes.  The cars displayed will include a wide variety of Sprint Cars, Late Models, Stock Cars, Legends Cars, Classic Cars, All American Outlaws, Quarter Midgets, Go Karts and more.   All car judging will be held before the doors open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23.  Awards will include Best of Show; Best Open Wheel; Best Stock Car; Best Late Model; Best Quarter Midget; Best Go Kart and more.  Vehicle display forms are available online and all cars must be pre-registered in order to receive the complimentary weekend passes.

 

One major change coming to the show for 2015 will be replacing the “Best Appearing Car of the Show” award with the “Most Popular Car of the Show” award.  Paying attendees of the show will each receive vote for their favorite car of the show and the winner will receive $1,000.00 for their efforts.   All cars must be pre-entered for the show as space will be limited with the additional activities and displays planned for 2015.  Drivers are also encouraged to set up near their cars to sign autographs and sell merchandise and t-shirts from last year as well as the upcoming year.  There is no charge to the drivers to do this. 

 

The 13th Annual Ms. Dirt Trackin’ contest will be held on Friday night, January 23 at 7:00 p.m. in which the winner will receive $500.00 along with other awards.  The Pageant coordinator will be Jaynee Zeigler (msdirttrackin2011@hotmail.com), a former Ms. Dirt Trackin’ winner from 2011.  All participants must be at least 18 years of age.  Contest rules and entry forms are available online at www.dirttrackinshow.com.  Last year, after 8 years of competing in the competition, Biglerville’s Trish Heller was crowned Ms. Dirt Trackin’ 2014. 

 

For the second year in a row, the Junior Miss Dirt Trackin’ Contest will be on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. for all girls ages 6-12 years old.  Contest rules and entry forms are available online at www.dirttrackinshow.com.  Contact Jaynee Zeigler (msdirttrackin2011@hotmail.com) to enter.  In the inaugural contest last year, Tessa Darrah of Red Lion won the Jr. Miss Dirt Trackin’ Contest with her bubbly personality.  Tessa’s uncle is World of Outlaws Sprint Car driver Cody Darrah who drives for NASCAR’s Kasey Kahne.  Runner ups in the Jr. Miss Dirt Trackin’ contest was Jesse Palm and Bailey Kress who ended in a tie. 

 

Many local drivers will be available throughout the show for autographs and photos in the Autograph Alley during the weekend.  A detailed schedule of drivers will be released in the near future as driver commitment is confirmed. 

 

All weekend, Lynn Schaffer, producer of the popular “Thunder in the PA Mountains” seasonal video, will be showing videos from the past.  A schedule of the videos to be shown will be released in the next few weeks.  Schaffer will also have his newest 2014 Thunder in the PA Mountains dvd on sale.

 

On Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Central PA Bloodmobile will also be on hand accepting blood donations. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive 2 complimentary general admission tickets to races a the Susquehanna Speedway Park for the 2015 season and a t-shirt.  The pair of SSP general admission tickets are valued at $30.00.  For more information, contact the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank at 800-771-0059 or www.cpbb.org.

 

General Admission ticket prices for the show (per day) are Adults (ages 18-59) $12.00; Young Adults (ages 11-17) & Senior Adults (60 & Older) $10.00; Children (10 & under) are free.  All race fans are encouraged to bring a friend and expose them to the excitement of short track racing.

Vendor Booths and displays are still available.  Applications can information can also be found online at www.dirttrackinshow.com. More information about the show and updated forms will be forthcoming and released in the near future.

For anyone wishing to contact the Fishers concerning the show, they may call 717-292-1696 or email sspracing@hotmail.com.

More exciting announcements and surprises will be forthcoming.

Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show Time Schedule

Thursday, January 22, 2015 Time Schedule

(Subject to Change)

10:00 a.m.       Doors Open for Vendor Set-up

  5:00 p.m.       Vendor Hospitality Room Opens – (Networking Among Vendors)

10:00 p.m.       Doors Close for Vendor Set-up

 

Friday, January 23, 2015 Time Schedule

(Subject to Change)

10:00 a.m.       Doors Open for Vendor Set-up:

4:00 p.m.         Show Opens to Public / Doors Open for General Admission: General admission: Adults

(18-59): $12.00; Seniors (60 & older) & Young Adults (11 – 17) $10.00; Children (10 & under) Free.

6:30 p.m.         Meeting for all Ms. Dirt Trackin’ Contestants

7:00 p.m.         Ms. Dirt Trackin’ 2015 Contest (Main Stage – East Building)

7:30 p.m.         “2014 Williams Grove National Open” Video (Video Theater – West Building)

10:00 p.m.       Show Closes

 

Saturday, January 24, 2015 Time Schedule

(Subject to Change)

9:30 a.m.         Doors Open for Vendor Set-up:

10:00 a.m.       Show Opens to Public / Doors Open for General Admission: General admission: Adults

(18-59): $12.00; Seniors (60 & older) & Young Adults (11 – 17) $10.00; Children (10 & under) Free.

10:00 a.m.       Central PA Blood Mobile – Blood Donations Begin (ends at 2:00 p.m.)

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. Seminar #1 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Seminar #2 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

1:00 p.m.         Junior Miss Dirt Trackin’ 2015 Contest (Main Stage – East Building)

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Seminar #3 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

1:00 p.m.         “Stevie Smith Beats WOO at Lincoln May 13, 2014 Features” Video (Video Theater –

West Building)

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.  Seminar #4 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.  Seminar #5 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

3:00 p.m.       “Silver Springs Speedway – A Little Track That Roared” Video (Video Theater –

West Building) – ENCORE PREFORMANCE

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.  Seminar #6 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced

5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.  Seminar #7 – (Seminar Room) – To Be Announced)

6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.  Racing Families /Storytellers  – Part 1 (Main Stage – East Building)

7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.  Racing Families /Storytellers  – Part 2 (Main Stage – East Building)

7:00 p.m.      “STOCK CAR GLORY” Video (Video Theater – West Building)

8:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.  Racing Families /Storytellers  – Part 3 (Main Stage – East Building)

9:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.  Awards Presentation and Closing Ceremonies (Main Stage – East Building)

10:00 p.m.                   Show Closes / Tear-down Begins

 

 

Dirt Trackin’ Show News & Notes

- Date Change of Motorsports Show in Oaks, PA – Although the Motorsports Show producers moved their show to the same date as the Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show, both shows should be fine.  Producers of both show discussed it over the summer when the conflict was discovered.  The Fishers tried to find an alternative but the next available date at the York Fairgrounds was not until mid-April which made it not feasible.  In the past, the two shows have been on the same weekends during a few times and both have continued to survive.  We do not expect any issues this year as well. 

 

- Central PA Bloodmobile Taking Donations on Saturday - On Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Central PA Bloodmobile will also be on hand accepting blood donations.  Everyone who attempts to donate will receive 2 complimentary general admission tickets to races at the Susquehanna Speedway Park for the 2015 season and a t-shirt.  The pair of SSP general admission tickets are valued at $30.00.  For more information, contact the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank at 800-771-0059 orwww.cpbb.org.

 

- New Video Debut of Stock Car Glory - All weekend, Lynn Schaffer, producer of the popular “Thunder in the PA Mountains” seasonal video, will be showing videos from the past on his “Big Screen” in the west hall of the Dirt Trackin’ Show.  A schedule of the videos to be shown include Williams Grove Speedway National Open feature from 2014, Lincoln Speedway WOO feature race from May, 2014.  The Video Theater will also be the first-ever public screening of Lynn Schaffer’s “Stock Car Glory” on Saturday afternoon at 7:00 p.m. featuring the wildest stock car crashes from across the circuit over the past four seasons.  Schaffer will also have his newest “2014 Thunder in the PA Mountains” DVD on sale.

 

“Video Theater” Special Presentations on the Big Screen (West Bldg.)

 

Friday (7:30 p.m.): 2014 Williams Grove Speedway National Open (by Sports Plus Video) –

Outlaw regular David Gravel wins in a bit of an upset, but local Stevie Smith and PA Posse fans are not happy. 

 

`           Saturday (1:00 p.m.): Lincoln Speedway May 13, 2014 WoO Feature (by Sports Plus Video) –

Local Stevie Smith driving Fred Rahmer’s car defeats the Outlaws in an exiting feature event.

 

Saturday (3:00 p.m.): Silver Spring Speedway – A Little Track That Roared (by Lynn Schaffer

Productions) – For years, you could set your clock by this 7:00 pm starting time at Silver Spring Speedway.  Sadly, this fan favorite was replaced by a shopping center after its 2005 season, but Dirt Trackin’ Patrons can view this encore public screening.

 

Saturday (7:00 p.m.): Stock Car Glory (by Lynn Schaeffer Productions) – The wildest stock car

crashes from across the circuit during the last four years.  This JUST RELEASED 7th edition of heavy metal mayheim is 90 minutes long. 

 

When there are no special videos on the “Big Screen,” Lynn Schaffer’s 2015 THUNDER IN THE PA MOUNTAINS video will be shown along with a diverse collection of local dirt track videos on several smaller screens.  The video will also be available for purchase during the Central PA Dirt Trackin’ Show. 

 

 

- Author Book Signing at Dirt Trackin’ – Kart and Sports Cars driver Larry Mellott, author of the racing novel, Speedway Summer, will be available all weekend to sign copies of the book he penned about the racing experiences of Brock Lockeman as he enters the world of motorsports in karting.  Mellott also wrote Project Orion.  Mellott will have his SCCA racer, a 1985 Lynx Formula Vee sports car, on display as well.  Mellott will have a new book to debut at the show this year as well. 

 

Ms. Dirt Trackin’ Contest Winners

2003: Cara Foss (Cherry Hill, NJ)

2004: Lynne Bruyn (Tower City, PA)

2005: Ashleigh Mull (York, PA)

2006: Beth Christine (Manchester, PA)

2007: Alyssa Sharman (Sinking Spring, PA)

2008: Lindsay Krug (Hanover, PA)

2009: Loralyn Brinster (Sussex, NJ)

2010: Arynne Moody (Dover, PA)

2011: Jaynee Zeigler (Thomasville, PA)

2012: Kimmie Trout (Reading, PA)

2013: Brittany Coleman (Mt. Airy, MD)

2014: Trish Heller (Biglerville, PA)

2015: To be determined on Friday, January 23, 2015

 

Junior Miss Dirt Trackin’ Contest Winners

2014: Tessa Darrah (Red Lion, PA)

2015: To be determined on Saturday, January 24, 2015

 

 

 

Devil’s Bowl Speedway Reveals Diverse 2015 Schedule

Asphalt and dirt events run May to October in 49th season

 

WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has released an exciting new 19-event stock car racing schedule for its 49thseason in 2015, providing something for fans of all types of action.  From May to early October, 14 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events will be contested on the half-mile asphalt oval with an expanded five-event slate on the new one-third-mile clay surface on The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl.

The racing calendar was built with the changing schedules and budgets of race fans, families, and teams in mind, and works hand-in-hand with sister track Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY as well as other area raceways.  Devil’s Bowl and Airborne will run on alternating Saturday nights in the spring before regular Friday night racing begins after many of the area’s high schools conduct graduation ceremonies.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season opens with a bang on Saturday night, May 9 as the headline Bond Auto Parts Modified division runs a 100-lap race with the Late Model, Renegade, and Mini Stock classes also in action.  The Renegades take their turn at center stage on Saturday, May 23, running their first-ever 100-lap race at Devil’s Bowl.

June comes in like a lion with a big weekend on June 6-7.  The American-Canadian Tour Late Models return for their first-ever under-the-lights race at Devil’s Bowl on Saturday night, June 6, with the People’s United Bank 100.  On Sunday, June 7, The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl opens for an afternoon special with Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini Stocks slinging mud and flying sideways through the turns.

Weekly Friday night asphalt racing fires up on June 19 with twin Modified features and a special appearance by the New England Antique Racers.  Independence Day weekend is jam-packed with the annual Coca-Cola Firecracker special on the asphalt on Friday, July 3 and the Sprint Cars of New England tour invading The Dirt Track on Sunday, July 5. Both events will feature extra-distance racing and holiday fireworks.

The double-points Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships will be held on the asphalt on Friday, July 10 before the track goes dark for the annual mid-summer break.  Weekly Friday night racing returns on July 24 as the open-wheel Valenti Modified Racing Series makes its first Devil’s Bowl appearance with “drivers who live by the grace of God and 600 horsepower.” Late-summer highlights also include C.J. Richards Memorial Weekend events on Friday, August 7 (asphalt) and Sunday, August 9 (dirt), and the annual Sugar & Spice Restaurant “Double Stack” Night on the asphalt on Friday, August 28.

As fall approaches, the annual Vermont 200 Weekend crowns champions in all four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series asphalt divisions, with qualifying and the region’s biggest racing party on Saturday, September 12.  Main events include a 100-lap Late Model race and twin 50-lap Modified features along with Renegade and Mini Stock championship finales on Sunday, September 13.  The Dirt Track wraps up the season with back-to-back events on Sunday, September 27 and Sunday, October 4, with the exciting details for both events to be released at a later date.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will honor its top drivers from 2014 at the Banquet of Champions at the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington in Rutland, VT on Saturday, January 31. Tickets are available by calling (802) 265-3112 or visitingwww.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.  For hotel information, including room reservations, contact the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington toll-free at 1-800-462-4810 or visit www.hivermont.com.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4.  For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.  Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook atfacebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

 

DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY

2015 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)

 

No.      Day     Date    Track                                       Event                                                                          

--          Sun      4/26     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Open Practice

1.         Sat       5/09     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Season Opener – Modified 100

2.         Sat       5/23     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Renegade 100

3.         Sat       6/06     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          American-Canadian Tour People’s United Bank 100

4.         Sun      6/07     The Dirt Track                         Dirt Track Season Opener

--          Fri        6/12     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Open Practice

5.         Fri        6/19     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Modified Double Features/NEAR Antique Racers

6.         Fri        6/26     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          “Hometown Heroes” Night

7.         Fri        7/03     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Coca-Cola Firecracker

8.         Sun      7/05     The Dirt Track                         SCoNE Sprint Cars

9.         Fri        7/10     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships

--          Fri        7/17     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Summer Break (No Racing)

10.       Fri        7/24     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Valenti Modified Racing Series 100

11.       Fri        7/31     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Kids Racecar Rides

12.       Fri        8/07     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          C.J. Richards Memorial – Modified 67

13.       Sun      8/09     The Dirt Track                         C.J. Richards Memorial – SCoNE Sprint Cars

14.       Fri        8/14     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Street-Legal Spectator Races

15.       Fri        8/21     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Brown’s Quarried Slate/Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand Night

16.       Fri        8/28     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Sugar & Spice “Double Stack” Night

17.       Sat       9/12     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Vermont 200 Weekend – Qualifying

Sun      9/13     Devil’s Bowl Speedway          Vermont 200 Weekend – Main Events

18.       Sun      9/27     The Dirt Track                         Special Event TBA

19.       Sun      10/04   The Dirt Track                         Special Event TBA

 

-30-

Contact: Justin St. Louis, Media Director                                                                                                                         Email: devilsbowlspeedway@gmail.com

Cell Phone: (802) 355-3282                                                                                                                                Track Information Line: (802) 265-3112

 

 

 

This week’s photo:

 

This photo was taken a few years ago at an EMPA Convention - the year Buzzie was inducted into the EMPA's Hall of Fame.  I was able to get quite a nice interview with him the night before he was due to leave and fly back down to Florida.  A very humble and down to earth guy, that's for sure!

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\2006-01-29, EMPA Convention\EMPA Convention 007.jpg

 

And, the photo of Russ Meyer - He's the one shaking hands with a fan

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Nostalgia night\Nostalgia night 005.jpg

 

 

Non racin' stuff:

 

 

Hobby Lobby May Close All 500+ Stores in 41 States

 

http://gopthedailydose.com/2014/01/24/hobby-lobby-may-close-500-stores-41-states/#

 

 

This UCLA Professor Called Racist For The Horrible Thing He Did To A Black Student

A UCLA professor was called racist, and guilty of a “micro-aggression” against black students for correcting grammar and spelling issues on their papers. A protest was organized and students claim the professor has created a hostile climate on campus for his actions.

Val Rust, a professor of education and information, was the target of the protestors for what they feel was racial insensitivity. Describing themselves as “aggrieved minority students,” they claim that the professor was wrong to correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar in the papers of black students.

Call 2 Action: Graduate Students of Color, the group which launched the sit-in, said the act of correcting a black student was “micro-aggression.” But it’s much worse than you think. The group issued the following statement:

“A hostile campus climate has been the norm for Students of Color in this class throughout the quarter as our epistemological and methodological commitments have been repeatedly questioned by our classmates and our instructor. The barrage of questions by white colleagues and the grammar ‘lessons’ by the professor have contributed to a hostile class climate.”

 Question is how will these people function in the real world?

Here’s How Much Each State Pays Out for Welfare… Pass This Along [INFOGRAPHIC]

 

http://conservativetribune.com/state-spending-welfare-infographic/

 

Note:  The above could almost be put into my "This weeks joke" section.  Remarkable when one looks at those figures.  Most make more than I do, with my tiny pension and Social Security.

 

 

 

 

 

This weeks joke:

 

 

Conundrums...

 

    The definition of the word "conundrum" is: something that is puzzling or confusing. 

 

     "A gun is like a parachute. If you need one and don't have one, you'll probably never need one again." 

 


     Here are six conundrums of socialism in the United States of America: 
 
     1. America is capitalist and greedy, yet half of the population is subsidized. 

 

     2. Half of the population is subsidized, yet they think they are victims. 

 

     3. They think they are victims, yet their representatives run the government. 

 

     4. Their representatives run the government, yet the poor keep getting poorer. 

 

     5. The poor keep getting poorer, yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about. 

 

     6. They have things that people in other countries only dream about, yet they want America to be more like those other countrie s. 

 

     Think about it! And that, my friends, pretty much sums up the U.S.A. in the 21st century. 

 

     Makes you wonder who is doing the math. 

 

     These three, short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment: 

 

     1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. 

 

     Funny how that works. And here's another one worth considering... 

 

     2. Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. But we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money? What's interesting is the first group "worked for" their money, but the most in the second group didn't. 

Think about it.....and last but not least, 

 

     3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, there are no pay raises for our military, and we are cutting our army to a level lower than before WWII, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegals.

 --

 

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