Mostly Racin' Stuff  

By Tom Avenengo  

Volume # 208  

01/15/2015

 

 

 

 

Some personal/family stuff:

 

Had my daughter Sarah down for the weekend.  Was great seeing her, even if it was only a couple of days.  She isn't all that far away, living in North Port, Fl.  We reminisced about things from back in the day.  She's our youngest, having been born in 1973.  Jeez, even she's getting up in years now.   At one time or another, over the course of these winter months, we'll get to take in a race together.

 

Note:  I have no idea as to why some of the links in my column don't take you directly to the subject, but have to be copied and pasted, to view what is linked to.  Something to do with this new computer, I guess?

 

 

Racin’ stuff:

 

Start times finalized for Daytona Speedweeks, including Rolex 24 and Daytona 500

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/09/start-times-finalized-for-daytona-speedweeks-including-rolex-24-and-daytona-500/#comments

 

 

IndyCar: Homologation looms for aero kits

 

http://www.crash.net/indycar/news/212906/1/homologation-looms-for-indycar-aero-kits.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

 

 

The problem with stock car racing

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-problem-with-stock-car-racing-1678816526

 


Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club

2015 Tentative SCHEDULE 
for Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club

March 21-22 OCFS Motorsports, Show Middletown NY (display)

May 2 Rhinebeck Antique Auto Show, Rhinebeck NY (display)

May 9 Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown NY (race)

June 6 Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown NY (race) “NOSTALGIA NIGHT”

June 7 Dutchess County Sports Museum, Wappinger Falls NY (display)

June 12 Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta NY (race)

June 13 Lebanon Valley Speedway, West Lebanon NY (race)

July 4 Bethel Motor Speedway, White Lake NY (race)

July 18 Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown NY (race)

July 31 Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Fultonville NY (race)

August 1 Fonda Speedway, Fonda NY (race)

August 14 Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta NY (race)

August 15 Orange County Fair Speedway, Middletown NY (race)

September 5 Bethel Motor Speedway, White Lake NY (race) “NOSTALGIA NIGHT”

October 10 I-88 Speedway, Afton NY (race)

Note: Always check hosting speedway for cancellations due to weather. Schedule subject to change without notice. Club contact: Ed Stevens 845-386-3484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little Chili Bowl info:

 

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

 

As for watching it - for $25.00/night or $99.00 for 5 nights it will be available on RacinBoys, if you don't have MVTV.  MAVTV will start telecasting on Saturday, and when they do, Racin'Boys will end their coverage.

 

From South Jersey Dirt Racing:

Racinboys webcast ends when MavTV takes over starting with the Saturday night c-main.

For those who don't have MavTV, that's where they are going run into issues trying to view the rest of the Chili Bowl online.

 

Special thanks to those that post short Chili Bowl videos on Facebook, and also to those on Facebook (Chili Bowl Nationals) that keep us up to date as to what's happening - for those that don't watch on RacinBoys.

 

 

 

 

Back in time:

 

Covering some of the racing happenings from January 9th to January 18th:

 

JANUARY 9 


1938

Karl Busson ..Born .. USAC Sprint Car driver

 

1959

Mark Martin ..Born .. NASCAR driver

 

1960

Russ Klar won the TQ Midget race at the Teaneck Armory, Teaneck, NJ. 

Race report:  http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/report/1_9_60-1.html

Note:  I guaranty that my wife and I were there that night.

 

1965

Russ Gamester ..Born .. USAC Midget and Silver Crown driver

 

JANUARY 10 

1921

Rodger Ward... Born ... USAC Midget and Indy car driver. 2 time Indy 500 winner, 1959 & 1962

 

1940

Harry Gant... Born ... NASCAR driver.

 

1953

Bobby Rahal... Born ... Indy car driver.

 

1958

Eddie Cheever... Born ... Indy car driver.

 

1959

Larry McReynolds ..Born

 

JANUARY 11 

1923

Carroll Shelby... Born

 

JANUARY 12 

1879

Ray Harroun... Born ... winner of the first Indianapolis, 500 was born in Spartanburg, Pennsylvania.

 

1928

Lloyd Ruby... Born

 

JANUARY 13 

 

1959

Ernie Irvan... Born

 

1990

John Heydenreich won the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at the Expo Square in Tulsa, OK.

 

2007

Danny Oakes... Died

 

 

JANUARY 14 

 

1982

Johnny Matera ... Died ... AAA driver from the 1930's and 40's.

 

JANUARY 15 

 

1919

Bill Stroppe... Born ... Car builder and off-road racer

 

 

JANUARY 16 

1930

Rollie Beale... Born

 

1935

A.J. Foyt... Born ... Considered by many as the greatest American automobile racing driver of all time.

 

1944

Bill Tempero ... Born

 

2007

Benny Parsons... Died

 

 

JANUARY 17 

 

1936

Mickey Rupp... Born ... Started the Rupp Kart Co. in 1959 that lasted until 1978. Drove USAC Sprints & 1 Indy 500 (1965)

 

1994

Andrew Craig was hired as President and CEO of CART.

 

2000

Carl Forberg... Died ... Midget driver, midget and sprint car owner, and Duane "Pancho" Carter's father-in- law

 

 

JANUARY 18 

 

1932

Johnny White... Born

 

1940

Pedro Rodriguez... Born ... F1 and sports car racer.

 

1945

Jimmy Caruthers... Born

 

1950

Gilles Villeneuve... Born ... F1 driver

 

1971

Christian Fittipaldi... Born

 

 

 

 

Florida Sprint Car info:

 

Well, some sh*t hit the fan this past week concerning sprint car racing in Florida.  Years ago I met up with a Richard Golardi when I was down in Florida, and going to a few races down there.  He wanted to "tag along" with me to see just what one did when writing about racing.  He has since become an excellent motor sports writer, mostly about the sprint car scene in Florida.   His "stuff" comes out on the Hoseheads website.  He had this the other day:

 

The End of the TBARA?

 

In part:

"Today, Saturday January 10th at 12:07 PM was another such moment. That time marked the conclusion of a TBARA Officer Election Meeting held in Tampa. The meeting lasted a little over one hour, but apparently will herald major changes for all pavement sprint car racing in Florida. By a vote of fifteen to two, the members present at this meeting voted to cancel the 2015 TBARA racing season, putting all TBARA racing on hold for now. 

 

I have learned that a phone call was made immediately at the end of the meeting to an interested out of state party. That person was Davey Hamilton. Hamilton is the organizer of the King of the Wing pavement sprint car series, which held six races in 2014.

 

My source, present at the meeting, has informed me that some pre-planning has already occurred for a King of the Wing Southeast Series, to include five tracks, and as many as two or three races at each Florida track. The tracks mentioning included Three Palms Speedway (Punta Gorda), Desoto Speedway (Bradenton), Showtime Speedway (Pinellas Park), Citrus County Speedway (Inverness), and New Smyrna Speedway (New Smyrna Beach). New Smyrna Speedway already has two Speedweeks races scheduled in February, ready to be reassigned to a new sanctioning body."

 

http://www.hoseheads.com/richard.html

 

 

Florida "Eagle Jet Top Gun" Sprints

 

Schedule - as of 1/12/15:

Jan 30 & 31 East Bay

 

    Feb 14 & 15 Golden Isle

 

Mar 7 Hendry County

           Mar 13, Bubba Raceway Park

Mar 21 East Bay

Mar 28 Volusia

 

Apr 10 Bubba

Apr 18 Hendry

May 9 Volusia

May 16 East Bay

 

June 20 Volusia

 

July 3 Bubba

July 25 Volusia

 

Aug 28 Bubba

 

Sep 5 Hendry

 

Oct 3 Volusia

Oct 24 East Bay

Oct 30 Bubba

 

Nov 21 Hendry

Nov 29 Bubba

 

Dec 5 East Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Michael Andretti would welcome Kurt Busch back for another Indy 500: 

 

Despite his latest issues involving a domestic violence allegation from former girlfriend Patricia Driscoll, NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver Kurt Busch would be welcomed back to Andretti Autosport in the 99th Indianapolis 500, team owner Michael Andretti told FOXSports.com. Andretti has told Busch he can drive for his Verizon IndyCar Series team "any time" and stands behind that promise for the 99th Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2015. "I am a big supporter of Kurt and if we are able to put a deal together for him to run the Indianapolis 500 I will still run him," Andretti told FOXSports.com. "He did a great job at the Indy 500 last year. Right now, our focus is on putting a fourth car together but there is still a possibility for something to come together for Indy. I would love to do it with Kurt Busch again. He was a pleasure to work with." Busch was the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after starting 12th and finishing sixth at the 2014 Indy 500 - completing all 200 laps. He was the first true NASCAR driver to win Rookie of the Year since Donnie Allison in 1970, who finished fourth in the 500-Mile Race. "We want to have a fourth full-time car. That's our goal. We are working very hard to get to four cars. My ultimate goal is to run five cars for the full year but, if we don't, we want to do a one-off at Indy at least and, if we can put something together with Kurt Busch, we would love to do it. He was a real professional and learned a lot to the point where I think he would be a real factor in the race if we put something together. He did a hell of a job last year without experience. Now, with one more year of experience, I think Kurt Busch could be a real factor in the Indianapolis 500 in 2015."(FoxSports)(1-9-2015)

 

Reserve your camping spot at New Hampshire: 

Reserved camping makes it easier than ever to start a party with your friends. The NHMS team has worked hard to improve the camping experience for our guests. Changes include transitioning all camping spaces into reserved, widening spaces from 18 feet to 20 feet and reducing prices for designated spaces. Calls to reserve spaces will be processed starting on January 12 at 9:00am. The NHMS Guest Services team is available to help campers through the process and reservations will be processed in the order they are received. Please call (603) 783-4931 for personal assistance. Spaces can be combined to accommodate units of different sizes in order to allow groups to camp together. Any claimed spaces that are not paid for or on a payment plan by January 30 will become available to the general public.(NHMS)(1-9-2015)

 

 

North East Motor Sports Museum to be built at NHMS: 

 

The south entrance of New Hampshire Motor Speedway will begin to take on a new look once the snow melts. Speedway officials announced plans to break ground there for the future home of the 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North East Motor Sports Museum. The museum will be built in two phases. The first 10,000 square feet will begin in the spring of 2015, while an additional 10,000 square feet will be added at a later date. New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be celebrating a quarter century of racing in 2015. Tracing its roots back to the original 1/5-mile dirt oval at Bryar Motorsports Park, the more modernized 1.058-mile oval and 1.6-mile road course of today gives the affectionately known Magic Mile its own rich history of racing that makes it the perfect locale for such a project. The speedway currently hosts everything from NASCAR's three major touring series to regional series like the American-Canadian Tour, K&N Pro Series East, and Whelen Modified Tour to local racing series like the Granite State Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Loudon Road Race Series (motorcycles). IndyCar and the Global RallyCross Championship have also held events at the speedway over the years, as well as various car clubs, racing schools, and driving experiences. The RHPG, the parent corporation for the NEMSM, is made up of local prominent motorsports personalities, including Dick Berggren, Ricky Craven, Lew Boyd, Joe Freeman, Ken Smith, Russ Conway and Ric Mariscal to name a few. The NEMSM will be used to house the history of motorsports from the Northeast area with a plethora of displays, vehicles and racing-related artifacts. To learn more about the North East Motor Sports Museum or to donate, visit the museum website at www.nemsmuseum.com.(NHMS)(10-28-2014)

 

Note:  Yes, that above, about the museum, is old news, but I'm proud to say that I was able to write up and send some photos to Mr. Berggren about the ARDC Midgets when they raced up in New England, and have it put into the book "A History of Auto Racing In New England".

 

 

Jeff Gordon in the #46? 

 

What might have been? All those #24 tattoos vowing allegiance to Jeff Gordon would have never decorated torsos, arms and legs. Those #24 diecast cars would have never been made. And a losing streak of epic proportions would have continued. Yes, Jeff Gordon's car number was to have been #46. You know that if you saw the jaw-dropping tweet from Ray Evernham, Gordon's former crew chief, that showed two pictures of Rainbow-colored race cars with the #46 on the door instead of the #24. But that is only part of the story. You likely haven't heard the whole story of how one of NASCAR's greatest drivers nearly had a number that has had little significance throughout sports.
Gordon joined Hendrick Motorsports in 1992 and the plan was to run the #46. Hendrick used that number for one race in 1989 and another in 1990 with Greg Sacks driving a car to film racing scenes for "Days of Thunder." Cole Trickle (played by Tom Cruise) drove the #46 car in the movie. An issue arose when John Bickford, Gordon's stepfather, looked into trademarking the #46. Bickford sought to create a licensing program around Gordon but discovered that Paramount Pictures had secured the licensing rights for that number for toys, apparel and other souvenirs affiliated with the movie - released two years before Gordon's series debut. Bickford told Hendrick Motorsports officials that they would have to change the number to something other than 46.
"They went through a series of numbers available from NASCAR, presented those numbers to Rick (Hendrick) and Jeff," Bickford said told Motor Racing Network. "What our thinking was we wanted a number that had no real historical connection to anything, certainly wasn't going to have any licensing problems. The #24 sat there and it had no significant relevance to the industry." The #24 had never won a race in NASCAR's top series.
The next issue was the paint scheme. The Rainbow theme was there but Evernham said that the middle of the car was black not blue. That's how artist Sam Bass originally drew the car. Bickford recalls that DuPont officials wanted more than just drawings to see how the car looked, so the team painted a couple of cars and kept them locked behind closed doors since Gordon's debut had not been announced. Photographs of the car were sent to DuPont and then company officials came to Hendrick Motorsports to inspect the car. That leads to the photographs of a #46 Rainbow-colored car Evernham posted this week. It came from a fan. Evernham admits he forgot about the number and the story behind it until seeing the pictures.(
Motor Racing Network)(1-8-2015)

 

 

Charlotte City Council to hear proposed changes to NASCAR HOF loan:

 

Efforts to persuade two banks to forgive a $19.1 million loan to the city of Charlotte that helped build theNASCAR Hall of Fame appear to have made progress, with City Council members set to hear about "proposed amendments" on Monday to that agreement. On Friday, Deputy City Manager Ron Kimble wouldn't talk about the proposed amendment or the negotiations, saying council members needed to be updated first on the so-called sponsorship loan and another agreement concerning NASCAR royalties. But an agenda item that Kimble wrote for Monday's meeting suggests that some agreement has been reached, with council members hearing the proposed changes. They won't take action until their Jan. 12 meeting. In November, the Observer reported that the city and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which manages the racing museum, had begun negotiations with Wells Fargo and Bank of America to forgive the loan. Growing to $21 million with interest, it was supposed to be repaid from the sale of sponsorships and commemorative bricks. Yet money from those two sources hasn't come close to paying off the loan. When the hall opened in 2010, NASCAR was supposed to get royalties on such items as tickets, T-shirts, and food and drinks - but only if the museum was making money. The facility has lost money, according to the CRVA. It lost $1.4 million for the fiscal year that ended in June, and $1.6 million the previous fiscal year. But CRVA leaders are hopeful that the hall's finances are stabilizing with attendance essentially leveling off. Still, no royalties to NASCAR have been paid.(full story at the Charlotte Observer)(1-4-2015)


UPDATE: 

The city of Charlotte has proposed making a one-time payment of $5 million to Bank of America and Wells Fargo on a construction loan for the NASCAR Hall of Fame - but the banks would be required to write off the rest of a $19.1 million loan. In addition, NASCAR has agreed as part of the plan to waive $3.2 million in past royalties it was supposed to receive from the racing museum. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which operates the city-owned hall, hasn't been able to pay NASCAR any royalties on ticket sales, merchandise, and food and beverages because the hall has been losing more than $1 million a year since it opened in 2010. The proposal is part of a city plan to get out of about $22.8 million of NASCAR hall obligations. If the deal is approved, the hall would also be given a break from future payments owed to NASCAR. The City Council, which heard the proposal Monday, will vote on the loan modifications next week. But even if the agreement is approved, the hall is still estimated to lose between $200,000 and $500,000 a year in the future. The hall was supposed to attract 400,000 visitors a year. Last year, it attracted 170,000 people. CRVA chief executive Tom Murray said he's confident that annual financial losses can be eliminated eventually. The $5 million payment to the banks would come from the city's hospitality taxes, which are levied on hotels and motels, as well as restaurant and bar tabs. Under the original agreement, NASCAR was supposed to receive as much as 10% from hall revenues. Because the hall wasn't making money, those payments haven't been made. In addition to wiping out past royalty payments, NASCAR agreed that its future royalty payments would be cut to 3% of revenues. But those royalties are only paid on hall revenues over $10 million.(Charlotte Observer)(1-6-2015).

 

Note:  Might you have any idea just where that HoF is located?  How about in basically the middle of Charlotte!  Why some genius figured it out to put it there instead of maybe in Mooresville, is beyond me.  No wonder they lose so much a year.

 

 

Charlotte city council approves changes to NASCAR Hall of Fame loans 

 

NASCAR Hall of Fame loan debt forgiveness was discussed Monday night by the Charlotte City Council. The issue was whether to approve an agreement with Bank of America, Wells Fargo and NASCAR to forgive more than $22 million in debt from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Under the agreement, the city will pay the two banks $5 million. In exchange, the banks will write off $14.1 million in principal and $3.5 million in accrued interest. In addition, NASCAR will waive $3.2 million in royalties that it's owed since the hall opened in 2010. The hall hasn't been able to pay those royalties because the hall has lost more than $1 million a year each year. In the future, NASCAR agreed to reduce the amount of royalties it's owed from as much as 10 percent on hall sales to 3 percent. The city doesn't have to pay royalties until the hall makes $10 million in annual revenue, which hasn't yet happened. The City Council voted 10-1 to approve the deal. Republican Kenny Smith voted no. After the vote, Smith said the primary benefit to the city was to "end operational discussions" about losses at the hall. Other council members defended the terms of the deal, saying the city, the banks and NASCAR all shared in the pain.(Charlotte Observer)(1-13-2015)

 

 

Several NASCAR connections in the Chili Bowl: 

 

Three Sprint Cup drivers are among those with NASCAR ties entered in this week's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, one of the biggest annual events for racers of sprint midget cars. Cup drivers #42-Kyle Larson, #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JJ Yeley will compete in the event at the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa. Qualifying races to set up the lineups for Saturday's championship day will run Tuesday-Friday for the more than 300 drivers in the event. Larson, Stenhouse and Yeley also will compete in a 16-driver invitation-only all-star event Tuesday night. Among those in the invitation-only event is four-time Chili Bowl champion Kevin Swindell, who has competed part-time in the XFINITY Series. Former Cup and Xfinity Series driver Kenny Wallace is competing for the first time in the event. Among other drivers with NASCAR connections competing are Xfinity drivers Tanner Berryhill and Ryan Ellis and Camping World Truck Series driver Cole Custer.(Sporting News)(1-13-2015)

 

Note:  Not one current Indy driver is entered.

 

 

 

 

From Track Forum:

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

 

Going back in time, in open wheel racing, via photos:

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/148064-Historic-Open-Wheels-Photos

 

 

 

From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:

 

Some Glen Ridge stuff:

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/52802-glen-ridge-version-2015/

 

 

And this, too on Glen Ridge:

Glen Ridge Drops Short Track Super Series Event, Strengthens Ties with DIRTcar – DTD Exclusive

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/glen-ridge-drops-short-track-super-series-event-strengthens-ties-with-dirtcar-dtd-exclusive/

 

 

 

 

 

From the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

This week in the AARN:

 

Winter Heat Ends With Reutzel Winning, Lasoski Taking Series Title

 

Ryan Preece Enters NAPAKNOWHOW TQ Indoor Races In Atlantic City

 

NASCAR Mod Tour Car Being Prepped By Jimmy Blewett

 

Banquet Circuit Still Going Strong; Mall Shows Coming Soon

 

Chili Bowl Preview: Eastern Entrants Abound

 

Renegade Sprint Tour Releases 30-Plus Event Schedule

 

Vintage Jerry Cook Mod To Be Showcased At PPB Motorsports ‘15 Show

 

Pete Demitraszek Back In Conttol Of Glen Ridge Motorsports Park For 2015

 

Rogers Family Nominated For Promoter Of The Year Award

 

Speedway Benefits To Host Promoters Seminars At PPB Motorsports ‘15

 

And other things found in this weeks edition:

 

There are 16 drivers from the ARDC that have entered the Chili Bowl.

Alex Bright will drive for Shane Hmiel in USAC Midgets.

Kenny Wallace is a Chili Bowl entrant.

Pete Demitraszek will be the promoter at Glen Ridge.

For the first time in 26 years, the USAC midgets will be racing on dirt track sin PA in 2015, with their races co-sanctioned with the ARDC.  They'll be at Path Valley on 8/18, Lincoln on 8/19 and Susquehanna on 8/20.

NASCAR HoF for 2015 - Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Wendell Scott, Joe Weatherly and Rex White will be added.

Note:  It was Rex who won a NASCAR race on the airport in Montgomery, NY, back on July 17, 1960.

http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/races/results/1960/montgomery-air-base/empire-state-200/664

 

On 10/9/83, Kenny Brightbill won the 125 lap modified race on the Nazareth dirt mile.  $57,300.00 was his winnings.  It wasn't said what 2nd through 10th actually got, but every other driver in that race got $1,000.00, and those that were 11th - 15th also received $10.00 for each lap they ran.  From 16thon, they each got $5.00 for each lap they ran.  It was said that Lindy Vicari had 3 million into the track.

Indycar, for 2015, beginning with the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg, on March 29th, will introduce chassis competition in the series based upon aerodynamic body work designed, manufactured and supplied by Chevrolet and Honda.

 

 

 

 

On Facebook  - racing related:

 

Badger Midget Auto Racing Association adapts Division II engine rules

 

Bmara

Badger Midgets Set For New Engine Rules For 2015
Nine events slated for Angell Park

Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 11---Officials of the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA), have announced major rule changes, affecting open wheel racing's oldest active sanctioning organization.
After several recent general and Board of Director Meetings, the new "rules package" will be utilized for the 2015 racing season. The rule changes have been made due to diminishing car count in the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois area. 
Badger will implement an OEM set of rules for engines currently in place with several organizations. "These rules will implement cost savings to our competitors for years to come and revitalize Badger's future" commented Quinn McCabe.
The rules allow all production passenger car engines, with a maximum displacement of 2.4 liters (146.457 CID). Engines must be four (4) cylinder inline and have no more than four (4) valves per cylinder to compete.
All production passenger car engines must use the original manufacturer's OEM block, an OEM cylinder head, and an OEM crankshaft combination that was produced from the factory.
All current purpose built "National Type" midget racing engines are encouraged to compete, but will be restricted. A complete outline of rules will be released shortly.
Badger has also reached an agreement with Angell Park Speedway (Sun Prairie, Wis.) to run nine events during the 2015 season. The Angell Park dates along with a complete Badger Midget and Badger 600 Micro Series Schedules will be released in late January.

 

Note:  Yes, something has/had to be done to get more midgets on the tracks - well, except for the Chili Bowl, of course.  I see they're up to 332 entrants.  Where do they all go after the bowl?

 

 

 

 

Press Releases:

 

Darn, but I missed posting this one last week!

 

News from the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek

Media Contact: Brett Deyo – bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/Dec. 26, 2014

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Signs On As Title Sponsor Of 2015 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek North Region; Nine-Race Series Offers $15,000 Champion’s Share From Hefty $38,650 Posted Point Fund

BOYERTOWN, PA A recognized leader in the industry – Bob Hilbert Sportswear – has signed on for a key marketing role in the 2015 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek.

Bob Hilbert, founder of the Boyertown, Pa.-based enterprise carrying his name, has forged an agreement with BD Motorsports Media LLC to take the title sponsorship role of the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek North Region kicking off in April at the historic Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., Tuesday, April 7.

For the ’15 campaign, the region will be known as the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to partner with the Short Track Super Series and further promote our brand,” Bob Hilbert Sportswear owner Bob Hilbert said. “Our commitment to providing quality sportswear items and promotional products to the auto racing community has never been stronger.”

Bolstered by the support of American Racer/Lias Tire and Hi-Tek Race Fuels, the nine-race North Region offers a lucrative $15,000 champion’s share from a total point fund of $38,650 distributed to the top-12 finishers.

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region includes events at Orange County, Big Diamond Speedway (Minersville, Pa.), Accord (N.Y.) Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park (Fultonville, N.Y.), Thunder Mountain Speedway (Center Lisle, N.Y. – two dates), Woodhull (N.Y.) Raceway and I-88 Speedway (Afton, N.Y. – two dates).

Since 1972, Bob Hilbert Sportswear has specialized in the finest screen-printing and embroidery. Bob Hilbert Sportswear offers a complete line of screen-printed sportswear and commercial apparel, embroidery, promotional products and more to fit any need or budget. For further information on Bob Hilbert Sportswear, visit www.bobhilbert.com, call 610.367.6186 or e-mail info@bobhilbert.com.

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region joins the Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region on the ’15 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek agenda. The five-race South Region gets underway Sunday, April 19 at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway with additional events at Big Diamond Raceway, New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway, Delaware International Speedway (Delmar, Del.) and Georgetown (Del.) Speedway.

The Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region champion will collect $7,500 from a $19,800 total point fund.

All series events for the ’15 season have an established minimum purse of $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to take the green. Many of the events will pay more than this; however, all events must adhere to this minimum to protect the drivers supporting the series.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek, visitwww.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com or call 845.728.2781. BD Motorsports Media is on Facebook and on Twitter: @BrettDeyo.

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek 2015 Schedule

Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region
Tuesday, April 7 (Rain Dates: April 8 and 9) – Orange County Fair Speedway/Middletown, NY: Hard Clay Open
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Tuesday, May 19 (Rain Date: May 20) – Accord Speedway/Accord, NY: Battle of the Bullring 3
Tuesday, June 2 (Rain Date: June 3) – Glen Ridge Motorsports Park/Fultonville, NY: Rumble on the Ridge
Sunday, June 28 (Rain Date: June 29) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Lightning on the Mountain 
Wednesday, July 22 (Rain Date: July 23) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Crazy 8s Special
Tuesday, August 11 (Rain Date: Aug. 12) – Woodhull Raceway/Woodhull, NY: Hustlin’ the High Banks 51
Sunday, September 13 (Rain Date: Sept. 20) – Thunder Mountain Speedway/Center Lisle, NY: Wade Decker Memorial 
Friday-Saturday October 9-10 (Rain Date: Oct. 11) – I-88 Speedway/Afton, NY: Short Track SuperNationals 8 - Championship Points

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek North Region Point Fund (*based on 9 events): 1. $15,000; 2. $7,000; 3. $3,500; 4. $2,500; 5. $2,000; 6. $1,650; 7. $1,550; 8. $1,450; 9. $1,350; 10. $1,250; 11. $750; 12. $650. 

Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region 
Sunday, April 19 (Rain Date: April 26) – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, NJ: South Jersey Shootout
Tuesday, May 5 (Rain Date: May 6) – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, PA (Combo): Anthracite Assault
Thursday, June 11 (Rain Date: June 15) – New Egypt Speedway/New Egypt, NJ: Dirty Jersey 3 - $10,000 to win!
Tuesday, Aug. 4 (Rain Date: Aug. 5) – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, DE – Diamond State 50
Tuesday, Sept. 1 (Rain Date: Sept. 2) – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, DE  Beach Blast 2 Championship Points

Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek South Region Point Fund (*based on 5 events): 1. $7,500; 2. $3,000; 3. $2,250; 4. $1,500; 5. $1,250; 6. $1,000; 7. $900; 8. $850; 9. $800; 10. $750.  

Brett Deyo
BD Motorsports Media LLC
Phone: 845.728.2781
www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com
Facebook: "BD Motorsports Media"
Twitter: @BrettDeyo

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                     JANUARY 12, 2015

Contact: DICK JORDAN/MARK HANN

 

 

USAC DMA MIDGETS ANNOUNCE 2015 SCHEDULE;

INCLUDES RACE AT ALBANY-SARATOGA SPEEDWAY

 

 

            Ellington, CT: The USAC Dirt Midget Association held their annual meeting this week and announced the 2015 race schedule which includes twelve races at Bear Ridge Speedway, the series home track, and a race on August 28th at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway. This will be the series second trip to the famed dirt track just north of Albany.

 

            In addition to the 2015 race schedule, the rules were released with only minor changes from the prior year. The series will continue its fuel and tire program for all members along with other benefits that have been in place since the series inception back in 2011.

 

            It was also announced that Ken Schrader will race with the series during the July 18th race. Schrader ran with the series back in July of 2014 and had a podium finish. He will be driving The Race Depot sponsored midget owned by Bobby Seymour.

 

            The series has launched a new website that will provide the teams and fans alike with all the information they need about the series. The new website can be found atwww.usacdma.com.

 

            Also present at the annual meeting where several new teams who will compete for the first time with the series in 2015.

 

            To learn more about the USAC Dirt Midget Association, please visit the series website at www.usacdma.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DirtMidgetAssociation.

 

            For additional information regarding this press release please contact Mark J. Hann, USAC DMA Public Relations & Marketing, at: usacdma@usacdma.com.

 

 

2015 USAC DMA Midget Schedule

 

5/2 - #Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

5/16 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

5/30 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

6/13 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

6/27 - #Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

7/11 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

7/18 - #Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

8/8 - #Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

8/22 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

8/28 - Malta, NY/Albany-Saratoga Speedway

9/5 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

9/19 - #Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

9/26 - Bradford, VT/Bear Ridge Speedway

 

#=Double points race.

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                     JANUARY 12, 2015

Contact: DICK JORDAN

 

 

USAC's HONDA NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES

EXPANDS TO PENNSYLVANIA IN 2015

 

            In 2015 the Honda National Midget Championship trail will include all of the major outdoor Midget events in the country, starting with the Kokomo Grand Prix in April and running through the famed Turkey Night Grand Prix on Thanksgiving Night in Perris, CA.

 

            Rico Abreu is the defending champion of the series, while teammate Christopher Bell (the 2013 champion) is expected to be among primary challengers for the 2015 crown, along with Tracy Hines, who will continue his pursuit of the elusive USAC Triple Crown. Hines needs olny a National Midget title to accompany his previous championships in the AMSOIL National Sprint Cars and the Silver Crown Championship series to become USAC's sixth Triple Crown king.

 

            The extremely popular Indiana Midget Week returns with five consecutive nights of racing June 10-14, while traditions like the Belleville Midget Nationals in Kansas, the "Gold Crown Midget Nationals" at Granite City, Ill. and the Four Crown Nationals" at Rossburg, Ohio all continue in 2015.

 

            New to the calendar are back-to-back races May 29 and 30 at Plymouth (Ind.) Speedway) a weekend of special racing in June that will be announced in the coming days.

 

            The "Chad McDaniel Memorial"is slated July 28 at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kans. in advance of the Belleville, Kansas spectacular which features not only the Midgets July 30 and August 1 but also the USAC Silver Crown return to the High Banks July 31.

 

            Eastern race fans will delight in the three-race Pennsylvania slate August 18-19-20 involving Path Valley Speedway Park in Spring Run, Lincoln Speedway in New Oxford and Susquehanna Speedway Park in Newberrytown. The co-sanctioned ARDC events mark the first time USAC's National Midgets have competed on Pennsylvania dirt in 26 years!

 

 

2015 Honda USAC National Midget Schedule

 

April 10 - Kokomo, IN/Kokomo Speedway

April 11 - Kokomo, IN/Kokomo Speedway

May 29 - Plymouth, IN/Plymouth Speedway

May 30 - Plymouth, IN/Plymouth Speedway

June 10 - @Gas City, IN/Gas City I-69 Speedway

June 11 - @Putnamville, IN/Lincoln Park Speedway

June 12 - @Bloomington, IN/Bloomington Speedway

June 13 - @Lawrenceburg, IN/Lawrenceburg Speedway

June 14 - @Kokomo, IN/Kokomo Speedway

June 26 -TBA/TBA

June 27 -TBA/TBA

July 28 - Beloit, KS/Solomon Valley Raceway

July 30 - Belleville, KS/Belleville High Banks

August 1 - Belleville, KS/Belleville High Banks

August 18 - #Spring Run, PA/Path Valley Speedway Park

August 19 - #New Oxford, PA/Lincoln Speedway

August 20 - #Newberrytown, PA/Susquehanna Speedway Park

September 4 - Granite City, IL/Tri-City Speedway

September 5 - Granite City, IL/Tri-City Speedway

September 26 - Rossburg, OH/Eldora Speedway

November 26 - Perris, CA/Perris Auto Speedway

 

#=Co-sanctioned by ARDC

 

 

 

News from Thunder Mountain Speedway

Media Contact: BD Motorsports Media LLC – thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com or 845.728.2781

For Immediate Release/January 12, 2015

2015 Season At Thunder Mountain Speedway To Feature A Mix Of Old & New; Crate 602 Sportsman To Offer $400 Winner’s Share, $100 To Start; Special Events Planned

CENTER LISLE, NY - The 2015 season at Thunder Mountain Speedway will feature a mix of new and old.

The three-eighths-mile clay oval located in Center Lisle, N.Y., just outside of Whitney Point, roars into the upcoming campaign off the strength of a resurgent ’14 season. Speedway founder Karl Spoonhower, back at the helm of the facility with promotion and marketing support from BD Motorsports Media LLC, returned racing to Saturday nights and of course, facilitated the comeback of the mighty big-block/small-block Modifieds to the weekly program.  

For the ’15 campaign, the headline Modified division again tops the lineup. Brent Wilcox of Binghamton, N.Y., will look to defend his championship. Wilcox, who drove for the Tom Coar and Chris Clark operation, earned more than $5,000 for his second career Thunder Mountain title at the November Awards Banquet. His first came in ’06.

Returning divisions from a year ago are the Modifieds, Open Sportsman (again offering $700 to win and $100 to start), Street Stocks and Four Cylinders.

New for ’15:  Crate 602 Sportsman in their own weekly division. The Crate 602 Sportsman, extremely popular across New York State and the Northeast, will compete in qualifying and 20-lap features paying $400 to win and $100 to start. The $100 green money is the highest in the region and possibly the Northeast.

Crate 602 Sportsman will not be required to run a rev chip but a gear rule will be in place. Standard body rules will be in place. Steel or aluminum wheels are permitted. The minimum weight is set at 2,425 lbs. The American Racer tire rule will mirror the Modified division: 33 or harder across the front; 33 or harder left-rear; 38 or harder right-rear.

Doug Borger’s popular XCel 600 Modifieds have been added as a weekly division, with six series events on the docket during the season, as well.

The Rookie Sportsman entry level class - open to first-year drivers with Open or Crate 602 engines - will be featured in an abbreviated season. Rookie Sportsman will be featured from Opening Night through late June, at which time there will be a graduation for the competitors. Graduates will move on to the Open or Crate 602 Sportsman divisions at that point.

Opening Night, sponsored by Waymart Building Center and Sharkey’s Fuels, is set for April 25 with Modifieds competing for $1,992 to win, plus Open Sportsman, Crate 602 Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, XCel 600 Modifieds, Street Stocks and Four Cylinders. A practice session has been set for April 18.

Racing will continue through the month of September.

Special events are once again plentiful on the Mountain. The Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Modifieds will be featured on two occasions: Sundays June 28 and Sept. 13 with rain dates of June 29 and Sept. 20, respectively.

Both the June ‘Lightning on the Mountain’ special and September Wade Decker Memorial will offer minimum $5,000 winner’s shares with $1,000 reserved for the 10th-place finisher and $400 to take the green in the big-block/small-block Modified ranks for 50 laps of feature-event racing.

Adding to the excitement of the Short Track Super Series events is the addition of the Tobias SpeedSTRs on both programs. The SpeedSTRs have a tremendous following of superstar drivers and will compete for $3,000 to win in June and September.

The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints (ESS) 360 Sprint Cars make their second appearance in Thunder Mountain history on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5) as part of the ‘Sprint Car Saturday’ event. The CRSA 305 Sprint Cars are also on a program that includes a number of winged divisions.

Small car racing will be showcased at Thunder Mountain on Sunday, May 3 with the ‘Small Car Showcase’ featuring the NY6A winged 600cc Micro-Sprints, wingless 600cc Micro-Sprints, 270cc Micro-Sprints, Allstar Slingshots, Empire Lightning Sprints and XCel 600 Modifieds.

A tentative ’15 schedule, with additions pending, has been posted athttp://thundermtnspeedway.com/schedule

Marketing and sponsorship options for the ’15 Thunder Mountain Speedway season are now available by contacting thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com or BD Motorsports Media LLC at 845.728.2781. Night sponsorships, divisional sponsorships and billboard opportunities are all affordable opportunities for local businesses.

For Thunder Mountain Speedway general information and a complete schedule, visitwww.thundermtnspeedway.com. The speedway office number is 607.657.8202. On race day, call 607.849.7899. The speedway e-mail is thundermtnspeedway@gmail.com.  “Like” Thunder Mountain Speedway on Facebook or follow @thundermtnspeed on Twitter.

Thunder Mountain Speedway is located at 91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797, approximately 25 miles north of Binghamton. The three-eighths-mile clay oval features hillside concrete seating, free parking and camping, a variety of concession items and novelties, a family environment and more.

 

Brett Deyo

Promotions, Public Relations & Marketing
Thunder Mountain Speedway

91 Hunts Corners Road Center Lisle, NY 13797

www.thundermtnspeedway.com

Cell: 845.728.2781

"Thunder Mountain Speedway" on Facebook
@thundermtnspeed on Twitter

 

 

 

 

*The following press release was created by BD Motorsports Media LLC for Teo-Pro Car

News From Teo-Pro Car’s ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar

Contact: Teo-Pro Car – 973.764.5500

For Immediate Release/Jan. 12, 2015

Teo-Pro Offers ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar Saturday, February 7; Stewart Friesen, Matt Hearn, Ronnie Johnson, Jay Castimore, Joe Knoth & Bobby Hearn Join Industry Representatives Pat Macaulay (Fox Shocks), Rob Fuller (DRACO Springs) and Carl Bush (Wilwood Brakes) As Presenters; Teo-Pro Car Assembly Planned; Open House Planned For Friday, February 6

VERNON, NJ Want an edge on the competition in the upcoming 2015 season?

Look no further than the Teo-Pro Car ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar on Saturday, February 7, 2015. The two-day activity – preceded by an Open House on Friday evening, February 6 – takes  place at Teo-Pro headquarters in Vernon, N.J., with plentiful information for racers readily available from industry experts, in addition to a chassis raffle, giveaways and more.

“We’re going to have a lot of inside information and knowledge that will get you up to speed for the approaching race season,” said Teo-Pro founder Bobby Hearn. “This year, we are fortunate to have a number of industry experts joining the Teo staff for two full days.

“Our seminars have become popular pre-season stops for racers looking for a jump on the competition. We’re taking it a step further this year. We will assemble a new Teo-Pro car at the seminar.”

On Friday (February 6), Teo-Pro will host an open house from 5-9 p.m. There will be several parts specials. This is an ideal occasion to pick up pre-ordered parts, as well, while touring the facility and meeting Teo staff members.

At 7 p.m., Pat Macaulay from FOX Racing Shocks and Teo shock specialist Joe Knoth will conduct a shock-specific seminar showing the new Fox products. They’ll also cover building and valving shocks for varying track surfaces and conditions. The open house portion of the weekend is free of charge.

Saturday’s (February 7) kicks off at 8 a.m. with registration and a light breakfast. The day’s activities will include a segment on Tire Preparation led by Capital District driving star Ronnie Johnson of Duanesburg, N.Y., and well-known tire prep expert Jay Castimore, who handles the tire program for Brett Hearn and the Madsen Motorsports No. 20 team, which secured DIRTcar Modified track championships at Albany-Saratoga (N.Y.) and Lebanon Valley (N.Y.) speedways in 2014, in addition to a sweep of Eastern States Weekend at N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway (Hearn’s unprecedented 11th Eastern States 200 score and 15th small-block 100 checkered) and Hearn’s 11th Lebanon Valley Speedway Mr. DIRT Track USA triumph, worth $17,500.

Also on Saturday, noted crew chief Matt Hearn, championship-winning driver Stewart Friesen and Teo founder Bobby Hearn will host a Complete Chassis Maintenance and Setup discussion. Friesen was the Fonda (N.Y.) and Utica-Rome (N.Y.) Modified champion during the ’14 season, in addition to recording his third victory in the Syracuse 200 during Super DIRT Week with a come-from-behind performance and second consecutive Charlotte (N.C.) World Finals victory. Friesen, who won some 29 features during the season, was also the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion for New York State.

Additionally, a Teo-Pro car will be assembled, on-site, to address questions and provide tips for attendees of the seminar.

FOX’s Macaulay and shock specialist Knoth return for a Saturday session to discuss shock adjustments. Also taking part are Rob Fuller, representing DRACO Springs, and Carl Bush from Wilwood Disc Brakes.

The ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis seminar will include the raffle of a Teo-Pro chassis to Saturday attendees, in addition to a number of giveaways.

Saturday’s event will include a catered lunch.

Registration for the ‘Get Smart, Get Quick’ Advanced Chassis Seminar is $149.95 per person.  To register online, via the Teo-Pro website, click the following link: http://www.teopro.com/teopro/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=2015SEMINAR To contact Teo by phone, call 973.764.5500 during regular business hours.

Teo-Pro is located at 95 Maple Grange Road Vernon, NJ 07462.

https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif

 

 

 

This week’s photo:

 

Note:  Photos can only be seen in my column if you go here:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

Below, in my video section is an interview with the late Phil Walters (Ted Tappett).  Here are a couple of photos of him in midgets.

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Tappett # 4 cycle.jpg

Above - one of his first rides.

 

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Tappett in 12 Cycle at Hinch.bmp

Above - the Ed Bourgon  12 Cycle

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Tappett1947.jpg

Above - after a win in the Kingsbridge Armory

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Tappett from Brian.JPG

Above - in the Curtis # 8 Offy

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Tappett in Bourgnon 12.jpg

Above - in the Bourgnon #12 Offy.

Note:  In the video that follows, you'll hear Tappett make mention that Ed Bourgnon was part of the Briggs Cunningham racing team.

 

 

 

This weeks video:

 

OK readers.  How many remembered the name "Ted Tappett"?  How about "Phil Walters"?  Yes, they were the same person.  Seems like Phil used the "Ted Tappett" name when he first started racing midgets back in the late 30's.  He used it throughout his entire midget and stock car racing career.  The reason:  He really didn't want his family to know he was participating in such a dangerous sport.  Once he got involved with Briggs Cunningham and their race cars, he used his given name of Phil Walters.  I was somewhat surprised that there were no photos shown of him in any of the midgets he drove, in this video.  I was also somewhat surprised that there was no mention of his signing with Ferrari to drive their Sports/Racing cars and their Formula One Grand Prix cars, starting in 1955.

How soon his family knew he was racing came as a surprise.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rTAOurW6lFo

 

 

 

Non racin' stuff:

 

A couple of interesting emails that I received over these past few days.  Sorry for the length, but a real good read - something that we MIGHT have to look forward to here in the USA:

 

Susan MacAllen is a contributing editor for (FamilySecurityMatters.org) Salute the Danish Flag - it's a Symbol of  Western Freedom By Susan MacAllen 

In 1978-9 I was living and studying in  Denmark   . But in 1978 - even in     Copenhagen, one didn't see Muslim immigrants. 

The Danish population embraced visitors, celebrated the exotic, went  out of its way to protect each of its citizens. It was proud of its new  brand of socialist liberalism one in development since the conservatives had  lost power in 1929 - a system where no worker had to struggle to survive,  where one ultimately could count upon the state as in, perhaps, no other western nation at the time. 
  
The rest of  Europe   saw the Scandinavians as free-thinking, progressive  and infinitely generous in their welfare policies. Denmark boasted low crime  rates, devotion to the environment, a superior educational system and a history of humanitarianism. 
  
Denmark was also most generous in its immigration policies - it offered the best welcome in Europe to the new immigrant: generous welfare  payments from first arrival plus additional perks in transportation, housing  and education. It was determined to set a world example for inclusiveness and multiculturalism.   How could it have predicted that one day in 2005 a series of political cartoons in a  newspaper would spark violence that would leave dozens dead in  the streets -all because its commitment to multiculturalism would come back  to bite? 
  
By the 1990's the growing urban Muslim population was obvious - and   its unwillingness to integrate into Danish society was obvious.   Years of immigrants had settled into Muslim-exclusive enclaves. As the  Muslim leadership became more vocal about what they considered the decadence  of  Denmark 's liberal way of life, the Danes - once so welcoming - began to feel slighted. Many Danes had begun to see Islam as incompatible with their  long-standing values: belief in personal liberty and free speech, in equality for women, in tolerance for other ethnic groups, and a deep pride  in Danish heritage and history. 

 

An article by Daniel Pipes and Lars  Hedegaard, in which they forecasted, accurately, that the growing immigrant  problem in Denmark would explode. In the article they reported: 
  
'Muslim immigrants constitute 5 percent of the population but consume  upwards of 40 percent of the welfare spending.' 
'Muslims are only 4 percent of Denmark's 5.4 million people but make  up a majority of the country's convicted rapists, an especially combustible issue given that practically all the female victims are  non-Muslim. Similar, if lesser, disproportions are found in other crimes.' 
  
'Over time, as Muslim immigrants increase in numbers, they wish less  to mix with the indigenous population. A recent survey finds that only 5 percent of young Muslim immigrants   would readily marry a Dane' 

'Forced marriages - promising a newborn daughter in Denmark to a male  cousin in the home country, then compelling her to marry him, sometimes on  pain of death - are one problem' 
  
'Muslim leaders openly declare their goal of introducing Islamic law  once Denmark's Muslim population grows large enough - a not-that-remote prospect.. If present trends persist, one sociologist  estimates, every third inhabitant of  Denmark   in 40 years will be Muslim.' 
  
It is easy to understand why a growing number of Danes would feel that   Muslim immigrants show little respect for Danish values and laws.  An example is the phenomenon common to other European countries and   Canada: some Muslims in  Denmark   who opted to leave the Muslim faith have been murdered in the name of Islam, while others hide in fear for their  lives. Jews are also threatened and harassed openly by Muslim leaders  in Denmark, a country where once Christian citizens worked to smuggle out nearly all of their 7,000 Jews by night to  Sweden   - before the Nazis could  invade. I think of my Danish friend Elsa - who. as a teenager. had dreaded crossing the street to the bakery every morning under the eyes of occupying  Nazi soldiers - and I wonder what she would say today. 
  
In 2001,  Denmark   elected the most conservative government in some 70  years - one that had some decidedly non-generous ideas about liberal unfettered immigration. Today  Denmark   has the strictest immigration policies  in  Europe   . ( Its effort to protect itself has been met with accusations of 'racism' by liberal media across Europe - even as other governments struggle to right the social problems wrought by years of too-lax immigration.) 
  
If you wish to become Danish, you must attend three years of language  classes.
 
You must pass a test on  Denmark 's history, culture, and a Danish language test .
 
You must live in  Denmark   for 7 years before applying for citizenship. 

 You must demonstrate an intent to work, and have a job waiting.
 
If you wish  to bring a spouse into  Denmark   , you must both be over 24 years of age, and  you won't find it so easy anymore to move your friends and family to   Denmark with you. 

You will not be allowed to build a mosque in  Copenhagen Although your  children have a choice of some 30 Arabic culture and language schools  in  Denmark, they will be strongly encouraged to assimilate to Danish society   in ways that past immigrants weren't 
  
In 2006, the Danish minister for employment, Claus Hjort Frederiksen,  spoke publicly of the burden of Muslim immigrants on the Danish welfare  system, and it was horrifying: the government's welfare committee had calculated that if immigration from Third World countries were blocked, 75  percent of the cuts needed to sustain the huge welfare system in coming decades would be unnecessary In other words, the welfare system, as it  existed, was being exploited by immigrants to the point of eventually  bankrupting the government. 'We are simply forced to adopt a new policy on immigration'. 

'The calculations of the welfare committee are terrifying and show how  unsuccessful the integration of immigrants has been up to now,' he said. 
  
A large thorn in the side of  Denmark 's imams is the Minister of 
Immigration and Integration, Rikke Hvilshoj.. She makes no bones about the  new policy toward immigration, 'The number of foreigners coming to the  country makes a difference,' Hvilshoj says, 'There is an inverse correlation between how many come here and how well we can receive the foreigners that  come.' And on Muslim immigrants needing to demonstrate a willingness to blend in, 'In my view,  Denmark   should be a country with  room for different cultures and religions. Some values, however, are  more important than others. We refuse to question democracy, equal rights,  < I>and freedom of speech.' 
  
Hvilshoj has paid a price for her show of backbone.. Perhaps to test& nbsp;
her resolve, the leading radical imam in Denmark, Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu  Laban, demanded that the government pay blood money to the family of a  Muslim who was murdered in a suburb of Copenhagen, stating that the family's  thirst for revenge could be thwarted for money. When Hvilshoj dismissed his demand, he argued that in Muslim culture the payment of retribution money  was common, to which Hvilshoj replied that what is done in a Muslim country  is not necessarily what is done in Denmark.

The Muslim reply came soon after: her house was torched while she, her husband and children slept. All managed to escape unharmed, but she and her family were moved to a secret location and she and other ministers were assigned bodyguards for the first  time - in a country where such murderous violence was once so scarce. 
  
Her government has slid to the right, and her borders have tightened. 
Many believe that what happens in the next decade will determine whether Denmark survives as a bastion of good living, humane thinking and  social responsibility, or whether it becomes a nation at civil war with  supporters of Sharia law. 
  
And meanwhile, Canadians clamor for stricter immigration policies, and  demand an end to state welfare programs that allow many immigrants to live on the public dole. As we in Canada look at the enclaves of Muslims amongst  us,and see   those who enter our shores too easily, dare live on our taxes, yet refuse to embrace our culture, respect our traditions, participate in  our legal system, obey our laws, speak our language, appreciate our history  ...  we would do well to look to  Denmark  , and say a prayer for her future and  for our own.

It's a Good Life!

 

 

And this one, too:

 

28th Amendment:    35 States and Counting...

 

It will take you less than a minute to read this. If you agree, please pass it on.  It's an idea whose time has come to deal with this self serving situation:

 

Children of Congress members do not have to pay back their college student loans.

 

Staffers of Congress family members are also exempt from having to payback student loans.

 

Members of Congress can retire at full pay after only one term.

 

Members of Congress have exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed, under which ordinary citizens must live.

 

For example, they are exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment.

 

And as the latest example, they have exempted themselves from Healthcare Reform, in all of its aspects.

 

We must not tolerate an elite class of such people, elected as public servants and then putting themselves above the law.

 

I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent, or whatever.  The self-serving must stop.

 

Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon their states. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.

 

IF???

Each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days most people in The United States of America will have the message.

 

Proposed 28th Amendment

to the United States Constitution:

 

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the Citizens of the United States..."

 

 

 

 

Yes, kind of embarrassing:

 

Lack of top-level U.S. official at Paris march raises some eyebrows at home

 

http://news.yahoo.com/lack-top-level-u-official-paris-march-raises-235851815.html

 

Note:  OK, maybe you've read that our President, Vice President, and other top notch federal "employees", including Eric Holder, who was in Paris that day, didn't attend, but, yes, I'm somewhat concerned that there were no Republicans that went there, either.  One would think.......................

 

Personally, I believe that our President is a member of the Muslim faith (hell we've seen enough on this on the Internet) and that would be one of the main reasons he did not attend.  And, members of his cabinet, I suppose, must follow him?

 

 

The NFL has no one to coach the Pro Bowl

 

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/1/13/7537555/pro-bowl-coaching-staffs-2015

 

Note:  Personally, I can't figure out why they've moved the Pro Bowl to the week prior to the Super Bowl.  Dumbass move, I'd say.

 

 

 

 

On Facebook - not racing rleated:

 

On Facebook on 1/13/15 - (Kinda related to the bove):

 

The White House cited security concerns as a reason why President Barack Obamadid not attend a unity march in France with more than 40 world leaders to show solidarity after the Paris terror attacks.

Tonight on 'The Kelly File,' we showed this clip of then-President George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch at a New York Yankees game in the wake of the worst terror attack to strike America – 9/11. How do you think the two situations compare?

 

 

On Facebook on 12/26:

 

Who died before they collected Social Security?

KEEP PASSING THIS AROUND UNTIL 
EVERY ONE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT...

THIS IS SURE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!!!!

THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THE
GOVERNMENT'S CALCULATION OF AVAILABLE SOCIAL SECURITY IS THEY FORGOT 
TO FIGURE IN THE PEOPLE WHO DIED BEFORE THEY EVER COLLECTED A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK!!!

WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO?

Remember, not only did you and I contribute to Social Security but your employer did, too..

It totaled 15% of your income before taxes.

If you averaged only $30K over your working life, that's close to $220,500.

Read that again.

Did you see where the Government paid in one single penny?

We are talking about the money you and your employer put in a Government bank to insure you and 
Me that we would have a retirement check from the money we put in, not the Government.

Now they are calling the money we put in an entitlement when we reach the age to take it back.

If you calculate the future invested value of $4,500 per year (yours & your employer's contribution) at a simple 5% interest (less than what the Government pays on the money that it borrows).

After 49 years of working you'd have $892,919.98. If you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years (until you're 95 if you retire at age 65) and that's with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit!

If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you'd have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.

THE FOLKS IN WASHINGTON 
HAVE PULLED OFF A BIGGER PONZI SCHEME

THAN BERNIE MADOFF EVER DID.

Entitlement my foot; I paid cash for my social security insurance!

Just because they borrowed the money for other government spending, doesn't make my benefits some 
Kind of charity or handout!!

Remember Congressional benefits?

free healthcare,

outrageous retirement packages,

67 paid holidays,

three weeks paid vacation,

unlimited paid sick days.

Now that's welfare, and they have the nerve to call my social security retirement payments entitlements?

They call Social Security and Medicare an entitlement even though most of us have been paying for 
It all our working lives, and now, when it's time for us to collect, the government is running out of money.

Why did the government borrow from it in the first place?

It was supposed to be in a locked box, not part of the general fund.

Sad isn't it?

99% of people won't have the guts to forward this.

I'm in the 1% 
--

I JUST DID!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This weeks joke:

 

On one of my visits to a doctor, when my daughter Judy was with me, I happened to pick up a Reader's Digest, while in the waiting room.  I've always enjoyed the comical things that appear in each issue.  Judy, noticing this, ordered me a years subscription as a small Christmas gift.  The other day I received my first issue.

Some things from it:

 

"When I bought some beer at the grocery store, the clerk asked for my birth date.  I said "10-3-60".   Her next questions was:  "Is that '19' 60"?

 

Mom:  "Your great-aunt just passed away, LOL"

Son:  "Why is that funny"?

Mom:  "It's not funny, David!  What do you mean"?

Son:  "Mom, LOL means Laughing Out Loud".

Mom:  I thought it meant Lots of Love.  I have to call everyone back".

 

 

 

 

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