Mostly Racin' Stuff  

By Tom Avenengo  

Volume # 240

08/27/2015

 

This week’s photo:

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Chet Gibbons in Curtis 5.jpg

 

Pictured is Chet Gibbons in the Curtis # 5 Offy midget.  The team car, # 8, can be seen behind the Gibbons car.  Gibbons was one of the top ranked midget drivers back in the '40's.   Somewhere in my pictures is a photo of Chet getting married, on a racetrack, with Bill Schindler as his best man.

Further down in this week's column will be some race results from the Cherry Park Speedway that was in Avon, Ct.  They held s many races there that, for this week, I'm only posting half of the events held there.  The other half will be in next weeks column.

Going back to the mid '40's, when I first started to attend races, usually with my father & brother, we would go to Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ, "Victory Speedway" in Middletown, NY, Danbury, Ct. and Cherry Park.  Those were great times and I guess I'm quite lucky to be able to remember those days.

 

 

 

 

Special from me:

 

For some unknown reason, I started this week's column on Sunday, as usual, and when I went to add something on Sunday evening - yup - it was gone!  No idea as to what happened.  Oh well, at times sh*t happens, right?

Last Thursday I had my 3rd dose of iron, via IV.  Have one coming up this Thursday, too, then the following week, will be my last one.  Actually, I do not notice much of a difference.

Back up north, the 2015 racing season is getting towards it's end.  A majority of the tracks end their point chases at the beginning of September.  Then some tracks have some special, long distance races.  One I've always attended was the Eastern States Weekend at OCFS.  Missed it last year, and will miss it again this year.  With OC now no longer a DIRTcar sanctioned track, I'm wondering if DIRTcar will back off some and let their drivers, that want to, run Eastern States.   So far the only one I've seen has been Brett Hearn.  Keep in mind, there is a DIRTcar race in New York on the Friday and Saturday of ESW.  Will DIRTcar bust balls again, as it did for the first Syracuse race this year, as far as not letting drivers compete?

 

 

 

 

 

Racin’ stuff:

 

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson dies of head injury

 

http://news10.com/2015/08/24/indycar-driver-justin-wilson-dies-of-head-injury/

 

 

Stefan Wilson: IndyCar's Justin Wilson saved six lives with organ donation

Read more: 
http://autoweek.com/article/indycar/stefan-wilson-indycars-justin-wilson-saved-six-lives-organ-donation#ixzz3jr6OCoXt

 

 

Wilson Children’s Fund

C/O INDYCAR
4551 West 16th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46222

 

 

 

IndyCar heads to finale reeling from loss of Justin Wilson

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/indycar-heads-finale-reeling-loss-justin-wilson-201843906--irl.html

 

 

IndyCar: Pocono was among most costly, highest attrition races of 2015

 

http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/26/indycar-pocono-was-among-most-costly-highest-attrition-races-of-2015/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

 

Uh oh!  This could prove to be very, very interesting!

 

54TH ANNUAL EASTERN STATES WEEKEND WILL SET RECORDS AS RICHEST IN EVENT HISTORY AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY OCTOBER 23-25; $35,000 TO WIN BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED 200, $15,000 TO WIN SMALL-BLOCK 100, $10,000 BONUS AVAILABLE FOR WEEKEND SWEEP; HUGE INCREASES THROUGHOUT FIELDS

 

MIDDLETOWN, NY The 54th annual Eastern States Weekend at Orange County Fair Speedway will be the richest in event history.

OCFS promoter Michael Gurda IV, in conjunction with title event sponsor Chris Larsen of Halmar International, has set plans for a memorable October classic at the five-eighths-mile facility, with hefty purse increases for the big- and small-block Modified divisions. Eastern States Weekend 2015 at OCFS will be one for the record books.

The ’15 version of Eastern States Weekend is set for October 23-25, 2015 presented by Halmar International, WLR Construction and Arkel Motors.

The Sunday afternoon (Oct. 25) Eastern States 200 for big-block Modifieds will pay a massive$35,000 to the winner, plus lap money. Yes, $35,000! The winner’s share is not the only increase. The event will now pay $500 for 44th place, with boosts throughout the starting field.

The pole winner via Friday time trials will pocket $1,000 and the outside-pole timer takes home a $500 bonus.

On Saturday (Oct. 24), the small-block Modified 100-lap main will pay a new high, $15,000, to win. The entire payout has been boosted, back to $225 for the final starter in 36th position.

And there’s more! Should one driver sweep the big- and small-block events during the weekend, another $10,000 cash bonus would be claimed, bringing a driver’s potential earnings to $60,000 plus!

The total pay structures for the big- and small-block Modified divisions is more than double the ’14 offering for competitors.

Other major sponsorships and announcements will be forthcoming.

Facility improvements started this season will continue through Eastern States Weekend at OCFS. Already, the roof has been replaced on the covered grandstand. All seats in that grandstand will be brand-new by mid-September.

Drainage work and other projects will begin shortly with targeted completion prior to Eastern States Weekend.

Located at 239 Wisner Avenue Middletown, N.Y., 10940 on the Orange County Fairgrounds, Orange County Fair Speedway is the oldest continuously operating dirt track in the United States. The first auto race was held at the speedway in 1919. The five-eighths-mile oval offers fully-covered and half-covered grandstands in addition to open bleacher seating on the front stretch and turn one areas, with drive-in viewing on the backstretch. To learn more, contact the Orange County Fair Speedway office at 845.342.2573 or visit www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net.

 

 

Eastern States Schedule:

 

THURSDAY - 54th ANNUAL EASTERN STATES WEEKEND

  • 12:00 PM PITS OPEN TO HAULERS
  • 2PM - 7PM CAR INSPECTION OPEN
  • 2:00 PM CAMPER PARKING OPEN
  • 9:00 PM ALL GATES CLOSED FOR THE EVENING

October 23

FRIDAY - 54th ANNUAL EASTERN STATES WEEKEND

  • 9:30 AM FAIRGROUNDS & PITS OPEN
  • 10:30 AM CAR INSPECTION
  • 11:00 AM SPECTATOR GATES OPEN
  • 12:00 PM DRIVERS MEETING
  • 1:00 PM SPORTSMAN HOT LAPS
    SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED HOT LAPS
    SPORTSMAN TIME TRIALS (TOP 2 LOCKED IN)
    MODIFIED HOT LAPS
    MODIFIED TIME TRIALS (TOP 6 LOCKED IN)
    SPORTSMAN HEATS
    MODIFIED HEATS
    SPORTSMAN DASH FOR CASH (TOP 6)
    SPORTSMAN CONSI
    MODIFIED DASH FOR CASH (TOP 6)
    SPORTSMAN FEATURE 50 LAPS

October 24

SATURDAY - 54th ANNUAL EASTERN STATES WEEKEND

  • 8:00 AM FAIRGROUNDS & PITS OPEN / SMALL BLOCK INSPECTIONS START
  • 10:00 AM SPECTATOR GATES OPEN
  • 11:00 AM DRIVERS MEETING
  • 11:15 AM SPRINT CARS - HEAT IN MOTORS
  • 11:30 AM SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED HOT LAPS
    TIMED SPRINT CAR HOT LAPS
    SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED TIME TRIALS (TOP 6 LOCKED IN)
    SPRINT CAR HEAT RACES
    SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED HEAT RACES
    MODIFED HOT LAPS
    SPRINT CARS B MAIN
    SMALL BLOCK CONSI
    SPRINT CAR FEATURE 25 LAPS
    SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE 100 LAPS

October 25

SUNDAY - 54th ANNUAL EASTERN STATES WEEKEND

  • 8:00 AM FAIRGROUNDS & PITS OPEN / STREET STOCK INSPECTIONS START
  • 9:00 AM SPECTATOR GATES OPEN
  • 9:15 AM STREET STOCK DRIVERS MEETING
  • 9:30 AM PIT PARTY
  • 10:45 AM STREET STOCK HOT LAPS
  • 11:00 AM MODIFED HOT LAPS ( NON QUALIFIED CARS ONLY)
  • 11:15 AM MODIFIED HOT LAPS (QUALIFIED CARS)
  • 11:45 AM MANDATORY MODIFIED DRIVERS MEETING
  • 12:15 PM STREET STOCK HEATS
    MODIFIED CONSI
    STREET STOCK FEATURE 25 LAPS
  • 2:30 PM
    MODIFIED DRIVER INTRODUCTION & NATIONAL ANTHEMS
    54th ANNUAL EASTERN STATES 200 MODIFIED FEATURE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found on Jayski:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Yeley-Burton switch rides at BK Racing?: 

 

Hearing that JJ Yeley will now be the driver of the #26 Toyota for BK Racing and rookie Jeb Burton will move to BK Racing's #23 Toyota. The #26 is 44th in owners points, the #23 is 39th. The hope supposedly is that Yeley will be able to better qualify the #26 in on speed and give the rookie Burton a fall back on owners points. Hearing the change will take place for Darlington and stay thru the end of the season. No word if this includes crew chiefs changing. Joe Williams is the crew chief of the #23 and Patrick Donahue is the #26 crew chief.(8-24-2015)


UPDATE: Effective Darlington Raceway weekend, Jeb Burton will be piloting the #23 Toyota with Joe Williams as Crew Chief and JJ Yeley the #26 Toyota with Patrick Donahue as Crew Chief for the remainder of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. Owner Ron Devine commented, "We are trying something different to improve performance for BK Racing. We are confident and proud of our drivers and employees, but we are looking to try some different combinations to improve our results."(BK Racing)(8-25-2015)

 

Drivers want stricter policing of restarts: 

 

It's no secret how NASCAR feels about restarts. The double-file dashes into Turn 1 are the most exciting parts of many races, and NASCAR wants drivers to control the exact moment when the race goes back to green. But how serious NASCAR is about punishing those who don't play by the rules on restarts is unclear. Though there were no problems Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, drivers believe there could be some questionable circumstances as the Sprint Cup Series heads towards its final 12 races. "All the drivers really want is for NASCAR to police that stuff with a stern hand," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said after the race. "... You see a guy breaking the rule and you just want to see NASCAR come down on people. You just want NASCAR to run the show like you read in the rulebook." There seems to be uncertainty among drivers because NASCAR often says one thing about restarts while doing another. Officials threaten to penalize drivers for not following the proper procedure, but rarely call a penalty in those situations. "They say it's a judgement call, but you want them to really rule on the side of the penalty," Earnhardt said. "Keep people honest. ... If you give us a little room out there, as drivers we are going to try to take it. We don't want the sport ran so loosely. We really want it to be structured very tight." In NASCAR, all restarts except the start of the race are supposed to be controlled by the leader. When the leader arrives in a zone painted on the wall, he or she has the discretion to go at any time. The second-place driver isn't allowed to take off first, but can beat the leader to the start line - the result of a rule change after more restart controversy in Sept. 2013.(full article at the USA Today)(8-24-2015)


UPDATE: Despite a push from some competitors that restarts need to be better policed, NASCAR does not plan to change how it officiates those. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, addressed the topic Monday on "The Morning Drive.'' O'Donnell said officials want the responsibility for a good restart to remain on the drivers. "We've told the drivers that we'd like to leave it in their hands,'' O'Donnell said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "The rule is clear. We've got a restart zone. We've got a bunch of technology and spotters we can use to look at and make calls. We would like to leave it and continue to leave it in the drivers' hands but that's something we'll continue to look at. We're confident in the calls we've made. The leader restarts the race. It's something we've always got to look at. It's a hot topic when you see things in one or two races in a row that becomes a theme. Hopefully, we get into Darlington and that settles down a bit and we get back to racing.''(in part from 
NBC Sports)(8-25-2015)

 

 

Southern 500 Tickets still available: 

 

The Tradition Returns to Labor Day weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 is set for Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015 at Darlington Raceway. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 5. Tickets are still available by calling 866-459-7223, visiting www.DarlingtonRaceway.com, or through the mobile app.(Darlington Raceway)(8-25-2015)

 

 

Bristol TV Ratings: 

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Bristol (TN) earned a 1.9 overnight rating on NBCSN Saturday night, down 44% from last year (3.4) and down 49% from 2013 (3.7), both on ABC. The 1.9 is the second-lowest for any Sprint Cup race this season, ahead of only a 1.5 for Kansas on Fox Sports 1 in May. Including the Kentucky race on NBCSN last month (2.0), the three Saturday night races on cable this season have been the three lowest rated in the metered markets. Overall, 12 of the 13 Sprint Cup races on cable have had a decline in overnight ratings, with the aforementioned Kentucky race the lone exception.(Sports Media Watch / Show Buzz Daily), see past race TV Ratings, five-year comparison chart and more on the 2015 TV Ratings page.(8-24-2015)

 

 

Busch Beer to replace Budweiser on the #4: 

 

Anheuser-Busch's Busch brand will be the primary sponsor of a NASCAR car next year instead of Budweiser. A-B InBev, which has its U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, said Monday that Busch will be the new primary sponsor of Stewart-Haas Racing's #4 NASCAR car driven by Kevin Harvick for the 2016 NASCAR season. Budweiser has sponsored Harvick for several years. "The Busch brand is well positioned for this partnership given the brand's storied history with the sport," Lucas Herscovici, A-B's Vice President of Consumer Connections said in an email.(St Louis Post Dispatch)(8-24-2015)

 

 

Stewart moves wrongful death lawsuit to federal court: 

 

The wrongful death lawsuit filed against Tony Stewart by the parents of Kevin Ward Jr. was assigned to U.S. District Judge David Hurd on Monday after the Sprint Cup driver asked Friday for the case to be adjudicated in federal court rather than New York state court. There was no immediate response from Ward's legal team on whether it will challenge the federal court's jurisdiction and request to have it moved back into state court. The Ward family seeks unspecified damages related to their son's suffering, death and their own loss of economic support and services from their son. Stewart is scheduled to file his response to the lawsuit by Friday and an initial scheduling conference is set for Oct. 8.(ESPN.com)(8-25-2015)

 

 

Harvick garners 10th 2nd place finish of the year...a record: 

 

#4-Kevin Harvick became the first driver since 1972 to post double-digit runner-up finishes during the course of a season Saturday night, trailing race winner #22-Joey Logano across the finish line in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. No driver had posted 10 or more runner-up finishes in a single season since Bobby Allison managed the feat in 1972. Harvick became just the eighth driver to do so, joining Allison, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Dick Rathmann, Joe Weatherly and Buck Baker. Pearson holds the overall mark, registering 18 second-place results in 1969.


Runner-up finishes in a season
Number Driver Year
18 David Pearson, 1969
15 Bobby Allison, 1970
14 Richard Petty, 1964
13 Ned Jarrett, 1965
12 Bobby Allison, 1972
12 David Pearson, 1968
12 Joe Weatherly, 1962
12 Dick Rathmann, 1953
10 Kevin Harvick, 2015 (active)
10 Buck Baker, 1958

 

 

 

 

From Track Forum:

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

 

Closed Cockpit Cars

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/197386-Closed-Cockpit-Cars

Note:   As of Tuesday at around 1:00 PM, this thread was up to 8 pages

 

 

 

From the Dirt Track Digest Forum:

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/

 

The Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Too Early to Talk about SDW, SDW Entry List Thread

 

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/53059-the-waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay-too-early-to-talk-about-sdw-sdw-entry-list-thread/

 

Note:  Up to three pages, now.

 

 

 

 

From the AARN:

Brett Hearn Back On Track: Wins Three Straight For Weekend Sweep

 

Preece Battles Rivals, Rain To Conquer Bristol In NWMT Romp

 

Friends Of Mike Bridgeport Big Block Race Is Rich Friesen Payday

 

Pocono Indy Sadness: Justin Wilson Fatally Injured In Race Won By Teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay

 

Rico Invades Pennsy; Wins Both USACMidget Shows

 

Van Varick Calls Off Plans To Resurrect Borger’s Speedway

 

VonDohren’s Grandview Win Puts Title Clinch Well Within Reach

 

Jimmy Blewett Is Back in Victory Lane At Wall Stadium

 

Josh Richards Sweeps World Of Oultaws LMRaces At Atomic, Eriez

 

Esh Surprises Port Royal 410 Field With Victory

 

And more from this weeks issue:

 

After winning the two USAC/ARDC Midget races in PA, Rico Abreu went to the 410 Sprint car race at the Susquehanna Speedway and finished 2nd.

 

One has to wonder what's in store, in the future, for Halmar owner Chris Larsen and OCFS.  Pretty sure I've read that he wanted to buy the track from Mike Gurda, but Gurda said he had to buy the whole place.  Last week, for the drive-in section, it was $25.00 a car load.  Mr. Larsen picked up the difference between the car load price and the number that were admitted.

 

Tickets go on sale for the Indoor racing at Atlantic City on January 29th & 30th, on September 1st.  To get  them via Len Sammons Motorsports, you can call :  609-888-3618.

 

The "Freedom 76" Modified race at the Grandview Speedway, on September 12th will pay $25,000.00 to the winner.

 

Tickets for the Eastern States Weekend are now on sale.  Call 845-342-2573.  Also, this coming Saturday is "Ladies Night" with admission & drinks being half price.

 

 

Must be nice!  "Race Chaser" Guy Smith has now been to 1,624 different race tracks - so far.

 

 

 

 

Former OVRP Dirt Oval racers:

 

At Glen Ridge, in triple Sportsman features, A.J. Filbeck had a 1st, 3rd and 1st.

 

Kenney Johnson was 6th in the USAC DMA Midget feature at the Bear Ridge Speedway.

 

Mike Mammana won the Sportsman feature at Big Diamond.

 

Anthony Perrego was 23rd, and Tyler Dippel 25th in the "Friends of Mike" race at the Bridgeport Speedway.

 

Anthony Perrego was 7th in the Modified feature at Five Mile Point.  Josh Pieniazek was 2nd in the CRSA feature, with Chuck Alessi 8th, Emily VanInwegen 9th and Brian Krummel 10th.

 

Hunter Bates was 9th in the Sportsman feature at A/S.

 

Kolby Schroder was 4th and Kyle Armstrong 8th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.  John Virgilio was 3rd and Matt Pappa 7th in the Sportsman feature.

 

L.J. Lombardo had two 3rd place finishes in the two 358 Modified features at OCFS.  Billy V had a 5th & 4th, Tim Hindley a 7th and 5th, Clinton Mills with two 9th's, Tom Hindley an 18th and a 12th.  Davie Franek was 4th and Joe Kata 12th in the URC feature.  Joey Bruning was 2nd, Dom Roselli, Jr 4th, Brandon Findley 5th, Joe Conklin 6th, Matt Hitchcock 7th, Joey Falanga 9th, Winter Mead 10th, while Anthony Falanga was a DNQ in the Sportsman feature.

 

A.J. Filbeck was 6th in the 602 Sportsman feature at U/R.

 

Tyler Dippel was 12th in the ARCA 100 mile race at Springfield, Il.

 

Brian Krummel was 2nd, Emily VanInwegen 10th, Chuck Alessi 11th and Josh Pieniazek 15th in the CRSA Sprint feature at Penn Can.

 

Rich Coons was 1st and Kyle Redner 3rd in the 358/Sportsman feature at Bethel.

 

Jacob Hendershot won the 270 Micro feature at Bridgeport.  He also won the wingless 270 feature at the Airport Speedway in New Castle, DE.  He was also 3rd in the wingless 270 feature at Shellhammers.

 

Tyler Dippel was 4th,  L.J. Lombardo 21st and Kyle Armstrong 26th in the 100 lap race at Lebanon Valley on Tues.

 

At the I-88 Speedway, on Tuesday, in the CRSA feature, Emily VanInwegen was 1st, Joe Kata 2nd, Josh Pieniazek 14th, Brian Krummel 16th  and Danny Hennessey 22nd.

 

Note:  It's possible that I might have missed a few, since my column disappeared late on Sunday, and I had to do it over again.  If so, sorry!

 

 

 

 

Racing from "Back in the Day":

 

Here are some of the midget racing results from the Cherry Park Speedway in Avon, Ct.  Next week I'll have the rest of them - those that I have.

 

Cherry Park Speedway

Avon, CT

 

12 miles west of Hartford on RT 177 between Unionville and RT 44

 

1946

Opened as a dirt track

July 28 1. Bill Schindler Harry Hull Ford

2. Jeep Colkitt

3. Johnny Carpenter

4. Lloyd Christopher

5. Art Cross

25 laps

 

August 4 no racing-track being paved

 

Aug.11 1. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy

2. Ray Nestor

3. Don Morris

4. Chet Conklin

5. Jeep Colkitt

22 laps halted, accident no time

 

Aug. 14 1. Lloyd Christopher

2. George Rice

3. Jeep Colkitt Hough V-8

4. Art Cross Hough V-8

5. Don Morris

25 laps 6:32.50

 

Aug. 18 1. Ted Tappett Bourgnon #12 cycle

2. George Rice Hagedorn #9 cycle

3. Charlie Miller John Schloeder #30 cycle

4. Art Cross Hough V-8

5. Lloyd Christopher Hough V-8

25 laps 6:31.25 NTR

 

Aug. 25 1. Bill Schindler Caruso #2 Offy

2. Jeep Colkitt Hough #81

3. Dutch Schaefer

4. Johnny Rice

5. Rex Records

25 laps 6:56.56

 

Sept. 1 1. Bill Schindler Caruso #2 Offy

2. Chet Gibbons Wheeler Offy

3. Ray Nestor John Schloeder cycle

4. Lloyd Christopher Hough #82

5. Jeep Colkitt

25 laps 6:32.40 11,000 attendance

 

Sept. 8 1. Ray Nestor John Schloeder #30 cycle

2. Jeep Colkitt Hough #81 V-8

3. Johnny Rice

4. Don Morris

5. Art Cross

25 laps 6:37.04

 

Sept. 15 1. George Rice Curtis #5 Offy

2. Bill Schindler Caruso #2 Offy

3. Len Duncan Caruso #4 V-8 (?)

4. Ray Nestor

5. Ted Tappett

25 laps 6:30.20 NTR

 

Sept. 22 1. Chet Conklin Harry Hull V-8

2. Art Cross Hough #81 V-8

3. Al Keller

4. Dee Toran

5. Lloyd Christopher

25 laps

 

Sept. 29 rain after consi

 

Oct. 6 1. Al Keller Cresbaugh #28

2. Lloyd Christopher

3. Harry Fanelli

4. Johnny Zeke

5. Bob Disbrow

25 laps 6:43.13 feature from 9/29

 

Oct. 6 1. Art Cross Hough #81

2. George Rice

3. Ted Tappett

4. Dutch Schaefer

5. Al Keller

25 laps 6:35.40

 

Oct. 13 1. Chet Conklin Hull #37 V-8

2. Ted Tappett Bourgnon cycle

3. Rex Records Willetts Offy

4. Don Morris Caruso #4 V-8

5. Bud Tatro Tatro #15

25 laps 6:35.31

 

Oct. 20 1. Chet Conklin Hull #37 V-8

2. Tony Bonadies

3. Don Morris

4. George Rice Caruso #4 V-8

5. Larry Shurter

25 laps 6:33.50

 

Oct. 20 1. Johnny Carpenter Hough V-8

2. Chet Conklin

3. Bert Brooks

50 laps 13:01.50

Conklin overall winner of "Atlantic States Midget Championship"

 

 

1947

ARDC sanction

25 lap features Sunday nights

April 20 rain

 

April 27 rain after heats

 

May 4 rain

 

May 7 rain

 

May 11 1. Dutch Schaefer

2. Chet Gibbons

3. Al Keller

25 laps 6:35.0?

 

May 14 1. George Rice

25 laps 6:50.51

 

May 18 rain

 

May 25 rain (6 of first 8 rained out)

 

May 30 1. George Rice Curtis Offy #8

2. Tony Bonadies

3. Chet Conklin

50 laps 13.14.1

 

June 1 1. George Rice Curtis Offy #8

2. Al Keller

3. Art Cross

25 laps 6:34.

 

June 8 rain

 

June 15 1. Chet Gibbons

2. Johnny Ritter

3. Johnny Rice

25 laps 6:35.

Gibbons won at Thompson earlier in the day.

 

June 22 1. Johnny Ringger Wheeler Offy #45

2. Johnny Rice

3. Jeep Colkitt

 

June 29 1. Rex Records

2. Chet Gibbons

3. Johnny Ringger

25 laps

 

July 6 1. Bill Schindler

2. George Rice

3. Chet Gibbons Curtis Offy

25 laps 6:36.

 

July 13 1. Chet Gibbons Curtis Offy

2. George RIce Ashton Offy

3. Dutch Schaefer

25 laps 6:27.00 NTR

 

July 20 1. Ted Tappett Curtis Offy

2. Lloyd Christopher

3. Johnny Ritter

Curtis #8 Offy

 

July 27 1. Ted Tappett

2. Johnny Ritter

3. Chet Gibbons

50 laps 12:59.3 NTR

 

Aug. 3 1. Ted Tappett

2. George Rice

3. Johnny Ringger

25 laps 6:19.1  NTR

 

Aug. 10 1. Chet Conklin

2. Len Duncan

3. Henry Renard

25 laps

 

Aug. 17 1. Jeep Colkitt

2. Johnny Ringger

3. Johnny Ritter

25 laps 6:17.2 NTR

 

Aug. 24 1. Johnny Ringger

2. George Rice

3. Jeep Colkitt

25 laps 6:20.

 

Aug. 31 1. Lloyd Christopher

2. George Rice

3. Tony Bonadies

25 laps

 

Sept. 7 1. Johnny Ringger

2. Al Keller

3. Lloyd Christopher

25 laps

 

Sept. 14 1. Bill Schindler

2. George RIce

3. Johnny Ringger

50 lap Championship Race

 

Sept. 21 1. George Rice

2. Chet Conklin

3. Bert Brooks

25 laps no time

 

Sept. 28 1. Bill Schindler

2. Johnny Ringger

3. Bert Brooks

25 laps no time

 

Oct. 5 1. Bill Schindler

2. Jeep Colkitt

3. Al Keller

25 laps no time

 

Oct. 12 1. Johnny Ritter

2. Art Cross

3. Johnny Rice

75 laps

 

Oct. 19 1. Johnny Ringger

2. Al Keller

3. Mike Nazaruk

100 laps

 

1948

April 18 1. Ted Tappett Curtis Offy #8

2. George Rice Bourgnon Offy #36

3. Larry Bloomer Willetts Offy

4. Johnny Rice Lataille-Miller Offy

5. Bill Schindler Caruso Offy #2

25 laps 6:27.72

Crowd of 10,000  2,000 turned away by order of Police.

Note: ISN columnist Ed White mentions that the injured Henry Renard was walking around with a movie camera shooting

everything in sight. Wonder if that footage still exists!

 

April 25 1. Bill Schindler

2. Al Keller

3. Russ Klar

25 laps 6:13.30 NTR

 

May 2 1. Lloyd Christopher

2. Al Keller

3. Ernie McCoy

25 laps

 

May 9 1. George Rice

2. Bob Disbrow

3. Rex Records

25 laps 6:05.54 NTR

 

May 16 rain

 

May 23 1. Bill Baker

2. Buddy Chase

3. Rex Records

25 laps

 

May 30 rain

 

June 6 1.Ted Tappett

2. Len Duncan

3. George Rice

25 laps 6:23.46

 

June 13 rain

 

C:\Users\Dad\Pictures\Al Keller Turner 17.jpg

 

The late Al Keller is pictured in the "Stardust Offy" midget.  I'm pretty sure the photo was taken at the Cherry Park Speedway, in Avon, CT.

 

 

 

 

 

Press Releases:

 

NEWS FROM                                                                                                              

Orange County Fair Speedway                                                                                   

239 Wisner Avenue                                                                                                     

Middletown, NY10940 

 

CONTACT

Mike Gurda

845-342-2573

 

“KING OF THE CATSKILLS” QUALIFIER AUGUST 29

AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

 

MIDDLETOWN, NY (August 23)……..The winner of the Saturday, August 29 30-lap Modified division feature race at Orange County Fair Speedway will earn---in addition to the $2,500 top prize---an automatic starting spot in the Accord Speedway “King of the Catskills” Race Modified Series race to be held at that track on Friday, September 18, 2015.

In addition to the DIRTcar Big-Block Modifieds, Orange County’s other weekly racing divisions--- Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, Street Stocks, Thunder Trucks and Four-Cylinder Cars---will be in action on the 29th with a full program of qualifying and feature races, all part of Accord Speedway Night

 

Accord Speedway in the Catskill Mountains hosts similar racing programs on Friday evenings. Many Orange County competitors also race at the banked quarter-mile track located in the town of the same name. Rich Ricci Jr., Rich Eurich, and Willy Auchmoody are just three of the Modified drivers who race weekly at both tracks.

 

For Orange County’s Street Stocks, it’s also their fourth and final race-within-a race Crane Golf Challenge Series event, with additional awards to the high point finishers.

 

Johnstons Subaru is the sponsor on Accord Speedway Night.

 

Admission prices for the August 29 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and $1 for children 12 and under. The full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm.

 

Advance ticket sales for all remaining 2015 races, including the September 19 Eve of Destruction, the October 23-25 54th Annual Eastern States Weekend, and track information are available at the Orange County website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from the Track Office. Call 845-342-2573 during business hours.

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

September 5 --- WLR Construction Championship Night (Final night of points)

 

September 12 --- Superior Remodeling 911 Tribute night; Eastern States Modified Qualifier                            

September 19 --- Middletown Auto Wreckers EVE OF DESTRUCTION

 

October 23-25 --- 54th Annual Eastern States Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video:

 

Some midget car crashing videos:

 

https://youtu.be/4nd6pYIV8LQ

 

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Huma Abedin, a Clinton Aide, Is Back in Spotlight as Republicans Seize on Emails

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/us/politics/huma-abedin-clinton-emails.html?_r=0

 

Note:  To be honest, I do not trust Mrs. Clinton.  And I also do not trust Ms Abedin.  Just got a feeling about those two, ya know?

 

 

Bill Clinton is reportedly 'very agitated' by the idea of Biden jumping into the race. 

http://www.theweek.com/speedreads/573849/bill-clinton-reportedly-agitated-by-idea-biden-jumping-into-race

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week's joke:

 

HANDICAP PARKING


    Today I had to go to Lowe's. As I approached the entrance, I noticed a driver looking for a parking space. 
     I flagged the driver and pointed out a handicap parking space that was open and available. 
     The driver looked puzzled, rolled down her window and said, "I'm not  handicapped!" 
     Well, as you can imagine, my face was red! 
     "Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "I saw your 'I'm Ready for Hillary' bumper sticker and just assumed that you suffer from a mental disorder." 
     She gave me the finger and screamed some nasty names at me. 
     Boy! Some people don't appreciate it when you're just trying to help them out!        

 

 

 

 

Until my next column – next week

 

Columns are available on the Dirt Track Digest at:  http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/ at Contributing Columnists

 

And:

 

http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

Just in case anyone wants to contact me.  My email  is:  ygordad@yahoo.com