Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 98

                                           04/26/2012

 

Note:

Those of you that were able to see last weeks column, you’ll recall that I started off with some things about my wife and some health issues she’s been having.

I’m not happy in reporting that things really are not much better, and it’s been a helluva week for her and me.  Hopefully, within the next few days, things will improve and we’ll know what to expect next.

Chances are that there might not be a column net week, especially if there’s some time spent in the “Crash house” for her.

 

First:

Well, it seems that I have to apologize to those that read my column here on the Dirt Track Digest.  For some reason, I could not post it last week, and neither could Adam Ross.  We have to figure that there must have been something in it, that didn’t allow the column to be published.  So, if you really want to read it, I can only suggest you check it out over on the New England Tractor website, by clicking on this link:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/ta/vol97.htm

 

Second:

Word I received, as far as the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fames website being down, is that they are in the process of attempting to get a new webmaster.

 

Third:

This past weekend, I made the trip up to the Accord Speedway, figuring that I’d miss OCFS, first because other family members would not be at OC, and “Mother Nature” was being forecast to being rather nasty on Saturday, which in a lot of cases, she was.  So while home, and on the Internet, on Saturday evening, I was rather surprised to see that some of the tracks I was checking on, to see if they were racing, or not, did not have either a green (we’re racing) or red (cancelled) “light” showing.

 

Fourth:

I’m putting this into my column on Monday at 11:45 AM.  I just checked the weather forecast for my zip code on Yahoo!

Today: Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 54F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tonight: A few rain showers this evening mixing with snow showers overnight. Low 37F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 30%.

Tomorrow: Cloudy with a few showers. High 56F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow night: Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies late. Low 36F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Wednesday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.

Thursday: Showers. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s.

Friday: Occasional showers possible. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid 30s.

Note:  Well, if there is racing this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the tracks should be nice and wet.  As for the temps that are forecast for Friday and Saturday – that might keep some race fans at home.

 

Fifth:

Auto racing lost another fan, sponsor, and team member, this past week with the passing of Raymond Markle, from Port Jervis, NY.

His obituary:

RAYMOND F. MARKLE JR.

October 13, 1946 - April 18, 2012

Port Jervis, NY

Raymond F. Markle, Jr., age 65, "The Mayor of West End", passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. He was born on October 13, 1946 in Port Jervis, NY, the son of the late Raymond F. Markle, Sr. and Florence McCreery Markle.

 

Ray retired from Gillinder Brothers Glass Co., in Port Jervis, and was also a retired brakeman for the Erie R.R in Port Jervis. He was best known as the former owner and operator of Markle's Handy Corner Store in Port Jervis for many years, now called Buckley's Corner. He was an avid racing fan of the Orange County Fair Speedway and a strong supporter of Len & Jo's Racing Team as well as the Van Inwegen and Davey Werber Racing Teams. He loved to hunt with his family members and was a former member of the Mongaup Hunting Club, and an avid Mets Fan. He was a member of Most Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Port Jervis and a lifetime member of Hose Co. #5, Port Jervis, Fire Dept. A family statement read "Raymond always gave and never asked for anything."

Raymond married Barbara Clarke Markle, who survives at home. He is also survived by his two daughters, Tammy Gegory of Cheyenne, WY and Kimberly Markle of Port Jervis, three sisters: Helen Meloi and her husband, Charles of Sparrowbush, NY, Catherine Fuller and her companion, Tom Biondi of Port Jervis, Marie Woodruff and Robert of Mill Rift, PA; his brother, Daniel Markle and his wife, Karen of Pond Eddy, NY; two grandchildren, Kyle and Kayla Gregory and two great grandchildren, Johnathan Gregory and Shayla Miller, and his close family friend, Davey Werber of Brewster, NY.

Friends may call Monday, April 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Prayers will be offered at 5 p.m., Monday, with Rev. George LaGrutta officiating. Firematic services will follow, conducted by the Port Jervis Fire Dept. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, NY. 12771.

Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com.

 

 

Sixth:

 

I know it’s the start of the racing season, but when one goes to “My Laps” to check on lap times, it seems that you have to type in the date to get the current 2012 results.  Might that be a “glitch” with My Laps?

 

 

Seventh:

 

In Indycar:

   Chrysler/Dodge 4th manufacture?      http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163042-Chrysler-Dodge-4th-manufacture

 

 

Eighth:

 

More IndyCar stuff:

 

http://www.indyracing.com/en/News/2012/April/4-17-Rear-wheel-guards-perform-as-expected

 

Note:  Really?  Maybe they didn’t.

 

http://www.indyracing.com/en/News/2012/April/4-19-Clauson-to-make-debut-at-Indianapolis

 

Note:  I was hoping that Clauson might get on an oval prior to Indy, in an IndyCar, but with only four ovals on the schedule for 2012, that just ain’t happening.

 

 

 

Ninth:

 

Staying with IndyCar – the 1962 entry list, and the 2012 entry list – 50 years and quite a difference:

 

50 years ago, in 1962 – 77 entries and for 2012 – 34 entries, so far.

Staying with IndyCar – the 1962 entry list, and the 2012 entry list – 50 years and quite a difference:

50 years ago, in 1962 – 77 entries

Indianapolis 500

USAC Indy Car race
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN
May 30, 1962
200 laps on 2.5 mile paved oval; 500 miles
Fin St Driver # Owner Car Laps Money Status Laps Led
1 2 Rodger Ward
3 Robert Wilke 1962 Watson 2/Offenhauser 200 125,015 running 66
2 4 Len Sutton
7 Robert Wilke 1961 Watson/Offenhauser 200 44,556 running 9
3 27 Eddie Sachs
2 Al Dean 1960 Ewing 2/Offenhauser 200 26,591 running 0
4 12 Don Davis
27 Racing Associates 1959 Lesovsky 3/Offenhauser 200 16,716 running 0
5 3 Bobby Marshman
54 Epperly FE/Offenhauser 200 14,316 running 0
6 7 Jim McElreath
15 Ollie Prather 1957 Kurtis 500G2 14/Offenhauser 200 10,366 running 0
7 1 Parnelli Jones
98 J.C. Agajanian 1960 Watson 4/Offenhauser 200 32,966 running 120
8 24 Lloyd Ruby
12 Ansted Thompson Racing Watson FE/Offenhauser 200 8,541 running 0
9 23 Jim Rathmann
44 Smokey Yunick 1960 Watson 2/Offenhauser 22 8,041 running 0
10 28 Johnny Boyd
38 George Salih 1960 Salih 2/Offenhauser 200 8,841 running 0
11 6 Shorty Templeman
4 Bill Forbes 1962 Watson 3/Offenhauser 200 6,461 running 0
12 11 Don Branson
14 Lindsey Hopkins 1960 Epperly 6/Offenhauser 200 6,041 running 0
13 29 Jim Hurtubise
91 Jim Robbins 1958 Watson 2/Offenhauser 200 6,621 running 0
14 32 Ebb Rose
86 Racing Associates 1961 Porter 1/Offenhauser 200 6,001 running 0
15 10 Bud Tinglestad
5 Bruce Homeyer 1959 Phillips 3/Offenhauser 200 5,631 running 0
16 9 Roger McCluskey
17 Fred Sclavi 1962 Watson 1/Offenhauser 169 5,911 accident 3
17 17 Paul Russo
A.J. Foyt
Elmer George
21 Mari Hulman George 1962 Lesovsky 5/Offenhauser 147 5,341 engine seized 0
18 30 Troy Ruttman
26 Jim Robbins 1961 Kuzma 11/Offenhauser 140 5,871 piston 0
19 15 Bobby Grim
18 Gilbert Morcroft 1961 Trevis 4/Offenhauser 96 5,191 oil leak 0
20 8 Dan Gurney
34 Mickey Thompson Thompson 62/Buick 92 5,161 rear end 0
21 16 Chuck Hulse
19 Federal Engineering 1956 Kurtis 500E 388/Offenhauser 91 5,531 fuel pump 0
22 33 Jimmy Daywalt
79 Tassi Vatis 1961 Kurtis500J2 122/Offenhauser 74 5,351 transmission 0
23 5 A.J. Foyt
1 George Bignotti 1961 Trevis 3/Offenhauser 70 5,721 lost wheel 2
24 13 Dick Rathmann
9 Harry Allen Chapman Watson FE/Offenhauser 51 5,091 magneto 0
25 18 Eddie Johnson
32 John Chalik 1960 Trevis 2/Offenhauser 38 6,261 magneto 0
26 26 Paul Goldsmith
53 George Bignotti 1959 Epperly 4/Offenhauser 26 5,031 magneto 0
27 20 Gene Hartley
Bill Cheesbourg
88 M & W Racing 1959 Watson 1/Offenhauser 23 6,201 steering 0
28 14 Paul Russo
62 Myron Osborn 1957 Watson 1/Offenhauser 20 4,921 engine 0
29 25 Jack Turner
45 Gerhardt 1961 Kurtis500J2 121/Offenhauser 17 5,141 accident 0
30 31 Bob Christie
29 William Tucker 1960 Kurtis500J2 123/Offenhauser 17 5,311 accident 0
31 22 Allen Crowe
83 Pete Salemi 1960 Watson 3/Offenhauser 17 5,431 accident 0
32 21 Chuck Rodee
67 Ernest Ruiz 1959 Christiansen/Offenhauser 17 5,601 accident 0
33 19 Bob Veith
96 Ray Crawford Elder FE/Offenhauser 12 5,871 engine 0
Bruce Jacobi
22 John R. Wills Epperly/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jim Hurtubise
99 Norman Demler 1958 Epperly 3/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Ralph Liguori
68 Epperly/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Ralph Liguori
69 Robert Peterson 1952 Kurtis 500A 354/Chevrolet 0 0 did not qualify 0
Herb Hill
69 Robert Peterson 1952 Kurtis 500A 354/Chevrolet 0 0 did not qualify 0
Bill Cheesbourg
35 Mickey Thompson Thompson 62/Buick 0 0 did not qualify 0
Bill Cheesbourg
52 John Zink Moore 62 2/Turbine 0 0 did not qualify 0
Bill Cheesbourg
78 Pierre de Villiers Connaught C 8/Alta SC 0 0 did not qualify 0
Bill Cheesbourg
59 STP Corporation 1962 Novi 500K 125/Novi SC 0 0 did not qualify 0
Dempsey Wilson
31 Lysle Greenman 1957 Kuzma 5/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Stevenson
16 STP Corporation 1962 Kurtis 500K 124/Novi SC 0 0 did not qualify 0
Dan Gurney
52 John Zink Moore 62 2/Turbine 0 0 did not qualify 0
Dan Gurney
72 John Zink 1956 Watson 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jim Rathmann
10 Smokey Yunick 1962 Yunick/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Daigh
35 Mickey Thompson Thompson 62/Buick 0 0 did not qualify 0
Don Freeland
36 Hart Fullerton 1956 Lesovsky 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Mike McGreevy
46 Maurice Goff 1959 Kurtis 500J 119/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Cliff Griffith
84 DVS Inc. 1959 Kuzma 10/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Al Miller
64 Federal Engineering 1954 Kurtis 500C/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Duane Carter
52 John Zink Moore 62 2/Turbine 0 0 did not qualify 0
Duane Carter
72 John Zink 1956 Watson 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jimmy Daywalt
46 Maurice Goff 1959 Kurtis 500J 119/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jack Fairman
78 Pierre de Villiers Connaught C 8/Alta SC 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jack Conely
89 Harry Dunn Dunn/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Leon Clum
23 Ray Howard 1960 Meskowski 2/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Leon Clum
6 Fred Sclavi 1954 Kurtis 500C 370/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Ronnie Duman
28 Douglas Stearly 1961 Elder/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Bob Mathouser
43 Ray Brady 1957 Kurtis 500G2 15/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Arnold
23 Ray Howard 1960 Meskowski 2/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Arnold
37 Ed Kostenuk Watson FE/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Arnold
47 Joe Hunt 1959 Ewing 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Arnold
77 George Walther 1959 Walther 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Chuck Arnold
46 Maurice Goff 1959 Kurtis 500J 119/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Roy Graham
55 Shannon Brothers 1957 Watts 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jim Hemmings
94 Leonard Smith 1957 Kurtis 500G2 10/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jim Hemmings
65 Roy McKay 1959 Kurtis 500J 120/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Norm Hall
41 Bill Forbes 1960 Meskowski 1/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Norm Hall
25 Al Dean 1959 Kuzma 8/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Gig Stephens
61 Epperly/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Johnny Coy
92 William Deakin 1953 Kurtis 500B 359/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Johnny Coy
68 Epperly/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Tommy Copp
58 Bob Sorenson 1956 Kuzma 4/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Keith Rachwitz
33 Mickey Thompson Thompson 62/Buick 0 0 did not qualify 0
Jack Ensley
95 James Shreve 1958 Kuzma 6/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0
Ed Kostenuk
37 Ed Kostenuk Watson FE/Offenhauser 0 0 did not qualify 0

Notes: Qualifying based on 4 lap (10 mile) distance.
#88 Hartley relieved by Bill Cheesbourg on lap 21.
#21 George relieved by Paul Russo on lap 53.
Russo in turn relieved by Foyt on lap 127.
Time of race: 03:33:50
Average Speed: 140.293 MPH
Pole Speed: 239.409 seconds
Race Purse: $ 425,642

And, 2012 – 34 entries, so far, and not many more expected.

Special Indy 500 delivery: Thirty-four cars entered

http://www.indyracing.com/News/2012/April/4-19-Thirty-four-cars-entered-in-Indy-500

Go to:

Click it: 2012 Indianapolis 500 Entry List

 

Tenth:

Wow!  Never thought I’d see this, what follows.  I know the ARDC was, in a way, calling Big Diamond it’s “Home Track” for 2012, with ten races scheduled.  This was found on the Internet, and the link was on the ARDC’s message board.

Big Diamond Speedway regrets to announce that they will be discontinuing their Saturday night racing on the 3/8 mile speedway.  Track promoters, Fritz and Krista Roehrig took on an aggressive schedule for the 2012 season, with racing events scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights.  Due to the recent illness of Fritz Roehrig, it has become impossible for the Roehrig family to accommodate this aggressive schedule.

 

Construction continues on the "Little Diamond" track with Fritz Roehrig overseeing that project.  Fritz sees the addition of the "Little Diamond" as a vital aspect of the future of the Big Diamond Speedway facility.   The construction will  not be complete in time for the proposed May opening date but work continues with the intent of reaching completion as soon as possible. 

 

Several racing organizations who were supporting the Saturday night program - ARDC Midgets, TSRS 305 Sprint Cars and Tobias SpeedSTRs have all been notified of the change.  According to Krista Roehrig, the announcement was met by these organizations with compassion and understanding.  In all cases, the racing clubs offered to do whatever they could to assist the speedway.  Big Diamond has offered to add these divisions to their Friday night races as scheduling permits.  The Xcel 600 Modifieds and Legend cars have also been offered dates on the Little Diamond upon its completion. 

 

The AMA Motorcycle dates WILL continue as scheduled.  There are three dates - May 5, August 11 and September 8 -that the AMA Motorcycles have leased the Big Diamond facility for their events. 

 

Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.”

 

Note # 1:  If true, that’s at least 1/3 of the ARDC’s schedule, that could be lost.

Note # 2:  On the ARDC’s message board, it’s said that the ARDC is trying to get their dates switched from the Saturdays to Fridays.  I don’t know if that will work, as far as time goes on Friday nights, what with their normal Friday night schedule at Big Diamond.

 

 

Eleventh:

 

I see where Travis Pastrana is entered in this weekend’s Nationwide race at Richmond.  And, as of Monday night, only 44 entrants, too.

 

 

Twelfth:

 

What ever happened to Milka Duno?  Last year she was a fairly regular in the Nationwide Series.  No where to be seen so far in 2012.

 

 

Thirteenth:

 

     Found on the Track Forum – IndyCar related:

Lotus to stop supplying engines to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta  Autosport.

 

Note:  See Sixteenth”, below for statement from Lotus.

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163097-Lotus-to-stop-supplying-engines-to-Dreyer-amp-Reinbold-Racing-and-Bryan-Herta-Autosport

 

As frustrating as this Lotus news is...

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163111-As-frustrating-as-this-Lotus-news-is...

 

     Jay Howard has a car but no engine

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163101-Jay-Howard-has-a-car-but-no-engine

 

     Will We See More Indy 500 Entries?

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163075-Will-We-See-More-Indy-500-Entries

 

     Michael Tweets Cousin John Will Not Be In A Car With Him This Year.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163074-Michael-Tweets-Cousin-John-Will-Not-Be-In-A-Car-With-Him-This-Year.

 

 

     Sarah Fisher NOT happy...

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?163011-Sarah-Fisher-NOT-happy...

 

 

     Lotus revolt (merged)

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?162743-Lotus-revolt-(merged)

 

 

 

Fourteenth:

 

Those that read my columns know that I have some “e-mail” sections.  Well, I received a rather disturbing e-mail on Monday evening, and it more or less confirmed what I’ve been thinking about ever since my daughter and I were at the Vintage Race Car Meet at Loudon, last May.

 

Word I got while there, was that the track has taken over some of the duties that the Vintage people performed, themselves, like flagger and corner workers, etc etc.  Of course, the cost for them was passed on to the Vintage people.  Also, they started to charge for golf carts, too – something I believe was not charged to the members, previously. 

 

I call it the “Nascarization” of the Vintage Meet.  Hell, the “Nascarization” of the Vintage Meet that used to be held at the Darlington track was cancelled last year, due to a lack of entrants – due to the increased cost.  Yes, at Loudon, it’s sad to say, but the Vintage Meet has had some drastic changes since Bob Bahre isn’t involved.

 

Could this be the last Vintage Meet at Loudon?  Could this meet, with what is reported to be an under 100 entrants even be held, this May?  Increased cost, less track time, along with higher cost to just tow to the facility are a good part of the lower amount of entrants.

 

After I received that e-mail, I then sent out an e-mail to some parties that would be interested, and I said this:

 

“I recieved the following message, and, in a way, kind of expected this, what with the "NASCARization" of the Vintage Race Car Meet at Loudon, and seeing how they've already done away with the Vintage Meet at Darlington, last year.

'Tis a shame the all-mighty dollar has to screw up good things.

I imagine even with the info below, the cost of fuel just getting to and from Loudon has to figure in, too.

Hoping to see most of you there, anyway!

 

Tom”

 

So far, I’ve received these responses:

 

“They have shot themselves in the foot and will blame the participants....”

 

“Dad,

The extremely sad part is that with all this "Nascarization" going on, so many young people will never get to meet or know all the wonderful people that we do!  What a shame

I wish there was a way to make young people, Nascar, and the "corporations" that own the tracks realize what an important part of racing history they are letting disappear..... So sad....

Love & Peace Always,

 

Judy”

 

 

 

Fifteenth:

 

I imagine you’ve seen those commercials with Carl Edwards where he’s in a STOCK car, and doing what sure looks like “Drifting”.  In-car shots show him without a helmet, while the passengers are wearing one.  So, I wonder, when that car is “at speed”, is Carl wearing a helmet?  Better yet, is Carl even in the car?  And, if he is in the car, he best have a helmet on, I’d say!

    

Sixteenth:

Statement from Lotus on engines:

Entire text of Lotus statement:

Lotus Raises IndyCar Commitment

When Lotus entered the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, the regulatory requirement to supply multiple teams and the late timing of Lotus’ entry placed a significant restriction on the development programme. It was clear from the start that the 2012 season was going to be a huge challenge as Lotus debuted its IndyCar engine, but it was a challenge that Lotus was determined to meet.

Lotus was further hindered by unanticipated difficulties caused by the widely reported change of ownership and the subsequent restrictions on resources. To have achieved a top ten position under these circumstances is pretty impressive.

That said, Lotus has acknowledged that whilst the engine has demonstrated a lot of promise, minimal testing has resulted in reliability issues.

Having now had the experience and feedback from the first three races of the season, Lotus undertook a strategic review of its position to decide what course of action would be in the best interests of IndyCar and the teams it supports.

Following this review, Lotus is pleased to announce in cooperation with IndyCar that, whilst it remains fully committed to IndyCar in the long term, Lotus has taken the decision to reduce the number of cars it runs from five to three for the remainder of the season. As a consequence of this decision, Lotus has made offers to Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC to end the agreements with them. Bryan Herta Autosport LLC will not participate in any further races as a Lotus team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC will race one more time in Brazil next weekend.

Going forward, Lotus is excited to be working closely with Lotus HVM Racing, the original partner team and Lotus Dragon Racing, who delivered Lotus’ best result so far this season. Lotus wishes Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold LLC the very best of luck for the future.

Lotus also intends to continue to assist its engine supplier Engine Developments Limited (EDL) by providing additional resources and financial support to expedite the development program. The details of the arrangement are currently being finalised and the additional support should result in an increased engine performance for the rest of the season.

Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport Group Lotus, said: “Lotus in IndyCar is like David versus Goliath. We are and always will be a niche British sports car company built for the few not the many. That said I’m delighted with our solution and I can assure everybody that the actions were taken after careful consideration and will assist in ensuring the brand’s high racing ambitions and the high expectations of the IndyCar community are realised.”

Randy Bernard, CEO IndyCar, commented: “IndyCar is committed to ensuring that our teams and manufacturers have a platform to remain competitive. We support Lotus' decision and will assist Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport in securing engine support for the remainder of the season.”

 

 

Seventeenth:

There’s an interesting thread on the Dirt Track Digest’s Forum/Message Board about the difference in cost between a Sportsman car and a Modified.  Granted, the Sportsman class, in most cases, is not the headline class at most tracks, but do they offer the same kind of competition at a much lower cost?  Maybe they do, but maybe because of “Names” in the Modified class, we really don’t realize it?

At OCFS on opening night, Gary Edwards, in his “Crate” Sportsman had a faster lap than 20 of the 25 Big Block Modifieds, in their features.  That’s on a 5/8 mile track.

At Accord, on opening night, Andy Bachetti, in the Modified feature had the fastest lap with a time of 13.818.  Anthony Perrego, in the Sportsman feature had the fastest lap with a time of 13.711.  Tyler Boniface, in the Spec Sportsman (Crate) feature, had the fastest lap with a time of 13.773.  Accord is a tight ¼ mile track.  Also, keep in mind – Bachetti has quite a few years of competition under his belt, while Perrego and Boniface don’t.  In fact, I think they’re both still in their teens?

Link:

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/43121-sportsmen-and-modified/

 

Eighteenth:

Supreme Court signals support for Arizona immigration law provision

 

(Found on Facebook)

 

In part:

 

"The Supreme Court signaled Wednesday that it might uphold a key element of Arizona's immigration law, as justices across the board suggested the state has a serious problem on its hands and should have some level of sovereignty to address illegal immigration.

 

The justices appeared ready to allow a provision requiring police officers to check the immigration status of people they think are in the U.S. illegally.

 

The justices strongly suggested Wednesday they are not buying the Obama administration's argument that the state exceeded its authority, with Chief Justice John Roberts at one point saying he doesn't think the federal government even wants to know how many illegal immigrants are in the country.

 

"You can see it's not selling very well," Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Obama administration Solicitor General Donald Verrilli.”

 

 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/25/arizona-immigration-law-battle-arrives-at-supreme-court/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Faffiliates%2Fksaz+%28Affiliate+-+Mountain+-+Phoenix+-+AZ++-+O&O%29#ixzz1t5NzMLT7

 

And also from Facebook, on the above:

 

If you are on Twitter, follow us on @StandWithAZ (link below) for live updates from SWA counsel Jim Gilbert from inside the Supreme Court. Best lines: Chief Justice Roberts: "It seems to me the federal government just doesn't want to know who's here illegally. and "Scalia asked Verrilli if the U.S. has to enforce our immigration laws in a way that 'pleases Mexico'" OUCH!

 

 

 

Coming up:

 

Another reminder –

 

22nd Vintage Racing Celebration

Thursday, May 10 - Sunday, May 13, 2012 8:00am-6:00pm – Hopefully!

Oval - 5/10, 5/11; Road Course - 5/12, 5/13

 The Vintage Racing Celebration recognizes the roots of auto racing in New England.  The four-day event features some of the racing community's earlier car models.

The event kicks off with two days of oval racing on Thursday, May 10, and Friday, May 11.  The oval days will feature midget, sprint, champ, Indy, modified and stock cars that will put on an exhibition of vintage racing.

On the weekend, the track will be reconfigured to the 1.6-mile road course for May 12-13.  Several associations will invade the track for racing that will include formula and sports cars, as well as motorcycles.

 

Also:  On Sunday of the Labor Day weekend, another “Racing Expo” is scheduled for Hinchliffe Stadium, in Paterson, N.J.  Last years expo was hurricaned out, if you recall.

 

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

http://www.jayski.com/

 

Driver sues NASCAR, "too Caucasian'?

An aspiring stock-car driver is suing NASCAR, claiming he was denied the opportunity to compete in NASCAR's diversity program because he looks "too Caucasian." NASCAR argues that in trying to change the "face" of the sport, it has the right to select drivers for its diversity program based on skin color, attorneys for the sanctioning body and its former diversity program administrators have told a U.S. District court. Michael Rodriguez, a driver from Pennsylvania, says in his complaint filed in U.S. District Court that he was denied the opportunity to compete in the 2005 and 2006 Drive For Diversity combines. Rodriguez is suing NASCAR and Access Communications, which operated NASCAR's diversity program from its inception in 2004 until 2008 and conducted the combines that are designed for teams in NASCAR's regional series to scout minority drivers. NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program was created to develop minority drivers and crewmen and help them advance through the NASCAR ranks with the goal of reaching the sport's top series. Since 2004, the program has included 41 drivers, with most being selected multiple times. There currently are six drivers in the program racing in various NASCAR regional series.(full article at the Sporting News)(4-20-2012)

UPDATE:

A federal judge has denied NASCAR's request to throw out a lawsuit by an aspiring driver who was invited to its 2005 Drive For Diversity combine but claims he was discriminated against when he never made it onto the track. Michael Rodriguez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, filed the lawsuit in January 2010 claiming NASCAR and Access Communications, which operated the diversity program, violated his civil rights. He is asking for unspecified damages.(more at the Sporting News)(4-24-2012)

 

Note # 1:  If I’m not mistaken, Michael Rodriguez ran Go-Karts at the Hamlin Speedway, back when my grandson, Brett first started racing Karts.  He then went into asphalt modifieds, I believe.  There is/was another driver in the “Diversity” program that is also “Caucasian” looking – Paulie Harraka.  I have no idea as to how he qualified for it, unless it’s the fact that his father is foreign born.

Note # 2:  Check out the dates on this, from the Track Forum:

     “The "Drive For Diversity" hits a bump in the road:

Thursday, January 21, 2010 Last Update: 10:55 AM PT”

Yes, it’s about the same young man – Michael Rodriguez!

This is really OLD news, folks!  I have no idea as to why Jayski has come out with it as a current dated item.  There are six pages and 164 comments on this on the Track Forum, with only the last page is rather current.  Heck, I even had a post on it back in 2010, I think.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?132561-The-quot-Drive-For-Diversity-quot-hits-a-bump-in-the-road

Note # 3:  Per Jayski, himself, this really isn’t “Old” news, since it’s just now getting into court.

 

Petty not ruling out return to Dodge:

Richard Petty Motorsports is trying to negotiate a deal to stay with Ford and retain its relationship with Roush Fenway Racing. But team namesake Richard Petty isn't totally ruling out a return to Dodge, the manufacturer with which he became a racing icon as a driver. "Right now, we've got our sponsors pretty much lined up for next year,'' Petty said Friday at Kansas Speedway. "Where we go with the cars and engines and things like that ... we've got a plan, but I don't know if anybody is going to go along with it.'' Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark is optimistic his organization can continue supplying Ford engines and chassis for RPM. "We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Richard Petty and his entire team, as it is a first-class organization,'' Newmark said. "We believe it has been a mutually beneficial relationship and sincerely hope to be able to continue the partnership into the future."
Dodge has been looking for an anchor organization since Penske Racing announced it would move to Ford in 2013. Because of Petty's past association with Dodge, RPM is among several organizations speculated to be a target for Dodge. "Right now, they are pretty confused,'' Petty said of Dodge. "They got a plug pulled out of them and wasn't really expecting it. ... We'll consider going anywhere to make a living out of this. Right now, we're still up with the Ford deal and we're going everything we can to win races with them.''(ESPN)(4-21-2012)

 

Toyota to unveil 2013 Camry:

On May 22 at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) U.S.A. in Salisbury, N.C., reporters will get their first look at the new Camry to be raced by Toyota teams in 2013. Ford and Dodge already have revealed their 2013 Fusion and Charger, respectively. Chevrolet has yet to schedule the unveiling of its 2013 race car.(NASCAR Wire Service)(4-21-2012)

 

Dale Earnhardt Day 2012:

Dale Earnhardt Inc. is proud to announce the 2012 Dale Earnhardt Day on Sunday, April 29th, at the DEI Corporate Headquarters in Mooresville, NC. A celebration of the extraordinary life and legacy of Dale Earnhardt, this event is held annually on his birthday. Fans will be treated to special access to the Grand Showroom, only opened once a year on Dale Day, including a display of DEI Championship cars and other special vehicles. The DEI Museum will be opening a new display on that day: "Dale Earnhardt Inc.  A Racing Heritage". This new exhibit highlights the early beginnings of Dale and Teresa Earnhardt, and how their separate racing backgrounds combined brought great success. Photos and displays from the early days of racing show how the sport has changed and grown through four generations of Earnhardt racers. More info on my Racing Charities page. Dale Earnhardt Day 2012 will run from 1pm until 6pm, on Sunday, April 29th. Admission is free, and plenty of parking is available. Dale Earnhardt Inc. is located at 1675 Dale Earnhardt Highway #3, outside of Mooresville, NC.(4-20-2012)

 

Victory Junction asks Pattie Petty to take a back seat:

If the planned Victory Junction Midwest becomes a reality, it likely will be without the help of Pattie Petty, the driving force who created the original NASCAR-themed camp in North Carolina for children with chronic diseases. The Victory Junction board of directors has informed Petty, wife of former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and daughter-in-law of Hall of Famer Richard Petty, that she will no longer be part of the day-to-day operations of the camp. The board has offered her emeritus status, but she is balking at serving in a purely ceremonial role. "They don't want anything to do with me," said Pattie Petty, who has been living in Kansas City part time while raising funds for the camp in Wyandotte County. "They gave me not one reason. They said they wanted to make a change. & I'm not sure what I did wrong, but the word came back to me I was making irrational decisions. Two board members who wanted me to leave gave me an ultimatum & never go to the camp, not talk to anybody with the camp. & It was probably the most hurtful thing that's ever happened to me in my life." John McKee, president of Victory Junction and who was hired by Pattie Petty, said he has been instructed by the board not to have any comment "because there is an ongoing employment negotiation."(see full story and more quotes at the Kansas City Star)....what the [blank]?(4-22-2012)

UPDATE:

Statement by Victory Junction's Chief Operating Officer, Austin Petty in Response to Founder, Pattie Petty Transitioning to Emeritus Status:
"Victory Junction has extremely high ethical standards and only decisions that benefit the sustainability and longevity of camp are made by our well-respected Board Of Directors. I can confirm my mom accepted a goodwill ambassador position as Chairwoman Emeritus from our Board, but that is all I can confirm at this point, given that this involves ongoing negotiations between an employee and employer. While public figures are involved, this situation is no different from a regulatory perspective and personnel matters are private and confidential per the law and human resource policies. Because of this, we will not have any further comment on this or any other personnel issues at this time. Seriously ill children are the motivation of Victory Junction and we are as committed as ever to enriching the lives of chronically ill kids at our existing facility in Randleman, NC, as well as pushing forward the successes of a second camp serving the Midwest."


AND:

Kyle Petty doesn't believe the removal of his wife, Pattie, as chief executive officer of Victory Junction Gang Camp will negatively impact the camp the couple founded in memory of their son Adam. "It doesn't impact anything, it really doesn't," Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR star, said Monday. "Basically, the board had decided to ask Pattie to take an emeritus role and just be a spokesperson. & I have no concerns with the direction of the camp at all. Period. We're always going to be involved in the camp," said Kyle, the son of seven-time Cup champion Richard Petty and a driver from 1979 to 2008. "The camp was founded in memory of Adam, and we have worked incredibly hard to build the camp. But the camp is about the kids that come, and it's all about what's best for the kids." Kyle Petty, who is vice chairman of the board, said Pattie, who was chairman and CEO, was primarily running the fund-raising efforts for the Kansas City camp. He said Austin and Victory Junction president John McKee handled the day-to-day operations of the North Carolina camp. The North Carolina and Kansas City camps have separate board of directors that meet quarterly to make decisions on how the camps operate. Kyle continues to serve on the board of directors for the camp and conducts a charity motorcycle ride across the United States to raise funds. Kyle said he and Richard Petty, who also is on the board, did not participate in discussions about the role for Pattie, who is battling Parkinson's Disease. Pattie Petty, 60, wasn't immediately available for comment. "It's a bigger story because she's Pattie and the work she put in the camp and founding the camp and stuff," Kyle Petty said.(in part from the Sporting News)(4-24-2012)

 

 

Truex Jr., MWR talk new deal:

Team owner Michael Waltrip said on Saturday at Kansas Speedway the organization is negotiating with #56-Martin Truex Jr. and primary sponsor NAPA on an extension. Truex Jr.'s contract expires at the end of the 2012 season. "NAPA is very happy right now," Waltrip said. "Everybody would be very happy to go into 2013 just like this." Truex said he never felt like he was on the hot seat coming into this season, and he's confident he will be with MWR long-term. "I know where I stand with my race team, Michael and (co-owner) Rob (Kaufman)," Truex said. "There was never a part of me that said I need to step it up, I need to do better. I know I've always gotten everything I possibly can get out of my equipment. I feel like they know that, too."(ESPN)(4-21-2012)

 

JGR close to extension with Toyota:

Joe Gibbs Racing plans to sign a long-term extension with Toyota within the next month, ending any speculation it could move to Dodge. "We're working on that," JGR president J.D. Gibbs told ESPN.com on Sunday after Denny Hamlin's victory at Kansas Speedway. "We'll be with Toyota for a long time to come." Dodge has been looking for a team to anchor its 2013 program since Penske Racing announced earlier this year it would leave the manufacturer for Ford next season. JGR, since its contract with Toyota is up after this season and because the organization has the infrastructure to build its own engines, became a natural target. Gibbs said that is not a consideration (ESPN)(4-23-2012)

 

New record, win 199 for car #11:

#11-Denny Hamlin's win in the STP 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was car #11's 199th win in the Sprint Cup Series. This win passes the #43 for all-time wins in Sprint Cup Series history for a car number. Richard Petty, who drove the #43 for most of his 200 wins, actually won 192 races running the #43 and 8 in other car numbers [#41 & #42]. The car number in third is the car #3 with 97 wins. See the full list of car number wins and who won the first and last races for those car numbers on my Wins by Car Numbers.(4-22-2012)

 

Kansas Overnight TV Ratings:

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing on Fox posted a 3.7/9 on Sunday for the STP 400 from Kansas Speedway. Though that's off -20% from last year's 4.6/11 for the Talladega 400 which aired on the comparable weekend, it's off just one-tenth from last year's Kansas race which aired later in the season, and when the nationals are released, it's expected to rank as the top-rated event of the weekend. Through eight races, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.5/9, off -8% from last year's 4.9/11. See past 2012 races, four-year comparion chart and more on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(4-23-2012)

 

Bristol Motor Speedway will remove progressive banking:

Less than a month after fan feedback convinced him to make changes to the concrete surface at Bristol Motor Speedway, Bruton Smith, Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, announced his plans for significant modifications to the track. "I said when this process began last month that I would listen to what the fans said they wanted," Smith said. "After a week to 10 days, there was no question that the overwhelming majority was asking for alterations to the track. Since March 28, when we announced that changes would be made, we have listened to fans, heard from drivers and talked to engineers about what to do and how much time we had to do it. Once we knew the direction, we located the right equipment to make it happen." The changes concentrate on the progressive banking applied when the current track surface was put in place in the summer of 2007. "The majority of fans we heard from said they wanted adjustments made and the bulk of those said the progressive banking was what they didn't like," said Smith in explaining the decision-making process. "So, that's the focus of our efforts. And that is what we are working to change." When the deteriorating BMS track surface was replaced in 2007, variable banking was added. Often referred to as "progressive" because the degrees increase from bottom to top, the layout provided multiple lanes of racing on the famed short track. Smith said the choice to change the track surface did not come easy, but listening to the race fans always has served him well. "More and more fans kept asking us to do something to the track," Smith said. "So I put it out there. They spoke and we listened. I want them to be happy; I want them to love their experience in Bristol. This will accomplish that and I know they will be pleased with the result."(BMS)(4-25-2012)

 

Goodyear will test at Bristol's new surface:

With the track changes at Bristol Motor Speedway, Goodyear felt the need to hold a tire test to evaluate the new surface. We're happy with our current tire set-up at Bristol but we always have to keep up with track changes, so we plan to run a test to determine what will best suit the specific modifications made to Bristol," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's general manager of worldwide racing. "We will start out our test with the existing Bristol tire set-up, in order to determine if the changes to the track surface require any changes to our tread compound formulation. We'll then evaluate if the track surface has changed and if we'll need to bring back something different for the race in August." Being a concrete surface, we always need to manage the 'rubbering in' process," added Grant. "Concrete seems to be more sensitive to taking rubber, so we need to make sure we get the right combination of tires to match up with this race track. The most important thing to us is making sure the actual racing surface is the same from the bottom of the track to the top." Goodyear's tire test will be held at Bristol on June 12-13. Participating teams are to be determined.(Goodyear), see the announcement about the track's changes below in the track news section.(4-25-2012)

 

Johnson named most influential athlete:

From the year of the NASCAR driver to the year of the quarterback. Last year three drivers from the NASCAR circuit made [the Forbes] list of America's Most Influential Athletes, led by perennial Sprint Cup Series champ #48-Jimmie Johnson. NASCAR hasn't exactly faded. Johnson, whose talent and guy-next-door demeanor endears him to fans, as well as to marketing chiefs of brands like Chevrolet, Quaker State and Lowe's, repeats as America's most influential athlete, based on public opinion polling. But fellow drivers #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (down from #3 to #7) and #24-Jeff Gordon (off the list this year) didn't keep up, making way for newcomers like Jeremy Lin and Manny Pacquaio, and for the rise of several pro quarterbacks. This year, six of the 10 most influential athletes are NFL signal callers, with both Manning brothers now in the fold. In second place is Tim Tebow, who shot up from #10 last year after claiming the Denver Broncos' starting job and igniting "Tebowmania" across the country. Chalk it up to the dominance of pro football on television. Not many shows can match the 30 million viewers that the NFL gets for a playoff game, let alone the 100 million or so who tune in for the Super Bowl. Nielsen and E-Poll surveyed over 1,100 adults about dozens of well-known athletes to measure their likeability and whether they're considered "influential," an important quality for marketers. Candidates were limited to pro athletes who are currently active and who score at least 20% "awareness" with the general public.(Forbes)(4-25-201

 

 

Going back, in time – in racing history:

Note# 1:  Most of the following information was found here: 

http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/history.html

 

Note: 2:  Yes, most of this info is mostly from Open Wheel racing from “Back in the day”.

 

For this week, I’m covering from April 20th to April 26th:

April 20

1946

Gordon Smiley... Born ... American race car driver from Omaha, Nebraska that ran SCCA Formula Atlantic, Can-Am, Formula 5000, Formula Super Vee and Indy cars. Smiley raced in the Indianapolis 500 twice, in 1980 and 1981, and was killed while trying to qualify for a third in 1982.

1963

Mauricio Gugelmin... Born ... F1 and Cart driver

 

April 21

1917

Charlie Rogers... Born ... AAA driver from the 1940's

1946

Roy Russing... Died ... Worked as an aircraft engineer/instructor during WW2. A midget legend before the war, he was killed shortly after racing resumed in a midget crash.

1979

Ira Vail... Died ... AAA driver from 1915 to 1928

 

April 22

1956

Walt Faulkner... Died ... AAA driver from 1949 to 1955. He also competed in NASCAR races. In 1950 Faulkner became the first rookie to win pole position at the Indianapolis 500. He died after a racing crash at a USAC Stock Car event in West Coast Speedway California on April 22 1956

1975

Greg Moore... Born ... A Canadian racecar driver who competed in the Indy Lights and CART World Series, where he had great success with several wins in both series and a championship in the 1995 Indy Lights series. However, his promising career and his life came to an end on October 31, 1999, when he was fatally injured in a violent crash on the 10th lap of the CART season finale, the Marlboro 500, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

1988

Paul Lotier won the Sprint Car feature race over Keith Kauffman and Barry Camp at the Williams Grove Speedway, Williams Grove,PA. Daryl Gohn lost his life in a crash.

Race report:  http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/report/4_22_88-1.html

 

April 23

1884

Bob Burman... Born ... AAA driver 1909 to 1916.

1936

Dick Atkins... Born ... One of the best sprint car drivers of his era and was just begining to shine in the USAC Championships when he was killed at Ascot Park when Don Branson's car bounced off the wall back into his path. Branson died instantly and Atkins passed away the next day from what at first were believed to be burns. However an autosy revealed that the cause of death was a fractured skull.

1961

Chris Kneifel... Born ... Cart / USAC driver from 1982 to 1984

1969

P.J. Jones... Born ... P.J. has raced in NASCAR, the IRL, and Champ Car. He is the son of racing legend Parnelli Jones, and brother of Page Jones.

1971

Dempsey Wilson... Died ... USAC driver from the 1950's and 60's.

 

April 24

1933

Billy Garrett ... Born ... USAC driver 1956 to 1958

1967

Fred Lorenzen , one of the most successful Stock Car drivers in history, announced his retirement at a banquet in his honor. Suffering from ulcers, the 33 year old driver said "I want to go out while I'm on top...". The ulcers forced him to miss the North Wilkesboro and Martinsville races. After a brief foray into GN racing in 1956, Lorenzen ran the USAC Stock Car trail, winning the 1958 & '59 USAC titles before moving South. Lorenzen ran his own car in 1960 until his money ran out and he returned home to Elmhurst, Illinois and began working as a carpenter. The Holman-Moody team called Lorenzen and asked him to drive their factory backed Ford on the GN circuit in 1961. For the next 6 years, the Lorenzen/Holman-Moody combination had great success, earning the blonde haired driver the nickname of "The Golden Boy". The list of Lorenzen's accomplishments are truly impressive. In 1963, his earnings of $122,587 marked the first time in NASCAR history a driver had earned $100,000 in a season. He won 26 GN races in his career and at the time of his retirement held the marks for career money earned ($375,000), most wins in races of 250 miles or longer (21), most superspeedway wins (12), consecutive wins in "major" races (5) and was the only driver to have won races at all the existing superspeedways (Atlanta, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona and Rockingham). Lorenzen stayed on with Ford as a consultant and race strategist before making a couple of short lived comeback attempts in the early 70's.

1969

Hermie Sadler... Born ... NASCAR driver. His brother Elliott Sadler is also a NASCAR driver.

 

April 25

1884

Arthur Chevrolet... Born ... AAA driver 1909 to 1920. One of 3 brothers that emigrated to America and went into auto racing. 

1910

Herb Ardinger... Born ... AAA driver 1934 to 1947. Ran the Indy 500 6 times with a best finish of 4th in 1947.

1928

Frank Lockhart... Died ... AAA driver 1925 to 1927. Won the Indy 500 in 1926. He was killed in the crash of his Stutz Blackhawk during a land speed record attempt on the beach at Daytona, Florida.

1942

Wally Zale... Died ... Wally Zale hailed from Chicago and was one of the pioneers of midget auto racing when it was introduced to the Midwest in 1934. His 67 wins with various organizations in 1940 is believed to have been the greatest number ever by a midget driver in a single season and broke his old record of 65 feature wins set in 1936.

1962

Fred Frame... Died ... AAA driver from the 1920's and 1930's. Ran the Indy 500 8 times and won in 1932.

 

April 26

1899

George Howie... Born ... AAA driver from the 1930's.

1970

Lloyd Ruby outdueled Mario Andretti and Al Unser to win the 200 mile USAC Championship race on the 1.5 mile peanut shaped Trenton Speedway in Trenton, NJ. At the start, pole winner Al Unser took the lead followed by Ruby. Local favorite Wally Dallenbach got by Ruby for 2nd on lap 7 and took the lead at the line on lap 34. Dallenbach closely led A. Unser until lap 59, when Dallenbach lost it and spun into the wall while lapping A.J. Foyt. Foyt spun to avoid and A. Unser's Lola-Ford managed to slip by after just clipping Dallenbach's Eagle-Offy. The yellow flew and the leaders pitted. Andretti's crew got him out first and Bobby Unser fell from contention when his crew had trouble removing the right rear wheel. Andretti and A. Unser swapped the lead 2 more times before Ruby made his winning pass low into the right hand backstretch dogleg on the 104th of 134 laps. A yellow 2 laps later bunched the field, but Ruby pulled out a slight gap on the restart. Ruby kept his turbocharged Drake-Offy powered Mongoose out front, with Andretti closing to 1.4 seconds at the checkered. A. Unser finished 3rd, 3.6 seconds behind Ruby. A. Unser said nicking Dallenbach's car threw the handling off. It was the 7th, and final, Indy Car win for the 42 year old driver from Wichita Falls, Texas, who had only finished one prior start at Trenton.

 

 

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

From their April 17th issue:

 

Lenny Sammons:

Lenny makes mention that over 2/3 of the field in the NASCAR Whelen Modified opener at the Thompson Speedway experienced damages due to crashes.  NASCAR had 25 officials there to keep an eye out on the racing.  Four cars had quick change rears.  Those with them get a 100# weight break.

 

Ernie Saxton:

Ernie had some about Al Unser, Jr. and his off-track problems.  He also feels that Rusty Wallace should be in NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.  Ernie writes about another HoF nominee – Wendell Scott, the only black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s top level (Cup, today) with that win coming on December 1, 1963 in Jacksonville, Florida.  Scott was not announced as the winner, at the time, with Buck Baker being named.  Two hours after the race, the officials “discovered” that Scott had won – and by two laps.  His family finally got the trophy in 2010 – some 37 years after Scott won and 20 years after his passing away.

Ernie tells of Kenny Wallace losing his Nationwide ride for two races due to having no sponsor.  Ryan Truex got the ride because he brought a sponsor along with him.  Sadly, and I agree with Ernie on this, it seems today, talent behind the wheel does not get you rides, but money does.

Ernie makes mention of a supposedly disabled NYC fireman who retired in 2003 with a ¾ disability pension of $95,000.00/year.  He is a member of the Fire Rescue team at the Dover Speedway, and also apparently a Fire Captain with the Lewes, Delaware Fire Department.

 

Brett Deyo:

Glenn Hyneman and Billy Pauch, Sr. are teaming up for some special races in 2012.  Events like:  Thunder on the Hill events at Grandview, along with the Freedom 76m Clash at the Can at Penn Can, Short Track Super Nationals at Five Mile, Outlaw 200 at Fulton, Coalcracker 100 at Big Diamond and the Delaware International Speedway’s Dirt Track Championships.

 

Ron Mentus:

He notes that Rubens Barrichello, who has 19 years in F-1, is the all-time leader with 322 career starts in F-1, had 11 wins and 14 poles, in F-1, will NOT be eligible for the IndyCar Series Rookie of the year.

 

Steve Bubb:

Tells us that “Pit Fee costs” are what cancelled a Super Sportsman race at Big Diamond – due to a “misunderstanding”.  The original fee was $25.00 then was upped to $35.00.  Heated words were exchanged between the racers and management. (I’m not sure if the Super Sportsman will return to Big Diamond, or not).

 

Don and JoAnn Davies:

They mention that former DIRTcar Chaplain David Wells recently had a stroke and is currently hospitalized near his home in Pennsylvania. 

His address: 

Pastor Wells

Lighthouse Christian Center

111 West Spring Street

PO Box 313

Titusville, Pa 16354

 

Robin Yasinsac-Gillespie:

Robin makes mention that Lebanon Valley can hold 7,000 fans, but Albany/Saratoga (Malta) can only hold 2,000.  She quotes Howie Commander:  “Can you make money at this place (A/S) with having the lease – we just don’t know”.

 

There was quite a list of race folks that have left us, more than usual, I’d say.

Lee Bliss, 87 or Brockport, N.Y. on April 7th.  He was a race driver from the 50’s & 60’s.

Don Goodrich, 78, formerly from Red Hook, NY but had moved to Naples, Fl. left us on March 11th.  He raced in the New York area with his # 9D Modified.

Milton “Milt” Miller, 79, from Bedford, Pa. on April 15th.  He was a former Super Modified, Sprint Car and Late Model driver.

Bernie Partridge, 79, from Glendale California, on April 12th.  He was the voice of the NHRA.  He named Don Garlits “Big Daddy” in 1962.  His third son, John, died two days previous, from a massive heart attack, and his second son died in 2011 from Cancer.

Linda Walker, 51, from Hillsborough, N.J. on April 8th.  She was an official at Flemington.

Rayanna Rose Marrero, 8, of Sergeantville, N.J. on April 7th, due to complications from a bone marrow transplant.  Her father, George, raced at New Windsor and New Egypt in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Dollie “Dot” Moore Owens, 83, from Spartanburg, S.C. on April 9th.  She was the wife of Everette “Cotton” Owens.

 

And, some items that are covered in this weeks (April 24th) edition:

 

In AARN
This Week:

Soggy Saturday Sops
In Most Area Speedways


Showdown At New Egypt: 
Godown Wins After Pauch Breaks


Layton Is Super At Williams Grove
in Tommy Classic


Big Diamond Ditches
Saturday Night Race Schedule


Bloomquist Wins Big Again
At Roaring Knob

VMRS Super Team, 
McKennedy & Barry,
Win Second Straight


Kevin Hartnett Finds
Affordable Racing Is Possible
At Penn Can


Stafford's Spring Sizzler: 
Forty Years & Still Going Strong

 

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

 

“Mother Nature” put a crimp in last weekends racing, but here’s what I’ve found:

Last Thursday, at Albany/Saratoga – or is it “Malta?, Anthony Perrego was 9th in the Sportsman feature.  Bobby Hackel, IV, and Tyler Dippel, were both DNQ’s.

At Accord, in the Modified feature last Friday, Danny Creeden was 2nd, Michael Storms 5th and Mike Ruggiero 6th.  In the Sportsman feature, Anthony Perrego was the feature winner, with Brad Szulewski 10th, Brian Krummel 17th and Tyler Dippel 18th.  In the Spec Sportsman feature, Tyler Boniface was the winner with Kyle VanDuser 2nd and Tyler Dippel 7th.

Note:  I was not aware that a driver could run in both the Spec Sportsman, and Sportsman class, at Accord on the same night, as Tyler Dippel did.

In the two Modified features run at Big Diamond, last Friday, Mike Mammana had a 17th in the first one and a 20th in the second.

Kyle Armstrong was 15th and Kolby Schroder 23rd in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.

Johnny Guarino was 17th in the Modified feature at New Egypt.

Kyle Rohner was 15th and Corey Ziegler 18th in the 602 Sportsman feature at Penn Can.

A week ago, at Mountain Speedway, Nick Pecko was 12th in the Sport Modified feature.

And, AJ Filbeck won the Sportsman feature at the Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Isle, N.Y. a week ago.

 

 

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

An interesting thread over on the Track Forum.   Dan Gurney, Colin Chapman, Jim Clark, and the Lotus/Ford Indy cars.  Was it Dan Gurney and those others that are responsible for the rear engined Indy cars we have today?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  It could be “blamed” on Sir Jack Brabham, maybe?

 

http://www.allamericanracers.com/vintage-ms8-01.html

 

 

 

 

Press Releases:

Borgers PR

Media Contact

Bob Snyder

bobsnyderphoto@enter.net

 

Borgers Guaranteed Purse.

 

Borgers Speedway will guarantee a minimum $200 to win for Wingless Dirt 600 Sprints, Wingless Asphalt 600 Sprints/Three Quarter Midgets, AllStar Slingshots, and XCEL 600 Modifieds. 

 

If there are only 3 cars entered you are getting $200 to win.  1 to 14 cars $200 to win.  15 to 19 cars $250 to win and 20 to 24 cars $300 to win.

 

Payout has also been increased throughout the breakdown and last spot will pay $20.  If you break and can not start the feature you will get $20.

 

With our paved racetrack, infield, and pits the racecars and fans will being going home clean and spotless.  No more washing mud off you car.  

 

Creature comfort is second to none at Borgers Speedway.  No more smelly porta-johns but the finest restrooms in all of racing featuring our heated and air conditioned restrooms complete with exhaust fans, steel stalls, running water sinks, drinking fountains, and diaper changing stations.

 

Dine at our refreshment stand featuring the World Famous Borger Burgers and take in the view from our spacious grandstand or purchase a tailgating spot where you can take in all the action from your car or truck.

 

Grand Opening will be Saturday April 28 at 1:00 p.m.  starting with Karts and Micro-Stocks.  After  practice and heats the Big Cars will practice followed by the Kart and Micro-Stock features. 

 

Wingless Dirt 600 Sprints, Wingless Asphalt 600 Sprints/TQ Midgets, AllStart and Junior Slingshots, and XCEL 600 Modifieds will take to the track arount 4:00 p.m.

 

The Grand Opening will also feature Hot Dog Day.  Everyone in the grandstand and pits will receive a ticket and a number will be called out about every 10 minutes and the winner will receive a free hot dog courtesy of Glenn and Ruth Borger.

 

Be a part of “History In the Making” as a totally new and exciting era of racing will be introduced to the Northeast with the new asphalt racing at the Borgers Super Speedway.

 

For more information go to the speedway web-site www.borgers-speedway.com and follow the Facebook link at the top for weather issues or the Borgers Speedway Hot Line 570-992-8131.

 

Any questions that need answers contact Bob Snyder.  bobsnyderphoto@enter.net

 

 

And:

 

 NEWS FROM   Orange County Fair Speedway                                                                                                                                                      

CONTACT

Mike Gurda

Orange County Fair Speedway

239 Wisner Avenue       

Middletown, NY 10940 

845-342-2573

                                                                                

FOR RELEASE BEGINNING SUNDAY, APRIL 22 (UPDATED NEWS)

RACING ACTION APRIL 28 ON SCOUT NIGHT

AT ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY

(Feature races added to April 28 racing program. The 30-lap Modified feature race and the 15-lap inaugural Rookie Sportsman feature race, both postponed by rain on April 21, will be added to the Saturday, April 28 racing program. There will be no increase in admission prices for this extended night of racing.)

MIDDLETOWN, NY (April 22)......Get ready for an exciting night of high-speed racing action on Saturday, April 28 at the historic five-eighths-mile “Hard Clay” Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York .

The evening’s schedule Includes a regular four-division racing program featuring DIRTcar-sanctioned Big-Block Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock race cars in qualifying heats and feature races. It’s also Scout Night and the Orange County Kid’s Club has activities planned for the youngsters in attendance. The evening’s program is sponsored by Middletown Auto Wreckers and Jumpin Jake’s.

All Boy and Girl Scouts, Brownies and Cub Scouts and their leaders in uniforms will be admitted free on Scout Night. Scout groups are asked to inform the speedway office of their troop number, home town, and leaders’ names so that the y may be recognized during the evening.

“Scouting has always been part of the true fabric of American life,” says speedway promoter Mike Gurda. “It’s an outstanding citizenship builder as well as being a great deal of fun. We’re happy to have all the scouts as our guests.”

Admission prices for the April 28 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for children 12 and under. The full night of racing begins promptly at 6:30 pm.

Looking ahead, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and racing Stars are returning to Orange County on Saturday, May 19. Tickets are now on sale for this special evening that will also include the Orange County Sportsman drivers and cars. General admission that evening is $30.00; reserved seats $35.00; Children 6 and under free; Children in reserved seating $5.00. 

Information for all Orange County Fair Speedway action is available at the speedway website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from at the Track Office. Call 845-342-2573 during business hours.       

 

 

 

I get e-mails:

 

Amazing WWII Aircraft Facts – Continued:

 

Experience Level:
Uncle Sam sent many of his sons to war with absolute minimums of training. Some fighter pilots entered
combat in 1942 with less than 1 hour in their assigned aircraft.

 

The 357th Fighter Group (often known as The Yoxford Boys) went to England in late 1943 having trained on P-39s.   The group never saw a Mustang until shortly before its first combat mission. 

A high-time P-51 pilot had 30 hours in type.  Many had fewer than five hours.  Some had one hour.

 

With arrival of new aircraft, many combat units transitioned in combat.  The attitude was, "They all have a stick and a throttle.  Go fly `em." When the famed 4th Fighter Group converted from P-47s to P-51s in     February 1944, there was no time to stand down for an orderly transition.   The Group commander, Col. Donald Blakeslee, said, "You can learn to fly `51s on the way to the target. 
 
A future P-47 ace said, "I was sent to England to die."  He was not alone.   Some fighter pilots tucked their wheels in the well on their first combat mission with one previous flight in the aircraft.  Meanwhile, many bomber crews were still learning their trade.  Of Jimmy Doolittle's 15 pilots on the April 1942 Tokyo raid, only five had won their wings before 1941.   All but one of the 16 copilots were less than a year out of flight school.

 

In WWII flying safety took a back seat to combat.  The AAF's worst accident rate was recorded by the A-36 Invader version of the P-51: a staggering 274 accidents per 100,000 flying hours.   Next worst were the P-39 at 245, the P-40 at 188, and the P-38 at 139.  All were Allison powered.

Bomber wrecks were fewer but more expensive.  The B-17 and B-24 averaged 30 and 35 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, respectively-- a horrific figure considering that from 1980 to 2000 the Air Force's major mishap rate was less than 2.

 

The B-29 was even worse at 40; the world's most sophisticated, most capable and most expensive bomber was too urgently needed to stand down for mere safety reasons. The AAF set a reasonably high standard for B-29 pilots, but the desired figures were seldom attained. 

The original cadre of the 58th Bomb Wing was to have 400 hours of multi-engine time, but there were not enough experienced pilots to meet the criterion.  Only ten percent had overseas experience.  Conversely, when a $2.1 billion B-2 crashed in 2008, the Air Force initiated a two-month "safety pause" rather than declare a "stand down", let alone grounding.

 

The B-29 was no better for maintenance. Though the R3350 was known as a complicated, troublesome power-plant, no more than half the mechanics had previous experience with the Duplex Cyclone.   But they made it work.

Navigators:
Perhaps the greatest unsung success story of AAF training was Navigators.  The Army graduated some 50,000

during the War.  And many had never flown out of sight of land before leaving "Uncle Sugar" for a war zone.   Yet the huge majority found their way across oceans and continents without getting lost or running out of fuel --- a stirring tribute to the AAF's educational establishments.

 

Cadet To Colonel:
It was possible for a flying cadet at the time of Pearl Harbor to finish the war with eagles on his shoulders.  That was the record of John D. Landers, a 21-year-old Texan, who was commissioned a second lieutenant on December 12, 1941.  He joined his combat squadron with 209 hours total flight time, including 2½ in P-40s.  He finished the war as a full colonel, commanding an 8th Air Force Group --- at age 24.
As the training pipeline filled up, however those low figures became exceptions. 
By early 1944, the average AAF fighter pilot entering combat had logged at least 450 hours, usually including 250 hours in training.  At the same time, many captains and first lieutenants claimed over 600 hours.

 

FACT:
At its height in mid-1944, the Army Air Forces had 2.6 million people and nearly 80,000 aircraft of all types. 
Today the US Air Force employs 327,000 active personnel (plus 170,000 civilians) with 5,500+ manned and perhaps 200 unmanned aircraft. 
The 2009 figures represent about 12 percent of the manpower and 7 percent of the airplanes of the WWII peak.

IN SUMMATION: Whether there will ever be another war like that experienced in 1940-45 is doubtful, as fighters and bombers have given way to helicopters and remotely-controlled drones over Afghanistan and Iraq.  But within living memory, men left the earth in 1,000-plane formations and fought major battles five miles high, leaving a legacy that remains timeless.
 Edward E. Gilley, LM937
Veterans Of  Underage Military Service
Army Air Corps Enlisted Pilots Association
Veterans Of Foreign Wars
American Legion
Air Force Association

 

Note:  This ends this little series of info on WW II.

 

 

 

 

Some non-racing stuff:

 

Like we couldn’t see this?

 

1 in 2 new graduates are jobless or underemployed

 

In part:

 

"The college class of 2012 is in for a rude welcome to the world of work.

 

A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don't fully use their skills and knowledge.

 

Young adults with bachelor's degrees are increasingly scraping by in lower-wage jobs — waiter or waitress, bartender, retail clerk or receptionist, for example — and that's confounding their hopes a degree would pay off despite higher tuition and mounting student loans.

 

Taking underemployment into consideration, the job prospects for bachelor's degree holders fell last year to the lowest level in more than a decade.

 

About 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor's degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed, the highest share in at least 11 years. In 2000, the share was at a low of 41 percent, before the dot-com bust erased job gains for college graduates in the telecommunications and IT fields.

 

Broken down by occupation, young college graduates were heavily represented in jobs that require a high school diploma or less.

 

More on this can be found here:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-2-graduates-jobless-underemployed-140300522.html

 

 

More non-racing stuff:

Arizona’s illegal-immigration law heads to Supreme Court. Will justices strike it down?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/arizona-illegal-immigration-law-heads-supreme-court-justices-203011953.html

North Korea issues unusually specific threat

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/north-korea-issues-unusually-specific-threat-152720861.html

Poor economy worsens Social Security's finances also Medicare info

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/poor-economy-worsens-social-securitys-175251926.html

 

Video time:

 

Ralph Stevens had this one on Facebook – A tribute to “Thursday Night Thunder” on ESPN, from some years back.

 

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

 

 

Photos:

 

Note:  The photos are not available on Dirt Track Digest, only on New England Tractor - http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

Here are a couple of one of the oldest race tracks in the country – the Orange County Fair Speedway, in Middletown, N.Y. from “Back in the Day” when the small track was in the infield, the track that I used to watch the ARDC Midgets race on back in the mid to late 40’s.

And:

Above photos were posted on Facebook by Ralph Stevens.

 

 

Closing with this:

 

As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, "You know what?

 

You have been with me all through the bad times.

 

When I got fired, you were there to support me.

 

When my business failed, you were there.

 

When I got shot, you were by my side.

 

When we lost the house, you stayed right here.

 

When my health started failing, you were still by my side...

 

You know what Martha?"

 

"What dear?" she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.

 

"I'm beginning to think you're bad luck."

 

 

May “Guardian Angels” sit on the shoulders of all of our race drivers and race fans, and guide them safely around the tracks!

Drive safe! 

As usual, you can reach me at:  ygordad@yahoo.com