June 10, Brockton, MA--- "What better way to kick off the 85th Laconia than with a $14,500 purse for the Twins class put up by the New England Harley Dealers Association," said Pete Giammalvo of Sideways Promotions, who has been promoting the races from day one, 16 years ago. Ken Coolbeth on his Harley-Davidson XR 750 will be back to defend his title along with many rivals looking to beat the King of Cool on his own turf!

     Here are the details: The main event is the 16th Annual New England Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Dealers Association Ben Campanale Laconias half-mile. Sign up for the Pro's is 3 to 5 p.m. with practice starting at 5 p.m. Opening Ceremonies at 6:45 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.
Friday June 13 begins with an Amateur New England Dirt Track Series point's race starting at 9:30 a.m. with racing at 10 a.m.

      But there is also the Professionals on 450's, Pro-Sports, Vintage and the ever popular Stars of Tomorrow on 85's. All this is part of the American/Canadian 2 Wheel Pro Dirt Series.

       On Saturday June 14 the Rolling Thunder Show moves to a short track at Jolly Roger Moto Sport Park located on Rt 10 in East Lempster, NH. The bull-ring size track creates some excellent 'bump and slide' action. With many Pro's fighting for a spot in the 12-rider main of motorcycles and the popular Jolly Quads, the racing is guaranteed to be exciting! Gates open at 2 p.m., practice at 4:30 p.m., with races at 6 p.m.. The Roostertail Grill and FREE camping make a $10 adult ticket a bargain.

      On Sunday June 15 takes the NEDTS back to its roots. Canaan USA Speedway in Canaan NH. is where Sideways Promotions got it's start in 1989! The wide, high banked clay oval hasn't seen a motorcycle in several years but the enthusiasm to be 'home' has created a buzz all over the northeast. Many of today's north eastern top stars who rode 50's and 65's in the beginning will be looking to take home the Open Premier money. Practice is at Noon and the races start at 1:30. Tickets are $10 for adults. Canaan USA Speedway is located on Rt 118 in Canaan, NH.

        On Monday June 16, the vintage road racing motorcycles and sidecars will once again take to the technically demanding 1.6-mile road course at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the US Vintage Motorcycle Grand Prix. The event begins at 9 a.m. at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.

     With some of the fastest and most historic vintage motorcycles and riders from the United States and Canada, the event is an action packed day with over 16 exciting races featuring 27 different classes.

      Always a crowd pleaser, the vintage sidecars of North America slip and slide their way through the track turns in a balancing act of pure ballet. The fearless sidecar passengers, both men and women, scrape the asphalt with their shoulders to balance the fierce machines through the corners with the driver wrestling for control to carry the speed.

       Also a special event at these races will be the running of the FIM/NAMU North American 125 Championships. Though these machines are small in displacement, these modern state of the art factory grand prix motorcycles are capable of approaching the absolute motorcycle track record speeds set by the superbikes. Many of these riders are the up and coming future stars for international racing.

      With the general admission ticket, spectators to the vintage races are allowed to park their motorcycle or car on the track infield where they will get excellent viewing of the track as well as up close views of the race machines and their riders in the garages.

       Also unique to the event is the fact that the races are the destination for the Monday AMA Gypsy Tour that starts from the Laconia Motorcycle Week Rally Headquarters in Laconia. The Monday Gypsy Tour to the races is always a favorite with the fans. Riders on the Gypsy Tour will receive a 50 percent discount on the general admission ticket to the vintage races as well as having the unique and exclusive opportunity to have a VIP ride on the actual track.

      The 85th annual Loudon Classic, the oldest motorcycle race in the country, will once again take to the road course at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Saturday and Sunday. Riders from all over the northeast will flock to the speedway to take on the challenging 1.6 mile road course. The Loudon Classic boasts some of the most exciting racing in New England. A "classic" trademark of New Hampshire Motor Speedway is the "Bowl", considered one of the most famous turns in all of motorcycle road racing. Last year's champion, Jeff Wood, is looking to claim his fourth victory in five years during Sunday's marquee race. Sunday's events will begin at 11:30 a.m. featuring a ceremonial pace lap that will include prominent New Hampshire political figures: Hon. Mary Gorman, Vice-Chair of Labor; Hon. Jay Phinizy, Chair of Environment & Agriculture; Hon. Candace Bouchard, Chair of Public Works; and Hon. Vinny Graco, Vice-Chair of Fish & Game. Racing begins at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday and runs through Sunday, with 13 races on each day. Grandstand and infield tickets are $10 each day, or $50 for the weekend, including camping Friday and Saturday nights. Children 11 and under will be admitted to the grandstand area at no charge with infield access available for $10 each day. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

      A change has begun at Barre, VT’s Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl. Stock car racing is a 49 year-old tradition at the Quarry Hill oval, and one of its benchmarks has been the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division – an intermediate, budget-minded class utilizing stock chassis and V8 power. Over 35 Sportsman cars are expected on Ferguson Waterworks Night, Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at “The Nation’s Site of Excitement,” to continue producing some of the closest racing of the season.

      But in that, there’s a problem: Everyone is good. Gone are the days of the dominant seasons where a driver could win four, five, or six races on his way to the championship. In fact, no driver has been able to win more than three times a season in the last seven years. The racing is razor-close, taking for example the finish between veteran Rick Garand and teenager James Hebert at the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic, where the pair raced side-by-side inches apart for the win. But now more than ever, there is no clear-cut favorite to win the title.

     “It’s a nice problem to have when you have more than 30 cars that are all good and equal,” said Thunder Road Promoter Tom Curley. “But at the same time, who do we promote? There are so many good drivers in that Tiger Sportsman division that you want to use in advertisements and stories that you have no choice but to pass over a few.” Curley points to a pair of former champions, Joey Laquerre and Joe Steffen, who still compete in the NAPA Tiger Sportsman class each week, but also to a huge new batch of local heroes that has emerged, led by veterans Garand, Mark “The Hammer” Barnier, and Pete Ainsworth, 20-somethings Craig Bushey, Shawn Sicard, Joel Hodgdon, and point leader Tom Therrien, teenagers Hebert and Derrick O’Donnell, and Cody Blake, Bobby Therrien, Mike Ziter, and nearly a half-dozen more talented rookies campaigning this year.

     "There’s no question that the best racing in New England is in Thunder Road’s Tiger class,” said Curley. “I’m excited to see who will take over the reigns of the division in the next two or three years. As close and competitive as those teams all are, it’ll be a treat to watch the next big star break through.” Thunder Road’s NAPA Tiger Sportsman division is back in action, along with the ACT Late Models, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Power Shift Online Junkyard Warriors, as the summer Thursday night season opens on Ferguson Waterworks Night, June 12 at 6:30pm. General admission is $9.50 for adults, $3 for children (6-12), and just $20 for a “Family” ticket for any two adults and two kids.

        ISMA President Howie Lane of Essex, MA was informed that Jennerstown Speedway (PA) has decided to cancel the July 5 ISMA event for financial reasons. But, on the other hand, the Waterford( Conn.) Speedbowl, the site of ISMA’s opener, has requested a second date this season. The successful May 24 event prompted Waterford management to ask for another race in 2008 and ISMA complied with a Saturday, August 16 event - the day after the Lee USA Ollie Silva Classic.

      Hudson, NH's Dave Dion is winding his racing career down after five decades. "I had a great sponsorship deal with Berlin City Dealerships and that lasted for 21 years. My brothers and I may take in some special events, here and there. More than likely with the PASS Tour because we can still run our Ford with them. I still like going to the races and that keeps up my interest, " said the former NASCAR champion. Dion also manages to keep in touch with the R&R Machine Co. in Derry, NH which prepared his engines during the height of his career. Dave also manages to take in some of the various track and champions reunions all over New England.

      The racing at the P.A.S.S. sanctioned Riverside Speedway, was as hot as the ninety degree temperatures that the drivers raced in last Saturday night, and when it was all said and done, Howard Switser picked up a huge victory in the Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, race #1 in front of one of the biggest crowds in history on River Bend RV Night. Other winners included Nathan Swallow, Shawn Swallow, Ernie Laplant, Luke Shannon, Benjamin Belanger and Brett Gervais.

            A full field of twenty-four North Country Ford Late Models took to the Speedway for their 50 lap main event. Switser jumped to the point early and built up a large advantage, while Jeff Marshall and Floyd Bennett Jr. and others battled for the top five spots. The race settled in to a long run until lap 43, which included three attempts at finishing the race. Switser did a great job holding off everybody until the finish and picked up the $1,000 winners check. Grant Folsom held off Jeff Marshall in a spirited battle at the stripe to pick up second, while Mike Kenison and Paul Schartner III rounded out the top five. Heat checkers flew for Switser, Jeff Wimble and Folsom.

            Nathan Swallow, Jerrad Ledger and Luke Shannon squared off in a three car showdown to the finish in the Budweiser Super Stocks, and when it was all said and done, that’s the way they came across the stripe. David Ofsuryk Jr. and Brian Middleton completed the top five. Dean Switser Jr. and Swallow won their respective qualifying rounds.

            The River Bend RV Street Stock feature was a thriller, as Tyler Therrien and Shawn Swallow ran side by side for 15 laps before Swallow grabbed the lead on the final turn, and rolled to his third win in four attempts. Michael Smith, Tori Delabruere and Alex Theroux finished third through fifth. Therrien and Swallow won the heats.

            Ernie Laplant showed that he is the man to beat in the Twisted Tea Dwarf Cars, as he blistered the field in their 25 lap main event. Eric Hall settled for second, followed by Bobby Riley, Toby Merchant and David Hartshorn. Ciara McCoy and Laplant carried their heat checkers.

            The Kids Only Daycare Daredevil Rookies had a wild event as Nick Gilcris took a wild ride over turn two coming to rest on his roof. Nick was okay, and will be back to race another day. The Rookie top five was Benjamin Belanger, Nick Miller, Erin Hudson, Jerrad Ainsworth, and Keith Lord. The Veterans had a much calmer race going green to checkers with Brett Gervais picking up a hard fought battle over Jesse Switser, Brandon Lambert, Dilyn Switser and Cameron Bowen.

            Luke Shannon completed a good night at the races with a strong performance and victory in the Jiffy Mart Cyclones. Anthony Hill battled Shannon to the finish, but came up three car lengths short at the stripe, and settled for second. Lorin Vear, Charlie Rockwell, and Rick Utley Jr. made up the top five.

            Riverside Speedway will be back in action this coming Saturday night as the Vermont Milk Company presents the evenings activities. On the card will be the Outlaw Sportsman, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Angels, Daredevils, Dwarf Cars, a 4X4 Tug O’ War and spectator Drags. Post time is 6pm.

      Matt Kobyluck of Uncasville, Conn. won his first NASCAR Camping World Series East race at Watkins Glen International Sunday afternoon.
Kobyluck (No. 40 Mohegan Sun Chevrolet) led the final two laps in the series first trip to The Glen since 2004. Kobyluck’s previous best finish at the 2.45-mile road course was fourth.  Other New Englander's were not as fortunate with Jeff Anton of Russell lost a transmission and Eddie MacDonald of Rowley suffered engine problems and finished way back.

     ACT Late Model Tour Rookie driver Nick Sweet drove his STJAUTO.COM Pontiac to his best career finish on Saturday night, racing from his tenth starting position up to 5th in the Nutmeg State 100 at the Waterford Speedbowl, in Waterford, CT.

    It was Sweet’s 6th start of the season, and his third consecutive top 10 finish as he and the crew continue to ride a wave of momentum into the second ½ of the 12-race touring schedule.  “I am so excited and happy with our performance tonight,” stated the 23 year old Barre, VT driver. “I really love this race track, and the car ran so well!”  The event was won by 26-year Scott Payea of Milton, VT, the current point leader on the tour.  Thirty-eight drivers attempted to qualify for the 30-car starting grid.

     Both the weather and the racing were hot Saturday night in Winchester, NH at Monadnock Speedway. It was Craftsman Night at the Races and showers and storms battered the area around the track, but Monadnock stayed rain free. There were some new faces and some faces that hadn't been there for a while in Victory Lane. Chris Davis grabbed the lead early in the Mini Stocks and led until the end, where he celebrated his first win of the season. Craig Cashman nabbed his first win in the Super Stocks from the outside pole and Darrell Keane got his first win in the Late Models. Fran "Junior" Colson returned to Victory Lane in an Outlaw Pro for the first time since September of 2002, Fred Rogers brought home the trophy in the 4-cylinder Enduros and "Mouse" Chartier won in the full-size Enduros.

     Let's see what else is happening in the north country for racing action this weekend.  Friday has Twin State in Claremont, NH and Lee USA in southern NH.  

      Saturday is a buffet with All-Star in Epping, NH, Bear Ridge in Bradford, VT, Canaan (NH) adds the NEAR antique racing club, the Granite State Mini Sprints are on at Legion in Wentworth, NH, the All-Star Trucks visit Monadnock in Winchester, NH. and it's five divisions at White Mountain in N. Woodstock, NH.   In western Maine Oxford Plains has a busy card as does 95 in Hermon, Maine along with Wiscasset, another Pine Tree State oval.

      It's not as busy Sunday with Wiscasset hosting the PASS Tour, Unity (Maine) has MotoX action for the bikers, Devil's Bowl in W. Haven, VT has half-mile dirt track action featuring Modifieds while it's the Joe LaRochelle Memorial at the Hudson (NH) oval.  For the draggers New England Dragway in Epping, NH offers Jet Wars on Saturday night.

    Lou Modestino is a long-time columnist and Public Relations person, working for numerous tracks in the northeast, and now writes for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA.  He may be reached at lmodestino@hotmail.com. 

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