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May 27, Brockton, MA--- Excitement is
building, as the 16th Annual New England Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Dealers
Association Ben Campanale Laconia Half-Mile gets closer. This year the “Kick
Start” for the week will be an autograph signing by AMA Grand National Champion,
Harley-Davidson factory rider Ken Coolbeth of Morris, Conn. and others at
Heritage Harley-Davidson in Concord NH from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday night, June 12.
Defending Champ Coolbeth can’t wait to "push the cushion" on the half-mile on
Friday, June 13 starting at 7 p.m. Coolbeth is also sponsored by the Bettencourt
motorcycle dealership in W. Bridgewater.
The “King of Cool”, as Kenny is called, won’t have an easy time because teammate
Jared Mees and others want the lion’s share of the $14,500 purse. Several young
guns will be riding XR 750 Harley-Davidsons for their first time. James Rispoli,
a former NH resident, riding a Whites H-D, has won a race every year at
Rochester since he was nine-years old. James will be challenging the top riders
this time out. The big news is that the Twins purse is $12,000.
The loyal New England Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Dealers Association knows the
flat track motorcycle fans want to see, hear and feel the rumble of the
winningest V-Twins in the world, the XR 750. The combination of Connecticut’s
Ken Coolbeth on his Harley-Davidson along with other National riders on Harleys,
Aprillia, Suzuki and Triumph’s for a 15 lap feature will only be seen one place
in New England in 2008, The Rochester N.H. Fairgrounds. Friday, June 13 is the
date with opening ceremonies starting at 6:45 p.m.
There is lot more to the 16th Annual New England Harley-Davidson Motorcycle
Dealers Association Ben Campanale Laconia Half-Mile program. Professional’s on
450’s, Pro-Sports, Vintage plus the ever-popular Stars of Tomorrow on 85’s. To
keep the show moving during track maintenance, The Bay State Harley Pullers will
attempt to pull their weight transfer sled 200 feet. These custom made 3
wheelers are the perfect off-track addition. Other activities off the track, a
new vendor midway and the best track food in New England await spectators.
Friday, June 13 begins with an Amateur New England Dirt Track Series point’s
race starting at 9:30 a.m. Sign up for the Pro’s is 3 to 5 p.m. with practice
starting at 5 p.m. and Opening Ceremonies begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $20 for
Adults, Kids 8-14 are $5, Under 8 FREE. Adult $5 off coupons are available at
select New England Harley-Davidson Authorized Dealers starting June 2. There's
RV Parking outside turn three for rooftop viewing up close. To get there follow
the signs from exit 13 off RT. 16 to the Rochester Fairgrounds. Camping is
available.
Also filling out the busy weekend will be short track motorcycle races and ATV's
at Jolly Roger Motorsports Park in E. Lempster, NH on Saturday night, June 14 at
6 p.m. followed by another short track event, including bikes at the Canaan USA
Speedway in Canaan, NH on Sunday, June 15 at 1:30 p.m. For more information call
organizer and promoter Pete Giammalvo at 978-874-1732 or check out the
www.sidewayspromo.com web page.
Youngster Ryan Morgan, only 14-years old and a recent graduate of the quarter
midget ranks, dominated the Legends 20-lap feature at the Waterford( Conn.)
Speedbowl Wednesday evening. In capturing his first-ever win in the division,
Morgan quickly distanced himself from the field finishing several lengths in
front of Mike Alcaro. Thomas Gray, George Whitney, and Max Zachem completed the
top-five.
The 18th Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 150 program at Stafford Motor Speedway saw
Ted Christopher victorious in the 40-lap SK Modified feature event, while Chris
Matthews and Norm Sears both took down their second consecutive wins in the
20-lap SK Light and 15-lap DARE Stock feature events. Due to a rain storm in the
middle of the program, the 30-lap Late Model and 20-lap Limited Late Model
feature events were postponed to a later date.
In the Whelen Modified Tour event Chuck Hossfeld won it with Todd Szgedy, TC,
both of Conn., Mike Stefanik of RI and Jimmy Blewitt for the top five. Sixth
went to Eric Beers in the Boehler entry out of Freetown. Bob Grigas, III of
Marshfield ended up 16th while Richard Savary of Canto had a bad night and ended
up 24th. Grigas led the first lap and later on from the 40th to 92nd circuit.
Chris Perley, AKA “The Rowley Rocket” of Rowley put on a stellar performance in
winning the 50-lap International SuperModified Association season-opener at the
Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday evening. In doing so, he recorded the fastest
average lap-ever (over 108 mph), in the 57-year history of the facility. Other
feature winners were Jeff Pearl (SK Modified), Ron Yuhas Jr. (Late Model), Mark
Cooper (Sportsman), and Ben Bargnesi (Mini Stock).
At Seekonk last weekend Westport's Fred Astle won the Coor's 75 lap feature with
Ken Spencer of Taunton managing to crack the top five while Jake Vanada of
Berkley came in sixth which was a strong finish considering that it's his first
year in the top division at the Cement Palace. Kevin Casper took the Late Model
main while Quincy's John Hanifin came in fourth. Bill Prisco won the Sport Truck
feature and Taunton's Hugh Bowser cracked the top five. Jeff Amaral won the
Street Stock event with Paul Newcomb of Plymouth recording a fifth at the
checkered flag.
The NEMA Midget Tour performed at the Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH last
weekend. Joey Payne held of Plymouth's Randy Cabral to record another feature
win. Paul Luggelle of Marshfield ended the night in eighth with Erica Santos of
Franklin breaking the top ten. Bridgewater's Greg Stoehr came in 12th with Paul
Scally of Randolph ending the night in 19th. Payne is currently trailing Cabral
in the championship race by 22 points.
Kirk Alexander of NH won the True Value Modified Racing Series 100 event at the
Thunder Road Speedbowl in VT. Vinnie Annarummo of Swanseas ended up 11th.
Amid the excitement of tight Saturday-night point battles at the Waterford
Speedbowl in Conn. is a visit from the Pro-4 Modifieds. They’ll join the the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions this weekend, completing a
5-division program. One of the oldest touring divisions in New England, the
Pro-4’s are close in appearance to their V-8-powerd counterparts. Sporting
tinwork typical of contemporary New England Modifieds, but propelled by
high-horsepower 4-cylinders, they tour the Speedbowl at an impressive clip.
Among those expected to appear are current point-leader and 2007 series champ
Norm Wrenn, Kevin Iannarelli, George Sherman, and Cory Cleary of Plymouth.
Qualifying heats and a 25-lap feature complete the Pro-4 slate. Grandstands open
at 4 p.m, with features at 7 p.m.
The next event for the Berkley Racing Modified team takes place on Saturday,
June 14 at the Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA. When former driver, Dick
Houlihan of Bridgewater, returns to the seat of the # 46 for the True Value
Modified Racing Series 100. The next NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event, for
driver Eric Beers, is scheduled for Thursday June 19 with a 75 "green flag" lap
race at the Thompson Speedway in Thompson, Conn.
Checking the southern New England motorsports schedule this weekend is indicated
by the following. It's NASCAR action on Friday night at Stafford while Seekonk
offers Fast Fridays for three classes that night. On Saturday Seekonk returns
with four classes of stockcars, with Mini Sprints going on the dirt at Whip City
in Westfield. Sunday has the Norwood Arena Reunion at Bezema Buick, Pontiac, GMC
on the Norwood AutoMile. For the karters it's dirt track action in Shelton,
Conn. that day. The bikers have a full weekend of MotoX action at the Capeway
Rovers track in Middleboro.
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.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by columnists and all others on this website are strictly their own, and may not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the management of Long Island Motorsports News.
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