|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 10, Brockton, MA--- Ted
Christopher and the Brady Bunch entry out of Brockton made a big score at the
All-Star Speedway in Epping, NH last weekend. TC held off a late race challenge,
on a restart, by Jim Blewett and went onto win the 100 lap Modified Open and got
$5,000 for his efforts. Local driver John McKennedy of Chelmsford came in third
with Ron Silk of Conn. and Matt Hirshman of NJ rounding out the top five. RI
standout Mike Stafanik, winner of the first open, had a tough night and finished
way back in 18th place. Unofficially, Raynham's Tom Cravenho was tenth. Neither
Bob Grigas, III of Marshfield nor Jimmy Kuhn, Jr. of W. Bridgewater were unable
to crack the top ten. The third round in the four race series is set for July
26 at All-Star.
"We were fortunate that Ted didn't get messed up like what happened when
we went up there in early May, " revealed Joe Brady of Brockton. However, it
could be a problem for Ted to return for round three because he's got a prior
commitment. That means Brady may have to pass up the event or find another
driver to sub for TC.
"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 Laconia’s
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 are 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 bullring
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 its 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 northeastern top stars that 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
super bikes. 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,
formerly of Mansfield, 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.
ISMA President Howie Lane of Essex 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.
The excitement is building for the Thursday, June 19 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour (WMT) 75-lap main event. Fans and competitors alike are looking
forward to this short distance, sprint type race with great anticipation.
It has been 23 years since a race of this nature has been run by the Whelen
Modified Tour at Thompson. The New England Dodge Dealers and Charter Cable,
Internet and Telephone jumped at the chance to sponsor this unique event.
The race will be 75 green flag laps and will require race teams to
prepare their cars for an all-out assault of hard charging competition from
start to finish. This race format is throwback to what has been called the
"golden era." of NASCAR Modified racing.
"The idea of bringing back a short distance, flat out race event for the
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is something we have been considering for some time.
We continually look to bring something new and exciting to our fans. After much
discussion with NASCAR, the idea of such a race has become a reality," said
track owner and promoter, Don Hoenig. "Many Whelen Modified Tour fans have
enthusiastically recalled the exciting days of the hard charging, short distance
WMT feature races. We hope that this race of 75 green flag laps will excite both
new and long-time Whelen Modified Tour fans," the veteran promoter concluded.
Ed Flemke, winner of the 2008 Icebreaker at Thompson says that he is
excited about the potential of this 75-lap event. "I'm looking forward to it,
said Flemke. It has the potential to be exciting and if it brings excitement and
new interest to the fans, then I am all for it," he concluded.
A full field of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars is expected to attempt
to qualify for the thirty-six car-starting field on Thursday, June 19th.
Qualifying will be by time trials, which will begin at 6 PM. The Whelen Modified
Tour will be joined by Thompson's "super six" NASCAR Whelen All American Series
divisions in feature event only racing.
Grandstands will open at 2 p.m. and practice will run until 5:45 p.m. The
75-lap Whelen Modified Tour race is slated to get underway at about 8:15 p.m.
Jeff Horn is probably the Northeastern Midget Association elder
statesman. “I drove in the final years before the cages, 1969 and 70,” says the
soon-to-be 63 Horn. “I’m not sure anybody else can say that. I was in Ray
Kelly’s car back then.” He’s figuring on making his 2008 debut when NEMA visits
Thompson Speedway Thursday night July 3. A Vermont native (he actually started
racing at Thunder Road), Horn will campaign his own A1 Esslinger-powered Drinan
chassis. Now calling Ashland home, Horn has raced against the fathers of
current competitors Randy Cabral of Plymouth and Greg Stoehr of Bridgewater. Son
Mike is also a NEMA driver. Horn, who has 19 career wins, is not surprised by
the speeds shown so far.
“Technology and tires is the reason,” he says. The bar has been raised.
Everybody has first-class equipment – good motors and good handling technology.”
Cabral, in Tim Bertrand’s #47, leads NEMA into a Friday night June 27 date at
Lee USA Speedway. A two-time winner this year, Cabral and Bertrand take slim
point leads over Joey Payne Jr. and Gene Angelillo into the next battle.
“You’ve got to hand it to Randy and Tim,” offers Horn. “They’ve earned
everything they’ve accomplished. They work at it. They don’t stop working at
it.”
Horn, equally apt in a Supermodified, won his first NEMA race at All Star
Speedway in 1987. His last came at Stafford in 2005. In 1993, driving for Bay
Hayes, he won three in a row (Star, Seekonk, Waterford). It has not been done
since. Cabral went to Monadnock looking for three straight. A second at
Monadnock was Horn’s best finish in 10 starts last season. NEMA’s top-10 in
points includes veterans like Greg Stoehr and youngsters like William Wall,
Jeremy Frankoski and Chris Leonard. “I remember when the Super guys at Star, and
I was one of them, used to joke about how old the NEMA guys were,” says Horn.
“Boy, that’s over.” The field includes Erica and Bobby Santos III of
Franklin and Adam Cantor, all contenders. “It used to be there were four or five
cars that can win,” says Horn. “Now we have at least 10. Now, a top-10 is an
accomplishment in NEMA.” Horn, a Bay Stater since getting out of the Army, has
been in a variety of race cars (including Modifieds and Late Models) but clearly
puts the supers and midgets on top of the priority list.
Winning the American Canadian Tour (ACT) Nutmeg State 100 at the Waterford
Speedbowl last Saturday evening was Milton, Vermont’s Scott Payea. Doug Coby
scored the 35-lap SK feature. Other feature winners were Mark Hudson (Late
Model), Brandon Plemons (Sportsman), and Lou Bellisle (Mini Stock).
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.
Jeff Anton returned to the site of his NASCAR debut, Watkins Glen
International, with high hopes of continuing his impressive road racing record.
But in Sunday's NASCAR Camping World Series 125 At The Glen, Anton found himself
the victim of another driver's mistake, retiring early and having to settle for
a disappointing 25th place finish.
The Coors Light SK Modified 100 program at Stafford Motor Speedway in
Conn. was postponed to this Friday night, June 13 due to a heavy fog and mist
that rolled in over the track, with rain checks being honored. The 30-lap Late
Model make-up feature from May23 that was originally scheduled to run next
Friday night, June 13 will kick off the night’s action with the remaining
feature events from the June 6 Coors Light SK Modified 100 racing card, which
consists of the Coors Light SK Modified 100, a 30-lap Late Model features and a
20-lap Limited Late Model main event.
At Seekonk Speedway last weekend Tom Scully, Jr. won the Pro Stock feature
while Taunton's Ken Spencer was third. John Dabrowski of W. Bridgewater ended
the night in sixth. Scituate's Steve O'Brien was ninth and Taunton's Scott Dion
came in 14th at the finish. Kyle Casper won the Late Model main with Quincy's
John Hanafin taking fourth. Mike Becker of Avon was eighth and Denny Stampfl of
Norwood was ninth. Bill Prisco won the Sport Truck feature while fourth place
went to Brockton's John Dumas, seventh saw Zach Tucan of Taunton take down
seventh. Darryl Church of Brockton ended up 11th with E. Wareham's Carl
Brimlist taking 12th.
Scott Serydynski won the Dusty Young Memorial Street Stock feature with
Elmer Wing of Lakeville taking third. Greg Perry of Taunton was seventh and Paul
Newcomb of Randolph came in next. Paul Newcomb of Plymouth ended the night in
14th, Chris DeMoura of N. Dighton was next, Justin Travis of Taunton took 18th,
while his cross town neighbor Tony Oliviera was 22nd, Doug Rioux of Whitman took
29th and Randolph's Ron Lum was unable to start the feature. Fast Friday at
Seekonk saw Branden Dion of Taunton came in fourth in the SYRA 600(Mini Cup
Feature) with Ashley Kuhn of Plymouth taking down seventh. In the SYRA 750
feature Brian Mondeau of Bridgewater took a sixth, Plymouth's Steve Gardner was
next then Chris Igo, Jr. of N. Easton. Taunton's Tom Blackwell ended the night
placing sixth in the Pure Stock feature.
Checking the racing schedule in southern New England includes the
following. Thursday Night Thunder is on at the Thompson Speedway in Conn. after
a washout last week. Fast Friday returns to the Seekonk Speedway. The True
Value Modifieds move into the Cement Palace on Saturday with NASCAR action at
the Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl while Whip City in Westfield has dirt track
action for the Mini Sprints. Jet Wars go the same night at New England Dragway
in Epping, NH.
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.
Long Island
Motorsports News, your source for
racing coverage, is updated daily.
|
|
|
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Long Island Motorsports News. All rights reserved.