Racin'
& Different Stuff:
By Tom
Avenengo
12/12/2013
Please don’t forget:
Oh, and another thing: Hillary is EVIL!
From an email:
As a 27 year old staff
attorney for the house judiciary committee during the Watergate Investigation,
Hillary Rodham was fired by her supervisor, lifelong Democrat Jerry Zeifman.
When asked why Hillary Rodham
was fired: “Because she was a liar,”
Zeifman said in an interview. “She was
an unethical, dishonest lawyer. She
conspired to violate the constitution, the rules of the house. The rules of the committee and the rules of
confidentiality.”
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/clinton-watergate.htm#.Uqk6VdJDu-k
Don’t be surprised when the Affordable
Care Act (Obamacare) closes down (as planned all along) and we end up with
“Single payer” health insurance. You do
realize just who the “Single payer” is, right?
Talk about a “cluster”!
Here’s a good one, folks! While watching the news this past Monday at
2:30 PM, one of the subjects was:
Volunteer Fire Departments could see costs
soar under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Racin’ & short’ stuff:
I love talking about racing from “Back in
the day”. As you know, I’ve been a race
fan since 1946 when my father took me to the midget races at various tracks
here in the northeast. Hinchliffe
Stadium in Paterson, NJ, Danbury, Cherry Park in Avon, CT, Middletown, NY and
the indoor races in the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx.
I don’t know if telling stories of what I
remember from back then would qualify me as an historian, or not. But this past Labor Day weekend, on that
Sunday, I went to Hinchliffe Stadium with my daughter Judy, again. I spent about an hour talking with an old
timer – Bill Nash. He was always with
Bill Schindler – back in the day. I have
no idea as to how his regular memory is, but as far as racing stuff goes, it’s
pretty well planted in his memory vault.
I first met him when Pete Kessler and I
took Nick Fornoro to one of the racing shows that had been held in the
But, back to Bill Nash. Sadly, he’s left us. Gone are the stories he could tell. Gone are the facts that he could tell one
about. He left us back on November 24th.
This, from Facebook:
Facebook on 11/27:
Found this on the Hinchliffe
Stadium Racing History page:
Ronny Dennis
I regret to inform everyone
that Bill Nash passed away peacefully in his sleep this past Sunday morning.
Bill was a big part of this page and everything we do at Hinchliffe Stadium. He
wasn't just our historian but he was a dear friend and will be greatly missed.
The family will receive family and friends on Fri. Nov. 29, 2013 from 2pm-4pm
and 7pm-9pm at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home 530 High Mountain Road,
Franklin Lakes,
I suggested a truck class for
OCFS a couple of years ago. Also suggested Sat night drags for the young ones
that have those "Rice Burners" with the hot exhaust sounds - just to
see how quick they really are. Just let 'em drag down the front stretch. Now I see that OCFS wants to have a 4
Cylinder Truck class in 2014 – with at least 6 dates. Personally, I think the big 5/8 mile hard
clay track is a might too big for 4 Cylinder trucks and/or cars, for that
matter. To be successful, I’d have to
say that there would have to be a purse to make it worth while. Running for peanuts and/or a trophy ain’t gonna
cut it. Dunno, but maybe the Moto Cross
track will be successful and some of the monies from that can find their way to
the oval racing at OCFS.
Rules for the proposed Truck
class at OCFS:
http://www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net/FILES/2014%20Truck%20Series%20Rules%20(1).pdf
Some interesting thoughts in
a thread I started on the DTD Forum:
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/49676-truck-class-at-ocfs-how-many/
A little more news from OCFS:
22-year-old Dutchess man
pleads guilty in restroom videotaping at Orange County Fair Speedway
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131211/NEWS/312110329/-1/NEWSLETTER100
And as for that opening
Deyo/Gurda/Commander promoted show on March 23, 2014, I don’t think I’ll be
back from
Being a fan of midget racing,
I’m always checking out a couple of pages on Facebook – both concerning the
ARDC. New engine rules for the ARDC in
2014 have been released (see my last column) and boy, did that open up a huge
can of worms! ‘tis a shame that
“progress” has taken us from the Sesco and VW powered midgets that gave us such
good competition and good fields of cars a while back.
The two pages:
Back In The Day With ARDC
ARDC Midgets
Some interesting things being
said. Accord is one of the favorite
tracks for the ARDC drivers. Some seem
to think that the ARDC should somehow connect with Brett Deyo and maybe tie in
an ARDC show with one of those he’ll be promoting next year. That, to me sounds good. But, one has to look and read about the ARDC
and why they’re in the position they’re in today, to see if any kind of help
would be of help. ARDC Midgets – check
out what’s said about the new engine rules.
Quite informative.
NASCAR at
Question: Any idea as to when NASCAR had a race on the
one mile track in
How about August 14,
1955? No, not stock cars, but NASCAR
sanctioned midgets on the mile track.
From the NASCAR Midget race
results that I have:
August
14
1 mile dirt 25 mile feature Time was 17:43.60
Director's Cut: 'The Last
Ride of A.J. Foyt,' by Ed Hinton
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9669114/director-cut-ed-hinton-aj-foyt
The “Gobbler” and former OVRP
Dirt Oval racers:
I’m not sure if I would have
attended the “Gobbler” show at Accord what with the cold temps. Sadly I had to opt out of the Sunday at ESW
due to some health concerns. But here is
what those that ran at the Dirt Oval did at the “Gobbler:
Anthony Perrego won the 50
lap modified feature. Danny Creeden was
9th, Tim Hindly 15th, Tyler Dippel 17th and
Brad Szulewski was a DNQ.
In the Sportsman feature,
Brad was 3rd, Perrego 4th, Tyler Boniface 5th,
Mike Traver 13th, Matt Janiak 16th, Dipple 19th
and Alex Bell 20th. Hunter
Bates was a DNQ.
ARCA champion Hillenburg
named Director of Competition for Silver Crown Series
http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=16878
The Chili Bowl:
Starting on January 13th!
http://www.chilibowl.com/schedule/?y=2014
Gentlemen Start Your
Off-Season – You’ve Got Seven Weeks
http://www.hoseheads.com/richard.html
In part: "Upon the completion of this Saturday’s
season ending Top Gun Sprint Series race at Hendry County Motorsports Park, the
2013 Florida sprint car season will be over. Exactly seven weeks later, on
Saturday, February 1, 2014, it starts again. That is the date for the first
sprint car race of the 2014 season (as of this date). It is the first race of
the newly formed CCS Wingless Sprints, running exclusively at Citrus County
Speedway in
Quite a bit more on the
OK, I’m not “Rich &
Famous” and I sure as hell could not afford a ticket to the coming Super Bowl
what ever number it is (why use roman numerals, anyway?), but I bet this will
really tick off the one that love to party prior to a game:
NFL Bans Tailgating For Super
Bowl XLVIII
http://wpdh.com/nfl-bans-tailgating-for-super-bowl-xlviii/
Did you know that when you’re
eligible for Medicare, If you don’t sign up for Part D, that when you decide
to, later on, you get penalized? We, the
wife and I were never informed of that.
I wonder how many more were never told?
Medicare offers prescription
drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. If you decide not to join a Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan when you're first eligible, and you don't have other
creditable prescription drug coverage, or you don't get Extra Help, you'll
likely pay a late enrollment penalty.
This
makes Yahoo! News:
This
does not make Yahoo! News:
Edward ‘Babe’ Heffron, one of
the original Band of Brothers died Sunday December 1, 2013, one week after the
death of his friend and fellow paratrooper Earl McClung. Babe was 90. –
See more at: http://www.marcusbrotherton.com/remembering-edward-babe-heffron-1923-2013/#sthash.nNI8uBpS.dpuf
On Facebook on December 9th:
"PIR should start the
copper classic back up, This was a great event"
"Unfortunately NASCAB
won't allow it. They ruined the joint and its history when they purchased
it."
"Maybe the new track on
the 5 by
You’ve seen these three
letters on the Internet, right – WTF.
So, WTF has happened to our
once great country, anyway?
Cops Gone Wild: Police Issue
Citations to Obama Protesters — For Displaying
Note: The above is from Facebook on 12/11/13
Congressman warns Obamacare
has provision to create 'secret security force'
Note: Quite an interesting read!
Also, it was reported on Wednesday night
that ESPN will not show an ad because it mentions the name “Jesus”. But they’ll continue to glorify “thug”
athletes, right? WTF?
From Jayski:
NASCAR continues to work on
improving its on-track product, an endeavor chairman Brian France takes so
seriously he plans to attend Monday's test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The
test at
-The Richmond scandal: France
said he was personally "pissed off, to be honest" when it became
clear that Michael Waltrip Racing had manipulated the end of the regular-season
finale in its attempt to get Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship field. -Formula One's scheduled race in
-Iowa
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins 11th
Most Popular Driver Award:
The National Motorsports
Press Association announced that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of this
year's NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award. It is the 11th consecutive year
Earnhardt Jr. has been selected through a vote of the fans, breaking a tie with
Bill Elliott for most consecutive awards received. Elliott continues to hold
the overall mark, having been named the series' most popular driver 16 times.
"I don't really keep track of the stats or the score, but Bill was a great
driver and ambassador for the sport," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He
represents the sport really well to this day, as does his son Chase, who's
coming up and carrying on the family name. But, I've always looked up to Bill
as a driver so it's pretty neat." More than 1 million votes were tallied
for 39 eligible drivers from this year's first race to the last at the site
www.MostPopularDriver.com. Fans voted once per day with Earnhardt Jr.
collecting more than 700,000 votes. The award was presented to the Hendrick
Motorsports driver today during the annual NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon, a part
of the season-ending Champions Week activities in
NASCAR Announces
Modifications To NASCAR Hall Of Fame Eligibility And Selection Process:
NASCAR announced a number of
changes to the selection process for the NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF), including
a modification to driver eligibility parameters and the creation of a new award
to honor significant contributions to the growth and success of the sport. In
all, six changes and updates will be made starting with the selection of the
Class of 2015 - all designed to improve upon an already strong process that has
led to the selection of 25 deserving inductees. Following is a summary of
changes:
Driver Eligibility:
Currently, drivers who have competed in NASCAR for at least 10 years and been
retired for three years are eligible for nomination to the NHOF. That will not
change. Moving forward, however, drivers who have competed for a minimum of 10
years and reached their 55th birthday on or before Dec. 31 of the year prior to
the nominating year are immediately eligible for the NHOF. Also, any competitor
who has competed for 30 or more years in NASCAR competition by Dec. 31 of the
year prior to the nominating year is automatically eligible, regardless of age.
Drivers may continue to compete after reaching any of the aforementioned
milestones without compromising eligibility for nomination or induction.
Nominating Committee Will
Select Five Fewer Nominees for Enshrinement: Throughout its history, the NHOF
Nominating Committee has selected 25 nominees each year to be discussed and
voted on for NHOF enshrinement. That number will be reduced to 20 starting with
the selection process for the 2015 class.
Landmark Award for
Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:
Beginning with the 2015
class, a new award - Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR -
will be initiated to honor significant contributions to the growth and esteem
of NASCAR. Potential Landmark Award recipients could include competitors or
those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track
facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for
the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners will
remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement. Five nominees will be selected by the
NHOF Nominating Committee and then be voted on by the Voting Panel. To win the
award, an individual must appear on at least 60 percent of the ballots and no
more than one award will be presented annually. Voting for this award will
occur immediately following the voting for the NHOF class and be monitored by
the same independent accounting firm that oversees NHOF voting.
Nominating Committee to Meet,
Vote on 20 NHOF Nominees / Five Landmark Award Nominees: For the first time,
the Nominating Committee will meet in person to discuss, debate and vote to
create two ballots - the NHOF ballot and the Landmark Award for Outstanding
Contributions to NASCAR ballot. Previously, the committee submitted nominees
via mail to an independent accounting firm that tallies the nominations in
order to create the final NHOF ballot. The Nominating Committee will meet
during Speedweeks at Daytona on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, and the nominees for
both ballots will be announced later that day.
Nominees To Be Recused From
the Nominating / Voting Process: Any member of the Nominating Committee or
Voting Panel who appeared on the previous year's ballot or current year's
ballot will now be recused from participating in the nominating and / or voting
process for as long as he / she appears on the ballot. If an individual who is
currently on the Nominating Committee or Voting Panel is inducted, or is no
longer included on a final ballot, he or she is immediately reinstated to
active participation on the panel(s).
Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup
Champion Added To Voting Panel: As was already announced on Nov. 14 at
Homestead-Miami Speedway during the annual NASCAR Championship Contenders Press
Conference, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion will be added to the
following year's voting panel. That means Jimmie Johnson, who captured his
sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, will be included in the selection
meeting and can cast a vote for the NHOF Class of 2015 on Voting Day,
Wednesday, May 21, 2014.(NASCAR)(12-5-2013)
Rick Allen named lead
announcer for NBC Sports:
NBC Sports Group announced
that Rick Allen has signed a multi-year agreement to serve as the lead race
announcer for NBC's upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series coverage,
beginning in 2015. Alongside Allen in the NBC Sports Broadcast booth will be
current driver Jeff Burton, who announced yesterday that he also will be
joining NBC's multi-platform NASCAR coverage. For more information on Jeff
Burton, click here. "I met Rick early on in his career and it has been fun
to watch him develop into one of the most talented voices in motorsports,"
said Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports and NBCSN. "His energetic
delivery, great voice, and ability to bring the best out of his analysts have
led him to this well-earned position of covering NASCAR's most-watched
events." Allen's sports background is wide-ranging, and includes his own impressive
run as a decathlete, which sent him to the 1992 USA Olympic Trials. As a
broadcaster, he currently serves as Fox Sports' race announcer for NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. In addition to his
on-camera television work, Allen is widely recognized as a top voice-over
talent. Allen's voice has been utilized for narrations and national campaigns
for companies including Goodyear, Sears, Alltel and
Mobil 1 renews with
Stewart-Haas:
#14-Tony Stewart says
ExxonMobil has renewed its multiyear sponsorship of both the three-time NASCAR
champion and Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart made the announcement that Mobil 1
will continue its relationship with him and his team while hosting the year-end
edition of "Tony Stewart Live" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Mobil 1 will
be the primary sponsor on Stewart's Chevrolet for 11 races.(Associated
Press/ESPN)(12-4-2013)
UPDATE:
ExxonMobil has strengthened
its ongoing commitment to NASCAR by renewing its multi-year sponsorship with
three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas
Racing. Mobil 1 will adorn the hood of Stewart’s #14 Chevy for 11 races in
2014, while taking a high-profile associate role in the remaining races.
Additional details of the Mobil 1 and Stewart-Haas Racing deal:
" Mobil 1 will serve as the co-primary sponsor of the #14
Chevrolet SS with Bass Pro Shops.
" Mobil 1 will also be an associate sponsor of Kurt Buschs #41
Haas Automation Chevy and Kevin Harvick’s #4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevy.
" ExxonMobil will provide Mobil 1 lubricant technology and
engineering support to Stewart-Haas Racing, including the #10 GoDaddy Chevy.
Mobil 1 has been the Official
Motor Oil of NASCAR since 2003 and is used by more than 50 percent of the teams
in NASCARs top-three series.(ExxonMobil)(12-4-2013)
Johnson wants to give Donovan
McNab a ride:
Jimmie Johnson is giving
Donovan McNabb the chance to change his mind. Two-and-a-half weeks after McNabb
said on "FOX Sports Live" that Johnson was not an athlete, Johnson
said they've talked and he might get McNabb in a car next year. Johnson and
McNabb, a former NFL quarterback, talked on the phone Monday. "He'd been
trying to track me down," Johnson told Motor Racing Network on Tuesday
after an appearance at the annual NASCAR Motorsports Marketing Forum. It was
McNabb. "I met Donovan a few years ago at a Super Bowl event. He's a super-nice
guy," Johnson said. "He has an opinion, and he seemed open to the
notion of following through on the opinion and what our sport is about. We
joked about it. Hopefully, we can get something set up in the spring and get
him in a car." McNabb upset many NASCAR fans and some competitors when he
said Johnson was not an athlete.(Motor Racing Network)(12-4-2013)
Driver Changes for 2014:
announced:
#4 [was #39] Kevin Harvick
moves from the #29 to Stewart Haas Racing #4
#7 Michael Annett brings
Flying J sponsorship and replaces Dave Blaney in the #7
#30 expands to a two-car team
with Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman; the #30 and un-numbered 2nd car
#31 Ryan Newman replaces Jeff
Burton
#35 Josh Wise will not
return, team will likely run different drivers in the car
#41 Kurt Busch moves to a
brand new 4th Stewart Haas Racing team
#42 Kyle Larson replace Juan
Pablo Montoya who heads back to Indycar
#47 A.J. Allmendinger
replaces Bobby Labonte, switches to Chevy
#55 Brian Vickers(if healthy)
takes over the ride full time after sharing it last two years
#66 [was #56] Michael Waltrip
runs Daytona 500; Jeff Burton at
#78 Martin Truex Jr. moves
from the #56 and replaces Kurt Busch
#95 Michael McDowell replaces
Scott Speed / Reed Sorenson, team could run full time
#98 Phil Parsons Racing, Josh
Wise named as the driver, switches to Chevy from Ford
not announced / unknown:
#3 [was #29] Austin Dillon
moves up from Nationwide Series to replace Harvick and changes to #3, could be
announced Dec 11th
#12 third Penske team, could
run Ryna Blaney in a few 2014 Cup races
#32 Schrader retires from
Cup, no word of Timmy Hill returns and if Terry Labonte comes back for
restrictor plates races
#33 Circle Sport / Richard
Childress Racing collaboration; plans unknown
#36 J.J. Yeley to return?
#40 Hillman Racing, no word
on 2014 plans
#51 supposedly Justin
Allgaier will be the driver, replacing a slew of drivers
#83 supposedly David
Reutimann will return
#87 indications are that Joe
Nemechek will return in 2014
#93 no word from BK Racing if
Travis Kvapil returns or team plans
See the 2014 Driver/Team
Chart for more changes and how the teams are shaking out for the 2014
season.(12-6-2013)
At first I thought this, below, was a
joke. Hell, every Cup race I’ve seen
this past season, Joonyers crew and/or Joonyer hisself, managed to screw up at
least one pit stop during each race.
#88 team wins Mechanix Pit
Crew of the Year:
During the championship week
in
Front Changer: Clay Robinson,
Front Carrier: Kevin Harris, Jack Man: Nick Covey, Rear Changer: Joe
Slingerland, David Mayo, Steven Tautges, Rear Carrier: Matt Ver Meer, Gas Man:
Caleb Hurd. (Pit Talks)(12-6-2013)
Erik Jones wins Snowball
Derby:
Erik Jones has won his second
consecutive Snowball Derby after original winner Chase Elliott was disqualified
in post-race technical inspection. Elliott had crossed the line first but his
car was found to have an illegal block of tungsten as a replacement for the
lead weighting that typically goes into a Super Late Model. The expensive metal
is heavier and more expensive than lead and allows teams to place the weight in
a more ideal manner. Tungsten is strictly outlawed in the Snowball Derby
rulebook and is typed in boldfaced print. The Elliott team said it was an
oversight but chief technical inspector Ricky Brooks was forced to disqualify
the #9 team. Before he could be announced as the winner, Jones also had to pass
technical inspection and was given the same through treatment by Brooks and his
staff that Elliott received. Ultimately, Jones and his Kyle Busch #51 team
passed inspection and was declared the winner. Grant Enfinger moved up to
second in the revised order and remarkably was able to finish the race, near
the front, despite losing a cylinder early in the race. Austin Theriault,
Hunter Robbins, John Hunter Nemechek, David Rogers, Kyle Benjamin, Ross Kenseth
and Derek Thorn and Donnie Wilson completed the revised top-10. Elliott had led
227 of 300 laps overall prior to his tech failure while Jones did not even lead
a single lap as the winner.(SB Nation)(12-9-2013)
Note: Not glad for Chase Elliott, but am glad to
see an illegal race winner actually get DQ’d.
That’s how it should be.
Simpson introduces Hybrid
Sport Head and Neck Restraint:
The Hybrid Sport from Simpson
Performance Products is the latest in SFI 38.1 approved head and neck restraint
technology from one of the most trusted names in racing safety. The evolution
of the Hybrid Pro Rage technology and design has led the way for the
development of the new high performance Hybrid Sport which promises the racer a
better product, at the same price range as the Pro Rage. The Hybrid Sport is
lighter, weighing in at 20% less for the large, including hardware; and the
DuPont carbon/polymer construction is sleek, modern and appealing with defined
wings for seatbelt containment. The sliding tethers and patent pending
multi-tether system enhances side to side range of movement and field of
vision. The Hybrid Sport over performed in the strenuous SFI testing lab to
gain SFI 38.1 certification. The Hybrid Sport retails beginning at $595 and is available
in sizes Extra Small Extra Large. The
Hybrid Sport will be available in late December, 2013 and will be followed by
the Hybrid Sport Youth model, available in February, 2014. The Hybrid Sport
Youth is scaled down for the growing racer and will retail at $399.(Simpson
Performance Products)(12-10-2013)
From Track Forum:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/forum.php
Dumb question #3: "That
was the car that started it all"?
In part: "I have a friend that says that Jimmy
Clark's winning car in 1965 was "the car that started it all".
"Many believe that Jack
Brabham's rear-engined Cooper was the car that started the rear-engine
revolution. Dan Gurney saw the writing on the wall, and got Colin Chapman and
Lotus involved. Chapman brought
"Brabham's Cooper was
viewed as an interesting curiosity - it wasn't fully competitive. On the other
hand, Clark and Gurney in the Lotuses in 1963 were competitive and arguably
What I never understand is
why Cooper and Brabham didn't come back to Indy in 1962 with an improved
car."
"Brabham left Cooper in
'62 to start the team that bore his own name, running both a customer Lotus and
then his own car, so he had other hills to climb that year."
"Mickey Thompson also
saw what was needed."
"As far as the car that
started it all you could look at John Zinks, rear engine turbine. Although not
successful, it was a prototype for the soon to arrive change in
direction."
From the AARN:
Special items in last weeks
edition:
Hirschman, Sesely
Take
Modified Wins In Crashfests
Note: Isn’t that an annual thing at Wall –
Crashfests and hot tempers?
Modified Rookie Perrego
Savors Gobbler Classic At
Accord
Matt Sheppard Joins
HBR Motorsports
As Jimmy Phelps Teammate
Area Auto Racing News
Offers
Christmas Gift Giving Ideas
ARDC’s Gala Honors
Trevor Kobylarz
As Its Series Champion
Successful Tests Of
SPEEDstrs,
Slingshots
Dave Darland Wins
In
NASCAR Buys
ACT Series Releases
American,
Canadian 2014 Season
Schedules
Special items in this weeks
edition:
Jennerstown Speedway
To Reopen In 2013
After Five Year Closure
New
Announces Opening Date
Of March 1, 2014
Tommy Barrett, Doug Coby
Gain Top NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour Rides
Erik Jones
Wins Snowball
After Chase Elliott
Is Disqualified
Jimmie Johnson Honored
In
For Sixth NASCAR
Sprint Cup Championship
Todd Fisher Reflects
On Ten Years At The Helm
Watt, Other Top
Achievers,
Honored By
First Year Promoters
Bobby Varin, Jake Spraker
To Team For Fonda
Modified Assault
Releases 2014 Schedule;
Mid-April Planned
Note: I was kinda saddened when I read what Earl
Krause has in his column this week – the retirement of Nick Fornoro, Jr. from
racing. Damn, but the years go by so
fast, don’t they? Nick or “Nokie” or
“Nofri” as he’s been referred to as, had quite a career that, due to a serious
neck injury was, in a way, cut somewhat shorter than what he would have liked.
A few things from this weeks
edition:
Mike Stefanik presently has
no ride for 2014.
New
Jac Haudenschild has been
racing for 40 years. He is 55 years old.
Race results for Indoor Kart
races show
Page 33 had an ad for indoor
events. One thing not scheduled – Indoor
TQ races in
Any idea as to what these
drivers have in common?
Lou Lazzaro, Frankie
Schneider, Will Cagle, Maynard Troyer, Jerry Cook and Buzzie Reutimann.
Answer at end of column
Steve Kinser Farewell
The most successful Sprintcar
racer in history, Steve Kinser, has announced he will retire from the sport at
the end of 2014 and he will start his farewell season at
The 20-times STP World of
Outlaws Sprintcar Champion arrives in
Kinser will farewell
He has a strong affinity with
Kinser has recorded numerous
World Series Sprintcars round wins in
The 59-year-old says
“My career is indelibly
linked to
A young Steve Kinser made his
name in
“I haven’t thought much about
it to tell you the truth, but I genuinely wanted to start the final season in
Joining the elder Kinser on
track in
Kinser has been at the
pinnacle of motorsport for over 35 years. He was one of the original World of
Outlaws touring guns when the tour began in 1978 and has gone on to record 576
feature race victories in that Series alone.
He has more Knoxville
Nationals wins than any other driver with 12, seven King’s Royal wins at Eldora
and 12 Gold Cups.
The
In a 2008 ESPN.com peer voted
poll, Kinser was rated in the top 25 drivers of all time alongside Nigel
Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Don Garlits, Emerson Fittipaldi, Michael Schumacher and
Mario Andretti among others and declared the Michael Jordan of Sprintcar
racing.
Kinser’s final STP World of
Outlaws season will begin at
STEVE KINSER CAREER
STATISTICS:
Age: 59
Born:
Lives:
WoO A-Feature Starts: 2,056
WoO Feature Wins: 576
Feature wins at Sydney
Speedway: 21 – 12th on all time winner’s list
Best WoO Point Standings
Finish: First (20 times: 1978-80, 1983-88,
1990-94, 1998, 2000, 2002-05)
Competed in the first career
World of Outlaws (WoO) race March 18, 1978 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in
Has won every major sprint
car race during his racing career.
12-time Knoxville Nationals
champion.
14-time National 410 Sprint
Car Driver of the Year.
19-time American Auto Racing
Writers & Broadcasters Association All-American honoree.
14th in the 1997
7 appearances in in
International Race of Champions (IROC) Series – 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006 – One race win –
He and son Kraig only
father-son duo to have won the Knoxville Nationals
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/49689-steve-kinser-farewell/
Shortly (sooner than ya
think!) there will be a migration south of dirt race teams from here in the
northeast – all teams heading to Volusia.
Some things said about that:
I was just running some
numbers on the costs associated with traveling to Volusia with Driver and a
crew of 3........WOW
Towing costs
Tires
Entry
Race Fuel
Motel & Meals
Nearly $10,000 before ever
turning a lap, and that doesn't include any race car equipment other then tires
and fuel.......It must be done for the love of it..... If you have that kind of
money....
It amazes me how many
actually go.....
AS LONG AS GUYS STILL GO THEY
GET AWAY WITH A SHITY PURSE IT PAID MORE IN 1984 WHEN I TOOK THE 643 DOWN IN A OPEN TRAILER,MY
FIRST WIN AS A CAR OWNER.
http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/49637-drivers-list-for-florida-2014/
Press releases:
XCEL CHASSIS OFFICIALLY
CLOSES 2013 SEASON WITH GALA CROWNING JONATHAN PEPE AS CHAMPION
On a cold winter night ,the
Xcel Chassis 600 modifieds crowned a 2013 tour champion, recognized the Rookie
of the year, awarded 2 drivers with most improved and named an ambassador for
2014.
December 7th over 150 people
gathered to officially close out the
2013 season and started to make plans for 2014. Doug Borger, Xcel Chassis
founder, started the night by announcing that Shippensburg Speedway and Five
Mile Point Speedway will have weekly dates along with Penn Can Speedway and
Lindas Speedway. Lincoln Speedway will host the modifieds for the first time on
July 26th and return trips to
" The schedule that was
just completed opens up the area for the full or part time racer. Work
schedules and family commitments sometimes keeps a racer closer to home and
with 4 weekly tracks, it makes it easier. The tour division has 28 dates and
the only unknown is Lincoln Speedway, which is new to the division but not race
fans, and it's history brings the division up a notch. Good things are on the
horizon with new sponsors and a schedule that fits everyone needs. I think 2014
will be a break out year for the series and the drivers." exclaimed
First on tap was the
announcement of a new award honoring someone who goes above and beyond to make
the 600 modifieds the best that they can be. It is named for Joe Fanelli, who
became an ambassador of sorts, thru his multiple efforts on and off the track.
It was decided to make it an annual award of a rocking chair to enjoy during
the off season. Rich Hitzler earned that
award for the help he gives to anybody that needs it. Motor issues are his
specialty and has become a great asset to the series. Chip Price was also recognized
for his help with the use of his Kubota as a tow vehicle and as a
representative for the series. Joanne Mady
received accolades for her work as the handicapper along with directing
the media and PR for the series. As Joe Fanelli
stated " It takes a team to make it work and a family to make it grow."
Shaun Burd and Ronnie Molnar
both received the Most Improved driver award for the year has both moved up the
rank by over 25 spots from the previous year. Ian Williamson earned his Rookie
of the year award with a top ten finish and consistent finishes thru out the
season.
Jonathan Pepe was crowned 2013
tour Champion with a one of a kind trophy and a Hoosier jacket only given to
champions. Jonathan is well deserved of his jacket with numerous heat wins,
feature wins and consistency that makes a champion in only his first full
season with the 600 modifieds. The Orefield native was quick to thank everyone
for their support thru out the season. Recently engaged to his fiancée
Angelica, Jonathan is excited for the 2014 year to start and defend his
championship. The top ten were also
recognized with trophies, prizes and cash. Nick Mady, Aaron Bowes, Will
Eastman, Brian Mady, Richie Hitzler, Josh Pepe, Ian Williamson, Korey Inglin,
Jordyn Mohr all accepted their awards and already are making plans for the 2014
campaign.
Up next for the Xcel Chassis
series will be a booth at the popular motorsports show held by Area Auto Racing
News. The 29th annual Motorsports show
will be held Friday through Sunday, January 10-12, 2014 at the Greater
Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks,
Hubler Racing
Media Contact
Bob Snyder
bobsnyderphoto@enter.net
Scott Hubler to Test With
Bobby Gerhart Jr. ARCA Team At Daytona.
Strapped in his Quarter
Midget at Blue Mountain Speedway in 1997 five year old Scott Hubler had
dreams. Those dreams would take him from
the mini dirt track in
This December Scott Hubler
and family will make the trek to
While new to this type of
racing Hubler is by far no stranger to competition on both dirt and asphalt
tracks throughout the northeast. From
1997 to 2006 the Coplay,
Graduating from the Quarter
Midgets in 2007 Hubler made the move to the Legend Car Series taking to the
road and competing at
Scott Hubler, “for me this is
truly a dream come true. Every kid
dreams of racing in NASCAR and now I have the opportunity to show people that
can make something happen what I have to offer.” Hubler is quick to thank his father Scott who
has poured his blood, sweat, tears, into the racing operation from day
one. Hubler also mentions the rest of
his family, Bobby Gerhart, Tommy Hunsicker, Randy Kane and everyone who has
helped him along the way.
Scott Hubler, “we have come
to this point and now the rest is up to me and I am ready to take on the
biggest challenge of my career. I will
learn as much as I can from Bobby and his crew and apply everything they teach
me both on and off the track. I need to
prove that I have what it takes to succeed as a driver in a major racing
series.”
Anyone interested in becoming
involved with Scott Hubler’s racing program can contact Scott Hubler at
Going back, in time to
December 12th in:
1913
Rex Easton ... Born
1936
Wally Dallenbach ... Born
1946
Emerson Fittipaldi ... Born
1987
Sammy Swindell won the MARA
Midget race at the Tulsa Expo Raceway ,
1993
Steve Kinser won the World of
Outlaws Sprint Car race over Mark Kinser, Dave Blaney, Sammy Swindell, Jac
Haudenschild and Fred Rahmer at the Canyon Raceway,
2008
Kenny Schrader won the UMP
Modified race at the
Going back in time – various
dates around this time of the year:
On December 5, 1996, we lost
Wilf Carter/Montana Slim, - country singer.
Country singer John Anderson
was born on December 13, 1954
On December 14, 2011, we lost
country singer Billy Jo Spears
Wilf Carter/Montana Slim was
born on December 18, 1908.
On December 18, 2008, we lost
John LeVan, who was a mentor of mine and quite instrumental in getting me to
write about motor sports. We had some
great times together. I still miss the
big guy.
I get emails:
Here’s a good one:
TOP 10 INDICATORS YOU NOW
HAVE OBAMA-CARE"...
(10) Your annual breast exam
is done at Hooters.
(9) Directions to your
doctor's office include "Take a left when you enter the trailer
park."
(8) The tongue depressors
taste faintly of Fudgesicle....
(7) The only proctologist in
the plan is "Gus" from Roto-Rooter.
(6) The only item listed under
Preventative Care Coverage is "an apple a day."
(5) Your primary care
physician is wearing the pants you gave to Goodwill last month.
(4) "The patient is
responsible for 200% of out-of-network charges," is not a typographical
error.
(3) The only expense covered
100% is. . .. "Embalming."
(2) Your Prozac comes in
different colors with little M's on them.
AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN
YOU'VE JOINED OBAMA-CARE:
(1) You ask for Viagra, and they give you a Popsicle stick
and duct tape
I AM FORWARDING THIS EMAIL TO
A FEW
OF THE "THINKERS"
IN MY ADDRESS BOOK.
IT REFLECTS THE FEELINGS OF A
I have never heard this said
as simply or as well.
Class war at its best.
The folks who are getting the
free stuff don't like
The folks who are paying for
the free stuff, because
The folks who are paying for
the free stuff can no longer
Afford to pay for both the
free stuff and their own stuff.
And the folks who are paying
for the free stuff
Want the free stuff to stop.
And the folks who are getting
the free stuff want even more
Free stuff on top of the free
stuff they are already getting!
Now... The people who are
forcing the people who pay
For the free stuff have told
the people who are RECEIVING
The free stuff that the
people who are PAYING for the
Free stuff are being mean,
prejudiced, and racist.
So... The people who are
GETTING the free stuff have been
Convinced they need to hate
the people who are paying for the
Free stuff by the people who
are forcing some people to pay
For their free stuff and
giving them the free stuff in the first place.
We have let the free stuff
giving go on for so long that there
Are now more people getting
free stuff than paying for the
Free stuff.
Now understand this.
All great democracies have
committed financial suicide somewhere
Between 200 and 250 years
after being founded.
The reason?
The voters figured out they
could vote themselves money
From the treasury by electing
people who promised to give
Them money from the treasury
in exchange for electing them.
The
236 years ago.�
The number of people now
getting free stuff
Outnumbers the people paying
for the free stuff.
Failure to change that spells
the end of the
As we know it.
ELECTION 2014 IS COMING
A Nation of Sheep Breeds a
Government of Wolves!
I'M 100% for PASSING THIS ON
!!!
For all our sake PLEASE Take
a Stand!!!
Borders: Closed!
Language: English only
Culture: God, Constitution,
and the Bill of Rights!
Drug Free: Mandatory Drug
Screening before Welfare!
NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!
Only 86% will send this on.
Should be 100%..
What will you do?
Dr. James D. Manning on
Obama!
Written by chuck on September
20, 2013 – 4:12 pm -
Watch it closely and pay
attention to the end where there is a short pause, then 4 words. Listen for
those words! It could not be put more bluntly! Be prepared!!
I’m tellin’ ya, it’s only 44
seconds – Priceless.
(A white guy could NOT say
this.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aoZjXDP7LHs
This weeks photo:
Hey! I’ve forgotten – photos can only be seen
here: http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/
Back in 2006, when I was down
here in
Racing videos:
During that race, Johnny
Heydenreich had a rather serious looking accident when his car backed into a
wall after contact with another car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gq6NYS58Ihc
Music videos:
For Christmas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq9c4C2573o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZH0eZ9KT1U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF065ckxUIs
More non racing stuff:
VIDEO: Congressmen Demand
James Clapper Prosecuted For Lying to Congress
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/prosecute-james-clapper/
No, you can't keep your drugs
either, under Obamacare:
I take it you’ve heard of
Tech
giants call for controls on government snooping
In
part: "LONDON (AP) — Major
technology companies, stung by revelations that the U.S. government collects
people's personal data on their networks, on Monday issued an open letter to
President Barack Obama asking for tighter controls on surveillance.
As
part of a global campaign to reform data collection, Google, Facebook, Apple
and others said concerns over national security should be weighed against
individual rights.
The
balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away
from the rights of the individual — rights that are enshrined in our
Constitution," the letter said. "This undermines the freedoms we all
cherish. It's time for a change.
The
letter was signed by AOL Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook Inc., Google Inc., LinkedIn
Corp., Microsoft Corp., Twitter Inc. and Yahoo! Inc."
http://news.yahoo.com/tech-giants-call-controls-gov-39-t-snooping-102531981--finance.html
Note: Yeah, right, like HE’s gonna be going to do
what our constitution says.
Cancer Patient Speaks Out
About Obamacare… Immediately Gets Audited (VIDEO)
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/cancer-patient-audited/
Bombshell: 70% of Doctors in
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/doctors-reject-obamacare/
Theoretically, our medical
history, is strictly protected by law: The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Moreover, under the law, the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) has the authority to prosecute any medical facility that does not take
measures to protect patient information.
Despite the 22,000 reported instances where medical records were lost
and stolen between 2003 and 2011, HHS has issued only 1 monetary penalty and
just 2 subpoenas.
Now, HHS has just issued a
253 page ruling under the ACA freeing all government agencies to make
available, without patients’ pre-approval, the health information of anyone
applying for government assistance
through the new health insurance exchanges.
Analysts will review this information to determine how much health
insurance and government assistance is warranted. It looks like when you ask the government
for help, you lose all the rights
guaranteed by law.
For all of us, the government
is requiring our very personal medical information to be detailed and available
in a more accessible, more vulnerable format without building in any new
safeguards or even acting on existing safeguards. Who is protecting our 4th Amendment
Constitutionally guaranteed right to privacy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOk0vOup4yA
Forbes Editorial Demands
Obama’s Impeachment… and Goes Viral
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/impeaching-obama-editorial/
Video: Obama Defends the IRS
Targeting of the Tea Party
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/obama-quasi-dictator/
Celebrity Deaths: Stars We
Lost In 2013
Joke of the week:
GRANDPARENTS' ANSWERING
MACHINE MESSAGE:
Good morning . . . At present
we are not at home, but please leave your message after you hear the beep.
beeeeeppp ....
If you are one of our
children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of "birth
date" so we know who it is.
If you need us to stay with
the children, press 2
If you want to borrow the
car, press 3
If you want us to wash your
clothes and do ironing, press 4
If you want the grandchildren
to sleep here tonight, press 5
If you want us to pick up the
kids at school, press 6
If you want us to prepare a
meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7
If you want to come to eat
here, press 8
If you need money, press 9
If you are going to invite us
to dinner or take us to the theatre;start talking .... we are listening!
Lou Lazzaro, Frankie Schneider,
Will Cagle, Maynard Troyer, Jerry Cook and Buzzie Reutimann were the driving
champions from the All Star Stock Car Racing League. They had some great racing back in the day,
using the same cars on dirt and pavement.
Toby LaGrange has an article
that pertained to the All Stars in this weeks AARN. He seems to think that the concept could
still work – well, for dirt tracks, that is.
Again, each track would have three drivers that would compete as that
tracks “team”. Drivers could not switch
tracks/teams.
Each track would host a race
with the features being 50 laps, $5,000.00 to win and $1,000.00 to take the
green. 24 cars per feature. A team championship could only be awarded to
a track that hosts a race. The driving
champion would get $5,000.00 – with the championship monies equaling the purse
for one of those 50 lap races. Both
small and big blocks would be eligible to run.
This could also apply to the
Sportsman class, but at reduced pay offs.
Like Toby says, at the end of his article, “I do realize that I have a
better chance of winning the lottery than seeing this come to fruition”.
I kinda agree with that. I also think that the purses he’s proposing
are too small for what it cost to race today.
The cost of racing (due to rules and rule books) keep escalating while
purses have remained stagnant for oh so many years.
Until the next column – in two weeks on
December 26th, or thereabouts!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I can be reached, via e-mail, at: ygordad@yahoo.com