Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 64

                                           07/14/2011

 

First:

 

It was back on June 26, 1996, when I first met Dr. Cary Hirsch at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.  He did a test on me – an angiogram, maybe?  I really don’t remember much after that, except that when I told him what I did for living, he told me that I wouldn’t be doing that anymore.  Two days later, I had five arteries by-passed.

 

Guess whom I have an appointment to see at 11:30 AM this Friday, July 15th?  Uh huh.  I have no idea as to what the end result will be, and to be perfectly honest, I’m a little nervous about it.  I’m hoping that such drastic measures won’t be needed this time.

 

 

 

Second:

 

The first ever Cup race, out at the Kentucky Speedway, sure caused a ton of problems with race fans getting to and into the track.

 

Here’s just one item I found on the Internet, about it.  There are many, many more that are quite similar:

 

My Kentucky Race Nightmare

Having been to the track for IRL races I sort of knew what to expect. I only live about 90 mins away. Race starts at 7:30, I left my house at 2:00 to make sure I gave myself plenty of time to get there. As you all know...that did not happen. When I tried to get on I71 it was backed up for about a mile on I75. My wife said "Calm down...you have 4 and half hours before the start of the race". 4 and half hours later....I could see the track from my car and that was about it. 4 and half hours to go 20 miles. One we tried to park at the speedway, it went from 4 lanes in, down to 3, and then down to 2. 2 LANES OPEN to park everybody. As we are driving around we can see open parking spaces in the lots. Every time you tried to pull in somewhere to park, a state cop told us we could not go that way...keep moving with traffic. So at this point, have almost drove completely around the track and they still won't let us park. I finally stopped and asked a State Cop where the hell can I park....he said "Oh you looking for a place to park? We thought most people were leaving. Try over there". So we finally parked in a gravel lot with a ton of semis around. So park, get in, and we are starving by this point. Guess what...lines for the food stands were about as long as the traffic because you are not allowed to bring coolers in. SO we stand in line, get something to eat (they are out of just about everything by the time we get to the window), and make it to our seats at lap 155. MISSED HALF THE RACE!! What I got to see of the race...i liked it After the race we looked at some stands and then headed out. It was much better on the way out and made it home in only 3 hours.
Doubt if I will be back next year....just stick to the Brickyard and Bristol!!”

 

Note:  More on this in the “Jayski” section, below.

 

 

Third:

 

I’m not going to say what driver posted this on Facebook over this past weekend, but it really makes one think a little:

 

Gave it a run last night with no handicap due to having "New rules" every week. Removing myself from the circus and saving the same junk for the 200.”

 

Fourth:

Looking at My Laps for a certain track over the weekend, and I found that the winner of a feature race was timed at 20 minutes 59.409 seconds.  Meanwhile, the driver that finished second, for the same amount of laps, was timed at 20 minutes 32.925 seconds.  That’s 26.484 seconds faster than the winner.  Over a lap, really.  What is more odd is that there is no difference, in time, shown between first and second, yet the third place car, which is shown to complete the feature in 20:33.959 is shown to be 1.034 behind the second place car.  Did My Laps have a “typo” as far as the winners overall time?    Kinda weird, huh?

 

Fifth:

Sprint cars – mostly winged, today, but “Back in the day” they didn’t even have roll bars or roll cages.  And, when one looks at the photos, linked to, below, one has to wonder, what if there was a wing on this particular sprint car, and what might have happened to the driver?

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/showthread.php?p=849

Note:   I was there that day, and it happened right in front of me.  He was as high in the air as I was in the stands.

 

Sixth:

Remember the young man that caught Derek Jeters 3,000th hit – the homerun?  In our local paper on Tuesday, it makes mention of the blood sucking IRS more than likely coming after him for taxes on his “gifts” from the Yankees.

Just a little reminder about him and those gifts:

A day after Christian Lopez of Highland Mills caught Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, returning the potential moneyball to the Yankees' captain, he continued to show his allegiance to No. 2.

Sitting in Section 236, Row 1, Seat 19 in the left-field bleachers, Lopez caught Jeter's 3,000th hit on Saturday — a solo homer in the third inning against the Rays. Some estimates put the ball's worth at $250,000 or more. However, all Lopez wanted was a chance to meet Jeter and present him with the souvenir.

The Yankees hooked up Lopez with four luxury box tickets for every remaining game this season — including the playoffs — a ball signed by Jeter and other Yankees merchandise. After Sunday's game, Lopez said he expects to get the memorabilia from the Yankees this week.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Buzzkill-Fan-may-owe-taxes-on-rewards-for-Jeter?urn=mlb-wp12427

Note:  Some good news.

Modell's, Miller High Life offer to help Lopez

In part:

“Modell’s Sporting Goods in Times Square announced on Wednesday that it will donate five percent of its Yankees merchandise sales from July 13-19 to Christian Lopez to help him for student loans and taxes.”

And:

“In addition to Modell’s, Miller High Life has stepped into help Lopez. Miller High Life released a statement Wednesday saying it would cover the bill for Lopez.

"Miller High Life believes you should be rewarded for doing the right thing, not penalized," Miller High Life brand manager Brendan Noonan said in a statement. "We want to recognize Christian Lopez, and in turn everyone like him, for doing the common sense thing and help him continue to live the High Life."

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110713/SPORTS/110719911

 

 

Seventh:

Back to some racin’ stuff:

Holding A Pretty Wheel – Amy Henderson

NASCAR-ese:  A NASCAR to English Dictionary

A few examples:

Probation Translation:  “Well crap. We don’t really want to punish this driver because what he did wrong was A: actually pretty good for the old TV ratings and maybe fans will tune in to see what happens, or B: excusable because we like him and it might help him dethrone Five-Time in the long run. Which would go directly back to A. On the other hand, we sort of backed ourselves into a corner here because we do have rules, so we have to at least look like we’re doing something. As long as we don’t have to actually enforce this deal, we all go home happy.”

No Fighting Translation: “What we actually meant by the no fighting rule was no fighting where anyone can see you. If you slug a guy in the hauler, that’s different than slugging him in the garage, because nobody else saw it. So we won’t do anything if you go at it in the truck. If you go at it in public, well, we do have an actual written rule about fighting, so we’re going to have to punish you. So we’re going to put you on probation. That will take care of it.”

The Chase Wild-Card Spots Translation:  “What are we going to do if Dale Junior wins a race this year and still doesn’t make the Chase? Wait, I have an idea…”

Start and Park Translation:  “Oh, you mean the guys who pay us their entry fees and ensure us a full field so we don’t have to pay the network. Do something about them? What do you mean? Why would we want to do that?”

Danica Translation:  “Cash Cow. Wait, is it politically correct to call her a cow?”

http://www.frontstretch.com/ahenderson/34534/

 

Eighth:

Last Saturday, during the telecast of the Cup race from Kentucky, there were ads for tickets still available for this weeks Cup race up in Loudon.  With the economy the way it is, and in actually, an over 10% unemployment rate, I don’t see race attendance – especially for NASCAR Cup races, really being sell-outs anymore.

 

Ninth:

Some “Scare tactics” here?

Obama: seniors could be hurt without debt deal

In part: 

The president said in an interview with U.S. television network CBS that checks to recipients of the Social Security retirement program may not go out in early August if he and congressional leaders do not agree on a debt deal.

"I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue," Obama said, according to excerpts of the interview released in advance of its broadcast.

"Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it," Obama said. He said veterans checks and disability benefits could also be affected without a deal.”

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lawmakers-fall-short-debt-deal-045247357.html

Note:  Uh huh – excuse me, but what happened to Social Security supposedly being good for so many years in the future?

 

Tenth:

If you recall, in one of my columns a while back I made mention of how many cars they had at a NEMA show, with the sixth place car having dropped out, but in a video of the race, there were more than six cars on the track.  Well, I’ve come to find out that the NEMA Lights (Mostly Ford Focus powered) were invited to run with the NEMA Midgets, due to there being a “short” field.

Looking at the NEMA results from Thompson, last week, I see that there were only 13 cars listed.  13 – at one of the premier tracks here in the Northeast!  So what’s the problem with NEMA?

And, last weekend, the ARDC was racing out at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.  They had only 20 cars show up.  So now the question is:  What’s wrong with Midget racing, today?  The economy?  Cost?  Purses?  Sticking to one surface only?  ARDC is now strictly dirt tracks while NEMA is pavement only.  Wings?  No wings?

 

Eleventh:

Uh oh – in case you don’t get to read the Dirt Track Digest’s Forum, there’s been a bit of a problem at the Cayuga County Speedway.

From the Forum:

The Sportsman at Weedsport will no longer be DIRT Sanctioned. As mentioned earlier starting this Sunday you can run American Racers or Hoosiers. Steel or Aluminum wheels. Weights will be 2,400 (steel) 2,450 (aluminum) No rev box if you choose that route. Will be a draw for heats this Sunday as a new points system etc is being worked out as we speak.”

Quite a lot being said on this.

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/39940-cayuga-county-speedway/

 

 

Coming up:

 

Accord:

Jul 15:

All Season Fuel Night – Racing all divisions plus RaceSaver CRSA Sprints – Lebanon Valley Spec Accord Challenge Series.

Note:  No Lightning Sprints or Legends.

Mid Week Madness - 07/20/11 - 5:00pm

Van Kleeck Tire Night- Racing all divisions plus Legends  - 07/22/11 - 5:00pm

OCFS:

July 15th:  ORANGE COUNTY FAIR OPENS – Now covering three Saturday nights of racing.

July 16th:  Steve Dodd Plumbing and Heating - Little League Night - Kids Club - M/SP/PRO/SS/4 Cylinder.

All Little League ballplayers, both boys and girls, and their coaches are invited to attend the stock car races at Orange County Fair Speedway free of charge on Saturday, July 16. The only stipulation: players and coaches must wear their uniforms.

Note:  Don’t count on 4 Cylinders, folks.

July 17th:  Middletown Auto Wreckers Demo Derby

July 21st:  100 Lap Enduro

July 23rd:  McGannon Excavating - Pine Bush Equipment - M/SP/PRO/SS - 2011 Little Miss OCFS

July 28th:  Rock Fantasy - All Steel Aluminum - 50 lap Sportsman Eastern States Qualifier - $1,000 to Win - SP/PRO/SS

July 30th:  Howard Johnson of Middletown - Super 8 of Middletown - CRSA Sprints - 358/SP/PRO/SS (NO MODIFIEDS) - 358's $2,500 TO WIN - Winner will get Outside Pole

July 31st:  Middletown Auto Wreckers Demo Derby – last day for the fair.

Note:  Here’s the link for you to order your race tickets, online, for racing that’s held during the fair, at a lower price:  http://www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net/tickets.html

 

Lebanon Valley:

July 16:  Rifenburg Construction Presents $5,000 To Win Modified King Of The Track, Eastern States Qualifier, Weekly Divisions

July 18, July 19 & 20:

MARCHESE FORD PRESENTS
3 NIGHTS OF USHRA MONSTER JAM
SUMMER NATIONALS Gates Open @ 5pm | Show Starts @ 8pm

July 23:  NBT Bank & Heavy Hauler Present “Kids Night” With A Bike Giveaway, Weekly Divisions, Budget Sportsman (LV/Accord 602 Chase)

July 24:  CARQUEST Auto Parts & Castrol Oil Presents
The World Of Outlaw Sprint Car Series Plus The 358 Modifieds E.S.W. Qualifier
Gates Open @ 4pm | Show Starts @ 6pm

Aug. 25:  CARQUEST Auto Parts & General Tire Present
$17,500 TO WIN “MR. DIRT Track U.S.A.” 100-Lap Modified DIRTcar Series Race Plus Budget Sportsman, Gates Open @ 5pm | Racing @ 6pm

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

 

Kentucky Speedway Apologizes to Fans, Ticket Exchange:

 

Kentucky Speedway, which is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., today issued the following statement regarding the fan experience at Saturday's "Quaker State 400."
"To those fans that were not able to attend the Quaker State 400, we offer our sincerest apologies," said Mark Simendinger, general manager, Kentucky Speedway. "We'd also like to apologize to all of our fans who endured challenging conditions during our event weekend. As we said earlier, we're committed to working with NASCAR, state and local officials and traffic experts to address Saturday's traffic issues to ensure that we never have this type of experience again."
"I would like to apologize on behalf of Speedway Motorsports to the fans who had tickets, yet due to logistical issues, were not able to attend the inaugural Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway," said Marcus Smith, president and chief operating officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. "For those fans with tickets who were unable to attend Saturday night's event, we will honor their ticket at any remaining 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at a Speedway Motorsports facility or the 2012 Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway.
"Our company has always been about enhancing the fan experience with first-class amenities and putting fans first. I feel terrible for the fans that had a bad experience at Kentucky Speedway and we are asking that they give us a chance to make it up to them. We are very thankful for the overwhelming fan support we had for this inaugural event. We learned some valuable lessons this past weekend and will do everything in our power to make sure we don't have these issues again."
The ticket exchange is good for the following events at Speedway Motorsports facilities while supplies last at each respective venue:

July 17 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Aug. 27 - Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 4 - Atlanta Motor Speedway
Sept. 25 - New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Oct. 15 - Charlotte Motor Speedway
Nov. 6 - Texas Motor Speedway
2012 - Kentucky Speedway
In addition to the ticket exchange, Kentucky Speedway will issue these fans an equal quantity of tickets to either its Oct. 1 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 225-mile race or Oct. 2 IZOD IndyCar Series 300-mile event. For information on ticket exchange and redemption, fans should only contact the Kentucky Speedway ticket office at 859-578-2300 or by email at tickets@kentuckyspeedway.com.(Kentucky Speedway)(7-11-2011)

 

And:

Kentucky Gov. to work with speedway to address traffic:

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Sunday he will work with officials at Kentucky Speedway to address the traffic flow and parking problems that plagued Saturday's Quaker State 400. A bottleneck traffic jam at Interstate 71's Exit 57 onto Ky. 35, the road that runs by the track, left thousands stuck in traffic for six hours in many cases and ultimately too late to see the race. Many ticket holders also said they were turned away when they eventually arrived after the race began because there was no more parking left at the track. "There is no question that the entire week at the Kentucky Speedway was a big success, but it's also clear that there are issues, such as traffic flow, which must be addressed before next year's event," Beshear said in a statement. "We will work with track officials to determine what can be done to address these problems, so that next year's NASCAR event will be even bigger and better." Beshear said it was too early to tell whether the state would get involved in a major expansion or renovation of the interstate near the track. That is the hope, though, of Bruton Smith, the chairman of the track's ownership group, who said during the race that the state would need to step up in fixing the interstate.(full article at the Lexington Herald-Leader)(7-11-2011)

 

Stock-Car Montréal looking to for grant to retain Montreal Nationwide race UPDATE:

 Racers on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve dive into the physical, twin-turn Senna Corner praying that they'll emerge at the exit with the same number of parts on their cars as when they entered. It's with a similar cautious optimism that NASCAR promoters hope to hear an encouraging word from the provincial government this week about a request that will keep the sport in Montreal for another five years. Stock-Car Montréal, a subsidiary of giant U.S. track owner and race promoter International Speedway Corp., wants a $500,000 Quebec grant to keep the NASCAR Nationwide Series running on the island circuit of Jean Drapeau Park. The federal government is said to be willing to pony up an equal sum for 2012, the two bodies then presumably writing an annual cheque of that sum for the balance of a long-term, probably five-year contract. This Thursday marks the closing of Stock-Car Montréal's exclusive negotiation window with Jean Drapeau Park. As of Friday, any race body or promoter could speak with the park about securing the site's second race weekend - Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix is the other.(Montreal Gazette)(6-28-2011)


UPDATE:

Canada's only NASCAR race might be in jeopardy. The Quebec government on Wednesday rejected developer Francois Dumontier's request for $1 million in government assistance, half each from Quebec and Ottawa, to help offset an anticipated $1.6 million deficit. "The developer has not satisfactorily proven to the Department of Tourism that it would be profitable for them to invest in the event," Isabelle Lord, spokeswoman for Tourism Minister Nicole Menard, said. This funding shortfall likely means August's Nationwide Series race will be the end of NASCAR racing at the Gilles Villeneuve track on Montreal's Ile Notre-Dame. The city of Montreal's contract with International Speedway Corporation and its promoter expired June 30. It is the only such event in the country.(Associated Press/ESPN.com)(7-7-2011)

 

Seems I had something about what follows, in a column a couple of weeks ago.

Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord officials reach deal:

Ending a long-running dispute over development incentives, the city of Concord said Wednesday it will pay $2.8 million to settle a lawsuit by Speedway Motorsports Inc. The move comes nearly four years after speedway owner Bruton Smith had threatened to move Charlotte Motor Speedway unless Concord dropped its objections to his plans for building an adjacent drag strip. Concord and Cabarrus County leaders went on to forge an $80 million incentives package in late 2007 so Smith would not move the speedway. As part of that deal, he would build the $60 million drag strip and make $200 million worth of improvements around the track. But the two sides later disagreed on whether that package was ever finalized, even as Smith proceeded with engineering and related studies for transportation improvements around the busy corridor. “This (settlement) closes one chapter and should restore the excellent relations we’ve had with Speedway Motorsports for these many years,” Concord Mayor Scott Padgett said. He said the city is receiving tangible items that will benefit its residents, while Smith is being paid for his expenses. As part of the settlement, the city will receive engineering documents as well as a greenway trail easement along the south side of Rocky River and other infrastructure easements. The documents will help the city and state save time and money for further area road improvements once state funding for those projects becomes available, Padgett said. There is no timetable for that work, however.
The engineering reports that the city is acquiring cover several projects, including widening Bruton Smith Boulevard from I-85 to U.S. 29 and improving U.S. 29 from west of Morehead Road to east of the speedway. The greenway easement on speedway property will allow for future development of the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network of trails and greenways. The settlement money will come out of Concord’s general fund over three fiscal years. Smith was out of town and not available for comment Wednesday afternoon. Speedway attorney Jared Gardner and speedway spokesman Scott Cooper declined to comment.(Charlotte Observer)(6-30-2011)

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

At OCFS last Saturday – In the modified feature, Mike Ruggiero was 9th, Clinton Mills 11th, Billy VanInwegen 14th, Michael Storms 15th and Tim Hindley 21st.  In the Sportsman feature that had a 16-car pile up on the first lap, with a good amount of cars knocked out of the race, in it, Brian Krummel was 4th, Matt Hitchcock 7th, Jason Roe 8th.  Credited with one lap were John Lodini – 13th, Keith Still 14th and RJ Smykla 15th.  Those knocked out in that first lap crash – Matt Janiak 17th, Anthony Perrego 19th, and Tyler Boniface 21st.  Seth Pacella and Zack Vavricka were both DNQ’s.  Maybe they were lucky?

At Hamlin, in the All Star Slingshot feature, Tyler Dipple was 1st and Charlie Lawrence 2nd.  In the wingless 600 Micro Sprint “Mid Summer 40”, Kyle Rohner was 11th, Jacob Hendershot 13th and Joe Kata 15th.  In the 600 Micro Sprint Rookie feature, Jacob was 5th.

Roger Coss finished 4th in the Modified feature at Wall Stadium.

Danny Creeden won the Modified feature at Five Mile point.

At Bethel, in some series racing, Rich Coons ended up 8th, point wise, in the Sportsman class.

Nick Pecko was 3rd at Mountain Speedway in the Sport Modified class.

At Wyalusing, Molly Chambers was 13th in the 600 Micro Sprint feature.

Kyle Armstrong, who said on Facebook that his engine was finally running right, was involved in a wreck and was 20th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.

Bobby Hackel, IV was the Modified feature winner at Devil’s Bowl, and Alex Bell was 8th.

AJ Filbeck had a 2nd place finish in the Sportsman feature at Utica/Rome.

At I-88, in the CRSA 305 Sprint Car feature, Josh Pieniazek was the feature winner, with Brittany Tresch 2nd, John Virgilio 5th, Billy VanInwegen 19th, Emily VanInwegen 21st and Dan Hennessy 23rd.

Tiffany Wambold was 8th in the 270 Micro Sprint feature at Borgers.

Mike Mammana was 19th in the Modified feature at New Egypt, while Brian Pomponio was 20th in the TSRS 305 Sprint Car feature.

Wow!  38 names this week.

Hope I didn’t miss anyone!

 

Going back, in time – in racing history:

Note:  Most of the following information was found here: 

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

 

Covering the days from July 15th to the 21st:

 

JULY 15

1932

Mickey Shaw ... Born ... USAC driver from the 1960's.

1951

Charlie Ethier ... Died ... He was killed in his first Sprint Car outing in a AAA race at the Salem Speedway, Salem, IN.

1967

Richard Petty drove the Petty Enterprises Plymouth to victory in the NASCAR Grand National 'Islip 300'. The race was 300 laps on the 1/5 mile paved Islip Speedway in Islip, New York, that's right 300 laps on a 1/5 mile paved oval! . James Hylton was leading when he spun on lap 183 and Bobby Allison was on his way to victory when he collided with Wendell Scott with 20 laps to go and had to pit for repairs. Petty wound up winning by 3 laps over Hylton's Hartje Dodge.

1972

Fonty Flock ... Died ... NASCAR great and one of the central figures in the formative days of NASCAR. He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley. The four raced at the July 10, 1949 race at the Daytona Beach Road Course, which was the first event to feature a brother and a sister, and the only NASCAR event to feature four siblings. Ethel beat Fonty and Bob by finishing in eleventh.

 

JULY 16

1906

Doc MacKenzie ... Born ... AAA driver from the 1930's. He was killed in a Sprint Car race on the 1.0-mile dirt oval Milwaukee Mile, Milwaukee, WI Aug.23, 1936

1926

Wally Campbell ... Born ... A stock car, midget, and sprint car racer from Trenton, New Jersey. He was the 1951 NASCAR Modified Champion and the 1953 AAA Eastern Division Sprint car rookie of the year. Wally was killed practicing for an AAA Midwestern Division sprint car race at Salem Indiana on July 17, 1954. He was one day past his 28th birthday. Campbell began his stock car career at Flemington Fairgrounds in New Jersey in 1947 where he promptly rolled the car over. By the end of 1947 he was the champion of the newly formed American Stock Car Racing Association (ASCRA). He finished 6th in points in 1948, then won the title in both 1949 and 1950. 1951 brought the NASCAR Modified title and in 1952 he finished 2nd in points to Buck Baker in the NASCAR Speedway division. In 1953 he won five AAA sprint car races after getting a late start in August. He attempted qualifying at Indianapolis in 1954 but was sent home to get "more experience". He made two AAA Championship Car race starts later that year at Langhorne Speedway and Darlington Speedway but failed to finish in both races. He was leading the AAA Eastern Division in points at the time of his death.

1928

Jim Rathmann ... Born ... (born Richard Rathmann from Alhambra, California) is a former American race car driver who won the Indianapolis 500 in 1960. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series in the 1949-1950 and 1952-1963 seasons with 42 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in each of those seasons. Rathmann also participated in the two runnings of the Race of Two Worlds at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy, winning the 1958 event. He had 6 victories in addition to his Indy 500 win. He also drove in 3 races in the NASCAR series from 1949-1951.

1965

Ernie Borrelli ... Died ... ARDC Midget Car driver died in a midget race at the Hatfield Speedway, Hatfield, PA.

1966

Ron Lux ... Died ... Ron Lux was a resident of Buffalo, New York. He also drove under the pseudonym of Bucky Buckholtz, and also drove using a borrowed USAC license from Bob Hodgson. He was trying to avoid sanctions from USAC, which at the time did not permit their drivers to run in non-sanctioned events. Ron Lux was the Supermodified driver points champion of New York's Oswego Speedway in 1965, with a #2, and won the Orange County Eastern States 200 in 1965. He also set fast time with a #45 for the first asphalt Langhorne National Open (Race of Champions) event in 1965. He died in a USAC Sprint Car accident in Tulsa, OK

 

JULY 17

1917

Bill Randall ... Born ... He raced sprint cars and midgets, winning the Eastern USAC Sprint Car title in 1957 and finishing third in the ARDC Midget Championship in 1961. In Champ Cars he raced at Daytona in 1959 in the USAC event driving a Kurtis 500C Offy, finishing 14th. He tried to qualify for the Indy 500 in 1961 but was unsuccessful. In 1962 he qualified for a race at Trenton driving a Kuzma but went out with a broken throttle. In other series he enjoyed considerable success winning races in events sanctioned by NEMA, BSRA, UCOA, ARDC and USAC. He was killed in an ARDC Midget race at Lime Rock, a road course, in July 1963. As Midgets almost always raced on ovals many of the drivers were unfamiliar with right hand bends at racing speeds. On the first lap he colided with Len Thrall and Bert Brooks and rolled, sliding over 100 feet up side down. He died four days later from his injuries.

1954

Wally Campbell ... Died ... A stock car, midget, and sprint car racer from Trenton, New Jersey. He was the 1951 NASCAR Modified Champion and the 1953 AAA Eastern Division Sprint car rookie of the year. Wally was killed practicing for an AAA Midwestern Division sprint car race at Salem Indiana on July 17, 1954. He was one day past his 28th birthday. Campbell began his stock car career at Flemington Fairgrounds in New Jersey in 1947 where he promptly rolled the car over. By the end of 1947 he was the champion of the newly formed American Stock Car Racing Association (ASCRA). He finished 6th in points in 1948, then won the title in both 1949 and 1950. 1951 brought the NASCAR Modified title and in 1952 he finished 2nd in points to Buck Baker in the NASCAR Speedway division. In 1953 he won five AAA sprint car races after getting a late start in August. He attempted qualifying at Indianapolis in 1954 but was sent home to get "more experience". He made two AAA Championship Car race starts later that year at Langhorne Speedway and Darlington Speedway but failed to finish in both races. He was leading the AAA Eastern Division in points at the time of his death.

1995

Juan Manuel Fangio ... Died ... A driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing. He won five Formula One World Driver's Championships , a record which stood for 46 years, with four different teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Maserati), a feat that has not been repeated since. Many still consider him to be the greatest driver of all time.

 

JULY 18

1909

My mother, Kathryn Cecilia Loughman was born.  We still miss her.

1911

Danny Oakes... Born ... In the 1940s and 50s, he was one of America's leading Midget Race Car drivers winning 100s of races around the country. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix and 3 West Coast Midget Championships in 1945. In 1947, he won the American Automobile Assn. Midget title and the United States Auto Club Pacific Coast Midget championship in 1959. At age 40, he tried to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 from 1952 to 1955, without success. But as a mechanic, he put many others into the winners circle and earned the reputation as one of the best mechanics in the Indy pits. As chief mechanic in 1963, for 1952, 500 winner Troy Ruttman, his car finished 12th and driver Johnny White, brought Oakes his best finish of 4th in 1964. He quit driving midgets in his mid-60s, but continued his racing career into his 70s as a throttle man in offshore boat racing. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1996.

 

JULY 19

1902

Chet Miller ... Born ... AAA driver 1928 to 1953. Ran the Indy 500 sixteen times with a best finish of 3rd in 1938. He was killed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice for the 1953 Indianapolis 500.

1959

Dale Van Johnson... Died ... USAC driver. First name Dale, he was killed in a race at Williams Grove Speedway just 5 weeks after winning his first champ car race. Rodger Ward won the race followed by Eddie Sachs, Jim Packard, Johnny Thomson and A.J. Foyt.

 

JULY 20

1931

Red Riegel... Born ... URC and USAC driver from Leesport PA. Died in a USAC Sprint car race at the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway in the same crash which also claimed the life of Jud Larson.

1999

Emil Andres ... Died ... AAA driver from 1935 to 1950

 

JULY 21

1904

Louis Meyer... Born ... American Hall of Fame race car driver best known as the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He raced in 12 Indy 500's with wins in 1928, 1933 and 1936.

1990

Rich Vogler ... Died ... USAC Midget and Sprint Car driver. Inductee in the National Sprint Car Hall of fame. First to win both the USAC Sprint Car and Midget Championships in the same season. His 134 wins (95 Midget, 35 Sprint, and four Silver Crown wins) in national events is second only to A. J. Foyt's 169. Vogler had 170 total USAC wins, and won over 200 "outlaw" (non-USAC) midget races. Five starts at Indy, best finish - eighth in 1989 driving a Penske. In the last race of his life, July 21, 1990 during an ESPN "Saturday Night Thunder" national broadcast, he was killed while leading a sprint car race at the Salem (Indiana) Speedway with a little over a lap remaining. He was posthumously declared the winner.

 

 

 

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

From their July 5th issue:

Lenny Sammons had quite a lot in his column about Electronic Fuel Injection and will it ever replace carburetors.  DIRTcar tech man Bob Dini doesn’t see it happening for a long time.  He thinks it would be hard policing and understanding the rules.  Most teams, today, have more than one carburetor, at about $1,000.00 each.  Jeff Behrent says he cost to switch would be considerable.

Ernie Saxton was asking if we remember the “Winston Million”?  Well, Sprint is planning on a similar thing – “The Summer Showdown” which would pay the winning driver one million.  The driver would have to win Indy (Brickyard 400), or the August Pocono race, or Watkins Glen, or the Michigan August race or the Bristol night race.  Then he would have to win the Labor Day Atlanta race.  So, when the Atlanta race comes around, it would be possible for five drivers to be eligible for that million.

Mr. Saxton was also comparing prices for Phillies games (119 consecutive sell outs).  You have to pay to park – sometimes as much as $20.00, you are not allowed to bring coolers into the stadium, and if you’re a beer drinker, you can figure on spending $8.50 for one.

Brett Deyo, in his column makes mention of Matt Sheppard racing more than just with DIRTcar.  It’s come to the point that if you’re racing for a living, there are not enough DIRTcar events to do that.  Also, racing tow series – DIRTcar and RoC, requires a team to have an extensive inventory of tires to get by.

In Mike Malletts column, Frank Cozze is quoted as saying:  “I’m still happy I made the switch (to Sprint Cars), because I got tired of doing the same old thing.  Modified racing was a lot more fun when everywhere you went to had the same rules.  Now things are all screwed up, and it’s hard on the racers.”

On page 21 there was a pretty good ad about two up-coming races at Lebanon Valley on Saturday, July 23rd and Sunday the 24th.  On Saturday, it’s a normal show, while on Sunday the 358 Modifieds will be in action along with the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars.

Don and Jo Ann Davies happened to be at Fonda and in their column the say:  “It was made clear in the Pit meeting that all drivers were to have both gloves and head socks in place before entering the track.

Note:  I’ve personally seen drivers racing without gloves – this year!

I’m not sure if one can believe everything that Dave Moody comes out with about NASCAR in his columns.  I have yet to get a response about the time he was quoting Jack Roush about the 2012 Cup car being a Mustang, while NASCAR and Ford say otherwise.  But Dave was saying that Michael Waltrip Racing might possibly be fielding a car in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series in 2012. He was also saying that Robby Gordon was complaining to NASCAR about some certain drivers/teams getting better tires.

I got a chuckle out of two articles on page 46.  Frank Catizone, in his OCFS race report, says that when Richie Eurich won the feature at OCFS, a couple of weeks ago, it put him ahead of Will Cagle as far as feature wins at OCFS goes.

Next, in Bill Utters column, he makes mention that with that win, Eurich is now tied with Cagle as far as feature wins go.

Tom Iaeger had a rather interesting thing about Central PA Sprint Car Handicapping.  There are various ways that they could be handicapped:

1.     By season results

2.     Time Trials

3.     Luck of the draw

4.     Passing points

Four drivers offered their thoughts on the subject – Don Kreitz, Fred Rahmer, Mark Smith and Frank Cozze.  All had different thoughts.

“Race chaser” Guy Smith, while over in Europe and England, ha snow been to 1,373 different race tracks.

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

To be honest, I only watched the opening lap of the Indycar race this past Sunday, since I’m not a fan of that type of racing (city streets with every turn a blind one etc etc)  A certain female driver – Danica Patrick, who might very well be headed to NASCAR land in 2012, doesn’t fair to well in road racing.

Here’s a little from a thread over on the Track Forum:

She's reminded me of Sam Hornish's demeanour in his final season.

Can't say I blame her, really. He didn't like the roads & streets much either, and with half the season now consigned to Mickey Mouse crash fests it's probably obvious to her that the sun is setting on her IndyCar career in a way that won't show her at her best.

I still believe she's a talented oval driver - Homestead last year demonstrated that when she has confidence in the car she can hang it out there with the best of them. But there's little incentive for her to stay in a series where she'll make less money and only actually enjoy 8 or 9 races a season.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?152917-Danica-today

Note:  One of the reasons I don’t like those kind of courses – from above:

“He didn't like the roads & streets much either, and with half the season now consigned to Mickey Mouse crash fests”

 

Racing and television:

Racing on TV - http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm

 

Some non-racing stuff:

 

Neighbor vs. neighbor as homeowner fights get ugly

 

In part:

“The Inlet House condo complex in Fort Pierce, Fla., was once the kind of place the 55-and-older set aspired to. It was affordable. The pool and clubhouse were tidy, the lawns freshly snipped. Residents, push-carts in tow, walked to the beach, the bank, the beauty parlor, the cinema and the supermarket. In post-crash America, this was a dreamy little spot. Especially on a fixed income.

But that was Inlet House before the rats started chewing through the toilet seats in vacant units and sewage started seeping from the ceiling. Before condos that were worth $79,000 four years ago sold for as little as $3,000. And before the homeowners' association levied $6,000 assessments on everyone -- and then foreclosed on seniors who couldn't pay the association bill, even if they didn't owe the bank a dime.

Normally, it's the bankers who go after delinquent homeowners. But in communities governed by the mighty homeowners' association, as the sour economy leaves more people unable to pay their fees, it's neighbor versus neighbor.”

More can be found here: 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Neighbor-vs-neighbor-as-apf-2524543580.html?x=0

 

New Australian law to make Muslims lift veils

In part:

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Muslim women would have to remove veils and show their faces to police on request or risk a prison sentence under proposed new laws in Australia's most populous state that have drawn criticism as culturally insensitive.

A vigorous debate that the proposal has triggered reflects the cultural clashes being ignited by the growing influx of Muslim immigrants and the unease that visible symbols of Islam are causing in predominantly white Christian Australia since 1973 when the government relaxed its immigration policy.

Under the law proposed by the government of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, a woman who defies police by refusing to remove her face veil could be sentenced to a year in prison and fined 5,500 Australian dollars ($5,900).

The bill — to be voted on by the state parliament in August — has been condemned by civil libertarians and many Muslims as an overreaction to a traffic offense case involving a Muslim woman driver in a "niqab," or a veil that reveals only the eyes.

The government says the law would require motorists and criminal suspects to remove any head coverings so that police can identify them.”

Check it out, here:

http://news.yahoo.com/australian-law-muslims-lift-veils-050625536.html

 

California is not alone here; I’m willing to bet!

Illegal aliens cost California hospitals more than $1 billion annually

In part:

According to the California Hospital Association (CHA), illegal aliens cost hospitals across the state about $1.25 billion a year in unpaid medical care.

The CHA recently stated that $26 million of those costs are absorbed in the eight hospitals in Ventura County alone.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is asking the Obama administration to compensate hospitals for the care they extend to the millions foreign nationals living in this country illegally.

In June, AHA President Richard Umbdenstock sent a letter to President Obama, reminding him that while federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care to every patient who walks through the doors, those hospitals are now forced to eat the costs of treating uninsured illegal aliens.”

“In 2003, the American Southwest saw 77 hospitals enter bankruptcy due to unpaid medical bills incurred by illegal aliens. A staggering 84 hospitals in California have been forced to close their doors because of the growing crisis. Hospitals which manage to remain open, then pass the unpaid costs onto the rest of us, which translates into more out-of-pocket expenses and higher insurance premiums for all Americans.

Read more about the burden illegal aliens place on our healthcare system: http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/35-million-emergency-healthcare-spent-on-illegal-aliens-massachusetts-alone

http://www.examiner.com/immigration-reform-in-national/illegal-aliens-cost-california-hospitals-more-than-1-billion-annually?CID=examiner_alerts_article

 

Is this true?:

 

Maybe you’ve received the same e-mail?

 

CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?

This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to
finish.  And send it on to everyone.  Maybe this is why our American
Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities.

Can a good Muslim be a good American?

This question was forwarded to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia
for 20 years. The following is his reply:

Theologically - no.. Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon
god of Arabia ..

Religiously - no... Because no other religion is accepted by His
Allah except Islam.
(Quran, 2:256)(Koran)

Scripturally - no... Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars
of Islam and the Quran.


Geographically - no.. Because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which
he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially - no... Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make
friends with Christians or Jews.


Politically - no.... Because he must submit to the mullahs
(spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction
of America , the great Satan.

Domestically - no... Because he is instructed to marry four women
and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him. (Quran 4:34 )

Intellectually - no.. Because he cannot accept the American
Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes
the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically - no... Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran does
not allow freedom of religion and expression.
Democracy and Islam
cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or
autocratic.

Spiritually - no... Because when we declare 'one nation under God,'
The Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred
to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran's 99
excellent names.

Therefore, after much study and deliberation... Perhaps we should be
very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. - - - They obviously
cannot be both 'good' Muslims and 'good' Americans.  Call it what you
wish it's still the truth.. You had better believe it. The more who
understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future.


The religious war is bigger than we know or understand!

Footnote: The Muslims have said they will destroy us from within. SO
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S.

Please don't delete this until you send it on.

 

Video time:

 

If you recall, a couple of columns back I made mention of some USAC Midget racing here in the Northeast.  They’re powered by Quad 4 and Ford Focus engines.  Here ya go:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9qvpgXoJJc

 

 

Closing with these:

Lexiphiles: lovers of words ("you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish").

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles , U.C.L.A.

The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.

The batteries were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.

A boiled egg, is hard to beat.

When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.

Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was
resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your 
memory..

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your count that votes.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.


He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed 
in the end.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

 

 

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

I surely do hope that come this time next week, you’ll be reading column # 65 from me!