Racin' & Internet Stuff:

By Tom Avenengo

Volume # 97

04/19/2012

First:

Back last November, we had some family & friends over to celebrate my wifes 73^rd. She got sick that night. She’s been “sick” ever since. When we finally got her to go to a doctor, after a couple of visits it was determined that she had “Bacteria” in her stomach. A rather expensive “Generic” medication (three different kinds) helped some, maybe. Seems the “cure” was damned near as bad as the problem. Those meds had to be, and were, taken for a two week period. Things really didn’t improve much. On March 16^th an appointment was made for her to have an Upper GI Endoscopy on April 16^th. My wife went through hell for those four weeks, with feeling great for a week to ten days, then the sh*t would hit the fan – “dry” heaves, no BM’s, then throwing up, then having to rush to the bathroom and sit on the pot for a while, with you-know-what.

Second:

So now it’s April 16^th, and we get there in time for her 10:15 appointment. Of course, on the paperwork, it make mention that there could be a delay, due to unforeseen circumstances. There was. She got in at 11:44. The procedure didn’t take long. She said it was the best sleep she’s had in a long time. Now, I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty good husband over these almost 52 years now, along with helping her raise our five kids. Fights? Oh we had some –the can be counted on one hand, though. So, although I (we) were kind of relieved as to what they found in that Endoscopy – two pretty good sized ulcers – I’m wondering, id I cause them?

Third:

The wife was prescribed Omerprazole – 20 MG – and to take one prior to breakfast and one prior to dinner. As with most meds today, there could be “side effects” Uh huh! They include: Diarrhea, gas, nausea, stomach pain or vomiting. Jesus! The exact same sh*t she’s been going through over these past four weeks – or more! How are we to know if these meds are working?

Note: If you, or someone you know, is on the above named drug, and you’ve bought it through a regular pharmacy, at a rather high cost, as I did, might I suggest that you try www.omerprazoledirect.com.

You can’t imagine how much cheaper it is!

Fourth:

After I picked up the prescription, I got on line to see what kinds of foods either have, or can cause, “acid”. How about almost every damn thing?

A few examples:

ACIDIFYING FRUITS Blueberries Canned or Glazed Fruits Cranberries

Currants Plums** Prunes**

ACIDIFYING GRAINS, GRAIN PRODUCTS

Amaranth Barley Bran, oat Bran, wheat Bread Corn Cornstarch Crackers, soda

Flour, wheat Flour, white Hemp Seed Flour Kamut Macaroni Noodles Oatmeal

Oats (rolled) Quinoa Rice (all) Rice Cakes Rye

Spaghetti Spelt Wheat Germ Wheat

ACIDIFYING ANIMAL PROTEIN

Bacon Beef Carp Clams Cod Corned Beef Fish Haddock Lamb Lobster Mussels Organ Meats

Oyster Pike Pork Rabbit Salmon Sardines Sausage Scallops Shellfish Shrimp Tuna

Turkey Veal Venison

ACIDIFYING OTHER FOODS

Catsup Cocoa Coffee Mustard Pepper Soft Drinks

Vinegar

ACIDIFYING DRUGS & CHEMICALS

Aspirin Chemicals Drugs, Medicinal Drugs, Psychedelic Herbicides Pesticides

Tobacco

ACIDIFYING JUNK FOOD

Beer: pH 2.5 Coca-Cola: pH 2Coffee: pH 4

I guess it’s a good thing she loves Tea, huh? Over these past moths, about the only good thing to happen is that she’s lost weight – same goes for me, too.

Fifth:

Sad news: One of those responsible for the creation of the Dirt Track Digest, Thomas Ames, II, passed away the other day, at the young age of 36.

Mike Mallett had this to say about Tom:

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/racing-mourns-the-loss-of-thomas-c-ames-ii-1976-2012/

Sixth:

This past Sunday night, we were watching something on TV on ABC – a show that ended at 11:00. I left ABC on, and was watching their newscast, waiting to hear what was going to be said about Social Security. So, the news on ABC went like this: News Item, them commercials. Another news item, then more commercials. This got repeated over and over until I got completely disgusted at 11:35, when I turned the TV off. No, they still had not talked about the Social Security item, which now appears later on in this column in “Some non-racing stuff – part 2:”

To my way of thinking, maybe the networks should have their news programs commercial free.

Seventh:

I caught glimpses of the Truck race at Rockingham this past Sunday. Somehow, I think the track might be a little narrow for Indy cars. Hey, maybe Indycar should give it a try, anyway, since there seems to be a shortage of ovals for that series? There was a decent crowd for that race, I should add.

Eighth:

Checking out My Laps for the racing last Saturday at OCFS, I found this to be rather interesting:

Michael Storms had the fastest lap in the Modified feature – a time of 21.833 and an average speed of 103.055. In the Sportsman feature, Gary Edwards, Jr. had the fastest lap with a time of 22.180 and an average speed of 101.443. Edwards was faster than 20 of the Big Block Modifieds – yes, faster than 20 of the 25 starters. Not positive, but does Edwards have power from a crate engine?

Ninth:

While checking out the race results from Lebanon Valley, on the Dirt Track Digest’s forum, I came across this, at the end of the Budget Sportsman feature: “DNS: Chris George, Nick Houghtaling DQ: Frank Hoard (suspension)”

That got to me thinking – due to the current rule books, today; there really is nothing left as far as ingenuity goes anymore. Going back a few years ago, when I had an article about the late Bob Green, a Modified driver here in this area, I had the opportunity to interview Rich Ricci, Sr. Here is part of what he had to say about Bob, from that article:

“I thought that it might be a good idea to get some thoughts, and some memories, of Bob Green, from some of those that knew him from back in his racing days. While up at the Accord Speedway, on August 16, to start on another article for the OWR web site, I had to opportunity to have a short interview with Rich Ricci Sr. Rich, had in the past, competed against Bob, and his two sons, Mike and Rich Jr. compete against Robbie. What made me want to talk to Rich was the fact that when I went up to Kingston, to the hospital, to see Bob, right after he had gotten injured, Rich was there, with members of his family, to check on Bob also. So, I figured that there must have been a pretty close "tie" between Rich and Bob.

Rich had this to say about Bob: " I raced against him .. he was a tough competitor. He wasn't, if I can remember.. he wasn't a very steady competitor ... like he would race three or four weeks in a row, then he would take a couple of weeks off, and then he would come back. But when he came back, you would have to go look at his car because.. he was an innovator. He always had something different than anybody else. Uh, whether it was suspension points or a little piece of tin here or a little piece of tin there, you know he was always looking for the aerodynamics. He was a good driver . . . an awful good driver. I raced a lot of races with him. I beat him in a lot of races, and he's probably beat me in races. Like I said, I raced steady every week, and from what I can remember, he would take a couple of weeks off, then come back racing, and, but when he come back, he always came back STRONG. Other than that, he had the same car . . . he was always cuttin' it up, ya know?"

Now Rich said something that very few knew about. "You know, it's a funny thing, that I always remarked - Bob Green was the first guy to have an enclosed trailer.”

Note: See! Back then, INGENUITY was allowed. And, yes, the racing was MUCH BETTER than what we have to suffer through, today. I must also not – about that enclosed trailer thing – that particular night, at Accord, about the only one racing the Modifieds that night with an open trailer was – guess who? Yup, Robbie Green, Bobs son.

Tenth:

In the Parade section of our Sunday paper, there was an article showing what people made, years ago, and what they make, today, money wise. It wasn’t only for people that we know of.

Here are some, what to me are ridiculous figures as to what some “earn” today – people that we know of:

Albert Pujols- 14.5 million

Carrie Underwood – 20 million

Snookie – 1.6 million

Johnny Depp – 50 million

Dan Castellaneta (voice actor) 9.7 million

Oprah Winfrey – 290 million

Jan Hamm – 23 million

Sarah Palin – 1 million

Jeff Kinney (Wimpy kid) – 25 million

Ryan Seacrest – 15 million.

Note: As I was working on this column on Tuesday evening, I had the Mets/Atlanta ball game on. Johan Santana, the Mets starter, was knocked out in the second inning with the score 6-0 in favor of Atlanta. Keep in mind, due to there being no performance clauses in contracts, Mr. Santana will still get his full pay for what little he did in this game. Yup, the pays have gotten out of hand. And who, pray tell was the first professional athlete to sign a BIG contract? Think back a little. Answer is at the end of this column.

Eleventh:

OK, time for me to be “Mr. Negativity” again, as I was called while posting on Facebook.

When I walked into OCFS last Saturday, I walked down towards the first turn to get a glimpse of the “inner” track. As you probably know by now, that previously mentioned ¼ mile inner track has shrunk down to a reported 1/8 mile. I’ve said the before, and am saying it again – I think they wasted their time moving the Jersey Barriers to give us an idea as to what this track will be like. It will be paper clip in shape, and I feel that it will be too small for Micro Sprints – both 270’s and 600’s. I’ve been told that the first shows on this inner track will be on a Friday night, during the fair. It might be good for Karts, Slingshots and maybe bikes.

A couple of weeks ago, I was on the phone with Tom Deery. One of the things he asked me to do was “push” the up-coming WoO Sprint Car race that is scheduled for Saturday, May 19^th. I see a couple of things that could possibly hurt this show – the cost of admission and the fact that it’s on a Saturday night. Being on a Saturday just about completely eliminates any of the “Pennsylvania Posse” from attending. So, I can see a short field. Heck, the cost might even keep me away, since it’s a week after I’ll be up in Loudon for the Vintage Race Car meet. I would not be surprised if, as usual, he who starts up front ends up in front.

I wondered, and made mention to my son at OC last Saturday, would it be beneficial for OCFS to have a big season opener – like maybe an SDS Big Block race right off the bat – first show of the year. Hey, they just had one at Canandaigua, right? Why not OCFS?

As for the above three items – my thoughts, of course.

Note: As for there being a “Syracuse Qualifier” SDS race at OCFS during the 2012 season – don’t really bet against there NOT being one. Time will tell.

Twelfth:

A little news on Johnny “Hot Rod” Heydenreich –

“Johnny Heydenreich was finally “back home again in Indiana” in mid-March, nearly four months after he left Indianapolis to attend the Performance Racing Industry show in Orlando, Fla.

By all accounts he’s lucky he made it back at all.

The Bloomsburg, Pa., native was seriously injured in a traffic accident in North Carolina Dec. 5 while he was driving back to Indianapolis to prepare for the International Motorsports Industry Show at the Indiana Convention Center.

Heydenreich, a past winner of two of the most prestigious midget races in the country, the Chili Bowl and the Hut Hundred, was unconscious when rescue workers reached him. He regained consciousness while he was being airlifted by helicopter to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville. His injuries included a broken right arm; six broken ribs on his right side; a bruised lung; a shattered right ankle; a broken fibula in his right leg and numerous cuts in his forehead that required nearly 100 stitches.

More can be seen, here: http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/sprints-midgets/usac/heydenreich-still-on-the-mend/

Thirteenth:

Yep, as I made mention previously, about “Mother Nature” and weekends – looks like we’re in for another wet one coming up. Hey, we need the rain, but why does “She” have to do her dirty work on the weekends?

Fourteenth:

Methinks I’ll probably just go to Accord this coming Friday. I wanted to go to either of their practice sessions, but with the wife not up to par, decided against it. Funny, but I haven’t heard and talk about the changes made at Accord by any drivers. Guess I’ll find out for myself. OC, as of now is up in the air for Saturday. The long range forecast, if it follows as it usually does, that forecasted rain for Sunday would probably come on Saturday.

Coming up:

22nd Vintage Racing Celebration

Thursday, May 10 - Sunday, May 13, 2012 8:00am-6:00pm

Oval - 5/10, 5/11; Road Course - 5/12, 5/13

The Vintage Racing Celebration recognizes the roots of auto racing in New England. The four-day event features some of the racing community's earlier car models.

The event kicks off with two days of oval racing on Thursday, May 10, and Friday, May 11. The oval days will feature midget, sprint, champ, Indy, modified and stock cars that will put on an exhibition of vintage racing.

On the weekend, the track will be reconfigured to the 1.6-mile road course for May 12-13. Several associations will invade the track for racing that will include formula and sports cars, as well as motorcycles.

Found on Jayski’s website:

http://www.jayski.com/

New C-Post template to debut at 'Dega:

NASCAR will add a new template to its inspection process when teams go through tech May 4 at Talladega Superspeedway. It's a template inspired by Hendrick Motorsports and five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson's team. Starting May 4-6 at Talladega, NASCAR will begin using an additional template for the C-post, the area of the car from the roof to the top of the rear quarter panel.(Sporting News)(4-13-2012)

Note: Hmm, kinda interesting, huh? So I take it that NASCAR really did not have anything really to check the # 48 car with? If so, maybe the fine should now be taken back, too? I still feel that NASCAR was busting Chad’s b*lls for his telling Jimmie to back it into a wall, last year, while they were racing at Talladega, and it looked like Jimmie might win.

Ford Focus Electric Becomes First All-Electric Pace Car in NASCAR:

Ford's innovative marketing campaign for the 2012 Focus Electric continues as NASCAR selected the car to be the first-ever all-electric pace car, leading the field for the Sprint Cup Richmond 400 on April 28. Ford was also first to use a hybrid to start a NASCAR event when the Fusion Hybrid served as pace car for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2008 Ford research shows that approximately 35% of new car intenders are motorsports fans and 78% of them support NASCAR. Ford also was the first to show off a 2013 model race car when it unveiled its new 2013 Fusion stock car in January. Ford Motor Company is again making NASCAR history this month as the all-new Focus Electric becomes the first all-electric pace car to ever lead the field for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Richmond 400. The all-new Focus Electric will perform all pace care duties at Richmond International Raceway on April 28. The Focus Electric pace car will be unveiled for the public at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on April 25. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will deliver the Focus Electric to Richmond International Raceway, where it will serve as pace car for that weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.(PRNewswire/Ford)(4-16-2012)

Roush could bring #6 car back soon:

As soon as Roush Fenway Racing owner Jack Roush secures sponsorship for his #6 Ford, he's ready to bring the car back to the Sprint Cup Series with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as the driver. The #6 has been in mothballs since Stenhouse drove it in the season-opening Daytona 500. "We've got the decal for the top of the roof on that 6 car all organized for Ricky," Roush said Friday night, after Stenhouse won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race at Texas. "As soon as I can find sponsorship for it, he's good to go. The highest priority we have for this year in the meantime is to defend (Stenhouse's) championship in the Nationwide series but hopefully we can find sponsorship and run the 6 car with him next year -- and we will run some races with him in the 6 Cup car before this year is over."(NASCAR News Service)(4-15-2012)

Mayfield indicted by Iredell County grand jury:

Former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield was indicted by a grand jury in Iredell County on Wednesday for several larcenies dating back to 2010. Mayfield is charged with five counts of felonious breaking and entering of tractor-trailers and one count of felony larceny. He is also charged with two counts of felony breaking and entering and felony larceny from a building. Mayfield was also indicted in February by a Catawba County Superior Court after allegedly stealing more than $1,000 worth of goods from three companies and storing the stolen items at his home.(NewsChannel 36)(4-18-2012)

Overnight Texas TV Ratings:

NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on Fox averaged a 3.6/7 Saturday night for the race from Texas. Though off one-tenth from last year's 3.7/7 for the same race, NASCAR powered FOX to an easy first place finish for the night (8-11p) beating CBS by +13% (3.6 vs. 3.2), ABC by +24% (3.6 vs. 2.9), and NBC by +125% (3.6 vs. 1.6). Through seven races caution flags are down -34% (40 vs. 61) and lead changes, arguably one of the strongest indicators of exciting racing, are down -43% (125 vs. 220). Season-to-date, NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing on FOX is averaging a 4.6/9 in the meters, off -6% from last year's average of a 4.9/11. See season TV Ratings and 4-year race comparison chart on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(4-18-2012)

Kulwicki Named to SE Wisconsin Short Track HOF:

Former two time Slinger Speedway Champion and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup champion, the late Alan Kulwicki, is among the 10 newest selections for induction into the Southeastern Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame. The sixth annual ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Schauer Arts and Activities Center, at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford. Find information about the event and about previous inductees at www.sewishorttrackhof.com.(4-18-2012)

STP to donate to Victory Junction, run scheme:

To celebrate 40 years with "The King," STP is presenting Richard Petty and Victory Junction campers with a $43,000 donation on Friday, April 20, 2012. Petty and STP forever changed the sponsorship landscape within the sport of auto racing back in 1972, and this weekend STP will like to thank Richard for 40 wonderful years. As part of the celebration, Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola will pilot the #43 STP Ford Fusion featuring a modern replica of the 1972 paint scheme with the original Petty Blue and STP Day-Glo Red. After the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway, STP, in conjunction with Victory Junction and Richard Petty Motorsports, will auction off Aric Almirola's race-worn firesuit signed by both Almirola and Petty. In addition, as part of the celebration STP will be providing race-day tickets for service members from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth. Service members will enjoy an afternoon of fun, taking in all the action on the 1.5 mile tri-oval. To cap off the 40th Anniversary, STP will be launching a national television campaign, entitled the Left Lane Club, featuring Richard Petty. The advertisement will premiere during the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on FOX and will continue to run through the summer.(RPM PR), see an image of the scheme on my #43 Team Schemes page.(4-18-2012)

Going back, in time – in racing history:

Note# 1: Most of the following information was found here:

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

Note: 2: Yes, most of this info is mostly from Open Wheel racing from “Back in the day”.

For this week, I’m covering from April 13^th to April 19^th:

April 13

1893

Alton Soules... Born ... AAA Board track driver 1920 & 1921. On October 1, 1921 at the 1 Mile Board Oval Fresno Speedway Fresno, California, Alton Soules and his mechanic Harry Earner went over the top rail on the southwest turn and dropped over 50 feet to their death.

1931

Dan Gurney... Born ... American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner. He raced in Formula One, USAC Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am, and Trans-Am Series. In 1978, Gurney wrote an open memo to other race car owners with what is now known as the "White Letter" in which Gurney called for a series controlled more by the owners or "actual participants" than under the USAC banner. After much debate, CART was formed with Gurney and other owners like Roger Penske, Pat Patrick, and Bob Fletcher. CART began its first full season of competition in March, 1979 and thus the first split in open wheel racing began. In 1990, Gurney was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Sebring International Raceway Hall of Fame, and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.

1937

Larry "Boom Boom" Cannon... Born ... USAC Sprint and USAC / CART Championship car driver from the mid 1960's to 1984.

2007

Joie Ray ... Died ... He was one of the nation's pioneer open wheel and Stock car race drivers. His racing career spanned 17 seasons (1947-1963) as a Sprint, Midget, and Stock car driver. Ray was the first African American AAA license holder and ran in the Central States Racing Association (CRSA), The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA), United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Midwest Dirt Track Racing Association.

April 14

1912

George Rice "Joie" Chitwood ... Born ... American racecar driver and businessman. He is best known as a daredevil in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show. He was dubbed "Joie" by a track promoter and the name stuck. Chitwood started his racecar driving career in 1934 at a dirt track in Winfield, Kansas. From there, he began racing at tracks all over the United States mid-west and between 1940 and 1950 competed at the Indianapolis 500 seven times finishing fifth on three different occasions. He was the first man ever to wear a safety belt at the Indy 500. Chitwood also operated the "Joie Chitwood Thrill Show", an exhibition of auto stunt driving that became so successful he gave up racing. Often called "Hell Drivers," he had five units that for more than forty years toured across North America thrilling audiences in large and small towns alike with their death-defying automobile stunts. His show was so popular, that in January 1967, the performance at the Islip, New York Speedway was broadcast on ABC television's Wide World of Sports. On May 13, 1978, Joie Chitwood set a world record when he drove a Chevrolet Chevette for 5.6 miles on just 2 wheels. His sons, Joie Jr. and Tim both joined the auto thrill show and continued to run the "Joie Chitwood Chevy Thunder Show" after their father's retirement. His grandson, Joie Chitwood III, is the COO for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chitwood's show was credited by Evel Knievel as being his inspiration to become a daredevil. Chitwood was frequently hired by Hollywood film studios to either do stunt driving for films or to act as auto-stunt coordinator. On a few occasions he appeared in a minor role, notably with Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck in the 1950 film about the Indy 500, To Please a Lady. In 1973, Chitwood is credited as a Stunt Coordinator for the hugely successful James Bond film Live and Let Die . He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993.

Note: No, this “George Rice” is not the champion Midget driver George Rice (Viola).

1946

Red Byron won the first post-war race on the 3.2 mile Daytona Beach & Road course, a 160 mile Modified race. Byron later became NASCAR's first GN champ.

1960

Dan Drinan...Born ... American sprint car driver from Indianapolis who failed on three separate attempts to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. His first attempt came in 1996, the first year that the Indy Racing League sanctioned the race. Drinan crashed his 1991 Lola chassis, the oldest chassis entered as a potential qualifier, during practice although it is unlikely that his outdated chassis and Buick engine could have produced the speed necessary to make the field. Drinan bruised his lung and fractured his foot in the crash. He returned in 1998 and his Mann Motorsports Dallara again failed to find the necessary speed to make the field. His final attempt was in 2000, when he was given an outdated Dallara and a small crew by Hemelgarn Racing, but the car never handled properly and Drinan again crashed during practice, preventing him from qualifying. Drinan continued to be a top level competitior in USAC sprint car and midget racing.

1964

Jeff Andretti ... Born ... American race car driver, with Italian heritage. He competed in CART, and was the series Rookie of the Year in 1991. From 1990 until 1994 he drove in the CART IndyCar series. He has driven in the Indianapolis 500 three times, with a best finish of 15th in 1991 in his first start at the track. In his second attempt at the "500" a year later in 1992, he became yet another victim of the infamous Andretti Curse at the famed race track when a right rear wheel came loose off his car at Turn 2 and crashed violently head-on into the wall, smashing both his legs. The accident pretty much hampered if not all together ended Jeff's career at least in terms of his competitiveness, since he was never the same again afterwards. He later managed however, to come back and race IndyLights for Canaska in 1995 and North American Supertouring Cars for Ford in 1996. Jeff made 3 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts in 1999 in the #94 EML Rockfort Entertainment Chevrolet. Jeff is the youngest son of the legendary Italian-born Mario Andretti, younger brother of Michael Andretti, and uncle of Marco Andretti. Jeff is the nephew of Mario's twin Aldo Andretti and cousin of Aldo's son's John Andretti and Adam Andretti . The Andretti family became the first family to have four relatives (Michael, Mario, Jeff, and John) compete in the same series (CART)

2002

Buck Baker... Died ... One of the greatest drivers in NASCAR's history. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Grand National Championship in 1956 and 1957. He was second twice (1955 and 1958) and finished in the top five on four other occasions. After his retirement in 1976, Baker opened up the Buck Baker Racing School, where Jeff Gordon drove his first stock car. His son, Buddy Baker is a 34-year Winston Cup veteran and now teaches at the school along with Buck's daughter, Susie Baker.

April 15

1933

Mel Kenyon... Born ... A hall of fame midget car driver. He is known as the "King of the Midgets" The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America says "Many consider him to be midget car racing's greatest driver ever." Kenyon began his racing career in 1954 racing a 1937 Chevy Coupe. He totaled the car when a tire blew out. He raced modified stocks in 1955. In 1958, Mel began his career in the midgets. Kenyon's first championship was in NASCAR's Florida midget series in 1962, but he changed to USAC in the middle of the season and finished fifth in the USAC National Midget championship points. Kenyon failed to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500 in 1965. Kenyon's tenth career race in a USAC IndyCar was at Langhorne Speedway in Langhorne, Pennsylvania in June 20, 1965. Mel's engine blew up sending oil all over the car, his firesuit, and the track. He lost control of the car, hit the wall, and was knocked unconscious. Jim Hurtubise and Ralph Ligouri slid in the oily track, and ran straight into Mel's fuel tank. Kenyon suffered severe burns. Kenyon went through multiple operations at the San Antonio Burn Center, and he lost nearly all of his fingers on his left hand. Mel, his brother Don, and their father Everett designed a special glove with a rubber grommet sewn into the palm. The glove fit on Mel's hand and hooked in to the steering wheel. The trio formed a racing team called 3-K Racing, with Don as the crew chief. Kenyon returned to racing in 1966. He had twelve first or second place finishes, and finished second in the National Midget points. He qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 just eleven months after his fiery crash, and finished fifth. Kenyon has seven USAC National Midget championships, eight runner ups in the season points standings, and Top 5 point finishes in 21 of 27 seasons between 1966 and 1988. At his Motorsports Hall of Fame induction in 2003 he had 111 feature wins], 131 seconds, 107 thirds, 81 fourths, and 69 fifths, for a total of 419 Top 5 finishes. He also had 688 Top 10 finishes. The totals are for USAC National midget races only, and don't include races in the NAMARS national races, regional or local races. He had counted 380 midget total feature wins, including wins in Australia and New Zealand. three NAMARS midget championships, and over 380 midget feature wins in all. Kenyon competed in 65 USAC Championship (IndyCar) and eight Indianapolis 500 races with a best finish of third in 1968.

1975

Paul Dana... Born ... An American race car driver in the Indy Racing League. After competing in 3 Indycar series events, Dana suffered a spinal fracture while practicing for the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and missed the rest of the season, replaced by Jimmy Kite. He returned to the series to race for Rahal Letterman Racing after he recovered from his injuries. In the practice session for the first race of the 2006 IRL season, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Dana collided with Ed Carpenter's disabled car after Carpenter's tire went flat, thrusting the car into retaining wall, before sliding to the bottom of the track. Paul Dana, in the Rahal-Letterman car, was told to "go low" by his spotter. Slow-motion footage showed that Paul had hit debris from Ed's car just before impact, which caused damage to the right-front suspension. ABC/ESPN's telemetry indicated Dana's car hit Carpenter's car at about 176 mph, while Scott Sharp, who was running alongside Dana, reported that he had slowed to approximately 50 mph by the time of Dana's impact. Dana was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on March 26, 2006.

2005

Art Cross... Died ... ARDC and AAA driver. He was the first recipient of the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award in 1952. He raced in 4 Indy 500’s with a best finish of 2^nd in 1953.

2006

Louise Smith... Died ... She was tied for the second woman to race in NASCAR at the top level. She was known as "the first lady of racing." She went as a spectator to the her first NASCAR race at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1949. She couldn't stand watching the races, so she entered her family's shiny new Ford coupe in the race and rolled it. Her hometown Greenville, South Carolina paper featured photos of the wreck, and the town knew about it before she got home. The race was the first race to feature three female drivers (Ethel Mobley and Sara Christian). The trio also competed later that season at the Langley Speedway. She raced from 1949 to 1956. She won 38 races in her career in numerous formats: late models, modifieds (28 victories), midgets, and sportsman. She returned in 1971 as a car owner for numerous drivers. She sponsored Ronnie Thomas' Rookie of the Year attempt in 1978. She became the first woman inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.

April 16

1935

Leon Duray"Jigger" Sirois ... Born ... He started racing UMARA midgets in 1957, IMCA sprint cars and USAC. Though he never qualified for the Indianapolis 500, Sirois is most known in racing circles for events surrounding his qualifying attempt in 1969. He took to the track on Pole Day and achieved a speed of 161.535 mph before his qualifying attempt was called off by his car owner (who thought the speed was not fast enough to make the race). Shortly afterwards, it began to rain, and qualifying was washed out. If Sirois had completed his qualification attempt, he would have won the pole (as the race's slowest qualifier's speed of 160.851 mph was not enough to bump Sirois). However, he made two more unsuccessful qualifying attempts and did not make the field. After that he came back to attempt to make the field every year up until 1975, failing to make the field every time. Outside of the Indy 500, he made 10 other starts in USAC Championship Car racing. His best finish was 5th place at Phoenix International Raceway in 1969. Sirois is the son of former Indy 500 mechanic Frenchy Sirois, who worked on the cars of Lee Wallard, Sam Hanks, and Jimmy Bryan. Jigger is named after driver Leon Duray.

1946

Arthur Chevrolet... Died ... AAA driver 1909 to 1920. One of 3 brothers that emigrated to America and went into auro racing. Brother of Chevrolet namesake Louis Chevrolet, committed suicide at age sixty in Slidell, Louisiana, on this date. Louis and Arthur made their names as car racers in the first decade of the century. Known for their fearless driving styles, both brothers raced against American racing legend Barney Oldfield. The brothers came into contact with General Motors founder William Durant when Durant-impressed by their racing talents-invited the pair to audition for the job of chauffeur. He reportedly took them to a track and raced them. Louis won the race, but Durant gave Arthur the chauffeur job. He offered Louis a position on GM's elite Buick Racing Team. Chevrolet raced and designed for Buick during the years of Durant's GM Presidency. When Durant stepped down, new GM President Charles Nash took the money away from the Buick Racing Team. Durant asked Louis and Arthur to start a new venture. As Louis put it, Durant asked him to build a car, "So I built one." Born racers, Louis and Arthur designed a performance car that became the first Chevrolet. Durant wanted something to compete with GM's lower-priced models (or was it Ford?). Disappointed with Durant's demands for an economy car, Louis and Arthur eventually left Chevrolet to pursue their own racing and design endeavors. The brothers worked closely together for their entire careers. They designed aircraft engines, car engines, and continued to race. In spite of designing many successful engines, the Brothers Chevrolet had little gift for finance, and they often were pushed out of their endeavors before they could reap the rewards due to them. By 1933, both men were broke and their racing careers were over. Louis returned to Detroit to work as a mechanic in GM's Chevrolet division. In the late 1930s he suffered a series of strokes which incapacitated him and finally killed him. With his brother dead and no fortune to speak of, Arthur, a broken man, took his own life.

1966

Willie Haupt... Died ... AAA driver 1909 to 1920

April 17

1964

Steve Knapp... Born ... IRL driver 1998 to 2001

1968

Andy Granatelli lost a lawsuit against United States Auto Club. He claimed USAC had broken their own "3-year" engine rule when they severely restricted his turbine-powered Indy car. He did have his USAC membership reinstated.

2002

Buzz Barton... Died ... Raced in AAA, IMCA & USAC Sprints and Indy Cars

April 18

1918

Dick Fraizer... Born ... AAA / USAC driver 1949 to 1956

1942

Jochen Rindt... Born ... Rindt was a German-Austrian racing driver. He is the only driver to posthumously win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship (in 1970), after being killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix. Away from Formula One Rindt was highly successful in other single-seat formulae, as well as sports car racing. In 1965 he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, driving a Ferrari 250LM in partnership with American Masten Gregory.

1949

Geoffrey Bodine... Born ... The oldest of the three Bodine brothers (Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine) who are all NASCAR drivers.

April 19

1889

Joe Dawson... Born ... AAA driver 1910 to 1914

1942

Jack Roush... Born ... NASCAR and Trans-Am team owner. Never seen without his trademark Panama hat, Roush is affectionately known on the NASCAR circuit as "The Cat in the Hat".

1959

Dick Linder... Died ... In the late 1940's and early 1950's, the Linder name was one of the biggest in racing in the entire country. Dick Linder's career was cut short in a USAC "big car" event at Trenton in 1959. He was Indy-bound and had the talent to become one of the real good ones. He was fatally injured on the 56^th lap. Twenty-one laps later, rain halted the race.

1962

Al Unser, Jr.... Born ... Nicknamed "Little Al" or "Al Junior" is an American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. He is the son of Al Unser and the nephew of Bobby Unser, who both won the Indianapolis 500 themselves. Ran CART from 1982 to 1999 and the IRL from 2000 to 2007. Drove in 19 Indy 500's and won in 1992 and 1994.

1979

USAC board rejected the entries by CART teams for the Indianapolis 500.

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

From their April 10^th issue:

The American Racers Cup will have $150,000.00 awarded over the 2012 season. Participating tracks are: Bridgeport, Accord, Big Diamond, Brewerton, Delaware, Five Mile, Fonda, Fulton, Glen Ridge (The Ridge), Grandview, New Egypt, Penn Can, Utica/Rome and Woodhull.

There was a photo showing the Pit and Paddock area for the 2013 GP of America, in Weehawken & West New York, NJ. The lower level has garages and the upper are hospitality suites – for those that can afford them I should add.

When Greg Hodnett won the 410 Sprint Car feature at Williams Grove, he received a nice $4,160.00

If you’re interested, subscription costs for the AARN are: 6 issues - $10.00, 15 issues - $20.00 AND 50 ISSUES - $49.00

Applications are now available for the 2012 Kevin Gobrecht Memorial Scholarship - $2,000.00 available to anyone enrolled in a 2 or 4 year facility. For info and application, go here: www.kevingobrecht.com

Guy Smith:

On April 7^th, Guy went to the Volunteer Speedway Dirt Oval in Bulls Gap, TN. For Guy, that is track # 1,426.

Lenny Sammons:

Len was making mention of where some of the DIRT Modified drivers might race in 2013. Billy Dunn will stay at the non sanctioned Can Am Spedway. Mr. Sammons also makes mention that Harvey Fink is interested in Rolling Wheels Speedway.

Ernie Saxton:

Ernie has quite a bit about Jeremy Mayfield. He makes mention that Cory and Kyle Michalek, from Ohio, won the $50,000.00 in the Champions “Search for Champions”. Jim Cebulski, from Ill, Chad Crawford, from Mo, Erik Miller, from Md and Kyle Sacket, from NH each got $10,000.00.

Kevin Rice:

Kevin makes mention that Gerry Gappens, GM of Loudon is saying that the Asphalt Modifieds will be the headline class at Loudon on the September race weekend. There will be no truck race at Loudon that weekend.

Steve Barrick:

Mentions quite a lot about OCFS and also that there will be a couple of test sessions, during the summer, for the NASCAR Whelen Asphalt Modifieds at OC. If things work out, there’s a possibility of a tour race at OC in 2013.

Toby LaGrange:

Toby says that this will be his last weekly column for a while. He’ll be going back to doing race reports for Albany/Saratoga, Fonda and Utica/Rome. His column will return after the racing season ends.

Toby makes mention of some former Dirt Oval drivers – Kyle Armstrong has a new 2012 TEO for the Valley. Alex Bell will run as many A/S shows as possible, as well as Devils Bowl. He also has a full time ride at the Twin State Speedway, in New Hampshire, in an asphalt modified. Josh Pieniazek is running the entire CRSA schedule and also some 360 races with their 360 car. He’s also hoping to get his dirt modified back together for some non-conflicting races.

And, what will be covered in this weeks (April 17^th) issue:

In AARN
This Week:

It's Silk, Not Pennick
At Thompson

Ward Wins Southern Tier Open
At Five Mile Point

"Super Matt" Doubles
At Glen Ridge, Canandaigua

Hodnett's 410 Hot Streak
Continues At Susquehanna

Sixty Third Season Opener
At OCFS Goes To Chris Shultz

BIg Money For Bloomquist
After VMS Lucas Oil Win

Santee Era At Mahoning
Ushered In By Zane Zeiner

Pauch, Hyneman Reunite
For Special Race Schedule

Back At "The Rock":
Kasey Kahne Wins
NASCAR Truck Race

Hoar First
At Lee's ACT Opener

Howard Doubles At Grandview;
Keeps Red Hot Season Start Going

"The Jet" Kicks In Afterburner
To Score At Lebanon Valley

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

Davie Franek was 11^th at Williams Grove in the 358 Sprint Car feature.

Michael Storms was 2^nd, Clinton Mills 3^rd, Danny Creeden 6^th, Tim Hindley 9^th, Mike Ruggiero 11^th and Billy VanInwegen 18^th in the Modified feature at OCFS.

Tyler Boniface was 2^nd, Brian Krummel 4^th, RJ Smykla 6^th, Matt Hitchcock 7^th, John Lodini 8^th, Anthony Perrego 14^th, Matt Janiak 23^rd and Tyer Dippel 24^th in the Sportsman feature at OCFS.

Kyle Armstron was 10^th and Kolby Schroder 17^th in the Modified feature at Lebanon Valley.

Bobby Hackel, IV was 11^th and John Virgilio 28^th in the Budget Sportsman feature at the Valley.

Jacob Hendershot was 24^th at the Greenwood Valley Action Track in the 600 Micro Sprint “The Dream at the Green” feature.

Johnny Guarino was 18^th in the Modified feature at New Egypt.

Brittany Tresch was 18^th in the 305 Sprint Car feature at New Egypt on April 7^th.

Jacob Hendershot was 4^th at the Greenwood Valley Action Track in the 600 Micro Sprint feature on April 7^th.

Hope I didn’t miss anyone!

More racin’ stuff:

One little thread over on the Track Forum:

How are we going to get back to 40-50 real entries at Indy?

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?162862-How-are-we-going-to-get-back-to-40-50-real-entries-at-Indy

Some of the postings:

“I don't think we will ever see 50 entries. Last year was artificially high because of the now obsolete car/engine combination and the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500. I think it will obviously take some time. Once the engine situation works itself out, it should get better.”

“I don't think it ever will. Indy was a proving ground, a place where anyone could come compete. You came to test your ideas, your personal technology. A sanctioned sport developed around it....

To come now means you have to join the league, play for a team, pay for a lease. Any rule change that would allow "the public" to compete again would still leave a huge expense to the developer. A Richard Branson type could do it...but there just are not that many sporting bajillionaires that would build something on their own

It's going to get harder and harder to keep getting to 33, too, as the Alesi's, Hamiltons, etc age....too many corporate contracts keep drivers out...it's a shame that they put in the "badge" rule. Stewart can't drive a Lotus, but I bet he could drive a Judd, Ilmor, Hendricks, Brayton, Jasper, etc....”

Lots more said – 82 postings, so far on this subject.

Press Releases:

XCEL CHASSIS RACE RESULTS APRIL 14Sunday, 15 April, 2012 2:16 "JoAnne Mady" <joannemady@yahoo.com>

BRIAN "BIG DADDY" MADY MAKES EMOTIONAL RETURN TO VICTORY LANE AT TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY WITH XCEL CHASSIS 600 MODIFIED TOUR DIVISION

There wasn't a dry eye in the pit stands after Brian "Big Daddy" Mady pulled out of victory lane and to the tech area where a crowd had gathered to congratulate one of the most popular drivers in the Xcel Chassis series. What set the turn of events started back in August of 2011 when Brian was diagnosed with Lymphoma making him step away from the Pies On Italian Family Restaurant sponsored #2 of Mady Motorsports. When Brian was told he was in full remission in March, his sights were set on the comeback tour of Big Daddy.

Trail-way Speedway. located in Hanover, Pa hosted the 14 Xcel Chassis 600 modified Tour division on April 14th with rain threatening the nights of events. The track personnel knew rain was imminent and ushered the show in a quick and professional manner while thanking the drivers for working with them to get all the divisions on the track.

Excitement was building as Ryan Higgs battled Brian Mady for the first heat win followed by the #82 of Cody Coons fighting of Nick Mady to win the final heat race. Shawna Schibilia would qualify the #62 thru her heat race, redrew putting her in the 11th starting position. Shawna will be running for rookie of the year honors and is heading in the right direction.

When the field hit the track for the 20 lap feature, Brian Mady and Sean Weiss led the pack to the green flag and in didn't take long as the #82 of Coons, Higgs and the 2011 point champion Nick Mady made it three wide coming into turn one with Coons coming out on top and setting his sights on Brian Mady. The first caution flew on lap nine with front runners Joe "Geezer" Fanelli and Sean Weiss getting tangled in turns one and two but pulled back on the track to continue the race.

On restarts the leader has lane choice and it was no surprise Mady picked the bottom since he found the fastest line early in the race. Lining up behind him was four powerful and talented drivers fighting for the top spot. Unfortunately a four car pileup would put the brand new machine of Butch Getz along with father and son team of Steve and Dan Jones along with Craig Berringer sitting in the middle of turns one and two. Steve Jones would be the only one able to continue.

On the last and final restart, Brian knew he would need to run the perfect race." These guys are so tough, when you have Cody and Ryan behind you, you know you have to be on top of your game. They are two of the best racers we have and I will run with them door to door", explained Big Daddy, " You couldn't ask for a better group of guys to race with".

Nick Mady and Richie Hitzler, previous week's winner, gave a show for the fans as they danced around each other in the last five laps with Nick taking fourth and Hitzler rounding out the top five. Cody and Ryan tried every line they could find to try to close in on Brian but would come just short of taking over the top spot. Brian crossed the line with a 1.03 second lead over Coons and Higgs scoring his first win of the year.

During the cool down lap, Nick was the first one to pull up to Brian and give him the winners nudge along with all the drivers. Everybody in the pit stands stayed to listen to Brian's victory speech knowing how much this would mean to him. As Joe Fanelli stated "It was the most emotional and finest interviews I have ever heard. You could hear the raw emotion has he thanked his family, his sponsors and his "racing "family for the support and helping him win his battle over cancer. I know the big guy had a lot of us tough guys tearing up but as our favorite saying is "It's all good cause we're family."

Pulling into tech area, Brian was greeted first by his daughter Hayley and wife Cortney followed by about 15 others. As he stood up to get out of the car, he looked around and stated " Now this was all worth fighting for", as he climbed out of the #2 Mady Motorsports machine on his way to the Comeback tour of Big Daddy.

The Xcel Chassis tour division have their first three day events this weekend with Linda's Speedway on Friday the 20th, Big Diamond Speedway on Saturday and the return to Grandview Speedway on Sunday after a five year hiatus. Doug Borger talked about the excitement returning to Grandview has created and the new guys showing much anticipation. "Grandview seems to be the catalyst for the series with the history of the track and the speeds we produce. The drivers will have to have their A game on as it's going to be tough to qualify in the 24 car field. I also need to thank Trail-way Speedway and the Hostetter family for prepping an awesome track and running such a smooth show. We were able to get a full show in and still be out by 8:30 before the rain hit".

FEATURE FINISH

1. 2-Brian Mady; 2. 82-Cody Coons; 3. 16-Ryan Higgs; 4. 77X-Nick Mady; 5. 9-Richie Hitzler; 6. 22-Joe Fanelli; 7. 24-Sean Weiss; 8. 99J-Steve Jones; 9. 36-Madison Brensinger; 10. 62-Shawna Schibilia; 11. X-Craig Berringer; 12. 6-Jason Dunkleberger 13. 15-Butch Getz 14. 99-Dan Jones

And:

From: bwa39@comcast.net
To: "Barry Angstadt" <bwa39@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 2:00:43 PM
Subject: NAPA and Kutztown Fair Speedway Renew Partnership for 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****THANK YOU.

News from the Kutztown Fair Speedway...Providing Your Midweek Motorsports Adrenaline Rush!

Race organizers: Kerry Meitzler, Janelle Stump (racektown@aol.com), and Pete Knappenberger (484-294-0489).

Media Contact: Barry Angstadt, Media Information Director/Announcer...484-256-4429 or email: bwa39@comcast.net.

NAPA & KUTZTOWN FAIR SPEEDWAY RENEW PARTNERSHIP FOR 2012

Kutztown, Pa. - Last year's first attempt at a marketing partnership between NAPA Auto Parts and the Kutztown Fair Speedway prodced some positive results - enough to prompt a renewal of that partnership for the 2012 racing season.

John Niles, regional manager for the area's NAPA stores, joined Kutztown race organizers Kerry Meitzler, Janelle Stump, and Pete Knappenberger to come up with a weekly marketing opportunity as well as a larger sponsorship role for the Dutch Classic in early August and the annual Kutztown Fair races in the middle of that month.

New for the 2012 season, which begins on Wednesday, May 16, is the NAPA Know-How Quick Qualifier Award. One of the track's weekly divisions will be chosen, on a rotating basis, to compete for this cash prize each Wednesday. The driver who records the fastest lap in his/her heat race - according to the electronic AMB timing and scoring system - will earn the NAPA Know-How Quick Qualifier Award for that night.

In addition, the local NAPA Auto Parts stores will play a significant role in some of the speedway's late season, big money events.

The NAPA Auto Parts Dutch Classic on August 1 will spotlight the All Star Slingshots, as the Slingers compete for National, Speedweek, and Mid-Atlantic Silver Tour Chamionship points. The 600cc and 270cc Sprints, along with the Xcel Sportsman Modifieds will also be on the August 1st menu.

When the season ending Kutztown Fair Week events are held on August 14, 15, and 16, the big races for the 600cc and 270cc Sprints will also reap some benefits from the marketing partnership with NAPA.

Race teams planning to compete at Kutztown this season take note: the track will use electronic scoring once again, along with one-way radios to communicate with the drivers.

Scoring transponders and Raceivers (one-way radios) will be available at the track each week for those who want to rent the devices. Assistant promoter and Race Director Pete Knappenberger will rent the transponders and Raceivers; he will have the devices in the pit shack prior to the start of racing each Wednesday evening.

As mentioned, the new season begins on Wednesday, May 16, with the running of the annual Goldie Meitzler Memorial for all four weekly divisions.

Just one week later, on May 23rd, the All Star Slingshots will be featured in the second Mike O'Pake Memorial, a Mid-Atlantic Silver Tour event that honors the memory of the popular State Senator who passed away near the end of 2010.

The Wingless 600 and Winged 270 Sprints, as well as the Xcel Sportsman, will be included on the May 23rd agenda.

Jeff Hartman returns in an attempt to win his third consecutive Wingless 600cc point title, with plenty of contenders ready to challenge the Flagtown, NJ charger, who will be armed with a brand new Hyper Chassis.

In 2011, Richie Hartman, Reading Pa., captured the Winged 270cc championship. With the 270's consistently pulling the highest car counts at Kutztown, the battle for this year's crown is wide open.

Xcel Modified creator Doug Borger and one of his drivers, Chad Mullen of Factor X Graffics, have announced a huge $4,000 point fund for the 2012 Xcel Sportsman competitors at Kutztown. The lure of the big money provided by the Xcel Chassis FXG Sportsman Modified Point Fund virtually guarantees a large field of Xcel wheel-twisters taking part in the midweek action at the fairgrounds.

In addition to the four weekly classes, the Junior Slingshots will run "features only" on May 30, June 13, and July 18. The stars of the future will also compete in a Junior Slingshot National Tour race on August 14.

Once again, the racing year will culminate with three big nights of action during the Kutztown Fair on August 14, 15, and 16.

This season, as in years past, gates will open at 4 p.m. Warm-ups commence at 6:30, with the first heat race going green at 7:00.

Race organizers Kerry Meitzler and Janelle Stump have tabbed Pete Knappenberger as Assistant Promoter/Race Director for the upcoming season. Citing extremely busy schedules away from the track, Meitzler and Stump are counting on Knappenberger, who has turned many laps at Kutztown in a Slingshot, to handle most of the day to day issues associated with speedway operations.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2012 events at the speedway located in the shadows of Kutztown University. For sponsorship details, contact Janelle Stump (racektown@aol.com) or Knappenberger (484-294-0489).

The Kutztown Fair Speedway happily supplies your midweek motorsports adrenaline rush. Join the rush in 2012!

[END]

Also:

NEWS FROM Orange County Fair Speedway

CONTACT

Mike Gurda

239 Wisner Avenue 845-342-2573

Middletown, NY10940

FOR RELEASE BEGINNING APRIL 15, 2012

ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY HOSTS FOUR RACING DIVISIONS ON JOHNSTONS TOYOTA NIGHT

MIDDLETOWN, NY (April 15)……..With Opening Night jitters out of the way, the more than 100 Orange County Fair Speedway race car drivers are primed for the second night of exciting stock car racing Saturday night, April 21 at the historic Middletown, New York track. This week marks the introduction of the Rookie Sportsman division, a chance for novice drivers to test the ir racing mettle before competing against more experienced wheelmen. Racing for the four divisions---Big-Block Modified, Sportsman, Rookie Sportsman, and Street Stock---will take the green flag with qualifying heats and consolation races beginning at 6:30 PM.

The highly competitive Modified division is the track’s headline racing class, with the winner of the 30-lap feature race earning $2,500, among the region’s highest payouts for a regularly-scheduled weekly event.

The sponsor for the night of action is Johnston Toyota of Middletown and Monticello .

Admission prices for the April 16 race meet remain at $14 adults, $12 seniors, and free for children 12 and under.

With just a month until the thrilling World of Outlaws Sprint Cars return to Orange County on Saturday, May 19, advance ticket sales and track information is available at the website, www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net, or from at the Track Office. Call 845-342-2573 during business hours.

I get e-mails:

Amazing WWII Aircraft Facts – Continued:

According to the AAF Statistical Digest, in less than four years (December 1941- August 1945), the US Army Air Forces lost 14,903 pilots, aircrew and assorted personnel plus 13,873 airplanes --- inside the continental United States. They were the result of 52,651 aircraft accidents (6,039 involving fatalities) in 45 months.

Think about those numbers. They average 1,170 aircraft accidents per month---- nearly 40 a day. (Less than one accident in four resulted in totaled aircraft, however.)

It gets worse.....
Almost 1,000 Army planes disappeared en route from the US to foreign climes. But an eye-watering 43,581 aircraft were lost overseas including 22,948 on combat missions (18,418 against the Western Axis) and 20,633 attributed to non-combat causes overseas.

In a single 376 plane raid in August 1943, 60 B-17s were shot down. That was a 16 percent loss rate and meant 600 empty bunks in England. In 1942-43, it was statistically impossible for bomber crews to complete a 25-mission tour in Europe.

Pacific theatre losses were far less (4,530 in combat) owing to smaller forces committed. The worst B-29 mission against Tokyo on May 25, 1945, cost 26 Superfortresses, 5.6 percent of the 464 dispatched from the Marianas.

On average, 6,600 American servicemen died per month during WWII, about 220 a day. By the end of the war,
over 40,000 airmen were killed in combat theatres and another 18,000 wounded. Some 12,000 missing men were declared dead, including a number "liberated" by the Soviets but never returned. More than 41,000 were captured, half of the 5,400 held by the Japanese died in captivity, compared with one-tenth in German hands. Total combat casualties were pegged at 121,867.

US manpower made up the deficit. The AAF's peak strength was reached in 1944 with 2,372,000 personnel, nearly twice the previous year's figure.

The losses were huge---but so were production totals. From 1941 through 1945, American industry delivered more than 276,000 military aircraft. That number was enough not only for US Army, Navy and Marine Corps, but for allies as diverse as Britain, Australia, China and Russia. In fact, from 1943 onward, America produced more planes than Britain and Russia combined. And more than Germany and Japan together 1941-45.

However, our enemies took massive losses. Through much of 1944, the Luftwaffe sustained uncontrolled hemorrhaging, reaching 25 percent of aircrews and 40 planes a month. And in late 1944 into 1945, nearly half the pilots in Japanese squadrons had flown fewer than 200 hours. The disparity of two years before had been completely reversed.

The end of these facts to follow in next column.

I get e-mails and is this one true # 1?:

In a way, I guess one could say that it is pretty close to being true.

VERY SCARY STUFF

WILL THE USA SURVIVE?

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.

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 United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 235 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff. We have one chance to change that. In 2012. Failure to change that spells the end of the United States as we know it.

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING

A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!

I'M 100% for PASSING THIS ON!!!

Let's take a stand!!!

Obama: Gone!

Borders: Closed!

Language: English only

Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!

Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!***

NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!

End of Political Correctness.

We the people are coming

Only 86% will send this on. Should be 100%. What will you do?

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money". -- Margaret Thatcher

Note: *** - I’m pretty sure this was deemed unconstitutional in Florida?

I get e-mails and is this one true # 2?:

CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER HAS READ THE ENTIRE BILLWonder if our Congressman can refute these statements?

note:forwarded message attachedWait until you read this...A retired Constitutional lawyer has read the entire proposed healthcare bill. Read his conclusions and pass this on as you wish.The Truth About the Health Care Bills - Michael Connelly, Ret. Constitutional AttorneyWell, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business, and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, to all of your personal healthcare information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital in direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. All of this is a protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide...If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment. However, that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law It doesn't stop there though.The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights... Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution." If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.Michael ConnellyRetired attorney,Constitutional Law InstructorCarrollton , TexasAFTER HAVING READ THIS, PLEASE FORWARD....If you don't care about our constitution, or your rights under it, just do nothing.WE MUST HOLD CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Note: Pretty damn scary, if true, huh?

Some non-racing stuff – part 1:

Hope no one gets offended with what follows. It was found on Facebook:

BUCHANAN TO OBAMA

Finally............ It is Said Publicly. I have never seen the white side explained better!

Pat Buchanan had the guts to say it. It is about time.

This is the reason CNN has dropped Buchanan. It's like Newt G. said the other night in the debate. You’re not supposed to bring up uncomfortable Facts. (verified on Buchanan’s website)

...

BUCHANAN TO OBAMA

By Patrick J. Buchanan

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America .. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation.. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.... This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.. Jeremiah Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ' 60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks -- with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants. Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated their time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude??

Barack talks about new 'ladders of opportunity' for blacks. Let him go to Altoona ? And Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for 'deserving' white kids...?Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America ? Is it really white America 's fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena . And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago. This needs to be passed around because, this is a message everyone needs to hear!!!

OK........... will you pass it on ?

YES. I did but will you?

Because I'm for a better America

I am

Not racist,

Not violent,

Just not silent anymore.

http://buchanan.org/blog/pjb-a-brief-for-whitey-969

http://buchanan.org/blog/pjb-whitey-need-not-apply-1040

Note: More links at the end of the above blog.

Some non-racing stuff – part 2:

Don't wait for Social Security check in the mail

In part:

"Starting next year, the check will no longer be in the mail for millions of people who receive Social Security and other government benefits.

The federal government, which issues 73 million payments a month, is phasing out paper checks for all benefit programs, requiring people to get payments electronically, either through direct deposit or a debit card for those without a bank account.

The changes will affect people who get Social Security, veterans' benefits, railroad pensions and federal disability payments. Tax refunds are exempt, but the Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers to get refunds electronically by processing those refunds faster than paper checks.