“Behind the Checkered Curtain”

December 16, 2003

By Mike Leone



I really like what Ron Smoker did at the recent BRP Modified Tour banquet. The New York driver called his entire crew to the podium and presented each one with a championship leather jacket. While the public constantly sees the driver name in the spotlight, it’s nice to see the behind-the-scene efforts get rewarded. The former midget car racer has won the lucrative Tour title and the $4,000 that goes with it the past two seasons. The Tour has already scheduled new stops at Ohio’s Raceway 7 and Bicknell’s home track- Merrittville Speedway across the border in Thorold, Canada.



Attend the PRI show and you quickly realize just how big the Motorsports industry is. Every nook and cranny of the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA dome is filled. It takes every bit of two days to cover the show and then you’re still not sure if you’ve hit it all. The PRI show brings out a who’s who of racing to Peyton Manning’s playground. You just never know who you’ll see next when you turn the corner trying to get a “deal” for the upcoming season. It’s a wheel & deal, wine & dine, pr, rumor-filled, news-breaking, show-off, etc. week. Watch you don’t trip trying to read name tags and matching names with faces.



Marriott tips…Don’t drink the “courtesy” bottled water or you’ll get charged $4. Be prepared to pay $18/night to park in the wonderful parking garage that if you leave, you probably won’t be allowed back in because it’s full. Hungry? The breakfast buffet is only $10.95 and the lunch buffet is only $14.95 or go for the $4 slice of pizza in the Convention Center. Ahh nothing like city-life.



Did you know that while Sunoco Race Fuels replaces the orange balls of Unocal 76 at NASCAR Cup, Busch, and Truck Series events in 2004, Sunoco receives $0 on the use of the fuels? I recently learned this tidbit at PRI from Sunoco/Bazell Fuels, Russ Bradford. Bradford worked as the assistant flagmen at Mercer Raceway Park in the mid-90s.



The use of radios and transponders is becoming more and more common in the operations of short track auto racing. I suspect that in the next five years or so, the majority of race tracks and sanctioning bodies will use such a system. After the initial costs to the drivers and tracks, it will be plus for all involved including the fans. The radios make for quicker lineups, which translates into a more efficient show and less fuel used for the competitors. The transponders eliminate the human element and ends the majority of scoring complaints. Drivers are also able to review all of their laps and how they fared against their competitors. Ohio’s Raceway 7 is the first local speedway to implement such a system. After the initial grumblings from the drivers, I have heard nothing but praise.



While at the PRI show, I stopped by the West Virginia Motorsports Council (yes that’s right) booth and picked up a card on late model racer Larry Moore. On the back of the card below the WVMC mission statement blib reads, “The state of West Virginia is proud to have the legendary Larry Moore declare West Virginia as his official vacation land.” Need I say more.



Did I miss something here? According to Bev Thompson’s column in the December 2 issue of Area Auto Racing News, “The All Stars banquet went well and everyone had a good time, especially Champ Chad Kemenah.” However, according to the All Stars, December 19 is the date of the affair where Kemenah will pocket 50 grand according to Guy Webb. Maybe they had a dress rehearsal somewhere. I still wonder why the All Stars moved their banquet from PRI weekend. All kidding aside, Bev always writes a touching Christmas racing story that appears in AARN’s Christmas edition.



It looks like at this point the All Star will be shutout of the Sunshine State for Florida Speedweeks. Oops, Daytona said a few years ago that we’re not supposed to use that phrase unless we’re talking about them. Volusia calls the 33rd Winter Nationals “Raceweeks 2004,” which will include USCS 360 Sprints February 3&4 and non-sanctioned 410 sprints February 5-8 paying $4,000 to-win, $400 to-start.



After some conversations with Jack Hewitt in the fall, his departure from his whistle-blowing All Star role is not surprising. I look forward to reading Hewitt’s book. I’ll never forget my ride with Hewitt at Mercer in the real, original two-seat sprint car. It gave me a whole new appreciation of sprint car racing.



One website I find myself checking almost every morning, is Mike Lauterborn’s News & Gossip Sprint Car Racing Stuff site. The New York 360 sprint racer has one of the most unique racing sites I’ve come across. He gets info almost as fasts as it comes out of one’s mouth. From birthdays, to jokes, to roomers (as he calls them), to press releases, to funny pictures, and everything in between, you’ll find it at www.sprint41.com. Lauterborn updates his site every night and posts the time as Pacific Time. I spotted Lauterborn at the Racing Electronics booth at the PRI show as ESS, the Patriots, and SOS will all make one-way radios mandatory in 2004.



Something you don’t see everyday…Van May walking the streets of downtown Indianapolis.



With Gamblers Raceway Park dropping 358 modifieds from their weekly card and asphalt-to-dirt Friday night Central PA Speedway using a more conservative 358 rules, what will this do to some of the exotic 358 motor cars that have existed for years in the Clearfield area? It always has amazed me that the former Hidden Valley Speedway (now Gamblers), which opened in 1992, has hung on to the modifieds as long as they have. Although in recent years, the modifieds have been the track’s highest car count. HVS/GRP probably had the most liberal 358 modified rules in the nation. The track made a name for drivers like Mike Stine, George Sankey, Bobby Roos, and Bob Garvey.



I have a real problem with Lake Moc-A-Tek’s decision to allow 10-year-olds to compete in the 250 cc micro sprint division. How low can we go? Any parent that would let their 10-year-old compete needs their head checked. Ten-year-olds should be playing with Matchbox & Hot Wheels cars not competing with adults. No pre-teen or any teen under 16 for that matter has the maturity level to compete in these circumstances. Can you imagine a judge or jury’s reaction to 10-year-old that ran over a track official? Then we wonder why the insurance industry is the way it is today. Where has common sense gone to in America?



It will sure seem strange in 2004 not to have the Martin Family running Lernerville Speedway after 37 years of doing so. Those leasing the track from the Martins all have ties to past promotional teams (Bauman & Roenigk).



Three years ago, New Castle’s Hickory Speedway and Sportsman’s Speedway were both running on Sunday night and Sharon Speedway was a ½-mile running on Friday nights.



I love reading and comparing tracks and sanctioning bodies rules. You just never know what you’ll find. This comes out of the PA 305 Sprints rules, “If you race your 305 with the 410’s or 358’s on a night we have a scheduled 305 race you will start at the rear of your heat and will not start ahead of the previous winner at that track for 2 weeks,” and, “If you race your 305 at a non sanctioned 305 race at any time you will not be allowed to race with our series for 2 months on 1st offense On 2nd offense your are done with our series.”



Sister Virginia (305) Sprint Series offers the following, “No chop or slide jobs. A leading car is required to leave a racing lane for a car that is positioned alongside of the leading car. Repeated chop or slide jobs will be penalized. The overtaking car has the responsibility to show themselves to the leading car in time for the leading car to leave a lane open. The leading car has the responsibility to turn their head to look for an overtaking car before committing to a line that uses up most of the race track.”



VSS limits their shows to two heats races and a feature. The first 26 cars that pre-enter for an event comprise the field. Any new competitor that registers for VSS goes on a waiting list. Kind of interesting. Both the PA 305 Sprints and VSS require the Racesaver 305 Spec Head and all cars must be sealed to compete.



It’s hard to imagine no slide jobs in sprint car racing.



A site long gone, but not forgotten…Tim Kuhn pulling his #2Cents (can’t do the cents symbol on a computer) sprint car on an open trailer with his old station wagon filled with tires going from track to track all over God’s country. Bobby Allen, Joey Allen, Tim Kuhn, and Joey Kuhn were quite a bunch that could really wheel a sprinter with limited funds, but now are all names of the past. You can even throw in old Richard Lupo, Jr., who ran a team car (2a) for a while to Bobby Allen.



Speaking of the Allens & Kuhns, will it be the Hatfields vs. the McCoys in URC? Actually it will be the Brians vs. the Michaels. Isn’t it cool that brothers Cliff and Bill Brian along with brothers Sean and Curt Michael will all chase after the 2004 URC Championship. I can see some pretty heated battles there in the oldest and probably strongest 360 sprint group in the world. None of the four are slouches either as they all have quite a bit of 410 experience.



Praise God for the capture of Saddam Hussein no matter what the liberal media tries to tell us differently. Remember the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. You think about that. Waiting for your Christmas wishes at mleone@infonline.net.

- posted by Deon @ 7:50 AM

 
Boarding is underway. Take your seat, hold on, and enjoy the smell of methanol. This ain’t no kiddie ride at the local fair.

Last time I remarked on the successes of weekly full-time racer, Greg Hodnett. The biggest story though of the 2003 central Pa. Sprint Car scene has to be Fred Rahmer. The Salfordville resident was shutout of victory lane (0-for-23) at his home track, Lincoln Speedway. Not only did the driver of the Joe Harz #88H fail to take a checkered flag first, but also his six-year championship reign ended thanks to rival Lance Dewease. Keep in mind, Rahmer owns 122 scores at the track named after President Abe, who delivered his Gettysburg Address just miles from the Pigeon Hills oval.

When you take into account that Rahmer became the first driver in speedway history to score at least 10 wins each year during his six-year championship run, then only you realize the magnitude of his disappointing season. I hate Hard Luck Awards. They’re like hitting someone when they’re already down. Giving Rahmer the Hard Luck Award is like giving it to Steve Kinser the next time he has an off year and doesn’t win the WoO title. Don’t look for the skein to last too far into 2004. Rahmer is still one of today’s most fiercest and intense racers.

Who would have guessed it would be a sprint car that would end Steve Paine’s domination of Black Rock Speedway? No Mike Woodring’s sprint car didn’t beat Paine’s modified in a race, but Saturday night 360 sprint cars has replaced Friday night 358 modifieds in New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country. Paine’s six straight championships and 67 wins (since 1998) won’t add up in 2004. Now when someone asks you what Fred Rahmer and Steve Paine have in common, you’ll know the answer.

Every sprint car fan, driver, owner, crew member, etc. should be a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa. I’ve been a member since 1995 (the first year I attended the Knoxville Nationals). Even if you never make it to the HoF&M, the $25 annual membership is well worth it. Your membership helps the HoF&M’s positioning statement, “Promoting the Future by Preserving the Past”.

I finally got to meet HoF&M Executive Director, Tom Schmeh, at Syracuse during the Northeastern 360 Sprint Forum November 23. Schmeh does an excellent job at not only the HoF&M, but also promoting sprint car racing in general. Sprint car racing needs more Tom Schmehs. Do the HoF&M a favor, go to www.sprintcarhof.com and become a member.

Did you know that Dave and Dale Blaney both have 44 career wins on the All Star Circuit of Champions tour? They are tied for fifth all-time with Kevin Huntley. Kenny Jacobs needs three more wins for the magic 100. The Jacobs brothers are both ride-hunting for 2004. With the seat open again in the Denny Ashworth #92, look for one if not both of them to get some time in that ride at some point during 2004.

Looking down through the All Star all-time win list brings back stars of days gone by that are all but forgotten. Frankie Kerr, Rocky Hodges, Bobby Davis, Jr., Joe Gaerte, Fred Linder, Terry Shepherd, Steve Butler, Lee Brewer, Jr., and Rick Ungar all had success with the ASCoC and gave me fond childhood memories, but are heard very little from today.

As a follow up to last time’s soap box on the traction control ad that appeared in Flat Out, I received an e-mail from Bill Woodside, who is the National Advertising Manager for Sprint Car & Midget magazine. Woodside stated, “We were contacted by the traction control folks who wanted to buy ads in our magazine, but decided quickly that it was not in our best interests, or the best interests of sprint car racing to run such an ad. Sadly, others do not see things the same way we do, but we stand by our decision and feel proud of what we do.”

As a sprint car purist, I say thank you to Woodside and Sprint Car & Midget for taking the correct stand. You may remember my November 8 column complimenting the efforts of this periodical and this just confirms my beliefs. I’ll agree that Flat Out has every right to run such an ad, but if you’re like me, it gives you a sour feeling in your stomach.

Speaking of racing magazines, it’s great to see Pennsylvania’s Chub Frank on the cover of Speedway Illustrated. Frank becomes the first short-track dirt racer to make the cover. His “How Dirt Races are Won” story is featured inside the January 2004 issue. Frank is a great inspriational story to any local racer dreaming of making it big.

Dick Berggren has done an excellent job recruiting a talented staff that includes Rob Sneddon, Bones Bourcier, Doug Gore, and Karl Frederickson. It’s nice to see a quality national magazine devote as much space as it does to short track racing. SI’s no-holds-bar, honest, and truth style of writing is a welcome breath of fresh air in a day when many cater to higher ups and those they are trying to impress.

This week’s soap box…I’m so sick of Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow Coalition/diversity crap. Motorsports needs Jackson and his reverse discrimination about as much as California needs another liberal. No one tells a black they can’t enter racing and no one tells a white they can’t play basketball (but the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” is okay?). Tiger Woods is in golf because of his talents, not because of his color and that’s the way it should be in all aspects of life, not just sports. Jackson’s probably trying to figure out he can charge God with discrimination in heaven. Clouds just may be the dust on God’s shoes. In other words, God is bigger than life. Jesse, stay out of things you shouldn’t be trying to control.

Let’s move on. Borger’s Speedway in Saylorsburg, Pa. is still racing weekly featuring micro sprints. They have a race this Sunday (12/7). There’s been weekends in November that have been nicer than some this past miserable summer.

The World of Outlaws will be racing at Parramatta Speedway in Sydney, Australia January 8-10. The WoO once raced in Ciuadad Juárez, Mexico. I’ve been to Ciuadad Juárez and it’s hard to imagine a sprint car race taking place there. This is a city where children roam the streets, teenagers are drinking, old painted school buses rule, and I mean rule, the highways, crime is prevalent, soccer is the national pastime, and I could go on and on. If you think drivers in American cities are bad, you should see Ciuadad Juárez. Ciuadad translates to city for those of you not fluent in Spanish.

Still wondering how many people really have the Outdoor Channel or watch it for that matter. OC signed a three-year agreement with the WoO back in September to televise a minimum 27 races on a tape-delayed basis in 2004. According to the OC, it’s a “national cable network dedicated to providing the best in traditional outdoor programming to America’s sixty million anglers and hunters. The Outdoor Channel is available to nearly sixty million homes in the U.S. through a combination of cable networks and satellite providers. The network recently announced its launch to an international audience, reaching nearly eight million homes in Latin America.” Okay then. Guess it could be worse, like the Oxygen Channel.

Racing withdrawals are setting in for the first time, no races for me since November 15. PRI is calling me.

Remember that Thanksgiving shouldn’t be the only time you are thankful for what you have been blessed with. You think about that. Waiting for your e-mail at mleone@infonline.net.

- posted by Deon @ 7:58 AM