Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 81

                                           11/17/2011

 

 

First:

This past Sunday, my daughter, Judy, and I made our annual trip to the Lobitz party/auction/dinner down in Hazleton, Pa.  As usual, we had a very enjoyable day.  One of those in attendance was noted author Buzz Rose.  Judy even won one of the “whole table” drawings.  At the end of the sit-down dinner, around 6:30, it was announced that a little over $6,000.00 had been raised for the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.

As we were leaving, I realized that we never went to the barn that’s behind the catering hall – where all of the old (not restored yet) racecars are.  Damn!

Info on the EMMR can be found here:  http://www.emmr.org/

 

Second:

The “Holiday” season is just around the corner, folks.  Might you be having problems as far as what to get whom?  Here are some places you might check out:

Racing collectibles:

http://www.davesracing.com/

Eastern Museum of Motor Racing – books etc.

http://www.emmr.org/

A subscription to the AARN?

http://www.aarn.com/

Coastal 181 has lots of books and some at reduced prices, too.  As an example:  DAREDEVILS OF THE FRONTIER by the late Keith Herbst. Super Special: $16.95

Note:  I was privileged to have taken a trip to Coastal 181 with Keith just prior to his book being published.

http://www.coastal181.com/

Slot Car racing stuff

http://www.hotlapsracin.com/hotparts.htm

Model cars etc

http://www.modelroundup.com/category-s/94.htm

How about some insurance for your racer?

http://www.stida.com/

 

Third:

From the Track Forum:

2012 Indy car has major issues at IMS

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157553-2012-car-has-major-issues-at-IMS

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-series-trying-to-solve-2012-cars-speedway-issues

Note:  Quite a few interesting comments and thoughts on this thread.  Up to 321 so far, as of this past Monday.

 

Fourth:

More from the Track Forum:

IndyCar going to China in 2012 (with poll)

As of this past Monday, 190 comments on this one.  Personally, I'd rather see them stay here in the US of A.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157556-IndyCar-going-to-China-in-2012-(with-poll)

 

Fifth:

News from The King of the Can - 'It's Good To Be King'

 

Media Contact: Brett Deyo - 845.728.2781 or Deyo99H@aol.com

 

For Immediate Release/Nov. 12, 2011

 

King of the Can Set For Sunday At Penn Can Speedway - "November to Remember" for Southern Tier Race Fans; Prelude to $10,000 'Clash at the Can' of June 2012

 

The event will serve as a prelude to the historic $10,000-to-win 'Clash at the Can' to be run in June 2012: the highest-ever paying race in Penn Can Speedway's history. The Deyo/Miller/Wilcox promotional team paid $8,000 in the June 2011 'Clash at the Can' and attracted a field of 66 Modifieds.  Thanks to the outstanding support shown this year, the winner's share has been boosted to $10,000 and the '12 60-lap main event will pay $300 to take the green flag.

 

GM 602 Crate Sportsman (25 laps - $1,000 to win) and Trackside Products Race of Champions Street Stocks (25 laps - $500 to win) complete the program. The Trackside Products RoC Street Stock title will be decided on Sunday. Bob Buono currently leads the RoC Street Stock standings.

 

Modifieds will run first throughout the order of events to benefit traveling racers and fans.

 

 

Sixth:

 

Again, via an e-mail:

 

Wages

 

Salary of retired US Presidents .............$450,000 FOR LIFE

Salary of House/Senate members ..........$174,000 FOR LIFE

Salary of Speaker of the House .............$223,500 FOR LIFE

Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders .....$193,400 FOR LIFE

 

Average salary of a soldier DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN - $38,000

Average income for seniors on SOCIAL SECURITY - $12,000

 

I think we found where the cuts should be made! If you agree... Pass it on!

 

Note:  I’m not sure, but I don’t think benefits are included in the above figures.

 

Seventh:

Not only does "Benzee" have bus trips to various races, but also some like this:

PRESS  RELEASE

Join Access #23 TV Station on Sun Dec 4th  as we visit the Mt Airy Casino  on a one day Bus Trip .  Hosted by the Award winning TV show Keeping Country Strong  hosts Carl Richards and Erwin " Benzee" Benz . R/T Deluxe Motorcoach , Refreshments , Raffles and onboard entertainment by  National Recording Artist Carmine " The Crooner " Pace . Cost is $30 per person with casino comping back $35 in play and food . Departs Monroe , Middletown and Port Jervis . For more info and reservations call 845 234 5323 or email benzee95@hotmail.com

Thank you to the media outlets that can print this in their newspaper , all proceeds will benefit the non profit station . The last trip Sold Out and we expect a big crowd for this one as well once the word get out

My contact info is same as above

Erwin "Benzee" Benz

benzee95@hotmail.com

845 234 5323

 

Eighth:

At times, one cannot believe everything that one sees on the Internet.  Since this past weekend, there have been things said about the purses at Hagerstown not be fulfilled by the track.  I see that in this weeks AARN – the November 15th issue, there is a part that says that “Ernie Davis 'Salvages'
Hagerstown 350 Weekend”.  Guess the Internet was correct this time.

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/41829-hagerstown/page__gopid__356779

 

Ninth:

Back on November 17, 1938, singer Gordon Lightfoot was born, up in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

Some info on him can be found here, in this link, below.  Yes, he’s had some pretty severe health issues, that’s for sure!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Lightfoot

And, his most famous song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l3x_VoF3wo&feature=related

 

Tenth:

If only!

Yes, I wonder what it would have been like if only Jim Clark or Dan Gurney actually took some laps in a Champ car back on August 17, 1963, when they visited the Springfield Illinois one-mile dirt track for the Champ car race.  I guess one could say that it could very well have been back in that time when racing here in the US changed some, especially with the Indy car drivers not running anything else but Indy cars.  I still think that their only competing in Indycar races today, and not running Midgets or Sprint Cars has helped lead to the low attendance that we see today.  Back in the day, they’d think nothing of running a Midget or Sprint Car when the Champ cars raced close by.  I’ve had this video in my computer for some time now, and it was just sent out again, via e-mail today, by another “race fan”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5JfGr7sr6w&feature=related

 

,Eleventh:

More from the Track Forum:

 

A survey has been sent out that deals with this:

 

They want your input as to the possibility of adding an IndyCar race on the infield road course at Indianapolis.

 

Quoting some of the postings:

 

"It sounds like they are having difficulty scraping enough tracks together for a season. By the time you cross off the unsafe and unprofitable ones, the list starts looking thin.

 

What if they could only get 100,000 paying customers? Would that be profitable? If so, do it. Running at IMS is nice and clean from a management perspective. And cheap for the teams. If the BY400 goes away, this would be a way to keep some cash flow."

 

"I am not a fan of the road course and not really a fan of the other races held at the Speedway but I understand it is business.

 

That being said, I feel like it cheapens the 500 to run anything other than that 1 race. It used to open once a year and 33 drivers got a chance at immortality, now Nascar drivers win there and say they won at Indy."

 

"If that's all the survey is about they're throwing their money away asking. For INDYCAR, short on ovals, to even be wondering about financing another road course race on the schedule makes no sense. If anything it dilutes the 500 to even intimate that an IMS rc race would be worthwhile. The GrandAM race next year will be three hours on Friday with a $30 ticket and there's no way I'm paying to see that. Been to every Brickyard 400, tip of the cap to you narrow minded so called race fans, and the increased price for the NNW race on Saturday will be enough of an added expense for that weekend. Adding extra races to the Brickyard weekend is going to backfire on IMS, it makes the weekend too expensive."

 

"That's what they get for turning their backs on ovals. This series is on its last legs."

 

More can be read if you go here:  http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157649-IMS-E-mail

 

 

 

Twelfth:

 

Clauson renews scholarship with USAC title

 

Bryan Clauson will get another season as an INDYCAR racer.

 

The USAC short-track standout clinched his second USAC National Drivers Championship – and the scholarship to compete in Firestone Indy Lights – with a sixth-place finish in the USAC Sprint Car race at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif.

 

 “It was a busy year with a lot of ups and downs, and to lock down and get the job done late in the year to put this thing away was just awesome,” the 22-year-old native of Noblesville, Ind., said. “ I couldn't have done it without my great car owners, Tony Stewart, Mike Curb, and Corey Tucker or all the great crew guys that I get to work with.”

 

Clauson will try to become the first driver since Billy Boat to win three-straight Turkey Night Grand Prixs at Irwindale, Calif., later this month, as well as lock up his second consecutive USAC Midget title. He will officially receive his $40,000 prize and his INDYCAR scholarship for winning the National Drivers Championship at USAC’s  Night of Champions” Banquet on Dec. 9 in Indianapolis.

 

Until then, he said he’ll work with INDYCAR officials to determine how best to utilize the scholarship for 2012.

 

 “I'm really excited about moving forward on the Indy Car side of things,” he said. “We had already been hard at work trying to put something together without the scholarship and had some great meetings, so I feel like the scholarship will only help solidify whatever program we put together.

 

“As far as a direction for where I'll land for sure, I think it’s too early. Obviously I have an idea of where I'd like to land, but there are a lot of people involved in the scholarship program that we need to make sure we take care of.  When I get home from this west coast swing after Turkey Night, you can be sure that I will be back hard at work to put a solid program together whether it ends up being on the Lights side or the IZOD IndyCar side.”

 

Note:  I’m kind of wondering, what with the reported lower amount of oval races in 2012, how that might effect Bryan.  Looking at his results from 2011, I see he ended up 12th in points while only racing on ovals, and running in only 6 of the 14 races.

 

 

 

Thirteenth:

 

NHMS Announces Plans for Museum. Fundraising efforts underway.

 

In part:

 

"Stock cars, vintage open-wheel cars, dragsters and motorcycles all have a spot in the history books when it comes to racing in the Northeast, and now, all of these forms of motorsports will be featured in the new state-of-the-art Northeast Motorsports Museum at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

The Racing History Preservation Group and “The Magic Mile” announced the beginning of fund raising efforts to create a 20,000-square-foot motorsports museum on Rt. 106 in Loudon, N.H. The announcement was made by Jerry Gappens, executive vice president and general manager of the speedway, RHPG president Dick Berggren, New England fan favorite and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ricky Craven."

 

Interesting in reading more on this?  Then please go here:

 

http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/sportsextra/2011/11/nhms-announces-plans-for-museum-fundraising-efforts-underway/

 

 

 

Fourteenth:

 

When I was checking out the results for OVRP’s Novemberfest weekend of racing., I was rather surprised that there were no 2 Cycles in competition.  Methinks that might be a first for Novemberfest.  Why?  I have no idea.  To us, and we ran both 2 and 4 cycle, the 2 cycle was always less trouble.

 

 

Fifteenth:

 

While at the Lobitz function last Sunday, I had a chance to talk with Lou Zrinski from the ARDC, after dinner.  It really isn’t my place to come out with the exact place, but I was told that the ARDC will be racing at a certain track 10 times in 2012.  No, it isn’t the Accord Speedway, but hopefully the ARDC will have at least one show at Accord.  2011 was the first year since the end of WW II that there was no full sized midget racing in New York State.  Kinda sad, isn’t it?

 

 

Sixteenth:

 

Some F-1 news:

 

From the Track Forum:

Construction stops on Austin F1 track

 

Links:

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157687-Construction-stops-on-Austin-F1-track

 

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/11/15/developers_suspending_construc.html?cxntcid=breaking_news

 

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111115/F1/111119910

 

 

 

Seventeenth:

 

Some F-1 news:

 

From the Track Forum:

Construction stops on Austin F1 track

 

Links:

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157687-Construction-stops-on-Austin-F1-track

 

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/racing/entries/2011/11/15/developers_suspending_construc.html?cxntcid=breaking_news

 

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111115/F1/111119910

 

Note:  There are some that think that the F-1 race in New Jersey won’t come off.  In a way, I guess I could be included in that group.  Already the Indycar race that was held in Baltimore is reportedly in trouble, so I’ve read..

 

 

 

 

Coming up:

The Parts Peddler Trade Show:

It will be held on November 18, 19 & 20, up in Syracuse.  That’s this coming weekend, folks!

http://partspeddler.us/

 

Turkey Derby:

This year it will be held on November 25th, 26th and 27th.  On Saturday, the 26th, racing action will include:

Open/Tour Modifieds, Dirt Modifieds, Dirt Sportsman, WALL/SK Modifieds, Sportsman/Crate cars, Late Models, Factory Stocks, Street Stocks, Legends and TQ’s.  Practice on November 12th and 19th.  For Sunday, 8 cylinder and 4 cylinder Enduros – 200 laps, Trux and Ladies plus more???

 

From their website:

Turkey Derby XXXVIII is a two racing tradition set for Friday November 25 and Saturday November 26 during the daylight hours. On November 25, practice will start at 8:30 a.m., while qualifying will start at noon and feature racing will begin at 2:00 p.m. On November 26, practice will start at 8:30 a.m., with qualifying set for 11:00 a.m. and feature racing set for 1:00 p.m.

Pit gates will open at 6:30 a.m., with pre-purchased grandstand seating opening at 9:30 a.m. and grandstand seating opening at 10:00 a.m. on both days.

Friday main event action will feature the paved Sportsman cars, the dirt Sportsman cars, Late Models, Legend Cars and the Factory Stocks. On Saturday, the Touring Modifieds, Wall Modifieds, dirt Modifieds, TQ Midgets and Street Stocks will all see main event action.

More info can be found here:  www.wallspeedway.com

 

 

Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR):

We will re-open for our annual Holiday Open House the first
weekend of December; always lots of fun and food.  That’s the 3rd and 4th.
 
Starting every Thursday during the winter from 6-9 pm,
Lynn Paxton and the gang will be holding weekly work parties. 
We would love to have some volunteers step up and help arrange
cars and displays in the new wing.   Without all the great volunteers
in this organization, EMMR doesn't exist.
 
So thanks to all of you !!!

 

 

 

Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club

NVDMRC Club Banquet — Sunday, December 4 at 1:00pm at Mamakating Town Park.

RSVP to Ed Stevens at 845-386-3484

 

 

Indoor Go-Kart racing in Syracuse:

Yup, almost that time again – December 10, 2011.  Back when my grandson was racing Karts, we made a few of those shows.  The racing was top notch; the building the track is in was both heated and ventilated.  The only downfall was the possible weather conditions – you know – Syracuse, N.Y. early December – Mother Nature.  However bad the weather was or had been, they always got their racing in.

Info on this event can be found if you go here, below, and check out the upper left hand corner for additional links.

http://www.cnyroadrace.com/indoor/

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Clinch Scenarios Set For Homestead:

Only one finish guarantees Carl Edwards his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship  a victory in Sunday's season-finale Ford 400. Just three points separate points leader #99-Carl Edwards and second-place #14-Tony Stewart, a margin so tight, no other finish would clinch the title for Edwards regardless of where Stewart finishes. Stewart owns the tie-breaker (best finishes), and therefore could tie and win his third series championship. All other drivers are officially eliminated from championship contention. Edwards' three-point lead roughly translates to 13 points under the previous points system. That makes it the closest margin between first and second going into the final race in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup history, and third-closest since the inception of the position-based points structure in 1975.(NASCAR)(11-14-2011)

 

NASCAR didn't see Kenseth-Vickers wreck as retaliation:

NASCAR officials didn't see Sunday's incident at Phoenix International Raceway between Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth as retaliation. Kenseth disagreed. "Had we felt it was more than a racing incident we would have reacted,'' Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said afterwards. Kenseth called NASCAR out for not responding to Vickers wrecking him the way the governing body responded to Kyle Busch deliberately running Ron Hornaday Jr. into the wall during the Truck Series race last week at Texas Motor Speedway. "Obviously, it is retaliation for retaliation, I guess,'' said Kenseth, whose championship hopes basically ended three weeks ago when he and Vickers got into several on track exchanges at Martinsville Speedway. "I was out of brakes and I was up on everybody and I saw him coming and I lifted at least 10 car lengths before where I normally would lift, and he drove in there at 165 miles per hour and cleaned us out.'' Kenseth reminded NASCAR that Vickers vowed payback after Martinsville. "If NASCAR is going to start parking people for being mad 25 seconds after you wreck and wrecking somebody, then you would park somebody for that,'' he said. "It was so premeditated. It just surprises me that [NASCAR] didn't do anything. I am disappointed, but I expected it.'' Vickers told reporters that he didn't intentionally run over Kenseth, and that he was surprised when Kenseth lifted. "If he wants to doubt us, that's fine," Vickers said. "He wrecked me at Martinsville, he got wrecked here, but it actually wasn't (payback). I'm not saying I wasn't going to pay him back, but I'm just saying that wasn't it."(ESPN)(11-14-2011)

 

Penske eyes Hornish return to Cup:

Sam Hornish Jr. could be back in a Sprint Cup car by 2013, team owner Roger Penske said Sunday. "That would be the goal,'' Penske said of the three-time IndyCar Series champion, who won his first NASCAR event on Saturday when he took the checkered flag in the Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. "That kid is a heck of a driver." Penske admitted he made a mistake by rushing Hornish from the IndyCar into the Cup series fulltime in 2008 with little experience in NASCAR's lower series. Hornish drove only 11 Nationwide races before his first Cup season and drove only nine during his three seasons of Cup. During that stretch, Hornish had only two top 5s and eight top 10s in Cup. He lost his ride after the 2010 season, but Hornish and Penske remained committed to NASCAR by competing in a limited Nationwide program this season. Penske said on Saturday and reiterated on Sunday that he hopes to have Hornish compete for a title in the Nationwide Series in 2012 with his ultimate goal to get him back in Cup the following year.(ESPN)(11-14-2011)

 

Changes are coming #88 team? new #42 crew chief?

#88 crew chief Steve Letarte says teams expect to reevaluate rosters after every season. "I'd be really surprised if we had the same guys that we started this season with," Letarte said Saturday. "You can never be good enough." There could be more changes than usual at Hendrick Motorsports after this season, particularly with the addition of Kasey Kahne and his support staff, led by crew chief Kenny Francis. Kahne and Francis have scored 10 wins since getting together for the 2005 season finale at Homestead-Miami. Francis is expected to bring along several of his existing crew men from Red Bull Racing. The addition of the Kahne-Frances partnership will change the nucleus of the #5 Chevy currently led by Lance McGrew. Chris Heroy, who was the team engineer and led Dale Earnhardt Jr. to two top-five finishes as a crew chief in the Nationwide Series this year, is rumored to be leaving Hendrick Motorsports to be crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya and the #42 crew.(FoxSports)(11-13-2011)

 

Kyle Busch offered Hornaday a truck ride:

#29-Kevin Harvick met with media at Phoenix International Raceway and discussed the Kyle Busch situation among other things, the transcript in part:
Q) AS THE TEAM OWNER DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY KYLE BUSCH'S ACTIONS LAST WEEK AT TEXAS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW IT'S BEEN HANDLED FROM NASCAR'S STANDPOINT AS WELL AS THE SPONSOR STANDPOINT?


Harvick:

"From a team owner standpoint, it was expensive. I think as you look back at the whole situation, the hardest part is that was the last time Ron Hornaday will race for a championship? That's the part that bothers me the most. It's pretty common that people know that I don't care for Kyle regardless of whether he is in trouble or out of trouble, but that's the guy (Hornaday) I feel like has taken the blunt of everything that happened last week. As far as the way it was handled, it's not my situation. It's not something that I feel like I need to weigh-in my opinion on, whether it was too much or not enough; it's just unfortunate for Ron more than for anybody. And I think as you went through the week, hearing the phone calls that were made to Ron from Kyle at the first part of the week and trying to give him the #18 truck ride for next year and all the things that he tried to do, he knew how wrong it was, hopefully."
Q) INAUDIBLE


Harvick:

"Yeah, as far as I know, (team manager) Rick Wren called Ron and offered him the #18 truck for next year. At first it started just with him calling Ron trying to get Ron to call NASCAR so he wouldn't lose his job. That was how all that progressed."(Team Chevy)(11-12-2011)

 

Aerodynamic testing at Daytona:

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are scheduled to test at Daytona International Speedway in an effort to evaluate and prepare aerodynamic baseline packages for the January 12-14, 2012 Preseason Thunder Test at DIS. Testing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15th from 10 am - 5 pm/et. Teams scheduled to participate include: Hendrick Motorsports (two cars with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (two cars with drivers David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (one car with driver Joey Logano), Michael Waltrip Racing (one car with driver Martin Truex Jr.), and NEMCO Motorsports (one car with driver Joe Nemechek). A section of the Oldfield Grandstands will be open free to the public with access available through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.(DIS)(11-11/15-2011)

UPDATE:

Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams turned laps at the high banks of Daytona International Speedway Tuesday, seeking the best baseline aerodynamic package for next January's Preseason Thunder Test at "The World Center of Racing."
Teams participating in Tuesday's test included Hendrick Motorsports (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Aric Almirola); Roush Fenway Racing (David Ragan and Marcos Ambrose); Joe Gibbs Racing (Joey Logano); Michael Waltrip Racing (Martin Truex Jr.); and NEMCO Motorsports (Joe Nemechek).
After the track was dried following an early morning rain shower, teams first got on the track at 11:45 a.m. The initial restrictor plate size was 29/32 inch and the initial spoiler size was 4 ½ inches tall, 63 inches wide, which was the same spoiler size for last July's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona. By day's end, the size of the rear spoiler had been reduced to 3 inches tall by 62 inches wide. The smaller spoiler results in less down force and drag, but still allows the cars to maintain high speeds and remain under control.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevy), a 13-time race winner at Daytona, said Tuesday's test session was a "positive step in finding a solution to the drafting style at Daytona."
"I did not anticipate finding a magical solution here today, but we will be much better off and a lot smarter about things by having tested," said Earnhardt. "This is just part of the work that needs to get done. There are a lot of creative minds out here. We're learning what we need to know. I think we're all in agreement that we probably won't totally rid ourselves of the tandem racing, but I'm confident we can get to the point where it will not be the norm."

Martin Truex Jr. (#56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota), a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and solid restrictor plate racer, said there was a lot of mixing and matching going on in the garage this afternoon. "We tried several different packages out there today and what we're trying to do is put an end to this two-car draft, or at least make it so we can only get together for a lap or two and have to switch or run in a pack," said Truex. "NASCAR is being smart about all of this and they are going through some steps to see if the changes that we're making will result in what they think they will be."
John Darby, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director, said that Tuesday's test should allow NASCAR the ability to formulate a solid baseline aerodynamic package that teams can work on heading into next January's three-day test session at DIS, Jan. 12-14. "One of our goals is to give the teams more options when it comes to how they draft and we believe we're headed in the right direction on that," said Darby. "We want to be able to reduce the difference in the speeds between the tandem style of racing and more of the pack style of racing and we made a lot of good progress on that here today."
Both Earnhardt and Truex agreed that the transition to Electronic Fuel Injection in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is right on track. The sport's premier series will implement EFI beginning at Daytona next season. "The computer guys like what they've seen so far with the EFI test and I'll tell you what, when I've tested the EFI car, it drives as well or better than the carburetor cars," said Earnhardt. "To be honest with you, if you didn't know it when you got into the car, you couldn't tell a difference," said Truex. "The only thing that's different is the way it starts. You don't have to pump the gas like a normal carburetor. You just flip the switch and crank it up like a street car."(NASCAR)(11-15-2011)

 

AND:

Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Daytona Test -- Notes & Quotes from #20-Joey Logano:
Q) What have you learned so far from today's test session at Daytona?


Logano: "We learned that when you take a spoiler out of a race car at Daytona it makes the car go faster. We were going 206 or 207 or so. We've been doing that, taking the rear spring out of the car and just taking downforce away from these things. Trying to get away from that two-car draft. We're slowly getting away from the two-car draft, making it harder to do it. I guess we've made gains today because that's what NASCAR is looking for."


Q) Have you noticed a difference with the new electronic fuel injection in the race car?


Logano: "No, we can't really tell much at all, but that's a good thing.(Toyota Racing)(11-16-2011)

 

Nemechek runs 203mph at Daytona test....alone:

#87-Joe Nemechek, a driver/car owner, reached 203 mph without a drafting partner during Tuesday's test session at Daytona International Speedway. The day was supposed to belong to NASCAR as it tested various setups in an effort to break up the two-car tandem draft. But instead, Nemechek was the talk of the garage and what it might mean for qualifying if Tuesday's changes are implemented for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500. "We were changing the restrictor plates and all kinds of stuff," Nemechek said. "I mean, (the speed is) just the product of putting more horsepower to the back tires. I think we're going to be quite a bit faster when we come back here for qualifying day. It's going to be interesting. All the teams are going to have to do some more homework." Nemechek was testing with Triad Engine Development, a North Carolina-based company. "We were using a 1 1/16-inch plate and a 3-inch radius spoiler," Triad Racing Development head engine builder Jon Dysinger said. "This was better than we expected."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(11-16-2011)

 

Former car owner Bernstein retires from racing:

Six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein has turned the final page and closed the book on his career as a competitor and NHRA racing team owner. "My wife Sheryl and I have come to a place in our lives where we want to pursue other interests," said Bernstein. "We have poured our hearts and souls in motorsports for over 30 years and that's a full time job. It consumes you and there is very little time to relax. We are very proud of our accomplishments through the years and it's been a great ride, but we're interested in being able to travel at will, we want to spend some time on the golf course, and we've recently taken up fly fishing, which we really enjoy. It's time to enjoy life while we still have our health." Team owner and six-time NHRA champion Kenny Bernstein is a gifted driver and businessman. He holds the unique distinction of being the first and only race team owner to have collected wins in each of America's three major motorsports series: NHRA drag racing, NASCAR, and CART (IndyCar). He earned the title "King of Speed" when he became the first NHRA driver to break the 300 miles-per-hour barrier March 20, 1992 in Gainesville, FL. As a team owner he has accumulated 18 Top Fuel victories with son Brandon at the wheel.(Kenny Bernstein site), Bernstein's Sprint Cup team won three races, 2 with Ricky Rudd and one with Brett Bodine, the team finished 8th in points in 1989. See more stats at Racing-Refernece.info.(11-16-2011)

 

Johnson's comments on being out of the championship hunt:


Q) YOU HAVE BEEN MATHEMATICALLY ELIMINATED FROM THE DRIVER'S CHAMPIONSHIP, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR?


Jimmie Johnson: "Yeah, I'm definitely disappointed that we won't be able to go to Homestead and race for our sixth (consecutive driver's championship) but that's motorsports. It's a very tough business. What we did over the last five years was absolutely spectacular and I've just got to thank Lowe's. I've got to thank Hendrick Motorsports, Chad Knaus (crew chief), and this whole race team for giving me everything they've had these 10 years. Even though we're not in position to win the championship now, we're going to go to Homestead and try to have our best race down there that we can and finish as high as we can in the points." (Team Lowe's Racing)(11-16-2011)

Note:  Kind of ironic that he thanks Hendrick Motorsports and Chad Knaus, but not the one that’s listed as his car owner for every race – Jeff Gordon.

 

Red Bull Racing still looking for investor / buyer:

Red Bull Racing announced in June that it would sell the team [#4-Kahne, #83-Vickers] by the end of the year or shut it down. While there have been inquiries, no deal has been announced. Red Bull Racing has notified the state of North Carolina of potential layoffs, but employees say they have been told there will be no layoffs before Dec. 9. A few members of Kahne's crew will go with him and crew chief Kenny Francis to [#5 Chevy] Hendrick Motorsports next year, but many in the Red Bull shop will be looking for work after the season while hoping that if the team does get bought, they could return. Jay Frye, who runs the team, has been answering calls from potential investors and would like to keep the team going. It doesn't appear that Vickers is in the future plans as he seeks a full-time ride for 2012.(SceneDaily)(11-15-2011)

 

Marlin interested in Fairgrounds Speedway:

Retired NASCAR driver Sterling Marlin is interested in acquiring the lease to Nashville's Fairgrounds Speedway, after fellow driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. gave up after one frustrating season. Hamilton will not continue to operate the track next season, according to Buck Dozier, head of the Metro Fair Board that oversees the city-owned facility. Hamilton encountered numerous problems during the season and cancelled the scheduled season-finale All-American 400  a fixture for over two decades and the track's premier event. Hamilton will continue to own and operate Highland Rim Speedway, a quarter-mile track located 20 miles north of Nashville. One year remains on the two-year Fairgrounds Speedway lease granted by the city and Marlin heads a group of investors that is interested in acquiring it. Marlin told local radio show host Terrell Davis that he would like to take over the track "if everything can be worked out." Marlin has assisted previous efforts to keep the track afloat, working with last year's operator, Tony Formosa Jr., to promote the track. Marlin won three championships at the track in the 1980's, following in the footsteps of his famous father, Coo Coo, a four-time champion in the 1960's. The Fair Board expects to make a decision about the track's new operator by the end of the year.(RacinToday)(11-15-2011)

 

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”.

 

Covering the days from November 18th to the 24th:

 

NOVEMBER 18

1941

Gary Bettenhausen ... Born ... His father was Indianapolis 500 and sprint car legend Tony Bettenhausen, and his brother was former Champ Car team owner Tony Bettenhausen Jr. Another brother, Merle Bettenhausen, lost his arm in a fiery crash. Gary began as a midget car driver. He finished third in the midget car national points in 1967. He won the first leg of the Astro Grand Prix in 1969, which was held in the Astrodome. He won the 1967 and 1970 Turkey Night Grand Prix, the 1972 Astro Grand Prix, and the 1976 Hut Hundred. He has 27 career USAC midget wins. He won the 1969 and 1971 sprint car championships. He won the 1980 and 1983 USAC Dirt Track champions in Silver Crown car. He competed in Indy cars from the mid-'1960s until 1996.During this time he won six USAC Indy Car races. Gary made 21 starts in the Indy '500, contesting each event from 1968 until 1982 (with the exception of 1979 when he failed to qualify), and again from 1986 to 1993. His best finish came in 1980 when he finished third after starting 32nd in the 33-car field. He competed in eight career NASCAR Winston Cup events. He had four Top 10 finishes. His highest career finish was a fourth place finish at the 1974 Motor State 360 at the Michigan International Speedway in 1974. He was inducted in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1993 and was a 1998 inductee in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

2008

Chuck Amati ... Died ... Chuck Amati was an 'Outlaw' long before the inaugural 1978 World of Outlaws season. For over 40 years he raced from coast-to-coast chasing wins, and when he took his helmet off for the final time in 2002, he had accumulated hundreds of them in his career in a number of different types of race cars. Amati will always be remember as "The One Armed Bandit," a nickname he earned on a night, when he sustained an injury to his right arm and devised a harness to hold the arm in place in his lap, driving using his left arm. The arm would eventually heal, though the nickname stuck with him for the rest of his career and contributed to him being one of the most colorful drivers to ever climb into a sprint car. He won a in a variety of machines during his legendary career including: winged sprint cars, non-winged sprint cars, supermodifieds and even midgets. From 1969-1986, he won at least one sprint car race every year during that span.

 

NOVEMBER 19

1925

Eddie Russo ... Born ... A retired American racecar driver. Russo won the midget car racing track championship Raceway Park in Chicago in 1950. Russo raced in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series in the 1952-1957 and 1960 seasons, with 21 career starts, including 3 times in the Indianapolis 500. He finished in the top ten 5 times, with his best finish in 1955 at Langhorne. His father, Joe Russo, and his uncle, Paul Russo, also raced in the Indianapolis 500.

1954

Spike Gehlhausen ... Born ... A former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He raced in 11 seasons (1975-1982 and 1984-1986), with 79 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 in 1976, 1978-1980, and 1984. He finished in the top ten 15 times with his best finish in 4th position in 1980 at Ontario.

1961

Al Keller... Died ... Keller participated in the NASCAR "Strictly Stock"/"Grand National" (predecessors to the current NEXTEL Cup) series from 1949 to 1956 with 29 career starts. He won two races during the 1954 season and is the only driver in the history of NASCAR's top division to have won a race in a foreign-built car, winning the 1954 Grand National road-race at the Linden Airport in New Jersey, driving a Jaguar. In 1954 Keller began a transition to champ cars. He drove in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1954-1959 and 1961 seasons with 32 starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in all but the first of those years. He finished in the top ten 13 times, with his best finish in 2nd position, in 1956 at Atlanta and in 1961 at Milwaukee. His best Indy finish was 5th in 1961. Keller died as a result of injuries sustained in a champ car crash at the Arizona State Fairgrounds track.

 

Note:  At the end of this column, when read on the New England Tractor website, I'm hoping that a headshot photo of Al Keller works.

 

Parnelli Jones won the USAC sanctioned Bobby Ball Memorial Race on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. Rodger Ward finished second followed by Don Branson, Jim McElreath and Cotton Farmer.

1973

Mike Salay ... Died ... AAA driver from the 1940's and 1950's.

1980

Jack Hart ...Died ... New Jersey NASCAR Sportsman Stock Car driver from the 1950's and 60's.

1989

Dale Earnhardt won the NASCAR Winston Cup Atlanta Journal 500 over Geoffrey Bodine at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA. Chattanooge. TN driver Grant Adcox died from an accident on lap 203.

2001

Bruce Craig... Died ... He was a self-employed auto racing photographer, videographer, and historian who was well known throughout the United States. His photography collections on auto racing, numbering some 86,000 negatives, could be compared to those of Mathew Brady on the Civil War. In addition to taking photos he was very adept at acquiring outstanding collections. He was a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville, Iowa, and of the Williams Grove Oldtimers; an organization dedicated to preserving auto racing. He was a longtime and active member of the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing in Dillsburg, Pa. He was a member of numerous historic racing organizations.

 

NOVEMBER 20

1965

Jimmy Vasser ... Born ... An American racing driver and race team owner. Vasser won the 1996 Champ Car champion with Chip Ganassi Racing, and scored ten victories in the series. Vasser was the last American to win the Champ Car championship.

 

NOVEMBER 21

1996

Elmo Langley... Died... Langley began his racing career racing modified cars in Virginia and Maryland in 1952. Langley came in to NASCAR as a Driver/Owner in 1954. In 1966 in partnered with Henry Woodfield and created Langley-Woodfield Racing. That same year Langley won the only two races of his long career. After the second race of the 1969 season, Langley and Woodfield split and Langley continued to run team on his own returning to the driver/owner role. He finished in the Top-10 in season points from 1967 until his final full season as a driver for Langley Racing in 1975 (except 1974). He continued to drive in a few select races until 1981 when he hung up the helmet for good. Langley shut down his team after the 1987 season.

 

NOVEMBER 22

1893

Ira Vail... Born ... AAA driver from 1915 to 1928

1947

David "Salt" Walther ... Born ... A former driver in the USAC and CART Championship Car series. He also drove NASCAR stock cars, unlimited hydroplane boats, and was a car owner in USAC. He is the son of George Walther, owner of Dayton Steel Foundry, who fielded Indy 500 cars for Juan Manuel Fangio in 1958 and Mike Magill in 1959. His brother, George "Skipp" Walther III, was fatally injured while trying to qualify as an Unlimited driver at Miami, Florida, in 1974. David Walther was given the nickname "Salt" during his teen years while racing boats, and is one of only eight (8) unlimited hydroplane drivers to qualify for the Indy 500. Walther raced in the 1970-1981 seasons, with 64 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 from 1972 to 1976, and 1978 to 1979. He finished in the top ten 16 times, with a best finish, four times, of 7th position.

1961

Our first child, a girl, Judith Ann Avenengo, now with the last name of Kehlenbeck, was born at the William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, Texas.

1970

Ronnie Sox becomes the first person to run 140 mph at the end of the 1/4-mile in an NHRA Pro Stock car when he runs 140.18 mph at Ontario, California.

1990

Stan Fox won the last race ever held at the legendary Ascot, California, dirt track.

 

NOVEMBER 23

1939

Mel Hansen won the Turkey Night Grand Prix 150 AAA Midget race over Bob Swanson and Fred Friday at the Gilmore Stadium,Hollywood, CA.

1968

Bobby Hogle won the Pacific Coast Open 200 Sprint Car race over Paul Jones, Billy Wilkerson, Terry Kawell and Don Ewart at the Ascot Park Speedway (1/2d) , Gardena, CA

Note:  Isn't it rather sad that we no longer see long distance Sprint Car races anymore?  Or Midget races that are long distance, too?

 

NOVEMBER 24

1938

Bob Swanson won the Turkey Night Grand Prix 150 AAA Midget race over Sam Hanks and Mel Hansen at the Gilmore Stadium,Hollywood, CA.

1977

Gary Patterson won the Turkey Night Grand Prix USAC Midget race over Mel Kenyon, Johnny Parsons, Dana Carter and Johnny Rutherford at the Ascot Park Speedway, Gardena, CA

1979

Stan Fox won the Jimmy Caruthers Memorial MMA Midget race at the Manzanita Speedway ,Phoenix, AZ.

Al Unser, Jr. won the Jimmy Caruthers Memorial Sprint Car race at the Manzanita Speedway ,Phoenix, AZ.

 

 

 

 

 

News from the AARN:

http://www.aarn.com/

 

From their November 8th issue:

 

As far as there being dirt put down on the Wall Stadium track – ain’t gonna happen, per Cliff Krause, the Wall promoter.

 

What do Scott Bloomquist, Josh Richards and Chub Frank all have in common other than Late Model racers?  All three use Roush/Yates engines in their Late Models.  None can really explain why, but their cars drivability and handling seem to improve with those engines.

 

Sprint Car driver Jeff Taylor, 59, has purchased Gamblers Speedway in Clearfield, Pa.  It’s a ¼ mile banked dirt track.  New name will be “America’s Motorsports Park

 

Oh – as for the URC going wingless – could very well happen, but only on tracks that are not big and fast – as of now, anyway.  I made mention of that on the ARDC’s message board and one poster came back with:  I think we should start ARDC wingless sprints. Now that would be awesome.”  Hey, ya never know!

 

When they had “Triple 15’s” for the Tobias SpeedSTR cars at New Egypt a couple of weeks ago, they had at least 16 cars in action.  Yannick Poirier is the SpeedSTR National Champion for 2011.

Note:  Personally, I’m a little disappointed that only 16 cars showed up.  I imagine the economy is one of the larger culprits for the low car count?

 

There will be a Charlie Bray Memorial Race at the Bridgeport Speedway on November 19th – this Saturday.

 

The ISMA had their banquet.  Only mention of any monies was the $500.00 for the “Slice N Go Deli Mechanic of the year” award to Rich Witkum, Jr.

 

The World Racing Group had a banquet for the Sprint Car and Late Model drivers and owners.  Paul McMahon got $45,000.00 for 5th in WoO Sprint Car points, while Joey Saldana got $50,000.00 for 4th, Steve Kinser got $55,000.00 for 3rd, Donny Schatz got $75,000.00 for 2nd and champion Jason Meyers $150,000.00.  Late Model champion Rick Eckert got $100,000.00.

Note:  In an e-mail I received from DIRTcar, it says that Matt Sheppard got $36,650.00 for being the DIRTcar Modified champion.

 

ARCA will have a race at the New Jersey Motor Sports Park road course on July 1, 2012.  Other races that will be held there are a Grand Am Road Racing Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge on May 11th-13th.  AMA Bikes on September 7th – 9th.

 

Pocono has a “Turkey Ticket Promotion” – 15% discount on tickets.  $42.50 for the Concourse Vista and $63.75 for the Terrace, for their NASCAR races on June 10th and August 5th.  There is a limited supply, and the offer ends on Wednesday,  November 30th.  More info can be had by going to:  www.poconoraceway.com/turkey.html or by calling 1-800-722-3939.  Mention the Promotional Code “Turkey”.

 

There will be a Race Car & Parts Swap Meet at the New Egypt Speedway on December 3rd.  $15.00 to sell.  Call Earl at 732-681-3776 or e-mail to:  cdr@optonline.net.

 

Bethel Motor Speedway will be having their Banquet on December 10th at the Lodge at Rock Hill.  Trophies for the top 10 in each class and championship jackets for point champions will be given out.  There will be a Buffet Dinner and cash bar.  Tickets are $40.00 per.  They must be purchased in advance by November 26th.  Tickets can be purchased using Pay Pal or by mailing a check to the Speedway Office.  The Lodge at Rock Hill will be offering a discounted room rate of $99.00/night for reserved rooms.  Call 845-796-3100.  More info can be seen at:  www.bethelmotorspeedway.com

 

The November 15th edition of the AARN is their annual Race Car Builders Guide.  Added copies will be published, and papers will be handed out this weekend at the Parts Peddler Show.

 

 

 

Ernie Saxton:

Thinks it would be nice if Gibbs were to put Hornaday in Kyle Busch’s Nationwide car for the last two races.  He, along with some others are questioning if “Boys have at it” has gone too far.  Jimmie Johnson was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated back on October 17th.  Has the “SI cover jinx” come true, again?  Jimmie hasn’t done all that good since then.  Motor Sports writer Monte Dutton has been having some health issues and he’s had to cut back some on his writing.  Ernie, like a few others in the AARN was commenting on the Jason Sides WoO lawsuit.

 

 

Earl Krause:

Earl had quite a bit in his column about Al Tasnady.  He also made mention of the passing of Nancy Shea, 65, on November 2nd.  She was the wife of the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club President, Ray Shea.

 

Brett Deyo:

Tells us that Pete Britten has gone back to Australia to compete in some Mod races.  Pete expects to be back in time for the races in Florida in February.  Mike Payne had engine problems in the car that Danny Johnson drove at the World Finals.  They took out their normal Big Block and put in the Spec 500 cu in engine, which also had a problem, so they ended up with their normal engine in the car.  Billy Pauch had engine problems with the Petruska # 66.

 

Todd Heintzelman:

Made mention of the Jason Sides WoO lawsuit.  At the World Finals, there were two females in competition in the Sprint Car portion – two named Jessica – Zemken and Anderson.  Aaron Ott, who suffered a broken neck back on 9/4 at Williams Grove, when the side piece on his wing broke, is hoping to make the last two Sprint Car races this season.

 

Randy Kane:

Randy had quit ea bit in his column about OCFS racer John Lieto and Open Wheel racer Steve Buckwalter, along with a little about Sportsman racer Cody Bleau.  Cody is looking for a Sportsman ride for A/S.  Buckwalter is currently in Australia racing Midgets and Sprint Cars.  He’ll be an entrant in the up-coming Chili Bowl.  He’d like to see if he could pick up a ride in a Pa 358 Modified, too.  Lieto will more than likely stay at OCFS and drive the Big Block powered modified owned by Ken Hermance.

 

Gary London:

More about the Kyle Busch thing.  Kind of disturbing news that Michael Waltrip will still be able to use the number “00” on his Cup car – a number that’s been in the Reutimann family since the 1950’s.  He thinks New Egypt is doing the right thing with the new 358 Modified rules.  More and more teams are getting out of racing today because the cost isn’t covered by what one can win/earn.  Bobby Santos, III one of the better prospects to have come along lately – what does his future hold? 

Note:  To advance today, if you are not a family member (Childress) and/or really know someone, or have some big bucks, you ain’t gonna get very far just on your talent.

 

Toby LaGrange:

Most of his column was about A/S and Howie Commander.  He says it wasn’t the fact that A/S was paved that led to it’s downfall but was because of track management and lack there of.  He’s concerned about how A/s coming back as a dirt track and running on Friday nights will affect Glen Ridge.

 

Dave Moody:

Believes that it was Aaron’s CEO Ken Butler that had a lot to do with David Reutimann being let go from the 00 Cup ride.  He also had about 2/3 of a page dealing with Kyle Busch.

 

Don and JoAnn Davies:

I’d say they had over two full pages about the World Finals races.  They made mention that the gates opened at 4:00 PM on Wednesday to get into the pit area.  Brett Hearn was there on Monday.  On Thursday there were 31 Modifieds, 55 Sprint Cars, 66 Late Models and 21 NDRA Modifieds for qualifying.  Charlie Langestein had double knee surgery.  He’s gone from a wheel chair to crutches to now walking very slowly.  Track officials at Charlotte spoke with each group of drivers telling them that while they were racing they should make sure their rigs were locked up and to make sure their valuables were secured.  Victory Lane” was on the track, in front of the grandstands.  For the racing on Saturday, there were 28 Modifieds, 54 Sprint Cars and 64 Late Models.

Note:  Yes, it’s a shame when things get stolen out of rigs and trailers when one is racing.  Maybe it’s more common than we think?  As for “Victory Lane” being on the track in front of the grandstands – hey, I’m all for that – especially when races are televised.  With today’s technology and cameras, it really isn’t necessary to bury “Victory Lane” in the middle of the infield where the PAYING fans can’t see it.

 

John Snyder:

John, living over by Connecticut, was pretty much affected by the freak snowstorm that hit the area.  His cable came on after his electricity, so for his “racing fix” he watched “Fever Heat”.  He checked out a Langhorne Speedway program from June 15, 1969 – a USAC 150 Mile Champ Car race.  At that time, Don Branson held the track record for Champ cars at 31.580 seconds and for Sprint Cars at 32.661 seconds.  Johnny Mackinson held the “Modified” record at 35.796 and Joe Leonard the NASCAR “Cup” record at 36.214.  The track was paved in 1965, and closed in 1971.  In 1968, Mario Andretti and Gordon Johncock timed in at 28.109, Dutch Hoag at 31.765 for “Mods” and Bobby Isaac at 32.540 for “Cup”.  Back in 1969 Hot dogs sold for .35, Hamburgers for .45, large Pepsi .30, coffee .15, cigars .15 and cigarettes .45.  Those prices included the 6% tax, too.

 

Herb Anastor:

His column dealt mostly with the 200 Mile Champ Car race that was held at Milwaukee on August 22, 1965 on the then paved on –mile track.  The day previous, there was a 100-mile race on the one-mile dirt track in Springfield, Illinois – a race AJ Foyt won.  Due to problems on the highway, the Rear Engined car for AJ Foyt was going to be late at Milwaukee, and not get there in time for qualifying.  That problem got solved by taking the dirt Champ car out of the trailer, washing the dirt and mud off of it, changing some shocks and putting wider “slick” tires on the car.  AJ went out and put the car on the pole.  Chances are he might have won that race if he didn’t have to pit for fuel.  He ended up second.  Some of those in rear engined Ford powered Indy cars that day were Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti and Parnelli Jones.

 

 

In AARN this Week’s issue of November 15th:

 

Ernie Davis 'Salvages'
Hagerstown 350 Weekend


Josh Richards Rockets
To Victory


Tyler Haydt Has
Mahoning Valley Poker Face


Cody Darrah's
Missing Money


Favorable November Weekend
For Short Tracks

 

 

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

In last weeks column, I missed Nick Pecko being 21st in the North-South Shoot Out at Caraway Speedway in asphalt modifieds.

At Penn Can last weekend, Danny Creeden was 10th in the Modified race while Mike Ruggiero was a DNQ.  Kyle Rohner won the Sportsman feature with Anthony Perrego 2nd, Tyler Dippel 8th and Tyler Boniface 20th.

Here’s hoping I didn’t miss anyone.  Not much racing going on now, so chances are this little section will be missing for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

Still more from the Track Forum:

 

DW12 Issues at IMS...Problem or Not? (This is about the new car - the Dan Wheldon 12 Indycar).

 

Some of what's being said:

 

"We've all heard the stories about the DW12's teething issues and that it isn't performing at IMS like Dallara had modeled. It snaps loose, can't get the speed up, etc...

 

So here's my question...assuming that the car isn't ridiculously horrible and objectively impossible to engineer to a reasonable base level...is this lack of performance maybe a good thing in some ways?

 

Let's say next year the pole speed is something like 215 or 216. Wouldn't that add some intrigue over the next few years as aero kits come out and as teams try to engineer solutions to the car's issues? Maybe the pole speed goes from 215 in 2012 to 225 in 2015...to me, that adds interest from a technical perspective. Which teams found answers? Which aero kits are making the car work best? Blah blah blah."

 

"Being slower than "modeled" is not a problem.

But the current state of the sport has a heavy emphasis on driver safety, so while a car that "snaps loose" is a good thing to separate the good racers from their grandmothers, it has the potential to be a very big problem if it's likely to result in a lot of seriously injured drivers."

 

"It's incredibly unlikely that the problem won't be fixed before May."

 

"Exactly.

 

I think the issue is that the simulator's are getting things wrong which is affecting the quality of the car on track. It's not really the car itself but the simulators not matching the real life expectations. Once they figure this out I can't see a reason why the DW12 can't at least match the speeds of the last generation Dallara."

 

"That's what I was thinking too.

 

I thought all the hawks around here were clamoring for a car that's less "stuck" and "harder to drive" and "requires the drivers to lift".

 

Isn't that exactly what this is?"

 

More on this can be found if you go here:

 

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?157679-DW12-Issues-at-IMS...Problem-or-Not

 

 

 

 

Racing and television:

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

 

 

 

 

Some non-racing stuff:

 

From an e-mail I received this past Monday:

 

Subject: Meet Maine 's New Governor

 

Date: Friday, October 28, 2011, 7:59 AM

 

Wow! How about this? A breath of fresh air!

 

Wow! How about this? A breath of fresh air!

 

 

Meet Maine 's New Governor --- In case you haven't heard about this guy before, his name will stick in your mind!

The new Maine Governor, Paul LePage is making New Jersey 's Chris Christie look like an enabler. He isn't afraid to say what he thinks. Judging by the comments, every time he opens his mouth, his popularity goes up.

 

He brought down the house at his inauguration when he shook his fist toward the media box and said, "You're on notice! I've inherited a financially troubled State to run. Observe...cover what we do...but don't whine if I don't waste time responding to your every whim just for your amusement."

 

During his campaign for Governor, he was talking to commercial fishermen who are struggling because of federal fisheries rules. They complained that 0bama brought his family to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park for a long Labor Day holiday and found time to meet with union leaders, but wouldn't talk to the fishermen. LePage replied, "I'd tell him to go to hell and get out of my State." The Lame Stream Media crucified LePage, but he jumped 6 points in the pre-election poll.

 

The Martin Luther King incident was a political sandbag, which brought him National exposure. The 'lame stream' media crucified him, but word on the street is very positive. The NAACP specifically asked LePage to spend MLK Day visiting black inmates at the Maine State Prison. He told them that he would meet with ALL inmates, regardless of race, if he were to visit the prison. The NAACP balked and then put out a news release claiming falsely that he refused to participate in any MLK events. He read it in the paper for the 1st time the next morning while being driven to an event and went ballistic because none of the reporters had called him for comment before running the NAACP release.

 

He arrived at that event & said in front of a TV camera, "If they want to play the race card on me they can kiss my ass", and he reminded them that he has an adopted black son from Jamaica and that he attended the local MLK Breakfast every year that he was mayor of Waterville. (He started his morning there on MLK Day.)

 

He then stated that there's a right way and a wrong way to meet with the Governor, and he put all special interests on notice that press releases, media leaks, and all demonstrations would prove to be the wrong way. He said any other group, which acted like the NAACP could expect to be at the bottom of the Governor's priority list!

 

He then did the following, and judging from local radio talk show callers, his popularity increased even more: The State employees union complained because he waited until 3 P.M. before closing State offices and facilities and sending non-emergency personnel home during the last blizzard. The prior Governor would often close offices for the day with just a forecast before the first flakes. (Each time the State closes for snow, it costs the taxpayers about $1 million in wages for no work in return.)

 

LePage was CEO of the Marden's chain of discount family bargain retail stores before election as governor. He noted that State employees getting off work early could still find lots of retail stores open to shop. So, he put the State employees on notice by announcing: "If Marden's is open, Maine is open!"

 

He told State employees: "We live in Maine in the winter, for heaven's sake, and should know how to drive in it. Otherwise, apply for a State job in Florida!"

 

Governor LePage symbolizes what America needs; Refreshing politicians who aren't self-serving and who exhibit common sense.

 

THE LAW IS THE LAW!

I really love this one.

This is one of the better e-mails I have received in a long time! I hope this makes its way around the USA several times over!!!!!

So, Be It!

 

THE LAW IS THE LAW So "if" the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

 

And "if" that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

 

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

 

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

 

I would like to think that those people have the American public's best interests at heart.

 

 

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

 

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government (Federal, State and Local) and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

 

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day.

 

I'd like the" US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays." After all, it's just another day.

 

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.

 

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."

 

In fact....

 

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God....) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

 

 

What do you all think????

 

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the "minority opinions" and begin, once again, to represent the "majority" of ALL of the American people.

SO BE IT...........

 

Please Dear Lord, Give us the help needed to keep you in our country!

'Amen' and 'Amen' Touché!

 

These are definitely things I never thought about but from now on, I will be sure to question those in government who support these changes.

 

At the top, it says, "I hope this makes its way around the USA several times over!!!!!" Let's see that it does

 

 

IF YOU GOOGLE THE NAME PAUL LEPAGE THERE IS A VIDEO SHOWING THE NAACP INCIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Is this true?:

 

Remember this, from last week?

 

Some non-racing stuff part 3:

 

Fannie Mae loss widens, asks taxpayers for $7.8B

 

In part:

 

"Mortgage giant Fannie Mae is asking the federal government for $7.8 billion in aid to cover its losses in the July-September quarter."

 

Well, how about this?

 

Fannie, Freddie executives score $100M payday post bailout

 

In part:

"Mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac received the biggest federal bailout of the financial crisis. And nearly $100 million of those tax dollars went to lucrative pay packages for top executives, filings show.

 

The top five executives at Fannie Mae received $33.3 million in 2009 and 2010, while the top five at Freddie Mac received $28.1 million. And each company has set pay targets of as much as $17 million for its top managers for 2011.

 

That's a total of $95.4 million, which will essentially be coming from taxpayers, who have been keeping the mortgage finance giants alive with regular quarterly cash infusions since the Federal Home Finance Agency (FHFA) took control of the companies in September 2008.

 

Fannie CEO Michael Williams and Freddie CEO Charles Halderman, each received about $5.5 million in pay for last year, and they could receive more when their final deferred compensation for 2010 is set. All the executives receive a significant portion of their pay in the year or years after they earn it."

 

"The CEOs' pay targets for 2011 are about $6 million a piece, though Halderman might not get much of that money since he's announced plans to leave Freddie sometime in 2012. He must still be at the company in order to receive the deferred compensation. His base pay for 2011 is $900,000, with most of the rest of his compensation coming in deferred payments.

 

The salary filings were all made by the companies in early 2011, but received relatively little attention until a recent report by Politico, the political news Web site, which highlighted about $12.8 million in bonuses the executives received for last year.

 

That published report sparked a political firestorm on Capitol Hill that could lead to legislation to put strict limits on pay at the two firms. But it only told part of the story. The full extent of salary, deferred pay and bonuses are only found in the filings."

 

More on this can be found here:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fannie-freddie-executives-score-100m-105300790.html

 

 

 

 

 

Video time:

 

How about taking a trip back in time to 1963 and to the Langhorne oiled dirt circular one-mile racetrack?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmfEGDsnxAU&feature=related

 

 

 

Interesting e-mails that I get:

 

Most have to do with our every day lives.

 

The “Bakken”:

 

WORTH READING AND PASS ALONG

 

As you may know, Cruz Construction started a division in North Dakota just 6 months ago. They sent every Kenworth (9 trucks) we had here in Alaska to North Dakota and several drivers. They just bought two new Kenworth's to add to that fleet; one being a Tri Drive tractor and a new 65 ton lowboy to go with it. They also bought two new cranes (one crawler & one rubber tired) for that division.

Dave Cruz said they have moved more rigs in the last 6 months in ND than Cruz Construction moved in Alaska in the last 6 years. Williston is like a gold rush town; they moved one of our 40 man camps down there since there are no rooms available. Unemployment in ND is the lowest in the nation at 3.4 percent last I checked. See anything in the national news about how the oil industry is fueling North Dakota's economy? Here's an astonishing read. Important and verifiable information: About 6 months ago, the writer was watching a news program on oil and one of the Forbes Bros. was the guest. The host said to Forbes, "I am going to ask you a direct question and I would like a direct answer; how much oil does the U.S. have in the ground?" Forbes did not miss a beat, he said, "more than all the Middle East put together." The U. S. Geological Service issued a report

in April 2008 that only scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big. It was a revised report (hadn't been updated since 1995) on how much oil was in this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota, western South Dakota, and extreme eastern Montana. Check THIS out: The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery since Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American dependence on foreign oil. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates it at 503 billion barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil is recoverable (5 billion barrels), at $107 a barrel, we're looking at a resource base worth more than $5.3 trillion. "When I first briefed legislators on this, you could practically see their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea." says Terry Johnson, the Montana Legislature's financial analyst. "This sizable find is now the highest-producing onshore oil field found in the past 56 years," reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. It's a formation known as the Williston Basin, but is more commonly referred to as the 'Bakken.' It stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and into Canada. For years, U S. oil exploration has been considered a dead end. Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up searching for major oil wells decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough has opened

up the Bakken's massive reserves, and we now have access of up to 500 billion barrels. And because this is light, sweet oil, those billions of barrels will cost Americans just $16 PER BARREL!!!!!! That's enough crude to fully fuel the American economy for 2041 years straight. And if THAT didn't throw you on the floor, then this next one should - because it's from 2006!!!!!!

U S. Oil Discovery - Largest Reserve in the World Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006

Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world. It is more than 2 TRILLION barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. In three and a half years of high oil prices none has been extracted. With this motherload of oil why are we still fighting over off-shore drilling? They reported this stunning news: We have more oil inside our borders, than all the other proven reserves on earth. Here are the official estimates: 8 times as much oil as Saudi Arabia , 18 times as much oil as Iraq , 21 times as much oil as Kuwait , 22 times as much oil as Iran, 500 times as much oil as Yemenand it's all right here in the Western United States!!!!!! HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT BE extracting this? Because the environmentalists and others have blocked all efforts to help America become independent of foreign oil! Again, we are letting a small group of people dictate our lives and our economy. WHY? James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says we've got more oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East, more than 2 TRILLION barrels untapped.That's more than all the proven oil

reserves of crude oil in the world today, reports The Denver Post .Don't think 'OPEC' will drop its price even with this find? Think again! It's all about the competitive marketplace, it has to. Think OPEC just might be funding the environmentalists? Got your attention yet? Now, while you're thinking about it, do this: Pass this along. If you don't take a little time to do this, then you should stifle yourself the next time you complain about gas prices, by doing NOTHING, you forfeit your right to complain. Now I just wonder what would happen in this country if every one of you sent this to everyone in your address book. By the way, this can be verified. Check it out at the link below! http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1911

 

No virus found in this message.

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.1869 / Virus Database: 2092/4610 - Release Date: 11/11/11

 

Note:  It was a while back when I made mention of the “Bakken” in a couple of my columns.  The first was similar to the above, while the second was that this was mentioned on NBC’s News with Brian Williams and how they were looking for help and how there wasn’t enough housing to take care of all the people that were going there to work.  Now, it would seem to me that by now, some oil has to have been extracted, since there is so much “work” going on.

 

 

 

Photos:

 

I’m going to try posting a photo a week for a while.

 

Here’s a headshot of Al Keller.  This can’t be seen on my column on Dirt Track Digest, so to see it you’ll have to go to the New England Tractor website at:  http://newenglandtractor.com/racereport/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing with this:

 

A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has cheated him out of $10,000,000.00

His bookkeeper is deaf. That was the reason he got the job in the first place.

It was assumed that Guido would hear nothing so he would not have to testify in court.

When the Godfather goes to confront Guido about his missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer who knows sign language.

The Godfather tells the lawyer, "Ask him where's the money?  The lawyer, using sign language, asks Guido where's the money?.

Guido signs back, ‘I don't know what you are talking about.’ The lawyer tells the Godfather, "He says he doesn't know what you are talking about"

The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido's temple and says, "Ask him again ! "

The lawyer signs to Guido, "He'll kill you if you don't tell him.." Guido signs back, ‘OK. ! ! ! ! You win ! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed at my cousin Bruno's house.’

The Godfather asks the lawyer, "What did he say?" The lawyer replies, "He says you don't have the balls to pull the trigger."

 

 

 

 

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