MERRITTVILLE MAYHEM PACKS ‘EM IN!
(By Bruce Bonham)
Hughie Tripp unloads his immaculately-prepared old timer for the vintage car make up 12-lap feature.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
THOROLD, ON — Eighty-five laps of L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified, 50 laps of Original Pizza Logs Sportsman and 30 circuits of Hoosier Stocks, Seneca Niagara Casino Dwarf Cars and Four Cylinders, could only mean one thing: Lots of racing and a packed speedway, in for double feature night, all created by sudden rain last week.
Unfortunately, caution laps practically out numbered race laps as rambunctious lead-footers fought for front positions.
(Photo by Moniques)
To clean up last week, the 50-lap Jerry Winger Memorial Classic was handily won by Pete Bicknell, squirting his test-engined car into the 16-time Merrittville mod champ’s familiar position when overhauling defending champ, Larry Lampman taking the high line out of Turn 4 on Lap 15.
Robbie Krull’s terrible luck continued as the popular Cambria, N.Y. fast one challenged the boss from second, but left the scene on the final lap with more mechanical woes.
That left the door open for vet Brian Stevens to file in the runner up spot, followed by Scott Wood and Freddy Carleton.
Before Krull’s car broke, he picked up some extra cash, winning the Bob MacPerson Memorial Dash-for-Cash.
(Photo by Moniques)
In the regular 35-mod lapper, it was a stroke of luck the lights went out during the first-lap caution, with the field in slow down mode after Kenny Winfield and Paul Ashton tangled between Turns 1 and 2.
Although the track’s wiring — and perhaps a pesky racoon – accounted for previous dimmers this season, the flickering this time can be attributed to Ontario Power.
With lighting restored, Sanborn, New Yorker Richie Vinson roared into Turn 1 on the third lap to take over the lead from Todd Gordon ... and stayed their despite a near disaster near the end with a lapped car.
“Even before racing tonight, I felt good about my chances,” said Vinson. “We made some changes on the car, the pit crew was tremendous with their input on what we should do with the car ... and it worked great!”
While Vinson picked his way around the slick track, a hot battle for second took place to keep the house on the edge of their bleacher boards.
Mid way, four cars, Carleton, Bicknell, Wood and Stevens ran excitingly close for the second spot. Interrupted by only three cautions, Carleton somehow held off third-place finisher Bicknell with Stevens and Wood accounting for the top five.
“Fred (Carleton) was very fast and steady tonight,” was Bicknell’s comment when asked about their tussle and starting from the rear when testing his DIRT series racer.
(Photo by Moniques)
The Pizza Logs’ Sportsman crew were over anxious from the 25-lapper’s get go, running into Turn 3 four wide, but flashing the yellow lights with the mess heading for the front stretch.
That was the first of 10 cautions which made for frustrating, low speed racing, but enjoyable for Boyd MacTavish, who finally broke through at his home track with a win in the Kendricks 9G.
“Yeah, we’ve been strong, but things haven’t been going our way,” said MacTavish amid his jubilant crew and father, former driver Bev, watching in the wings. “We’ve been getting to the front, but just not far enough. We’ve done some engine research with builder Gordy McKee and we’re going to be good.”
MacTavish took over the point just before half way and just before Dave Flannigan tested the barriers up at Turns 1 and 2, shattering the heavy duty plastic and heading for the farmer’s field. He climbed from his car uninjured.
Martin Pohill, winner of a single feature earlier this season hung on for second, while Chad Chevalier’s good finish was thwarted with a flat tire. Defending champ Wayne Conn crossed the line third while Adam Ferri drove to fourth.
(Photo by Moniques)
In the calmer second round, where the yellow light was lit only once, it looked like Mike Ward might have the edge before Billy Bleich appeared and made the move for his first-ever sportsman victory, after toiling several seasons in pro stock.
“We’ve been working hard,” said a happy Bleich. “In the first race we bent the frame. The crew worked on it, squared it up the best we could, and I’m gonna leave it!”
Jim Ruston, on an excellent run challenging the leader, was bumped out of contention by Greg Panunte at Turn 4 relegating the Port Colborne pilot to the tail end of the pack.
Chevalier was scored second while Ferri took third and opening feature winner MacTavish was fourth.
(Photo by Moniques)
With 27 entries for the first Hoosier Stockers’ 15 lapper, Rick Simons’ No. 69 took the early lead, but was passed by Pete Reid at the Lap 2 restart for tangled cars of Tyler McPherson and Terry Larmet on the back straight.
Lurking from the 18th starting spot, two-time winner Rob Murray, see-sawing through the fierce field to finish and impressive second. fronting Rick Champigny, while Simmons was shuffled back to fourth.
Erik Tomas, far right, host of Raceline Radio and the Voice of Merrittville Speedway takes time to talk to the track’s popular Fat Kats Kids Club.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
The first 10 laps of Hoosier 2 had seven cautions and a pair of red lights glowing over the slippery surface ... but produced another first time winner when Ron Kingsbury survived.
(Photo by Moniques)
“As everybody knows, it’s a real strong field out here,” said an elated Kingsbury in the Auto FX Victory lane. “You saw the race and it was just chaos, but I’m happy to be here, man. It feels as good as I thought it would.”
The first race stopper flew when the first winner Reid got into trouble on Lap 4. Three laps later J.T. Miller wiggled out of his inverted racer turned turtle uninjured, between Turns 1 and 2.
Mike Dooley, point leader going in to the night, snatched the lead at the sixth restart, then caused the final yellow light three laps later when spinning out of Turn 4.
With Kingsbury re-leading, Murray once again moved up to second, this time from the 17th on the grid, while John Johnson managed third ahead of Champigny.
(Photo by Moniques)
Don Fenner’s long tow from the Syracuse, N.Y. area paid double dividends winning both Seneca Niagara Casino Dwarf Car 15 lappers.
Coming from the rear of the first little car pack, Fenner caught and passed race leader Justin Sharp on the back straight on the final lap.
Sharp, who lead the majority of the race, but was put back in the order when jumping the Lap 2 restart spun out in the closing stages coming out of Turn 4 while Wally Billing fended off Fenner’s traveling companion Jeff Barker for second. Scott Billing slid home third.
In the second Dwarfer Fennor passed 13 cars to speed up to the point seven laps in.
“We welded some rods on the rear end before we came out and it broke when winning the last feature,” said Fennor looking under his little No. 28. “Now it’s really broke! I love running here at Merrittville.”
Shawn Sliter, on another good run took second while Chris Steele showed up third.
(Photo by Moniques)
Norm Mark found himself in Victory Lane for the sixth time after taking the lead on Lap 3. Harassed by single 15 laps feature winner Paul Klager briefly, but broke down with three laps left, Rob Goulding slotted into second, with his cousin and point leader Trevor Goulding taking third.
(Photo by Moniques)
Trevor Goulding realized that third wasn’t good enough, so he motored up to the front early on and stayed there for his third victory of the season, putting cousin Rob in his dust and Mark third.
Wayne (Chopper) Wright, the speedways long-time head parking attended and keeper of the track-side gate, directs fans in the parking lot, pre race. Shortly after racing got underway, the lot was full and grands stands packed.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
Tail Pipes: You can always get a feel for fan attendance when the Thorold Black Hawks 50-50 draw reaches $2,400, proving that Saturday was one of the biggest crowds of the season, many taking advantage of a $2. reduction in ticket prices due to last week’s rain when only qualifying heats were staged. Look for karter-turned four cylinder runner Paul Klager to run the No. 84 cart-engine sportsman sometime next month ... Fourteen-year-old Jessie Pontello, who little racer was displayed pre-race, showed well this time out. Next week, Modern Landfill presents a regular card with second annual truckers’ Show and Shine ... Ontario Civic Holiday stages the 12th Trevor Wilkens Memorial 358 modified 100 lapper, a DIRT tour event, supported by Pete Cosco Haulage ... the card includes a 25-lap Hoosier and four cylinders.
RESULTS:
L. St. Amand Enterprises Jerry Winger Memorial Modified #1. (50 laps): PETE BICKNELL, Brian Stevens, Scott Wood, Fred Carleton, Larry Lampman, Ricky Richner, Jamie Turner, Todd Gordon, Richie Vinson, Rob Pietz, Kenny winfield, Robbie Krull, George Bossy, Paul Ashton, Chris Ricker, Pete Cosco, Travis Cunningham, Gary Kruchka, Tim Jones, Dwayne Winfield, John Cornwall, Brad Malloy.
3rd Heat: Ricky Richner
(Photo by Moniques)
Dash for Cash: ROBBIE KRULL, Larry Lampman, Todd Gordon, Pete Bicknell, Brian Stevens, Rich Richner.
L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified #2. (35 laps):RICHIE VINSON, Fred Carleton, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Brian Stevens, Larry Lampman, Rick Richner, Todd Gordon, Jamie Turner, Robbie Krull, Chris Ricker, Rob Pietz, Paul Ashton, Pete Cosco, Ken Winfield, Gary Kruchka, Brad Malloy, Pee Wee Evans.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman #1. (25 laps): BOYD MACTAVISH, Martin Polhill, Wayne Conn, Adam Ferri, Bobby Davidson, Dereck Lemyre, Dennis Giancola, Bill Bleich, Jessie Pontella, Tim Zack, Tom Flannigan, Doug Speice, Mike Ward, Darren Zumpe, Jim Ruston, Billy Willard.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman #2. (25 laps): BILL BLEICH, Chad Chevalier, Adam Ferri, Boyd MacTavish, Martin Polhill, Wayne Conn, Billy Willard, Dereck Lemyre, Tim Zack, Dennis Giancola, Darren Zumpe, Doug Spiece, Tom Flannigan, Greg Panunte, Bobby Davidson.
Hoosier Street Stocks # 1. (15 laps): PETER REID, Rob Murray, Rick Champigny, Rick Simmons, Kirk Wilson, Dave Gifford, Rob Knapp, Kevin Kocarik, Russ Davidson, Dave Dykstra, J.T. Miller, John Johnson, Mike Dooley, Terry Larmet, Ron Kingsbury, Dave Stolzenberg, Greg Ayres, Chris Schneider, Brad Sheehan, Danielle Landry, Ed Fargnoli, Travis Braun, Bob McIntyre, Graham MacKay, Rick Beales, Tyler McPherson, Colton Chappious.s
Hoosier Street Stocks # 2. (15 laps): RON KINGSBURY, Rob Murray, John Johnson, Rick Champigny, Greg Ayres, Dave Gifford, Rick Beales, Rob Knapp, Tyler McPherson, Russ Davidson, Mike Dooley, Danielle Landry, Rick Simmons, Dave Stolzenberg, Chris Schneider, Bob McIntyre, Brad Sheehan, Terry Larmet, Ed Fargnoli, Kevin Kocarik, Kirk Wilson, J.T. Miller, Travis Braun, Peter Reid, Dave Dykstra.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars #1. (15 laps): DON FENNER, Wally Billing, Jeff Barker, Scott Billing, Shawn Sliter, Chris Steele, Dave Russell, Dereck Bredon, Bob Bredon, Sam Morse, Justin Sharp, Kory Howe, John Wrobel, Dave Arnold, Ken Knapp, Ray Sliter, Dennis Kemper, Dave Ackler, Mark Brighton.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars #2. (15 laps): DON FENNER, Shawn Sliter, Chris Steele, Dave Russell, Jeff Barker, Kellie Mason, Scott Billing, Wally Billing, Bob Bredon, Dave Ackler, Kory Howe, Derek Bredon, Sam Morse, Dave Arnold, John Wrobel, Ray Sliter, Ken Knapp, Justin Sharp, Mark Brighton
Four cylinder #1. (15 laps):NORM MARK, Rob Goulding, Trevor Goulding, Glenn Leinen, Mike Giberson, Kevin Soules, Rob Overholt, Gord Bates, Vic Mealing, Roger Shenstone, Dave Small, Ron Jordan, Craig Erskine, Mark Swayze, Paul Klager, Carey Gores
Four cylinder #1. (15 laps):TREVOR GOULDING, Rob Goulding, Norm Mark, Paul Klager, Tony Kelly, Mike Giberson, Gord Bates, Vic Mealing, Glenn Leinen, Roger Shenstone, Larry Erskine, Rob Overholt, Ron Jordan, Carey Gore, Kevin Soules, Dave Small.
(Photo by Moniques)
Vintage (12 Laps): PETER LINDBERG, Alan Harju, Ted Renshaw, Andy Imbeault, Hughie Tripp, Don Nicholls.
Small car Demo: Chris James.