BICKNELL SWEEPS THE FIELD A FIFTH TIME
(By Bruce Bonham)
Erik Tomas, right, stands beside Pete Bicknell’s Syracuse car with John Bassett IV — who works for Rodgers Sportsnet — Friday at Molson Indy’s Thunder Alley. Bicknell’s car created many curious on-lookers at the Raceline Radio display. Bassett’s father, John III, owner of the old Toronto Telegram newspaper, was instrumental in bringing Indy cars to Canada when staging the Telegram Trophy Race at Mosport in 1967.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
THOROLD, ON — Pete Bicknell is on a mission.
And with his immaculate No. 42 housing the experimental, bargain basement engine, he’s proving to the L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified gang you can do more with less.
(Photo by Moniques)
Last Tuesday at Ransomville Speedway, pitted against DIRT Motorsports Big Block bunch, Bicknell impressively finished second. Although he was disqualified because of an under weight chassis, the fact that he finished second over the Big R is a true testimony of the economic set up.
In what he considers a career highlighting drive at Ransomville, the extra fuel consumption of the configuration showed the car light on the scales.
At Merrittville Speedway Saturday, the co-owner of the speedway once again proved his trade mark Turn 2 high sweeper was responsible for registering his 101 “official” 35-lap home track win.
“When you’re down a little on horse power, it makes you drive harder — and that’s good!” said Bicknell in the Bryan Fretz Financial Victory Lane. “Sure, the car’s definitely good too. It’s a good combination and, I’m surprised, It pulls good on restarts.”
At the drop of Barry Davidson’s green flag Robbie Krull blasted off in the lead, only to be expensively thwarted from what promised to be another great run for the Sanborn, N.Y. hot shoe.
But the huge plume of smoke emitting from the popular driver’s tail pipes put him in the pits for the night when his engine grenaded six laps in.
That gave Scott Wood clearance from second, until Richie Vinson made a move to take the lead, but only briefly.
Wood battled back to re-lead coming out of Turn 4 on lap 17, before Bicknell showed up and swept by 10 laps from the end.
The red flag flew when a hard-charging Freddy Carleton got sideways between Turns 1 and 2, creating a huge pile up involving Todd Gordon, Rob Peitz, and Western New Yorkers, Don Spatarico and Ricky Richner.
Second-place finisher and defending Mod champ Larry Lampman expertly drove to the front of the pack and was chasing Wood for second, taking that spot with three only circuits left while Vinson and Brian Stevens accounted for the top five.
(Photo by Moniques)
Defending Original Pizza Logs Sportsman title holder Wayne Conn started the skirmish on 10th position, but quickly stepped up to the front of the 25 lapper, overhauling early leader Chad Chevalier by Lap 5.
Billy Willard, perhaps in his final season of driving after a quarter century on the sportsman circuit, stuck to second while Conn cruised, holding off a strong challenge by third-place ender Boyd MacTavish. Martin Polhill registered fourth.
“We’ve had a lot of bad luck this year, tires going down, wrong time, wrong place ...,” said Conn after waving the checkered flag from the roof of his mount. “We’ve got a new chassis and new motor here tonight, so this could be the turning point.”
(Photo by Moniques)
In the 15-lap Hoosier Stocks’ battle, Dave Gifford looked to be in complete control, taking the point in front of exciting, four-wide racing.
Initially put back two spots for jumping the start, Gifford was back on top after a Lap 8 restart — until sliding off the edge of Turn 4 and losing any hope of victory.
That’s when Rob Murray came to the front from deep in the 26-car pack, held off former champ Kirk Wilson and took his fifth checkered flag of the season.
John Johnson produced a good result finishing third while point leader Mike Dooley, also mired in the pack, moved up to fourth.
(Photo by Moniques)
Kellie Mason became a two-time winner in the Seneca Niagara Casino Dwarf Car series when bolting onto the lead storming into Turn 1 of the 15 lapper and holding on the lead, despite Scott Billing’s rude advances.
“I haven’t got a clue how I stayed in front of Scott this time,” said an elated Mason, who after four years toiling in the little cars has become a threat every race. “I just tried to keep my line, keep goin’. The car was perfect tonight and the track had a lot of grip. ”
Despite a Lap 4 incident which put Dave Russell to the tail of the field, he moved up enough to finish third.
The red flag also flew for a frightening front stretch crash when Shawn Sliter made contact and found himself flying through the air, flipping at least a half-dozen times before coming to rest on his side. He emerged from the wreckage uninjured and said later that he probably wouldn’t cut the grass this weekend.
(Photo by Moniques)
Norm Mark, DQ’d last week for an illegal valve train, was up front for the fifth time taking his customary up front spot early and holding off challenges from Glenn Leinen and point leader Trevor Goulding.
Even a Lap 8 yellow flag didn’t faze the Fort Erie winner or the last-lap shoot out, didn’t deter Mark. Paul Klager finished third, behind Goulding.
Christine Porter stands three-for-three in the Ladies Race for the Cup, dominating with her right foot on the accelerator.
Defending champ Charlene Dooley, whose mother vowed never to come to the speedway when she raced, but tricked not only Mom but her father into coming, was a solid second. Nancy Cabral was third.
Erik Tomas, left, and his broadcasting partner John Messenberg interview Canadian Champ Car driver Alex Tagliani Friday at the Raceline Radio’s Molson Indy Thunder Alley position .
Bruce Bonham photo
Tail Pipes: Retired Mod driver Dan Miller returned to the cockpit, driving the crate-engined sportsman, finishing 11th. Next Saturday, Direct Energy Essential Home Services helps Merrittville Speedway celebrate it’s 53-year of existence, a Canadian race-track record ... Several hundred speedway alumni are expected to attend the pre-race barbeque ... Reunion chairman Rick Kavanagh has assembled several vintage dirt track racers, memorabilia and other attractions ... Three new Wall of Fame recipients will be announced while the evening is capped of with the L. St. Amand Enterprises 358 Modified Jerry Winger Memorial classic 50 lapper — won by Brian Stevens last year — a Syracuse Qualifier for October’s Super DIRT Week.
Rob Knapp, last week’s Hoosier Stock winner, gets a little advice and help from long-time companion Chrissy Machaud before Saturday’s 15-lap feature. Unfortunately Knapp didn’t take the green flag.
(Bruce Bonham photo)
RESULTS:
L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified (35 laps): PETE BICKNELL, Larry Lampman, Scott Wood, Richie Vinson, Brian Stevens, Tim Jones, Rob Peitz, Jamie Turner, Paul Ashton, Ricky Richner, Pete Cosco, Gary Kruchka, Brad Gravestock, Kenny Winfield, Don Spatarico, Pee Wee Evans, Corey Gruhl, Fred Carleton, Todd Gordon, Robbie Krull.
Heats: 1. Jamie Turner 2. Todd Gordon 3. Ricky Richner.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman (25 laps): WAYNE CONN, Billy Willard, Boyd MacTavish, Martin Polhill, Greg Panunte, Chad Chevalier, Bobby Davidson, Adam Ferri, Mike Ward, Dennis Giancola, Dan Miller, Stan Zanchin, Jim Ruston,
Darren Zumpe, Tom Flannigan, Billy Bleich, Dereck Lemyre.
Heats: 1.Martin Polhill 2. Greg Panunte 3. Wayne Conn.
Hoosier Street Stocks (15 laps): ROB MURRAY, Kirk Wilson, John Johnson, Mike Dooley, Brad Sheehan, Dave Dykstra, Rick Champigny, Greg Ayres, Travis Braun, Ron Kingsbury, Ed Fargnoli, Rick Beales, Tyler McPherson, Rick Simmons, Kevin Kocarik, Graham MacKay, Danielle Landry, Chris Schneider, Dave Gifford, Peter Reid, Danny Gilbert, J.T. Miller, Terry Larmet, Trevor Collier.
Heats: 1. Mike Dooley 2. John Johnson 3. Rick Champigny.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars (15 laps):KELLIE MASON, Scott billing, Dave Russell, Chris Steele, Bob Breden, Rick Brubacher, Dereck Bredon, Dave Arnold, Ken Knapp, Ray Sliter, Kory Howe, Shawn Sliter, Justin Sharp, Wally Billing, Dave Ackler, Mark Brighton’s
Heats: 1. Chris Steele 2. Kellie Mason
Four cylinder (15 laps): NORM MARK, Trevor Goulding, Paul Klager, Glenn Leinen, Mike Giberson, Corey Gore, Rick Brubacher, Justin Sharp, Mark Swayze, Roger Shenstone, Tom Overholt, Rob Goulding, Gord Bates, Tony Kelly.
Heats: 1. Trevor Goulding 2. Mike Giberson.
Ladies Race for the Cup (8 laps): CHRISTINE PORTER, Charlene Dooley, Nancy Cabral, Karen Kocarik, 01, Jane Miller.