BICKNELL CRACKS 100 DIRT WIN MARK AT MERRITTVILLE
(By Bruce Bonham)
Veteran mod driver Freddy Carleton gets a little help from son, Fred Jr., unloading their former Alan Johnson Bicknell 2004X.
(Photo by Bruce Bonham)
THOROLD, ON — Pete Bicknell’s win at Merrittville Speedway was a milestone in the DIRT Motorsports’ stats book, but, according to the co-owners of Canada’s longest-operating dirt facility, it’s really more than 100 wins.
(Photo by Moniques)
In a brutal L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified 35 lapper needing seven restarts to the checkered flag, Bicknell gradually worked his way to the front, shadowed by Brian Stevens, and crossed the finish line a leader, despite contacting an out-of-control Travis Cunningham coming out of Turn 4.
Stevens, also mired in the 22-car pack at the start took over second from speedy early leader Todd Gordon 23-laps in, while New Yorker Richie Vinson sped to third with three laps left.
Bicknell’s “official” 100th Merrittville victory was made more significant since the boss was running the economy mod engine equipped with bargain aluminum cylinder heads, repotting it’s distinctive sound and marking the configuration an out-of-the-box winner.
“In all reality, I’ve really had over 100 wins here,” said Bicknell surveying the rear-end body damage on this 42-Special after his last-lap close encounter and asked how much 100 wins means. “But that’s good, because it means I’m in the DIRT record book ... and that certainly means something to me.
“I just proved tonight, running this spec engine, that it can win,” when the inductee into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame was asked about the waning 358 mod class. “You know, I could pass on the bottom, pass on the top. Everyone said I’d be a slug and the motor would be dead on restarts, but I didn’t have a problem there.”
Although running the new engine gave Bicknell a 100 pound weight reduction to compensate for the decreased horsepower, he said that wasn’t a factor in the car’s performance.
“I told engine builder Joe Fioravanti to put the cheapest parts in this engine, saving about $15,000.
“As far as the 100-pound weight reduction, we really couldn’t shave that much off. In reality we might be only 60 pounds lighter than normal.”
The opening lap became a heartbreaker for Robbie Krull, winner here Canada Day when pitted against BRP Big Blocks, plus a convincing win at Ransomville Speedway Friday. A huge pile up involving about 10 cars wrecked is No. 123 and dashed any hopes for a three-peat to Victory Lane.
Fred Carleton, on another good run and moving to the front, was involved in a Lap 18, six-car disturbance, but managed to come home eighth, behind fifth place finisher Tim Jones — also running the aluminum heads — Kenny Winfield and Ricky Richner.
(Photo by Moniques)
Once Original Pizza Logs Sportsman racer Dereck Lemyre slithered to the front, the Hamilton regular runner here and Ohsweken Speedway registered his first career 25-lap win.
“I just tried to be smooth, not make any mistakes and pick off the lapped cars ... and it worked!, Said Lemyre celebrating with crew and family in the Clare’s Cycle and Sports Victory Lane.
“Some times I’m my own worst enemy,” when asked how much patience it took to deal with lapped traffic. “I tried to maybe settle down a little bit and be smoother. Tonight might be a turning point.”
In behind Lemyre, hopelessly chased by Chad Chevalier in the early going before losing control in the closing stages, Greg Panunte and Bobby Davidson were battling for third place, while defending champ Wayne Conn made his presence known.
Panunte overhauled Davidson on Lap 16, while Chevalier lost the handle, late, giving the Port Colborne pilot a solid second, Davidson, third and Conn fourth.
(Photo by Moniques)
Rob Knapp has been at Merrittville in several classes, but Saturday’s stop in the Hoosier Street Stocks’ winner’s circle was his first in many moons and he was Merrittville’s happiest camper, taking the front spot from Ron Kingsbury by the fourth circuit and holding on to the Lap 15 checkered flag for his first win in four years
Two time winner, Peter Reid stuffed his No. 05 into the front stretch wall hard creating heavey damage, but emerging uninjured, and done for the night.
Kingsbury held off Rob Murray — winner the past two weeks — for second with Greg Ayres and Mike Dooley rolling home fourth and fifth respectively.
(Photo by Moniques)
In one of the most thrilling drives of the season Seneca Niagara Casino Dwarf Car visitor Don Fenner of the Syracuse, N.Y. area unload at Merrittville’s and wowed the decent crowd, sweeping the high side of the tacky race track from 14th and leading three turns later.
“I got the lead out of my butt and put it in my foot and took advantage of the big openings in the outside,” said the two-time Brewerton Speedway winner who’s invaded Merrittville a third night this season with buddy Jeff Baker. “I like running here, the racing’s clean, track the best and the people are just great.”
Fenner’s buddy was also impressive. Baker had a splendid run from 13th to the front and getting by point leader Scott Billing in the late stages, while Dave Russell competes another fine run, finishing fourth.
At the drop of the 15-lap Four Cylinder skirmish, Tony Kelly stick handled into the lead. But it didn’t last long, as three-time feature winner Norm Mark stormed out of Turn 4 from 11th to take the point.
Point leader Trevor Goulding worked his way to the second slot from deep in the field and stayed there.
And once again Paul Klager, last weeks winner for the first time, also came to the front to score third and knocks on the title door in his rookie season.
The Fort Erie Mark brothers, Norm, left, and Jeff, check out the engine in Jeff’s mount. Norm, a veteran of at least 15 years of dirt wars, won Saturday’s 15-lap feature, but lost his points after post-race inspection. Jeff has a single victory.
Bruce Bonham Photo
Tail Pipes: Former late model and sportsman champion-turned car owner, Terry St. Amand visited the speedway, attracted by his life-long love affair of motorcycles as the night was sponsored by Niagara’s largest bike dealer, Clare’s ... St. Amand fielded cars for several notable drivers, including Jimmy Begolo, Don McGinnis, Fred Carleton and was responsible giving the legendary Davey Moore the speedway’s final modified win of the century ... St. Amand jokingly claimed he’d rather dig a hole in his back yard, deposit $50,000 and cover it up then return to racing. The Merrittville lighting system blinked with three laps to go in the Sportsman feature, but according to several drivers, the dimness caused no problems and gave track staff a little more time towards track maintenance. With the track well used up by powerful BRP big blocks and super stocks Canada Day, and constant sun and wind beating on the dirt surface, track-prep crew did yeoman’s work to produce another splendid racing surface the entire evening ... Jon Cornwell filled in for Goeregetown’s Tim Murdock, out of action with a broken collar bone ... It’s clear the Hoosier Street Stock slammers have cleaned up their act significantly ... According to point leader Mike Dooley, his 310c suffered no body damage after last Thursday’s 15-lap main Karter Paul Klager, in the top five in all Four Cylinder features said, pre race, his secret of success was staying out of harm’s way ... Klager is ons the list to drive the crate engine-equipped sportsman No. 84 before season’s end ... Officials are trying to determine if the Beamsville speeder can do both classes and not jeopardize his championship run. Next Saturday, Bryan Fretz Financial presents a regular card which contains the third Ladies Race for the Cup ... Christine Porter has convincingly won both races.
RESULTS:
L. St. Amand Enterprises Modified (35 laps): PETE BICKNELL, Brian Stevens, Richie Vinson, Todd Gordon, Tim Jones, Kenny Winfield, Rick Richner, Jamie Turner, Scott Wood, Don Spatorico, Fred Carleton, Jon Cornwell, Gary Kruchka, Dwayne Winfield, Travis Gunningham, Brad Malloy, Gorey, Gruhl, Larry Lampman, Robbie Krull, Rob Pietz, Paul Ashton, Pete Cosco.
Heats: 1. Brad Malloy 2. Kenny Winfield 3. Paul Ashton.
Original Pizza Logs Sportsman (25 laps): DERECK LEMYRE, Greg Panunte, Bobby Davidson, Wayne Conn, Billy Bleich, Jim Ruston, Boyd MacTavish, Billy Willard, Adam Ferri, Martin Polhill, Dennis Giancola, Stan Zanchin, Mike Kruchka, Mike Ward, John Kaas, Darren Zumpe, Tom Flannigan, Chad Chevalier, Dave Flannigan.
Heats: 1.Billy Willard 2. Dennis Giancola 3. Greg Panunte.
Hoosier Street Stocks (15 laps): ROB KNAPP, Ron Kingsbury, Rob Murray, Greg Ayres, Mike Dooley, Travis Braun, Dave Dykstra, J.T. Miller, Kevin Kocarik, Terry Larmet, Brad Sheehan, John Johnson, Rick Champigny, Danielle Landry, Russ Davidson, Ed Fargnoli, Rick Simmons, Tyler McPherson, Chris Schneider, Peter Reid, Kirk Wilson, Dave Gifford, J.P. Gosselin.
Heats: 1.Danielle Landry 2. Rob Knapp 3. Rick Beales.
Seneca Casino Dwarf Cars (15 laps): DON FENNER, Jeff Baker, Scott Billing, Jeff Baker, Dave Russell, Dave Ackler, Justin Sharp, Rick Brubacker, Chris Steele, Kellie Mason, Shawn Sliter, Wally Billing, Bob Bredon, Dereck Breden, Kory Howe, Ken Knapp.
Heats: 1. Jeff Baker 2. Don Fenner.
Four cylinder (15 laps): NORM MARK, Trevor Goulding, Paul Klager, Rob Goulding, Mike Giberson, Glenn Leinen, Tony Kelly, Ron Jourdain, Jeff Mark, Larry Erskine, Rob Overholt, Gord Bates, Vic Mealing, Corey Gore, Roger Shenstone.
Heats: 1. Norm Mark 2. Vic Mealing.