MERRITTVILLE’S 51ST SEASON OF CONTINUOUS RACING CELEBRATED SATURDAY
AS THREE NEW WALL OF FAMERS INDUCTED
Avondale Food Stores and Eric Charles were all on hand for some awesome racing – Merrittville style. Larry Lampman dominated the 51-lap modified Jerry Winger Memorial, leading from green straight through to checkered, with only a little bit of opposition by Chad Brachmann in the last laps of the race. Derek Lemyre made it two in a row on Saturday night with his prostock win. Wayne Conn won the sportsman feature and Peter Reid brought home the checkered in the street stock division. Twelve vintage cars took to the track in honour of alumni night, and Denny Lindberg came home victorious.
The Merrittville Speedway Reunion Committee made up of hard working members Bruce Swartz, Jeno Begolo, Ted Renshaw, Jim Irvine and chair Rick Kavanagh worked for months to prepare for the annual alumni banquet held at the track. Over 250 Merrittville alumni gathered to greet old friends for some pre-race dinner and camaraderie, while there they had a chance to view the remarkable collection of memorabilia collected and maintained by Rick Kavanagh. Merrittville Speedway was proud to induct three new members into the historic Wall of Fame. The 2002 Wall of Fame Inductees are: Bob St. Amand Sr., Davey Moore and George Treanor – and we are honored to have these three gentlemen added to this most prestigious list. Bob Sr. started racing at Merrittville Speedway in 1958 and didn’t hang up his helmet until 1976. After 18 years of racing Bob took on the role of pit steward at Merrittville Speedway, which he continues to this day – there is not a more respected man in the pits. The Canadian Blast Davey Moore began racing in 1971, and still has the itch to go racin' today! Moore was Merrittville’s first 5-time champion. George Treanor began racing in 1958 and retired in 1986. George’s racing career spanned four decades and was highlighted by back-to-back points championships in 1969 and 1970 at Merrittville Speedway. Three new and distinctive plaques were created for this special ceremony and will proudly hang with all. It can truly be said that these men belong on the Merrittville Speedway Wall of Fame and our congratulations are extended to each and every one of you.
Ron Kingsbury and Russ Davidson started the street stock feature on the lead row, however it was Peter Reid who quickly jumped into the lead. The first caution came out on lap three as a car spun out on the back straightaway, but kicked up so much dust you couldn’t make him out. Davidson caused the second caution on lap seven when he looped it in turn four. Kirk Wilson moved up to challenge Reid on the restart, but as he was doing that Mike Dooley slid himself up into third spot on lap nine. The top five after nine were: Reid, Wilson, Rick Champigny, Dooley and Kevin Kocarik. Dooley moved into second around Wilson on the last lap, but was unable to catch Reid. Reid took the checkered followed by Dooley, Wilson, Champigny and Kocarik.
Final: Peter Reid, Mike Dooley, Kirk Wilson, Rick Champigny, Kevin Kocarik, Aaron Vasas, J.T. Miller, Greg Ayres, Ed Fargnoli, Rob Murray, Rick Simons, Bill Hoag, Ron Kingsbury, Robbie Roberts, Dolph McCready, Russ Davidson, Dave Dykstra, Jeff Cook, Joe Passero. Heat 1: Mike Dooley; Heat 2: Peter Reid
Butch Zimmerman pulled out the early lead in the prostock feature. Jeff Dayman broke on lap three, and pulled his car into the infield. Dereck Lemyre moved up to pass Gilbert for second on lap five. Lemyre was spun in turn four on lap six, leaving him in fourth position. Three laps later he was back up into third. Steve Devos was up knocking on Zimmerman’s back door on lap 13, but in turn four of 14 they started bumping and Zimmerman was spun out in turn one. Devos was sent tail for sending him. With one lap to go on the restart Dereck Lemyre held on for the checkered - his second in a row - and was followed in by Sean Keus, Dan Meyer, Brian Kotarski, and Zimmerman.
Final: Dereck Lemyre, Sean Keus, Dan Meyer, Peter Kotarski, Butch Zimmerman, Brian Halliwell, Bill Wade, Rick Baker, Steve Devos, Jay Trees, Dan Gilbert, Jeff Dayman. Heat 1: Butch Zimmerman; Heat 2: Steve Devos
The Vintage Cars put on a great show for the fans. Going three wide into turn one, something had to give, but they made it through clear. Billy Tripp took the early lead, but Denny Lindberg moved up to take his position on the second lap. Don Ledingham stalled on the front straight on lap four and nearly got smoked. Lowrey Siemens moved into second on lap six and moved into the lead a lap later. Allan Harju took the lead away on lap ten however, it was Lindberg that powered back to take the checkered, he was followed in by Harju, Tripp, Gary Leclair and Ken Knapp. Our thanks to all the vintage cars for their fabulous pre-race display and exciting racing featuring the on-track flagging of past starter Bob MacPherson. Heat 1: Gary Leclair; Heat 2: Lowrey Siemens
Darren Zumpe and Brad Malloy started on the lead row for the sportsman feature, but the green was quickly followed by the yellow as Greg Wilson was left on the rail in turn two. Malloy powered to the lead on the restart, but he and Zumpe weren’t watching Wayne Conn as he moved forward. Conn slid into the lead on lap five. The top five as the yellow came out with Mike Kruchka against the rail in turn two were: Conn, Malloy, Zumpe, Bill Bleich and Adam Ferri. Zumpe looped it coming out of turn four and narrowly avoided hitting anyone. Doug Spiece spun out in turn two bringing out the yellow again on lap nine. Zumpe came to rest on the back chute and had to be cradled off the track. By the halfway mark Boyd MacTavish had broken into the top three and the field had spread out. It was exciting side by side racing as Ferri and Conn continued to battle for top spot – each lap Conn coming out the leader. The top five after 20 laps were: Conn, Ferri, MacTavish, Rob Pietz, and Bill Bleich. Ferri caught Conn with one lap to go, but just didn’t have the power to get around him and they came in one, two and MacTavish was third.
Final: Wayne Conn, Adam Ferri, Boyd MacTavish, Rob Pietz, Stewart Friesen, Bill Bleich, Brad Malloy, Joe Meisel, Jeff Leggett, Rob Knapp, Tim Jones, Mark Feor, John McKenney, Dennis Giancola, Gary Kruchka, Doug Spiece, Chad Chevalier, Greg Wilson, Mike Kruchka, Bobby Davidson, Darren Zumpe, Stan Zanchin. Heat 1: Brad Malloy; Heat 2: Darren Zumpe; Heat 3: Bobby Davidson
Thorold Mayor Robin Davidson gave the traditional start to the race with Larry Lampman on the pole to start the annual 51 lap modified Jerry Winger Memorial. Todd Gordon was taken out and collected Rick Richner, Paul Ashton and Brad Gravestock on lap four for the first caution. After five laps your leaders were: Lampman, Greg Panunte, Pete Bicknell, Fred Carleton and Chad Brachmann. Dan Miller and Jamie Turner went into the pits on the caution; they had been in second and fifth respectively. Bicknell moved into second spot on lap nine. Brachmann scooted under Panunte for third on lap 14. Bicknell started to make his move on Lampman on lap 18, but Lampman held him off. Brachmann caught up to Bicknell on 19, but wasn’t able to pass him until the half way mark. At 25 laps the leaders were: Lampman, Brachmann, Bicknell, Scott Wood and Panunte. The positions didn’t change between the halfway mark and the finish. Brachmann briefly got around Lampman when he went too high in turn four, but Lampman was able to get it back. The 2002 Jerry Winger Memorial Trophy went to Larry Lampman who led the race from flag to flag.
Final: Larry Lampman, Chad Brachmann, Pete Bicknell, Scott Wood, Greg Panunte, Fred Carleton, Brian Stevens, Robbie Krull, Fred Cade, Todd Gordon, Chris Ricker, Ken Winfield, Rick Richner, Paul Ashton, Scott Kruetter, Dwayne Winfield, Pete Cosco, Brad Gravestock, Don Turner, Dave Flannigan, Jamie Turner, Dan Miller. Heat 1: Fred Carleton; Heat 2: Scott Wood; Heat 3: Jamie Turner
On behalf of Merrittville Speedway and all of the gathered alumni, our sincere thanks to the Reunion Committee, their families and friends for their continued hard work not only for the 51st Alumni banquet celebrations but for their support in all aspects of Merrittville – for without them none of the festivities of the evening would have happened.
Next Saturday – July 27th – Auto F/X Graphics & Signs presents a full card of racing featuring the 358 Modifieds, Twin Sportsmen 15’s, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, Dwarfs and a backwards race. For more information call 905-892-8266 or visit www.merrittvillespeedway.com.