NEMS South
NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH
By Lou Modestino(for 3/12-3/13/10)
The 36th annual Town Fair Tire World of Wheels custom car show rolls into Boston’s Bayside Expo Center this weekend March 12-14 with its now familiar and popular mix of custom cars, about 300 expected, and special attractions.
The Town Fair Tire World of Wheels, holder of Bayside’s weekend attendance record, each year attracts local creators of custom vehicles of all types, representing millions of dollars worth of one-of-a-kind hot rods, customs, street rods, collectibles, race cars, antiques, restorations, tuners and more. The show also always offers spectators the chance to meet and get free autographs from celebrities, to see specialty vehicle exhibits and to be entertained by many other attractions for the whole family.
Special automotive exhibits will include Drag City USA and Motorama. Drag City USA will feature Kalitta’s ‘67 Bounty Hunter, Prudhomme’s ‘70 Wynn’s Winder and Garlits’ ‘60 Swamp Rat III, ‘62 Swamp Rat IV and ‘66 Swamp Rat VIII. Motorama will show off traditional rods, customs and bobbers not seen at other Boston-area car shows. Spectators also will be able to shop an automotive memorabilia and toy show.
Thirty-sixth annual Town Fair Tire World of Wheels show hours are Friday, March 12, 5-10:30 p.m , Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m. -10:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 14, 10 a.m. -7 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and under. Discount coupons for $2 off adult and children’s tickets will be available at participating Town Fair Tire stores. Boston’s Bayside Exp Center is located off I-93 at Columbia Road and a short walk from the MBTA Red Line’s JFK/UMass stop. Free shuttles will run to and from the T stop during show hours.
The NASCAR short-track community is connected to the gold medal winning four-man United States Olympic bobsled team. The team of driver Steve Holcomb, Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curtis Tomasevicz won the four-man bobsled Olympic gold medal during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia Sunday, Feb. 28. It was the first USA four-man bobsled Olympic gold medal in 62 years. In addition, Erin Pac and Elana Meyers had a bronze medal performance in the women’s two-man bobsled competition.
Geoff Bodine, the 1986 Daytona 500 winner, began his quest to develop an American made and built bobsled for the USA Olympic bobsled team in 1992. Joined by Bob Cuneo, owner of Chassis Dynamics,formerly of Connecticut, the effort became known as the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project.
Ten years ago, Whelen Engineering, based in Chester, Conn., began supporting the team through sponsorship. Whelen Vice President Phil Kurze has been president of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project for nine years. Whelen is also the title sponsor of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
“It was amazing to see a grassroots American team compete and win the gold medal on the world stage,” Kurze said. Kurze was at the bottom of the 16-turn track just feet from the finish line. He said Bodine was up top at the push-off area. “Team USA’s bobsleds were designed, built and raced by Americans, which was the goal of everyone involved.” The earliest versions of the Bo-Dyn bobsleds competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics, and with each four-year Olympic cycle, the sleds became increasingly competitive. The gold-winning sled is named “Night Train.” Holcomb and team also drove it to the world championship in 2009.
“It’s been a long road,” Darrin Steele, CEO of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, told a reporter. “We’ve been building this for quite some time. The athletes were amazing … it’s a great day for the USA. With the Bo-Dyn Project, our sleds are as good or better than the competition.” Bodine has hosted the Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge for NASCAR champion drivers at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, N.Y., each January since 2006. 2010 NASCAR participants included three-time NASCAR Whelen All American Series national champion Philip Morris, 2009 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion George Brunnhoelzl, 2007 NASCAR K&N Pro Series champion Joey Logano and 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine. NHRA drag racing drivers made up the balance of the 2010 field. Logano was the overall winner of the 10-sled event. The two-day event was telecast on SPEED.
Kurze has had the opportunity to ride in a Bo-Dyn bobsled and said the experience is unique.“It’s exhilarating,” Kurze said. “You feel 5Gs as if you’re in a military jet. Its fast and very exciting. You still feel it after you get out of the sled. The ride is like being on a roller-coaster without rails.” Prior to heading to the NASCAR top tier circuits, Bodine drove a potent NASCAR Modfied for the late Dick Armstrong of Franklin for several years and in the process won numerous championships and races at various paved tracks in the northeast and southeast.
NASCAR has announced that its Modified touring divisions will now award bonus points for its races, starting this weekend with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In order to reward drivers for running up front and to provide a further incentive to race for the lead, NASCAR has instituted lap-leader bonus points for the first time to the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tours.
“This will bring the two Modified divisions in line with NASCAR’s three national series, and all other touring series, which already award lap-leader bonus points,” NASCAR Director of Touring Series Richard Buck said. “With one scoring system across the board, this is a positive move for the competitors and fans.”
Five bonus points will be awarded to each driver and car owner whose car officially leads a lap during a race and five additional bonus points will be awarded to the driver and car owner leading the most official laps in an event. This will bring the maximum number of points a driver can earn in a race to 190, with 180 awarded for first place.
The first time bonus points will be awarded in a NASCAR Modified Tour race were awarded on March 5, when the Whelen Southern Modified Tour makes its inaugural visit to Atlanta’s quarter-mile to open the 2010 season. Bonus points will be employed for the first time in a Whelen Modified Tour race for the season-opener at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on April 11.
With the recent announcement of a new title sponsor, Bob Valenti AutoMall.com for the 2010 racing season, Modified Racing Series officials have disclosed two new companies will also be involved with the Northeast’s premier racing series. Connecticut Trailers Inc, and Basement Systems, have come on board in support of the series contingency program for the new campaign.
Connecticut Trailers Inc. has been in the business of selling trailers since 1997. Located in Bolton, the company has grown to become the largest supplier in the northeast shipping trailers across the nation. They offer the highest quality trailers on the market at fair prices backed by knowledge and personalized service both before and after the sale. Connecticut Trailer is a large supplier to the racing industry and will provide the official trailer of the Modified Racing Series.
Seymour, CT., based Basement Systems, is the world leader in developing and providing products that result in dry, below-grade space. Basement Systems, innovators in wet basement and crawl space repair, has a network of more than 300 dealers throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The company will contribute to this years point fund.
Back for 2010 but in a bigger way is long time series sponsor New England Racing Fuels, suppliers of Sunoco Race Fuels. John Holland will now provide fuel for the series competitors at each event. Holland will again sponsor the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
DART Machine Company returns to present a weekly bonus award to the highest finishing drivers running under the DART program guidelines as well as the DART Steel Head Engine Builder of the Year Award at seasons end.
Koszela Speed of Coventry, R.I., returns to sponsor the 2010 Rookie of the Year program. SPAFCO Race Cars, Preston, CT., will again provide a weekly bonus to the most improved driver, Sherwood Wheels, Owego, NY, is back with their weekly certificate program, Racing Electronics will again outfit series officials with communications equipment, and Hoosier Tire East, Manchester, CT., returns as the official tire supplier for 2010.
Series officials are busily preparing for the season opening “Budweiser Blastoff” at the Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT., Friday, Mar 26, Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28. Friday will be utilized as a practice day with qualifying races on Saturday and the 100 lap green flag feature race on Sunday.
In the recent AMA Flat Track Motorcycle events held at the Daytona Intl. Speedway, Ken Coolbeth of Morris, CT had to settle for a second place behind winner Jake Johnson in the Grand National event. They both rank one-two in the GN Point Chase. The next race for that series will be on May 1, in Prescott, AZ.
According to the Concord (NH) Monitor, looking to prop up the bottom line at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, GM Gerry Gappens has proposed to the State of NH that the venue wants to build a gambling casino if it can get approval from the state and local authorites. Also part of the expansion is New England Racing Hall of Fame Museum. This comes on the heels of the recent announcement that the Kansas Speedway, owned by International Speedway Corp.(ISC), received permission to build a casino on the track property. The results of which will find the management of ISC petitioning NASCAR for a second NASCAR Cup and support series weekend. The result of which could see another transfer of a Cup race from a southeastern US track which could be one of the events held at the Martinsville (VA) Speedway.
The Monitor story also revealed that the nearby Lakes Region Dog Track, in Belmont, NH, has objected to the inclusion of NHMS as one of the possible sites to get casino gambling because of the close proximity of the two venues. Gappens, who took exception to the Lake’s Region objections, told the Monitor that NHMS has proven itself as a “destination site” in the Granite State by hosting the two NASCAR weekends in June and September that draw big crowds on those two weekends and has a major economic impact on the Lakes Region of NH.
Thompson International Speedway will mark the opening of its 70th anniversary year with the running of the traditional Icebreaker on the weekend of April 10 and 11. The famed, high-banked oval will usher in the 2010 racing season with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Thompson’s own “Super 6” NASCAR Whelen All-American series divisions. Just prior to the actual running of the Icebreaker, the speedway will be open for two full days of open practice. The first of these days is scheduled for Saturday, March 27 with the second the following Saturday, April 3.
The open practice sessions are for any and all race cars providing that they meet safety requirements. The track will be open for “round robin” sessions between the hours of 11 a.m and 6 p.m.. All competitors are invited and are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to get their race cars dialed in for the big season opening Icebreaker.
Thompson’s 2010 race schedule is one of the most exciting to be seen in many years. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will make three appearances during the year and the track has scheduled, for the first time, four Tour Type Modified Shoot Out events. These events will be open competition Modified races in a dash for the cash 35-lap feature event format. Fans have already expressed their excitement about these events and Thompson management is working hard to assure that these events will meet the fan’s expectations.
In addition, Thompson will also host the Modified Touring Series for two 75-lap events during the 2010 racing season. Add to all of this the weekly Thursday Night Thompson Thunder (TNTT) races, the traditional Memorial Day weekend Eve of Destruction program, the Vintage Antique Car Extravaganza and the season-ending World Series of Speedway Racing and you’ve got an amazing and diverse line up of high-speed racing action.
Copies of the 2010 Thompson racing schedule are available on the track’s web page and in hundreds of retail locations throughout New England. Schedules may also be obtained by calling the track office to have a one mailed directly to your home. Thompson’s web page also offers an opportunity for competitors and race fans to sign up for the free service known as Rained Out. In the event that a race program is cancelled or postponed, fans can receive that information only moments after the decision is made via their cell phones or by email. Competitors can get the inside track on special announcements by signing up for free email alerts with the new feature called EMAIL NEWSLETTERS.
With the winter flakes being dusted off under the warmer skies, Seekonk Speedway has finalized the 2010 racing schedule. With 4 weeks until the first Test & Tune, scheduled for Saturday, April 03, the staff is gearing up for a busy season once again. Opening day has been set for Sunday, May 2, featuring the Phil’s Propane 75 for the ARC Pro Stocks. This is the first of two 75 lap mains for the Pro’s in 2010. The second is Saturday, June 19. The winners of these events will be a guaranteed started for the second annual PASS 150 on Saturday August 14. These are the only extra distance events for the Pro Stocks in 2010, not including the DAV Fall Classic. They will be idle on three occasions, including the PASS 150. The other event will be when the Modified Racing Series sponsored by BobValentiAutoMall.com. comes to town.
Headlining the schedule will be the sixth annual Open Wheel Wednesday Modified Madness. With $10,000 up for grabs to the winner, and five different winners in five events, 2010 should be the best yet. This is a non-sanctioned open competition event allowing competitors from all modified tours and weekly competitors to challenge each other on one of the toughest bullrings around. Included on the card on Wednesday, July 21 will be the NEMA Midgets and the Pro4 Modifieds, for three open wheel features, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.
Added to this years’ show is the first ever “Showdown of Champions” at Seekonk. Pitting legends such as open wheel veteran Bentley Warren, six time Seekonk Speedway Champion Vinny Annarummo, NEMA veterans Nokie & Drew Fornoro, Multi time ISMA Champions Chris Perley and Russ Wood, 7 time NASCAR Whelen Modified Champion Mike Stefanik, 4 time Seekonk Pro Stock Champ Freddy Astle, and NASCAR National Champion & former Whelen Mod Tour Champ Ted Christopher, in identically prepared NEMA Lites for a 25 lap feature will keep people taking about this one for a LONG time.
Also added to the schedule will be an appearance of the ISMA Super Modifieds for the first time since June, 2005. Chris Perley leads all drivers with 3 wins at Seekonk Speedway, while Rick Wentworth and Liquid Lou Cicconi are the other 2 winners. The return is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, with a rain date of Oct 3. Details for this event are still being finalized.
The Modified Racing Series sponsored by BobValentiAutoMall.com. will challenge the 1/3 mile on three occasions again in 2010. The first is Saturday June 12. They will return on Saturday, August 21. They will help close out the 2010 season as part of the DAV Fall Classic in October. The NEMA Midgets return for three events as well. Their first visit will be as part for the 6th Annual Open Wheel Wednesday show, July 21. They will return for the Boston Louie Seymour Memorial on Boston Louie and DAV Fall Classic events.
For the second year, the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models will return to the Action Track of the East. Last years event became a domination of the home town heroes, as Tom Scully Jr won the 150 lap grind over Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark. With one event under their belts, the starts of PASS will return with a vengeance.
Pro4 Modified racing returns 4 times this season. With the Open Wheel Wednesday and DAV Fall Classic, and also on Saturdays June 5 and September 4. Both Saturday night events are courtesy of Kraze’s Speed Equipment of Seekonk. The Late Models, Sport Trucks and Street Stocks will round out the Saturday night card for 2010. The Late Models will compete in two extra distance affairs. The first will be a 50 lap main on Saturday June 26 and a 75 lap feature on Saturday, July 31. This will be the longest Late Model event since September, 2000, when Ron Reed won the only 100 lap Late Model feature ever held. The Sport Trucks will hold their Kraze’s Speed Equipment special on Saturday, September 4, while the Street Stocks have their Kraze’s Speed Equipment 30/30 on Saturday, June 5.
NEAR, STAR and ACOT bring us back into yesteryear on Saturday, July 10.
The ARC Points chase comes to a close on Saturday, September 18, as the 2010 Champions are crowned. Fast Friday action returns in 2010, with the Pure Stocks, Sport4’s, and the Seekonk Youth Racing Association 750 and 600 classes headlining the schedule. 14 Friday nights are posted on the schedule, with 4 additional events for the Pure Stocks as part of the Sunday Thrill Shows. For 2010, the Kart racing portion of the schedule has been cancelled.
The 65th season of competition concludes with the 19th annual DAV Fall Classic, as we honor the man who made his vision come true. The Pro Stocks and Modified Racing Series sponsored by BobValentiAutoMall.com will headline the weekend with twin 100’s. NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites and Pro4 Modifieds will join the open competition racing of the Late Models, Street Stocks, and Sport Trucks. The Fast Friday classes will also be a part of the season finale on October 9 & 10.
Race fans anxious for a sneak peek at the 2010 race season can venture out to the Crystal Mall in Waterford this weekend, March 12-14, for the annual Speedbowl car show. Speedbowl racecars will be on display on the lower level of the mall concourse, near the Sears and Old Navy area of the mall.
Teams representing the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, Late Model, Street Stock and Truck divisions are set to be on hand. They are just four of the 14 divisions that will be in competition at Budweiser Blastoff Weekend, the track’s 60th season opener March 26-28. The blockbuster weekend of racing includes the New England based Modified Racing Series, NEMA Midgets, Allison Legacy North Racing Series and Pro4 Modifieds in addition to the Speedbowl’s own weekly divisions. A full schedule of events including pricing and gate times is available at www.speedbowl.com. Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Mall is located on Route 85, just south of the Speedbowl.
Last Sunday we had a chance to take in two local events. The first was in Norfolk at Holmes Motor Freight for a Model A Flea Market. We got to see some interesting thing such as Dick Holmes private display that included a restored 1932 Ford school bus and a pre-war midget race car that he purchased from a mid-west resident. Holmes is also restoring an 1930 era Mini Bus. Also, we got to see Dick’s collection of toy tracktors and pedal cars with antique gas pumps and juke boxes. On the way home from Norfolk we stopped a Christina’s Restaurant in Foxborough where the Mystic Valley Railroad Assn. was hosting a model train exhibit and collectables show. MVRA also organizes various railroad trips all over the northeast for serious rail buffs and the occasional ones such as yours truly. Both events were well attended because the weather was favorable after long cold winter. It was a nice way to spend Sunday morning in early March.
From Hillside Speedway in Westport comes this info. The track’s first Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the V.F.W. Hall, Route 118, Rehoboth. Secondly, the bad news, we have lost the use of Hillside Speedway in Westport. The owner of the property, because of various reasons, will not allow us to use the track. However, we have a couple of back-up plans and it was evident at our club meeting, unanimously. We are still going to race in 2010 as an organized club. I have been in touch with Pete Giamalvo of Sideway’s Promotions who organizes dirt track motorcycle and kart events. We presented the club the invitation from Pete to race at his track, Wachusetts Valley Riders Club in Winchendon and Jolly Roger in E. Lempster and also race at the Brockton Fairgrounds. We can get a strong car count for Brockton and will put on a good show, ” said organizer Bill St Laurent.
Here’s what else is happening in southern New England this weekend. The Waterford Speedbowl has its Annual Car Show at the nearby Crystal Mall with a 10 a.m. starting time on Saturday and Sunday. There’s also a Camping and RV Show the same days at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough at the same times. On Saturday On Karting in Wallingford, CT hosts the 2nd Annual Shane Hammond Race For Fun at 9 a.m. which includes lunch and a tape on a big TV of the January Chili Bowl held in Tulsa, OK. The Redline Diner in Framingham has it’s year-round cruise night at 5 p.m. On Sunday there’s a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hartford which includes a lot of classic cars starting at 1 p.m. The VFW in Lowell offers a Military Vehicle Flea Market at 9 a.m. that day.