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POINTS RACE #2 AT OCEAN SPEEDWAY
March 28, 2008 |
This was the second BAD points race and the first to be interrupted by weather this season. The forecast was for light rain around midnight and there seemed to be a window for a program. As a precaution, the program was adjusted; running the dashes after the mains. During preliminary races, there were reports of rain in Santa Cruz and Gilroy - and scattered raindrops on my bald spot. Half way through the fourth dwarf car heat, rain was causing traction problems and the race was yellow-flagged. Although drizzle continued to fall, officials decided conditions were good enough to continue after a session of wheel-packing. We completed our heats and a rain-shortened B Main but even the boldest dwarf car drivers were not eager to risk going out for the A Main. Wisely, officials decided the risk was too great and cancelled any further racing. The track seemed to have excess moisture in the beginning and more wetness on the packed surface, in spite of efforts to make it right, was like cow slobber on a flat rock. Twenty nine dwarf cars were signed in for this race. After a cup-of-coffee retirement, Bill Martinez was back, in his good looking #22B prepared by Gilbert Toste. Walter Harper (#21B) was out for the first time since running only the BAD Regional in 2007. Nick Squatritto, former NorCal Karter, was out for his first race as a rookie in the new #96B. There was one visitor - Tony Kunas (#37K) from Washington state. Winners of four heats were John WEAR (HEAT 1), Camron DIATTE (HEAT 2), Ryan AMELN (HEAT 3) and Gilbert TOSTE (HEAT 4). Wow! Rookie, Cam Diatte has two heat race wins in two events.. In Heat 1, the running order of the five lead cars did not change – Wear, Ryan Diatte, Dave Mosier, Bill Martinez and Duane Daniel. As the race progressed, Wear and Diatte were nose-to-tail, finishing only 0.034 seconds apart - about as close as it gets! Punky Pires had serious problems again this week, falling back from pole to last on the first lap, getting lapped and finishing 7th. Best time = 15.949 sec, Ryan Diatte. In Heat 2, Jose Guevara started 3rd and led much of the race until overtaken by Camron on lap 7. Jose was scored 3rd but the finish is questionable because, after a spin out of turn 4, he continued in the infield toward the flag; was off the racing surface and did not cross the TX loop. Robert Mesloh was 2nd; and, according to the track scorer, Danny Zuger was 4th and Steve Oliveira was 5th. Steve looked good again this night, starting last and moving up four positions in three laps; but got crossed up with the visiting car, took a buckaroo ride (wheels up side, wheels up back) to the wall and had to go back to the rear again. Best time = 16.292 sec, Robert Mesloh. In Heat 3, Ryan, whose car is still not spot-on, set the pace and won by about five car lengths ahead of Mark Biscardi. Mark is an anxious racer, accustomed to 200+ flat-track motorcycle races a year and coming to BAD with 500 practice laps at the Lodi Cycle Bowl in his dwarf car. Ryan had to give him the slow down hand signal on a mid-race restart. The other top five finishers were Chris Weaver, Nick Squatritto (rookie) and Ernie Davila. Ernie, still getting adjusted to his new ride, lost ground in an early spin. Best time = 16.220 sec, Mark Biscardi. In Heat 4, Gilbert was leading by as much as eight to ten car lengths when it started to rain. He did some slip-and-slide before the rain-delay yellow, thought he had a broken axle and left the track. When the race resumed, Martin Whittingham was in the lead and Gilbert was at the rear. In some bold late race moves, Gilbert shot through a group of rookies, past the 2nd place car and under Martin in turn 4 for the win. The top five finishing order was, Gilbert, Martin, Doug Penny, Joel Osias and Marty Weisler. Best time = 16.086 sec, Gilbert Toste. The eight car B Main was stopped (yellow-checker) early because of rain. Duane Daniel had a sizeable lead, followed by Steve Oliveira, Dan Youngblood, Marty Weisler, Punky Pires and Walter Harper - six transfers. A lineup was posted for an A Main but there was no further racing on this cold, rainy night. There will be no make-up, either as a second A Main on a future race date or as a double points race. For this date, points will be given only for heats. Ryan Diatte had best time for this event = 15.949 sec! CONGRATULATIONS TO HEAT WINNERS, JOHN WEAR, CAMRON DIATTE, RYAN AMELN and GILBERT TOSTE. THANKS TO ALL DRIVERS WHO MADE THE SHOW - SUCH AS IT WAS. |