|
POINTS RACE #12 AT OCEAN SPEEDWAY
August 8, 2008 |
| It's
hard to believe the 2008 season is already winding down. In 2007, there
were 16 points races; final race on October 5. This year, there are
only 13 races; final race on August 22. Our roster is still
growing and car counts have been outstanding. Great competition and BAD
camaraderie are definite hallmarks of this season. I hope the pits
will be full next Friday. EVERYBODY - come support your club and have
some FUN. Joe and Debbie Brechel will probably have another
delicious buffet; if so, join in and be social. I think we should arrange to have an end-of-the-season group picture. This was not only the night of BAD Points Race #12 but also opening night of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing China, another major sporting event. The Chinese are very superstitious about the number 8 (good luck) and were inspired to open the Olympic Games at 8 PM on 8/8/08. On the way to the races, I felt lucky and bought an Easy 8's scratcher; very good odds but no damn prize. It should have been a lucky night for Gilbert in his #8. Well, another myth has been busted. Speaking of China, my large Chinese son, Chris, was my special guest for this race. I usually see him only a few days a year during Christmas holidays, rarely during the summer. He had never seen a dwarf car race and said he really enjoyed the action and BAD people. After four years of creating and managing our website (totally gratis), he was finally able to match names and images with warm bodies. He also packed in a lot of track food; that plus a fill-up at Taco Bell before his 14 hour flight in a crowded Boeing 777 - oh no! Normally, the tailwind is in the other direction. This night, there were 29 dwarf cars sharing the program with 16 American stocks, 20 IMCA modifieds, 10 Ocean late models and 12 Micro 600s. Randy Rothweiler was there with the familiar purple #7 coupe which Matt Sargent drove to the 2006 BAD Championship; loaded early with mechanical problem; to be driven next season by Randy's son. Craig Bridges, new member and Youngblood groupie (another cigar smoker), was there with his green #6 van; acquired with the help of Gilbert Toste; new to racing and taking careful notes. And, Nicole Youngblood was there with the her dad's #7 starter car; did very well in her debut. Nicole is the first female driver in BAD history. Respect this young lady but don't get overcome with chivalry; she may soon be kicking your butt. Welcome to BAD, Nicole! HEAT RACES Winners of the four heat races were, Gilbert TOSTE (Heat 1), Punky PIRES (Heat 2), John WEAR (Heat 3) and Robert MESLOH (Heat 4). In Heat 1, Gilbert started on the pole, established an early lead and extended it to 15 car lengths by mid-race. He won by a straightaway, 4+ seconds over the 2nd place car. Troy Wagner started inside row 2, took 2nd on lap 2 and finished 2nd. Ryan Diatte started outside pole and finished 3rd, just over 6 seconds out, and Mark Tillinger started outside row 2 and finished 4th, almost 7 seconds out. Best time = 15.674 sec, Gilbert Toste In Heat 2, Punky started on the pole, led the field by as much as 10 to 15 car lengths and won by 1+ seconds. There was no change in running order in this race. Camron Diatte started 2nd and finished 2nd. Doug Penny and Marty Weisler were 3rd and 4th place, about 3 seconds behind the leader, 1 second apart and 6 seconds ahead of the next finisher. Best time = 15.872, Punky Pires In Heat 3, John started on the pole, led the race by about 15 car lengths on lap 2, a straightaway by lap 6 and won by over a straightaway (4+ sec). There was also no change in running order in this race. Howard Fergerson, out for the first time since 2006 and driving Chris Dorto's #61 (formerly Howard's car), ran 2nd. Oscar Milla, who would be a top 10 driver if he had been running the full schedule, ran 3rd, about 0.7 seconds behind Howard. Nick Squatritto, about 0.1 seconds behind Oscar, was 4th for the final transfer. Best time = 15.736 sec, John Wear In Heat 4, Robert started on the pole, led by a wide margin on lap 4 and won by about 12 car lengths (1+ sec). Mark Biscardi held 2nd from start to finish. Duane Daniel quickly moved up from 5th to 3rd and finished 3rd, over 4 car lengths behind Mark. Bill Martinez, started 4th, finished 4th, well behind Duane, and transferred. Best time = 15.727 sec, Robert Mesloh TROPHY DASH Start: Toste, Pires, Wear and Mesloh. Finish: TOSTE, Pires, Mesloh and Wear. Gilbert had a huge lead at the line. John was running 2nd but had problems, lost speed and finished last. Best time = 15.583 sec, Gilbert Toste B MAIN Dan YOUNGBLOOD moved up quickly from a 4th place start to the lead by lap 3. On lap 5, he led by a straightaway; set fast time on lap 6 and increased his lead to half track by the finish. Martin Whittingham went from 6th to 2nd by lap 4 and finished 2nd. Danny Zuger went from 2nd to 3rd on lap 3 and finished 3rd. The other three transfers were Greg Penny (4th), Thomas Smith (5th) and Mike Weaver (6th). Best time = 16.076 sec, Dan Youngblood A MAIN Gilbert, championship contender (ranked 2nd in series points), was eager for points and, so far this night, everything seemed to be going well. By mid-race, he was running 3rd; tight with leaders Wear and Mesloh on lap 15. In the next few laps, Wear started to increase his lead, while Gilbert lost speed, popped the bead on his right rear tire, and left the race. With just two laps to go, there could be no heroic tire changes as in Race #11 - even though Ernie Davila was ready with plenty of spares. I saw a tanker of 1863 (jet fuel) on the way to the track so I knew the Mesloh cars would be fast this night. John WEAR was 4th in the lineup, took 3rd on lap 6, 2nd on lap 9, passed his teamate, Robert Mesloh, for the lead on lap 14, set fast time on lap16 and crossed the line 0.830 seconds ahead of Robert. From a 3rd place start, Robert took the lead and held it from lap 7 through lap 13; stayed steady and fnished 2nd. Punky Pires started in 5th, settled into 4th on lap 12 and moved to 3rd when Gilbert left the race; finished 3rd. Ryan Diatte, current points leader, did not have a typical night; started 9th, dropped back then gradually recovered to run behind Punky from lap 11 to finish 4th, 4 1/2 seconds off the pace. Mark Biscardi started 8th, dropped back as far as 11th then joined the front runners to finish 5th, about 0.3 seconds behind Ryan. The rest of the top 10 were, Duane Daniel, Troy Wagner, Dan Youngblood, Howard Fergerson and Nick Squatritto. Best time = 15.748 sec, John Wear This was a very good night for the Mesloh team. I wonder if Jerry was as nervous as I was when John and Robert were racing paint-to-paint in the closing laps of the feature. I think it paid off to give John a full set of spark plugs and Robert a new GPS-enhanced gyroscope. Not only does Jerry have two fine racers, he could probably create a racecar from a pallet of old sewing machines and make it go fast without any chrome. CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN WEAR (A MAIN WINNER), DAN YOUNGBLOOD (B MAIN WINNER), HEAT WINNERS (GILBERT TOSTE, PUNKY PIRES, JOHN WEAR AND ROBERT MESLOH), GILBERT TOSTE (DASH WINNER) AND OTHER TOP FINISHERS. THANKS TO ALL DRIVERS WHO MADE THE SHOW. FINALLY, MANY THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR MAKING MY SON FEEL WELCOME; AND, TO GILBERT AND CRAIG BRIDGES FOR ALLOWING HIM TO SQUEEZE INTO THEIR CARS. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT OCEAN ON FRIDAY. LET'S HAVE A RECORD CAR COUNT FOR OUR LAST SERIES RACE. AND, DAN, BRING SOME CIGARS FOR EVERYBODY. |