7/6/2016
Funerals For Friends
July 6, 2016 Speedway, IN: Calm before storm. I don’t mean USAC Eastern Storm, which is five sprint car races in six June evenings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I instead speak of seven such events in nine Indiana nights. There are many speed weeks but only one Sprint Week, the 29th of which will begin at Gas City, Kokomo and Lawrenceburg, skip Monday and Tuesday (of my Olney arraignment) then wrap through Terre Haute, Lincoln Park, Bloomington and Haubstadt. Brady Bacon (1491) tops Thomas Meseraull (1387), Chase Stockon (1343) and 2015 ruler Robert Ballou (1330) in Amsoil points.
Last week’s missive fired from an Italian beef shack in Streator (IL) headed to first dirt race in 68-year history of Rockford Speedway. Not coincidentally, it marked my first visit. High banked asphalt is for midgets but UMARA used to race Rockford one Sunday per season in 1992-96 perennially opposite Four Crown at Eldora. Entering the arena between Loves Park strip malls, I saw Kevin Olson in white Weiland duds. Encore performances from Rockford’s racing treasure are rare. K.O strapped on Badger midget that broke beneath the strain.
Rockford had managed just fine without open wheels. Hugh Deery was voted very first Promoter of the Year 1976. Today, son Tom Deery is World of Outlaws CEO. He knew novelty could overcome ticket cost. Financially, the enormous task of creating temporary dirt did pay off. Artistically however, Rockford failed because clay stayed so unruly that winged sprint cars and later, late models were tossed like dice. From fan perspective, bouncing outlaws create passing zones and watching superstars chase cars across caverns can also be compelling.
Donny Schatz was unhappy. The champ had just presented Derry a united front that protested Badlands policy of unloading trailers. In the end, outlaws pitted outside as they wished. With regard to Rockford, he was further displeased. Schatz recognized its rodeo as promotional boon but resented playing circus clown. “If you win tonight,” I asked him, “will you still feel that way?” Donny assured that he would still see Rockford’s hasty engineering project to sub-quality. Of course, he did lead all 30 laps (reduced from 40). He looked as uncomfortable as everyone else, yet pulled away. In win circle 16 of 2016, Schatz did not vent about crevices and simply stated how good it was to start on pole.
Solid every night now, David Gravel grabbed second over Shane Stewart and Brad Sweet, who won in Sioux Falls three nights later. Joey Saldana finished fifth followed by Jason Johnson, Paul McMahan (who chucked a wheel while on the clock) and Parker Price Miller, who went fastest at 11.80. Interesting how PPM was half second slower than track record set by Jacob Wilson in 2011 when Must See Sprint Cars saw Jimmy McCune beat Troy DeCaire and Jo Jo Helberg.
Logan Schuchart scored ninth in Rockford then headed for Summer Fest in Milwaukee as guest of Marty Thompson, relocated member of the old Hanover Gang. On final corner, Schatz lapped Daryn Pittman, who sat second until struggling with rough raceway. Gravel passed Pittman and Ian Madsen was doing same when Daryn darted into Ian to cut Madsen’s left rear tire and bend Great Clips entry. Eleventh in first outlaw A-main was Perth, Western Australia’s Daniel Harding, who has Jolly Good base with Rob Hart in Clermont, IN. Ohio Speed Week was educational. Danny Boy made two features of eight. Scott Benic derided him as Tonya Harding, failed figure skater. Rockford however, was a very solid night on very challenging course. Christopher Bell (Miles Hill 77x) ripped trenches from Row Seven to Top Five when he was bucked into concrete. Crew chief Daryl Turford intended to bring Bell to Knoxville NSL until car wash inspection found terminal damage that sent Town Line Variety home to Canada.
One quarter of Rockford A-main represented IRA in Bill Balog (bringing Hans Lein ride rather than car in which he won first outlaw race four nights earlier), Scotty Neitzel, Jeremy Schultz, Matt Vandevere, Brian Kristan and Wayne Modjeski. Russ Egan (upside down in hot laps) and Russel Borland missed starting money. Borland then chased All Stars to Michigan. Jim Moughan made A-main at 59.
World of Outlaws were paired with Badger D-2 (won by Brandon Waelti) to create announcing team of John Gibson and Bryan Gapinski, who has determined 17 National Midget Drivers of the Year. Gib & Gap are fellow stat rats who relish research. Bryan spouted famous names like Don Branson and Parnelli Jones when reciting Rockford history. Gramps (’62-63) and Rufus (’64) recorded Rockford USAC wins as did Jimmy Davies (’61), Bob Tattersall (’62), Mike McGreevy (’65), Henry Pens (’66) and Mel Kenyon, who took track record to 14.08 in 1967. Jones, Davies and Pens all won for Howard Linne of nearby Mendota.
Rockford was farther from Indy than I remembered. I thought the trip would be like driving to LaSalle, once wonderful place for World of Outlaws. One hundred miles (or 73) separate LaSalle from Rockford, which is actually north of Chicago. I would have driven there just to hang out with G. Gordon Killian, friend of 33 years. Soon after dad moved from Allentown to Reading (PA) in 1983, I met Gordy at softball game we called Special Olympics. “Who’s the guy who can’t close his nice new glove?” I asked Mark Garman, who replied, “Oh that’s Gordy. He drives all over the place to weird races.” Curiosity piqued, we still keep it weird three decades later.
My two-lane idea for Illinois included 47 through Morris, home to Grundy County Speedway that replaced Mazon Speed Bowl in 1971. USAC Midget winners at Mazon were Leroy Warriner (1960), Kenyon (’62), Tommy Copp (’64), Bobby Grim (’65), McGreevy (’65), Bob Wente (’66) and Bob Richards in 1967. Mazon hosted Grundy County Fair for 66 years then moved to Morris. In fact, the 112th carnival thwarted my attempt to glimpse track I had not seen in 28 years. UARA winners at Grundy included Rich Vogler (’73), Jim McClean (Lockard 69), NEMA champ Johnny Mann (’76) and Wente (Lockard 69) in 1977. Bob Lockard Memorial remains in Morris. USAC Midgets in 2011 went to Darren Hagen (Fike 3) trailed by Tracy Hines and Kyle Larson. Must See Sprint Cars visited in 2014 when DeCaire defeated Dave Baumgartner and Helberg, who went fastest at 12.70.
Ironically, it was Killian who brought me to 1988 Grundy County Fair victory by Mike Fedorcak in Bob Steffes 96. In final day of demented tour, Gordy used Grundy as first of four speedways on same day. Don Carter Jr. flipped through infield to earn trip to hospital. Awaiting ambulance doomed our agenda, though we hurried to street stocks on Plymouth pavement, NMMA Nationals in Peru then Kokomo to find only fireworks. In baseball parlance, our inside the park home run got tagged at the plate. Monday morning or so, Killian dropped me in Wayne County for Ohio Speed Week on way home.
Mind back in the moment, I saw my only options on Friday as Bloomington Speedway. USAC Sprints however, had shifted Lincoln Park from July 4 to July 1 in lieu of USAC Midgets cancelling Granite City. I was burned out, broke, and not at all excited about Putnamville. Indiana Sprint Week will bring a better cast of competitors and revelers.
As old hippies grow older, we say goodbye more and more. Auto racing mourns loss of legendary car owners Mario Fiore and Shane Krikke. It is doubtful that Mario of Massachusetts ever met Krikke of Western Australia. I can personally state that they shared a common thread. Each had to hire and fire men they considered friends. Each threw thousands of dollars at a sport that broke their heart repeatedly. Each attained success that was the envy of rivals.
From the Fiore shop within sight of Riverside Park came NASCAR Modified 44. Mario and Reggie Ruggeiro reigned as champions six times in ten years at Agawam (MA), Monadnock (NH) and Stafford Springs, CT. They won Race of Champions at Pocono in 1987. Fiore won it again in ’93 with Billy Pauch at Flemington. Mario was 2000 NASCAR Modified king with Jerry Marquis.
I met Mario when Speedway Scene’s Val LeSieur brokered a seat leaving Agawam, Mass for Jacksonville, FLA and opening to 1989 All Star Circuit of Champions. Mario was into in all forms of motorsport and asked as many questions about the World of Outlaws as I did about Richie Evans and Jimmy Spencer. I rode in one of two trucks towing two race cars to New Smyrna Beach. Fiore remained in radio contact using same system that guided Reggie, who then won five of seven.
Krikke fell into similar service by squiring me to finale to 2001-2002 World Series Sprintcars in Newcastle, New South Wales. I rode Ratbag gravy train 15 hours from LA to Sydney. Just before departure, Ratbag technical advisor J.D Kramer said he would remain in So Cal with Jurassic 5. Gibson got gig announcing at Parramatta City Raceway so PCR replaced Newcastle on his itinerary. I was on my own.
Steven Green knew what to do. And he seemed as thirsty as his brothers Mouse (Darryl to his mum) and Trevor, who raced Number Four with World Series. Krikke of course, wore Number One that he earned via Skip Jackson. Steven steered Gib and I to a pub to meet Shane and his brother Ryan. Shane had driven before becoming 1999-2000 car owner to Schatz, who promptly won six straight before Donny and crew chief Keith Giles defected to Perth neighbor Luchiano Monte. Ryan wrenched at Oskaloosa when Jac Haudenschild won 50k from dead last.
For the first time in my life, I left saloon on left side of road and was not stopped. Shane and Ryan revealed meaning behind red light houses. I insisted we stop and shop. None of the ladies looked worth the effort or exchange rate so I was dumped back at Hotel Mercure.
Next day, Krikke’s one-piece transporter (picture Don Kreitz) welcomed me aboard. After stocking cooler (“esky”) with Toohey's New lager Shane rang Wade Aunger to bluntly inform how he and Ryan were bringing a bloke from Open Wheel Magazine and all three of our names should be added to Wade’s guest list.
The last World Series stop ever at Newcastle was one of Skip Jackson’s last starts for Krikke. Though he owned six championships between Knoxville and World Series, Skip’s trip to Central PA inflicted brain trauma in 2000. World Series 2001-2002 saw Jackson crash at Avalon, bounce around in Adelaide, fail to transfer at Horsham, spin in Nyora, suffer fuel nozzle trouble in Brisbane, then start last at Newcastle. For the next World Series, Shane hired Robbie Farr. Krikke and Fiore both fell victim to cancer.
Friend of 36 years, Scott Diehl died in his sleep in Allentown, PA. That was summer of 1980 when I worked lap counter at East Windsor (NJ) every Friday. In our neighborhood when people spoke of auto racing, they meant Dorney Park, the flat quarter-mile of asphalt west of town where ’57 Chevys knocked the snot out of each other every Saturday. Someone speaking of dirt tracks was refreshing. I was soon riding Diehl Camaro to Williams Grove, Grandview, Penn National, etc. We were refugees of Reading Fairgrounds in search of worthy substitutes. We leaned toward modified races where tracks allowed aggressive behavior. But if choices narrowed to Nazareth or Hard Clay of Orange County, we were more likely to lean west to sprint cars.
Scott Diehl managed to get us home safe and sound every time, which was no minor miracle. We drank. A lot. Four of us would split a case of beer to The Grove, an hour’s drive on ideal Friday but more often 1.5. We immediately needed more beer from Countryside Inn or Cold Springs Tavern. It was often gone before departure, so we had to score more. In the morning, none of us were certain who won without my notes that grew increasingly illegible as evening (alcohol) wore on.
Diehl and Mike Kester shaped my writing when it began in 1982. I could not expect to ride to the races, drink their beer, smoke their weed, and then ignore their grievances. I became the consumer advocate I remain today. They also helped me down a life of crime by forging stamps. One cold day at The Grove, we sat in the car shy one re-entry ticket. Mike asked about my means of re-entry. I showed faded black handstamp. He found ballpoint pen and scrawled sorry imposter. I drew a better one. From that day forward, my role was defined. They called me Speedway Sleaze for the ability to slide in free. RIP boys. RIP.
Article Credit: Kevin Eckert