Fair race Sunday July 12, 2009

 

 

What a glorious Sunday we had for our annual Fair race. The weather was perfect, the fans loved the show and there were many racers on hand to go for first place and of course bragging rights that go with it.

 

I did not attend the Saturdays race but was told that the turn out was good and everyone had a good time.  Luckily though, for our racers and spectators, the racing area was cleared by 3:00 as we had an incident where two draft horses, who were harnessed up for pulling, got spooked down by the pulling ring and were on the loose on a dead run and ended up running up over the hill where everyone would have been standing, going end over end after they hit the octagon jersey barrier up by the ticket booth ended up going between the big jersey barrier and the ticket booth, moving the ticket booth on their decent and after all that ended up eating grass by the return lane. When Meme first spotted them she said look “look the horses are eating grass at the return lane…they must be hungry, but when she was told what they had just done she said Holy cow!  But seriously, thank god no one was hurt and the horses didn’t get hurt too bad, just a few scraps and bruises. 

 

During Sundays race it seemed like we had more spectators than last year and our club really appreciated that.  It seems if you were down at the fairgrounds and heard the roar of those motors going down the track and had never seen our races, the temptation of going up over the hill to see what is going on, in my opinion, would be just too great for fair goers not to go and check it out.  We have, in the past, picked up future racers by having spectators see what our club does and just wants to be in on the fun.  Our club is like a family and we all support one another.  Many of us have been racing together for years.

 

We had racers from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York that attended this weekend and we love to see them come.  It gives all of our regular racers time to catch up with old friends and have some good competition.  It was also nice to see old time regulars like Bonnie Houlton, Russell Holmes and the Donnelly’s.  I have probably missed someone but with so many people there it was hard to see everyone.  So for anyone I missed, we were very happy you came.

 

The numbers of racers in each category were as follows: Juniors 14, ATV Trail 25, ATV Top 24, 4 x 4 Street 15 and 4 x 4 Top 22.

 

Mike York told me that he has a new motor in his car which is a 2008 Corvette L82 super charger with nitrous oxide.  He was not using the Nitrous today though as the motor is new and he wanted to break it in slowly, but look out next race because the nitrous will be ready to go!  He could be hard to beat.  Also his daughter in law, Hillary York, an ATV trail racer raced today but the kicker is that she is pregnant and is due on November 1st. This race was probably the last one for her for the season as she needs to take care of herself and the baby.  She and her husband are expecting a boy.  If you see her, congratulate her on their future addition.

 

Colin Johnson and his wife Lisa became parents again this week with a baby boy.  On the first elimination race Colin raced his brother in law, Justin Libby and took him out, but a few races later when Colin was racing his father in law he crashed into the guardrail in the far lane because his steering column let go in his dragster.  He was fine and that is all that matters.

 

I am now going to have a “Feature” in my blog in which I will talk about one particular racer for that day and give my personal opinions their performance.  In my first feature I am choosing a well know young man to all of us.  This young man is just an incredible racer and when you hear the phrase “one with his machine” he definitely fits the bill.  I am talking about Josh Gochie.  He is just absolutely incredible on his ATV.  He races in the top class and has a very fast bike.  Josh went down the track today several times with his front tires not touching the ground until he hit the finish line while winning the race.  On some runs his ATV was doing a wheelie while he was leaning to the side and Josh managed to handle that ATV while going probably 70 miles per hour or more.  He has raced with us for years and started out in the Junior class.  My boys started racing in the Junior class with him and Josh seemed to always win those races. Josh did place 2nd today.  In my opinion, when you watch him race you are watching an incredible talented racer and competitor. He knows when to go all out and he knows when to hold back, very smart racer indeed! Josh is from West Newfield, Maine and him and his Dad, Jim, are always at the races.

 

Meme and Amy told me today that their window, up in the tower, was being pelted with rocks more than normal. As we had quite a few dragsters in the 4 x 4 top class it was understandable. While standing at the end of the track today taking pictures it is just amazing that when those dragsters go by me at 70 mph or more that the rocks and dirt that their paddle tires are throwing don’t hit me as the rocks and dirt go straight up in the air and fall with the rocks hitting the guard rails. I do move away of course and turn my back just in case because some of those rooster tails are 20 to 30 feet high. I can say it makes for some great pictures.

 

Terry  Zigler in Miss Guided, 4 x 4 top class, was flying down the track, was very loud and the crowd just loved it… Mark Jones and Terry Taylor, competitors from way back raced together their first pass and Terry won by turning a 4.15. Peggy and Larry Dagan were extremely fast on their ATV’s as well.   The Junior’s were so cute going down the track today and they are definitely a crowd favorite. When Larry Reed and Dennis Edgerly were lined up ready to race I stopped and did a little dance in front of Larry’s car and told him that he was not going to win, but it did not work as he beat Dennis. Of course we do these things all in fun, but Larry had the last laugh on that one. Didn’t you Larry?

 

I have to say that I was a proud Mom today as my son Greg won the 4 x 4 top class race. Regrettably I had to leave early and didn’t get to see it, but Gordon called me right up to let me know. That race was difficult as the competition was fierce.. Way to go Greg!

 

I really wish that some of the ATV drivers would come find me during a race and tell me stories of what is going on in their classes, or what they are doing to their bikes, or give me some news on what they have been doing so I can write about them in my blog. It seems that I always leave them out but it is not intentional. I have asked a few of them if they have anything they want expressed in the blog, but they decline. So some of you ATVers come and see me next race and give me some funny stories to report on.

 

At the drivers meeting today John announced that we will be having a memorial for our dear friend Tiny on August 15th at 4:00 p.m. at the track.  We will be having a pot luck dinner after the memorial, a celebration of life and a DJ. Please plan on attending and honoring our friend, former starter and fellow racer. Mike Ward has decided to race Tiny’s car for the rest of this racing season.  Also Kim York made a beautiful blue and pink butterfly for Tiny’s car and it is hanging from the ceiling in the back seat of his car. Mad Jack also had decals made up in memory of Tiny for the race cars. Terry Taylor, Tiny’s best friend, took his car in the parade at the fair with the trailer decorated and the starting lights hooked up to the trailer with pictures of Tiny.  Also copper wire was passed out to racers to put on their vehicles in memory of him.  These were great ways to honor him.  So let’s get together and share some memories with each other on the impact that Tiny had on us and our Association.  If any of you have any pictures of Tiny would you please send them to me at darleneperry08@yahoo.com

 

Now I have a special message from Mark Jones to all racers:  I would like to send a Big Thank You to everyone for their generosity and caring for our friend Tiny. True friends don’t come often, however if you ever met Tiny you met a True Friend.  That Friendship and support for Tiny the past 2 years while he was going through a very difficult time in his life made it easier for him to bare the pain.  If it weren’t for all of his close friends being there Tiny would have never made it as far as he did. We all know he is in a better place now.

 

Here is another message from Mark: “Now for my other so called friend, the one that lays a Chevy flag over my camper while I am sleeping, I have a few complaints about.  I never complain at races whether I am winning or loosing but here I go!!  The sun was in my eyes, my air pressure was off by a half a pound, the track had a groove in it and the starter started the lights to fast.  Last but not least a Japanese beetle had landed on the face shield of my helmet.  There was a distinct smell in the air that wasn’t of car fuel, so I think the Japanese beetle farted in my face.  I slapped him and there was a smear of his body on my shield so I could not see my lights.  After all that, the smell was still there and I concluded it was that of my friend who plays dirty pool.  Not to mention on Saturday night he kept giving me ice cold beer and I think he was trying to get me hung over.  I really believe he took the alcohol out of the beer and injected it into his motor.  Even after all of this I really don’t like to complain!!  However, that very special friend I am talking about always has my back when I need him.  Congratulations Terry for kicking my butt!!

 

Once again I would like to thank Terry and Jack from the bottom of my heart.  May a pink butterfly carry you over the big hill.”

 

                                                               

 

 

 

The next race at Livermore Falls will be a two day event with each day being a point’s race July 25th and 26th.  Let’s plan on having a pot luck on Saturday night and yes I will be there for this one…

 

See the race results below. Points will be posted by Wednesday. Hoping you all have good days till we meet up again!

 

The winners for Sunday are as follows:

 

Juniors

1-Evan Butters

2-Chris Whitmore

3-Kyle Goldsnider

4-Amber Wheeler

 

ATV Trail

1-Steve Aiken

2- Marco Morin

3-Mike Abbott

4-Mike Chute

 

ATV Top

1-Leonard Gavel

2- Josh Gochie

3-George Smith

4-Larry Dagan

 

4x4 Street

1-Rob Weymouth

 2-Chuck Beecher

3-Jody David

4-Paul Wineger

 

4x4 Top

1-Greg Perry

2-Norman Riche

3-Terry Taylor

4-Gary Adjutant