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CANAAN SPEEDWAY JUNE 9TH |
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The
next stop for the Senior Tour Auto Racers was Canaan Speedway in Canaan
NH, on June 9th. Tonight
was a surprise for Race Director Mary Lima as the Berkshire Boys of
MacDowell Racing Team presented the Race Director at the drivers meeting
with a beautiful new line up board, which was very much appreciated!
Race Director Mary Lima “we really needed a new one and so much
work went into this new one, THANKS GUYS the Brownie Points for this
week goes to the Berkshire Boys”. Tonight
was a surprising night as the rookies took control over the veterans.
Young blood keeps it going and we have a lot of new young blood
this year. They
day began with afternoon warm ups. The
evening would bring the tour 2 heats and 2 features. But let’s go back
to the pit area for a minute, just to show you what goes on behind the
scenes of the STAR Tour. These
members get serious when needed and always willing to give a helping
hand in the pits to make sure all cars are up and running and when it
comes time to play they do
that hard also. Believe me there is never a dull moment! Now
it was time for the Sportsmen to hit the track for their heat race.
When the green was waved it was rookie driver Ed Mulligan from RI
in the #61 Pinto surprising shot out to take the lead.
But only after a few laps Gary Moore from NH in the #0 Nova
battled on the outside of Mulligan lap after lap.
Moving into 3rd position was Robert Harless from NY in
the #8 sedan and the #43 coupe of Alan Zemla from Me slotted into 4th
place. The pack was locked
and it was anyone win, who would take the victory?
The checked came down on rookie driver Ed Mulligan with his #61
Pinto and his first victory with the tour.
I guess we will not call him a rookie driver anymore!!!!! Then
the modifieds hit the track for their heat race.
It was Danny Ferland from NH in the #21 Pinto to take the lead
from the pack. James Allen
from Ma in the #46 went side by side with Charlie Lima from Ma in the
#2X coupe for second position. Paul
LaPlante from RI in the #02 coupe closed in the pack with a 4th
place. Then Allen made a move on the outside of Ferland to take over the
lead and the second victory for the tour that evening. Ferland finshed
with a close second, followed by Lima to top off the pack with a third. At
feature time STAR member Ronnie Bodge paced both divisions with his
beautiful 1937 Pontiac. The
crowd clapped as a vintage pace car paced these vintage racecars.
It was like walking back into time. The sportsmen were up first
for their feature race. The
green came down and it was Rick MacDowell from Ma in the #76 Pinto who
jumped out to take over the lead. Charlie Wilcox from CT in the #111
coupe followed MacDowell with rookie driver Alec Gause from NH in the
#75 Vega giving his best shot for third place.
Gause on the inside made his move and took over first place with
Richard Eastman from Ma in the #0 following Gause for a second.
MacDowell and Wilcox battled for third place.
Eastman and Gause stood side by side for lap after lap.
MacDowell was fighting off Wilcox for third and was not about to
give it up! When the
checkered came down, it was on Richard Eastman in the #0 to take the
win. Rookie Alec Gause in
the #75 held his position to take a second and MacDowell in the #76 held
off Wilcox to finish off with a third place.
The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview
and presented with trophies. The
modiefieds were staged and ready to go.
Once again Ronnie Bodge paced the field with his vintage pace car
and it was off to racing. Paul
LaPlante from RI in the #02 coupe shot out like a bullet to take the
lead. Bob Bateman from RI in
the #17 Pinto trying to catch LaPlante spun out and brought out the
first caution. All were fine
and it was back to racing. Now
LaPlante and Charlie Lima from Ma in the 2X coupe took the green and it
was race time for the modifieds. When
the pack opened up Jamie Ferland from NH in his #194 Pinto passed Lima
for a second position. Now
the battle began as LaPlante and Ferland drove side by side with only a
bumper length for first and second.
But directly behind them were STAR’s two veterans Charlie Lima
in the 2X and Bob Pringle from NH in the #7 Pinto.
Four cars side by side with only inches of who would finish 1st
2nd and 3rd. On
the last lap Ferland in the 194 moved up by a ¼ of a car length to take
the win. LaPlante in the #02 took a very close second.
But with Ferland moving up it gave Pringle in the #7 the
opportunity to take third from Lima only by inches.
It was a very close race for the top four.
The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview
and presented with trophies. But
this was not all, Pringle
who was celebrating his birthday and over the age of 70 proved that he
still has it. So Canaan’s
announcer asked all fans that were over 70 to please stand up for Pringe
to give him his Over the 70’s Fan Club!!!
The Fans stood up and like I said never a dull moment with these
guys. STAR
would like to thank Canaan Speedway for a great night of racing and all
their hospitality. |
