LEE USA SPEEDWAY

On September 2^nd at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, NH was the final running show for the Senior Tour Auto Racers for the season of 2011.  What a night it was as 23 vintage racers filled the pit area of Lee USA Speedway.  It was like walking back into the 60’s as you walked up and down the pit area listening to the laughter and joking of all the members, “Just Go Old Fashion Racing”.  I don’t think I have seen these drivers pumped up so much as this night!  They were going to close the season with a Bang!  But what better way to close the season by remembering the members we have loss this year.  This night Star would pay tribute to two fallen members we have loss in 2011.  On the midway was the famous little #5 blue coupe, of David “Scotty” Scott on his 1948 hauler and in the pit area was the V8 and 99 Vega of Dick Murphy.   It was an airy feeling as if they we right there with us.  You could feel their presence and I know they were there walking among us.  Scotty telling the jokes to the members and Dick laughing and telling everyone "get out of my way because I am coming through.” It was nice to see the complete family members of both David and Dick on hand.

To begin the day Star had warm up for both divisions and the evening would bring the tour 2 heats and 2 features.  Lee also had “Rides for Kids” and this always is a big hit with the Star drivers.

The first to hit the track was the Sportsmen with their heat race.  WHOW what a race it was as Skip Stearns from NH in his #7Xcoupe and Richard Eastman from Ma in his #0 Pinto battled for the win.  Behind them were Charlie Wilcox from Ct in his #111 coupe and Tina Chapman from Me in her #11 Pinto just waiting for the moment to move into first.  But Stearns drove hard and so did Eastman and it was going to be another photo finish, I could just feel it.  The pack was tight and with one slip up anyone would take the finish. When the checkered came down it was on Stearns to take the win that evening, but only by inches from Eastman.  Wilcox finished the pack off with a third. If this is what the Sportsmen gave me tonight just what would the modifieds do!!!

Now it was time for modifieds to hit the track for their heat race.  Once again the pack was tight, the pack was fast.  Bob Bateman from RI in the #17 Pinto and Brian Robie from NH in the #99 Pinto lead the field for a few laps until the pack opened up giving Paul Laplante from RI in the #02 coupe enough room to move into second spot.  George Brockman from Me in his #01 Ford Mustang slipped into third position.  It was tight it was fast it was anyone’s win!  Bateman and Laplante drove side by side but Bateman was not quitting tonight!  As soon as Laplante made his move to first spot Bateman gave it all he had and took down the second checkered for the evening. Laplante finish off with a second and Brockman topped the field with a third.

Now it was time for Lee USA Speedway to have the “Rides for Kids” time.  I want to thank all the STAR cars that went out on the track to join in this event and there were a lot of you!!  The children love to ride in the vintage cars and you could see them fighting which one to get into.  Some cars had as many as three children at once.  It was nice to see the family of Dick Murphy with his #V8 out there also.  All of us that knew Dick know this was his passion, to put children in his car.  This would have made him very happy.

Then it was time for the feature races of STAR.  The Sportsmen hit to the asphalt first for their 15-lap feature.   Charlie Wilcox from Ct in the #111 and Robert Harless from NY in the #8 lead the pack lap after lap until out of nowhere came Joe Gause from NH in the #99 of Dick Murphy.  What was going on here??  I know Joe a new driver this year never drove this fast before.  Mummmm could there have been a pilot in his car with him saying “Get out of the way I am coming through”.   Just who was driving this car was it Gause or Murphy?  Cause when the checkered came down it came down on the #99 of Joe Gause/Dick Murphy to take the win for the evening for the sportsmen division.  Robert Harless in the #8 finished off with a second and to top off with a third was Alan Zemla from Me in the #43 coupe.  Joe Gause in the #99 was brought track side for out of car interview and present with a trophy for first place by Miss. New Hampshire. 

Now the modifieds were hitting the track for their 15-lap feature.   When the green came down it was off to racing for the modifieds with Danny Ferland from NH in the #21, James Allen from Ma in the #46 and Brian Robie from NH in the #99 all heading for the led position.  Then creeping up on them was Bobby Turner from Me in his #7 Pinto.  Turner closed in on the pack and to the lead.  But with only a few laps to go Turner’s car lost power and starting falling farther and farther behind, whom would take the led now?  From the outside groove George Brockman from Me in his #01 Mustang saw the opening and quickly filled it to now take the led on the pack.  When the checkered came down it was on Brockman for the feature win for the modifieds.  Danny Ferland in the #21 took a second and Brian Robie close off the pack with a third.  George Brockman was brought track side for out of car interview and present with a trophy for first place by Miss. New Hampshire.

Star would like to thank LEE USA Speedway for a great night of fun and racing.