32 STAR CARS AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY

STAR was out in full force at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday July 9^th as the STAR members and cars from all over the New England states joined together with 32 vintage race cars on hand to give Seekonk a taste of the “Good Old Days” STAR’S style.

 Finally Mother Nature cooperated and gave a perfect day and night for racing.  I have to say it was like walking into the pits of Seekonk Speedway back in the 60’s and 70’s with so many cars and members joking, laughing and playing pranks on each other.  There was not a quiet member in that pit area that night!  “But isn’t that what it is all about?"  Good Times, Good Racing, and Good Friends.  I have to say STAR has it all!

  Star started their day with warm ups for the sportsmen and then for the modifieds.  The evening would bring the STAR Tour two 8-lap heats for the Sportsmen because there were too many Sportsmen cars for one heat and one 8-lap heat for the modifieds.  As you walked around the pits before the heat races you could hear how the drivers were planning and strategizing just how they were going to win their heat. 

Then it was time for racing.  The first sportsmen heat rolled onto the track.  Gary Moore from NH in the #84 Pinto and Charlie Wilcox from CT in the #111coupe went wheel to wheel for lap after lap until Wilcox pulled out just enough to take down the first Sportsmen heat for the Tour that evening.  Then the second Sportsmen heat enter the track and when the flag came down Richard Eastman from Ma in his Ollie Silvia Pinto dominated the field until Dave Grassie from Ma in his #711 coupe closed in on him to make it another close finish as Eastman took down the second checkered flag for the tour.  Next up was the mighty modifeds of STAR.  You never know what will happen with these guys.  They run close they run tight and it usually a photo finish.  But let’s step back into the pit area before the racing started.  We all know Bobby Turner from ME was a Champion back in his days but he quoted to me, “I never won at Seekonk” Oh I knew just what was going to happen then.  But I have to say Brian Robie from NH in his #99 Pinto gave him a good fight. Bobby stated it was like racing back when I was racing.  But now Bobby you can say you finally won at Seekonk as Turner took down the third checkered for the Tour.

At feature time this was a real picture that you do not see every day.  The Sportsmen came out onto the track one after the other.  Twenty-two cars in all, filling up the asphalt just like it was in the good old days.  Even the crowd stated how come so many cars in this race?  Well it was one of those days a lot of the STAR sportsmen cars showed up and I have to say watching from the grandstands it was UNBELIEVABLE.  The pack crossed over and with Ron DaRos from CT in his #33 sedan leading 22 vintage cars to the 15-lap feature for the Sportsmen.  Ron stated something I would like to share with all:

  “Saturday night at Seekonk was another highlight right up there at the top! Saturday was my birthday, the Konk is only 1hour away, it was a beautiful day, the 33 was running great & life is great, how else could it get any better? But it did get even better! Being on the pole I was privileged to pace & lead 22 Sportsmen around for the green flag, it felt great. I would have loved to see it from the stands, 22 vintage stock cars rolling onto the track one by one, every car different, unique & very colorful like back in the day. I didn't win, nor did I finish in the top 10, that doesn't matter I had me one hell of a time! I think the Sportsman division (I'm partial to them because I'm one) pulled together at the right time & place to pull off a 15 lap 22 car feature with out a yellow! It was AWESOME!!!”

  The green came down and it was off to racing for the Sportsmen division.  Da Ros in his #33 sedan and Russell Kenny Lowe from Ma in his #22 coupe lead the pack for a few laps until Joe Keefner from Ma in his #99 Gremlin pulled out to take the lead. But only a few feet behind him was David Grassie from Ma in the #711 coupe and John Dipietro from Ma in the #7 coupe riding side by side lap after lap.  But you have to say the rest of the pack was having a great time mixing it up as cars switch positions back and forth. When the checked came down it was on Joe Keefner in his #99 coupe and David Grassie in the #711 coupe took a second only by a bumper from John Diepetro in the #7 coupe who topped the field off with a third.  A flawless race, 22 cars and not one caution flag. SWEET  BOYS.!!!

Now it was time for the mighty modifieds to hit the track.  The race cars got into position and in dedication to their loss friend and Board of Director Dick Murphy the pole position was kept open in his memory.  The green came down and it was off to racing.  The pack was tight and the pack was fast.  Charles Grassie from Ma in his #19 Pinto took the lead for a few laps until Bob Bateman from RI in his #17 Pinto took over and shot to the lead.  Mean while Paul LaPlante from RI in his #02 coupe slipped into second spot with Grassie alongside him.  The pack was tight and just like the modifieds use to run here were side by side lap after lap with only inches keeping them apart.  When the checkered flag came down it was Bob Bateman in the #17 Pinto taking the win for the modified division. Then it was a tight finish for the second and third position as Paul LaPlante in his 02 coupe finished in second position leaving Charles Grassie in the #19 to top off the modifieds with a third. The Sportsmen and Modified winners were brought to Victory Lane for pictures and presentation of trophies for their wins

Thanks to Seekonk Speedway for a great night of racing.

I would like to thank the members and fans for the nice e-mails that have been sent in on how they enjoyed the races STAR put off that night.  It certainly made this Race Director proud.