Hudson N.H. –The 9th annual Don Hayes Memorial was held this past Sunday, August 21st at Hudson International Speedway. The race honored the speedways longtime photographer/videographer who passed away in April 2002. Hayes was a photo buff returning home from WW ll and looking for some action when he came across auto racing and began a love affair that lasted until his passing.
In the 1940’s, racetracks were popping up everywhere and Hayes shot at speedways such as West Peabody, Dracut Speedway and the Manchester Motordrome but his main beat was Oscar Ridlon’s U.R.D.C. sanctioned Pines Speedway in Groveland, MA on Saturday nights and Hudson on Sundays. Each year at the U.R.D.C. awards banquet one of the highlights would come after the awards were handed out they would dim the lights and Hayes would fire up his Super 8 movie projector and the big screen he set up came to life with his traditional opening-Speedway Thrills-followed by a meticulously edited collection of clips starting with legendary flagman Kenny Small throwing the green flag and climaxing with the wildest flips and crashes the ace lensman had captured during the season.
Hayes was there for Hudson’s first opening day on May 9, 1948 and finished out the 2001 racing season before he became ill in December of 2001. Hayes shot whatever was presented for entertainment at the track from the early days of the Midgets, Jalopies, Supermodifieds, Motorcycles, Thrill Shows and even the occasional school bus race. His racing Legacy lives on through his hours of movies and thousands of photos of the early days of auto racing. In a fitting tribute on the day of his funeral the hearse carrying Hayes stopped at Hudson Speedway to make a lap around the Speedway that Hayes loved so much. As the hearse crossed the start/finish line chief starter Bob Munroe was perched on the flagstand waving the checkered flag as Hayes passed by.
The Don Hayes Memorial race was held in two segments. The first was a 20 lap event and the second was a 25 lap affair. The winner was to be determined by combining finishes.
Two time Roadrunner Champion and defending Don Hayes race winner Louie Maher won the first segment. Maher seemed to have things going his way in the second segment, had moved up to third place and was gaining ground on second place, but an issue with a tie rod put him in the pits. He lost a few laps and was out of contention. With just two laps to go Jef James was in position to win the overall race but contact with a lapped car sent James spinning down the back stretch and brought out a caution.
After the restart James was able to pass a few cars but ran out of time as the checkers flew. After a few moments tallying the results from both segments Nick Fisette and James were tied but the tiebreaker rule that was in place before the race declared that in case of a tie whoever finished higher in the second feature would score first. Nick Fisette crossed the line second in the last segment and was declared winner with James being second overall. Jen Lord was third overall and her dad Tommy Lord was fourth overall. Erica Page finished fifth overall.
Two time Rookie stock champion Dean Wendell picked up his first career win in the Outlaws. Wendell led most of the race but had his hands full with a slew of drivers right on his bumper. In the closing laps Derek Griffith made a move to the outside and looked like he might be able to make a pass but lost control going down the back stretch and spun out of contention. Todd Warren had a great run and finished second and Ron Lord, after a few spins and a few battles with Jay ”Battering Ram” Maki, finished third. The octogenarian Matt Bowsowski was fourth followed by Matt K.
Defending Thunder Light champion Chad Wendell won his third feature of 2011. Wendell grabbed the lead early in the race but was hounded by Justin Beecher the entire race. Beecher tried inside and outside to get by but wasn’t able to pull off a pass and had to settle for second. Nick Dombrowski was third and Meegan Lord was fourth.
Roger Tanguay Sr. led the opening laps of the Rookie stock main until he lost control coming off turn four and spun up the track in front of the field bringing a few cars with him to the wall. All the drivers were able to drive off but Mike McHughs car was damaged enough to affect the handling and he struggled the rest of the race to hang on and finished last. John Morin Jr. took the lead on the restart. Raindrops had begun to fall before the restart and the race had to be called with four laps remaining handing the win to Morin Jr. Second through tenth were Hollywood Helliwell, Scotty “The Body” Duval, Billy Clement Jr., Corey Merritt, Bill Heliwell, Tanguay Sr., Jerry Lepage, the grizzled veteran Bob Riopelle and Dan Murphy Jr.
Scotty ‘The Body” Duval won the Flagpole Race and the Spectator Race and probably would have won the Specatator Drags too but sadly the Spectator Drags were cancelled due to the rain.
The “Mighty” Mike Lewis Memorial Race for Rookie Stocks will be held this coming Sunday August 28th. Along with the Lewis Memorial will be the Roadrunners, Thunderlights, N.E. V.6. Modifieds, Spectator Race, Spectator Drags and Flagpole Race. This is the last night race of 2011 with gates opening at 4pm. Hot laps at 5pm and the first green at 6.03 pm. For more info please visit www.hudsonspeedway.info.