NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH
By Lou Modestino
Most northcountry tracks, now that the 2012 season is history, are at work planning the 2013 racing season. At the same time many of them are in the midst of their 2012 awards banquets. The 2012 season was a challenge and the hope of the economy improving and tight money loosing up is the hope of the track owners. Because they’ve witnessed a major downturn of entries in the backgage and ticket sales in the fornt gate.
Tom Mayberry is in charge of the Oxford Plains Speedway in western Maine and is expected to be announcing plans very soon. The Waterbury, Vermont based ACT Tour is also in the midst of getting 2013 schedules together as well as the one for its flagship track Thunder Road International Speedway in Barre, VT.
We’ve seen ads about the Twin State Speedway is for sale but there have been no takers to date. Wiscasset Speedway on the coast of Maine ran one event recently to keep up on it’s entertainment permit. That was done by the current owner of the track along with some dedicated voulenteers. We saw this on the Wiscasset Speedway website. A rules meeting for a 4 cylinder division on 11/03/2012 at the racetrack. Under serious consideration is making this an entry level class with limited modifications except for safety items. Input from all racers and prospective racers is welcome and encouraged. Please be a few minutes early.
Immediatly following the above was a meeting and open discussion for establishing rules for the Strictly/Super street division(s). There’s also ProStock/LMS meeting on Saturday Nov. 10 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the racetrack.We also expect to hear plans for at least two other Maine ovals. No doubt it will hinge on good news on the economy in the upcoming weeks. Otherwise it’s still a holding pattern.
Saturday’s Berlin City Frostbite enduro grew an extra 50 laps at the driver’s meeting, but that didn’t stop Floyd Bennett JR. from grabbing the $2000 payday at the All-New Riverside Speedway.
The cold, dreary day started out with the Spectator Drags, with $100 and a trophy on the line. Riverside Speedway announcer Shawn Sicard jumped in the passenger seat with 2012 Street Stock champion “Stormin” Keith Normand at the wheel against 2012 Late Model champion Luke Shannon for the opening race. Shannon would go on to beat the duo, and would find himself in the finals against Street Stock competitor Will Good. Good got sideways on more than one occasion on the wet track, and Shannon took advantage to grab the checkers.
Next, the enduro cars jumped on the track, and started 4 wide on the frontstretch. The “Save Second Base” car of Joel Hodgdon started on the pole, but was quickly overtaken by Bennett. Bennett had the car to beat all day, as he worked the very outside groove on the wet track, trying to gain as much traction as possible. “Nitro” Nick Gilcris weaved through traffic, to pass Bennett around halfway in the race, but Gilcris had bad luck cross his path again, with his Chevy Cavalier going over turns one and two. Mike Forsey found himself in second in the middle of the race, but collected a dead car in turn number four which slowed down his Pontiac Grand Prix. Jesse Switser ran up front for most of the race, and began to really challenge Bennett, but did not adhere to a black flag, which resulted in Switser being parked for the evening. Gilcris found himself back on the bumper of Bennett with a few laps remaining, and pulled even with Bennett with two to go. When the two came out of turn four, they were squeezed in between a couple of dead cars and Chris Ouellette, which ended bad for Gilcris. Bennett went on to win the race and grab the check.
“We got the car on Thursday, and finished it this morning,” exclaimed Bennett. “It was a fun race, we had a blast, and I’m glad my wife let me buy the car for $100. We’ll discuss giving her back the $100,” smirked Bennett.
Luke Shannon capped a good day by taking second place. “I don’t usually like running a front wheel drive,” said Shannon. “It took a bit to get momentum, and I really smiled when the track started to dry out, unfortunately the rain came back and I knew we were going to fall off.”
Gilcris survived to finish third, and credited his good run to having fun and watching out for the wrecks. The “Frito Bandito” Aaron Bennett finished fourth, and Ben Belanger crossed the line fifth, but was disqualified in tech for a sway bar issue, giving Alex Kopp the position. Matt Carbone, Chris Ouellette, Mike St. Germaine, Josh Laird, and Mike Forsey finished 6th through 10th respectively.
That concludes the racing for the 2012 season at Riverside Speedway. Next, the Riverside Banquet will take place at the beautiful Town and Country Motor Inn on November 10th. Stay tuned, as Riverside Speedway will be making some big announcements soon.