5MP Heath Memorial 2009. The racing
gods were smiling, and why shouldn't
they on such a night as the 45th
running of the Heath Memorial Race at
5MP. Thumper chugged along Rt. 17
with the Teardrop on the trailer and I felt
good as the cool air tickled me on the
short drive to Kirkwood. Dad is
unloading the S33 as I pull in, John
Mason has the Beagell #29 display
already set up as does Jim Chase with
his Kennedy #67, a nice little display
that draws fans and kids of all ages like
flies to ... well.... When you pull into
these events you'd better be ready to talk
because the questions fly before you can
even get out the door. Steve Bronson
approaches with a picture in hand, Joe
Buchak is right there, "Gary Rudler"
says Joe. That guy is like an encylopedia
of Southern Tier racing. Steve offers it to
me to send to the lady who is looking for
pics of Gary - great! Not only do we make
someone happy, but I learn something
as well. Not all of Fred's pictures are
labeled correctly, (these had Gary Redick
on them, and I was sure it wasn't right..).
It's Carl Nagel night as well, a well
thought out and deserved recognition to
one of the only guys I know of to race for
50 years this season - not to mention
every decade that 5MP has been open.
Carl's just a nice guy, easy going and
friendly, it's easy to see why he is so
popular. But the fire still burns inside
and he related that they were still
sorting his car out as they had added
some new heads and were now onto
finding the right carburetor combo. After
we trade jokes about hairstyles his
family is ready for some pictures, we've
given him his choice of cars to tool
around during intermision and grandson
Duke has picked the S33 - good choice. I
return an album to Grant Buck and he's
toting another, great stuff he has. He
introduces me to Mal Harpell and Stan
Friesen, nice guys all. Steve Post of MRN
has a pretty good handshake. Everyone
is wearing smiles behind the
grandstands, it's a great night for racing.
And what racing, if you haven't been to 5
mile in a while, it's time to give it a go.
There was a great crowd and no lack of
cars in any class, 5 modifed heats and
two consi's. The track was in good shape
and the racing was competitive, and
enjoyable. After the heats, modified
consi's and 'cat' feature, it's intermission
and Leon Andrus is down to introduce
all the former drivers; Joe Buchak,
Deforest Chalker, Mark Terry, Mike
Colsten, Glenn Knapp, Stan Freisen,
Stub Stevens, Bill Strosahl Jr, Doug
Worthing, Lynn Highhouse, etc. I pull up
to take pics and this fellow next to me
says "I used to race here", I don't
recognize him so ask - "Pete Kozak". Now
I recognize him and tell him he's
famous... and on the web. Nice guy, all
smiles. Chuck Akulis gets a big hand
from the crowd and then Leon and Andy
Harpell present Carl Nagel with a 'Key to
the Quarter Mile' as well as retire his
number at the track. Only the third
racer to be honored in this fashion (Tim
Oleski and Chuck Akulis are the other
two). And then we're off for some
foolishness on the track. Joe Buchak has
already given Deforest Chalker a spin in
the Teardrop, this time he wants me to
drive - no problem. Carl and Duke jump
in the S33 while 'The Junkyard Jet'
Doug Worthing mans the Chase #67. The
90 Hp engine sounds good, and Joe
relates "You know, these things didn't
handle that great back then..." I'm not
sure if he was hinting for me to slow
down on the just watered track or not..
here comes Doug trying me on the
inside of 4... and before you know it,
we're done. Load 'em up and wash 'em
on Sunday. The features were even
better than the heats, Carl worked his
way up midpack by the end, with a car
that wasn't up to snuff. Mike Colsten
made a bid for the win but Jerry Higby
had 'em covered after Stewart Freisen
blew - great races all. A great time at the
Point, thanks to Andy Harpell and all the
staff at 5 Mile for making our night so
enjoyable, see you next year.
gods were smiling, and why shouldn't
they on such a night as the 45th
running of the Heath Memorial Race at
5MP. Thumper chugged along Rt. 17
with the Teardrop on the trailer and I felt
good as the cool air tickled me on the
short drive to Kirkwood. Dad is
unloading the S33 as I pull in, John
Mason has the Beagell #29 display
already set up as does Jim Chase with
his Kennedy #67, a nice little display
that draws fans and kids of all ages like
flies to ... well.... When you pull into
these events you'd better be ready to talk
because the questions fly before you can
even get out the door. Steve Bronson
approaches with a picture in hand, Joe
Buchak is right there, "Gary Rudler"
says Joe. That guy is like an encylopedia
of Southern Tier racing. Steve offers it to
me to send to the lady who is looking for
pics of Gary - great! Not only do we make
someone happy, but I learn something
as well. Not all of Fred's pictures are
labeled correctly, (these had Gary Redick
on them, and I was sure it wasn't right..).
It's Carl Nagel night as well, a well
thought out and deserved recognition to
one of the only guys I know of to race for
50 years this season - not to mention
every decade that 5MP has been open.
Carl's just a nice guy, easy going and
friendly, it's easy to see why he is so
popular. But the fire still burns inside
and he related that they were still
sorting his car out as they had added
some new heads and were now onto
finding the right carburetor combo. After
we trade jokes about hairstyles his
family is ready for some pictures, we've
given him his choice of cars to tool
around during intermision and grandson
Duke has picked the S33 - good choice. I
return an album to Grant Buck and he's
toting another, great stuff he has. He
introduces me to Mal Harpell and Stan
Friesen, nice guys all. Steve Post of MRN
has a pretty good handshake. Everyone
is wearing smiles behind the
grandstands, it's a great night for racing.
And what racing, if you haven't been to 5
mile in a while, it's time to give it a go.
There was a great crowd and no lack of
cars in any class, 5 modifed heats and
two consi's. The track was in good shape
and the racing was competitive, and
enjoyable. After the heats, modified
consi's and 'cat' feature, it's intermission
and Leon Andrus is down to introduce
all the former drivers; Joe Buchak,
Deforest Chalker, Mark Terry, Mike
Colsten, Glenn Knapp, Stan Freisen,
Stub Stevens, Bill Strosahl Jr, Doug
Worthing, Lynn Highhouse, etc. I pull up
to take pics and this fellow next to me
says "I used to race here", I don't
recognize him so ask - "Pete Kozak". Now
I recognize him and tell him he's
famous... and on the web. Nice guy, all
smiles. Chuck Akulis gets a big hand
from the crowd and then Leon and Andy
Harpell present Carl Nagel with a 'Key to
the Quarter Mile' as well as retire his
number at the track. Only the third
racer to be honored in this fashion (Tim
Oleski and Chuck Akulis are the other
two). And then we're off for some
foolishness on the track. Joe Buchak has
already given Deforest Chalker a spin in
the Teardrop, this time he wants me to
drive - no problem. Carl and Duke jump
in the S33 while 'The Junkyard Jet'
Doug Worthing mans the Chase #67. The
90 Hp engine sounds good, and Joe
relates "You know, these things didn't
handle that great back then..." I'm not
sure if he was hinting for me to slow
down on the just watered track or not..
here comes Doug trying me on the
inside of 4... and before you know it,
we're done. Load 'em up and wash 'em
on Sunday. The features were even
better than the heats, Carl worked his
way up midpack by the end, with a car
that wasn't up to snuff. Mike Colsten
made a bid for the win but Jerry Higby
had 'em covered after Stewart Freisen
blew - great races all. A great time at the
Point, thanks to Andy Harpell and all the
staff at 5 Mile for making our night so
enjoyable, see you next year.
That's what it's all about..
