Thunder Mountain 8/26/06
2:30 Am Sunday and I’ve got writers
block. What’s on the speed channel?
Maybe some inspiration. Click on the
chatter box and there’s Michael
Schumacher blazing around Spa. The
speed is ridiculous, as illustrated by the
stationary cameras, but the real treat is
the in-car camera. To see what he is
seeing as the Ferrari traverses the track is
amazing. That’s what I’m looking for.
2:50 Pm Saturday; “It’s a go” says Dick
Stark on the phone and we’re off to
Thunder Mountain in the mist as he’s
going to roll the dice. ‘Can’t win if you
don’t play’ should be his motto and we
have our fingers crossed. Pulling into the
pits I hear it more than once, “Now this is
when they were real racecars”, “Yeah I
remember when we had one like this”, it’s
nice to be appreciated. John and Barb
Clark pull their 3X up alongside Richard
Parry’s #37 outside the gate and a crowd
quickly congregates looking over their
original iron. It’s a scene that has been
repeated several times this year. Our pits
start to fill as Jim Chase, Larry and
Howdy Witter, Tom Witter, Richard
Ackerman, Johnny Rockola and Bob
Martell arrive. We were expecting a few
more but mechanical woes have them off
their game, never the less we have some
‘never say die’ optimists on hand with
good quality if not quantity. Nikki and
Sue Lowe swing into action getting us
organized while we watch the pack
trackers work in the clay. It’s still misting
but if it comes in, it’s a gonna be tacky
which is going to make my rubber
selection look like the stuff of genius.
Actually, it’s the same rubber I always run
but still, it’s gonna work well on a heavy
track. The call for warmups comes and I
wriggle into the B29 and pull up to the
line. Over the hump on turn two and onto
the track we go, run in a few laps to move
the groove up and there’s the green.
Crack the throttle and make like Curtis
Turner, it’s a full track powerslide practice
as the clay is still slicker n snot but geeze,
what fun. Check the tach and its right at
5000, oil pressure is 65 to 70 lbs and the
engine is crisp. Stay off the guys in front
and keep the clay out of the radiator.
Touch the wheel to the left, lift, drift,
touch the wheel to the right and ease
back into it, control the slide with the
wheel and throttle. It’s a balancing act
that’s over way too soon and we’re luggin’
it back to the pits. Smiles all around,
“man, that’s a little slick eh?”, ‘couldn’t
tell a thing but it sure was fun”, it’ll be
more fun later as the clay dries but for
now there’s work to be done as we’ve each
gained some weight. FOOD FIGHT! Well,
actually, clay fight. Who says playing the
mud isn’t fun? By the time we have the
clay off our cars and collected, we could
start our own track and its nice clay too.
Watch out when you’re in our pits, you
may become target practice.
The call comes over the speaker for us to
line up for our heat and its back in the
cockpit. The car feels like an old slipper to
me at this point and it’s my comfort zone,
I know it’s not entirely true but I feel in
complete control at the wheel of my car.
There’s no deadlines to meet, no bills to
pay, Belvedere and the boys are already
fed, not a care in the world, complete
escape and it’s time to turn on my own
personal interactive x-box. Dad’s 43A and
Jim Chase’s 2K lead us to green and the
snarling beasts come to life in an
explosion of sound and aggression.
Wheels throw off chunks of clay as the
straining machinery blasts into turn one
looking for advantage. For us in the cars,
it’s like an unchoreographed ballet, you’
re not sure where that fellow ahead of you
is going for sure but we’re dancing just
the same. Green Bay Packers coach Vince
Lombardi always taught his running
backs to ‘Run to Daylight’ and that’s what
I’m looking for at this point. Dad leads us
through lap two while Chase and the B29
tussle over the second spot. Rockola is on
the move quickly as I see a flash of his
blue car on the outside while Tom and
Howdy Witter are right there waiting for
our mistake. Out of turn two and there’s
my daylight as Dad has drifted high and I
punch it. Drag race down the backstretch,
I can feel Rockola’s breath heavy on my
neck. Out of four and let it drift to the
wall, kick it and slide, make that thing
wiiidddee, Rockola’s 99 is going to have to
do it on the high side. Not enough time
and the final is B29, Rockola, Tom Witter,
Howdy, Bob Martell, Chase and Dad who
has faded.
Change jets in the 43A which ran
uncharacteristically hot, fuel it up, add
some more clay to our pyle which is now
big enough to make a boulder out of, and
head up to the stands to see how our
show car guys are making out. Veteran
driver Benny Stephens of Newark Valley
is on hand and signing autographs beside
his former mount, the 3X. Ever gracious,
he chats with me about some of his sprint
car adventures and reminisces about his
days as a driver. It’s clear that the bug
never leaves you and I’m pretty sure
judging from his grip that he could still
wheel one if he wanted. A trip to Newark
Valley is in my future. Dick Stark is
manning the concession stand in the pits,
the sausage is excellent as are the fries
and I’m gassed up as well. There’s the call.
I don’t know how many times I’ve yawned
waiting on line off of turn two at Thunder
Mountain and here comes another. Slap
yourself side the head, wake up and put
your game face on, here we go. Pace lap,
look over the track, it’s changed
considerably with some ruts out of four,
can I skim over them? Check the steering
back and forth, give it a burp, the track
has come up tacky, shaweeeet! Jim Chase
leads us to the waving green flag and if
there was a gauge on my carotid it’d be
pegged. Bob Martell finds the bottom
groove quickly and has the lead on the
first circuit, he’s come a long way in a
hurry and looks stout tonight. Rockola
takes up the chase and is by the 2K on
lap two to put the pressure on Bob while
a dogfight is taking place in front of me as
competitors search for their fast line. Lap
three and I start to move finding a hole
past Dad whose engine is sour, Tom
Witter has taken control of third spot
while Martell is holding off the closing
Rockola. By lap five Dad is off with a
blown head gasket and I’ve found the line
out of four works if you skim the stuff up
close to the wall. Sparks are flying from
beneath cars as they are pushed to their
limits, everyone has brought their A game
tonight. I slip past Tom into turn one and
that turn two wall comes up quick. It
might not be Michael Schumacher at Spa
but its pretty darned exciting just the
same. Martell and Rockola have opened a
lead up and I can see if I’m going to reel
them in, it’s gotta be on the high side and
I work that groove. Red Shredder fills my
ears with ferocious sound and the only
thing on your mind is ‘get that car ahead
of you’. You’re in the zone now, there’s no
yawning, only concentration and
determination. Your competitive spirit
takes over and there’s nothing else that
matters at that point in time, you realize
later just how alive you are. Martell is
glued to the hub with Rockola on his
bumper as I try to build momentum up,
turn four is an adventure but the old girl
handles it well and I pull even with
Rockola on lap 7. Bob leads through lap 8
but I out drag him to turn one and lead
the ninth circuit, Rockola follows up top
as Howdy gets around his uncle for
fourth. The goggles are smeared pretty
good by now so I make the B29 wide and
try to protect the bottom, Rockola’s gonna
have heck to pay to get around me and
runs out of laps trying. Final: B29,
Rockola, Bob Martell, Howdy Witter, Tom
Witter, Jim Chase and the 43A.
Exhilarated smiles, handshakes and
backslaps are exchanged afterwards in
the pits, an excellent night concluded
with all on the trailer in one piece. That
was fun and none to shabby a show to
boot as many comment on what a good
race we put on once again. On the trip
home Nikki says to me “No cautions, no
wrecks, no fights, it’s been a good
season.” She’s right, it has been a good
season and all members have to be
commended.
Kudos and thanks to all at Thunder
Mountain who made our evening so
enjoyable, Dick Stark’s roll came up sixes
and we’re pleased he took the chance and
gave us an opportunity to have some fun.
Thanks also to Sue Lowe and Nikki for
making it easy for the rest of us and to
Sue’s son Nick for keeping all that clay off
our cars. Lastly but not leastly I want to
thank all of our members who have
supported us this year, you guys have
made this happen and it’s a good deal, I
look forward to more of this kind of fun.
We have the next week off to prepare for
the CNY Old Time Hall of Fame Induction
ceremony which takes place Sept. 9th at
Midstate Speedway in Morris, NY.
I’ve been remiss dept.: Club member
John Button was victorious in the ACOT
feature held at Utica-Rome Speedway on
July 30th in his 1936 Hillegas Sprinter. It
must have been a gas to watch those old
sprint cars blast around the joint. John
topped a stellar field that included John
Flach in his crossfire powered #77 s well
as Bud Hinman’s Chevy powered Hillegas,
congrats to John.
Before singing off I’d like to wish modified
driver Karl Hehr a speedy recovery from
his injuries suffered this past Saturday
night at Lancaster. I truly do hope all
turns out well for Karl and his family as
well as track official Don Coons. No one
ever likes to hear news like this and I’m
hoping it all turns out to be a positive in
the future, not only for the families but
for the track as well.
block. What’s on the speed channel?
Maybe some inspiration. Click on the
chatter box and there’s Michael
Schumacher blazing around Spa. The
speed is ridiculous, as illustrated by the
stationary cameras, but the real treat is
the in-car camera. To see what he is
seeing as the Ferrari traverses the track is
amazing. That’s what I’m looking for.
2:50 Pm Saturday; “It’s a go” says Dick
Stark on the phone and we’re off to
Thunder Mountain in the mist as he’s
going to roll the dice. ‘Can’t win if you
don’t play’ should be his motto and we
have our fingers crossed. Pulling into the
pits I hear it more than once, “Now this is
when they were real racecars”, “Yeah I
remember when we had one like this”, it’s
nice to be appreciated. John and Barb
Clark pull their 3X up alongside Richard
Parry’s #37 outside the gate and a crowd
quickly congregates looking over their
original iron. It’s a scene that has been
repeated several times this year. Our pits
start to fill as Jim Chase, Larry and
Howdy Witter, Tom Witter, Richard
Ackerman, Johnny Rockola and Bob
Martell arrive. We were expecting a few
more but mechanical woes have them off
their game, never the less we have some
‘never say die’ optimists on hand with
good quality if not quantity. Nikki and
Sue Lowe swing into action getting us
organized while we watch the pack
trackers work in the clay. It’s still misting
but if it comes in, it’s a gonna be tacky
which is going to make my rubber
selection look like the stuff of genius.
Actually, it’s the same rubber I always run
but still, it’s gonna work well on a heavy
track. The call for warmups comes and I
wriggle into the B29 and pull up to the
line. Over the hump on turn two and onto
the track we go, run in a few laps to move
the groove up and there’s the green.
Crack the throttle and make like Curtis
Turner, it’s a full track powerslide practice
as the clay is still slicker n snot but geeze,
what fun. Check the tach and its right at
5000, oil pressure is 65 to 70 lbs and the
engine is crisp. Stay off the guys in front
and keep the clay out of the radiator.
Touch the wheel to the left, lift, drift,
touch the wheel to the right and ease
back into it, control the slide with the
wheel and throttle. It’s a balancing act
that’s over way too soon and we’re luggin’
it back to the pits. Smiles all around,
“man, that’s a little slick eh?”, ‘couldn’t
tell a thing but it sure was fun”, it’ll be
more fun later as the clay dries but for
now there’s work to be done as we’ve each
gained some weight. FOOD FIGHT! Well,
actually, clay fight. Who says playing the
mud isn’t fun? By the time we have the
clay off our cars and collected, we could
start our own track and its nice clay too.
Watch out when you’re in our pits, you
may become target practice.
The call comes over the speaker for us to
line up for our heat and its back in the
cockpit. The car feels like an old slipper to
me at this point and it’s my comfort zone,
I know it’s not entirely true but I feel in
complete control at the wheel of my car.
There’s no deadlines to meet, no bills to
pay, Belvedere and the boys are already
fed, not a care in the world, complete
escape and it’s time to turn on my own
personal interactive x-box. Dad’s 43A and
Jim Chase’s 2K lead us to green and the
snarling beasts come to life in an
explosion of sound and aggression.
Wheels throw off chunks of clay as the
straining machinery blasts into turn one
looking for advantage. For us in the cars,
it’s like an unchoreographed ballet, you’
re not sure where that fellow ahead of you
is going for sure but we’re dancing just
the same. Green Bay Packers coach Vince
Lombardi always taught his running
backs to ‘Run to Daylight’ and that’s what
I’m looking for at this point. Dad leads us
through lap two while Chase and the B29
tussle over the second spot. Rockola is on
the move quickly as I see a flash of his
blue car on the outside while Tom and
Howdy Witter are right there waiting for
our mistake. Out of turn two and there’s
my daylight as Dad has drifted high and I
punch it. Drag race down the backstretch,
I can feel Rockola’s breath heavy on my
neck. Out of four and let it drift to the
wall, kick it and slide, make that thing
wiiidddee, Rockola’s 99 is going to have to
do it on the high side. Not enough time
and the final is B29, Rockola, Tom Witter,
Howdy, Bob Martell, Chase and Dad who
has faded.
Change jets in the 43A which ran
uncharacteristically hot, fuel it up, add
some more clay to our pyle which is now
big enough to make a boulder out of, and
head up to the stands to see how our
show car guys are making out. Veteran
driver Benny Stephens of Newark Valley
is on hand and signing autographs beside
his former mount, the 3X. Ever gracious,
he chats with me about some of his sprint
car adventures and reminisces about his
days as a driver. It’s clear that the bug
never leaves you and I’m pretty sure
judging from his grip that he could still
wheel one if he wanted. A trip to Newark
Valley is in my future. Dick Stark is
manning the concession stand in the pits,
the sausage is excellent as are the fries
and I’m gassed up as well. There’s the call.
I don’t know how many times I’ve yawned
waiting on line off of turn two at Thunder
Mountain and here comes another. Slap
yourself side the head, wake up and put
your game face on, here we go. Pace lap,
look over the track, it’s changed
considerably with some ruts out of four,
can I skim over them? Check the steering
back and forth, give it a burp, the track
has come up tacky, shaweeeet! Jim Chase
leads us to the waving green flag and if
there was a gauge on my carotid it’d be
pegged. Bob Martell finds the bottom
groove quickly and has the lead on the
first circuit, he’s come a long way in a
hurry and looks stout tonight. Rockola
takes up the chase and is by the 2K on
lap two to put the pressure on Bob while
a dogfight is taking place in front of me as
competitors search for their fast line. Lap
three and I start to move finding a hole
past Dad whose engine is sour, Tom
Witter has taken control of third spot
while Martell is holding off the closing
Rockola. By lap five Dad is off with a
blown head gasket and I’ve found the line
out of four works if you skim the stuff up
close to the wall. Sparks are flying from
beneath cars as they are pushed to their
limits, everyone has brought their A game
tonight. I slip past Tom into turn one and
that turn two wall comes up quick. It
might not be Michael Schumacher at Spa
but its pretty darned exciting just the
same. Martell and Rockola have opened a
lead up and I can see if I’m going to reel
them in, it’s gotta be on the high side and
I work that groove. Red Shredder fills my
ears with ferocious sound and the only
thing on your mind is ‘get that car ahead
of you’. You’re in the zone now, there’s no
yawning, only concentration and
determination. Your competitive spirit
takes over and there’s nothing else that
matters at that point in time, you realize
later just how alive you are. Martell is
glued to the hub with Rockola on his
bumper as I try to build momentum up,
turn four is an adventure but the old girl
handles it well and I pull even with
Rockola on lap 7. Bob leads through lap 8
but I out drag him to turn one and lead
the ninth circuit, Rockola follows up top
as Howdy gets around his uncle for
fourth. The goggles are smeared pretty
good by now so I make the B29 wide and
try to protect the bottom, Rockola’s gonna
have heck to pay to get around me and
runs out of laps trying. Final: B29,
Rockola, Bob Martell, Howdy Witter, Tom
Witter, Jim Chase and the 43A.
Exhilarated smiles, handshakes and
backslaps are exchanged afterwards in
the pits, an excellent night concluded
with all on the trailer in one piece. That
was fun and none to shabby a show to
boot as many comment on what a good
race we put on once again. On the trip
home Nikki says to me “No cautions, no
wrecks, no fights, it’s been a good
season.” She’s right, it has been a good
season and all members have to be
commended.
Kudos and thanks to all at Thunder
Mountain who made our evening so
enjoyable, Dick Stark’s roll came up sixes
and we’re pleased he took the chance and
gave us an opportunity to have some fun.
Thanks also to Sue Lowe and Nikki for
making it easy for the rest of us and to
Sue’s son Nick for keeping all that clay off
our cars. Lastly but not leastly I want to
thank all of our members who have
supported us this year, you guys have
made this happen and it’s a good deal, I
look forward to more of this kind of fun.
We have the next week off to prepare for
the CNY Old Time Hall of Fame Induction
ceremony which takes place Sept. 9th at
Midstate Speedway in Morris, NY.
I’ve been remiss dept.: Club member
John Button was victorious in the ACOT
feature held at Utica-Rome Speedway on
July 30th in his 1936 Hillegas Sprinter. It
must have been a gas to watch those old
sprint cars blast around the joint. John
topped a stellar field that included John
Flach in his crossfire powered #77 s well
as Bud Hinman’s Chevy powered Hillegas,
congrats to John.
Before singing off I’d like to wish modified
driver Karl Hehr a speedy recovery from
his injuries suffered this past Saturday
night at Lancaster. I truly do hope all
turns out well for Karl and his family as
well as track official Don Coons. No one
ever likes to hear news like this and I’m
hoping it all turns out to be a positive in
the future, not only for the families but
for the track as well.
