Weedsport HOF Induction.
Starting in 1992, we made the
yearly trek to Weedsport for the
DIRT HOF Induction. Jack
Speno and I hammeered out
the deal over the winter of
'91-'92 - we wanted to race at
Syracuse and he needed some
nostalgic cars for his new HOF
Induction ceremony. Along the
way we also picked up races at
Rolling Wheels and
Canandiauga - good deal for
both of us. Jack is still working
at the HOF and was pleased
tohear we were coming agian
this year. Actually, it was a
reequest from Midstate Vintage
persdient Frank Blanchard
that got us out - the big secret
was that the club was honoring
Bill Marsh for his eighth
decade of racing - no small feat
that. Since Bill's car is still
awaiting a suitable camshaft,
Dad went and picked him up
and we met at the gate. Now all
we ahd to do was keep him
there all day until he got his
award....
Bill Kisslestein cooked the
goods for the picnic, everyone
brought a dish to pass and it
was like old times. The food was
great and the comraderie was
good as well. The people, and
cars have changed, and I'd say
that the club has 'evolved' quite
a bit - but it's still the same
basic deal for this get together.
We checked out the museum,
there's plenty of really nice cars
and memorabilia here. Jack
allowed us to sit in the theatre
where it was nice and cool and
watch some racing from
Syracuse. Back outside I run
into Bill Wimble and Dick
Waterman. I have a nice picture
for Bill to autograph and as
Dick is signing my helmet I
relate that Bones Boucier has
sent an e-mail relating he'll be
writing a book on Utica-Rome
commemorating 50 years of the
tracks' exisitance. Dick nods
and then I go into it... "John
Grady told me a little story
about the fellow you had oil the
pits one night.." Dick burst out
"Oh Jesus! What a mess..!!" Bill
is smiling as Dick explains the
situation, it was a gas and I'll
leave it at that as Bones will
surely describe it better than I
can.
One more trip inside and I
meet Dave Lape and get him to
sign my helmet as well. Dave's
real soft spoken and gives me
teh impression he's honored to
sign his autograph, nice guy.
Outside I see Brett Hearn
looking over the flatheads and
he signs the helmet too,
everyone is very accessible and
friendly, I wish him good luck
in the 100 lapper. Time to move
the cars to the infield now and
as I fire it up here comes
inductee Gary Reddick with his
family - last autograph of the
day as I realte to him that Bob
Hayslett always said nice things
about Gary, and I was pleased
to see him inducted.
Over to the infield, there are
more cars now and they won't
need us for field fillers thank
god - those old M&H Slicks are
like rocks... Instead we're going
to pace the Vintage club
features, whihc is more the
speed of our show cars. I watch
the club race in warmups and
their feature, I think I can still
run with the sportsman and
limited sportsman classes but
the modifieds would clobber my
flathead, as they well should.
We fulfill our pace duties along
with John Mason and then
they decide they want us to
pace the 100 lapper as well..
Suddenly, my starter goes on
the fritz.. Ok - Dad gives me a
shove and it fires right up in
2nd - no problem. The Vintage
features over, we're going to get
Bill to his award and then we're
done, Bill is riding with Dad in
the S33 but the track people
don't know what we're up to
and have us pull ahead of the
Modified lineup to pace the 100
lapper. So we're on turn 1 and
down at Victory Lane (Behind
us) they're staring the
ceremony, Jope Marotta has
the mic and this fellwo comes
up to me and says "Get Bill
down there, they're starting
and can't find him." I look back
from the 151 and see Bill
sitting alone in the S-33, Dad
has gone down to see if they
want him yet... So I jump in the
S-33 and off we go, the Mods
are still idling onto the track to
line up and we're weaving in
between them to get to the
stage - Bill doesn't get it -
"What the hell you doin??!!"
Just hang on Bill - we get down
in front and it has to be a grand
entrance, I turn to him "Now go
over to see Marotta and get
your award." He's
dumbfounded but does as he's
told. Frank Blanchard and the
club have presented him with a
nice plaque, and he is quite
appreciative. Nice deal, and a
good way to end the night. But,
it's not quite over. Dad has
gone back and pushed the 151
out of harms way.. we get it
going with a shove from the
S-33 and pull back in front of
the modifieds as they go
through introductions. So long
as he's behind me I've got a
starter... OK, we're ready to go.
The flagger tells us to fire them
up, I look back and Dad hits
the botton - Whiiiirrrr! Again.
Whhhhiiiierrrr!! He smiles,
shrugs and throws his hands
up - we both need a push... I
signal to the flagger - "What,
you both need one??!!" There'e
some frantic talk and gesturing
going on.. then a tow truck
comes through and here we go,
a tandem push of the S-33 to
the 151, I fire then Dad and
we're off. We gotta put on a
show - right?
Traveling home later in
Thumper I realize what a good
show it's been tonight, it was
fun. And tomorrow a new
starter for the 151..
Starting in 1992, we made the
yearly trek to Weedsport for the
DIRT HOF Induction. Jack
Speno and I hammeered out
the deal over the winter of
'91-'92 - we wanted to race at
Syracuse and he needed some
nostalgic cars for his new HOF
Induction ceremony. Along the
way we also picked up races at
Rolling Wheels and
Canandiauga - good deal for
both of us. Jack is still working
at the HOF and was pleased
tohear we were coming agian
this year. Actually, it was a
reequest from Midstate Vintage
persdient Frank Blanchard
that got us out - the big secret
was that the club was honoring
Bill Marsh for his eighth
decade of racing - no small feat
that. Since Bill's car is still
awaiting a suitable camshaft,
Dad went and picked him up
and we met at the gate. Now all
we ahd to do was keep him
there all day until he got his
award....
Bill Kisslestein cooked the
goods for the picnic, everyone
brought a dish to pass and it
was like old times. The food was
great and the comraderie was
good as well. The people, and
cars have changed, and I'd say
that the club has 'evolved' quite
a bit - but it's still the same
basic deal for this get together.
We checked out the museum,
there's plenty of really nice cars
and memorabilia here. Jack
allowed us to sit in the theatre
where it was nice and cool and
watch some racing from
Syracuse. Back outside I run
into Bill Wimble and Dick
Waterman. I have a nice picture
for Bill to autograph and as
Dick is signing my helmet I
relate that Bones Boucier has
sent an e-mail relating he'll be
writing a book on Utica-Rome
commemorating 50 years of the
tracks' exisitance. Dick nods
and then I go into it... "John
Grady told me a little story
about the fellow you had oil the
pits one night.." Dick burst out
"Oh Jesus! What a mess..!!" Bill
is smiling as Dick explains the
situation, it was a gas and I'll
leave it at that as Bones will
surely describe it better than I
can.
One more trip inside and I
meet Dave Lape and get him to
sign my helmet as well. Dave's
real soft spoken and gives me
teh impression he's honored to
sign his autograph, nice guy.
Outside I see Brett Hearn
looking over the flatheads and
he signs the helmet too,
everyone is very accessible and
friendly, I wish him good luck
in the 100 lapper. Time to move
the cars to the infield now and
as I fire it up here comes
inductee Gary Reddick with his
family - last autograph of the
day as I realte to him that Bob
Hayslett always said nice things
about Gary, and I was pleased
to see him inducted.
Over to the infield, there are
more cars now and they won't
need us for field fillers thank
god - those old M&H Slicks are
like rocks... Instead we're going
to pace the Vintage club
features, whihc is more the
speed of our show cars. I watch
the club race in warmups and
their feature, I think I can still
run with the sportsman and
limited sportsman classes but
the modifieds would clobber my
flathead, as they well should.
We fulfill our pace duties along
with John Mason and then
they decide they want us to
pace the 100 lapper as well..
Suddenly, my starter goes on
the fritz.. Ok - Dad gives me a
shove and it fires right up in
2nd - no problem. The Vintage
features over, we're going to get
Bill to his award and then we're
done, Bill is riding with Dad in
the S33 but the track people
don't know what we're up to
and have us pull ahead of the
Modified lineup to pace the 100
lapper. So we're on turn 1 and
down at Victory Lane (Behind
us) they're staring the
ceremony, Jope Marotta has
the mic and this fellwo comes
up to me and says "Get Bill
down there, they're starting
and can't find him." I look back
from the 151 and see Bill
sitting alone in the S-33, Dad
has gone down to see if they
want him yet... So I jump in the
S-33 and off we go, the Mods
are still idling onto the track to
line up and we're weaving in
between them to get to the
stage - Bill doesn't get it -
"What the hell you doin??!!"
Just hang on Bill - we get down
in front and it has to be a grand
entrance, I turn to him "Now go
over to see Marotta and get
your award." He's
dumbfounded but does as he's
told. Frank Blanchard and the
club have presented him with a
nice plaque, and he is quite
appreciative. Nice deal, and a
good way to end the night. But,
it's not quite over. Dad has
gone back and pushed the 151
out of harms way.. we get it
going with a shove from the
S-33 and pull back in front of
the modifieds as they go
through introductions. So long
as he's behind me I've got a
starter... OK, we're ready to go.
The flagger tells us to fire them
up, I look back and Dad hits
the botton - Whiiiirrrr! Again.
Whhhhiiiierrrr!! He smiles,
shrugs and throws his hands
up - we both need a push... I
signal to the flagger - "What,
you both need one??!!" There'e
some frantic talk and gesturing
going on.. then a tow truck
comes through and here we go,
a tandem push of the S-33 to
the 151, I fire then Dad and
we're off. We gotta put on a
show - right?
Traveling home later in
Thumper I realize what a good
show it's been tonight, it was
fun. And tomorrow a new
starter for the 151..
