The Speedbowl finally won the battle with the weatherman and got its season-ending “Double Down Shootout” program into the record books last Saturday afternoon. A sunny but cool day saw 2006 SK Champion Dennis Gada put a perfect end to his season, as he swept the Modified portion of the event as well as the overall victory. Gada has been putting a hurting on the competition over the last few years, as his 2006 track crown is the sixth of the second-generation driver’s long & distinguished career.
 
In the Late Model portion of the show, it was another clean-sweep, as former Waterford regular Corey Hutchings took the checkers in both of his events. Like Gada, he was declared the overall winner. In the Sportsman, the dual feature victories were shared by 2006 champ Dwayne Dorr and fast-rising star Richard Staskowski with Dorr earning the overall win. Mini Stock action saw veteran Jeff Miller grab one of the features, while it was young Joe Godbout emerging victorious in the other. At day’s end, it was second-generation racer Ken Cassidy Jr. celebrating the combined “Double Down” win.
 
Joey Payne took the victory over a full field of NEMA Midgets, while it was Jason Palmer in the Legends. 
 
The “Double Down Shootout” program was a success to say the least. Some of the best all-out racing witnessed in many a moon took place, and there seemed to be a rather festive mood around the pits. Let’s hope that it’s on the card again in 2007 – it was a fun show!
 
Wondering if there’s going to be racing at Waterford in 2007? A check of the Speedbowl website confirms that there’ll not only be racing at the shoreline oval, but there’s also a couple of important announcements that will no doubt be of interest to competitors. News on the long-awaited SK spec motor is there, as well as other tidbits about the upcoming season. Also, don’t forget about the 2006 Awards Banquet to be held on January 13th. Again, see the Bowl’ website on info on how to beat the rush & secure your tickets early. 
 
For the first time in a decade, veteran motorsports Guru Pete Zanardi will not be at the helm of the Waterford PR machine when 2007 rolls around. Old Peter spent the pre-race portion of his last day as a Waterford “regular” strolling the pits getting photos of competitors & shooting the bull with the people that make up the Speedbowl Family. Zanardi has guided the track thru some rather unsettling times as of late, and is to be commended for having always been there when the sport needed him. It’s going to be a big spot to fill, and he’s going to be missed greatly at the shoreline oval. The good thing is that he’s still going to be around his old haunt from time to time in the coming seasons, and more importantly, he’s not retired from writing about the sport he’s dedicated so much of his life to.
 
Mr. Z – enjoy your retirement from your PR duties at the Speedbowl as you certainly earned it!
 
Steve Kennedy, once Waterford’s weekly track photographer and now an ultra-successful artist residing on the Cape, was a welcome visitor on Saturday. Steve’s literally a storage house for Waterford & Plainville factoids from the 70’s & 80’s and it’s always a pleasure getting together with him to talk about the old days. On a personal level, being the same age we always have a lot to chat about regarding that era. Still a top-shelf lensman, he was on hand to shoot the “Double Down” show and as always, captured some stirring images of the event.
 
It was Kennedy that pointed out to me how reassuring it is to see youngsters like Nick Teto of the Yankee Racer website involved in the sport. In an era that our young are often criticized for having a lack of direction, it’s good to know that there’ll be people like Teto coming up though the ranks of motorsports journalism in the future.
 
Is Waterford a track with a family tradition? Take a look back into the record books and see just how many generations of Gada’s have been running (and winning) at the Speedbowl over the years. And to think, it all started in the old Daredevil division with a trio of 55-57 Fords driven by the combination of some young local guys know as Allie, Wally, and “Insta Gada”…….
 
I’ve said it before, but the “Feel Good” story of the year has to be that of Don Fowler getting healed up after a stroke and coming back better than ever. He ran among the leaders all day Saturday….
 
Jim Torok, once a Waterford & Danbury Modified regular & now a NEAR member with not one, but two restored race cars will be getting a bit of national press for his efforts in the very near (no pun intended), future. Hemmings Muscle Machine magazine will be doing a spread on his Lou Funk straight-8 powered Danbury coupe. Jim did just a fantastic job in bringing the Funk racer back to life, and having it featured in one of the nations top auto monthly’s is a fitting tribute for his efforts. Jim of course, also campaigns his Corky Cookman Pinto on the vintage circuit. Watch for that issue of Hemmings….
 
 
And with that, it’s time to close out another one. Contact me at ddykes@originnet.net
 
Has anyone seen Howard “Jiggs” Beetham?