| 12-07-06: Back in the 1970’s before video games, computers, cell phones, and every other high-tech gadget imaginable captured the imagination of today’s backwards cap-wearing baggy pants “Hip-Hop” generation, a lot of car-crazed young boys would partake in a pastime known as “model car building”. These days, such an endeavor sounds quaint, but to most adolescent males back then, it was almost a right of passage. Just about every department store had a section of the aisles dedicated to the hobby, and the shelves were packed with new releases on a routine basis. For those of us raised on the short track endeavors of our local racing heroes, the yearly model contest held at the Speedbowl was a highlight of the season. I was one of those kids parked at my makeshift workbench in the basement during the summer of 1975 armed with glue, paint, and a box of plastic parts that would hopefully turn into a replica of my favorite racers car. In fact, so much time was spent in the lower regions of the modest ranch house that I grew up in that summer, my late father jokingly took to calling me the “Cellar Dweller”. MORE>> |
| 11-30-06: Me bad. I made an error in last week’s column (I know, perfect auto racing scribes such as me are not supposed to make mistakes, but……). I listed the Speedbowl Xmas party as taking place on December 13th, when in reality, it’s Tuesday December 19th. Good catch on Bill & Keith’s part, and I thank you both! Anyway, refer to Bowl’ website on the details relating to this shindig, as it promises to be a great time! Not too much going on in this neck of the woods racing-wise, and with the holidays, I’m sure everyone is staying busy playing Santa Claus in preparation for the big day. Me? I’ve been busy digging out stuff from the archives to assist in various racing-related history projects. MORE>> |
| 11-23-06: The flu season is taking its toll as I found out up close & personal recently. Yours truly was down for the count for the better part of a week, and unfortunately, writing a column was kind of at the bottom of my list with the way I was feeling. A special thanks goes out to the readers that took a bit of time to email me & ask just where the heck I was! But this is yet another new week, and “Speedbowl Scene” once again goes to print thanks to our most gracious webmaster & former racer, Mr. Tom Ormsby….. First up this week, Get Well wishes go out the original “Connecticut Valley Rocket” himself, “Wild Bill” Slater. Seems Bill has had a few pesky health issues as of late, and ended-up in the crash house for a little tune-up. A New England Auto Racing Legend and all-around good guy, let’s hope that Mr.V8 emerges from his medical sabbatical none worse for the wear. Racing around these parts just ain’t the same without Bill on the scene….. MORE>> |
| 11-09-06: 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. MORE>> |
| 11-02-06: The only winner at the Speedbowl last weekend was the weatherman, as the much-anticipated “Double Down Shootout” was cancelled due to soggy conditions. Although the day of the race bought good weather conditions to the area, the previous monsoon-like conditions left the infield more suitable for boat races rather than a stock car event. Though every effort was made to dry out the infield, track management wisely pulled the plug early Sunday morning allowing competitors & fans the chance to make alternate plans for the weekend. The rescheduled “Double-Down Shootout” will take place this Saturday afternoon and everything that’s been heard about the event promises that it’s going to be a good one – be there! MORE>> |
| 10-26-06: This weekend is your last chance in 2006 to hear the sounds of racing motors at the Bowl’, as the track presents its unique “Double Down Shootout” event. The program includes double non-point features for the SK’s, Late Models, Sportsman and Mini Stocks, along with a full program of both NEMA Midget & Legends racing. According to General Manager Bill Roth, interest has been high from New England competitors that don’t usually call Waterford home. It’s expected that at least a few “outsiders” will invade the shoreline oval to try and best the regulars in this late-season finale. MORE>> |
| 10-18-06: This weekend it’s going to be a crashing good time at Waterford, as the RT. 85 oval presents its 2006 “Smacktoberfest”. Slated to take place on Sunday afternoon, on the agenda will be what’s being billed as “The Worlds Largest Trailer Race” along with a bunch of other metal-bending mayhem. For those interested in seeing stuff get destroyed, the Speedbowl is going to be the place to be. Check out the website for further information on what promises to be a fun-filled afternoon. Coming up in two weeks on Sunday afternoon October 29th, it’ll be the first edition of the “Double-Down Shootout”. An event that harkens back to the “old daze”, this show is going to be an afternoon that showcases but one thing; All-out racing! The brainchild of Waterford PR Honcho Pete Zanardi, the idea was to put on a program void of points, presenting teams the opportunity to race to the limit. Each division will go with twin features, 25 for the SK’s, 25 for the Late Models, and 15 each for the Sportsman and Mini Stocks. MORE>> |
| 10-11-06: Waterford was a busy place last weekend. Just about every division any hardcore short track fan could ever wish for was present at the Finale. Unable to attend on Saturday due to other commitments, I know I certainly got a generous helping of close competition on Sunday. The SK portion of the show was a real barn-burner in the closing circuits, as Rob Janovic narrowly edged-out freshly crowned 2006 Champ Dennis Gada for the victory. The first extra-distance SK triumph of Janovic's career was not without a dose of controversy. Following a couple of late race restarts, Gada and the winner locked-horns (or nerf bars in this case), on the final circuit leading to a rather uh, awkward victory lane celebration. MORE>> |
| 10-5-06: Waterford's season is rapidly coming to a close, but there’s still much to be decided in the way of track supremacy. This weekend at the Town Fair Tire Finale, Champions will be crowned and yet another page of history will be added to the records ledger of the decades-old facility. It’s been a season of ups & downs for the old girl, as well as the drivers that call the Bowl’ home each weekend. Perhaps one of the most noteworthy issues has been the slow degeneration of the once wildly popular Late Model division. Shrouded in controversy since the mid-point in the season when one well-known veteran was asked to do his racing elsewhere due some unsavory on-track antics, the class has been way-down on car counts. MORE>> |
| 9-26-06: Rain sucks when you’re trying to hold an auto race, and that’s a fact. Waterford has been frowned upon by the weatherman too many times this year. Let’s hope that we can get the last shows of the season in without the wet stuff…… Rescheduling has been the name of the game at the Speedbowl as of late, and it shakes out like this; the 2-day Town Fair Finale will now take place on the weekend of October 7th & 8th, Smacktoberfest rolls out on October 22nd, and the non-points “Double Down Shootout” takes place on October 29th. Be sure to check the Speedbowl website for all the details on these events….. MORE>> |
| 9-18-06: A strong crowd converged on the Speedbowl Saturday for a busy card of racing, and that’s just what they got, LOTS of racing. Ten feature events went off in rapid succession, and when it was time to dim the lights after the final checker, there was plenty to reflect upon. Two drivers clinched the titles in their respective divisions, a Pastor showed his fellow “Men of the Cloth” the fast way around a race track, and we lost another long-time Modified competitor to retirement. After decades behind the wheel of a race car, John Brouwer Jr. has called it quits. Citing the escalating costs of the sport coupled with a desire to spend more time with his family as the main reasons for getting out, the former Late Model Champion has called it a day. In an emotional farewell to the fans following the first of the evenings dual SK features, Brouwer stated that he’d sold off all his equipment and would no longer be behind the wheel on Saturday nights as he’s been for so many years. MORE>> |
| 9-13-06: As the old saying goes, “Better Late Than Never”, and unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control, that’s precisely what this week’s column is – late. A rather wicked case of poison ivy on my hands and forearms (I know, wear gloves when doing yard work), and running around doing all the things you have to do when you’re in the midst of (yet another), career change have kind of kept me away from the keyboard. With that said, let’s get on to this week’s column….. Last weekend a quite unexpected front of showers rolled into the area of the Speedbowl forcing postponement of the majority of the program. Really seasonable earlier in the day, this one took all of us by surprise. Check out the Bowl’ website for the make-up dates. MORE>> |
| 9-05-06: Ernesto-inspired heavy rains forced postponement of all activities at the Speedbowl last weekend. It was slated to be a busy two days, as the “Double-Down Shootout’ event was scheduled to take to the track on Saturday evening, and Sunday it was to be the annual “Back To School Bash”. While it turned out to be a rather nice day on Sunday, the precipitation from the previous days had left the infield not unlike a big bowl of soup – not the type of situation you want for demolition derby’s and school bus races. Management wisely decided to pull the plug early in the day, allowing everybody to make alternate plans. MORE>> |
| 8-28-06: It was a familiar name in Modified Land that entered victory lane Saturday evening, as young Chris Pasteryak stole the thunder from the veterans to take the victory. After having experienced an up & down season thus far, the second generation racer finally overcame the bridesmaid role that had been bestowed upon him in recent weeks. MORE>> |
| 8-21-06: t was the return of the Busch East on Saturday night, and as is the norm, the place was pretty much packed. Personally, I’m still trying to figure out just what the fascination is with this division and its follow-the-leader stuff, but hey, that’s just me (and what do I know?). Matt Kobyluck of nearby Uncasville, CT. won the event but not before expertly depositing Sean Caisse into the back chute wall, thereby all but eliminating the only other driver in this field of taxicabs seemingly capable of capturing the event. MORE>> |
| 8-14-06: Saturday night was a wild one at the Speedbowl, with the Legends cars chewing up fiberglass fenders like they were going out of style, and the Mini Stocks putting on their own version of a wholesale demolition derby. Carnage was the name of the game in the 4-cylinder wars, and it was wisely decided to put the beast to rest after having waved eight cautions in only eleven laps. With the infield resembling a Mustang graveyard, it was none other than Chris Williams scoring a well-deserved first feature win after six seasons of trying, trying , trying…. MORE>> |
| 8-07-06: It was a big weekend at Waterford for both fans of the present, and fans of the past. The Speedbowl’s annual “Nostalgia Weekend” went off without a hitch, with close to seventy antique and vintage race cars on hand to celebrate our sports illustrious history. The clubs of NEAR ACOT and STARS came out in droves on both days, with Saturday evening presenting an “up close & personal” still show on the midway, while Sunday afternoon was reserved for track time. MORE>> |
| 7-31-06: The weather wasn’t the only thing that was hot at Waterford Saturday evening, as the SK’s managed to put on one of the best shows of the season. Former Track Champion Jeff Pearl coaxed a rather ill-behaving racer to victory lane in scoring the 21st win of his still-young career. The 2nd generation driver started the event from the outside front row and managed to hold off spirited late charges from both Dennis Gada and Chris Pasteryak. The race was very close at the final flag with the winner’s margin being one of the closest of the season. MORE>> |
| 7-24-06: Not much to report from Waterford this week, as rain washed-out the Whelen Modified Tour show. A forecast laden with predictions of rain prompted track officials to pull the plug early in the afternoon. At press time, no date had been set for the rescheduling of the event. Be sure to watch the Speedbowl website for developments in that area. The Speedbowl’s Wednesday night X-Modified class continues to grow, with last week’s car-count one of the healthiest of the season. The division, developed by Waterford management as a low-cost alternative to compete within the Modifieds as well as a possible training ground for those with visions of entering Saturday night SK competition, could thus far be deemed a successful endeavor. MORE>> |
| 7-17-06: What a difference a week makes. Waterford’s Late Model division had recently been mired in controversy. More akin to a bulldozer rally than a racing event, it’d presented fans with everything but what they’d come to expect from the once wildly-popular class. Epic crashes caused by drivers with little respect for each other and caution-filled feature events that became increasingly painful to watch were becoming the norm. It looked as though the days of the fender-to-fender competition that had thrilled Speedbowl fans and made the Late Models the most popular support class in the region were over. MORE>> |
| 7-10-06: A few weeks ago, the Speedbowl staged its annual “Night of Destruction” a Friday night show geared more toward demolition derby aficionados rather than “serious” racing folk. Saturday night regulars got their own version of the event when all hell broke loose just past the halfway point of the Late Model feature. Continuing the “bad blood saga” that’s been played out all season, veteran Jay Stuart and second-generation shoe Bruce Thomas Jr. started exchanging blows toward the front of the pack. The result ? One of the scariest-looking accidents ever witnessed at the shoreline oval and the instant extermination of most of the starting field. MORE>> |
| 7-03-06: Tom Fox was wondering when he’d make it to victory lane again in Waterford’s tough SK division. After all, it’d been 2005 since he’d won his last feature, and the second-generation driver is accustomed to grabbing checkers on a pretty regular basis. Saturday night, the Plainfield, Ct. chauffer put it all together in grabbing the 100-lap SK portion of the Speedbowl’s annual Pepsi 300. Aiming for consistency this season, Fox drove a somewhat cautious race, continuing a game plan that’s placed him high in the race for the 2006 championship. MORE>> |
| 6-26-06: Once again, the weather wreaked havoc at the shoreline oval this weekend, with the Saturday evening race card being cancelled due to heavy rains. This Saturday night, it’s the Speedbowl’s traditional mid-season extravaganza, the “Pepsi 300”. Scheduled to go the 100-lap grind are both the SK’s and the Late Models. The Sportsman and Mini Stocks will also go the extra-mile route, both divisions covering the 50-lap distance. Time trails will be part of the program for all classes, an event that’s particularly unique for the Late Model, Sportsman and Mini groups who rarely take part in the race against the clock. MORE>> |
|
6-19-06: The True Value Modified Series made it’s first-ever appearance at Waterford Saturday evening, jamming the pits with over fifty cars. In a scene recalling the modified open competition shows of yesterday, it was great to see so many competitors converge on the shoreline oval for a good old-fashioned 100-lap grind. Although rain-shortened to just over the halfway point, the race turned out to be a real treat, with 24-year old Bobby Grigas III taking his first-ever win in the series. The True Value Rookie of the Year contender led from flag-to-flag in edging out former Speedbowl regular Jimmy Dolan for the victory. Locals Jeff Pearl and Tommy Fox were among the top-10 finishers. MORE>> |
