#96 Columbus Motor Speedway, Obetz, OH (1/3-mile asphalt), 10/8/05...Since early in the year a banner for for the inaugural “Open Wheel Octkoberfest” was on hoseheads.com, I site a frequent every day to keep up on the latest sprint car news. October is pretty open for me so with USAC Midgets and 305 Sprints on the same card at a new track for me within about three hours was a can't miss show.
The show was being promoted by Tony Barhorst, who is president of the Rumble Series that puts on the indoor midget races in the winter months. This was Barhorst's first outdoor promotion.
Western PA and central and eastern OH weather is not the greatest even in the summer months. Usually after the third week of September anything goes. The forecasts all week called for a little rain on Friday, clearing on Saturday, and sunny on Sunday. It rained all day throughout Ohio and PA on Friday. The forecasts changed to just a 20% chance of rain early Saturday with clearing skies for the rest of the weekend. That never happened.
I called the track numerous times before I left and in route and they said the rain ended at 8 AM and everything was on. The radar showed a patch of rain to the north so I gambled as I figured the weather could only get better.
Despite showers until about 30 miles from the speedway, skies were just overcast and temps were chilly in just the low 50s at the speedway as the show went off without a hitch. CMS is located on the southeast side of Columbus in an industrial area in Obetz. It began in 1946 as a flat track dirt motorcycle track. It was paved in the 1950s and ran USAC midgets beginning in 1957. The track holds claim to being the site of the first use of a wing on a race car.
Three classes were on tap highlighted by the first USAC National Midget Car event since August 20, 1978 along with the Winged Sprints on Asphalt Series and the Kentucky Legend Cars. A great field of cars were on hand including 35 midgets, 35 legends, and 27 305 sprints. The midget field was represented by 11 different states including California, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio!
The late Rich Vogler held the previous one-lap midget track record with a lap of 14.741. That mark was shattered by all but three drivers as Bryan Clauson set the new standard with fast lap of 13.655. Four heat races and a last chance race set the 22-car starting field for the 40-lap main event.
Dirt track racer Bryan Clauson of Nolblesville, Indiana made his first ever asphalt start and came away with the impressive win in a race that went non-stop in 10 minutes. The 40 lapper was probably the best race I have seen all year as five drivers battled for the win for the entire race and put on an amazing race through lapped traffic.
An invert six from qualifying put NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racer Tracy Hines on the pole with Clauson lining up sixth. Hines raced into the early lead with Californian Josh Wise driving Tony Stewart’s #20 taking second from Teddy Beach. Clauson entered the picture on lap six taking third from Beach. The leader caught lapped traffic on lap 18 and one lap later Clauson had second from Wise.
Beach stormed back to passed Wise for third on lap 20 then got back around Clauson for second on lap 23. Clauson and Wise re-passed Beach for second and third on laps 30 and 31 respectively. Clauson’s winning move came on the 32nd circuit when he worked his way under and by Hines for the lead on lap 32. With five laps to go Wise disposed of Hines for second. Clauson though was able to hold off Wise for his first career USAC National Midget Car win. Cole Carter made a late charge passing both Beech and Hines for third on lap 36. Beach was fourth over Ron Gregory and Hines, who dropped all the way to a disappointing sixth.
Of note, 72-year-old legend Mel Kenyon won the fourth heat race and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Kenyon was the only driver in the field that competed in the 1978 USAC event and was only one of seven drivers who were even alive.
The 305 sprint cars put on quite a show as fast timer Bryan Scott, who turned a quick lap of 12.180 in qualifying, charged all the way from the 10th starting spot making a last lap pass for the win. The 25-lap feature appeared to belong to Danny Brown as he led the first 24 laps. On the final lap (though the white flag was never waved and the flagman didn't have the checkered in hand), Brown went to the outside of a lapped car in turn three and jumped his wheel sending his car head-on hard into the retaining wall.
Brown was momentarily knocked unconscious as his throttle stuck wide open. While track crew personnel appeared to stand froze including the flagman that didn't know what to do, an individual came out of the pit area on a 4-wheeler and hit the kill switch. Brown did regain consciousness and was taken for observations. He was shaken, but was otherwise appeared to be okay. I couldn't believe the ineptness by some of the track personnel. Everything was in slow motion as I really can't say how long his engine was running wide open, but it seemed like an eternity. It was one of the scariest things I have seen in a while.
When racing resumed, Doug Berryman was handed the lead with Scott now in second. On the restart, the dirt track regular went to the outside and drove around Berryman in turns one and two for the winning move. Berryman was second over Trent Stephens, Ohio 410 dirt sprint car start Mike Linder, and Bryan Nuckles.
Rounding out the program was the 30-lap legend feature. Tim Davis wired the field leading all the way surviving five cautions for the victory. In a great gesture, Davis gave his trophy cup to a young boy sitting beside me in the grandstands. The young boy, who I would guess was about 10 and knew his racing, held on to and admired it for the rest of the night. He and his dad were heading to the pits to find Davis when the races ended. I'm not sure what it was that made Davis pick that youngster, but it definetely made this young boy's day and it's something I'm sure he won't forget.
All in all it was a great show with excellent racing, much better than I would have imagined. I felt bad for Barhorst, who is a native of Columbus. Barhorst leased the track and did have a rain date for two weeks, but was put in a tough no-win situation with the weather. I'm guessing there was maybe 600 in attendance. Adult admission was $16 and the pits was $30. I'm sure he took a pretty good hit and what a shame that more people didn't get to see it.
The downfall was a somewhat of an unorganized show. Racing started 45 minutes late at 2:45 and ended at about 7, and what usually happens when you get mutiple sanctioning bodies involved on the same night it becomes a case where's who's in charge. Not only were there three sanctioning bodies involved, regular track officials, plus Barhorst's own crew.
A nice touch was the free programs and Mel Kenyon posters that were available when you entered the track. CMS is well maintained with the green grass in the infield, scrubery lining the frontstretch, cement foundations on the bleachers, modern restrooms, and nice entrance are attractive. Though you can tell the facility is aging, I'm sure at one time it was state-of-the-art.
CMS made for my eighth new track of 2005 and 20th career Ohio track ranking me unoffically 27th in the Trackchaser standings.
With the scheduled 2 PM start, the plan was to head to the new 35 Raceway following the races, which was scheduled to start at 6:30. On the way to CMS, I called the track number numerous times without an answer before trying the home number where a lady did answer and informed me they cancelled. Why a message wouldn't be left on the track's # is beyond me.
The alternate plan was Jackson County Speedway, which wasn't supposed to 7:30. After calling 35 Raceway, I received a message on Jackson County's phone that they too had cancelled. A call to Shady Bowl Speedway and 201 Speedway in Kentucky yielded the same bad news. At that point I threw in the towel and headed west to Cincinnati, where I would stay Saturday night.
#97 Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN (1/4-mile dirt), 10/9/05...Lawrenceburg Speedway was a track I have heard so much about with rave reviews from my sprint car pals. The track is high-banked and located one mile east of the city of Lawrenceburg, at the fairgrounds on Route 50 just across the Ohio and Kentucky border in the shadow of Cincinnati.
Saturday tracks are hard for me to get to with my commitment at Mercer Raceway Park. With us finished up last week, this Sunday event would fit the bill perfectly. A check of the website showed racing at noon with features only and good weather was predicted so I figured I was "In Like Flynn".
On tap was the third and final day of the 10th annual “Fun Fest”. The weather dawned cloudy and breezy once again with temps struggling to get into the mid 50s. Obviously the forecast was blown again with no sun to be seen and sprinkles and drizzle even fell later in the day.
When I arrived at 10:30, I had no idea what I got myself into. I proceeded to put my blanket down and asked a track official, who just made an announcement about breakfast being served and church service, what time the races started. He confirmed the noon start. I got a pit pass, which I was surprised were only $20 for being that final day of a special event.
All you see were a sea of race cars and I do mean race cars. Pit parking was used at the go-kart track, the track's regular pit parking, the backside of the speedway at that exit, and even a few cars inside the speedway grounds at the camp sites. Cars were crammed in every nook and cranny. The other obvious fact was that it was now 11 AM and most cars weren't unloaded and there was little activity. I found that order of event which showed 11 classes of cars including B mains before the features. There was also to be a rollover contest beginning at noon. I had had enough walking at 11:30 and went back to my vehicle realizing racing was no way going to start anytime remotely near noon.
Upon walking back into the grandstand area shortly after noon a rollover contest was beginning. It was the first one I have ever experienced and I can say I did enjoy it. After it ended they made the announcement that they were going to be holding an auction for the Shriners Club. They acted like it wouldn't take long. Over an hour later in wrapped up.
Finally at 1:45 PM (one hour and 45 minutes late) the first race hit the track with the announcement of the first of three D mains. That's right D mains! Three D mains, six C mains, and nine B mains later the first feature event took the track at 6:10. Yes 6 hours and 10 minutes later than what I was under the assumption to.
The last chance races took forever to run as you can see. It was quite expected when I saw how small and high-banked the track was compunded with the fact that the track was never touched from the previous night's racing. That all equals lots of cautions for inexperienced racers trying to get into the features. I'm not even sure if those races could even be called races as it seemed like they could't run more than one lap without a caution. All of the events did thankfully have time limits, though I think only the three-car, three-lap mini stock C main was the only race that went without a caution.
Included in the event were the non-winged 410 sprint cars plus late models, UMP e-mods, street stocks, pure stocks, bombers, mini stocks, chevettes, 1200 cc mini sprints, 600 cc mini sprints, and 250 cc micro midgets. While I never got an official car count, my estimate would be that 450 plus cars competed.
Some 45 sprint cars were whittled down to 20 cars for the 25-lap feature. The event belonged to veteran well-known racer Indiana racer Kevin Briscoe, who took over from Mitch Cunningham on the opening lap and drove a great race through lapped traffic to secure the victory. 2004 track champion Kevin Besecker passed Cunningham for second on lap 22 to finish second.
The late model 25 lapper was dominated by Steve Godsey. The driver of the #14 led from start-to-finish surviving five cautions. With some 64 street stocks in the pits, Randy Petro finally passed Troy Clark on lap 16 and went on for the 20-lap win in his #95X after the two battled nearly side-by-side for the majority of the race. Lynn Ambrose led from green-to-checkered in the 15-lap 1200 mini sprint feature for his fifth win in his #36 over Doug Jones, who came home runner-up in a race that had only one caution.
The sprint feature was run fourth and I made my exit at 7:30 PM, nine hours after I turned into the speedway. I was thankful that the four features I watched ran off in less than an hour and a half as I seriously was debating whether I could withstand much more at 5 o'clock. Little traffic delays as I raced through four of Ohio's big cities of Cincinnati, Columbus, Akron, and Youngstown allowed me to be back in PA in just under four and half hours.
Lawrenceburg has to be the nicest fairground speedway I have been to with a huge grandstand with aluminum seats and backs that offer a great view of the racey speedway. Nice, modern concession and restroom facilities along with Musco lighting and a great p.a. system makes for an enjoyable experience. Lawrenceburg does have a female announcer, which is just the second I have experienced with the only other being in Hawaii.
Lawrenceburg made for my ninth new track of 2005 and fourth career Indiana track, but first dirt track.
89. 1/2 Mountain Speedway, Saint Johns, PA
90. 8/12 Big Diamond Raceway, Minersville, PA
91. 8/13 Mahoning Valley Speedway, Lehighton,PA
92. 8/13 New Egypt Speedway, New Egypt, NJ
93. 8/24 Westmoreland Fairgrounds (Rolling Rock Arena), Norvelt, PA
94. 9/9 Lake Erie Speedway (figure 8), North East, PA
95. 9/11 Thunder Moutain Speedway, Knox Dale, PA
96. 10/8 Columbus Motor Speedway, Obetz, OH
97. 10/9 Lawrenceburg Speedway, Lawrenceburg, IN
