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Memorial Day weekend is big in auto racing with traditional events like the Indy 500 and the World 600 NASCAR show. Since gasoline prices broke through the $4 dollar barrier in the past week or so, my plan was to confine my racing activities within California. Friday, I would journey to Victorville for the Dwarf Car Nationals and Modified show. Saturday the agenda listed Perris Auto Speedway as the venue of choice for USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and then a several hours trek up to the San Joaquin Valley community of Tulare to complete the USAC/CRA weekend double-header.
Well, Friday worked out as planned and my arrival at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, found a field of 71 Dwarf Cars from throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. Thirty Modifieds joined the action to provide some great racing on a well-prepared racetrack. Ryan Contrell was a dominant victor in the Modified feature and appeared to be on a repeat mission in the Dwarf Car Main, until questionable contact with another car as he advanced to the point, put him back to the rear after a spin. Adrenalin bursts brought him back to finish in the top ten. The fans braved temperatures in the forties with a steady breeze to bring the chill factor to quite frosty. Surrounding mountains looked more like the Swiss Alps than a protective ring around this high desert venue.
After a valiant effort to get the Perris facility prepared to accept the many race team haulers, the infield was still a quagmire with standing water and management was obliged to cancel the Saturday night show. Now the scramble for alternate destinations came into play and after consulting with one of my traveling buddies, the choice was to head west to the show at Ventura Raceway for VRA Sprints and other classes.
Arriving at Ventura, there was no outward appearance of any rainfall, although the skies changed from gray with ominous black clouds to blue skies with puffy white clouds several times. The program went off without a hitch for weather related problems.
Steve Conrad captured the Pro Sprint Victory with an impressive run by Brandon Thomson, skirting the wall lap after lap as he charged from the rear of the field to finish second. Bruce Douglass took the spoils from the other old guys, while Austin Rodarte scored the Modified victory.
Well, Sunday morning saw communication between many southern California racing teams and spies in Tulare before starting the jaunt over the Tehachapi Mountains. Soon word sifted down from the central state that overnight thunderstorms had left the track preparation team at the Thunderbowl without adequate time to resurrect the racing surface and so the USAC/CRA double-header was totally washed out.
Luckily, there was another alternative at Victorville, where they ran a combined 410/360 Sprint Car show with several support classes. Twenty-three cars were on hand and entertained the crowd with dicey heats, a strong semi and an outstanding feature as the top five cars ran through traffic like a runaway train. Even one of the lappers commented after the race that he had the best seat in the house as this juggernaut proceeded by around the top. Seth Wilson has enjoyed much better luck since he scrapped his olive drab paint job for basic black. He led many laps, before Blake Miller was able to snooker him in behind a lapped car and grab the lead.
Much of the race, John Aden was in the mix, until his temperature gauge indicated that he should pull in and save his engine. Tyler Brown and Alan Ballard completed the top four. About mid way in the feature, Bill Badger tagged the wall coming off turn four and it locked up his rear end, leaving him dead in the water right near the flag stand in the middle of the track. Kris Stauffacher came off the corner with nowhere to go and nailed Badger’s car on the right rear tire. Both cars suffered serious damage, but both drivers were okay, although they may be walking a little gingerly the day after.
So sometimes, the best laid plans go awry and this weekend I used Victorville to bookend a Saturday night show at Ventura. Two shows I had planned to follow this weekend both succumbed to Mother Nature. My alternative choices turned out to be brilliant substitutes.
Next week, May 31st will find several local venues dark, while Victorville will be running another Open Comp Sprint Car show, with a new twist added. Shades of the “Front Row Challenge”! The Faas/Gardner promotion has added $20,000 for a racer scheduled to start on the pole and opt to go to the last row. If that competitor is able to navigate his way from the rear to claim the victory, his payday will increase five-fold. Look for a stellar field of cars to be on hand, all expecting to run the table and collect the bonus prize.
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