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LAPS WITH NORM BOGAN #20 (9/01/03) by Norm Bogan |
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Session 1:
It is Labor Day weekend and the SCRA has just returned from a
laborious journey through Mid America. Greeting
their return home was a two-day program of events at Ventura on Saturday evening
followed by a return to the home track at Perris on Sunday. SCRA teams had trekked east with
high hopes of establishing the troops from the left coast as the dominant
non-wing racers in the country. A
few returned home with their heads hung low as this tour for the SCRA didn’t
meet the expectations of many. Teams
seemed to really struggle with the different track surfaces and there was
innuendo that USAC rules favored their guys on many of those tracks that were
co-sanctioned, allowing different engine placement and axle offset.
Don’t be surprised to see some teams constructing cars specifically for
future tours. Session 2:
Cory Kruseman flew home with a rare Saturday night off and stepped
into the #4 Alexander car at his hometown track.
It was a profitable trip as he captured his 60th SCRA feature
win, tying him with Rip Williams for the lead.
Another out of town guest was Troy Cline, who came west from North
Carolina to sub for buddy Mike Kirby in the Shoemaker #0.
Cline is now working for the Net Zero Winston Cup team and has made
several appearances on the Busch circuit this year. Targeted tonight were several
tractor tires along the wall between turns three and four.
Richard Griffin ran high and connected with a tire, sending it to the
middle of the turn, gathering up Tony Jones with some front end damage and Troy
Cline, who slid to avoid the tire and flipped over it sending him to several
barrel rolls. Later, Danny Sheridan
hit another tire. Perhaps the most
serious crash of the evening was Josh Wise, who started thirteenth and was
threatening the top five. Wise got
pinched into the front straight wall and did a series of cartwheels hitting the
cage on the wall in turn one. Josh was shaken, but okay.
The car was destroyed, but car owner Mike Sala promised to have a new
#19s at Perris next week. The car count was thirty SCRA machines. Many cars that did not go on the tour were chomping at the bit to get back to racing. A number of the younger drivers that did make the tour exhibited renewed vigor with the additional experience gained at the many new tracks. Session 3: Joining the SCRA on the Saturday night card were the VRA Senior sprints for drivers 45 and over. They staged 23 cars and put on some very competitive racing. Often referred to as the “Viagra Set”, many of these racers were past stars in other forms of racing from stock cars to sports cars, but now get their kicks racing open wheel non-wing 360 sprinters on the Ventura oval. Sixty-three year old Jim Porter, former champion of this series, claimed tonight’s victory. Maybe this group should pursue sponsorship from a product like “Depends”. Session 4: Sunday night found the SCRA warriors regrouping at Perris with thirty-five cars in the pits. While Troy Rutherford set the fast time, sixteen-year old Alan Ballard clocked in third fastest. Alan related that he was impressed with the racers and racetracks that he encountered on the tour. Ballard continues to show improvement and when you can out-qualify Richard Griffin, that is definite plus. Jordan Hermansader again looked strong in Bobby Ferro’s #91. Winning his heat and the Passing Masters Dash and leading the feature for a number of laps before getting blasted with a rock on his arm, which made it go numb. Jordan ended up ninth in the “A” Main, but was a stronger car. Two guys who have had disastrous seasons, Tony Jones and Charles Davis Jr., finished second and third tonight, both with big smiles. Rip Williams broke the one-day old tie with Cory Kruseman as he again assumed the top dog position with his 61st SCRA feature win. Session 5: The Steve Ostling/Fischer Motorsports team did not go on the tour because of financial restraints. While losing several places in the points, they hoped to put on a strong run at home, but those hopes were dashed somewhat at they ventilated their engine in the Sunday night feature. Brian Venard and Dad, Buster showed up with a beautiful metallic blue #47 and hoped to have a strong close to their season, but suffered a mechanical difficulty in the feature and finished fifteenth. SCRA rookie, Greg Bragg suffered valve train problems both nights in the #12 Pratt sprinter and was a scratch on Sunday. When the car is right, he has shown the ability that made him the winningest Lightning Sprint (Mini Sprint) driver. Former TQ champ and Western States Midget competitor, Alex Harris stepped into the #31 car at Perris and exhibited skills that got him into the “A” Main on his first outing. He finished 19th, but looked pretty racy against a stellar field. Session 6:
October 4, 2003 is the date set aside for the Legends of Ascot
celebration at Perris Auto Speedway. During
the day, there will be five racing icons honored; Promoters- J.C. Agajanian and
Harry Schooler, Drivers- Parnelli Jones and Allen Heath, Mechanic- Ray Scheetz.
Many of the heroes from Ascot will be present along with some of the old
cars that campaigned there. The day
will include a meal, souvenir inaugural program and lapel pin, grandstand
admission for the SCRA program that evening and a lot of bench racing.
The tab is $35 per person. Contact
Legends of Ascot, PO Box 5331, Torrance, CA 90510.
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