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| VENTURA
RACEWAY OPENS NEW ERA IN 2003 by Norm Bogan |
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After an off-season filled with uncertainty about the future of Ventura Raceway, the season finally kicked off on March 8th with the VRA Sprints, Senior Sprints and Pony Stocks. The turnout in the pits was very representative with 36 VRA Sprints and 24 Senior Sprints, with several racing in both classes employing different drivers. Add to this one of the basic groups, the VRA Pony Stocks, which had around 20 entries. Since the end of last season, Ventura Raceway has been in turmoil, as members of the Fair Board were considering new proposals for the real estate now occupied by the raceway. Leading the charge were complaints about the noise generated from the racing plant. Raceway officials began working with muffler suppliers to develop quieter units, while preserving the performance of the racing engines. In another move, the crash wall on the back straightaway was removed and a sound wall similar to those found along the freeways, was created to serve as a buffer between the racing surface and neighboring residents. After a grassroots effort by many of the local race fans and support from racing fans throughout the country, the Fair Board was made aware of the needs and wants of the local citizenry. It was impressed upon them that Ventura Raceway was a family facility, a place where you could take your kids and not worry about them getting into trouble. Fans traveling into the area for race events, noted their contributions to the local economy, purchasing food and lodging, plus visiting many of the boutiques along Main Street. With all the unknowns in addition to establishing the twenty-sixth annual contract for racing at the Seaside Park venue, it was a sort of rebirth at the opening show. SCRA was dark tonight, so several of their regulars were here to wheel a 360 machine tonight. In attendance were Cory Kruseman, Steve Ostling, Mike English and Jimmy Crawford, defending VRA Champ and 2003 SCRA Rookie candidate. Tonight’s Pony Stock feature was dedicated to the memory of Maureen Kaufman, long time raceway employee and a creator of the Pony Stock class with her husband, Greg. The Pony Stocks don’t usually run for purse money, but only trophies and points for bragging rights, but since tonight was this special annual event, it carried an additional cash purse. The program got underway with three Senior Sprint heat races, which found Ron DiDonato, former SCRA regular, now racing with the VRA Seniors along with Richard Terry and current VRA Seniors champ, Wiley Miller claiming victory. The VRA Sprints ran four heats with Jimmy Crawford, Kevin Kierce, Tony Dighera and Chris Wakim collecting the spoils. Oren Prosser Sr. captured the Senior “B” feature, while Mike Knopf was victorious in the VRA Sprint “B” feature. With all the preliminaries over, it was Showtime and the Seniors “A” feature found Ron Bach finishing ahead of Russell DeBlauw and Ron DiDonato. Then the Maureen Kaufman Memorial race for Pony Stocks went on as scheduled with 64 year-old Jon Everhart emerging victorious. Finally the featured event of the evening with the VRA Pro Sprints putting a capper on the night with a feature that had a number of lead swaps and some outstanding dicing throughout the field. Cory Kruseman and Steve Ostling got by early leader Tony Dighera and treated the fans to an exciting duel for the win, but back in the field, a similar duel was going on between Greg Taylor and Kevin Kierce. At the checkered flag, Kruseman prevailed over Ostling with Dighera holding onto third, followed by Taylor and Kierce. Racing action doesn’t get much better than tonight’s show. If you ever see a race like these features, you will definitely be hooked on the racing. There was a good crowd, although not a sellout. For Ventura Raceway to continue to renew their annual contracts, they will need all the support that is available. I hope that some of the Fair Board were in attendance tonight and saw the fan reaction to the program and maybe gained a new respect for the entertainment value at this venue. |
