04/27/2003
ENDUROMANIACS
RETURN AFTER LONG OFFSEASON
by Kim Watson
After a long and cold winter, racing and controversy
returned to Riverhead Raceway this past weekend. The sun was
as bright as the new Donaldson’s Volkswagen Beetle (got to
love that Home Depot orange) and fans and drivers were pumped
and ready for the first green flag of the season.
Before the Enduro action started a few Saturday night
teams took to the track for practice. Driver “Slim” Jim
Donaldson turned a few laps in his #47 Figure 8 car. In
addition, a few modified drivers were on hand to practice for
this upcoming Saturday’s 50-lap double point race. The Super
Pro Truck teams of John Dennison and Peter Sparks were also on
hand working out some winter kinks. Getting ready for their
rescheduled 30 lap double pointer were Blunderbust drivers
Gary Caldwell and Doug Watson.
SPECTATOR DRAGS
The first division to race was the spectator drag cars.
This race is always exciting because drivers use their street
legal vehicles, and sometimes these cars are the driver’s
only way to work, or belong to their wives.
This past Sunday five cars was on hand to race in three
heats and one feature. The first heat was a Ford battle
between Kevin Smith in an 88 Mustang and Jim McCormick in an
86 Mustang. McCormick got out first, but Smith came back and
took the win with a turn four pass. The second heat was David
Sipila in his Camaro against Sal Contello in an 84 Oldsmobile.
Sipila won by getting off the line first and taking advantage
when Contello got loose in turn two. The final heat saw the
return of Kevin Smith against Paul Fox in a 92 Acura. Fox laid
some rubber at the line before getting out first and taking
the win.
The feature was a two-lap Polish-style shoot out
between David Sipila and Paul Fox. Once again the Acura was
out first giving Fox the win. Paul who hails from Riverhead
went on to race the “Ghetto Sled” in the 4-cylinder race.
GRAND ENDURO
The Grand Enduro ran for the first time at Riverhead.
The Grand Enduro major premise is that it presents a chance
for the drivers who have a bit more than a gut-and-go car. The
experience and past wins of these drivers showed in this fast
paced race. 18 drivers signed up and 14 more were sent in
after pre-race inspections. The small field set the drivers by
twos in this 70-lap race.
When the green flag dropped Danny Webster in the
SPONSORS WANTED Chevrolet was out first with Ed Brill in the
Transmission Works Chevy right on his bumper. Turn four got
messy when Billy Innes lost control. Ralph Soluri pulled in
early with his jungle themed car because of a loose fan belt.
When Ray Fitzgerald challenged Danny Webster for the lead, the
banging started in turns three and four. Fitzgerald got the
lead when a lapped car spun out Webster.
A big crash on the backstretch collected a few cars and
put some dents into Eugene Malverty’s hood. Enduro favorites
Walter Stroud Jr. in the Unsponsored Chevrolet Malibu and
Tommy “Wild Child” Walkowiak in the C&A Auto Parts
Chevrolet Monte Carlo found themselves fighting heavy traffic.
Ray Fitzgerald’s Constant Performance/Holbrook Sunoco
Chevrolet was easily the fastest one on the track lapping one
car after another. When Fitzgerald got stuck behind a slower
lap car, Fitzgerald executed a perfect bump (not dump) and
run. The Constant Performance car took the checkered flag but
would be disqualified during post race inspection for having
8-inch tires.
The win then went to Blunderbust racer Eugene Malverty.
Eugene announced that he is going to try to run a full season
to defend his BB Championship in his #23 All Stock Parts
Buick. Finishing second was “Dynamite” Danny Webster,
third belonged to Ed Brill. Tommy Walkowiak brought Hercules
in fourth, and “Lil” John Always finished out the top 5.
TRAIN RACE
The train race is a race that’s a bit on the wild
side, as three cars are chained together nose to tail to race
the figure 8 course. The front car has the motor and a driver,
but no brakes, the middle car is empty and in the caboose is
the brake man (although it seems he’s just along for the
wild ride).
The first Train Race this year had four entries to run
the 12-lap event. Off the line it was #18 of Bob Haegar and
Louie Tiano. The #23 Stan’s Towing team of Stan Wangenstein
and Kevin Clarke kept the leaders and the gas. Getting tangled
in the X was the #2 of Peter Bertuccio & Scott Schlein and
the #13 Musjce train and as result, both lost laps to the
leaders. On the last lap Wangenstein & Clarke made a
charge after the #18 but lost their momentum when their train
ran high.
Bob Haegar of Hampton Bay and Louie Tiano from Queens
entered victory lane as the first Train Race winners of 2003.
Sponsoring their #1 Train Race effort was Shinnecock Hardware
in Hampton Bay. While accepting their trophy in victory lane
the guys made their plans be known that they would be back.
FIRST STOCK 6/8-CYLINDER ENDURO
The first gut-and-go full-size Enduro had a field of 50
cars. Pre race inspection sent a few of the entrants to the
Grand Enduro. One of the only regular enduro front-runners in
this race was Dominic Raneri in the Local Cesspool entry.
When the green flag dropped Dege Russell in the
American Hometown Realty Chevrolet got a jump on the rest and
took the lead. Robert Endlekofer and Stephan Vonatzski
followed. The race took on a more typical enduro look as cars
began slipping and sliding. Louis Tiano in #14 Tiano Fine
Creations Jewelry Mercury had to work hard to fight his way
through traffic.
The first driver out of the race was Joe Strazza. Mike
Mujsce Jr. would follow Strazza with a right front flat. A bad
wreck in turn one involving Mike Rickett Jr. and Chris Ramocki
brought out the day’s first red flag. Before the
race-restarted front-runner Dominic Raneri pulled in with a
flat tire.
Enduro action resumed with Dwayne Sipila and Michael
Schlafer racing side by side. The front stretch got a little
crowded when a pile up occurred. Joseph Warren had the lead
for a bit until he had to pull into the in field for a black
flag. That gave the lead to Anthony Pizzo from Shirley. Steve
“the Breeze” Collins made some great laps in his hazardous
“Truckers Revenge” wagon.
Anthony Pizzo would cross the finish line first but
post race tech got him a DQ for an illegal ignition.
The winner of the race was #27 Dennis Sheehan from
Merrick. Although Sheehan hasn’t won in recent years, this
was not the first win by this J C Auto Salvage sponsored
driver.
In second was Phillip La Manna of Smithtown,
third-place car was the #58 and fourth was Robin Schewire who
ended the race with a bit of a tire rub.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO
Next up was the bright and buzzing 4-cylinder enduro.
These gear bangers were anxious and ready to go as they waited
three wide for the green flag to drop on their 70-lap race.
Bob Haegar in the #2 La Capannina Pizza Honda took off with the lead. At the rear of the field a
few cars had trouble getting started. Turn three became a
skating rink with the cars sliding around. Michael Brigandi
found him self stuck between turns three and four. The first
car to pull into the infield was Tom Lindsey. William
Christine had no problems making it around the track at a fast
pace. Chris “Krazy” Siwek in the Tuff Stuff Racing Dodge
went for a wild ride in turn 3 but quickly got things under
control.
The race was full of action, as the front stretch
became a mess of parts and wrecked cars. A red flag was thrown
to check on the well being of these drivers. After the restart
#8 Billy “Bear” Weigelt had the lead. Bob Haegar came back
to challenge him. It was enduro excitement as the seasoned
drivers battled door handle to door handle splitting only for
lapped cars. Haegar’s charge was stopped with a flat tire
when he dove four-wide to keep on Weigelt’s bumper. Among
the 23 cars running at the end was Ron Pederson and Steve
Johnson.
Taking the win and the trophy was Billy “Bear”
Weigelt. It was the third 4-cylinder win for the Classified
Racing Works driver. In second was William Christine of
Shoreham, and third was the #10 Trade Auto Wreckers Mitsubishi
of Steven Jappell.
LADIES ENDURO
The return of the ladies enduro was a 25-lap race for
the nine entrants. Linda Weingarten from Kings Park led the
first few laps. The racy looking car belonging to Tammy
Harrington passed her. Laura White in the Hampton Fleet
Service Chevrolet ran with the head of the pack, but had her
hands full fighting a loose car and a hard charging Katie
Lamac. Dorothea Hyde in the Constant Performance Chevrolet
showed her stuff when she started making her run for the lead
against Lamac. Patiently trying to find an opening, Hyde took
the high groove and the win.
Dorothea is no stranger to victory lane in this
division; she won the first Ladies Enduro at Riverhead. Hyde
credited her win to the guys at Constant Performance but I
think it’s her racing skill that keeps her ahead of the
pack.
Finishing 2nd was Katie Lamac of Westbury.
4/6-CYLINDER TRUCKS
Next up was the Sunday Tailgate Brigade of 4/6-cylinder
Enduro Trucks. These trucks can be a hand full for the 16
drivers. When the green flag dropped on this 40-lap race Wayne
Van Driessche took the lead. The top spot quickly became a
four-way battle. Dan Jones, Andy Owen and John Cozza
challenged Van Driessche. The trucks traded the lead as they
ran side by side and nose to tail. Kevin Clarke subbing for
the injured Stan Wangenstein took advantage of this and moved
into fourth. Andy “Daddy Cool” Owen in the NY Dragons
Arena Football Dodge enjoyed a three-truck lead for a few
laps. As the leaders avoided a wreck in turn four made the
high groove slippery.
When the checkered flag flew it was the Island Parts
Outlet entry of John Cozza from Medford in victory lane.
In second was Blunderbust driver Kevin Clarke in the
Stan’s Towing truck. N.Y. Dragons Arena Football driver Andy
Owen was third, and “Racin” Ronnie Albano finished fourth
in his Bonessi Auto Parts truck.
SECOND 6/8-CYLINDER STOCK ENDURO
The last race of the day was the second full-size
Enduro race. Six entries were in early and seven more signed
up to make up the thirteen-car field. With plenty of room to
move around Anthony Aiello in the Chapel Auto Wreckers
Chevrolet took the lead. The #2 of Steve Wortmann must have
been crowded with the extra passengers in his car. Car #49
went for a quick spin in turn four. Phillip La Manna was
coming on fast but had to fight with a loose racecar. Anthony Pizzo challenged Aiello’s lead. As they raced for
the top spot Phillip Lamanna lost a tire in a turn two wreck
ending his day.
Anthony Pizzo went on to take the win. Luckily the STS
Tires sponsored driver changed his ignition so he could take
home this trophy.
Finishing second was Dominic Raneri in his Local
Cesspool Chevrolet. Third place went to car #10.
Congratulations to James Heym who finished for the first time
in the money with a fourth place finish.
* A big thanks you to
Martha, Janet, and Christine who all work the pit window at
the back gate. With out them I would never know who was
driving what.
Sources:
Kim Watson/LongIslandJam.com
Posted: April 29, 2003
