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Wednesday  01/25/12
Dave Dykes "Racing Through Time": Another Wednesday, More Old Stuff…..! From humble beginnings at Joe Tinty’s greatly-missed Plainville Stadium in Connecticut, this guy became one of the best racers to ever strap-into the cockpit of a modified. The much-celebrated Reggie Ruggiero is seen here at Plainville in the 1970s behind the controls of the 00jr, a clone of the late Walt Kuryn's 00 coach. This Sunday Jan 29, “The Reg” will take his place among the other racing greats of New England when he’s inducted into the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Seen here during a Plainville Stadium victory lane celebration is a couple of racers that were a huge part of “Tinty’s Place” for many, many years. On the right it’s Don Moon, one of the track’s big stars, and a guy that traveled extensively with success during the 1960s. That’s Don Spazano on the left, long one of Plainville’s most-winning drivers and one of our sports true “Nice Guys.” SpeedwayLineReport.com-Dave Dykes

NEAR Releases 2012 Schedule, 15th Annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Inductions Go-Green This Sunday: The New England Antique Racers (NEAR) have mapped-out a busy 2012 schedule with events scheduled at a wide variety of the regions speedways. Also on the slate is the 15th Annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to take place this Sunday, January 29. The season kicks-off on Saturday, March 31 at Connecticut’s famed Thompson Speedway, and concludes at the 3rd Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion to be held at the Berlin Fairgrounds in Berlin, Ct. on Saturday, October 13. Among other stops on the “NEAR 2012 Tour” are Seekonk, Stafford Springs, New Hampshire International Speedway, Monadnock, Lime Rock, Bear Ridge, Lee, Canaan Fair, Twin State, and White Mountain. SpeedwayLineReport.com-Dave Dykes

Bobby Santos III Waiting On Decision From Car Owner Concerning His Future With The Whelen Modified Tour: As it stands today, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion will not be in a ride in the division in 2012. Bobby Santos III, who won the championship in his first full season in the division in 2010 driving for Mystic car owner Bob Garbarino, said Tuesday evening that as of now he doesn't have a ride in the series this year. Santos also raced for Garbarino in 2011. "I talked to Bob a week ago and it sounded like he's up in the air on what he wants to do," Santos said. "I don't think he's made any decisions yet. "I actually am not sure what I'm doing either. Trying to wait to hear from him on his decision. I think he's gotten some phone calls where people have offered him money. He told me that. He pretty much told me that he hasn't made a decision and that's he's kind of biding his time before he decides anything."**Mystic Missile Mystery? Bob Garbarino Unsure Of Racing Plans This Year On NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour**Two To One: Doug Coby Has Single Team Focus For 2012 On NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour** Hartford Courant-Shawn Courchesne

Tuesday  01/24/12
Phil Smith's "Champ Trail": While some race fans are settling into the New Year almost all are looking foreword to 2012 when racing begins again. As of this Friday, Jan 27, three weeks remain before the start of the annual World Series at New Smyrna and Speedweek at the Daytona International Speedway. Racing at New Smyrna begins on Friday night, Feb 17 and the 34th annual season-opening Sprint Cup Shootout event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18. Speedweek is actually one week later than usual this year. The NASCAR Hall of Fame inducted its third class comprised of the late Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough on Friday night, Jan. 20 at the Crown Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center.SpeedwayLineReport.com-Phil Smith

Ted Christopher Readies For Usual Aggressive Schedule Of Racing In 2012: Age is doing nothing to slow down to Ted Christopher when it comes to setting his schedule of competition in racing. The 53-year old Christopher will set forth once again with an aggressive schedule that will see him run full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour while also possibly chasing another NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national short track title. Despite rumors to the contrary, Christopher said his Ed Whelan owned Whelen Modified Tour team is ready to return to full-time competition in the series this year. The team split briefly last year mid-season but came back together to finish 2011 strong. Christopher finished ninth in the Modified Tour standings last year, despite missing two events. Christopher had a series leading four victories in 14 starts.**Greg Zipadelli To Host Annual Charity Snowmobile Ride This Weekend **Sprint Cup Series Driver Joey Logano To Make Fund Raiser Appearance Sunday In Wallingford **Hartford Courant-Shawn Courchesne

Monday  01/23/12
Dirt Midget Association Finalizes Details, Plans Full 2012 Schedule at Bear Ridge Speedway: The USAC Dirt Midget Association (DMA) held its final pre-season meeting at Seals-It headquarters on Sunday and reviewed plans for an every-other-week schedule at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT. More than 60 current and potential members were on hand. New drivers and car owners were introduced, technical issues were discussed and a question and answer period was held, prior to a complimentary lunch. “We came a long way in our first season,” New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Member and DMA leader Ray Miller said, “and with additional cars, our second season should be even better.” The additional members from Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut provide every indication that weekly fields should run between 20 and 25 cars. SpeedwayLineReport.com

Legion Speedway Sale Finalized, Season Opener in Just Four Months: The i’s have been dotted, the t’s have been crossed and Si Allen of West Windsor, VT is now legally and officially the proud owner of Legion Speedway, located on Route 25 at the Rumney/Wentworth town line. The real estate closing took place on January 19 in the Law Offices of Dechman and Cowie in Plymouth. Allen, the 1975 Late Model Track Champion at Westboro Speedway and the 2005 Sprint Cars of New England Series Champion, expressed his appreciation to the members and officers of Lamont Kennison American Legion Post 76. “The Post has supported the track for the last half century and my job is to carry on the great tradition they established,” Allen said. Post Commander Dave Learned and Adjutant Wayne Frost represented the Legion at the closing. SpeedwayLineReport.com

Sunday  01/22/12

Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan Accepted By Bankruptcy Court In Waterford Speedbowl Case: The 2012 racing season will begin at the Waterford Speedbowl in March with the track emerging from bankruptcy. Earlier this week in court in New London, the debt reorganization plan submitted by Waterford Speedbowl management was approved. "The court accepted and confirmed our plan for reorganization," Speedbowl owner Terry Eames said. "There's some technical waiting period where one could appeal it, but nobody is going to appeal it. We hashed this thing out over months and months. So we're coming out of [chapter 11]." Facing a foreclosure on the Speedbowl property, Eames filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Oct. 2009. In July 2007, Southbury businessman and local racing supporter Rocco Arbitell, along with business associate Peter Borrelli, stepped in to offer Eames and his ownership group, 1080 Hartford Road LLC, financing to avoid a foreclosure action being taken then by former mortgage holder Washington Mutual Bank. Hartford Courant-Shawn Courchesne

Roger Hill Obituary: Mr. Roger Dale Hill, 64 of Westfield, NC passed away Thursday at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem. He was born in Patrick County on April 9, 1947 to the late James Alvin Hill and Virginia Gray Hill of Westfield NC. Roger was the proud owner of Hill Enterprises for over 25 years and a W.M.T. series race car, known as “Hillbilly Racing”. He loved racing second only to his family. His other hobbies included maintaining corn hole champion status with his friend, “Yankee Jon” and collecting “Roger’s menagerie of animals” which included but was not limited to horses, donkeys, llamas, emus, miniature horses and donkeys, and peacocks. Mr. Hill is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sandra Hamm Hill of the home; two sons and a daughter-in-law, David Hill & Susan Gammons of Westfield and Dale Hill & wife, Amanda of Westfield; his mother, Virginia Gray Hill of Westfield; six grandchildren, SpeedwayLineReport.com

15th Annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet takes center stage on Jan. 29: The 15th annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet takes place on Sunday Jan. 29 at the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT. Traditionally a sold-out affair, more information on this year’s event including details on ticket purchase, can be found at www.near1.com Driver Reggie Ruggiero and car owner Mario Fiore, at one time a powerful force on the modified scene, head up the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame class of 2012. Drivers Joey Kourafas, car owner/mechanic Jim Jorgensen and track owner Irene Venditti are also members of the class. A trio of modified racing pioneers – Moe Gherzi, Jerry Humiston and Roland Lapierre, Sr. are the 2012 Veterans Committee inductees. Jason Remillard-Springfield Republican

15th Annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Takes Center Stage On January 29: The 15th annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet takes place on Sunday Jan. 29 at the LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT. Traditionally a sold-out affair, more information on this year’s event including details on ticket purchase, can be found at www.near1.com. Driver Reggie Ruggiero and car owner Mario Fiore, at one time a powerful force on the modified scene, head up the New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame class of 2012. Drivers Joey Kourafas, car owner/mechanic Jim Jorgensen and track owner Irene Venditti are also members of the class. A trio of modified racing pioneers – Moe Gherzi, Jerry Humiston and Roland Lapierre, Sr. are the 2012 Veterans Committee inductees. Starting at Plainville Stadium, Ruggiero went on to score well over 200 feature wins, including 44 on the Modified Tour and a record 93 at Riverside Park. Between The Park, Stafford, New Smyrna and Monadnock Speedways he claimed 10 championships. SpeedwayLineReport.com

Third Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion a Huge Success: The third annual Plainville Stadium reunion proved to be the biggest and best as hundreds of former racers, car owners, mechanics and just fans came out to relive past tails of glory, defeat and renew long lost friendships. The defunct quarter mile oval located on the old Rt. 72 in Plainville, were the current Lowes Home Improvement sits was a hit for 32 years supplying families with auto races, motorcycle races, circuses and other entertainment but it was the auto racing that the track became known for. From its beginning in 1948 to the closing in 1980, it proved to be a breeding ground for many locals to prove their racing talents and for some such as Reggie Ruggiero, formerly of New Britain, and Dennis Zimmerman of Glastonbury, it proved to give them their start to national fame. Ruggiero started racing there driving for his uncle Eddie Mack and then when fellow racer Don Moon broke his arm, Moon put him in the car and he was soon winning everything and that landed him a ride with Mario Fiore. SpeedwayLineReport.com-Brian Danko

A Slice Of Connecticut Racing History Relived At Third Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion: With the local racing season winding-down, there were plenty of events for fans to attend last Saturday. However, perhaps the biggest show of the weekend focused on a Connecticut ¼-miler that’s been shuttered for over three-decades. Joe Tinty’s Plainville Stadium hosted some of the best short-track racing in New England. Thanks to the efforts of many of the tracks former competitors, the Berlin Lions Club and the Nutmeg Kart Club, a great deal of the excitement was again relived at the “Third Annual Plainville Stadium Reunion.” Throughout the day, a steady-stream of fans of the former oval converged on the Berlin Fairgrounds to meet the drivers that were a staple of the excitement that was “The Stadium”. Along with a host of former “Saturday Night Heroes,” there was an assortment of historical artifacts that included everything from antique race cars to a huge photo selection from official track photographer, Phil Hoyt. SpeedwayLineReport.com-Dave Dykes

From Sid's Vault
Speedbowl Documentary Nuggets - Part Two: Back Then

From Sid's Vault
Speedbowl Documentary Nuggets - The Beginning

Tom Ormsby's "Racing Remembrances": Drive Profile: Billy Harman On Sunday April 15, 1951 a 7^th grader watched the first ever race at the New London /Waterford Speedbowl. That 7^th grader was also attending his first race. Bob Swift would go in the record books as the first winner at the new racetrack. Young Billy Harman would become hooked on racing after that first race, never to miss a Wednesday or Saturday race for many years to come at the Speedbowl. Like many a youngster after attending their first race, Bill knew he wanted to be a race driver. In his sophomore year of high school Bill would build his first race car in the high school’s shop class, a 1938 six cylinder Chevy Coupe. After school Bill would take the 38 Chevy to the Morgan Farm, about a mile from the Speedbowl. There were some weekdays Bill would drive the car from the farm to the Speedbowl and sneak on the racetrack. Bill recalls, “This was my first opportunity to drive the race car”.**Don Rounds Victor At New London Speedbowl-1951**Mordino, Hill Win At Plainville-1971**New Breed Strikes At Stafford Springs Again - 1972 SpeedwayLineReport.com-Tom Ormsby

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