plus 4, Trackside: 2009 full of twists and turns for Valley racing scene - Tribune-Star

Trackside: 2009 full of twists and turns for Valley racing scene - Tribune-Star
Despain may feel right at home in York - Evening Sun
Style: Bright, Bleiler among those making slopes stylish - Inside Bay Area
PS Laser stage 5 report - Motorsport.com
1. Andy McMillin - Off-Road.com

Trackside: 2009 full of twists and turns for Valley racing scene - Tribune-Star

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 08:43 PM PST

Published: January 06, 2010 11:45 pm

Trackside: 2009 full of twists and turns for Valley racing scene

By Joe Buckles
Tribune-Star Correspondent

A review of the 2009 area motorsports season reveals a campaign that generated its share of mixed and memorable moments.

Area tracks appeared to withstand a troubled economy in favorable fashion, while racers continued to support their sport with strong numbers.

As is often the case in the highly competitive and unpredictable ways of racing, the usual array of emotional peaks and valleys were present on any given weekend.

No where was that more evident than at the Terre Haute Action Track where the intense competition served up the best and worst of times in racing.

The seven feature events produced six different winners. There were three first-time winners — Brad Sweet, Robbie Shuttleworth and Terry McCarl — at the half-mile dirt oval.

Those taking checkered flags represented a blend of youth and inexperience along with several veterans who continued to displayed their prominence locally.

Veterans Levi Jones, Jon Stanbrough and Steve Barnett continued their winning ways. Stanbrough's pair of sprint wins pushed his career Action Track win total to nine.

The youth movement that continues to make its presence felt in open wheel racing played a prominent role both early and late in the season.

A talented 15-year-old hot shoe out of New York, Robbie Shuttleworth, won the Sprint Car Owners Racing Association feature in June while a pack of young drivers dominated the year ending Club All-Star Sprints feature in the September season finale.

The winged sprint feature unfortunately ended abruptly with a multi-car crash that critically injured Canadian driver Travis Rutz.

After spending several months in an Indianapolis hospital, the 21-year-old driver has returned to his Langley, British Columbia, home where, according to family spokesman Todd Dale, he continues to make a promising but slow recovery. He is expected to spend time in a hyperbaric chamber in the upcoming days.

Despite being plagued by four weather-related postponements and loss of the popular SUMAR Classic and Hut Hundred events, fans turned out in reasonably strong numbers throughout the summer.

When the '09 racing season opened back in early spring, the future of racing at the local eighth-mile drag strip remained very much in doubt. It wasn't until a group headed by Dr. Randy Peters stepped up and took charge were local drag racers able to breath a sigh of relief.

Local drivers Thad Mann (Pro) Jeff Lathrop (Sportsman), Brad Miles (Motorcycles), Austin Tewell (High School) of West Terre Haute, along with Terry Tapscott (Super Pro) and John Vice (Jr. Dragster) of Paris, Ill., won their respective divisions at the newly-named Crossroad Dragstrip.

Other top individual performances with drivers of local connection included Terre Haute racer C.J. Bryan, who successfully defended his Bomber division championship at Lincoln Park Speedway and road racer Jorge Goncalvez, who gave Wabash Valley-owned APEX Racing three wins on the Star Mazda Series circuit.

News wasn't limited to on track action as a number of off-track developments throughout the year garnered their share of headlines.

None was bigger than the troubling times at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where a major shakeup in power resulted in a host of personnel changes that found Terre Haute native Jeff Belskus replacing Tony George as the top man at IMS.

The news on track wasn't much better for those at Indianapolis as attendance was down for both the Brickyard 400 and Moto GP. Allstate pulled their sponsorship support for the 400 shortly after this year's running.

On the Indy Racing League front, the news too generated mixed results. A tight points race and the landing of a series sponsor helped offset disappointing television ratings and knowing that they will have to share the popularity of Danica Patrick with stock car racing in 2010.

Managerial changes at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville late in the season caught area racers and fans by surprise. By season's end, the move generated mixed reviews.

Wins by Jimmy Johnson at the Brickyard and Levi Jones in the Hulman Classic helped paved the path to titles in their respective series championship runs.

One of the highlights of the year was the gathering of 25 former Action Track racing greats who made a return visit to city where many enjoyed their finest moments in racing.

The year was not without its loses. Those passing included Larry Archer, Bill Hopton, Larry Rice. Lloyd Ruby, Jerry Schulter and Crocky Wright. All who made the sport better in their own special ways and will be sorely missed by those in and out of racing.

Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@verizon.net.

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Despain may feel right at home in York - Evening Sun

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 09:41 PM PST

Most race fans across the country probably got their first look at Dave Despain when he joined ESPN's NASCAR telecasts.

Many others know him from his ongoing work on Speed's "Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain," a weekly fan call-in television show devoted to motorsports.

However, the broadcaster's appearance at Saturday's York County Racing Club Hall of Fame awards dinner at the Holiday Inn, West Manchester Township, brings him home in a way.

After all, when Despain was named to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, he was joined in the institution by Walter and William A. Davidson and by William S. Harley. They are all co-founders of the Harley-Davidson Motor Co., whose survival in York has been an issue in recent months.

On the other hand, Despain is a man who turned a lifelong love of motorcycles, including Harley-Davidsons, into a broadcasting career which is into its third decade.

Though he began broadcasting at a small radio station, the Iowa native got his big break when the ABC network needed an analyst for the Daytona 200, a motorcycle race at the Daytona International Speedway.

Then working for the American Motorcycle Association as its public relations director, Despain was recommended by AMA chairman Russ March. Working beside legendary play-by-play announcer Keith Jackson, Despain impressed enough to gain work as a turn announcer on radio's Motor Racing Network.

That led to a chance to work in television, where Despain has been a fixture on

TBS, ESPN and now Speed in a career lasting nearly 30 years.

However, Despain brings a great range of experience in racing into Saturday's keynote address as he also has been a motorcycle and road racer, motorcycle shop worker, promoter, AMA Pro Racing board member and founder of the Dirt Track Hall of Fame.

On Saturday, Despain also will learn about the York County Racing Club's unique hall-of-fame format. Inductees are admitted as either past or present contributors to area motorsports, all of whom will not know of their induction until their names are announced.

Micro madness: Imagine a racing program with attracts 584 micro sprints and midgets and what it would take to conduct that.

That happened last weekend at Tulsa, Okla., which hosted the 25th Annual Tulsa Shootout indoor races at the QuikTrip Center at the Oklahoma state fairgrounds.

Several Pennsylvania drivers made the trip and one, super sprint and ARDC midget veteran Steve Buckwalter, came away making the A-main in the non-wing division and placing 23rd.

Buckwalter, who won five qualifying races over the three-day event, was driving a car fielded by Lewisberry's Mike Dicely, the reigning 600cc micro sprint winner of the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial/National Open at Trail-Way Speedway.

Dicely also raced in two divisions at Tulsa. As one of 154 A Class entrants, Dicely won a B-main and placed eighth in the A-main qualifier,. However, afte starting 17th in the A-main, he settled for 23rd place.

The other Pennsylvania entrants included New Bloomfield's Ryan Greth and York's Shawn Arndt.

Pruitt's plans: Sprint car driver Kyle Pruitt has announced he has sold the Pruitt Autosports team's 358 sprint engine and has bought a super sprint power plant for the 2010 season.

Pruitt said he will race full-time at Port Royal Speedway and make appearances at both Williams Grove Speedway and time-trial shows next season.

Racing with the Royals: Racing will be a focus of Sunday's 5:05 p.m. East Coast Hockey League game between the Reading Royals and Florida Everblades at the Sovereign Center, Reading.

The first 1,500 fans who attend will receive free photo autograph cards featuring Thomasville's Greg Hodnett and two-time defending Lincoln Speedway super sprint champion Brian Montieth. Others pictured on the cards are super sprint driver Donnie Kreitz Jr. and modified drivers Craig Von Dohren, Duane Howard and Doug Manmiller.

They and several former drivers will be in attendance for autographs between periods.

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Style: Bright, Bleiler among those making slopes stylish - Inside Bay Area

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 07:32 PM PST

NEW YORK (AP) — Many top-tier female skiers and snowboarders have mastered the cool-girl look that makes them style role models for anyone not interested in mimicking the Michelin man on these cold winter days.

Snow stars Torah Bright, Gretchen Bleiler, Sarah Burke and Lindsey Vonn tend to wear sleek, colorful and comfortable outfits that use technical fabrics, trendy touches and the global influences they see as they travel practically year-round in search of snow.

It's worth noting that all four women all are blessed with model-like looks, big smiles and long blond hair. Outerwear companies have taken notice and are working with them as design collaborators.

Their style profiles:

TORAH BRIGHT, SNOWBOARDER: "Fashion is a huge part of the snowboard world," says Bright, who is eagerly testing out a fitted, skinny-leg snowpant this season. She hopes it'll be part of her third consumer collection for Roxy due out in the fall.

A slimmer fit, satin linings and fashion-forward details — like the covered buttons and empire waist of her peacoat-style jacket in stores now — are all part of "bringing some girl power to the hill," she says.

Karbon, the brand outfitting the Australian Olympic team, used the cut of Bright's favored silhouette for the uniform.

Bright says she's moving toward an edgier look, adding exposed zippers and magnet closures to her extensive personal wardrobe of snow gear.

The

oversized hood that has become one of her signatures is needed to cover up her helmet, she explains. "My brother, me and my younger sister used to have these big red helmets that were like a clown's red nose on our head. I hated it so I decorated it, and I've been covering up my helmets ever since."

(However, She notes that she always wears a helmet as a safety precaution, even when she's doing recreational boarding.)

Another must for her is good gloves with a strong grip. She'll fill them with heat packs on cold days. Layering is the key to keeping the rest of her body warm, she says. "You can tell where I am in the world based on how many layers I have or don't have on."

GRETCHEN BLEILER, SNOWBOARDER: Putting together her collection for Oakley could be a full-time job, Bleiler says. "I work on every single phase of the collection — materials, colors, fabrics, trims, style, fit, graphics, inside patterns. I come up with the ideas and the designers tell me if it's realistic."

She says her motto for fashion is the same one she uses on the mountain: Be tough but don't be afraid of being a woman, either. "I have a very strong opinion of how I like to look ... and it's not 'pretty in pink.'"

At the Vancouver Olympic Games, she'll be wearing a Burton-designed uniform with a plaid jacket and pants that are supposed to capture the look of denim even though they're made of high-performance Gore-Tex.

When she's in charge of the sketchpad, Bleiler likes to use graphics, with words like "Love" and "Gratitude" to provide visual inspiration, and she puts a lot of emphasis on gathered necklines, which along with neck gators are what keep her warm.

This season — with her second collection — Bleiler experimented with environmentally friendly products, as green causes are near and dear to her. The T-shirts are organic cotton and made with water-based dyes, and there is both a jacket and snowpant made of 100 percent recycled material. They are fully recyclable, too — just send the garments back to Oakley and the company will have them broken down so the materials can be used again.

Bleiler says she hopes more fashion is in her future. "I would like to add more lifestyle pieces, T-shirts, sweaters and I'd love to add denim."

SARAH BURKE, FREESKIER: When Burke is competing, she wears bright colors to stand out. When she's on the slopes for pleasure, she'll be in more subtle shades so she doesn't attract attention. All of her outfits, though, have a lot of pockets.

What's inside? Sunscreen, snacks and her phone. Don't look for zipper closures, though. "Zippers are hard to handle with gloves on. I like magnetic flaps in some spots," Burke explains. "When you wear something so often, it's the little things that are important."

As for silhouette and style, Burke scours glossy magazines trying to add a little bit more "fashion" to the outdoor gear that's typically offered. She sometimes sews her own clothes but sketching isn't one of her talents, she says.

A test collection Burke designed for Roxy is being sold in Europe this season with the key pieces being a denim-style pant and motorcycle jacket. Her line is planned to expand to the U.S. next year, but since Burke hasn't yet had the satisfaction of seeing someone on the slopes other than herself in the gear, she says she'll be asking friends to try them out so she can snap photos.

Burke's off-slope wardrobe is a lot of track pants, but there are dresses in her closet, too. "I do like to get dressed up," she says. "I look forward to going out to a nice dinner or event that I get to wear a dress. A dress is actually an item of choice for me."

Still, Burke insists, comfort is a factor because that yields confidence, and that's when you look your best.

LINDSEY VONN, ALPINE SKIER: Each stop on the World Cup circuit this season has meant a new racing outfit for Vonn. She worked to keep each look under wraps until a competition as a little extra way of building buzz — as if the races weren't enough.

"It's hard to show your personality when you're in a race suit, so I coordinated with Spyder and came up with some really cool designs to show more of my character. Plaid is in right now, so that's what I've been going with," says Vonn, who plans on debuting a new look Friday in Haus im Ennstal, Austria.

There doesn't seem to be a color too eye-popping nor a pattern too bold that Vonn won't wear. For example: the hot-pink, second-skin suit in Lienz, Austria, the black bike shorts over tight racing pants with her short magenta plaid jacket while warming up in Aspen, Colo.

But she also has her glam moments, such as the black-sequin Tory Burch gown on the Emmy Awards red carpet. And on Facebook, you'll find photos of her in a series of designer looks.

Items she can't live without include her mascara and a multicolored scarf that she says "goes with pretty much everything."

Vonn launched a contest with the NBCOlympics.com asking amateurs to come up with her helmet design for the Olympics. She is reviewing the designs, including a snowy-night blue helmet and a red, white and blue 50-star option, and will announce the winner later this month.

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PS Laser stage 5 report - Motorsport.com

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:59 PM PST

Disaster strikes on Cox's birthday

South Africa's Alfie Cox and German co-driver and Team owner of the PS Laser Racing Nissan Navara, Jurgen Schroder, was forced to retire from the 2010 Argentina Chile Dakar with a damaged engine. After moving up to fifth place overall in yesterday's stage, they are absolutely devestated on Cox's birthday. "One day things work so well and the next it goes wrong so badly," said a devastated Cox on his 47th birthday.

"We were really doing well, the car was great and we were in a good rhythm, coming down the hill this ravine looked pretty easily accessible. The car landed nose first and that pushed the oil-cooler into the engine and damaged the sump. Our T4 support truck blew a turbo yesterday, so we have no back-up with spare parts. We have warned and seen how sc ores of cars almost made the same mistake, unfortunately we were not so lucky.." said a distraught Cox.

He continued: "Tonight we will sleep out here, our team knows where we are, and the will fetch us tomorrow. Fortunately we were not injured. We have enough water and emergency supplies, so now it is just one long wait."

The incident occurred about 144km into this year's second longest special stage of 483km.

Racing on the foothills of the Atacama with three serious climbs to altitudes of 3000m above sea-level the often rocky terrain was extremely testing. The first fine powder sand of the Atacama in Chile was also on the menu of this very long day that saw many competitors suffer mechanical problems, tyre problems, and quite a number of minor accidents.

Marc Coma came out with a fierce attack in the motorcycle category this morning to try and eliminate lost time and make up the 22 minute penalty he received in special stage 2 for speeding in villages. The defending champion and KTM factory rider stopped 376km into the special stage where he waited for a wheel from his water-carrier.

Sherco suffered a terrible blow when David Casteau went flying over the handlebars 395km into the stage, in his maiden race for the new manufacturer in the Dakar. The bike be haved extremely well so far and Casteau was very competitive. He suffered leg injuries and was immediately airlifted by the medical team.

Stage 5 belongs to Chilean motorcyclist, Francisco Lopez Contardo, racing the Italian Aprilla in its maiden Dakar race. "Chaleco" as he is called, beat Cyril Despres (France) on an air restricted KTM and Yamaha's David Fretigne (France).

In the overall standings Despres has a comfortable lead over "Chaleko" and Yamaha rider, Helder Rodrigues (Portugal).

Also in the car category this stage will be remembered as one with lots of drama. Stephane Peterhansel (France) saw his chances of winning a Dakar for the 10th time fly out the door when the BMW X3 grounded to a halt with a broken rear drive shaft. The shaft was removed and continued with front- wheel drive only, loosing .

Mark Miller (USA) and his South African co-driver, Ralph Pitchford took their first stage win ahead of their team-mates, Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar), all driving VW Touaregs. Overall Carlos Sainz leads Nasser Al-Attiyah and mark Miller. Stephane Peterhansel is in 10th place, with South Africa's Giniel de Villiers in 18th place.

Russian drivers, KAMAZ trucks and two former winners are fighting it out for the lead. Firdaus Kabirov won the stage ahead of Vladimir Chagin. Chagin currently leads overall in the truck category, 27-minutes ahead of Kabirov.

Dunes, like those raced in Mauritania will greet competitors as the caravan moves north in Chile. Off track racing and massive dunes are expected during tomorrow's stage. The day starts with a 180km liason from Antofagasta, via La Chimba Nattaional Reserve to the stage start near Coya, and to the west of Calama.

-source: ps laser

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1. Andy McMillin - Off-Road.com

Posted: 06 Jan 2010 05:59 PM PST

The entry list for the upcoming "Parker 425" is looking like a "who's who" of off-road racing, with well over 550 having already signed up for the pre-fun run. This "crown jewel" of desert racing is drawing the top drivers and teams from across the nation and Canada. Robby Gordon headlines a list of Trick Truck racers that also includes Roger Norman, Larry Roeseler, Chet Huffman, Jerry Welchel, Rick D. Johnson, Steve Sourapas and Andy McMillin, Troy Herbst, Jason Voss, Will Staats, Jesse Jones, Scott Kincaid, Kevin McGillivray, and Steve Olliges.

The open class 1500 field features defending champ Kevin Colan along with Chuck Hovey, Harley Letner, John Cooley, Mike Bilek, Steve Raskett, Pat Dean and Sam Berri. Also ready to take on the challenging Parker course will be defending class 8000 champ Macrae Glass, class 7200 champ David Caspino, and Protruck champ Ryan Staats.

Added to this year's festivities is the "Parker Downtown Experience". This special event takes place after the completion of Thursday's Time Trials. Competitors will parade their race vehicles down the streets of Parker to the center of town for a grand celebration kicking off the action packed weekend. With an open invitation to all of the citizens of Parker, AZ, along with racers and fans, this is sure to be an exciting and memorable affair. The racers will then parade back to the Blue Water Casino for a party to announce the results of the Time Trials and the winner of the $1,000 "Team Ford Pole Award" presented by Steve Olliges, president of Team Ford Las Vegas.

Contingency gets underway Friday morning in the Blue Water Casino parking lot. Thousands of spectators and race fans are expected and will have the chance all day long to get up close to the race vehicles and drivers as they weave their way through the hundreds of contingency donors set up on display.

At daybreak Saturday, the real business of the weekend gets underway when the first race vehicle blasts off the line at the start held on the streets in the middle of downtown Parker. Every racer will be on equal ground, including returning champions, as their quest for the season class championships begins. Back this year is the fan favorite and hugely popular "Parker Python", a special two mile infield section of thrilling jumps and switch-backs in the middle of the main pits.

The overall race winner will be crowned with the newly announced "Manny Esquerra Valor Award", recognizing his legendary contribution to the sport of off-road desert racing.

The 2010 Blue Water Resort & Casino "PARKER 425"...If you're a racer, you don't want to miss the "battle of the best". If you're a race fan, you don't want to miss the exciting adventure.

Best In The Desert official sponsors: Ford Motor Company – official truck, General Tire – official tire, VP Racing Fuels – official fuel, KC HiLiTES – official light, Banks Power – official power system, Arctic Cat – official UTV, KTM – official motorcycle, FabTech – official suspension, Fall Advertising, Prerunner Maniac, McKenzies, Werdco BC Inc., PCI Race Radios, and Sportsman Cycle Sales.

The Best In The Desert Racing Association is based on over three decades of experience sponsoring and promoting successful local and national off-road racing events. Best In The Desert Inc. is owned and operated entirely by Casey Folks, with offices at Sportsman Cycle 3475 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, Nevada.

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