By: Steve Evans

Victorville Vikings continued their commanding run in team racing with a comfortable win over the Orange County Bees in the Dream Team / WCSL challenge at Costa Mesa on 12 August. The Bees, racing on home dirt for the 1st time, suffered a series of mishaps both before and during the race. Both Chris Metoyer & Michael Hernandez had to pull out with injuries from Wednesday night at the Grand. Bryan Buffington, team sponsor & regular did not make it beyond turn two in his first two races, falling and being excluded. Then, comeback kids Jesse Finch & Trinon Cirello both suffered engine failures as they got back to grips with racing after long absences - each was well on the pace once they got it going
First blood went to the Vikings in heat 2, when the impressive Travis Henderson led home team mate Robert Fiesler for a 5-1 over Eddie Martinez & Steve Bowen, late replacement for Metoyer. An engine failure for Cirello in the next race gave the Vikings a 12-6 lead as Neil Facchini led home Greg Ayers. The Bees pulled 1 point back in heat 6 when Tim Gomez came to grief on the final lap after a thrilling pursuit of Brian Starr. Gomez was ruled out of the rest the meeting, though there are no lasting injuries. Back to back 5-1's in heats 7 & 8 for the Vikings crept the lead up to 15 points. Cirello finally got it wired in heat 12, with an impressive 5-1 with Greg Ayers over Neil Facchini & Billy Lyons. The final heat was another thriller, Brian Starr looking for a way past Dale Facchini for 4 laps. Starr & Ayers were impressive for the Bees with 10 each, but lacked consistent support. The Vikings efforts, led by the Facchini's chipping in 10 points each, was a more well rounded effort.

 
Team Scores:
ORANGE COUNTY 'BBB RAINGUTTERS" BEES 32
1. Brian Starr          	3 3 2 2		10
2. Bryan Buffington      	FxFx1 0      	1
3. Trinon Cirello           	R M R 2'     	2+1
4. Greg Ayers             	2 2 3 3       	10
5. Jesse Finch            	2 EF 2 1'     	5+1
6. Steve Bowen           	F 1 1'         	2+1
7. Eddie Martinez        	1 1'F 0        	2+1
 
VICTORVILLE 'Schlamans Service' VIKINGS 45
1. Dale Facchini         	1'3 3 3        	10+1
2. Rohn Zellner          	2 1 3 R        	6
3. Neil Facchini          	3 3 3 1        	10
4. Billy Lyons            	1 2'1 0       	4+1
5. Tim Gomez           		3 Fx- -       	3
6. Robert Fiesler        	2'2 1'0      	5+1
7. Travis Henderson   		3 0 2'2       	7+1

Race Results 
 1; Starr, Zellner, D Facchini, Bffington fell, exc (re run) 3-3, 3-3
 2: Henderson, Fiesler, Martinez, Bowen Fell  1-5, 4-8
 3: N Facchini, Ayers, Lyons, Cirello ret. 2-4, 6-12
 4: Gomez, Finch, Martinez, Hendseron 3-3  9-15
 5: D Facchini, Ayers, Zellner, Martinez fell (Cirello 2 mins) 2-4  11-19
 6: Starr, Fiesler, Gomez fell exc, Buffington fell exc (Re-run) 3-2, 14-21
 7: N Facchini, Lyons, Bowen, Finch engine failure. 1-5  15-26
 8: Zellner, Henderson, Buffington, Martinez.   1-5, 16-31
 9: Ayers, Henderson, Fiesler, Cirello ret. 3-3  19-34
10: N Facchini, Starr, Lyons, Buffington  2-4  21-38
11: D Facchini, Finch, Bowen, Zellner engine failure (re run all 4) 3-3, 24-41
12: Ayers, Cirello, N Facchini, Lyons 5-1, 29-42
13: D Facchini, Starr, Finch, Fiesler 3-3 32-45
 

Our thanks to Brad and the team at Costa Mesa for allowing us to run on their busy day schedule. The riders had fun, and I think those in attendence enjoyed themselves. Stay tuned for more West Coast Speedway League news, including the 2006 league dates at Victorville and hopefully elsewhere.