2024 Speedway New and Views

AMA Speedway National Championship Series Final September 21, 2024
by Howie Zechner

It’s amazing how quickly one day rushes into the next so I’m posting this Fast Fridays adventure and pictures now before “Father Time” buries my thoughts into a sea of yesterdays. Old age sucks and being 80 limits my travel but when good friend Ernie Aragon said dude we’re going I quickly agreed. After all Ernie is 10 years my senior plus he’s a hoot with his countless stories of glory days gone by. Easy, breezy, my low mileage Mercedes was highway hungry cause it only gets used once a year for the Mecum Auction and Hot Shoe Hall of Fame events since it was retired as the official RAZ Video Production travel vehicle.

So off we went for our 8 hour drive up Interstate 5. Two rest stops, split pee soup at Andersen’s the trip was boring and our 11 pm Super 8 arrival was a welcome sight. Joiner had mentioned there were several riders staying there and that was quickly confirmed as early to bed was not on their agenda.

Saturday’s start was a pleasure as Mike Bast and his youngest Shane came over. Mike delivered another box of goodies Dee Ann had put together and autographed some items that will be on display at the RAZ/Zechner museum. Now’s not the time but a post and pictures regarding this will follow soon. Good getting better Mike took us to the “Awful Annie’s” Restaurant. Excellent food their home made corn beef hash is outstanding. Also need to mention how thrilled I was that Mike and Dee Ann excepted my invitation to attend the 80th Anniversary Banquet, when I receive my Trailblazers, Earl and Lucille Flanders, Lifetime Achievement induction on March 15th. Yahoo.

Still early Ernie and I dove around and saw some Auburn sights before going to the track. A visual treat located in the Gold Country Fairgrounds it’s a wonderful location surrounded by trees and greenery. A real treat for us southerners who are used to everything being brown this time of year because of the So Cal heat and no rain. I joke not when recommending visiting and seeing Speedway here at Fast Fridays.

Wonderful hours spent talking with friends and racers that I seldom get to see since gas went to $5.00 dollars a gallon ended soon enough as nighttime neared. A flashback and true treat that warms the soul and brings back memories. Many reading this may not be aware that Fast Fridays was a weekly stop when RAZ Video was shooting Speedway five night a week many decades ago.

Race time came. Lots of pomp and circumstance it was an amazing night of action and entertainment. Credit must be given promoter Dave Joiner, love of his life and girl Friday Trish Grace and all the others who make Fast Fridays happen. They do an outstanding job.

What happened, who won? Well the short story is that Broc Nicol brought home his first AMA Speedway National Championship by holding off former 2-time AMA National and 3-time AMA/FIM North America Speedway Final Champion Max Ruml and 11-time AMA National Speedway Champion Billy Janniro.

Want more? Well Michael Kirby has the story and photos. Kirby’s coverage is really amazing. Here is the Facebook link.

Every race from the 2024 AMA National Championship Series Final here at Auburn is available for viewing on the RAZ Video Production.

Enjoy the pictures I took that recap a lot of Ernie Aragon and Howie Zechner’s most excellent adventure.

There’s still time for you to do your own Fast Fridays trip as the last race of this 2024 season is the USA vs World on Saturday, October 5. Hope you make it. You’ll thank yourself for going cause it’s a special race and facility.

More Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway info at: Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway

Thanks for listening, See you where the wheels go round.
Howie Zechner