Fast Fridays Speedway Gold Country Fairgrounds Auburn, California
Elimination Challenge Series Round 3
June 27, 2003 - Fast Fridays, Auburn
By Gary Roberts
After a very hot day in Auburn, I am told over 100
degrees, I was not surprised to see a lot of water on the track. But it was
not a good sign when it was still being groomed at 10 minutes past scheduled
start time. However once the show got going, all the riders I spoke to were
very pleased with the track. It certainly resulted in a number of very good
close races. The field of riders was a bit thin, a result of summer
vacations, injuries, and lethargy induced by the hot weather.
Scratch Main
1. Bobby Hedden
2. Bart Bast
3. Chris Kerr
4. Bart Bardecki
Bart Bast missed the start, so Bobby had this race in the bag by the first
corner. Bart got past third place man Chris Kerr, then Bart Bardecki fell,
giving Bart second place and Chris Kerr picked up third.
Scratch Consolation
1. Eric Carrillo
2. Chad Felicio
3. Devin DeFreece
4. Bill Hermant
Devin DeFreece and Bill Hermant normally ride second division but were
conscripted to first division, due to rider shortage. So in their heat they
lined up with JJ Martynse and Bryan Yarrow, fully prepared to take third and
fourth places. What happened I would not have placed a 1000:1 bet on! JJ
fell at the start, and Bryan ran away with a big lead, only to fall, quite
spectacularly by himself, on the back straight, leaving Devin and Bill to
take their places in the semi finals. Each took last place in the 2 semi
finals, so transferred to the consolation.
Handicap Main
1. Ivan Sevart
2. JJ Martynse
3. Bart Bast
4. Bryan Yarrow
5. Eric Carrillo
6. Bobby Hedden
A good comeback ride for Ivan Sevart, who missed last week’s event due to
injury the previous week, holding back a strong challenge from a close
field.
Handicap
Consolation
1. Mark Carrillo
2. Chad Felicio
3. Chris Kerr
4. Tommy Hedden
5. Matt Browne
6. Rick Shafer
Mark Carrillo managed to hold off a strong challenge from a field of heavy
duty experienced riders. He has made an excellent transition in achieving
the transition from Youth class last year, to winning the Handicap Consi in
the eighth week of the season.
Division 2 Main
1. David Fonts
2. Mike Achilles
3. Vince Bertolucci
4. Mark Thomas
5. Mike Browne
6. Brian Leventon.
This was one of the best races of the night. For the second week in a row,
it ended in a Division 2 Main win for David Fonts. Brian Leventon held the
lead for one corner short of four laps, before going down, leaving the lead
to Mark Thomas, but an extremely competitive bunch behind him, took over.
With rider shortage, David Fonts must be the next one to try a few rides in
first division.
Division 2 Consolation
1. Doug Mignano
2. Shawn Eldridge
3. Harlan Bast
4. Bill Hermant
5. Dean Blankenbiller
Devon DeFreece qualified, but was a non starter.
Division 3 Main
1. Kerr Kerrigan
2. Dennis Chandler
3. John Deathrage
4. Dwight McBain
5. Steve Rowett
6. Greg Chacon
7. Guy Jessup
8. Bruce Bast
Kerr Kerrigan took an early lead, followed by Bruce Bast. Dennis Chandler
definitely too Bast down, to take second. (Maybe he was disqualified, I
couldn’t hear the announcer). The above was the finishing order.
Division 3 Consolation
1. Greg Howell
2. Les Veale
3. Rich Mignano
4. Brian Deland
Robert Christian was a non starter. Christian Sherfy, Andrey Dorosh
and Clark Caravella failed to finish.
Youths Division 1
1. TJ Fowler
2. Alex Marcucci
3. JT Mabry
Youths Division 2
1. Jay Ricketts
2. Ricky Felicio
3. Paul Johnson
4. Ronnie Woodsford
Youths Division 3
1. Cody Ciciarelli
2. Dillon Peterson
3. Tori Hubbert
The youth rider field was definitely a bit thin on the ground this week.
Next week is July 4 and there will be a firework display after the races. The races will start ONE HOUR EARLY, the tapes go
up for the first race at 7pm. The fireworks will bring out a large crowd, so there will be parking problems, I would advise regulars to get
there early.
Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com
|