Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Challenge Elimination Series - Championship
August 19, 2005 - Fast Fridays, Auburn
By Gary Roberts

Its difficult to believe that last night was the last week of the regular 2005 Fast Fridays program. Next week is the Track Championship / Youth National Championship, then two rounds of the AMA National, a month apart, then another 3 weeks till the USA vs. The World. Where did the 2005 season go?

Last night there were a number of very good close races, particularly the scratch main, unbelievably won for the first time ever by Tommy Hedden. Tommy has won the handicap main at Auburn and the scratch main events elsewhere, but never before at Auburn. It was also a long awaited Handicap Main win for Danny Easley. He seemed to spend the entire season as perpetual runner-up.

The evening weather was a little cooler, but with Auburn day time temperatures up in the 90s for the week the track was dry and slick for much of the night, despite hand-watering efforts during track maintenance. Crowd size was healthy.

Unofficial results

Scratch Main Event
1. Tommy Hedden
2. Bart Bast
3. Bryan Yarrow
4. Chris Kerr
A close first lap got thinner when Chris Kerr fell on turn 3. Tommy edged ahead, but with Bart and Bryan close behind had no margin for error. A worthy and long awaited win.

Scratch Consolation Event
1. Mike Faria
2. Charlie Venegas
3. Buck Blair
4. Nate Perkins
How often does one see Faria and Venegas relegated to the Scratch Consi? Blair and Perkins made the trip north in preparation for their National Championship campaigns. Mike got the gate, Charlie had to battle with the southerners for second place.

Scratch Consolation Event
1.Danny Easley (0)
2. Shawn Harmatiuk (10)
3. Bart Bast (40)
4. Jeremy Parsons (20)
5. Alex Marcucci (0)
6. Chris Kerr (30)
The handicaps for everyone but the 0 yard men got shortened by 10 yards, giving Danny Easley a more difficult job, but he pulled it off. I was also impressed with New Yorker Jeremy Parsons who won his heat, after holding off Bart Bast for a couple of laps and then pulled out a large lead in his semifinal.

Handicap Consolation Event
1. Matt Browne (20)
2. JJ Martynse (20)
3. Buck Blair (30)
4. Bryan Yarrow (40)
5. Chad Felici (40)
Charlie Venegas qualified for the event but was a non starter.

Division 2 Main Event
1. Kenny Ingalls
2. Josh West
3. Mike Achilles
4. Bill Warnock
5. Tyler Hansen
6. Kell Kerrigan
Kenny Ingalls won yet another D2 main, this time from the 40 yard line. This will make him the Division 2’s first ever 50 yard rider!

Division 2 Consolation Event
1. Mike Browne
2. Steve Lewotsky
3. Rachalle Kerr
4. Harlan Bast
5. Brian Leventon
6. Les Veale

Division 3 Main Event
1. Danny Tuner
2. Jeff Spencer
3. Clark Caravella
4. Kjell Lovlien
5. Andre Contreras
6. Dennis Michel
7. Jeff Irwin
8. Cory Barringer
Cory Barringer actually rode a division 2 heat and qualified for the D2 main, but chose to ride the D3 main instead, in an attempt to score points for new week’s track championship. He was a non finisher after losing his silencer.

Division 3 Consolation Event
1. Steve Rowett
2. Danny Poli
3. Timmy Kerrigan
4. Josh Everle
5. Derek Sheppard
6. Johnny Frank
7. Anthony Pizarro

Youth Main Division 1
Bryce Starks was acknowledged as winner from a race that was stopped twice.
Fellow competitors were: Ricky Felicio, Ben Essary, Cody Ciciarelli, John Randolph andTom Fehrman.

Youth Main Division 2 / 3
1. Will Hilgenberg
2. Troy Guisande
3. Amber Felicio
4. Tanner Kane
5. Eric Randolph

So its off to Carson City tonight for more Speedway. I hope there is a good rider turn out, since the crowd size looks to be growing.

For off highway vehicle users and mountain bike riders in Northern California who have a future interest in riding in the Tahoe National Forest, by tomorrow we will be posting some very important information on www.speedwaybikes.com Look under Northern California News. The Forest Service is looking at reducing the number of trails in the forest and it is imperative that all off-road motorcyclists and other OHV users understand what is happening. Please review this information, review the maps and demonstrate your concern by showing up at their meetings. Thanks in advance for the support of all who want to protect our future riding rights.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com