Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

2019 Orange County Fair Derby Championship
July 14, 2019 - Costa Mesa
Report by Ryan Evans

Main Event Facebook Video by Mark Williams

Defending National Champion Billy “The Kid” Janniro won his third consecutive main event and collected his third Orange County Fair Derby Championship at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Three of the four competitors in the Final were former winners. Former Under 21 National Champion Austin “All Throttle” Novratil, the lone racer without a Fair Derby victory, was the top scorer entering the Fair Derby Final and had first gate choice. After a brief look at gate four he chose gate one. Janniro also took a look at gate four but settled on gate two. Former National Champion Aaron Fox picked gate three which left “Mad” Max Ruml with gate four.

The first time the racers were lined up for the Final there was some twitching but Novratil blew through the starting tapes and was excluded. The racers remained still the second time and it was Janniro leading into turn one after the tapes went up. He drifted into the high line to protect from Max Ruml sweeping around then quickly dived back to the inside to thwart an attack from Fox. Janniro led through lap one with Fox in tow. Fox watched Janniro stretch his lead and had to contend with Max Ruml from behind. Ruml remained close for two laps and finally charged up the inside of Fox to take second on the back straight the final time. That was the end of any position changes in the race. Janniro was first to the checkered flag, Max Ruml was second, Fox finished third, and Novratil was credited with fourth.

The annual Fair Derby coincided with the 129th Orange County Fair which is held at the fairgrounds on which Costa Mesa Speedway sits. The speedway event is free with paid fair admission and it brings many new fans as well as some former fans as well. The new and returning fans help deliver great exposure to the sport. The prestigious Bronze Hat is a perpetual trophy and presented to the main event every year. The event is a major event on the California speedway calendar. This year’s event broke from its traditional Friday or Saturday night and was contested on Sunday night. Six former Fair Derby Champions were in the field.

The evening began with the racers starting their machines from the starting line instead of the pit gate. Janniro defeated Fox for his first win of the night. Novratil beat former Junior National Champion Jason Ramirez in event two. Max Ruml used the outside to pass and defeat former two-time Fair Derby Champion Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell to end round one.

Round two started with Russell Green beating both Novratil and Janniro, respectively, for an impressive victory. Fox and Dillon Ruml engaged in a fantastic inside-outside battle for the entirety of event nine with Fox edging ahead just before the finish line for the win. Sammy Ramirez kept Max Ruml at bay to end the second round with a win.

Janniro opened the final round of heats with his second victory. Dillon Ruml beat Sammy Ramirez in event 16. Novratil ended the heats with a victory over Fox and Max Ruml.

Janniro powered to his third win of the night in the second semi with Fox finishing second to join him in the main. The second semi saw a lot of movement with Novratil and Max Ruml going through the tapes. The referee ruled that Dillon Ruml had touched the tapes first, therefore, he was penalized. Novratil and Max Ruml finished one-two and booked their places in the main.

Sammy Ramirez was victorious in the Consolation with Green getting second, McConnell finishing third, and Dillon Ruml getting credited with fourth.

The first attempt to run the Second Division Main Event ended with three racers in a heap in turn two and only Rudy Laurer remaining on two wheels. Dylan Black made the best start on the second attempt and quickly built a comfortable lead. Black was still leading at the white flag when Laurer went down behind him. This left John Wilder with nowhere to go and he had to lay down his machine. The race was declared complete with the victory awarded to Black. Wilder was credited with second, Rohn Zellner was third, and Laurer was relegated to fourth place.

With the Orange County Fair using the speedway venue for many different events that continue into next month, there won’t be any speedway races until Saturday, August 17. This will be second Harley Night of the Costa Mesa Speedway season and will include many types of Harleys, including hooligans and street-legal bikes, taking to the world famous bullring oval. The event will certainly generate a large crowd.

RESULTS

Orange County Fair Derby Final
1 - Billy Janniro
5 - Max Ruml
46 – Aaron Fox
7 – Austin Novratil (tape exclusion)

Scratch Consolation
199 – Sammy Ramirez
321 – Russell Green
6 – Shawn McConnell
3 – Dillon Ruml (non starter)

Second Division Main Event (restarted) (awarded)
201 – Dylan Black
249 – John Wilder
118 – Rohn Zellner
182 – Rudy Laurer (fell)

First Division Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 – Billy Janniro 3 1 3 7
3 – Dillon Ruml 1 2 3 6
5 – Max Ruml 3 2 1 6
6 – Shawn McConnell 2 E 2 4
7 – Austin Novratil 3 2 3 8
11 – Bobby Schwartz 1 0 0 1
14 – Eddie Castro 0 0 0 0
46 – Aaron Fox 2 3 2 7
66 – Jason Ramirez 2 1 1 4
199 – Sammy Ramirez 1 3 2 6
214 – Michael Wells 0 1 0 1
321 – Russell Green 0 3 1 4

Heat Results
1: Janniro, Fox, S. Ramirez, Wells
2: Novratil, J. Ramirez, D. Ruml, Castro
3: M. Ruml, McConnell, Schwartz, Green (fell, remounted)
8: Green, Novratil, Janniro, Schwartz
9: Fox, D. Ruml, Wells, McConnell (engine failure)
10: S. Ramirez, M. Ruml, J. Ramirez, Castro
15: Janniro, McConnell, J. Ramirez, Castro
16: D. Ruml, S. Ramirez, Green, Schwartz
17: Novratil, Fox, M. Ruml, Wells
Semi #1: Janniro, Fox, S. Ramirez, Green
Semi #2: Novratil, M. Ruml, McConnell, D. Ruml (tape penalty)

Past Fair Derby Champions
2018 – Billy Janniro
2017 – Aaron Fox
2016 – Max Ruml
2015 – Aaron Fox
2014 – Billy Hamill
2013 – Billy Janniro
2012 – Billy Hamill
2011 – Billy Hamill
2010 – Buck Blair
2009 – Eddie Castro
2008 – Jimmy Fishback
2007 – Ricky Wells
2006 – Bryan Yarrow
2005 – Mike Faria
2004 – Mike Faria
2003 – Mike Faria
2002 – Mike Faria
2001 – Josh Larsen
2000 – Charlie Venegas
1999 – Mike Faria
1998 – Bobby Schwartz
1997 – Shawn McConnell
1996 – Robert Pfetzing
1995 – Steve Lucero
1994 – Bobby Schwartz
1993 – Bobby Schwartz
1992 – Mike Faria
1991 – Phil Collins
1990 – Bobby Schwartz
1989 – Steve Lucero
1988 – Shawn McConnell
1987 – Mike Faria
1986 – Mike Faria
1985 – Robert Pfetzing
1984 – John Sandona
1983 – Kelly Moran
1982 – Mike Bast
1981 – Lance King
1980 – Mike Muntean (Handicap Main)
1979 – Alan Christian
1978 – Bobby Schwartz
1977 – not contested
1976 – Bruce Penhall
1975 – Mike Curoso
1974 – not contested
1973 – not contested
1972 – Rick Woods
1971 – Sonny Nutter
1970 – Bill Cody