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Fast Fridays Program July 23, 2021

Fast Fridays Program July 23, 2021

Fast Fridays Program July 23, 2021

 

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Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

29th Annual North vs. South Challenge
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
South Triumphs in North vs. South Challenge
By Michael Kirby (Story & Photos)
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, July 23, 2021

In a grudge match that dates back thirty years and the longest running annual speedway racing event, the North vs. South Challenge pits the best riders from Southern California against the best Northern California riders. It is also one of the most popular speedway events at Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway each season packing fans into the Gold Country Fairgrounds stadium. The South took control from the very first race and never let up winning the 30th annual North vs. South Challenge 78-58.

The South team brought Max Ruml, Kyle Cunningham, Gino Manzares, Russell Green, Aaron Fox and Bryan Yarrow the show. Waiting for them was Bart Bast, Louie Mersaroli, Billy Janniro, Danny Faria, Charlie Venegas and Blake Borello on the North team. The stage was set as the good natured opening ceremony took place.

The way it works is a scratch format with two riders from each team race each other through six rounds then two riders from each team compete in a B main and an A main event where points increase. In the heat rounds the scoring is three points for a win, two points for second place, one point for a third place finish and zero for a fourth place finish. In the B main scoring increases by one point and in the A main the scoring is doubled.

From the first gate the South took the lead and never looked back being in the driver’s seat for the entire race never falling behind. Right off the bat in the first race Ruml and Cunningham hooked up for five points for the South with a first and third place finish. For the South again in the second race they added four points behind the scoring of Green and Manzares with combined first and third place finishes. At the end of the first round the score was 12 points for the South to the North’s six points behind a great effort by Venegas for the North in a convincing win and three points in race three.

Round two was much of the same but in race five the North showed signs of brilliance scoring five points with Borello winning and Venegas in second bringing the score after two rounds to South 22 and the North 14. Ruml who rode nearly flawlessly all night pulled off a last second finish dash to overtake Venegas at the finish line for three points in race seven in the third round. Score after three rounds South 32-North 22. Round four stayed fairly even with wins for Ruml, Manzares and Fox for the South. The North stayed strong with second place finishes and two points each for Mersaroli, Faria and Borello. At the end of four rounds the score still really weighted in favor of the South 42-30.

Round five, in race 14 the South scored big again with first-second finishes for Green and Manzares for five points, but in race 15 the North responded with a first place finish for Mersaroli and third place finish for Bast and four points for the North leaving the score at 52-38 still with a strong lead for the South going into the final regular round. Round six was a near toss-up with the South adding ten points to their score and the North adding eight points leaving the score going into the bonus main event rounds at 62-46 South.

Going into the bonus mains and if you did the math the North could not win but that did not stop them from going all out. In the B Main for the South Manzares scored a win and Fox a third place finish combining for six points and the North combined for four points behind a second place finish for Mersaroli and a four place finish for Borello and four points. Score after the B Main sat at 68-50 with the South firmly in the lead.

In the A main the South sent out Ruml and Yarrow and the North sent out Venegas and Janniro. Yarrow took this one for six points and teammate Ruml finished third for four points for the South combining for 10 points. Not going down easily Janniro finished second for five points and Venegas three points for a fourth place finish combining for eight points. Final score and bragging for another year had the South at 78 to the North’s 58. This leaves the overall total tally with the North still leading the series 19-11 over the south. “Nor Cal who? Just kidding, we always great time coming up here, it’s a great event,” said celebrating South team member Gino Manzares after the race.

High scorer for the evening and for the South went to Max Ruml who was perfect through the six rounds and had a third place finish in the A Main scoring 22 points. Also for the South Gino Manzares chipped in 17 points. For the North the high scorers were Billy Janniro and Charlie Venegas each scoring 14 points.

There was not a Division II or Division III this week but in the Youth program Charlie Trana won the Youth 250 division, Levi Leutz was second and Chase Kangas was third. In the Youth 150 division Darren Armbruster was first, Nick Hohlbein was second and Kensei Matsudaira was third.

North vs. South Challenge Results 7-23-21

South 78 North 58

South 78
Max Ruml 3 3 3 3 3 3 4-22
Gino Manzares 1 1 3 3 2 3 4-17
Bryan Yarrow 1 3 2 0 0 3 6-15
Aaron Fox 2 1 0 3 2 1 2-11
Russell Green 3 0 1 1 3 0-8
Kyle Cunningham 2 2 1 0 0 0-5

North 58
Billy Janniro 2 0 3 0 2 2 5-14
Charlie Venegas 3 2 3 1 0 2 3-14
Louie Mersaroli 0 0 2 2 3 1 3-11
Blake Borello 0 3 0 2 1 1-7
Bart Bast 1 2 0 1 1 2-7
Danny Faria 0 1 1 2 1 0-5

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Charlie Trana, 2-Levi Leutz, 3-Chase Kangas

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Darren Armbruster, 2-Nick Hohlbein, 3-Kensei Matsudaira

North 61 Points               Total
Billy Janniro 2 0 3 0 2 2 5 14
Charlie Venegas 3 2 3 1 0 2 3 14
Louie Mersaroli 0 0 2 2 3 1 3 11
Blake Borello 0 3 0 2 1 1   7
Bart Bast 1 2 0 1 1 2   7
Danny Faria 0 1 1 2 1 0   5
                 
South 77 Points                
Max Ruml 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 20
Gino Manzares 1 1 3 3 2 3 4 17
Bryan Yarrow 1 3 2 0 0 3 6 15
Aaron Fox 2 1 0 3 2 1 2 11
Russell Green 3 0 1 1 3 0   8
Kyle Cunningham 2 2 1 0 0 0   5

 

Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 The North and South teams before the challenge during the opening ceremony. (left-right) The South, Max Ruml, Kyle Cunningham, Gino Manzares, Russell Green, Aaron Fox, Bryan Yarrow. The North, Billy Janniro, Daniel Faria, Charlie Venegas, Blake Borello, Louie Mersaroli and Bart Bast. Pictured in the center is Fast Friday’s promoter David Joiner.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Riders take the line for the start of the A Main start. (left to right) Aaron Fox, Daniel Faria, Bryan Yarrow and Billy Janniro. Yarrow won the race.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Referee Steve Lucero
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Max Ruml was overall high scorer in this season’s North vs. South Challenge scoring 22 points for the South Team.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Heat Race
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Bryan Yarrow riding for the South Team won the A Main event picking up six points.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Youth winners were Darren Armbruster (left) in the Youth 150 Division and Charlie Trana (right) in the Youth 250 Division.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 The South Team celebrates their 2021 North vs. South Challenge. Pictured (left-right) are Bryan Yarrow, Kyle Cunningham, Max Ruml, Gino Manzares, Russell Green and Aaron Fox.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Billy Janniro in a heat race with Max Ruml, both Janniro and Ruml and scored highly for their teams.
Fast Fridays July 23, 2021 Charlie Trana

 

Annual North vs. South Challenge
  North South
July 23, 2021 58 78
2020 - Canceled by Fauci's Chinese China Corona Virus Pandemic
July 19, 2019 61 77
July 20, 2018 72 67
July 14, 2017 84 53
July 15, 2016 74 65
July 24, 2015 65 70
July 18, 2014 73 66
July 19, 2013 78 57
July 20, 2012 75 65
July 22, 2011 58 81
July 9, 2010 96 40
July 24, 2009 62 77
July 18, 2008 76 65
July 20, 2007 62 49
July 21, 2006 88 66
July 15, 2005 72 49
July 16, 2004 60 36
July 18, 2003 76 44
July 19, 2002 73 61
July 27, 2001 78 62
July 21, 2000 70 65
July 23, 1999 86 49
July 24, 1998 86 50
July 25, 1997 52 44
July 19, 1996 82 53
July 14, 1995 32 46
July 15, 1994 34 44
July 16, 1993 29 48
July 17, 1992 29 49
July 25, 1991 29 49