Costa Mesa Speedway

Orange County Fairgrounds
Costa Mesa, California

Costa Mesa Speedway
Speedway Fair Derby
August 11, 2022 - Costa Mesa
Photo and results by Ryan Evans

The Orange County Fair Derby Final at the tapes (inside - outside):
Max Ruml, Aaron Fox, Gino Manzares, Austin Novratil.
The finishing order was Novratil, Fox, Ruml, Manzares.

2022 Orange County Fair Derby - Costa Mesa, CA, USA - August 11

Austin “All Throttle” Novratil won his third consecutive main event and collected the Orange County Fair Derby title for the first time at the world famous Costa Mesa Speedway.

Inside to outside at the tapes for the Final were unbeaten “Mad” Max Ruml, former National Champion Aaron Fox, Gino Manzares, and Novratil. Ruml, who won the Fair Derby in 2018, was first off the line but lifted badly, which tightened the field entering turn one. Novratil held the lead at the first corner but Ruml’s momentum sent him on a path toward him. Ruml used all his skill to avoid Novratil who locked up in the corner, which proved beneficial when his competitors slowed to evade him. This gave him a comfortable lead on the back straight. It was Fox, who has won this event twice, who led the chase after the leader with Ruml and Manzares behind him. Novratil led after the first lap while Fox was hoping to close ground. It wasn’t to be as Novratil won comfortably and took home the prized Bronze Hat Trophy. Novratil also collected an extra $200 that former racer Donny “Too Tall” Odom offered up seconds before the tapes went up in the Final. Fox finished second, Ruml was third, and Manzares finished fourth.

The annual Fair Derby coincided with the 131st 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. 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. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s event was the first to be held since 2019 and it broke from its traditional Friday or Saturday night and was contested on Thursday night. Five former Fair Derby Champions who collectively have 11 victories were in the field.

Manzares opened the evening with a victory over 2009 Fair Derby Champion “Fast” Eddie Castro. Ruml was awarded the victory over Novratil after a red flag halted the race. Fox ended the first round with a victory over Under 21 National Champion Slater Lightcap.

Manzares defeated Dukie Ermolenko to begin the second round with his second straight win. Ruml scored his second win in a row by defeating Castro. Novratil finished round two with a victory over Fox.

Novratil started round three by handing Manzares his first defeat of the night. Ruml remained perfect by beating Lightcap. Fox closed out the heats by defeating two-time Fair Derby Champion Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell.

It didn’t seem like the first semi would ever be completed. The first attempt ended with Manzares and Lightcap going down in turn three. A full restart but it only lasted for half of a lap when the same pair went down on the back straight. The third time didn’t get past turn one when Manzares and Lightcap clashed and 16-year-old Lightcap ended up sliding into the wall. Frustrated referee Steve Lucero, himself a two-time Fair Derby Champion, ordered all of them off the track and called for the second semi to be run first.

The second semi had no such drama as Ruml blazed to his fourth straight victory with Novratil following him into the semi. The field for the first semi came back out for its fourth staging, but would do so without Lightcap, who was too sore to compete. Fox led all the way with Manzares getting second to join him in the Final.

Castro was awarded the victory in the Consolation after McConnell went down. Michael Wells finished second and McConnell was credited with third.
New York native Jonny Oakden, who is living in Southern California this year, won the Costa Mesa Support Main Event for the second straight time. Kevin Fiore was second, Rudy Laurer finished third, and Bruce Marteney was fourth.

The next event at Costa Mesa Speedway will be Saturday, August 27 with the second Harley Night of the season. The event will have speedway, sidecars, and the always-popular street-legal Harley races. This event is consistently standing-room-only and the Harley Night in June proved no different.

RESULTS

Orange County Fair Derby Final
7 – Austin Novratil
46 – Aaron Fox
5 – Max Ruml
24 – Gino Manzares

Scratch Consolation (restarted) (awarded)
14 - Eddie Castro
214 - Michael Wells
6 - Shawn McConnell (fell)
28 - Slater Lightcap (non starter)

Semi Final 1
46 - Aaron Fox
24 - Gino Manzares
6 - Shawn McConnell
28 - Slater Lightcap (fell)

Semi Final 2
5 - Max Ruml
7 - Austin Novratil
14 - Eddie Castro
214 - Michael Wells

Support Main Event
309 - Johnny Oakden
159 - Kevin Fiore
182 - Rudy Laurer
242 - Bruce Marteney

Support Semi 1
309 - Jonny Oakden
159 - Kevin Fiore
163 - Ron Davis
249 - John Wilder

Support Semi 2
182 - Rudy Laurer
242 - Bruce Marteney
290 - Harold Hartke
170 - Hayley Perrault

Support Consolation
327 - Tyler Moszer
175 - Jake Myers
168 - Mark Fillebrown
178 - Eloy Medellin DNS

First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
5 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
6 – Shawn McConnell 0 1 2 3
7 – Austin Novratil 2 3 3 8
11 – Bobby Schwartz 0 0 0 0
14 – Eddie Castro 2 2 1 5
15 – Dukie Ermolenko 1 2 0 3
24 – Gino Manzares 3 3 2 8
28 – Slater Lightcap 2 1 2 5
46 – Aaron Fox 3 2 3 8
60 – David Clark F N - 0
173 – Rees Todd 1 Nr 1 2
214 – Michael Wells 1 1 1 3

Heat Results
1: Manzares, Castro, Wells, McConnell
2: (restarted) (awarded) Ruml, Novratil, Ermolenko, Clark (fell)
3: Fox, Lightcap, Todd, Schwartz
7: Manzares, Ermolenko, Lightcap, Clark (non starter)
8: (restarted) Ruml, Castro, McConnell (penalty line), Todd (non starter, restart)
9: Novratil, Fox, Wells, Schwartz
13: Novratil, Manzares, Castro, Ermolenko
14: Ruml, Lightcap, Wells, Schwartz
15: Fox, McConnell, Todd
Semi #1: (restarted thrice): Fox, Manzares, McConnell, Lightcap (non starter, restart)
Semi #2: Ruml, Novratil, Castro, Wells

Past Fair Derby Champions
2022 - Austin Novratil
2021 - China Virus
2020 - China Virus
2019 - Billy Janniro
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