Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

John Schroeder Night - Fast Fridays Week 2
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, May 27, 2022
By Michael Kirby

Just some of John Schroeder's students
Gary Roberts Photo

Fast Fridays opened the second week of great racing at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn with two touching remembrances. Remembering one of their own who gave back to many of the youth riders with guidance and the sharing of a wonderful practice track at his North Auburn home, John Schroeder passed away recently. Schroeder was known for the speedway knowledge he passed to younger riders finding their way. Many now ride in the upper divisions thanks to Schroeder passing on his skills and sharing his time with them. The riders gathered behind Charlie Trana, who holding an American flag in honor of Memorial Day, and the many that gave all for the freedom we enjoy for several laps around the track as the national anthem was sung. It was a fitting tribute to a man that gave of himself to teach young speedway riders the ins and outs of speedway racing.

Also in week two, the team challenge tradition was renewed as Team SOS squared off against Team AR-17 Land & Tree in the first of six meeting to crown a winner in the final. Six riders from each team raced in three heats two from each team against each other. Scoring points team points for finishing positions and the score will carry over to the next meeting until the final. This week it was Team AR-17 that led the way with two first-second place finishes and one first place finish ending with a total score of 13 to Team SOS's five points. Gino Manzares, Alex Martin and Timmy Dion each had first place finishes scoring three points each for Team AR-17. Bart Bast had the highest finish with a second place and two points for Team SOS. Not to worry with five more meetings there is still much more time for Team SOS to iron out the hiccups catch up.

In the Division I scratch main event, it was Bart Bast the cagey veteran, that put together a great race and win. Cool, calm and confident he faced Louie Mersaroli, Russell Green and Gino Manzares in the final. Bast was out of lane two and had little trouble with a good gate leading the way to the checkered flag. Mersaroli was second, Manzares third and Green who took a tumble was fourth.

Rheten Todd cleaned up in the handicap main event with a win off the 10 yard line. Todd won his heat race and was second in his semi-final before the win in the main. Blake Borello was second and Russell Green was third.

John Peters picked up his first of more than many likely main event wins in the Division II main event. Peters was second in his heat race but made up for it with a win in the main event. Rick Shafer back at Fast Fridays took second and Lawrence McNutt was third. Showing age has not much to do with winning speedway races sixty-one year old Tim Rott won his heat race and then the Division III main event. Rott is back this season and showed he is the man to beat in Division III this season. Second behind Rott was Marc Denniston and third was LC Veale.

The Youth 250 Division main event was one by Charlie Trana a repeat of last week. Trana so far this season is unbeaten and has won every race he has been in including two main events. Darren Armbruster was second and Chase Kangas was third. After a second place finish last week Jameson Hutchinson was first in the Youth 150 division taking the main event. Second was Caden Cavrikas and third was Wesley Rearick.

Look out for next week and hold on to your hats as the Extreme Sidecars make the first of five appearances Friday night at Fast Fridays. Always a crowd favorite the sidecars are something to see and put on an amazing program.

Results for 5-27-22

Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Bart Bast, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Gino Manzares, 4-Russell Green (fell)

Division I Scratch Consolation
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Charlie Venegas, 3-Blake Borello, 4-Rheten Todd

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Rheten Todd, 2-Blake Borello, 3-Russell Green, 4-Billy Janniro, 5-Timothy Dion, 6-Gino Manzares

Division I Handicap Consolation
1-Alex Martin, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Gregory Moore

Division II Main Event
1-John Peters, 2-Rick Shafer, 3-Lawrence McNutt, 4-Sammy Tetrault, 5-Marc Denniston, 6-Shawn Eldredge

Division III Main Event
1-Tim Rott, 2-Marc Denniston, 3-LC Veale, 4-Sebe Denniston, 5-Sam Richardson, 6-Mike Newnham (fell)

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Charlie Trana, 2-Darren Armbruster, 3-Chase Kangas, 4-Catherine Moore

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Jameson Hutchinson, 2-Caden Cavrikas, 3-Wesley Rearick, 4-Riley Rearick

Team Challenge Series (Round One)
Team AR-17-13 Team SOS-5

Michael Kirby Photos
	Charlie Trana (with flag) leads the riders around the track in a memorial tribute for John Schroeder who passed away recently. Schroeder, always in the pits at Fast Fridays helped many of the youth riders along in their careers. Schroeder opened his private track at his home to many of the speedway riders locally.
	Auburn's Bart Bast won the scratch main event. Bast was second in his heat and semi-final races but put it together for a win in the nights finale.
	Lining up for the nights finale (left-right) Gino Manzares, Russell Green, Bart Bast and Louie Mersaroli. Bast ended up being the fastest man of the evening with a win.
	Rheten Todd won the handicap main event riding off the ten yard line.
	Tim Rott, being one of the oldest riders currently at Fast Fridays did not let age stand in his way winning the Division II main event.
	Jameson Hutchinson is all smiles as he is awarded his trophy for winning the Youth 150 main event Friday night at Fast Friday's.
	Again the Pee-Wee's had a strong present at Fast Fridays in week two as they line up for a start.
	8500 In the team racing event teammates Alex Martin (right) and Blake Borello make it look easy. Martin claimed three points with a first place finish and Borello earned two for Team AR-17.