Fast Fridays Speedway

Gold Country Fairgrounds
1273 High Street
Auburn, California

Legends & Vintage Night
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, June 7, 2024
Story and Photos by Michael Kirby

Week five at Fast Friday's Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn Ca. was just on fire with first class motorcycle speedway action. This week was special as Fast Fridays recognized speedway racing from a throwback era with Vintage and Legends night.

Local Auburn resident, ninety-four-year-old Neil Fergus, who has had a long relationship with motorcycles that dates back to his first Harley-Davidson purchase at sixteen-years of age was recognized. Racing in numerous disciplines over the years and pleasure riding, Fergus has enjoyed close to 80 years on a motorcycle and still rides daily if weather permits. Always an innovator with all kinds of machinery, Fergus became an expert on motorcycle mechanics. He also spent time on a motorcycle as a police officer in the Army and the Pasadena Police Department. Racing motorcycles proved to be an area that Fergus also excelled. Fergus was the AMA District “High Point Man of the Year” on a 250cc dirt bike in 1964 and repeated the feat in 1965.

Several riders dusted the cobwebs off their vintage bikes with upright motors for two exhibition races. The motorcycles might have been a little different in that era but the still powerful bikes with 500cc engines and without brakes remain the same. The bikes haven't changed that much, and it still boils down to the skills of the rider. It was great to have a reminder and remember the “Good Old Days” if just for a few races.

Interestingly enough, along with the speedway racing this week crowd scenes in the stands were being filmed by DREAM film productions for a full-length motion picture. As cameras rolled in the Fast Fridays stands, sound and film crews recorded the crowd action guided by a film director as racers roared around the track providing real racing noise.

Billy Janniro got back in the winner’s circle winning the scratch main event, his third of the season. Janniro drew the inside number one lane and faced Charlie Trana in lane two, Timmy Dion in lane three and way outside in lane four sat Broc Nicol. Off the line Janniro clearly got the best gate and the hole shot in turn one. It was tight but coming out of turn two Nicol tried a bold but unsuccessful move to pass on the outside and having nowhere to go nearly scraped the wall. From there Janniro just increased this lead over Trana who trailed by 20-yards in second. Janniro increased his lead as each lap went by and was not challenged. Trana was second, Dion was third Nicol was fourth.

Dion won his first main event of the season in the handicap program. Handicapped on the 20-yardine Dion won his semi-final heat to transfer the the main. Always knocking on the door of main events Dion put it all together with the win. Louie Mersaroli, off the 30-yard line was second and Janniro off the 40-yard line was third.

Mike Newnham topped the Support Main event in his first main event win of the season, Hunter Castillo was second and Catherine Moore was third. Newnham was perfect for the night winning his heat race then transferring to win the main event. A newcomer to speedway racing but an experienced flat tracker, Larry Scaggs won the support consolation, L.C. was second.

Still unbeaten in any races at Fast Fridays this season Riley Rearick won the Youth 150 main event again for the fifth time this season. This time starting not on the 50, 60 or 70-yard lines but Rearick was moved half across the track by referee Steve Lucero. It took most of the six laps, but Rearick made it to the front of the riders by lap five to take the win. Rearick is having a great season. Leeann Emerson was second and Gavin Evans Seeley was third. Jameson Hutchinson picked up his first main event win in the Youth 250 main event. Caden Cavrikas was second.

Next week at Fast Fridays the Extreme Sidecars teams roar back into the Gold Country Fairgrounds for the second round of their season series. Folks, this racing action is not to be missed. Two-rider teams mount 1000cc three-wheeled motorcycles and fly around the Fast Friday's track lighting fast as the rider in back hangs on for dear life keeping the bike from tipping over. It is really something to see and the Extreme Sidecar teams are crowd favorites welcomed warmly by Fast Friday fans.

Fast Friday's Results for 6-7-24
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Billy Janniro, 2-Charlie Trana, 3-Timmy Dion, 4-Broc Nicol

Division I Scratch Consolation Event
1-Louie Mersaroli, 2-Russell Green, 3-Bart Bast, 4-Gregory Moore (DNS)

Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Timmy Dion, 2-Louie Mersaroli, 3-Billy Janniro, 4-Russell Green, 5-Charlie Trana, 6-Broc Nicol

Division I Consolation Event
1-Rees Todd, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Gregory Moore (FX)

Support Class Main Event
1-Mike Newnham, 2-Hunter Castillo, 3-Catherine Moore. 4-John Peters, 5-Brian Leventon, 6-Antonio Coffman (FX)

Support Class Consolation Event
1-Larry Staggs, 2-L.C. Veale

Youth 250 Main Event
1-Jameson Hutchinson, 2-Caden Cavrikas, 3-Wesley Rearick (DNS)

Youth 150 Main Event
1-Riley Rearick, 2-Leeann Emerson, 3-Gavin Evans Seeley, 4-William Bruce, 5-Zander Schroeder

Michael Kirby Photos
	Newnham- Mike Newnham won his first main event of the season in the Support Class. Newnham aced his support class heat race then went on to win the main event.
	Young Logan Kerr is one or the dozen or so pee wee racers that put on a great show at Fast Fridays each week. The peewees are a crowd favorite.
	Timmy Dion won the handicap main event Friday night. It was Dion's first main event win of the season.
	Hutchinson- Jameson Hutchinson, looking sharp, won his first Youth 250 main event. Coming off a crash in heat race eleven with Wesley Rearick, Hutchinson came back with a win in the main event.
	Rearick- The unstoppable Riley Rearick picked up his fifth Youth 150 main event win of the season. This week Rearick started halfway around the track. Rearick still remains unbeaten in any race this season at Fast Friday’s.
	A movie film crew were using Fast Friday's fans to film crowd scenes for a upcoming movie. Filming went on as the racing began.
	Neil Fergus (center) signs photos of the cover of American Motorcyclist magazine which he was featured on in June 2023 for friends Tom Graniere (left) and Casey Long (right). Fergus was honored at Fast Fridays Legends and Vintage Night for his lifelong years of riding, racing, designing and working on motorcycles. The 94-year-old bought his first Harley-Davidson when he was 16 years old. Fergus signed photos and greeted fans all night.
	Billy Janniro won his third scratch main event Friday night. After four weeks of racing Janniro leads in Division I Fast Friday’s rider points.