Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

1999 Week 10
Fast Fridays Speedway, Auburn, CA
Friday July 9, 1999
From Gary Roberts

More great Speedway from Auburn on Friday night. At the rider's meeting it was announced the Bart Bast's brother, Harlan Bast Junior was to be the referee. In fear of any anticipated suggestions of nepotism, Bart publicly inquired whether anyone else was prepared to be ref, and not surprisingly there were no takers. Harlan Junior did a great job. There was plenty of good racing, lots of overtaking, the usual stuff that we have grown to expect at Auburn.

Unofficial results:

Scratch Main
1. Mike Faria
2. Jim Sisemore
3. Bobby Hedden
4. Charlie Venegas
Charlie did one of his lightening gates. Unfortunately the tapes had not gone up, so he was disqualified from the re-run. Jim Sisemore who is currently on outstanding form got the gate, but wobbled in the first corner and Mike Faria took the lead, which he kept for four laps. Jim got past Bobby Hedden, but could not catch Mike.

Scratch Consi
1. Bart Bast
2. Billy Janniro
3. Ryan Fisher
4. Chad Felicio

Handicap Main
1. Ian Essary
2. Robert Curry
3. Ian Ferris
4. Ryan Fisher
5. Charlie Venegas
6. Tommy Hedden

Handicap Consi
1. Chad Felicio
2. Bobby Hedden
3. Jim Sisemore
4. Bart Bast
5. Mike Faria
6. Scott McNeil

Division 2 Main
1. Ivan Sevart
2. Richard Powell
3. Mark Thomas
4. Mike Browne
5. Eric Veale
6. Jay Heidt
Jay Heidt fell heavily on the back straight and I am told suffered a broken collar bone.

Division 2 Consi
1. Tom Adams
2. Rachalle Kerr
3. Don Webster
4. Matt Browne
5. Scott Olney
6. Harlan Bast Senior

Division 3 Main
1. Harry Bradwell
The other competitors in this race included Mark Thomas, Mike Achilles, Bill Dixon, Kevin Fereira, and Tom Odekirk. Towards the end of the race, Mike Achilles T boned Harry Bradwell and I understand the race was backed up a lap, meaning Harry was the winner. I missed the other places.

Division 3 Consi
1. Jamie Hughes
2. Ron Woodsford
3. Chris Hall
4. Lenny Bourassa
5. Bill Warnock
Other competitors included Kimi Valentine and Rich Mignano.

Division 1 Juniors
1. Jon Curry
2. Eric Carrillo
3. Bryan Yarrow
4. JJ Martynse
5. Chris Kerr

Division 2 Juniors
1. Greg Hooten
2. Alex Marcucci
3. Brenton Bast

Division 3 Juniors
1. Chris Olney
2. Danny Easley
3. Mark Carrillo
4. Jeff Butler
The standard of all junior events has improved a lot this year. These kids are really trying! The quantity and quality of the junior Speedway riders lends much encouragement for the future of the sport. An unpleasant side effect of their increased competitiveness was shown on Friday when a couple of them got hurt. TJ Fowler, who rides a Triumph Cub engine machine had a suspected broken leg and Amanda English had a damaged shoulder from two separate incidents. Amanda was in the crowd at Cal Expo on Saturday, and other than wearing a sling, looked her normal happy self.

(Added July 20th) TJ Fowler, started racing in Northern California division 3 Junior Speedway on June 4, 1999 and in the following weeks he had some very impressive results. On July 9, he suffered a severely broken leg and is now in Auburn Hospital, 70 miles from his home in Oroville, CA. He will be in traction for 4 weeks, then in a body cast for 8 to 10 weeks. His main concern at this point is to get well so he can get back out on the race track.

If his fans want to send him a card send it to:

Sutter Auburn Faith Memorial Hospital
Room 105
11815 Education Street
Auburn, CA 95602
or give him a call and say hi,
1 - (530) 888 4500 ext 105.

I didn't quite catch the full story but there was a run off to select the remaining North team members for the North vs. South Civil War.
1. Ryan Fisher
2. Tommy Hedden
3. Ian Ferris
4. Chad Felicio
5. Robert Curry

I understand the first three will join the team, which I assume will comprise Bobby Hedden, Billy Janniro, Bart Bast, Mike Faria and Jim Sisemore. Full confirmation of the team later.

Greg Hancock will be riding at next week's Auburn event, which should attract an even bigger crowd.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com