RICK @ the RACES (3/4/5 Oct 2008)
FULTON SPEEDWAY (NY)
To say the last few weeks have been a bit hectic, would be an understatement. After returning from a ‘four track’ racing tour of the UK, I had less than two weeks remaining before the completion date of my house sale. ( I had to be ‘out’ by Oct 3).
On 26/27 Sept , I was at the Capital City , and Brighton Speedways , while under the weather with the Flu , so when Saturday 4 Oct approached , I was quite prepared to take a break. (especially with the forthcoming SUPER DIRT WEEK starting on Wednesday, Oct 8)
Well, the house move went smoother than expected and by the time I was settled in my new home on Friday night, I was itching for some action. After making a phone call to my buddy Roger Aubin, plans were made to attend the Fulton Speedway in New York for their Schneider Bothers 200.
We left my new home in Long Sault around 11-30 on Saturday morning and were soon across the border at Ogdensburg heading for Interstate 81. Not long after 3-00pm we had pulled up in the packed parking lot at Fulton.
Fulton Speedway is traditionally the ‘kick start’ to SUPER DIRT WEEK and their Victoria Weekend has been a favorite with the fans for many years. Even though the “Victoria 200 ‘ title has now been transferred to another track, most people still consider this event (now called the Schneider Brothers 200 ) to be ‘the’ Victoria.
On arrival we heard some racing in progress, and soon found out that , Friday nights ‘rain delayed’ races were now taking place.
Once these were over, the speedway was emptied of fans, then reopened for Saturdays events. There were over 80 Modifieds in attendance which included all the sports top names. The format for Fulton’s big one has changed a bit during the course of time, and for the past couple of years sail panels have been permitted. I’m not a great fan of sail panels, as I think it makes the cars look a bit stupid, but I’ll ‘put up’ with them once in a while. I definitely wouldn’t make a habit of watching them.
Saying that, there were some exceptionally smart cars in the pits. Brett Hearn’s machine looked stunning, the shape reminded of a hearse. Others looked like Bread Vans !
One of the attractions for many fans this year was the reapearance at Fulton of former ‘Victoria’ winner Billy Pauch # 1W from Frenchtown, New Jersey.
The actual race turned out to be one of the best ‘long hauls’ (200 laps) I’ve ever seen, with the result in doubt right up until the last lap.
The first part of the race was dominated by Vermont’s Dave Camera # 26 and Paul Kinney # 19K, until Brett Hearn # 20 edged in to the lead on lap 64.
At the 100 lap ‘half way stage’ the cars all returned to the pits for the mandatory 15 minute break, before returning to the track for part two. As Kinney faded Hearn and Camera continued to battle it out, while Billy Decker # 91, Pat Ward # 42P and Danny Johnson # 121 were moving up.
The track had been hard on the cars and many succumbed to front end breakages. Just as Decker was moving closer to the front he too became a casualty.
It wasn’t long before the Hearn and Camera duel became a three way fight as Johnson homed in. He’d been using the ‘high groove’ and it payed off as he managed to pass them both with less than ten laps to go. A couple of late cautions meant it was going to be a green/white checkers finish and the spot light was Johnson and Camera.
There was a false start for the first attempt, then as the flag dropped the second time , Camera was slow to get away . The ‘Doctor’ powered his way to the checkers with Hearn and Ward following him across the line.
The show was over around 10-00pm and we were soon on our way home. The only ‘black mark’ to the day being the ridiculously long delays we endured at the 1000 Islands border crossing.