Episode 119

August 14, 2016

You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me…Six Tenths of a Foot?

Tyler Raymond, Caribou on his 1952 Farmall Super C came up six tenths of a foot shy of first place in the Antique Tractor Pulls at Fort Kent Saturday. Flying Farmer Racing photo

Sometimes in motorsports competition fractions of an inch or second means the difference between a win or a loss. Former Spud Speedway Senior Champ Kart Points Champion Tyler Raymond of Caribou experienced that in a tractor pull Saturday in Fort Kent.

The winner of the 3,500 pound class, Meredith Folsom with her 1953 Farmall Super C pulled 223.4 feet. Hodgdon’s Roger Quint on his 1955 Ford 960 pulled 223.3 followed by Raymond in third with his pull of 222.8 feet. Talk about a close pull, a fraction of a wheel spin could have shuffled the finishing order easily.

Forgot To Mention…

The County’s Last Chance Motorsports Team scored a podium finish at last weekend’s Dash For Cash at Richmond Karting Speedway. On left #20 Curtis Anderson and #22 Christian Hanscom who finished in the money. Crouseville’s Chase Chandler also competed. Last Chance Motorsports photo

Team JRT driver Damian Theriault adding fuel to his kart prior to the Animal Engine class feature this weekend at Richmond Karting Speedway. He finished first in class with his father Jason Theriault in second. Team JRT photo

Off Weekend In NASCAR Sprint Cup Brings Home Morneau Family

With the Sprint Cup Series off this weekend Michael Morneau and family were able to fit in a visit to family in Maine. The Oxford native is the rear tire carrier for the Stewart Haas #4 Kevin Harvick team based out of Mooresville, North Carolina.

Matt Morneau, Oxford, Polly “Grammie” Annance, Mechanics Falls, and Michael “Shrek” Morneau formerly from Oxford enjoy family time this weekend in Maine. Morneau family photo

Morneau and wife Cheryl along with their two sons live in Kannapolis, North Carolina. They were able to enjoy a night of racing at the track where his career in motorsports began, Oxford Plains Speedway.  According to posts by Morneau they were cheering on the #58 of Dave Whittier.

In just a couple of weeks Oxford Plains Speedway will be hosting one of America’s biggest short track events, the H.P. Hood Oxford 250. I will be there following the action. Who is your pick to win the race? Will it be a veteran or maybe an unknown who has the race of their career.

Let me know who your pick to win is so I can get an idea who you are pulling for. Of course my favorites will have to be “County-Connected” Shawn Martin or Wyatt Alexander. It would be really great to see Spencer Morse with the ASPIRE Oxford Middle School race team do well. My hope is for a good race with tight competition.

Kody Swanson wins number 15 in USAC Silver Crown Series this time at Salem Speedway, Salem, Indiana. In the Winner’s Circle the DePalma Motorsports team L to R Bob Hampshire, Clarke Lamme, Tony DePalma, Ryan Roberts, Matt DePalma, Kody Swanson with his son Trevor and wife Jordan. TK Motorsports photo

Swanson Wins USAC 57th Running of Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial Silver Crown Race

After the death of Bryan Clauson last week at Belleville, Kansas in the USAC Midget race everyone’s thoughts were on the 27 year-old from Nobleville, Indiana. If anything good could come out from the death of Clauson it was that five people now live as a result of organ transplants.

The danger faced by these guys was once again made brutally apparent after Clauson flipped while leading the race and passing a lapped car. After coming to a rest the driver was hit by another race car and had to be cut from his car which took 30 minutes.

After being transported to Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska he was pronounced dead Sunday.

Swanson became the first Silver Crown Sprint car to qualify beneath the 16 second mark at the 1/2 mile asphalt track with a 15.972 second lap. He had this to say about the race and Bryan Clauson.

Swanson with his third win in 2016 now holds a 13 point lead over second place Chris Windom who placed second at Salem. There are 76 points separating him from third place Justin Grant.

The next USAC Silver Crown race is at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois on August 20th.

Racer.com had this excellent piece on Bryan Clauson at the following link:

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/132914-bryan-clauson-1989-2016-132914

Air Show Horsepower (and Thrust)

I have not been to an air show since the last one at Loring just before the air base shut down in 1994. While visiting my daughter in Huntington, Vermont we were able to take in the Burlington Air Show at the beach in downtown Burlington.

I was not able to get close enough to hear the announcer, however, we had great spots to view the show which included P 51 Mustangs, Blackhawk helicopter, bi-planes, tri-planes, and featured the Air Force Thunderbirds.

I am not sure who was in this bi-plane but I must have said a 10 times he is not going to make it as he rolled, stalled, pancaked, and dived so near the Lake Champlain surface. HTF Motorsports photo

The Air Force Thunderbirds in tight formation overhead showed their precision as well as power. HTF Motorsports photo

The Thunderbirds had to modify their classic “starburst” formation due to the cloud cover yet were still able to wow the thousands in the crowd. HTF Motorsports photo

So What Was In the HTF Motorsports Garage This Week?

This Friday featured rain all around the HTF Motorsports garage. The Northern Main Karting Association races at Spud Speedway were postponed with a make up date to be announced later. HTF Motorsports photo

Next Friday Northern Maine Karting Association races resume at 6:30 pm with grandstand admission free and $10 in the pits.

Let’s go racing,

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria