Vintage Racing In The Mohawk Valley Is Alive & Ready To Go Green For 2018

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – As dirt racing has begun in the northeast, The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series, (MVVDMS) will finally get the first race under their belt this coming Saturday night for the “Vintage Royale” at the ‘Track of Champions,’ the Fonda Speedway.

The series is looking to have a special field of cars that will be representing different eras of the past in racing. With the drivers having the excitement of coming to the track for some fun and competitive racing, they almost assuradly put on a great show for the fans. One thing it does for sure is to let the younger fans see what the cars looked like in the days gone by. Hopefully it might spark an interest of the history of stock car racing. Our history!! Guys replicating the drivers who were their heroes or just someone special to them who paved the way that made our sport the best out there.”

The Vintage drivers have been looking to get their time on the track and show off their fine machines. Yes, it was a long, cold winter that Mother Nature did not want to give up her hold on in the Northeast. However, racing is here for the series and it’s time to rumble.

There will be three classes this year competing for a championship at the end of 2018…Modifieds, Sportsman and Late Models. MVVDMS will be running four events this season with Fonda hosting three of them.

The June 9th race will be the start of the racing season for the series, which is collaborating with other clubs to bring a stronger product to the track. Representing MVVDMS will be two guys who have been racing for over 40 years each. “The Dancing Bear,” John Constantino, will be in his familiar #124 which is a 1988 Champ Car that he has driven for many years. “The Horseman” Doug Mathewson will be piloting Bruce and Clara Gray’s 1962 Ford Felcon and 1972 Gremlin. Both drivers have decades of racing under their belts at the speedway.

Oh the racing stories they could tell.

Bryon Seyfried will be driving the #69 Bruce Dostal tribute car. Rob Sanford will be in the Frank Trinkaus #62 Mudbus. Jay Lais is bringing his homebuilt coupe with a 1937 roof on top. Dan Wood will have his 1985 Bud Olsen-built chassis modeled after Kenny Tremont’s 1987 #115 Dirt Modified he finished second in points to Mark Fleury.

John Roese will have his fathers 1956 Ford body #28 with Charlie Scofield bringing the “Super “C.D Coville #61. Melcom Warner will bring back memories of the IMCA cars and Buck Gasner will be in the famous #78m of Maynard Forrette. Kavin Winton will be showing off his Dick Schoonovers #11x. Champlain Valley competitor Tony Kamburelis will be driving his “Dixie Twister,” a 1937 original Ford Sedan #44.

Classics on Dirt representative will be another 40+ year veteran, the “Racing School Teacher” Frank Blanchard. Blanchard will be driving a replica of one of Fonda’s greats, Lou ‘The Monk” Lazzaro. Frank first put himself behind the wheel of a racecar in 1971 and is still going strong. The series is lucky to have him being part of this event.

Link Pettit will be on hand bringing his black #3 coupe, stepping away from sprint cars for the night.

The ‘Vintage Royale’ is gearing up to be a special night of racing while bringing the past to the future.

The ever-popular Vintage “Hall Of Fame Race” will take part at Fonda on July 28th. This is a full day of events that kicks off at noon. On hand for the day will be array of vintage cars being displayed in front of the Fonda Speedway Hall Of Fame Building. All fans, drivers and history buffs of racing should be there because its truly an amazing display of history…all in one building. It’s a must see as the folks in their do a super job.

Joining the series cars that night will also be the Midstate Vintage Stock Car Club, Champlain Valley Vintage along with Northeastern Vintage Dirt Modified Racing Club and possibly a few other series / clubs that would like to get it on at a track filled with rich history. It is confirmed that a gentleman is even taking his summer vacation at the track which he’s heard so much about. It’s a place he’s always dreamed that one day he could race at. Now has a car along with a chance to race at the mecca of all tracks, and he’s hauling all the way from the state of Ohio.

When display time is over, it’ll be show time on the 1/2 mile. However, this show won’t be for points with the MVVDMS.

September 15th will be the Vintage “River Rage” Finale and the final stop for the series. At the conclusion of the night, three champions will be crowned. The series is thankful to Pete and Matt Demitraszek for helping keep the history of stock car racing alive, having been very hospitable to them.

The other track the series will travel to is across the boarder in Vermont at Devil’s Bowl. The “Vintage Tornado” on June 24th will storm into the speedway, and is a special event that you need to mark on our calender. The series has been looking forward to racing on the big track with the new surface. They are looking forward to putting on a great show.

Joining them will be the Champlain Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds guys who are looking forward to racing in their own backyard.

Also in store at the “Tornado” will be NYSSCA having their annual Safety Night for Vintage class. This is an organization that is a must. To become a member, it’s $25 to join for the year and if you are hurt at the track and unable to work, they will send you a check for 26 weeks. As you see, it’s a good investment whether you’re driver, crew member or anybody that goes to a speedway. As we all know, anything can happen at the track. Cars that have a NYSSCA sticker on them and cross the checkers in order of finish are eligible for the awards. First member across is $75.00. Second member $25.00, and a wild card is $50.00. Each driver will also get a hat and yearbook. All of this is an extra bonus along with their insurance.

It cannot go without mentioning the support of the series sponsors, which, if not for them, wouldn’t make the fun possible. They are a BIG part of the success. Series sponsors include SPRAKER’S Glove City Taxi, MATHEWSON’S Farm, GALLUP Auto, BOYD’S Motorworks, JOHN’S Auto Service, CUSTOM BY BOB “sign and designs,” BUANNO’S custom body shop, JB photography, and NESCOT. The money NESCOT gives the club will be split up and each driver that attends a race will get their number put into a hat and then drawn at the conclusion of the event. Everybody has a chance of getting a lil something…because the person finishing in last tries just as hard as the guy coming in first.

All series sponsors are not monetary, but they are just as important, if not more. As always thank you to them for supporting the Vintage world. It’s gestures like this that makes it worth the struggles of keeping the series going.

As I conclude, I want to say to all you guys that have cars lying around looking for a place to race, make them come back alive again. It’s a cheaper class. It’s not that ‘every week’ commitment. If you’re looking to keep the thrill of racing in your blood, this is the fix you’re looking for.

All the series/clubs need your support to keep Vintage racing going. Without you there is no vintage, and it truly would be a shame to have our history forgotten. It’s our responsibility to keep the memories of the racers who paved the way that made racing what it is today.

Hope you all join in making 2018 a fun and exciting year racing with the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series. “ITS TIME FOR SOME RACING VINTAGE STYLE” Hope to see you all at the track.

God bless to our troops that protect and give us the freedom we have as their sacrifice does not go unforgotten. THANK YOU!!