RPW Exclusive: Historic Night For Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series At The “Great Race Place”

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – MALTA, NY – What a great night it was Friday evening for the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS), and for vintage racing in general, at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

There was a total of 26 cars that checked into the back gate and were ready to get the 2019 Vintage season rolling.

Two features hit the Malta, NY track on the night, starting with the Vintage Antique (True Authentic cars) class, running an eight-lap feature. The Replica group ran a 15-lap feature that consisted of the Modified, Sportsman and Late Models.

MVVDMS had the pits full of special drivers, including two Lebanon Valley Legends. One of them being a Modified feature winner at the track in 1994, 75-year-old Stanley Wetmore and two-time Valley Modified Track Champion (1988 &1989) John Flach, who come back to racing after hanging up his helmet some thirty years ago.

We had drivers that have been racing for over 40 years along with many that have turned the wheel around the “Great Race Place”…just a bunch of outstanding drivers all together.

I was able to talk to John Flach before we approached the track on the phone about joining the series.

“I just wanted to come back to relive some memories in a race car,” Flach said. “I don’t want to get into racing full-time again. I just want to have fun.”

In his career, Flach never won a race at Albany-Saratoga, but after Friday night, he now joins his son, Modified driver Keith Flach, as he was able to reach victory lane. It was a spectacular return for the legendary driver as he would captured the Vintage Modified Divison and overall win in his replica machine that looked just like his 1980’s Gremlin.

To top things off it was also his birthday. Happy Birthday John!

The new Vintage Antique class had four cars to start off the inaugural feature with Frank Blanchard taking the win in his 1937 Chevy Coupe. The car rides on a 1960 Scout Frame. Tony Kamburelis came in second with John Mason and Alan McDonald following.

The Vintage Sportsman winner was Watervliet, NY’s own Dan Wood. Dan started deep in the field in the 14th position in his Kenny Tremont-inspired #115 1986 Olsen Eagle. Dan started his racing career 30 years ago at Albany-Saratoga and to get to victory lane (finished fifth overall) was very gratifying for him.

Bill Lease, another driver who has turned the wheel for 50 years, got the victory in the Late Model Division over Malcum Warner.

There was an array of different looks representing the many era’s of Dirt Track Racing for the fans to enjoy. As promoter of the series and getting to talk to a few of the drivers, part of the fun was watching the spectators in and out of the pits admiring all the cars of yesteryear.

Now, on to the racing action.

The 15-lap Vintage Replica feature had Bob Kilburn and John Flach make up the front row and it was Kilburn taking jumping into the lead. Fifth place starter Mike Houghtaling picked his way to the front as he would get by Wetmore and then Flach, who faded back to third.

Houghtaling would set his sights on the leader and made the pass on lap four to take over the top spot. Wetmore would follow him into second.

Lap six would see the first caution of the race as Rob Sanford tried to get under the #77J of Flach for third but spun himself out. He restarted from the rear of the field.

As the field took the green, it was Houghtaling, Wetmore, Flach, Bryon Seyfried, who was your Sportsman leader, and Kilburn the top five.

Flach would get by Wetmore on lap eight for second and began to reel i the leader, setting his sights on the high side of Houghtaling.

The caution flew on lap 10 causing for a double file restart with the Sportsman class still being led by Byron Seyfried. He was in fourth position overall with Dan Wood in second, only two positions behind.

Meanwhile, up front, Houghtaling was still the leader with Flach challenging on the outside. As the two battled, Flach would stick his nose out front as caution flew again on lap 12 for Jon Atkins spinning in turns one and two.

What shaped up was a great three-lap dash between Houghtaling and Flach for Modified victory and a shootout for the Sportsman as Dan Wood had made his way to the back bumper of Seyfried.

The lap 13 restart played havoc for some driver as a couple were confused as to if the race was going green or not. Talking to the drivers after the race, many were not clear if they were. One of those drivers was your leader, Mike Houghtaling.

Flach, however, did fire, and ended up taking the lead from Houghtaling. He stated after the race that he wasn’t sure himself if they were going green. But, he wasn’t taking any chances.

Houghtaling spent the rest of the event trying to reel in the leader but to no avail. Flach went on to claim the Vintage Modified event and his first career win at the “Great Race Place,” with Houghtaling settling for second. A strong run for Stanley Wetmore coming home in third with Rob Sanford in fourth with Kilburn completing the top five.

Winner in the Vintage Sportsman division was Dan Wood. He drove by Seyfried with two laps to go to score the win. Scott Gauthier was third followed by John Constantino and Mike Francisco.

The night was certainly one for the record books, Hopefully, the series grabbed the attention of the fans and all in attendance that Vintage racing is bringing the past to the present and keeping our history alive and strong! the next stop for the MVVDMS is at the Fonda Speedway on Saturday, June 1st.

This was the finishing order In their respected class.

Vintage Replica’s “Malta’s Vintage Express” finishing order
John Flach(M), Mike Houghtaling(M),Stanley Wetmore(M), Rob Sanford(M), Dan Wood(S), Bryon Seyfried(S), Scott Gauthier(S), John Constantino(S), Bob Kilburn(M), Merv Blackwell(M), Mike Francisco(S), Dan Karl(S), Chip Gauthier(S), Jon Atkins(M), Bill Liese(LM), Malcum Warner(44), Carl Cram(99), Tex Gorden(M), Doug Atkins(M)

Vintage Antique “Malta’s Vintage Express”…
Frank Blanchard, Tony Kamburelis, John Mason, Alan McDonald, George Palmer, Btyon Scofield