RPW Exclusive: Mohawk Valley Vintage Set To Honor The “Rock City Falls Rocket” At Fonda Saturday

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FONDA, NY – Thats right! Racing fans, A special night is slated for the Vintage world as the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series and Fonda Speedway will be hosting the Jack Cottrell Classic which will be held on Saturday, June 22nd.

“This will be the series second return to the track and third special event of the year. We have had many era’s of racing being represented in our two features that have ran at each one of our races.

“I am certainly enthusiastic on the dedicated drivers that come to represent the past and been putting on a great show for the fans and promoters. It’s truly special seeing all the cars on the track bringing back great memories for all” I stated. (Series Organizers)

It has been many year since Jack has made his way back to the “Track Of Champions.” Since his retirement in 2005. But this is about to change!

Over the winter we at MVVDMS wanted to make an event honoring a driver of the past that has had success on the famous half mile. As a Fan of this driver, also him being a true gentleman driver of the sport the #8 machine of Jack Cottrell would be our 2019 driver to be acknowledged.

We have some special things slated for Jack to show him our appreciation. The day for him will be signing autographs at the Fonda Speedway Museum starting at 3:30 with his family being by his side.

Their then will be a special presentation on checkered board square for the “Rock City Falls Rocket” before the nights racing action begins.

And yes folks, Jack will be back behind a wheel on the famed oval! But unfortunately it will not be behind the wheel of a racecar, it will behind the wheel of the Fonda pace truck bringing down the start of the Vintage Replica’s feature.

Cottrells night will not end there as he will be presenting the trophy’s for each of the Vintage feature winners. Vintage Modified, Sportsman, Latemodel and our Vintage Antique.

For those who don’t know and one might ask, who is Jack Cottrell? Let’s find out a little bit about the man from Rock City Falls, NY. and some of his achievements at Fonda Speedway and around the tracks.

Jack was born in September of 1955. He was taken to the Albany-Saratoga Speedway with his Father and Brother in law. At the age of fifteen Jacks father, Jim had a 1957 Plymouth and the enthusiastic youngster was ready to get behind the wheel of a racecar.

It was 1971 he debuted in the Charger division on asphalt at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, getting his feet wet you could say. In 1977 when the track would go to Dirt, Jack found it was to his liking and new that he wanted to be a Dirt track racer.

He would eventually move up to the Latemodel Division in 1975 and would capture two Championships at this level at “The Great Place” in 1977,78.

In 1979 Jack would take his talents to the Fonda Speedway and would show his dominance there as well and take the exclusive Championship at the Fonda Speedway in the Latemodel Class where he would also rack up eleven wins in this division at his time at Fonda.

Between Fonda and Malta Jack had four Championships in four years.

With much success in the Latemodels the team felt they were ready to take the next step and moving up to the Modified division in 1981.

Jack would race two to three nights a week at times which would include running full time at Fonda on Saturdays nights.

In 1981 Jack would be named Rookie Of The Year in the Modified ranks racing with the best of the best. Jacks greatest memory also would strike in this year as he would pull off a win on the last race of the year.

But! what made this win even more rewarding was that Jack Johnson had in his sites to tie Steve Danish record of 14 wins in a season.

It was the last race of the year and they had twin twenty’s, Johnson would win the first one making it thirteen and was looking to tie the record in the next race.

With one feature left to go in the night. Who would think it would be the young gun that would steel the second win with Jack hot on his tail. With the rookies first modified victory, Steve Danish still today hold the record today. “Steve always thanked me every time he would see me” Jack replied.

In 1982 Jack would become known as the “Rock City Falls Rocket” a name that still recognizes him to this day. His best finish in points at the Fonda Speedway in the Modified division was fourth in 1984, but had many top tens in which he was honored to drive with some of the greatest drivers to turn a wheel. Jack was a consistently top five runner each and every week at the famed half mile.

1988 would also be a year of achievement’s, let me name a few!

A little of Jacks asphalt experience may have came in to play when the team would travel to the asphalt track of Cayuga International Speedway in Ontario, Canada; After being at Lebanon Valley the night before.

History would be made as he would claim the first ever Dirt Cars Race on Asphalt .

Jack was running third in the race and the top two drivers of McCreadie and Jack Johnson fell victims to flat tires. Lady luck was there for the # 8 as they would claim the popular win with a strong car in the end.

If you ever had the chance to see Jacks cars one would always have to admire the looks of the cars. Always beutifuly painted, clean and sharpe appearing.

Well In 1988 Gator Racing news thought the same, as Jack and his Crew was voted Gator Racing News Miller 300 Best Appearing Car and Crew.

Jack would finish that year traveling the Mr. Dirt Series, bringing the grinding season to a ninth place finish. Not to shabby!

After a absence of racing at Fonda Speedway, As Jack would clearly state, only due to the fact that his sponsor wanted him to run at the valley and we know in racing…you go where the Bill’s are being paid! So he was obligated.

He would return with his own equipment in 1999 and would give it a shot into the 358 Modified. Only four champions where ever crowned in this division.

“The Rock City Falls Rocket” would be one of them in the year of his return in 1999.

Jack would continue racing for another six years as he would hang up his firesuit in 2005.

In his Career Jack would go on to win many Modified/Sm block and Latemodel feature’s combined over his thirty four years of racing since he was that fifteen year old teenager in 1971.

Twenty four Modifieds wins at the different tracks he would be victorious, three of them coming at Fonda Speedway, being his last one in 1999. He was also inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

When asked Jack who was his favorite Dirt driver was, ” Jack Johnson! He was always a big help to me and always treated me great. Late in Johnsons career at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway My son Jimmy won a race beating out the 12A. I approached Jack and said thank you for letting my son win and Jack replie was; I would not let my mother win! He earned it!”

“I could have never have stayed into racing for the thirty four years that I gave my life to if not for my wife of forty one years, Debbie Cottrel. I was fortunate to have someone that loved racing just as much as me.” Jack stated.

Over the years there were many people that helped him paved the way to success, Jim his father along with his father in law Josh Cramer who faithfully drove the hauler to all their races. Their sons Josh and Jimmy. All there crews and sponsors. Two that had started and stayed with Jack from the beginning to the end were Fred and Chris Farrell from Farrell Oil Company and Bill Gaba from Gaba Auto Parts and Salvage.

Racing has made our family, life long friends. Racing at Fonda was like no other, when you raced at the “Track Of Champions you new you were racing the computers that were best in that era.

“We are certainly looking forward to returning to the track and looking forward to meeting Brett Deyo. He is certainly a promoter that knows how to do it right” Its a good thing to be coming back” Jack stated.

MVVDMS and Fonda Speedway is looking to make the Cottrell’s return a memorable one and could be the first of special things to come in 2019 at the Famed “Track Of Champions.” Something you dont want to miss!