RPW Exclusive: Rush Of The Mystique Kept The Rain Away; Mohawk Valley Vintage Enjoy Time At Fonda

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FONDA, NY – With rain clouds and high precipitation in the air, it was looking as if the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series would not be getting their chance to make their debut at the Fonda Speedway under new promoter, Brett Deyo.

With Deyo’s optimism, the show was going to be a go and go it did. The blast from the past kept the rains away.

MVVDMS started the “Mystique Rush” festivities at the Fonda Speedways Hall Of Fame Museum with drivers bringing their cars to be put on display for the fan and enthusiasts.

We sure did have some jems of the past on display at the track! It was also great to see CD Coville back to the track. I was able to finally catch up to him to have him Autograph our legands Rocking Chair that MVVDMS is raffling off.

So what better way is there to spend a Saturday then looking at the cars of yesteryears and bringing back the memories and enjoying the atmosphere of racing.

As it was time to fire up the cars and make their way to the infeild to get the cars ready for the nights action on a very hot evening. But! No rain.

Unfortunately with the threat of rain in the area it did deture some racers not to make the long trip, but we still had an outstanding car count as twenty cars signed in at the back gate to get onto the half mile were many of great drivers once traveled, for the two feature events scheduled.

Our first race of the evening was our new class of 2019, The “Vintage Antique” class. These are the true Authentic cars that the drivers can come, have a great time turning laps like the old days gone by. It lets the fans see the original cars of our roots of Dirt racing.

It would be Ed Docskalik and Mark Rearden in his 1937 two door Chevy Coach making up the front row.

When the green flag dropped it was Docskalik who would grab the early lead from Readen as Frank Blanchard and Alan McDonald, who would be representing his hero Bill Wimble in the famous Red an White #33, would follow along in third and fourth.

Blanchard who started fourth and our “Malta’s Express” winner was now into second. Docskalik your leader would try to keep to the shortest way around the track but the 1967 Ford Fairlane which was former Fonda Sportman driver Wink S Hinkleys first ever racecar that he drove had other ideals and kept pushing up high in turns one and two.

This would be just what Blanchard needed as he started lurking down low trying to get under the leader as the two would battle side by side for a few circuits around the famed oval before Blachard in his 1960 Scout Frame 37′ Coupe body would grab the lead and not look back.

Docskalik tried to stay up with Blanchard but turns one and two kept him from gaining ground. Meanwhile Readon and McDonald would settle in the third and fourth positions respectively.

Blanchard would go on to win and capture the Vintage Antique victory making it two in a row followed by Docskalik, Rearden and McDonald.

Our second feature of the night for the MVVDMS would be our 15 lap Vintage Replica’s “Mystique Rush.”

Sixteen cars would represent the Vintage replica’s race. Reliving the past with the dedication of the Vintage drivers they have brought back some of the heroes of our local tracks.

Names like Jack Johnson, Maynard Forrette, Kenny Tremont, Pete Corey. Also MVVDMS is so fortunate to have drivers representing theirselves that has been a force in our racing history.

These gentleman have been racing for over fifty years and they are still going strong with passion. They are John Constantino, Stanley Wetmore, Frank Blanchard and John Flach. How special is that! It’s great! along with all our other competitors that represents the different era’s of our great sport.

Now to our Feature event!

Carl Cram drew the hole shot so he would be bring the the field to the green with Merv Blackwell on the outside. But it would be Bryon Seyfried in his 12A that would take the lead on the first circuit from his third starting spot. The fans sure did enjoy seeing the orange machine back leading at the “Track Of Champions” what a site!

As Seyfried had the lead he would soon be challenged by Jay Lais who would get by rolling on the outside to make the pass. Now coming into the mix was Rob Sanford who wanted get into the action for the lead as well.

It would soon be a three car battle up front as they would go three wide into turns three and four with Seyfried on the bottom taking back the lead with Sanford coming out in second as Lais dropped back to third. It would be Cram in fourth and Scott Gauthier your top five.

Cars on the move from deep in the pack were Dan Wood and John Flach who started deep in the field due to the fact that prior winners start last of the respective field.

Only caution that flew for the race would come on lap four for #9 of Scott Gauthier who would get over the burm,

and yes there was a burm at Fonda Speedway Saturday night!

coming out of turn two and went sliding into the backstretch wall. He would be towed into the pits with front end damage ending his night early. But the driver was ok.

As the field bunched up for the restart it would be Seyfried that would get the jump over Sanford but not for long as on the next lap Sanford would power by Seyfried on the outside of two and over take the lead on the backstretch, who is a Modified and Seyfried a Sportsman car.

Sixtenth starter Ravena’s John Flach #77J was a man on a mission as he was patiently making his way to the front cracking into the top five in the later stages of the race. The battle was heating up for second threw the top Six spots between Seyfried, Wood, Lais, Flach and Wetmore were all battling for position while also dealing with heavy lap traffic.

Meanwhile Sanford was out front by himself only having lap traffic to deal with. He would go on to cruise to the overall and Modified “Mystique Rush” win.

The Sportsman Victory would come down to the closing laps as the duo of Wood and Seyfried went into turns three splitting a lap car of George Palmer, Wood high and Seyfried low, it would be the 12A coming out in front. Flach would get by Woods and was just beat out for second at the checkers by Seyfried, ending the veterans bid to real in Sanford.

Bryon Seyfried would out duel Woods this time as it was reversed in our last race, to claim his first MVVDMS Sportsman victory while finishing Second overall in the “Mystique Rush.”

Tha Latemodel winner was not decided until the last lap as Malcum Warner was hot on Bill Liese back bumper as they were racing with lap traffic, Warner would go to the top side and get by Liese threw three and Four using a lap car for the pick. Warner by that move sat him on victory lane as he finished tenth overall.

Our NYSSCA winners were Rob Sanford and Bryon Seyfried and Ed Docskalik and Mark Rearden. John Constantino was the wild card winner.

It was great to see the fans and promoters and staff enjoy the past come back alive on the prestigious track of Fonda Speedway. A big Thank you! To all our Sponsors and everyone that helped making this a big success.

MVVDMS next race will be back at the famed oval for the second of four visits on Saturday, June 22nd for the “Rock City Falls Rocket” Jack Cottrell Classic. Jack will be coming back to the “Track Of Champions.”

“Mystique Rush” 6 laps Vintage Antique Finish.
1. Frank Blanchard 2)Ed Docskalik 3)Mark Rearden 4)Alan McDonald

“Mystique Rush” 15 lap Vintage replica’s Finish.
1)Rob Sanford(M) 2)Bryon Seyfried(S) 3)John Flach(M) 4)Dan Wood(S) 5)Jay Lais(M) 6)Stanley Wetmore(M) 7)Mike Francisco(S) 8)John Constantino(S) 9)Dan Karl(S) 10)Malcum Warner(LM) 11)Merv Blackwell(M) 12)Bill Liese(LM) 13)George Palmer(S) 14)Carl Cram(S) 15)Scott Gauthier(S) 16) Tex Gorden(M)