RPW Column: Reviewing The 2019 Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series Season…Part 1

RPW Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – GLOVERSVILLE, NY – The 2019 season, you could say, for the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series, (MVVDMS), was simply amazing.

It was a year that saw the series have successful races at each one of their popular events. Many of those at the glorified Speedways of the Northeast. throughout the year. The Mohawk Valley Vintage brought prestige to the tracks with it’s drivers and cars representing our historic past.

With growing interest in bringing yesteryear back to life with the different era’s in 2019 being represented, the car counts reached new heights. Because of this, it was felt that two features were needed at each event for the 2019 season.

In agreement with the promoters, the Vintage Antique Class was born to complement the Vintage Replica classes. History was made in 2019 as the series would give the fans, two features with four feature winners.

The Vintage Antique feature would be our first feature to hit the track at each of our events. This would be the class that took the fans a step back in time, remembering their grass roots of racing.

Our Replica Class was also in strong force with the Vintage Modified, Sportsman and Late Models representing our history of this great Sport of racing.

Our season would get started at the “Great Race Place” of Albany-Saratoga Speedway. With excitement in the air of how many cars would show up for Vintage racing, the outcome was outstanding and just the beginning of what the fans were in store for.

“Malta’s Express” would come down to a restart and it would be Lebanon Valley Legend John Flach, after a long hiatus, capturing the 15 lap feature win over Mike Houghtaling in a barnburner of a race.

Not only did Flach come out of retirement with his win, but he also captured it on his Birthday.

Dan Wood outdeueled Bryon Seyfried for the Sportsman win as the two battled with their Kenny Tremont and Jack Johnson Replica’s.

Bill Liese took home the Late Model victory and Frank Blanchard went down in the record books as the very first winner in the new Vintage Antique class.

Next stop for the series would be NYSSCA Safety Awards Night at the Fonda Speedway.

Winners of the awards on the night were Rob Sanford and Bryon Seyfried who won the prize money in the Vintage Replica’s. Ed Docskalik and Mark Reardon were the award winners in the Vintage Antique class. The lucky wild card winner went to the “Dancing Bear” John Constantino.

The racing action saw the checkers going to Rob Sanford who beat out Sportsman winner Bryon Seyfried. John Flach was charging his way from the back, but ran out of time.

It was Malcum Warner crossing the line first in the Late Model division. Frank Blanchard would come from the back taking the victory over Tony Kamburelis as the drivers were side-by-side coming out of four, until Kamburelis lost control, spinning and handing the victory to Blanchard.

Part II on Sunday…