2000 North American Archive of International Speedway

Message Section
July 16, 2000

From: tw@ubcom.net
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Longtrack Mulmshorn/D 16th July
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 20:35:16 +0200

1. Bernd Diener D 25
2. Zdenek Schneiderwind CZ 21
3. Joerg Tebbe D 20
4. Christian Huelshorst D 18
5. Enrico Janoschka D 16
6. Erik Eijbergen NL 14
7. Stephan Katt D 12
8. Anne v.d. Helm D-NL 10
9. Steven van der Helm NL 7
10. Volodimiyr Kolodiy UA 6
11. Maik Torluemke D 6
12. Bjoern Danielczik D 6
13. Vladimir Trofimov UA 4
14. Maik Ebensing D 4
15. Guenter Buenning D 3
16. Enrico Hoth D 2
17. Uilke Kooistra NL 2
18. Heiko Mueller D 1
19. Harm Jannes Renkema NL 0

Gespanne:
Onderka/Wamprchtshammer D 12
Bruener/Immig D 11
Kunert/Bacher D 7
Goodwin/Rockel GB 6
Lenz/Teichmann D 4

 Thilo

From: Sideways31@aol.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Costa Mesa Exhibition - July 14, 2000
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 19:03:58 EDT

An exhibition of speedway racing was one of several attractions at the famous 
Costa Mesa oval.  13 first division riders and eight sidecars along with 
several freestyle motorcyle jumpers as well as skateboard and bicycle ramp 
performers all performed to help kick off the annual Orange County Fair.  
The Costa Mesa oval looked very crowded with a takeoff and landing ramp at 
each end of the infield as well as a half-pipe ramp in between.  Although the 
speedway was an exhibition the riders put on a great show that featured some 
excellent inside, outside, and side-by-side racing that certainly entertained 
the crowd.  Even the casual speedway fan could see that it was exhibition any 
newcomer would probably not have known and would certainly have been tempted 
to come back and the purpose of the exhibition was to gain more fans.  
Although it was an exhibition I still kept results.  There were no designated 
main events so these are all strictly heat races.  Nine of the first ten 
races were scratch races with the only exception being a match race between 
Brad Oxley and Bobby Schwartz in which Oxley won.  The last two races each 
had at least one rider starting ten yards back.  

RESULTS
 1: Brad Oxley, Gary Hicks, Shawn McConnell, Gary Ackroyd
 2: Bobby Schwartz, Randy DiFrancesco, Eddie Castro, Dukie Ermolenko
 3: Jim Estes, Josh Larsen, Chris Manchester, Andy Northrup, Johnny Walker
 7: Brad Oxley, Eddie Castro, Dukie Ermolenko, Jim Estes
 8: Gary Hicks, Bobby Schwartz, Chris Manchester, Andy Northrup
 9: Randy DiFrancesco, Josh Larsen, Shawn McConnell, Gary Ackroyd, Johnny     
    Walker
10 (Match Race): Brad Oxley, Bobby Schwartz
14: Gary Ackroyd, Jim Estes, Randy DiFrancesco, Eddie Castro
15: Shawn McConnell, Chris Manchester, Andy Northrup, Dukie Ermolenko
16: Josh Larsen, Gary Hicks, Brad Oxley, Bobby Schwartz, Johnny Walker
20 (6 laps): Shawn McConnell, Dukie Ermolenko, Jim Estes, Randy 
DiFrancesco-10, 
            Eddie Castro, Johnny Walker
21 (8 laps): Gary Hicks, Gary Ackroyd-10, Randy DiFrancesco-10, Bobby 
Schwartz, 
            Chris Manchester, Brad Oxley, Josh Larsen

Ryan Evans
sideways31@aol.com

From: stvmagro@tig.com.au
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Trevor Harding attacked
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 22:56:55 +1000

Trevor Harding is recuperating after being viciously attacked at his home in
early July. Harding said that he was stalked and consequently attacked by
Scott Cummins (father to two of his grandchildren) at the front door of  his
waterfront home on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Harding, 57, endured numerous bruises to his arms and a fractured skull
after fending off Cummins, who came at Harding with a sledge hammer hidden
beneath his jacket. Harding says the only thing he is guilty of being is
trying to be a good grand parent and look after his family.

'Ghosty' has stared death in the face before. Thirty years ago he suffered
multiple injuries whilst contesting the Australian Championship at Claremont
Speedway in Perth. In retirement he built the Kwiksnax empire which nurtured
speedway stars Billy Sanders and Phil Crump. In the 1990s he brought
official Russian and Swedish test teams to Australia and has sponsored at
various stages many of today's Grand Prix riders.
Better known as "Mr Kwiksnax",  the family tradition continues sponsoring
speedway through his son Trevor John (also known as" Mr Tucker Time").

                             Steve Magro
                             Brisbane, Australia

From: Sideways31@aol.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List" 
Subject: Costa Mesa Results-July 15, 2000
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 23:00:57 EDT

Charlie "The Edge" Venegas capped his second double main event evening of the 
season by winning the 28th Annual Fair Derby at Costa Mesa.  
Venegas, starting from the pole, was inside the Fair Derby's only two 
four-time winners, Bobby Schwartz in gate two and defending Fair Derby 
Champion Mike Faria in gate three.  Chris Manchester and Dukie Ermolenko 
rounded out the main event.  
Venegas, Schwartz, and Faria battled as they entered turn one.  Faria was 
pushed wide and left Venegas and Schwartz to battle for the lead as they 
raced down the back straight.  Schwartz held a slight advantage on the 
outside line but not enough to get on the pole.  They finished lap one 
side-by-side but the second time through turns one and two Schwartz remained 
outside and Venegas used the inside line to secure the lead that he would 
never relinquish.  Manchester and Faria also went under Schwartz for second 
and third, respectively.  Venegas jubilantly crossed the line for his first 
Fair Derby Championship ahead of Manchester, Faria, Schwartz, and Ermolenko.  
Venegas didn't rest on his laurels, however, as the Handicap Main was still 
to be contested.  Bryan Thompson was alone at the tapes with his nearest 
competitor 40 yards back.  Originally, there were five riders on the 50, but 
a series of rollers subsequently banished Manchester, Randy DiFrancesco, and 
Gary Hicks to the penalty line behind Venegas, who was starting on the 60.  
Thompson led the field through the first lap with Eddie Castro quickly 
hunting him down.  Venegas, whose tough task was made easier by the 
penalties, charged through the field and into third behind Castro.  Venegas 
tried the outside the second time through turn three but Castro and Josh 
Larsen came together forcing a red flag.  
The staggered restart began on the start of lap two with Thompson in front, 
Castro on the 10, and Venegas on the 20.  Thompson led again but this time he 
wasn't afforded as much breathing room.  Castro immediately set after him but 
had to contend with Venegas breathing down his neck.  Venegas went under 
Castro on lap four and made quick work of Thompson to take the lead on lap 
five.  Ermolenko managed to follow the path paved by Venegas to take second 
but couldn't reel him in.  Venegas was the winner ahead of Ermolenko, Larsen 
was third, Hicks was fourth, and Manchester was fifth.  
The Support Main began with Bentley Barrett being penalized 20 yards for 
touching the tapes.  On the second attempt Tim Tucker trapped from the 
outside to take the lead ahead of Gerry Duttweiler and Sean McDougall.  
Barrett immediately began making up ground and was in second at the close of 
lap two.  Tucker looked as if he would take the victory but Barrett kept the 
heat on and was on Tucker's back tire as they entered the final corner.  Both 
riders went wide and were left to drag race to the finish with Barrett taking 
a narrow victory over Tucker.
Although Faria was making his first appearance at Costa Mesa in 2000 he 
didn't have any problems getting reacquainted with the world famous venue.  
He transferred from the 60 yard line in his handicap heat but appeared to 
suffer a mechanical problem in his semi that relegated him to the 
consolation.  He won his scratch heat and semi before running into the "Edge 
Express" in the Fair Derby Main.    
The Fair Derby has used a variety of programs over the years including 
all-scratch formats or formats with handicap and a couple rounds of scratch 
competition to determine the field for the main event.  In 1980, the Handicap 
Main determined the champion.  This year, the standard program was used with 
the Scratch Main determining the Fair Derby Champion.  The only deviation 
from the standard program was the use of eight-man semi finals and, for the 
first time since 1986, there was a Handicap Consolation.  
Since a round-robin system wasn't used there was some cutthroat action during 
the scratch heats that provided some good racing.  Schwartz found himself 
third and out of a transfer after the first lap of his heat but put in an 
excellent outside ride to pass DiFrancesco and claw his way into a semifinal 
berth.  Hicks was securely in second in his heat but fell on the final corner 
when his primary chain broke thus eliminating him from contention.   
Costa Mesa will be closed on July 22 and July 29 due to the Orange County 
Fair but speedway will resume on Saturday, August 5.

RESULTS
Support Consolation #1 
131 - David Lynch
226 - Sean Larned
182 - Rudy Laurer       (tape penalty)
162 - Mike Lupo         (fell, excluded)

Support Consolation #2
234 - Frank Pecce
114 - Paul Hitchcock
198 - Mike Boyle
208n - Chuck Lane       (fell)

Support Main
300 - Bentley Barrett   (tape penalty)
215 - Tim Tucker
200 - Gerry Duttweiler
243 - Sean McDougall

Handicap Consolation (6 laps)
  6 - Shawn McConnell       60
  1 - Brad Oxley                60
  9n - Mike Faria           60  (penalty line)
119 - Brad Sauer             0
 11 - Bobby Schwartz        60
  8 - Gary Ackroyd          40
 47 - Johnny Walker         10
166 - Andy Northrup         50  (non-starter)

Handicap Main
 43 - Charlie Venegas       60
 15 - Dukie Ermolenko       50
  4 - Josh Larsen           50
  3 - Gary Hicks                50  (penalty line)
130 - Chris Manchester      50  (penalty line)
 12 - Randy DiFrancesco 50  (penalty line)
 57 - Bryan Thompson         0  
 14 - Eddie Castro          40  (engine failure)

Fair Derby Championship
 43 - Charlie Venegas
130 - Chris Manchester
  9n - Mike Faria
 11 - Bobby Schwartz
 15 - Dukie Ermolenko

PAST FAIR DERBY CHAMPIONS 
1970 - Bill Cody
1971 - Rick Woods
1972 - Sonny Nutter
1973-74 - not contested
1975 - Mike Curoso
1976 - Bruce Penhall
1977 - not contested
1978 - Bobby Schwartz
1979 - Alan Christian
1980 - Mike Muntean     (handicap race)
1981 - Lance King
1982 - Mike Bast
1983 - Kelly Moran
1984 - John Sandona
1985 - Robert Pfetzing
1986 - Mike Faria
1987 - Mike Faria
1988 - Shawn McConnell
1989 - Steve Lucero
1990 - Bobby Schwartz
1991 - Phil Collins
1992 - Mike Faria
1993 - Bobby Schwartz
1994 - Bobby Schwartz
1995 - Steve Lucero
1996 - Robert Pfetzing
1997 - Shawn McConnell
1998 - Bobby Schwartz
1999 - Mike Faria

Ryan Evans
sideways31@aol.com