Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

Elimination Challenge Series Round 3
June 27, 2003 - Fast Fridays, Auburn
By Gary Roberts

After a very hot day in Auburn, I am told over 100 degrees, I was not surprised to see a lot of water on the track. But it was not a good sign when it was still being groomed at 10 minutes past scheduled start time. However once the show got going, all the riders I spoke to were very pleased with the track. It certainly resulted in a number of very good close races. The field of riders was a bit thin, a result of summer vacations, injuries, and lethargy induced by the hot weather.

Scratch Main
1. Bobby Hedden
2. Bart Bast
3. Chris Kerr
4. Bart Bardecki
Bart Bast missed the start, so Bobby had this race in the bag by the first corner. Bart got past third place man Chris Kerr, then Bart Bardecki fell, giving Bart second place and Chris Kerr picked up third.

Scratch Consolation
1. Eric Carrillo
2. Chad Felicio
3. Devin DeFreece
4. Bill Hermant
Devin DeFreece and Bill Hermant normally ride second division but were conscripted to first division, due to rider shortage. So in their heat they lined up with JJ Martynse and Bryan Yarrow, fully prepared to take third and fourth places. What happened I would not have placed a 1000:1 bet on! JJ fell at the start, and Bryan ran away with a big lead, only to fall, quite spectacularly by himself, on the back straight, leaving Devin and Bill to take their places in the semi finals. Each took last place in the 2 semi finals, so transferred to the consolation.

Handicap Main
1. Ivan Sevart
2. JJ Martynse
3. Bart Bast
4. Bryan Yarrow
5. Eric Carrillo
6. Bobby Hedden
A good comeback ride for Ivan Sevart, who missed last week’s event due to injury the previous week, holding back a strong challenge from a close field.

Division 2 Main
1. David Fonts
2. Mike Achilles
3. Vince Bertolucci
4. Mark Thomas
5. Mike Browne
6. Brian Leventon.
This was one of the best races of the night. For the second week in a row, it ended in a Division 2 Main win for David Fonts. Brian Leventon held the lead for one corner short of four laps, before going down, leaving the lead to Mark Thomas, but an extremely competitive bunch behind him, took over. With rider shortage, David Fonts must be the next one to try a few rides in first division.

Division 2 Consolation
1. Doug Mignano
2. Shawn Eldridge
3. Harlan Bast
4. Bill Hermant
5. Dean Blankenbiller
Devon DeFreece qualified, but was a non starter.

Division 3 Main
1. Kerr Kerrigan
2. Dennis Chandler
3. John Deathrage
4. Dwight McBain
5. Steve Rowett
6. Greg Chacon
7. Guy Jessup
8. Bruce Bast
Kerr Kerrigan took an early lead, followed by Bruce Bast. Dennis Chandler definitely too Bast down, to take second. (Maybe he was disqualified, I couldn’t hear the announcer). The above was the finishing order.

Division 3 Consolation
1. Greg Howell
2. Les Veale
3. Rich Mignano
4. Brian Deland
Robert Christian was a non starter. Christian Sherfy,  Andrey Dorosh and Clark Caravella failed to finish.

Youths Division 1
1. TJ Fowler
2. Alex Marcucci
3. JT Mabry

Youths Division 2
1. Jay Ricketts
2. Ricky Felicio
3. Paul Johnson
4. Ronnie Woodsford

Youths Division 3
1. Cody Ciciarelli
2. Dillon Peterson
3. Tori Hubbert

The youth rider field was definitely a bit thin on the ground this week.

Next week is July 4 and there will be a firework display after the races. The races will start ONE HOUR EARLY, the tapes go up for the first race at 7pm. The fireworks will bring out a large crowd, so there will be parking problems, I would advise regulars to get there early.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com