Industry Hills Speedway
The Grand Arena
Industry Hills Expo Center
City of Industry, California
Bruce Flanders Ugly Hawaiian Shirt Night
July 12, 2023 - Industry Hills Speedway
Report and Photos By Howie Zechner
With a crowd larger than the Wednesday night norm, tradition lived large at the Thunderdome as spectators, staff and workers honored the late Bruce Flanders by participating in the Ugly Hawaiian Shirt night event he made popular so many years ago. A big hit enjoyed by all it’s a dress up with more color than a Timothy Leary, love in. No doubt the upside world of questionable clothing and wild motorcycle racing made for an evening of smiles and drama.
Silliness aside it was also Engineers Night SAE International here at Industry. Organized by Dean Case this annual event has been held here every year since 2018. So who are these SAE people you ask? Well I’m not sure I can easily explain but the short version is SAE engineers work on all aspects of mobility technology including cars, motorcycles, aircraft, spaceships, boats and off-highway equipment. Fact is most every vehicle and parts manufacturer uses their services.
So what are they doing here? Well come on, motorcycles that have lots of horsepower racing on a small dirt race track with no brakes. A study in how that works has to be a challenge that keeps engineers awake at night. Also one must realize that girls aren’t the only ones who wanna have fun.
And how was the racing… more than exceptional it was. Many claim it was some of the best ever held here. Not saying their right but for sure they could be.
Returning after an injury that kept him from racing for several weeks Austin Novratil was incredible. A study on his riding style would make the brain guys say, that’s just not possible and fan base say OMG did you see that. Lovingly called “All Throttle” he was the only rider to enter the main event with a perfect score after winning all his Heat Races and the Scratch Semi Final. With his choice of starting position it looked like the only person who could beat Austin Novratil was Austin Novratil. And unfortunately that’s exactly what happened.
Now don’t get me wrong it was a stellar field with Max Ruml, Broc Nicol, and the kid Slater Lightcap. Each more than capable of winning none cut any slack when the tapes go up. Broc was first out of the gate but the others were in a tight group you could have covered with a blanket. Racing really close to the wall after exiting turn four Austin slid out. Lots of momentum after 20 feet he stopped but his machine kept going. Getting up Austin was pissed but he kept control and accepted the referee decision of being excluded from the restart. Exciting you bet. When the main was over it was Broc Nicol for the win with Max Ruml 2nd and Slater Lightcap 3rd. RAZ Video did post the crash and restart on their Facebook page along with some outstanding slow motion and other heat races. Here is the link, what you see you will like.
Division 2, Division 3, Juniors, Pee Wee all raced exceptionally good. Have to give a special shout out to Kevin Fife, who won the Division 3 Main Event. A former racer nowadays Kevin runs the back pit gate. Guess he just missed the racing and had to do it again. Good on ya Kevin. You really showed some style.
Another outstanding night of racing in the Thunderbowl it’s hard to put that kind of excitement into words. While video does a good job on capturing the action the real, best way to see Speedway is in person. It truly is a great show that will have you talking and bragging to all who will listen once the night has concluded.
This Saturday July 24, 2023 racing returns to Industry with a full Speedway program plus a field of street legal Harley Davidson machines and some flat track hooligans. Yes its crazy, yes damage to high dollar custom bikes that don’t ever see a dirt track happen. Its always the same story. I’m just going out to do a few laps, I won’t go crazy, its just for fun. Then on goes the helmet and it kill, gotta get first or die.
With only four more race dates our 2023 Industry Racing season is now more than halfway completed. We thank you regulars who come every week cause you are the lifeblood that keeps the doors open. For those that haven’t been here I can only say, what’s wrong with you. Can you imagine never having a milk shake or In-N- Out even though your friends say hey you should try this? Well maybe that comparison is a stretch but believe when I say. Come, you will enjoy, you will want more.
See all 125 pictures on Facebook.
Hope you make it or you’ll have to listen to me talk about it again next week (no not that).
Thanks for listening, see you where the wheels go round.
Howie Zechner
Press officer
Results complements of Ryan Evans
Scratch Main Event (restarted)
98 - Broc Nicol
5 - Max Ruml
28 - Slater Lightcap
7 - Austin Novratil (fell,excluded)
Scratch Consolation
30 - Tim Gomez
3 - Dillon Ruml
117 - Wilbur Hancock
46 - Aaron Fox (non starter)
Semi 1: Nicol, M.Ruml, Fox, Gomez
Semi 2: Novratil, Lightcap, D.Ruml, Hancock
Second Division Main Event (restarted)
299 - Rayson Normandin
327 - Tyler Moszer
290 - Harold Hartke (penalty line)
178 - Eloy Medellin
Second Division Consolation (awarded)
175 - Jake Myers
111 - David Newsham (fell)
159 - Kevin Fiore (non starter)
Third Division Main Event (restarted)
311 - Kevin Fife 0
250 - Jacob Wondolowski 0
197 - Ryan Bacarella 20
215 - Greg Willis 20
373 - Bob Peet 0
280 - Kerry Sorensen 0 (non-starter, restart)
Mini 150 Main Event
169 - Kayd Fiore
Pee Wee Main Event
164 - Addie Summers
20 - Max Maldonado (1 lap handicap)
First Division Scoring 1 2 3 T
3 – Dillon Ruml 2 3 2 7
5 – Max Ruml 3 3 3 9
7 – Austin Novratil 3 3 3 9
11 – Bobby Schwartz 0 0 0 0
28 – Slater Lightcap 2 2 3 7
30 – Tim Gomez 1 2 1 4
46 – Aaron Fox 2 0 2 4
98 – Broc Nicol 3 2 2 7
117 – Wilbur Hancock 1 1 1 3
123 – Jordan Vanderham 0 F 0 0
137 – Justin Almon 1 1 0 2
214 – Michael Wells 0 1 1 2
Heat Results
1: M.Ruml, Lightcap, Gomez, Vanderham
2: Nicol, Fox, Hancock, Schwartz
3: Novratil, D.Ruml, Almon, Wells
10: M.Ruml, Nicol, Wells, Schwartz
11: D.Ruml, Lightcap, Hancock, Vanderham (fell)
12: (restarted) Novratil, Gomez, Almon, Fox (penalty line)
17: Lightcap, Fox, Well, Almon (fell, remounted)
18: Novratil, Nicol, Hancock, Vanderham
19: M.Ruml, D.Ruml, Gomez, Schwartz
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