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Firecracker Derby Wheel 2Wheel Raceway Fantastic Fourth Festival Athens Fairgrounds Castro Goes Off at Firecracker Barleys Triumphant at Fantastic 4th Fest By MICHAEL MAHER V1CTORVlu.E. CA, JULY 4 For many years, the Fourth of July Firecracker Derby was a mainstay of the speedway motorcycle racing scene in Southern CaUfornia. With what was only half-jokingly referred to as the ugliest perennial trophy in speedway racing (a huge red-white-and-blue firecracker) on the line, the best in the business wouid trek to whichever track was hosting the event that year (usually Inland Motorcycle Speedway in San Bernardino) and give it their all to make that ugiy trophy theirs. This year, the Firecracker Derby returned sans the ugly trophy - to the Wheel 2 Wheel Raceway at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville. There were fireworks on the track as well as in the air, and when the dust settled, it was "Fast" Eddie Castro who got to take home the new trophy. The original Firecracker Derby was one of the first events to feature a championship format, in which the top four point scorers went on to a main event, the "Derby" itself, with the winner of that finale being the night's overall champion. This night's fonnat featured three rounds of scratch heat races, making room for several races featuring Speedway Sprints, half-scale sprint cars with speedway engines that are the brainchild of speedway rider and track owner John Aden (who won the night's Speedway Sprint main event). Also of interest was the appearance of Chris Manchester and Mike Faria, former area residents that still have a big local following. Hesperia native Manchester had raced in Victorville before, but for former Apple Valley resident Faria, it was his track debut. The heat races began with Castro lining up against Robert Mellor, Scott Brant and Robbie Sauer. Castro won easily over Brant and MelIor; Sauer fell. Manchester thrilled the crowd with a win over Shaun Harmatiuk and Billy Hiles, while Doug Benjamin hit the dirt in that one. Gary Hicks defeated Brad Sauer and David Baker. Then Faria won his first ride at the track, over Chris Kerr, Matt Browne and Jeff Blaydes. Round two began with Brant making it into the winner's column with a win over Brad Sauer, Hiles and Blaydes. Manchester remained perfect as he defeated Castro and Baker, while Kerr crashed. Hicks and Faria won their heats over Robbie Sauer, Browne and Benjamin, and Harmatiuk and Mellor, respectively. Brant finished off his heat races with a win over Harmatiuk, Browne and Baker. Manchester remained perfect with a victory over Robbie Sauer and Blaydes in a race that had to be restarted after Blaydes went down on the first try. (He started the rerun from the penalty line.) Hicks scored an easy win over Kerr, Hiles and Mellor to also take a perfect score. That left one heat race left, and it was an interesting one, as it featured Faria and Castro. If Faria won, he would also have a perfect nine-point score for the night, and that would place him in the main, along with Manchester, Hicks and Brant, who had eight points. However, if Castro won over Faria, it would tie them both with Brant at eight points and force a run-off to see who would make the main event. Guess which scenario happened? Castro got the jump on Faria at the start and held off "Flyin' Mike" to take the win over Faria, Brad Sauer and Benjamin. This set up the run-off situation, and so Faria, Brant and Castro pulled up to the starter's tapes, ready to go at it. First and second would go on to the main event, while third place was doomed to the consolation event. When the tapes went up, Faria shot into the lead, but the battle between Castro and Brant was a good one, as they fought tooth and nail for the final transfer spot. Brant held a slight edge as they began the final lap, but Castro put his wrist into it and leaned hjs bike over as far as it would go in an effort to get under Brant. As Castro passed under Brant, the two touched and Brant went down. Castro was given the position, but Brant was an unhappy camper, loudly resisting Castro's attempts to apologize. So the field for the Fire- cracker Derby was now set as Manchester, Hicks, Faria and Castro. Castro drew the pole position and took full advantage of it as he shot into the lead at the start. Behind him, a dandy battle was going on for second place, as all three remaining riders held the spot at one point before Hicks finally nabbed it for good, with Faria and Manchester following. Brant easily defeated Harmatiuk, Brad Sauer and Kerr in the consolation event to round out the night. Wh_1 2 Wheel Raceway Victorville, California Reeults. July 4, 2002 FIRECRACKER DERBY: 1. Eddie Castro; 2. Gary Hicks; 3. Mike Faria; 4. Chris Manchester. SCR CONSI: 1. Scott Brl!Int; 2. Shaun Hannatiuk; 3. Bmd Sauer, 4. Chril Kerr. Wheel 2 Wheel Race way:Eddle Castro (foreground) won the Firecracker Derby In Victorville, California, ahead of Gary Hicks and Mike Faria (in the back) and Chris Manchester (on the outside). throughout the race, with the win finally going to Morgan. Larry Weiss and David Barr, both on Triumphs, fought a similar battle for third place, making this class one of the better By liz loWRY ATHENS, OHIO, JULY 4 The Athens Fairgrounds half mile has been called a "Harley track," and on this Fourth of July riders of the American bikes proved it. When more than 100 AHRMA dirt-track racers braved the Dantean heat and blazing sun to spectator races of the afternoon. The Super Senior race was a success story compete in the Athens, Ohio, Fantastic Fourth Festivai, three of the 10 top spots went to rac- steadily increasing his lead over fellow Triumph rider Melvin Brown throughout the rest ers mounted on Harley-Davidsons. of the race. Triumphs filled four of the top five The track itseif had to be watered and groomed eight times throughout the day, but places in this race. the riders never slowed down. The first final of rider, winning the Senior, '70s Singles and for Triumphs, with California rider Mickey Alzola pulling into first place at the start and Jim Monegan was definitely the day's top the day, the Classic 250cc contest, featured a Sportsman 750cc finals. Monegan performed close battle for first place between riders John spectacularly in the Sportsman 750cc race, pulling off a close win over Yamaha rider Mark Gibson despite starting on the second row with a bike he borrowed from movie stuntman Alzola after Monegan's normal ride broke. Despite the excitement of the Sportsman Bova and Mark Hawk. Bova, starting from the pole position, led throughout much of the race, with Hawk's Harley Sprint dogging him in each comer. Coming off the last tum, Hawk gained a little bit of extra traction and shot past the suddenly slower Bova to claim the 750cc feature, the '70s Singles final was, unfortunately, the most "eventful" race of the day, due to rider Andy Heiss' crash on the final lap. Heiss did not appear to be severely injured, but he was taken to the local hospital for X-rays to check for possibly broken ribs. win by less than a bikelength. Bultaco jockey Barry Barker finished third, with Mike Landrum and George Akley, both riding Harley- Davidsons, in fourth and fifth, respectively. George "Willy Nelson" Wills demonstrated why his Harley WR and KR wear number-one plates, winnjng both his heat races as well as the finals in the Dinosaur and Classic 500cc/750cc classes. Keeping Wills honest Hawk managed a second place to go along with his earlier win in the Classic 250cc race, while Morgan put his Honda in third. When all was said and done, the day ended cooler than it started, and the AHRMA were Harley WR rider Dennis Clark and Harley crowd went home satisfied and ready to return to Athens next year for another Fantastic KR pilot Rusty Lowry, who finished second in the Dino and Classic 500cc/7 50cc classes, respectively. Behind these leading pairs, Bruce Argetsinger grabbed third in the Dino race, while Beno Rodi and Larry Bames fought fiercely over fourth place until Rodi's Enfield finally pulled ahead of Bames' Indian. Robert Litten, riding yet another Harley-Davidson, was third in the Classic 500cc/750cc final, with Triumph riders Scott Fluck and Mark Fillebrown sailing along right behind. The Sportsman 250cc final, the third of the Fourth celebration. Athens Fairgrounds Athens, Ohio Reeults: July 4, 2002 CLSC 250: 1. Mark Hawk (HoC); 2. John Beva (Bul); 3. Barry Baker (Bul): 4. Mike Uindrum (H.C); 5. Jim Ackley (H.C). Cl.SC 500/750: I. George Will, (H·O); 2. Rusty Lowry (H·D): 3. Robert Utten (H.D): 4. Scott Fluck (Tn): 5. Mark Fillebrown (Tn). DINO: I. George Wills (H.D): 2. Dennis Clark (H·D); 3. Bruce Argetslnger (RE): 4. ~o Rod! (RE): 5. Uirry Bames (lnd). SPTS/'I'\N 250: 1. Jeff Metzloff (Can); 2. Will Foreman (Can): 3. David Wills (Can): 4. JImmy Zeigler (Can). SPTSfI'\N 600: I. Tom Morgen (SuI); 2. Frank Herdmen (Hon); J. LlIrry Weiss (Tn); 4. David Berr (TrI); 5. Greg Peerson. SPTSfI'\N 750: 1. Jim Manegen (Ttl); 2. Mark Gibson (Yem); J. Frenk Herdmen (Vem); 4. Doug Homer (Yem); 5. Chris Shindeldecker (Vem). VET: I. Doug Homer (Yam); 2. Rich Long (Yam); 3. Frenk Hard· man (Yam); 4. Sc:ott fluc:k (Yam); 5. Bob De&c:enna. SR: 1. Jim Monegan (Yam); 2. JImmy Zeigler (Can); 3. LlIrry Welu (Tn); 4. Melvin Brown (Tn); 5. Mickey AlzoIa (Tn). S/SR: 1. Mickey A1:oUI (Tn); 2. Melvin Brown (Tn); 3. AI Golley (Yam); 4. Gery Brennan (Tn); 5. Norman Gruber (Tri). 70s SGL: 1. Jim fI'\onegan (Yam); 2. Mark Hawk (Yam); 3. Tom Morgan (Hon); 4. Frank Herdman (Yam); 5. David Wills (Yam). day's races, was a Can-Am benefit race, with all four of the top finishers riding the Canadian bikes. Winner Jeff Metzloff was pretty happy with the resuits, but some of the Sportsman 250cc riders are beginning to question whether the swift Can-Ams have too much of an advantage in this Vintage class. The Sportsman 600cc final was the scene of a close contest between Tom Morgan, riding a Bultaco, and Frank Hardman, piloting a Honda. The two riders traded the lead Athens Fairgrounds: Eventual winner Jeff Metzloff (7F) runs with the Sportsman 250cc pack Into turn three at the Fantastic Fourth Festival In Athens, Ohio. cue I _ n __ s AUGUST 7, 2002 69