P26
IN
THE
WIND
Legion here, and I don't think
they value motocross as much
as the previous folks did, who by
the way, had kids who raced and
were enthusiasts. And with [current track managers] Ralph and
Diane Pittello retiring, that's our
only contact.
"The original contract was
with MX-338 [the race organizers], not the American Legion,
and when they couldn't come to
terms, we don't even know who
to talk to," Coombs said. "As far
as we're concerned, when Ralph
and Diane retire, that's the last
Southwick National."
Among the many racers to
leave a mark on the legendary
racetrack is Connecticut's Doug
Henry, who was on hand for the
final race on June 29.
"I'm really sad and I hope
somebody pulls through and
makes it happen again," Henry
said. "It would be a bummer if this
really is the last race. I'm just glad
I'm here and part of it. I'm really
going to miss the racing that I did
here and all the racing that I've
watched here over the years. It's
Veteran racer
John Dowd
suited up and
raced Southwick
for the last time.
Southwick MX-338
most likely hosted its
final National MX.
a sad day for the New England
riders, for sure."
The fondest memory Henry
has of the track is the day his
wife, Stacy, went into labor with
the couple's daughter on the
morning of the 1996 National.
"I drove her to the hospital and
I came here to race all day and
then made it back to the hospital
in time for the birth of our daughter early the next morning," he
said.
John Dowd, however, is perhaps the name most associated
with Southwick. In honor of the
track's last National, the 47-yearDoug Henry
watched the
final motos at his
home track.
old former factory rider suited up
and raced what he said will also
be his final time on the track.
Dowd qualified 28th and finished
19th in the second 450 moto (his
bike broke in the first moto).
"It's a bummer that this is the
last race for Southwick; I have
a lot of good memories here,"
Dowd said prior to the first moto.
"I'm glad I actually made it in, at
this point in the game it's tough to
just qualify. But it's really a bummer that the kids coming up won't
have a Southwick to race on like
me and Doug Henry did."
Shan Moore
