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NEMA MOURNS |
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written
by Pete Falconi, NEMA Announcer |
This sport that we love so
much, this thing that is so entrenched in our hearts and souls,
has now hurt our hearts and taken a piece of our souls. Some of
the attraction of this sport that occupies many of our days and
nights are the personalities of the people involved, the
interests that we share, the camaraderie of the competitors, the
spirited competition and the overall thrill that is auto racing.
A good part of that thrill is the danger associated with the
event itself. There isn’t a driver whose adrenaline isn’t fueled
by the risk they take every time they strap themselves into the
car. That risk and the element of danger is part of what brings
us back week in and week out, puts spectators in the stands and
provides the excitement that consumes so much of our lives. Love
it as much as we do, we hate it when it takes one of our own.
Shane Hammond was a colorful kid, warm and friendly with a great
smile and pleasant attitude. He was a racer’s racer. He never
complained, he listened a lot, a true professional, a gentleman
and a friend to everyone he raced with. He could turn the
wrenches and was admired for his mechanical abilities. He was
good on the track, too. One of those drivers that week in and
week out was in contention, and more often than not we said
“he’s due for a trip to victory lane.” Often times we were
surprised that he didn’t post a podium finish and be back at the
start/finish line after the race to celebrate with some of the
more experienced drivers like Joey, Nokie, Randy, Greg and Ben.
He certainly was on par with those guys. Many of the times he
didn’t post a top three finish it was no fault of his. It was
mechanical problems or he just didn’t get the break he needed to
get to the front. Even though he wasn’t there in front of the
crowd getting his picture taken at the end of the race, he never
showed an ounce of discouragement. Right back at it next week,
listening, asking questions, trying harder. Shane was a racer’s
racer, a role model to the incoming rookies and sophomores of
NEMA. He was part of that new breed of midget drivers that have
been putting NEMA on the map lately; destined for greatness in
open wheel racing.
Now we try to make sense of a devastating tragedy like this.
Why? Why Shane? Why NEMA? Why now? If there is even the
slightest consolation, we have to remember that death is at the
doorstep for all of us. We can’t predict when we will be called,
only the Good Lord can make that decision. We can only hope and
pray that we will be one of the fortunate ones that are called
to Eternal Life while doing something that we truly enjoy,
something that is our love and passion. If there is a final gift
on this earth, it is that.
The Northeastern Midget Association will go on in our 56th
season. We’ll gather at the track and continue the spirited
competitiveness, maintain that special camaraderie and live the
thrill of the sport that is so close to our hearts. But our
hearts will be heavy and it won’t be the same for awhile.
There’ll be a hole in the line-up, an absent smile, a great
competitor, a friend, a racer’s racer will be missing. Have the
faith that he will be with us in spirit at the track every week.
He’ll be in the pits and at the drivers’ meetings. In spirit he
will ride with you, the drivers, for each and every lap and he
will be in victory lane to celebrate right alongside you.
God rest Shane’s soul and God ease the pain of Shane’s family
and friends and of the wonderful people that are The
Northeastern Midget Association. |
In lieu of flowers, Shane's family has asked that contributions be
made in Shane's name c/o NEMA. All contributions can be sent to
NEMA at 266 Kelly Rd, Middlebury CT 06762. |
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Jeff Horn Credits
Technology
For Increased NEMA Speeds |
Jeff Horn is probably the
Northeastern Midget Association elder statesman. “I drove in the
final years before the cages, 1969 and 70,” says the soon-to-be
63 Horn. “I’m not sure anybody else can say that. I was in Ray
Kelly’s car back then.”
He’s figuring on making his 2008 debut when NEMA visits Thompson
Speedway Thursday night July 3. A Vermont native (he actually
started racing at Thunder Road), Horn will campaign his own A1
Esslinger-powered Drinan chassis.
Now calling Ashland, MA home, Horn has raced against the fathers
of current competitors Randy Cabral and Greg Stoehr. Son Mike is
also a NEMA driver.
Horn, who has 19 career wins, is not surprised by the speeds
shown so far. “Technology and tires is the reason,” he says. The
bar has been raised. Everybody has first-class equipment – good
motors and good handling technology.”
Cabral, in Tim Bertrand’s #47, leads NEMA into a Friday night
June 27 date at Lee USA Speedway. A two-time winner this year,
Cabral and Bertrand take slim point leads over Joey Payne Jr.
and Gene Angelillo into the next battle.
“You’ve got to hand it to Randy and Tim,” offers Horn. “They’ve
earned everything they’ve accomplished. They work at it. They
don’t stop working at it.”
Horn, equally apt in a Supermodified, won his first NEMA race at
All Star Speedway in 1987. His last came at Stafford in 2005. In
1993, driving for Bay Hayes, he won three in a row (Star,
Seekonk, Waterford). It has not been done since. Cabral went to
Monadnock looking for three straight.
A second at Monadnock was Horn’s best finish in 10 starts last
season.
NEMA’s top-10 in points includes veterans like Greg Stoehr and
youngsters like William Wall, Jeremy Frankoski and Chris
Leonard. “I remember when the Super guys at Star, and I was one
of them, used to joke about how old the NEMA guys were,” says
Horn. “Boy, that’s over.”
The field includes Erica and Bobby Santos III and Adam Cantor,
all contenders. “It used to be there were four or five cars that
can win,” says Horn. “Now we have at least 10. Now, a top-10 is
an accomplishment in NEMA.”
Horn, a Bay Stater since getting out of the Army, has been in a
variety of race cars (including Modifieds and Late Models) but
clearly puts the supers and midgets on top of the priority list. |
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Jon Seaman Jr. Tapped
as
Bill Davis Racing Summer Intern |
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Southbury, Conn. – Jon Seaman Jr., 2007 Pomperaug
High graduate ,NEMA race driver and rising sophomore in
Mechanical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, was
selected as an intern by Bill Davis Racing’s No. 22 Caterpillar
Toyota Sprint Cup race team located in High Point North
Carolina.
The young race driver and engineering student
says that he “hopes to get experience in data acquisition and
chassis research and development” on the team. “I’m looking
forward to learning as much as I can and get good experience in
race car engineering” this summer he continued. “Having the
opportunity to work with Bill Davis Racing and get hands-on
experience will bring me a solid foundation for my future,
whether as a driver, crew chief or team engineer,” he added.
While carrying a full course load and helping his
family race team field a car for Jeremy Frankoski, Seaman has
earned a 3.25 GPA in one of the nation’s best engineering
schools. While his ambition includes driving as a career, he
admits that he would be happy as an engineer on a major team.
There is no doubt that he still wants to be a
successful driver, but if his career path takes a turn into the
engineering office instead of the driver’s seat, this summer
will be a good training ground for him.
Seaman is being helped in his career by training
from Future Stars in Racing Academy. The Academy helps prepare
young drivers for success outside the car in public speaking;
sponsor presentations; working with the media and behavior on
and off the track. Future Stars in Racing is the exclusive
driver development partner with the ASA Late Model Series.
Marketing partners include Safety-Kleen and Sunbelt Web
Solutions. The Academy features a staff with decades of
experience in all aspects of motorsports. To learn more about
Jon Seaman and the Academy, go to
www.futurestarsinracing.com. |
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NEMA Rookie
Wall Off to Quick Start |
William Wall’s first look at Lee USA
Speedway will come on Friday, July 27. Wall, currently running fifth in
points, will be part of the Northeastern Midget Association field.
Wall, 16, had never seen Monadnock Speedway before NEMA’s appearance
there on May 24. He finished sixth, his third straight top-10 effort in
the #5 VW-powered Hawk chassis. Driving for his dad Steve, Wall had a
sixth and seventh at Waterford Speedbowl.
About to complete his sophomore year at Assabet Technical High School in
Marlboro, MA, Wall joins older brother Aaron on the NEMA driving roster.
The family’s participation goes back more than a dozen years starting in
Quarter Midgets.
“I’m still trying to get hold of the car,” reports Wall, the 2007 Whip
City 270-Micro Sprint champ. He was Rookie of the Year in ’06. “We are
going from dirt to asphalt. When I first got in the car I didn’t expect
the speed. When I hit the pedal I said ‘wow, this is different.’ The
closing time was really surprising.“
His first time out at the Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals he was
determined “to learn as much as I could.” Now he is hoping to keep the
top-10 streak alive. Points are not a big concern (“we don’t have the
equipment to be competitive on the bigger tracks”) but the Rookie of the
Year prize is. “We definitely would like to go after that.” he says.
Wall’s debut coincides with a year of incredible speeds. Current point
leader Randy Cabral, Monadnock winner Joey Payne Jr., Greg Stoehr, Erica
and Bobby Santos III, Adam Cantor and the ageless Nokie Fornoro have
been very quick. Wall is very aware of the company he’s in.
Cabral, who has won twice at the Speedowl, leads Payne by 22 atop the
standings. Only six points separate third through fifth – Stoehr, Erica
Santos and Wall. Cantor is sixth.
“Adjusting to the different driving styles is as much a part of it as
adjusting to new tracks,” he says. Bobby Seymour (a long-time mentor for
NEMA’s young drivers) and Cantor, who like Wall came to NEMA at age 16,
have been especially helpful. His father and brother, however, are the
first people he goes to especially when learning new layouts.
Brother Aaron ran selected NEMA events in ’07 after a season and a half
in Ford Focus action. “So I guess you can say I’m following in his
footsteps,” said Wall.
The two brothers try to get into different practice sessions. When in
the same session, they run a half-lap apart. “First of all, we don’t
want to lose two cars,” Wall says. “Second, it allows my father to get a
good look at both of us.” |
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Adam Cantor Heads to Monadnock
in the #7ny |
Sometimes Adam Cantor, 23,
just can’t figure where he belongs in the Northeastern Midget
Association hierarchy. Still young, he is currently in his
eighth NEMA campaign.
“I consider myself a veteran,” he says, quickly admitting he
“doesn’t have the race wins to be in the Randy Cabral, Joey
Payne Jr. or Nokie Fornoro category.” He has two victories and,
he declares, the “main goal is to get more.”
NEMA heads to Monadnock Saturday (May 24) and Cantor is
optimistic. “Monadnock is definitely a driver’s track and I feel
like I do well on driver’s tracks,” he says.
“Turns one and two are unique because you can go wide open all
the way through,” he continues. “You’ve got a couple of race
grooves and then the backstretch gets real bumpy. You’re kind of
all over the place. Then three and four is like a hairpin
almost. Everybody kind of stacks up and you’ve got to position
yourself very carefully.” It demands, he says, “a lot of finesse
with the throttle.”
Fourth and sixth so far this season, Cantor is almost starting
anew in ’08 after a devastating, season ending crash at Seekonk
last year. It was, he says, “a wake up call” and the team
returned committed to “keep digging it out.” He feels having
noted Midget mechanic Jim Reider involved along with a strong
IGA sponsorship makes the family team a contender – one of
several cars capable of winning.
“Reider was with us when we crashed at Seekonk,” Cantor says.
“He took it back to Indiana and put together the car we have
now. He’s taken us under his wing.” The car is MOPAR powered.
Cantor is the last member of the heralded “young guns” class of
’01 still with NEMA. The group also included Kyle Carpenter and
Ryan Dolan. It was hardly easy going racing against veterans
like Bobby Seymour, Drew Fornoro, Russ Stoehr, Jeff Horn and a
young hotshot named Randy Cabral.
“I’m still young but I feel I can still help people out,” says
Cantor, who last won at Adirondack in 2005. We’ve been through a
lot, especially those first few years when he struggled. The
rookies come in, I see their heads down, I go over and say ‘hey,
I’ve been there.’”
NEMA, he says, “is, on average, 10 to 15 miles an hour faster
everywhere we go over the last eight years,” Cantor points to
the last run at Waterford Speedbowl where the top six all turned
high 12 to low 13 seconds laps. He attributes that to chassis
and motor technology. “Right now,” he says, “it’s all about
carrying the speed through the corners. If you can do that, you
are going to do OK.” |
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More History Awaits Cabral
at
Monadnock
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Two-for-two so far with a couple of victories at Waterford
Speedbowl, Randy Cabral is still not ready to declare himself a
contender for the Northeastern Midget Association championship.
He is, however, the driver to watch when NEMA pulls into
Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, May 24.
Monadnock is one of the “trickiest” venues on the NEMA schedule.
The club returned there last year after a 10-year hiatus and it
was a trio of veterans – Greg Stoehr, Jeff Horn and Nokie
Fornoro – that filled the podium. Nokie, a winner back in 1981,
is the only other current NEMA driver with a Monadnock win.
While he still believes his new job – a custodian for the
Plymouth, MA school system – may cause some conflicts with race
dates, he is not unmoved by making history. Three straight wins
have not happened a lot in NEMA’s long history. The last to do
it was Horn back in 1993.
Since then six drivers, including Cabral, have won two straight.
Russ Stoehr did it five times.
Gene Angelillo’s “Marilyn’s Passion” team has had incredible
success at Monadnock. Prior to ’05, the track hosted NEMA 22
times and Drew Fornoro won 12 of them. Pointing out “it is
without doubt a driver’s track,” Angelillo is quick to credit
Fornoro.
Joey Payne Jr., second and third so far this season, hopes to
add to Angelillo’s Monadnock success.
Payne, Stoehr and Fornoro take what they hope will be
championship campaigns to Monadnock. Unlike most of the stops, a
large share of the NEMA competitors do not have extensive
experience at Monadnock.
Bobby Santos III, no stranger to answering new challenges, will
be a competitor to watch, as will sister Erica and Adam Cantor.
NEMA has raced only at Waterford to this point but it is
apparent many teams are at the top of their game. Cabral’s
12.742 seconds lap captured the spotlight. He had seven sub-13
seconds laps in the feature. Three others – Bobby Santos III,
Erica Santos and Greg Stoehr – had at least one. |
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NEMA’s Stoehr Takes Title Bid To Seekonk |
Greg Stoehr has been driving race
cars for over 30 years. He’s been a Northeastern Midget Association
competitor since the mid 1980s. After all that time he’s going after a
championship.
The quest continues May 3-4 when NEMA takes on Seekonk Speedway, helping
the “Cement Palace” open its season.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever really wanted a championship,” says
Stoehr. He feels he owes the effort to the people who have helped him,
notably Bruce Beane and John Andruk of Circle Performance Motors. They
are the masterminds behind the unique Mazda engine that powers the
Stoehr 26b.
He is not exactly a stranger to championships. Older brother (by 11
months) Russ has five NEMA crowns. “Russ knows how to win
championships,” understates Stoehr. “He knows how to get it done.” The
run, he adds, “is the culmination of a lot of trial and error.”
Stoehr joins two other veterans who have lofty intentions – Joe Payne
Jr. and Nokie Fornoro also know how to win championships. “You need a
lot of reliable equipment, you need good people and you have to be smart
on the track,” says Stoehr.
The Stoehrs have a combined eight NEMA wins at Seekonk, five for Russ.
Only Nokie (8) and Drew (2) Fornoro have more. Stoehr comes to Seekonk
off a strong third place at Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals.
Greg has a first and a second in heat action.
“[Seekonk] has to smile at you,” says Stoehr who sees the historic
quarter-mile in contradictory terms. “It is,” he continues, “a rhythm
track as opposed to a gas and brake track. You smoother you are the more
Seekonk rewards you because if you slow down, a lot of cars are going to
pass you. And you have to be good in traffic because you are in it
almost immediately.”
Stoehr, who spent 10 years driving fendered cars at the ‘Konk, believes
it’s a place where experience counts. There are exceptions (Randy Cabral
and Bobby Santos III) but “some guys never get it,” says Stoehr.
The Stoehrs and Fornoros are both sons of drivers – Paul Stoehr and
Nicky Fornoro respectively. Nicky Fornoro actually won a AAA race at
Seekonk in 1952.
“You’ve got to let the car run free at Seekonk,” says Nokie Fornoro.
“You can’t hold it down. You’ve got to let it go.” He claims he often
“gets into such a rhythm there that the right rear actually ticks the
wall in the front stretch.” Nokie, who uses no brake, says he learned a
lot about driving Seekonk from Mike Scrivani Jr. and Modified Hall of
Famer Leo Cleary.
SEEKONK/NEMA
NOTES:
Among active drivers, Randy Cabral (3), Jeff Horn (3), Joey Payne Jr.
(2) and Bobby Santos III (1) join Fornoro and Stoehr on the Seekonk/NEMA
win list… Stoehr and Fornoro agree it will take laps in the low 11
seconds to win a Midget race at Seekonk. That compares with laps in the
mid 15 seconds back in the early 1950s … NEMA’s first race was at
Seekonk on May 30, 1953, the late Fred Meeker beating Al Pillion and
Cliff Riggott. The next NEMA feature will be the 71st at Seekonk … The
legendary Oscar Ridlon won the first-ever event at Seekonk, a Midget
race, on Memorial Day in 1946. Through the years Seekonk has run events
sanctioned by many sanctioning bodies including Bay State, Triple A,
ARDC and USAC. The win list is extraordinary and includes the likes of
Bill Schindler, Joe Sostillio, Johnny Thomson, Len Duncan, Billy
Randall, Joe Csiki, Mel Kenyon, Johnny Mann and Dutch Schaefer. |
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Erica Santos
Seeking Second NEMA Win |
Erica Santos wants, make that needs,
another victory. The sooner it comes the better it will be for Santos
who made Northeastern Midget Association history last year when she won
at Stafford Motor Speedway, the first female in the club’s history to do
so.
NEMA’s busy ’08 campaign continues May 3-4,
helping Seekonk Speedway open its season. You can bet on folks
talking about Erica at Stafford.
“They can stop with Stafford,” says Santos. “They don’t need to keep
talking about it. It’s time [for me] to back it up. I want to win other
races.”
In her second season in the Ed Breault-owned #44, she is cautiously
optimistic heading into Seekonk. Admitting she “hasn’t run great there
in the past,” Santos returns believing “we might have found something
the last time we were there. I think we should be pretty good.”
“If they know nothing else, people go home knowing how Erica did,”
explains NEMA president Mike Scrivani Jr. Within the club, she is
treated as any other potential winner.
“When I do pretty good or OK people make such a big deal about it,” she
continues. She understands “there are not too many girls racing midgets”
but sees herself “as another race driver. I’ve been driving longer than
a lot of the people out there so I should be doing what I’m doing.”
The #44 team will come to Seekonk with a fast car. “We’ve had good cars
on both weekends,” said Santos who captured heats at both Waterford and
Thompson. “We are ahead of last year and last year was good. We have to
keep doing what we’re doing.” Santos and Breault wound up fifth in their
respective standings in ’07.
At Waterford’s Modified Nationals she was ahead when the rain came. “Had
the rain not come, had it stayed green, I probably would have been OK,”
she says. “After the long delay [winner] Randy Cabral’s car was better;
mine was a little worse.” Admitting to a mistake, she wound up fifth.
“I need to be fast, consistent,” she says. “I need to be in a position
where we can win.”
She shares the spotlight with heralded brother Bobby III who often
pilots the family-owned #98. Although the #44 is maintained by Lou
Breault, Erica’s father and brother “put the set up in it.”
As much as possible, Erica tries to follow her brother in practice.
“First,” she explains, “I know that’s he is usually one of the fastest
cars. If I can keep up with him I know I’m in pretty good shape. And,
it’s easier for my dad. He doesn’t have to watch two cars on opposite
sides of the track.”
Seekonk, she says, is “definitely a handling race track” and having a
car that’s “comfortable” is key “because you are always turning there.
If I’m not in a good handling car I’m going to get tired quickly.”
Strength is one of the things that, Santos believes, puts girls at a
disadvantage in auto racing. “We are not as strong and we not as
aggressive, things you need to be a good race driver. Guys are just so
naturally competitive and really aggressive,” she offers.
She sees herself as “really competitive” and “pretty aggressive for a
girl.”
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Pernesiglio
to Make Speed Channel Debut
Former NEMA Driver, Turned Broadcaster, Get’s Big Break
Former Northeastern Midget
Association driver, Derek Pernesiglio, will make his pit
reporting debut on SPEED Channel’s broadcast of the NASCAR
Camping World Series East race from the historic Greenville
Pickens Speedway as part of their Racing Across America
television package.
Eight years ago Pernesiglio made the tough decision to step out
of the driver’s seat in NEMA midget competition and step behind
the microphone in an effort to start his career broadcasting
races on television.
“This is unbelievable!” said Pernesiglio. “It’s been a long time
coming that’s for sure. I have to thank SPEED Channel and the
fine folks at Chet Burks Productions for this marvelous
opportunity… I just hope it turns into more work.”
The ‘long
time coming’ is Pernesiglio referring to watching all of the
broadcasts come into his current place of work at NASCAR Media
Group. It was there he started helping the producers with
statistical information and identifying drivers of other series.
“It’s funny how it all happened.” said Pernesiglio. Four years
ago I walked past the control room at work and saw the East and
West series races being edited down and started talking with the
producers about how I could help with the races because I was
familiar with the drivers and tracks they run on.”
Pernesiglio is currently employed by NASCAR Media Group
(Formerly known as NASCAR Images) and is the Associate Producer
for the Trackside and NASCAR Live shows that air on SPEED from
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series venue each weekend.
Pernesiglio is the son of legendary open wheel car owner “Mazda”
Pete Pernesiglio and younger brother of NEMA veteran Pete
Pernesiglio. In his driving career Pernesiglio has driven NEMA
Midgets, go-karts, Pro-4 Modifieds, TQ Midgets and stock cars.
Pernesiglio will be pit reporting more for the ASA Southeast
Asphalt tour on Fox Sports Net South and the entire season of
the SCCA Pro, Playboy Cup Mazda MX-5 Series. In addition, he
will report for the 2008 Summer Shootout at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway in Concord, N.C.
Located in Charlotte, N.C., NASCAR Media Group is an
entertainment production and marketing company that holds
exclusive rights to use and license footage from NASCAR racing
events in movies and TV shows.
The NASCAR Camping World Series East race will air May 7th at 1
pm as part of their Racing Across America television package. |
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NEMA’s ’08 Slate Biggest in 20 Years
With the recent additions
of two New Hampshire ovals – All-Star (Epping) and Twin-State
(Claremont) –Northeastern Midget Association competitors will
face a 19-race agenda in 2008. Eight tracks are involved in
NEMA’s largest schedule in 20 years.
The 56th NEMA campaign gets
underway at Thompson Speedway’s traditional season-opening
Icebreaker on April 5-6. The winged wonders are part of
Waterford Speedbowl’s Modified Nationals on April 12-13.
“Over the winter tracks were coming to us,” says president Mike
Scrivani Jr. “Good fields of talented drivers and excellent
equipment makes NEMA one of the best tours in the northeast. We
are excited at the prospect of showing it off.”
All-Star (the former Star Speedway) has had more NEMA races than
any other track. Ben Seitz won the 138th NEMA race at All Star
last September. Kyle Carpenter won the last visit to Twin State
back in 2005, besting Joey Payne Jr. and Adam Cantor.
Charter members Waterford Speedbowl (four dates), Seekonk
Speedway (4) and Stafford Motor Speedway join Thompson (3),
Monadnock (3) and Lee USA (2) Speedways are on the busy agenda.
The schedule includes traditional headliners Xtreme Tuesday July
8 at Stafford, Open Wheel Wednesday at Seekonk on July 16 and
the Boston Louie also at Seekonk on Aug. 9.
The traditional triple header finale – Waterford’s Finale Oct.
4-5, Seekonk’s DAV Memorial Oct. 11-12 and Thompson’s World
Series Oct. 17-19, is also intact. |
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NEMA
Establishes New “Lite” Series
Coming off a sensational 2007 season, the Northeastern Midget
Association has decided to “invest in the future” with the “NEMA Lite
Series.” The series, approved by the NEMA Contest Board, is gaining
momentum.
NEMA LITE Page HERE
Called a “feeder class” by NEMA Vice President Tim Bertrand, the series
is designed to introduce new competitors to winged midgets “in very low
cost, less powerful cars.” Competitors can use any chassis that
currently meets NEMA specifications but engines will be limited to Ford
Focus and Oldsmobile Quad4. All the cars will have starters.
Plans are for the “Lites” to run in conjunction with regular short track
NEMA events. Bertrand said, “NEMA is putting in place incentives for
tracks to run the Lite Series cars. We are aware of the time factors and
economics involved. We have to make it attractive for them. We believe
we have done that.”
Bertrand says as many 20 teams have expressed intentions to compete.
“Most are Focus and Quad4 owners who can’t afford Esslinger and Gaerte
motors and are looking for a way to go,” he says. “We are talking about
$8-to $10,000 cars in this series. The equipment is definitely available
out there.”
The plan allows for competitors, when they are ready, to “move up” to
the fulltime NEMA status with more powerful (and more expensive) motors.
Bertrand admits “a lot of sportsman type divisions are popping up all
over the country” claiming potential NEMA competitors. “Other divisions
were the only thing they could afford,” he says. “This is an effective
plan to keep them in winged Midgets.”
A number of “established” Midget regulars including Steve Grant and
former champions Bobby Seymour and Butch Walsh will be consultants for
the new series. |
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Optimistic Payne Set For NEMA’s Opener
Joey Payne Jr. returns to the Northeastern Midget Association and
Thompson Speedway’s season Icebreaker on April 4-5-6. He admits to
“looking forward” to the new season, his 24th.
“I’ve been down the road a lot of times,” says Payne who’ll steer Gene
Angelillo’s #45 for the fifth straight season. “I know that better times
are coming. Last year really sucked so, yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
The Icebreaker kicks off a 19-race agenda for NEMA, the most in 20
years. The “Jersey Jet” comes off a strong indoor TQ season.
Payne’s objective is the 2008 championship. He did that back in 2003,
his first season with Angelillo. Doing it again will not be easy.
“I’ll tell you what,” he insists, “on any given night 15 cars can win
the feature.” He admits “the advancing technology has pushed the speeds
up a little,” but it is the increase in competition that makes NEMA “the
premier touring division in the northeast right now whether people want
to admit it or not.”
Among the drivers poised to end the championship run of Ben Seitz is
Nokie Fornoro, back in the Jarret #4. Erica and Bobby Santos III
are back, Erica in Esslinger-powered #44 and Bobby in the family #98.
Jeremy Frankoski, the ’07 Rookie of the Year, moves into the Seamon #63.
Veterans Adam Cantor and Greg Stoehr and youngster Chris Leonard are
other threats. Randy Cabral will be a factor in the Bertrand #47,
although not a contender since a new job will force him to miss several
events.
Payne is ready. “Considering the way last year ended,” he says, “a win
at Thompson would be very nice. Winning the first race can bring a lot
of momentum to a team.”
And, it would soften a difficult memory. Payne and the Angelillo team
had the championship in view at Thompson in last year’s season-ending
World Series when an overheated engine forced them to retire and accept
second place in the final standings. It was the third time in the last
four seasons Payne has been second in driver points.
Payne actually made his midget debut as an 18-year old in the 1984
Thompson World Series. Since then he has had a “love/hate” relationship
with NEMA’s “separates the men from the boys” track. “There is a point
where the right foot has to connect with the brain and
knowing that can make a big difference there too,” he adds.
Back in 1998 an early crash in the World Series cost Payne the ISMA
championship. And two years later, in a back-up car, he gave Angelillo
his 100th career victory. Since taking the ride in 2003, he has given
Angelillo 14 more checkereds.
“When I finish at Thompson I usually finish up front,” says Payne. He’s
been second at Thompson four times and third twice. He also had a second
at Thompson before joining Angelillo.
Thompson, says Payne, is loaded with quirks. “The stands separate on the
front stretch,” he says. “There’s a walkway there and on breezy days the
wind comes right through. It hits the wing, loads the left
rear and the right front comes right up off the ground. It can really
get your attention.”
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Nokie Fornoro
Takes Aim At Another NEMA Crown
Things seem to be in order for Nokie Fornoro – all the things necessary
to capture the Northeastern Midget Association championship for himself
and owner Mike Jarret.
“I’m going after it,” declares Fornoro, about to start his 34th season.
“I have no other commitment. I don’t have to worry about missing races.
It’s about time. I haven’t had a championships in over 10 years and that
sort of bothers me.”
NEMA opens its 19-race schedule April 4-5-6 at Thompson International
Speedway. A spot on Waterford Speedbowl’s Budweiser Modified Nationals
follows a week later (April 12-13). A large and impressive entry list
compliments the agenda.
He expects a “quick” start to his quest. The cooler temperatures mean
faster speeds at Thompson he says. Motors will run better and the
banking will have more affect. “Thompson is always faster when you can
use the banking. I love the speed you get there.”
He and Bobby Santos III were “down in the seventeen seconds” at last
year’s. World Series. “The Midgets,” he declares, “are “scary fast” at
Thompson.
Fornoro’s last championship was the 1995 ARDC title, one of several he
owns including the 1981 NEMA crown. His last Midget victory, the 105th
of his career, came last August at the Waterford Speedbowl. With his
father Nick and his brother Drew, Nokie is part of one of Midget
racing’s most successful families.
“Considering the caliber of cars we have now – 12-to-15 cars can win any
given night – you have to have one heck of a maintenance program to win
a championship,” says Fornoro. “I believe money can’t
buy you wins. Yea, it can help you get the best stuff but if you don’t
have a maintenance program, you’re in trouble.”
He gives owner Peter Valeri, the champ three of the past four years
(driver Ben Seitz won four in a row) “all the credit in the world. Every
race, no matter what happened, they went through the car and that’s
what you have to do.”
Fornoro has always “been blessed with good owners” and Jarret is one of
them. “Whenever Mike gets involved he does it wholeheartedly,” says
Fornoro. “There is nothing this team should lack; there is no reason why
we shouldn’t do well. I feel we’ve got the best stuff.”
The present operation, including Mike Scrivani Jr., is a carry over from
the glory days of early 1980s when Fornoro dominated in cars owned by
Hall of Famer Mike Scrivani Sr., the larger than life character known as
‘Iron Mike.’ Both Jarret and Mike Jr. were key parts of an operation
that produced the NEMA title and a couple of his five ARDC crowns.
Fornoro vividly recalls his first Thompson run way back in 1976, a sixth
place finish after a confrontation with Joey Coy. Since then he has
“hundreds and hundreds of laps” around the historic oval in both Midgets
and SuperModifieds. He was an ISMA winner there is 2006.
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Early NEMA Win Key In Cabral’s Objective
Randy Cabral is not given to exaggeration. The Northeastern Midget
Association hot shoe keeps a tight reign on his expectations.
“I want to win at least one race,” says Cabral who will be in the
Bertrand #47 for the third straight year. “Ever since my second year in
NEMA (2000) I’ve won at least once. I’d like to keep that streak going.”
NEMA starts its very ambitious 19-race agenda at Thompson Speedway’s
Icebreaker on April 5-6 and heads to Waterford Speedbowl for the
Budweiser Modified Nationals April 12-13. NEMA will help Seekonk
Speedway open its season on May 4. “They are the best Midget tracks in
the East,” Cabral insists. “I’ve had side-by-side battles at all three.”
Eleven of Cabral’s 12 wins have come at those three tracks, four each at
Thompson and Waterford. He won the closers at the latter two last year,
his effort in the Speedbowl’s “Finale” near flawless. The team has made
few changes. “The car was so good we didn’t want
to touch it,” Cabral says.
“Hopefully we can get the win in the first three races and then go back
to having fun like we did last year,” continues Cabral who followed his
father Glen into the sport. He has, in fact, done that the past two
years.
Cabral is part of a NEMA cast that includes Erica and Bobby Santos III,
veterans Joey Payne Jr. and Nokie Fornoro, Adam Cantor and youngsters
Jeremy Frankoski and Chris Leonard.
His first win came in the 2000 Boston Louie at Seekonk in family-owned
equipment but it was the Thompson Icebreaker victory in 2001 that
ignites him still. “I’ve been watching races there since 1988, watching
my dad,” he explains. “It’s a special place and I’ve always wanted to
race there so to actually win there was unbelievable.”
When it comes to his best race, however, only the Boston Louie win
compares with last year’s “Finale” at Waterford. “I couldn’t do anything
wrong at Seekonk,” he says. “The car was nothing fancy. We bought it
that year, pulled it out from under a tarp, put a motor in
it and went racing. Seven races in we won.”
He says people tell him he drives Waterford all wrong. “’You can’t go
into one that way,’ they say,” he explains. “You’re wrong and you need
to do it this way.’ I tell them I can’t get my way out of my system
and I’ve been pretty successful with the way I do it.”
Thompson, he insists, is “very intimidating” and “demands respect.” He’s
sure “people don’t realize the speeds we go there. When things happen
they happen really big.”
He’s made four-wide passes on both the bottom and the top at the
Speedbowl “and there’s no other track where you can do that,” he adds.
While speeds have definitely increased, it’s the improved competition
that makes NEMA “the premier touring division in New England,” he says.
“When I got my first win people said there were maybe 10 cars that could
win a NEMA feature. Now there are 20-25 and everybody is so hungry.”
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Drew Fornoro ran the #63 in
the Oct. 7, 2007 Seekonk DAV (Norm Marx Photo) |
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TSR Motorsports
Taps NEMA Rookie of the Year Jeremy Frankoski For Driving Duties
While Jon Seaman Jr. Concentrates on Engineering Studies |
(Future Stars In Racing PR)
Southbury, Ct. – While Jon Seaman Jr. devotes time to his
Mechanical Engineering studies at Rochester Institute of
Technology, TSR Motorsports has named 2007 NEMA Rookie of the
Year Jeremy Frankoski to fill the driver’s seat of the No. 63
Midget for the 2008 season.
“TSR Motorsports feels very fortunate to have Jeremy on their
team for the upcoming 2008 season,” commented team principal Jon
Seaman Sr. “His focus and determination will blend well with the
young but experienced crew Jon Jr and TSR Motorsports have
built.”
Frankoski started racing at age nine in five-hp ‘microd’ karts,
and
has since methodically worked his way up to the top ranks of
open
wheel racing. He has many wins and podium finishes already and
TSR
Motorsports would like to give him a few more while Jeremy
climbs his way to the top tier of professional auto racing.
The first race on Jeremy’s schedule is the ‘Ice Breaker’ at
Thompson,
Conn., the initial race on the NEMA midget calendar for 2008.
The eventual teaming of Seaman Jr and Frankoski promises to
become one of the outstanding young teams in NEMA competition
for the 2008 season and beyond with both young racers building
off the other’s strengths.
Seaman is being helped in his career by training from Future
Stars in
Racing Academy. The Academy helps prepare young drivers for
success outside the car in public speaking; sponsor
presentations; working with the media and behavior on and off
the track. Future Stars in Racing is the exclusive driver
development partner with the ASA Late Model Series. The Academy
features a staff with decades of experience in all aspects of
motorsports. To learn more about John Seaman and the Academy, go
to
www.futurestarsinracing.com. |
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Marilyn A. Bertrand
December 30,
1949 - January
23, 2008
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Marilyn A. (Luko)
Bertrand, 58, of Suffield, the beloved wife of 36 years to Gilles
Bertrand, entered peacefully into eternal life surrounded by her loving
family on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at her home. She was born on
December 30, 1949 in Hartford,
CT,
a daughter of Jeanette and the late Anton Luko. She resided in Suffield,
CT for the past 20 years and prior to that in Stafford and Enfield, CT.
Marilyn was a graduate of Hartford High School Class of 1967 and
received her degree in Education from
Central Connecticut
State
University
in 1971, during which time she was president of her sorority, Lambda
Kappa Nu. She continued on to receive her Masters Degree from
Central Connecticut as well. Marilyn was employed by the
Enfield Board of Education and spent her entire 37 year career as a
teacher at Fermi
High School, where she was the head of the
Business Department and was also an advisor for FBLA (Future Business
Leaders of America).
Marilyn is survived by her
devoted husband, Gilles, her loving children, Tim Bertrand and his wife,
Cara of Sturbridge, MA, Patrick Bertrand, Lindsay Bertrand and Todd
Bertrand all of Suffield, her mother, Jeannette (Luko) Mulready of West
Hartford, CT a sister, Gilberta Calegari and her husband, James of E.
Hartford, CT, a brother, Stephen Luko and his wife, Annette of
Terryville, CT along with many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, as
well as her grand-dogs, Tessa & Toby.
Marilyn dedicated her life
to her family and friends, always putting others needs before her own.
She loved her yard, her pool, her flower gardens and her home. She
loved being the oldest of a group of much younger Soccer parents,
cheering on her son Todd and his teammates, and her presence at all of
the games will be missed. She spent many years enjoying all of her
children’s pursuits and talents, as well as supporting Gil in his love
of auto racing. Marilyn enjoyed the good things in life – dancing,
singing, boating, laughing, cheering and crying. A White Russian will
never be drunk without thoughts of Marilyn in the future.
Memorial donations
in her memory may be made to the
Eye Melanoma Research Fund at the
Kimmel
Cancer Center
at Jefferson
University.
Kimmel
Cancer Center
C/O Ms. Helen Lane
1050B BLSB
233 S. 10th St.
Phiadelphia,
PA 19107 |
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