Unity Raceway
Unity, Maine
2006
August 19 - Unity Raceway
While Mother Nature frowned on most of the regular classes with race stopping rain, she smiled on the members of Wicked Good, right up until it was time to go home. We arrived at mid afternoon, unloaded the cars and drove them out into the parking lot, next to the main road, for a public display, along with a few beautifully restored, and/or recreated famous racecars. The sun shone down, and fans and members had a great time meeting and making new friends. A short time later, we hit the warm asphalt track for some great hot laps. After so much of our planned racing schedule being ruined by rain, everyone really enjoyed getting out there for some running time.
A little after 7 PM, our first feature race took place. Folks in the stands got to see some real vintage racing, as the Wicked Good cars went into action. It was a real thriller to watch. There was a lot of side by side (and even 4-wide) racing, with plenty of lead changes as these vintage cars roared around the oval. It was like reliving an action packed afternoon, at this same track, from fifty years ago. The amazing part, is that, for several of these cars, this was not the first time, they had battled it out together on this track. There are a lot of fond memories, lying in the dirt beneath that asphalt, from many years ago.
It was only a very short time later when the cars were called back to the track for the Vintage Trophy Race. This race was even more exciting then the first feature. The action was fast and intense. The drivers all did a great job and the fans got a really good show.
If you think that flashbacks only happen with drugs, you are wrong!!! Anyone who had ever seen these cars run years ago, could not stop the flood of memories that would rush through your head. Remember how it tingles when the hair on the back of your neck and your arms stands up? Wasn't that what kept us coming back week after week to see our heros? It still works.
Vintage racing is GOOD STUFF.
The lineup quietly pauses for the National Anthem before the action begins.
There has not been a lineup like this at Unity since 1964. Is this an awesome sight or what?
Robbie Clark is the wicked good winner of the Wicked Good Racing Antique Racecars feature.
(Photo by Mike Oles)
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From left, Alan Gassett, Robbie Clark and James Sprague make it into the Wicked Good Racing Antique Racecars victory lane.
(Photo by Mike Oles) |
"The WGVRA Racin' Report" for August 19, 2006
Saturday night the 19th, Unity Raceway's memory banks were shaken when the oval heard music that had not reverberated off the trees and the back wall of the grandstand for some 42 years. Is that a flathead Ford I hear? Is that a stovebolt GMC, or a Chevy? Now that just HAS to be a y-block Ford........And they sounded so much like those race cars of old used to sound. And they seemed soooo REAL ! Yeah, Unity, there is no mistaking it - you've heard that same Hudson before. Belongs to a fella by the name of Blackie Hilliard, Unity track champion for like a dozen years. Just having Blackie and his Hudson Hornet "Twin - H" powered 1938 Terraplane coupe here was a treat. Dave Webster brought along his beautiful Wild Bill Carleton #1 that used to run along side Blackie's car.
That long lost sound coming from the pit area got louder and louder until the 1950's rolled onto the Unity Raceway pavement. Where did that bank of tires in turn one suddenly come from? And for those folks who chanced a look across Route #139, the faint outline of an old farmhouse appeared in the mist. And for a few moments one could smell the old motor oil that once kept the dust down. This just had to be a time warp.
And a time warp it was as the "Wicked Good" Vintage Racers motored down the front stretch and into turn one. Two laps of yellow, and the flagman offered the green for practice laps. Veterans and fresh pilots exercised themselves and their vintage cars to discover whether the car or the driver would be the limiting factor in what was to come.
A break to allow other classes to warm up the racing surface with heat races, and then it was time! The first heat race for these vintage race cars on Unity Raceway since 1964. One wondered if any of the veteran race cars in the group would remember having been here before. The answer was not long in coming. A couple or three laps under the green to sort things out a bit, and Mark Collins in his #99 1936 Ford found an old groove that both he and his car felt comfortable with - come out of #2, go as high as the asphalt allows, and push that 235 Chevy powerplant to its limit. That old long stroker proved to be there for him with never a hesitation as the many bumps and bruises worn proudly by that beaten up Unity race car of old began to smooth out in the wind. It soon looked like a bright orange rocket as this "bomber" class car ("Early Stock") passed car after car each time it made the run down the backstretch. With everyone watching Mark going to the front, few noticed Rob Clark in Ed Kennedy's #22 1933 "Early Modified" Chevy coupe following in Mark's tracks and just out of view. A few more laps and Ed's own battle scarred racer was running side by side with Mark's. The trusty Chevy stovebolt came through making Marks car the fastest Bomber in the race, and the Chevy small-block smoker in Ed's car proved to be enough to make it the first Modified to the line.
Intermission's over; pull the vintage cars to the start/finish; shut them down for the National Anthem; AND THEN it is "Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES"! The adrenaline rushes through the cars AND the drivers, and suddenly the air is filled with the firing of flatheads, inlines, and early small block stockers. No "sorting out" this time - the green flashes and it is pedal down from the start. Charging to the front is Rosey Gerry in his 1933 Dodge coupe. He and the other "Early Stocks" running up front are determined to withstand the onslaught expected from the "Early Modifieds" running in the rear. Mark Collins in his #99 Ford/Chevy "stovebolt" inline chooses that outside line again in a determined effort to repeat his rapid move forward. However, this time the crowd remains clustered in front and going wide means running 4 wide (and 5 at one point). With insufficient asphalt to accomodate such antics, Mark puts the right side in the dirt, hangs the rear end out, and boogies on by anyway. While Mark is taking the high line, Jim Sprague, in his daughter Ariel's #2 1932 Ford "Early Modified", is cautiously moving through heavy traffic toward the front. Meanwhile Ed Kennedy's 1933 Chevy is moving up on the outside. Robby Clark, still piloting Eddie's car, takes note of the competitiion taking place around him, and realizes that this is going to be a lot tougher than the heat race. Robbie starts sweet talking the #22 Chevy as he again follows Mark's lead and runs the outside on the backstretch, but chooses NOT to play out in the dirt. Looks like there might be a shootout between Jim in the #2 and Rob in the #22 before this is over. Alan Gassett has other ideas, and has also been winding his way through traffic since the green. Busting into the open, it is soon apparent that his sights are set on Ed's #22 Chevy. Rob Clark suddenly spots Alan's #62 1946 Ford in his mirror, and knows he is in trouble. As they approach traffic, Alan ducks under Robbie and pulls into second place. Robbie will have none of that, pushes off with his feet in his famous Fred Flintstone move and manages to sneak back by Alan. Alan, being a cool dude with lots of experience, merely coaxes a little more from that Ford inline and pulls back into second leaving Robbie sitting in third wondering what he does next. While all this flatout racing is occurring back aways, Jim has been working the fast Ford through traffic and is now near the front. Robbie Clark pushes the accelerator of the #22 Chevy down with BOTH feet, and is barely able to sneak past Alan's Ford once again, and it becomes a three way run for the finish with Jim. At the finish it was Rob in the #22, Alan in the #62, and Jim in the #2, closely followed by a cluster of cars including Mark Collins in his trusty Ford coupe #99, Tom Clark in his 1936 Chevy coupe #36, Bob Cercena in the 1938 Chevy coupe #18, Robert Hills in Jim's 1936 "Bonecrusher" Chevy coupe #13, Rosey Gerry in his 1933 Dodge coupe #33, Erica Clark in her 1933 Ford coupe #33, Justin Wyman in the 1934 Ford #77 of Bob Cercena, and Colin Shields in his 1947 Ford coupe #A-1. And fun was had by all.....
The afternoon public display of WGVRA cars in the main parking lot before the evening racing program got underway was enjoyed by members and fans alike.
When it was time to race, the excitement really began. It was an adventure for the fans and the Wicked Good members as well. The action was fast, loud, and colorfull. Both the feature and the trophy race went without any serious problems as the Unity track welcomed these vintage racecars back onto her asphalt for the first time in about 42 years.
May 6th- Unity Raceway
A few "Wicked Good" folks decided to take a chance on the fog and threating rain clouds and head for Unity Raceway for the afternoon. They were rewarded with good racing and plenty of chance to get out there and practice making those all-important left turns.
How long has it been since you have seen cars like this in the pits at Unity Raceway? Brings back memories doesn't it? (if you are old enough)
"Hey Barry, I brought this car here to do some laps.
How about coming over here and stuffing this leg in here for me."
And laps it did. Good friend Larry Sementini was the first to take on the Hudson powered Plymouth sedan with Roseys 33 Dodge. Before Larry manned the black & white coupe, Rose had taken it out for its first run on the Unity track since it ran here about 57 years ago.
Jim brought his Chevy up along beside the sedan to run with it for a few laps. There were a couple of lead changes before the next heat came around.
Ed and the Chevy coupe had a chance to hear that Hudson sing too.
Another day of good times and some great vintage racing with friends, for the WGVRA members that were able to make this event.