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Buena Park Raceway
Buena Park,
CA
Feb. 3,4 2006
Race Reports by Mike Aguirre
Cobalt-12
C-12 was raced
Friday night with 7 racers getting in the action. This was a round
robin with 3 drivers handling the turn marshal duties while the
others drove. Heat one saw Jim Swofford burn down/melt a motor and
only managed 30 laps. Early race leader looked to be Richard Curnutte
followed by Kenny Richins and Brian Johnson. Adam K. was having
some bad luck as he smoked several motors. Fast time was set by
Kenny with a 2.24 on red! As the race went down into the lower 4
lanes we found both Kenny and Brian having problems getting around
on black. Richard was still just motoring along and Jim was back
and charging as well. Mike Aguirre was able to capitalize on Brian's
downfall and pass him for third barring any problems. When the power
went off it was Richard Curnutte taking the win followed Kenny for
second and one lap back in third was Mike. Joe Lisciandro was plagued
through out with mechanical problems but ran all the way.
Spray Glue
Nine racers
made tech for this month's event. Last months winner Joe Chevy was
not present but Kenny and Marco were in the house to keep their
points going. Mike Graversen had his Granddaughter back, 'Big"
Brian, Sam Rackham, JB, Adam K, Bob Maxwell, and newcomer Brendan
Aguirre rounded out the field. The first heat saw Kenny having problems
and finding himself down 10 laps to Sam after heat one. Kenny was
back flying in heat 2 but Marco was on top at this point. The top
runners were looking like Kenny, Marco, Brian, and Sam. Purple and
black gave Sam some problems and was falling off pace some allowing
Bob Maxwell to move into third at this point. The young guns Madison
and Brendan were gaining valuable experience and the other drivers
were kind in helping/talking them through passing etc. Marco seemed
to have trouble with black and could only get 50 laps out of it,
which had him 3 back on Kenny going into the final heat. Kenny was
on red and Marco on yellow for these last 3 minutes and both were
driving hard but it was Kenny who came out on top with 62 laps against
Marco's 58. The podium looked to be Kenny, Marco, and Bob Maxwell
but tech proved this wrong, as Bob did not make weight!!! Sam was
now on the podium.
Group 12
This race was
run as an 11 man round robin. The first heat was fast with Jim Swofford
running 66 on orange and a best time of 2.578. 6 of the 8 drivers
in this heat were 60+ laps showing the deadman was back after its
recent repairs. Jim was pushing hard as was Richard Curnutte and
Kenny Richins in these early heats but Jim just had that extra bit
over them. Heat 4 saw Richard only getting 22 laps, which took him
out of contention. Bill Pinkston and Jason Holmes were making good
laps too. By mid race the buzz was all about Jim who was on record-breaking
pace. Clean heats were helping and others were showing some fast
times too. Joe Lisciandro laid down 65 on green late in the race,
which had him smiling, but it was all about Swofford. In the last
3 heats Jim did 63 on purple, 63 on black, and 65 on yellow. The
closing moments in the last heat saw all those watching start a
nice applause with what would be a new track record of 512 laps.
Second to Jim was Bill Pinkston and third was Jason Holmes. Jim
you are the MAN!!!!
One Motor Open, Semi Pro
There
were 9 racers for this class and it was Rick Salvino off to an early
lead on the red lane. Rick would lead all the way winning most of
the heats along the way and beating Joe Lisciandro, last months
winner by 9-laps. Adam Kirchhoffer took the final podium spot ahead
of Kenny Richins, Rick Elting, Mike Aguirre, Nick Rischio, Jason
Holmes and Josh Bauer.
One Motor Open, Pro
We
had 11 racers turn in cars for tech inspection. Mickey Johnston
moved into the lead on the average in heat 2. Bill Pinkston was
the last sit-out and by the time he got done with purple, he had
caught Mickey. These 2 went at it hard with Mickey opening a small
lead only to have his controller fail late in the 10th heat. Mickey
wasn't sure what the problem was and when the car didn't start in
the last heat, he tried once more to fix the car before changing
controllers. But it was to late. Bill was out front and running
for the track record. Finishing order was Bill with a new track
record of 872 laps. Mickey held on for 2nd place only 3-laps ahead
of Scott Fisher. Jim Swofford, Phil Larcom, Mike Graversen, John
Tore Andersen, Randy Thompson, Richard Curnutte, Bill Taylor and
Pat Ularte took up the minor placings.
Group 7
Twelve racers decided
to indulge themselves by racing G-7. Richard Curnutte took control
early and led all they way. Forrest burned one down in the first
heat and was never able to make up the difference. Randy Thompson
struggled home in 3rd ahead of Kenny Richins and Mike Aguirre.
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