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By Mike AdaskavegThe Late Model Sportsman Division consists of late model cars which ahe not altered In the ways the modifleds are. Thus, in the LMS Division you would see Caroeros, Mustangs, Chevy ll's, etc. They are usually 11 ml*ted to 350 cubic Inch displace* ment, and run with full fenders In front, just as a street car would. (The modified division allows any coupe body, from - tfc 35- 4o*jyresent, with no engine limitation). Late Models race primarily in the South and in the N JL . Vt. area.The NASCAR Hobby Division was designed to give the beginning driver a chance to break Into racing* The Hobby class varies at different tracks, and at Stafford Speedway, In Stafford Springs, Conn. It consists of the six cylinder “All American Sportsman Division”. These cars can be built for a little over $1,000, and offer the beginner a chance to break Into the modified division, and from there, maybe the Grand National Division.Most Connecticut tracks have their own clubs, and do not be* long to any major organization, they will be discussed first, below.Perhaps the closest track to Southington Is Plain vfiJe Stadium* Plalnville stadium runs modified stock cars under their own sanction. The track Itself Is a quarter mile around, flat and paved. The modifleds which race there are limited to 327 cubic Inch displacement engines. Plalnville Stadium races every Saturday night, and is located In back of Grants In Plalnville.Danbury Race are an Is located on the Danbury Fairgrounds In Danbury, Conn* It Is a 1-3 mile flat, paved track, and races modi-fleds also on Saturday night. Danbury Is sanctioned bySNYRA, the Southern N. Y. Racfhg A.s soclation. It Is one of the most closed clubs In racing, and provides well for its drivers, moni-tarily. The cars are limited to small V8’s such as flatheads, 283's and smaller engines.New London - Waterford Speed bowl races modifleds Saturday night on their 1 3 mile, flat paved track* They are limited to 350 cubic Inches. The Speedbowl Is located on route 65, in Waterford, Conn., right off thruway exit 77,Riverside Park, In Agawam, Mass., races modifleds on Saturday nights. Their track Is 1-4 mile, paved, and high banked.Riverside also has a 350 c.l.limitation on their cars. The modifleds there race under the United Stock Car Circuit, which, at one time sanctioned Plalnville Stadium, and the Westboro, Mass. Speedway.This year, ex-race driver George Pendergast was named racing director of Thompson Speedway, and he Is trying to save the track. Open competi-tion racing under the sanction of the New England Super Modi-fled Racing Association is pre senled every Friday night, start tng at eight. Super Modifledsare cars which are much like the old Indy roadsters. They are all made by hand, and have sheetroetal bodies which are on the inside of the wheels (no fenders, or any part of the body which is over the wheels.) They are powered by big block engines usually Chevy 427's or 454's,The NESMRA supers racing against modified stock cars, put on a show like you will never see anywhere else. Usually these two types of cars race in their own class, and not against each other. An additional one hundred dollars is paid to the first modified across the line, and an additional five hundredto a modified which wins, since the Supers have the advantage over the modifleds.We are quite fortunate to have within forty-five minutes of us one of the greatest modified tracks tn the whole country * Stafford Speedway. No matter where you travel, you will neverfind a cleaner, more professionalrun race track, Stafford Speedway compares with none, it Is the family track. Owner Jack Arute goes out of his way to please everyone. He pays one of the highest NASCAR modified purses to his drivers.He started the first driver * owners point fund this year at Stafford, This way the car owners receive points for the finishes their cars get in the races. In the past, only the drivers received points. The trackand NASCAR both tabulate points for the championship at the end of the year. NASCAR drivers usually race three times a week, at different tracks, and NASCAR awards them so many points for their finish. a regular show may be worth 50 points ( plus cash award) for the winner. Then tt drops down a number of points per position . NASCAR allows each track to run a number of double point shows In the season which are usually around Memorial Day, the fourth of July, and Labor Day.Well, getting back to Stafford,an emphasis Ls put upon temilyentertainment. They have clean modern facilities and have ARA-SERVE, the same company that seves food at the Astrodome, taking care of the concessions. Stafford runs a fast show on their half mile paved oval. No time is wasted, and the show is run very professionally. There Is even entertainment during intermission, as Seymour the Stafford clown provides many laughs.Stafford runs three classes of cars. The NASCAR modifledsare the main feature. These expensive machines, which cost over $10,000.00 reach speeds well over 100 m.p.h. on the straightaways. There is aLso plenty of variety - there are cars with Plnta, Vega, Gremlin Mustang, Camaro, Corvalr, Falcon, and old coupe bodies. The majority are powered by 427 and 454 cubic Inch Chevrolet engines. Stafford usually has the top NASCAR modified drivers In the whole country running every Saturday night. Regulars Includepast national champions Fred Desarro, Bugsy Stevens, and Ernie Gahan who do battle with all time greats * ‘Steady” Eddie Flemke, Bemle Miller, Dennis Giroux, Leo Cleary, and manyothers.The other two classes which run at Stafford are the Allthey did last week * showing Vin laughing with Coach WebsterAnyhow, we hope Vinny still is laughing when the Giants make their cuts The talented football player who says this time he’s ready to make the pro grade, has been mentioned as a possible punt returner, a running back to work behind husky Charlie Evans and maybe even a defensive backto get excited about when Webster handed out his old number of 29 to Clements “1 wanted No 44 but they had already passed it out, “Vinny was reported as saying Forty'-four was his jersey numerals atSouthington High and at UConnWebster, as many Qian t Ugure, is making a strong pitch for Vinny He intimidates those who say Vinny was merely a “throw in” in the dramatic trade which sent Fran Tarkenton to the Vikings for Bob Grim, Norm Snead and Vincent Clements of Spring Lake Rd., Southington.Has Vinny changed*’ manyhave asked IFs difficult for the press to rig/i dully reply to that question because very few of us have been able to speak to him informally-and thals the only wa to tell Lf he s sincere aboutplaying pro football When he isaround, Clements is accompanied b friends and it’s, difficult to get him to “open up Interviewing Clements on radio or television is a carbon copy of what any pro prospect would be sayingIt goes something like thisthese daily newspaper that brag about their sports coverage and hardly ever see an item about the Giants training camp, the rookies, who's reporting and who s looking good'* Perhaps,it’s due to the Giants public relations office which just might be in a state of turmoil since it unloaded Don Smith, who had done more than an adequate job We recall when Vinny was traded by the Vikings and Jim Semch was having difficulty contacting him so he called the Giants and got Smith on the phoneSmith was more than cooperative He passed out more information than Vinny’s so-called press agent, who reportedly is a fnend Vin made when the Southington hero was working at a swim club in Far rrungton. In any event,we're as interested tn Vinny’s success as you are and want to pass on all we know Hopefully, the Giants front office will respond to our plea for better communication.As for Vin Clements, the case is simple He can make the grade if HE wants to We all believe that. However, it takes a little help from the coaches Since Bud Grant at Minnesota did not like rookies over veterans, Vinny is in good hands with youthful Alex who needs rookies over veteransThe ability Clements has he should do well, no matter where the Giants put him The class he has depends on how Webster feels it s worth having him around or trading him off to some club who likes slender. ex-UConn starsNew Post For Roger At WheatonRoger J Sullivan, formerly of Southington and now a resident of Attleboro, Mass has been appointed Associate Director of Development and Public Relations at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass He is the son of Mr and Mrs John T Sulhvan of 81 Cedar Drive and is married to the former Susan D Angelo of Bristol St, Southington The Sullivans have a two year old son, Robert Sullivan, who attended local schools and played varsity football for the high school, is also a Wesleyan University graduate He was formerly assistant director of development and director of central records and research at Wesleyan where he had concerned himself extensively with computer and microfilm possibilities in the area of administrative support with external and fund raising programs He is presently working towards a master’s degree m management scienceROGER J. SULLIVANAmerican aportsmm, and the Mini-Midgets. The Sportsmen are six cylinder, full bodied stock cars which allow the beginner to break Into racing inexpensively. The Mtni-Midgets are small scale midgets, which are open cockpit type cars, withsmall wheels. The minis have small tubular frames, much like an over steed go cart. They are powered by chain saw engines, and race around the small tri-oval in the Stafford infield.To go to a stock car race and enjoy It, a person must have a basic idea of the procedure In which a race Is run. All the area ovals follow the same basic procedure.To qualify for the main event, the cars which show up for the race must run, and place well tn a heat. The cars are first divided up into groups for theheats. Out of each heat a predetermined number of cars will qualify for the feature. It maybe the first eight cars across the line. Then t^p rest mustrun the consolation event, calledthe “const” Out of the event a number of cars that didn’t make it in the heats, will make the feature. The rest, who didn’t qualify cannot race. The heats and consl are usually ten or flteen laps.The flagman Is the person who controls the cars on the track. At the beginning of the race he waves a green flag to start therace. If there is an accident, or spin out, he waves a yellow flag for the drivers to slow down and stay in line. If there is a bad accident, a red flag is waved, meaning that the cars) must stop in line. When there is one lap to go, a white flag Is waved, and a checkered flag Ls waved at the end of the race. A black flag Ls given to a car when the flag man disqualifies it during thp race ( usually because he sees some mechanical trouble with the car), A blue flag with a horizontal yellow stripe is waved to a slower car a faster car is lapping him.
Newspaper Details
Southington News
Southington, Connecticut, US
Wed, Jul 26, 1972
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Thomas S.
NY, USA 03 Sep 2020
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