On Friday October 12th, Senior Tour Auto Racers closed their 2018 running season at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park as part of the “Sunoco World Series.”  As we all know this is the CROWN JEWEL event for Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, with 17 divisions of racing, STAR was proud to be one of these touring divisions. STAR drivers rolled in one by one to fill the pit area with 20 of the most beautiful vintage racecars from all over the New England states and Canada. Cars from Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York joined together to give Thompson Speedway a touch of Vintage Racing at its best! It was nice to see so many fans and pass drivers roaming around the STAR pit area talking to the drivers and sharing stories of their days at Thompson Speedway.  But I think the best part was to see so many drivers just having the time of their lives with jokes and pranks it make you feel proud to have a great group of racers come together! Congratulations goes out to our winners Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 Pinto for taking down the last checkered for the Modified Division for 2018 and Congratulations to Rick MacDowell from Ma in his #76 Camero for taking down the last checkered for the Sportsmen division. Both victory winners were brought to Victory Lane to be interviewed and presented with beautiful Sunoco trophies, also  Sunoco hats were presented to them for their win and from Thompson, which took my breath away, a beautiful case sketched with Thompson World Series with a baseball bat that had a carving on it “Champion” and a baseball with STAR embroidered on it!  But the weekend was not over for STAR, President Charlie Lima was on display with his #2X coupe for the entire weekend so the fans could enjoy the vintage car up close, reminiscing over days long past and names forgotten.  STAR would like to thank Charlie Lima from Ma with his #2X coupe for displaying his car and taking the time to talk to the fans. It was worth it, more new cars on their way for 2019!  It was great to see so many fans stopping by to look at the car, taking pictures with the car and sharing stories.  Thank you Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park and your entire staff for a night that we at STAR will remember for a long time!

The second part of the “Double Header Weekend”, White Mountains Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, NH would be the scene for the Senior Tour Auto Racers.  Just the night before STAR was at Lee USA Speedway and a lot of the racers made the second trip to White Mountains.  Those that didn’t missed out on a great day!  It was nice to see those that didn’t make it to Lee show up at White Mountains.  The car count was great and the racing was fantastic.  Cars from all over New England and Canada joined in on the FUN!

Thunder in the Mountains” and that just what it was as the Senior Tour Auto Racers rolled into White Mountains Motorsports Park on August 25th.  You could hear the echoes of the engines throughout the mountains as these vintage modifieds have a sound of their own!  STAR would walk the fans of WMMP back into time with vintage racing at its best!

The day started for STAR with warm-ups from 1 to 3, giving both divisions equal time on the track to get their cars ready for heats and features that would follow that night. And these guys had a blast with the warm up time.  To be able to go in and out for 2 hours just trying their cars out!  You could not ask for more!  Oh yes and Mother Nature was giving us another great day of racing.

The first to hit the asphalt was the Sportsmen division for their heat race.  It would be new member Stephane Laliberte from Quebec Canada in his #66 Mustang to take down the first checkered for the evening and the heat win for the Sportsmen division.  Congratulations Stephane!

The Modifieds were lined up and ready for their heat race. It was a tight race with positions switching from lap to lap.  Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X coupe made his move and took down the second checkered and the heat win for the Modified division.

Back in the pits like usually, guys were cooking hotdogs and hamburgers for the members, gathering together for their story time, laughs and just having FUN!

Then it was time for the feature races to take place.  In the Sportsmen division it was Rookie Richard Butler from Ma in is #21 coupe to take the checkered and his first win for the Sportsmen division of STAR.  Congratulations Richard!  Art Merchant from Ma in his #64 coupe took a second and finishing off the pack with a third was Curt Snow from Ma in his #110 coupe.   The coupes ruled that night in the Sportsmen division!  Top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.

 In the Modified division it would be Jocelyn Laliberte from Quebec Canada in his #61QC Pinto to take the checkered and the feature win for the Modifieds.  Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X coupe trailed Liberte pulling off a close second.  Alan Zemla from Me in his #43 coupe finished off the pack with a third.   Top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.  It was nice to see the winners inter act with the crowd, making jokes and the fans enjoyed the jokes and laughs, TRUE SPORTSMENSHIP GUYS!

STAR would like to thank White Mountains Motorsports Park and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a great day and night at WMMP!  See you next year!

STAR would like to thank all the car owners and drivers who came out for the Double Header Weekend.  The racing was great and the best part was we all went home the way we came.  GREAT RACING GENTLEMEN!   THIS IS ONE PROUD LITTLE RACE DIRECTOR!

Senior Tour Auto Racers was on tap at the Lee USA Speedway in Lee NH on August 24^th.  Mother Nature was taking a weekend off and it would be nothing but green for all the tracks this weekend.  Most of the tracks have had multiple cancellations in a row because of the unbelievable weekends that we have been getting.  If it did not rain on Fridays then it would rain on Saturdays.  But this weekend it was going to be great weather and we at STAR could not have been happier because it was going to be a double header this weekend, first Lee USA Speedway on Friday and then off to White Mountains Motorsports Park for Saturday.   

The car count was great as STAR filled the pit area of Lee USA Speedway with cars from all over the New England states and Canada. Star started their day with rounds of practice.  Star was scheduled for heats and features for both of their divisions.

The first to hit the track was the Sportsmen division for their heat race.  The green came down and it was race time!  Richard Eastman from Ma in his #0 Pinto was the first to take down the checkered that evening for the tour.  It was Robert Harless from NY in his #8 sedan to take second and to top off the pack with a third it was Curt Snow from Ma in his #110 coupe.

The Modifieds were lined up and ready to hit the asphalt for their heat race.   It was a close finish as Jocelyn Lilberte from Canada in his #61QC Pinto drove to the win with Dwight Pickard from Me in his #16ME Vega just inches away to take down a second.  Right behind Pickard was Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X coupe to top the pack off with a third.

 Later on in the evening STAR hit the track for their features.  First up was the Sportsmen division.  Hometown Boy Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe took down the checkered and victory for the Sportsmen that evening.  Curt Snow from Ma in his #110 coupe pulled a second for the evening and to finish off the pack with a third was new member David Gryskwicz from Me with his #44 Vega. Top three was brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.

In the Modified division it was Scott Tucker from Ma in his #79 Pinto to take the victory for the Modified division.  James Allen from Ma in his #44 Mustang finished second and topping of the pack with a third was Dwight Pickard from Me in his #16ME Vega.  I have to say it look like the old days when the packs ran tight, inches apart from each other and not one rubbing any nerve bars or bumpers.  Great Racing Gentlemen!  The top three was brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.

Senior Tour Auto Racers would like to thank Lee USA Speedway and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a “Great Night of Racing”. 

Oh by the way, Thanks Mother Nature for taking a night off!!! Now it is off to White Mountains Motorsports Park for part two of the double header weekend!

On August 10th, Claremont Speedway in Claremont, NH was the next stop for the tour.  The weather was beautiful and with all the rain we have had every Saturday we were LUCKY that STAR raced on a Friday night, cause the next day Saturday oh yeah “IT RAINED”!   Claremont Speedway, Claremont NH for “80’s Night” a night of “REAL OLE SCHOOL RACING”!  The day would bring the tour 3 rounds of warmups, and the evening would bring the tour 2 heats and 2 features.

First the Sportsmen hit the track for their heat race.  It was Gary Moore from NH in the 7X coupe to shoot out and take the lead on the Sportsmen and dominated the first win and checkered for the tour that evening.  The Modifieds were lined up and ready to hit the asphalt.  Thomas Trempe from NH in his #7X Mustang  was not about to give this win up!  Trempe held his line and took the second checkered for the evening for the Modified heat win.  Just a note both cars have the #7X coincidence?

Then it was back to the pits where you could see the members jumping in to help out where ever they could to get all out for the features. At some point there were 5 guys working on a car just to make sure all was good!  TEAM WORK!

Then it was feature time!  Oh yes STAR gave the crowd just what they have been waiting for, “REAL OLE FASHION RACING THE RIGHT WAY!” from the beginning to the end.  Race Director Mary Lima stood on the flag stand turning the group over to Claremont’s George Powers who would walk the fans back into time and show them how real racing was started….From the middle of the track!  George stood in the middle of the track for feature races, for both the STAR Sportsmen and Modified divisions, bringing them down, crossing them over, winding them up and waving the green flag all from the middle of the track.  WHAT A HEAD RUSH!  George has been doing this with STAR for over 18 years and it is always a hit!  

The Sportsmen were off and it was Jim Torok from CT in his #04 Pinto to show the Sportsmen how it was done by dominating the field and taking down the win for the Sportsmen that evening.   Dwight Pickard from Me in his #16me Vega and Curt Snow from Ma in the #110 coupe battle for second, with Pickard taking down the second place and Snow topping off the pack with a third.  The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview.

The Modifieds were in place and ready to hit the track for their feature race.  Once more George Powers stood in the middle of the track, crossing them over and then throwing down the green flag as the ZOOMED by him and it was off to racing!  The pack was tight switching positions lap from lap but when the checkered came down in was on Bobby Turner from Me in his #7 Omni to take the win for the Modified division that night! Breathing down Turner was Daniel Ferland from NH in his #21 Pinto and Arthur Hannaford from Me in his #7 Malibu, Ferland taking down the second with Hannaford topping the pack off with a third. WHOW talk about a close race!  The top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview.

 

STAR would like to thank Claremont Speedway their entire staff and to George Powers for making a night we will all remember for a very long time!

On August 5th Hudson Speedway in Hudson, NH was the scene for the Senior Tour Auto Racers for the second part of their double header weekend.  Unfortunately STAR had just been rained out the night before at Monadnock Speedway, but the weather for Hudson was hot, sunny and all but a green for racing!

 It was a special night at Hudson Speedway as it was the 16th “Annual Don Hayes Memorial”.  Mr. Hayes was the first photographer/videographer who was associated with the speedway from its first opening season in 1948 until 2001.  STAR was proud to be part of this special night!

STAR started their day with 2 sets of warm-ups for both divisions and the evening would bring the tour 2 heats and 2 features.

The Sportsmen hit the track first for their heat race.  It would be hometown boy Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe to take down the first checkered for the tour that evening and the heat win for the Sportsmen division.  The Modifieds were lined up and ready to hit the asphalt for their heat race.  Art Merchant from Ma in his #64 coupe took down the second checkered and the win for the Modified heat race.  Coupes ruled that evening for the heat races.  Congratulations gentlemen well done!

At feature time the Sportsmen were up first for their feature.  It was Dan Hayes from FL in the #7 Vega to take the feature and capture the win for the Sportsmen division.  Robert Harless from NY in the #8 sedan pulled a very close second and rounding out the pack with a third was Frank Foley from Ma in his #3 Camero.   Top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with beautiful plaques.

The Modifieds were staged and ready to go at their feature.  When the last checkered flag flew it was on Dwight Pickard from Me in his #16ME Vega to take the victory for the Modified feature.  Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X coupe closed in with a very close second and right behind him was Thomas Trempe from NH in his #7X Mustang to top the pack off with a third. Top three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with beautiful plaques.

STAR would like to thank Hudson Speedway and their entire staff for all their hospitality and for letting us be part of this special evening for Don Hayes Memorial.

It was “Nostalgia Night” at The New London Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Ct on July 28th, which was the next stop for the Senior Tour Auto Racers.  It was so great to see so many fans and past drivers of the Speedbowl stop by and say “hello” and talk to the owners about their cars. This has always been a huge hit and I was so glad to see that the new management of the Speedbowl continued this show!

STAR would like to thank Scott Poirier from Ct with his #73 Pinto and Ron Carlson from Ct with his #44 coupe for putting their cars on display on the midway for the fans.   It is always nice for the fans to see the cars up close so thank you gentlemen!

STAR’s  day would be 2 rounds of practice, 2 heats and 2 features.  The weather was beautiful, but we all know that can change in a minute!  Rain was in the forecast but when?  Would we beat Mother Nature again?

First to hit the track was the Sportsmen division for heat race.  It was Rick MacDowell from Ma in his #76 Camero to take down the win for the Sportsmen and the first of four flags for the tour.  MacDowell was awarded with a heat trophy for his win!

The Modifieds were lined up and ready to hit the asphalt for their heat race.  Dwight Pickard from Me in his #16ME Vega showed the way for the modifieds and took down the second flag for the tour. This is the first checked with the tour for Pickard, congratulations!  Pickard was awarded with a heat trophy for his win!

Then it was back to the pit area where the jokes and the laughter began!  The STAR family knows how to have fun both on and off the track.  These members know how to help each other to make sure all is ready for the feature.  You could see them in the pits busy helping out each other and that is what makes me proud, the STAR family puts their club first!

I think the highlight of the night was to see the President and Vice President of STAR cooking hotdogs and hamburgers on the grills for all the members!  They can drive cars but cooking ?????

Then it was feature time. First up was the Sportsmen division where Bob Seward from Ma in his #69b coupe took down the checkered for the evening for the Sportsmen division.  Hometown boy Jim Torok  from Ct in his #04 Pinto took a very close 2^nd and rounding out the pack with a third was Joe Keefner from Ma in his #99 Gremlin.  Seward was brought to Victory Lane for an out of car interview and awarded with a trophy.

The Modifieds were lined up and ready to hit the asphalt.  It would be Gregg Massini from Ma in his #19 Vega wagon to take the last checkered for the tour.  Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X coupe took down a very close second and topping off the pack with a third was James Allen from Ma in his #44 Mustang .  Massini was brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with a trophy.

Just as STAR exited the track the sprinkles began and in minutes it was a downpour that you could not believe, but we once more beat Mother Nature!

 

STAR would like to thank The New London Waterford Speedbowl and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a night to remember!       

 

BIG – FAST – FUN  this is the slogan for Wiscasset Speedway and believe me when I say this slogan fits.  On July 21^st Senior Tour made it annual visit to Wiscasset Speedway in Wiscasset Maine.  If you never been here you need to go!  The racing is great and the track owners and staff are unbelievable.  If you want to have fun and a great night of racing make a visit to Wiscasset Speedway you will not regret it!

 

The weather was hot and steamy and so were the cars!  What a great night of racing!  It was so great to see some members of the Wicked Good Racing come and join in on the fun.  Two great clubs coming together, showing how vintage racing is done!  You could hear the laughter and joking in the pits, which made me so proud to see how vintage clubs can get together and have a great time!

 

STAR’s day started with warm up for both divisions and the evening would bring the tour 2 heats and 2 features.

 

First up to hit the asphalt was the Sportsmen division for their heat race.  It was John Mulcahy from Ma in his #57 Mustang  showing the Sportsmen how it was done by taking down the first checkered for the tour for the evening. The Modified were position and ready to hit the track for their heat race.  Hometown boy Bobby Turner from Me in his #7 Omni wheeled his way to the front and took down the second checkered for the tour.

 

Between the heats and features the members gathered together for a barbecue, having a good time telling stories and just letting their hair down.

 

At feature time it was the Sportsmen up first for their feature race.  Curt Snow from Ma in his #110 coupe took down the victory for the Sportsmen.  Art Merchant  from Ma in his #64 Coupe closed in for a close second and rounded out the pack with a third was Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe.  All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.  Coupes ruled tonight!

 

The Modifieds where staged and ready for their feature.  The pack was tight and these mod drivers drove inches apart.  When the last flag came down it was on Arthur Hannaford from Me in his #71 Malibu.  Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2X Coupe took a second by inches and pulling off a third was Scott Tucker from Me in his #79 Pinto.  All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.

 

STAR would like to thank Wiscasset Speedway and their entire staff for making our visit to Maine an unforgettable one.    

It was time to have a talk with Mother Nature, Women on Women, Enough is Enough!  With rain again in the forecast for the weekend this would put a damper on racing again!  So she gave a window and Star Speedway in Epping, NH took the chance to get in some racing and it paid off!  All but the last 15 minutes of 7 divisions of racing got to do racing on 6/23, with all the surrounding tracks from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine cancelling. We at Senior Tour Auto Racers were one of those tours scheduled that night and with the determination of the staff at Star Speedway we got a GREAT night of racing in.  So hats off to the staff of Star Speedway and also to all the divisions there that night for pushing to be on time and to have a very limited number of cautions from all the divisions that night, it made the show go quickly and we almost beat Mother Nature!  

Senior Tour would like to thank all the members that took the chance with the weather the way it was.  But it paid off!  STAR was in for warm ups and two heats and two features that day and we got it all in!  THANKS GUYS!

First up was the STAR Sportsman heat were Frank Foley from Massachusetts in his #3 Camero took down the first checkered for the tour.

Next up was the Modified heat, were Scott Tucker from Maine in his #79 Pinto took down the second checkered for the tour.

Between heats and features the members of STAR gathered together in the pits with Chef Curt Snow cooking hotdogs and hamburgers for the tour.  Now the FUN began!  You could hear the laughter and joking going on.  I think this is the best part when a tour gathers together, letting their hair down and just having a good time!

Then it was feature time.  The Sportsmen hit the asphalt first. It would be Rookie Mike Rucci from Massachusetts in his #00 Corvair to take down the third checkered for the tour and the win for the Sportsmen division.  John Mulcahy from Massachusetts in his #57 Mustang pulled off a close second and topping off the pack with a third was Arthur Merchant from Massachusetts in his #64 coupe.  Flawless and tight racing, Great Job, green to checker!  All three were pulled in the infield to wait for the Modified finishes.

Now it was time for the Modifieds to hit the track.  Oh the sky was getting darker and would Mother Nature hold off!  YES!  The Modifieds open up and it was off to racing!  Thomas Trempe from New Hampshire in his # 7X Mustang would take down the win and the last checkered for the tour that evening.  Alan Zemla from Maine in his #43 coupe pulled off a second and rounding out the pack with a third was Arthur Hannaford from Maine in his #71ME Malibu.  All three Modifieds were brought trackside and joining them would be the top three Sportsmen.  It was an out of car interview and all three Sportsmen and Modifieds were awarded with trophies.  

Senior Tour would like to thank STAR Speedway and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a great night of racing and FUN!