HUDSON SPEEDWAY

The second stop on the double header weekend was Hudson Speedway in Hudson NH on August 11^th.  A lot of the members stayed over and new members came in for the second part of the weekend.   On hand to represent STAR were 19 beautiful vintage race cars to bring back history to Hudson.  It was a very busy pit area as the members of STAR and a crowd of fans got together for what we call pit chatter.   It was nice to see so many fans drop by to talk to the members and take photos of the cars. 

STAR would like to thank member Robert Dionne from NH for pacing the field of STAR cars with his beautiful 1968 Ford Fairlane.  It was a nice touch with a vintage pace car pacing the vintage racecars.  It gave the atmosphere if you were really back into the 60’s and the crowd cheered them on as they stated “we love watching these cars and some of them are really too beautiful to race”.

On tap for the tour were 2 heats and 2 features.  The first to hit the track was the sportsmen for their heat race.  When the green came down it was Robert Harless from NY in his #8 sedan to shoot out to take the lead on the pack.  Following Harless was Skip Stearns from NH in the #7X coupe and Alan Zemla from Me in the #43 coupe.   Then moving on the outside was Rick Calantonio from NH in the #0 Pinto.  Calantonio moved to pole overtaking Harless.  When the checkered came down it was Calantonio in the #0 Pinto to take the first victory for the evening.  Robert Harless in the #8 took a second with Skip Stearns in the 7X coupe finishing off the pack with a 3^rd.

The modified where up and ready to take down their 10 lap heat race.  When the green came down it was Bobby Turner from Me in the #7 Pinto to take the lead.  Following Turner was Danny Ferland from NH in the #21 Pinto and Ed Mulligan from RI in the #61 Pinto and Jamie Ferland in the #194 Pinto, a straight line of Pintos one after the other.  Single file racing and outside groove open for anyone who could overcome the top four.  Lap after lap the line stayed in place until the green came down on Turner in the #7 to take the 2^nd victory for the tour that evening.  Ferland in the #21 picked up a second with Mulligan finishing off the pack with a 3^rd.

It was time for the feature races of STAR.  The sportsmen hit to the track first.  When the green flew it was Alec Gause from NH in the #75 Pinto to dominate the field.  The #43 of Alan Zemla from Me pulled into 2^nd place with Joe Gause from NH in the #0 Nova following closely.  Gause with the #0 made his move to the outside to overcome Zemla to pull into 2^nd position and drove side by side with son Alec in the #75.  Again it was another night of Father VS Son just like the night before at Canaan when Jamie and Danny Ferland battled for the heat win.  But now Richard Eastman from Ma in the #0 Gremlin was making his way to the front and now slotted into 3^rd place.  Side by side Alec Gause and Joe Gause still holding 1^st and 2^nd place.  When the checkered came down it was on Dad – Joe Gause in the #0 Nova to pick up the 3^rd victory for the tour.  Alec Gause in the #75 took a very close second and to top off the pack was Eastman with the #0 Gremlin with a 3^rd.   The top three was brought to track side for an interview and awarded with trophies. 

The modifieds were staged on turn two and ready to take on their feature race.  Down came the green and Brian Robie from NH in the #7 Pinto shout out to lead the pack with Rich Mosher from Ct in the #17 coupe on his tail.  Charlie Lima from Ma in the #2X coupe and Ed Mulligan from RI in the #61 Pinto battled for 3^rd.   It was a race of states, NH, CT, Ma and RI.  Which state would make the showdown?  Lima making his way on the outside slotted into 2^nd and it was side by side racing with Lima and Robie for first and second.  Behind the leaders were Mosher and Mulligan side by side for 3^rd place.  When the checked flew it was on Charlie Lima in the 2X to take the 4^th victory for the tour.  Brian Robie in the #7 pulled in with a very close 2^nd and finishing with a 3^rd was Rich Mosher in his #17.  Massachusetts took first with New Hampshire taking 2^nd and Connecticut topping off third.  The top three was brought to track side for an interview and awarded with trophies. 

STAR would like to thank Hudson Speedway for all their hospitally and a great night of racing.