Action Track of the East” Seekonk Speedway was the next stop for the Senior Tour Auto Racers on July 8th. STAR filled the pits with 20 cars on tap. What was so interesting is I have notice more and more coupes are returning. That night we had 12 coupes on tap!
STAR was out for an action pack night! For quite a few STAR members this is their home track and once again they were going to hit the asphalt of Seekonk. STAR started their day with warm ups and the evening show would bring the STAR group 2 heats and 2 features. It was great to see so many drivers, car owners and fans from the past and present stop by and say hello and talk with the members.
The first to go out were the sportsmen division for their 10 lap heat. What a heat this was! The Sportsmen gave it all they had, switching spots from lap to lap. Just who was going to cross the line first? Then Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe took over the lead and was not about to give it up! Stearns took the checkered with Jim Torok from Ct in his #04 Pinto to take a very close second. Art Merchant from Ma in his #64 coupe finished off the pack with a third. The modifieds were in the pits ready to come out for their 10 lap heat. One by one they entered the track and the headers gave that sound you no longer hear. Something about these open wheel vintage cars, they have a sound of their own! Tight to the pack and inches apart these STAR modified drivers drove just like the modified use to back in the days. When the checkered came down it was on Mike Ronhock from Ma in his #04 Pinto a tribute car to Seekonk legend John Tripp. Ken Bamford from RI in his #66 coupe drove to a very close second and topping of the pack with a third was James Allen from Ma in his #44 Mustang.
Later in the evening STAR was on tap for two 15 lap features. First the Sportsmen rolled out onto the track. Then the battle begun with Rick MacDowell from Ma in his #76 Camero and Tammy Barboza from Ma in her #10 Pinto, side by side till the last 2 laps MacDowell taking the checkered by inches leaving Barboza to pick up a second. Alan Zemla from Maine in his #43 coupe was breathing down on Barboza but Barboza was not giving up her second spot. Zemla finished the pack off with a third. All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.
Now it was time for the modifieds to come out for their 15-lap feature. Lap after lap these modifieds drove bumper to bumper until Charlie Lima from Ma in his #2x coupe and Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 coupe drove side by side inches apart from each other. Lap after lap it looked like a drag race. When the checkered came down it was on Lima to take the win for the modifieds. Dutch pulled off a close second but right behind Dutch was our youngest member of STAR Mike Keddy only 19 years old and pulled his #50 coupe to the third spot. COUPES RULLED THAT NIGHT! All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and award with trophies.
STAR would like to thank Seekonk Speedway and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a “GREAT NIGHT OF RACING”
