October 25th.................
Flamboro Speedway
Race #32
5 Features Raced....Personal High 
753 In A Row
High Lites Late Models
* 26 Late Models
* Steve Laking wins overall
* David gets 3rd overall
* We get 13th overall
* Bad wreck in 3rd feature
* David gets blamed for the wreck...more on that
* 588 final
Results
1st Feature............15th
2nd Feature...........12th
3rd Feature...........10th
Winnings
$450
Repairs
complete rebuild....it's due
High Lites Modified
* 15 cars
* Rob Warnes takes both features
* We have great night
* Car likes the 8" tires
* 563 final
Results
1st Feature..........4th
2nd Feature.........3rd
Winnings
$425
Repairs
Compele overhaul....lots of spares...we have none
Crew
Lloyd, Daryl, Corey, Jack and James
Conclusion
After the incredibly busy season, mostly travelling back and forth to Owen Sound, running 3 points series, (OSCAAR, Sauble and Full Throttle), completing a 32 race night schedule, and doing 75% of it with a bare minimum pit crew, the end of this season would have been a blessing to most people going through what we did. But there was an opportunity for my team and me to make the final night at Flamboro Speedway a record breaking event.
This season though more hectic than any in the past, for the above reasons that were magnified by trying to move 2 cars at once for double car nights, or double weekends. I had to rely on help from Jason Legge who implemented the duty of brining the Thunder Car, or the Late Model to Full Throttle Motor Speedway to Glenn Schnurr, Scoob or Corey Adams. I could not have made this season if it was not for Jason Legge. His help, generosity, goodness and support were incredibly appreciative by me and Lloyd, who was also a blessing making 23 of the 32 nights of our schedule.
This night was another that would be hectic but for a different reason. It would be the first time in my career that I would run 5 features in one night. My record is 3, but many drivers have 3, probably hundreds who have competed in the Grisdale Triple Crown races over the past 12 years or more, but I don’t many that would have 4 or any that would have 5, but regardless of the rest, it would be a record for our team, because the most I ran ever was 3 in one night, and to be honest, that was tiring.
There were a few things that made this possible. The original schedule was on October 2nd, we were supposed to run one feature that night, but due to a car climbing the wall and tearing down 25 feet of fence, the delay made it impossible for the track to get all qualifying in that night, so they cancelled it for the next day and moved the show to October 24th, with the rain date the 25th. So now I had the opportunity to do it, 3 Late Model 50 lap features, and 2 thirty lap Mod features in one day.
To make it easier for Lloyd and I, we were blessed with the help of Daryl, Corey, Jack and James Horner. Then there was the weather, it was cool, not 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but likely 50 F, making the loss of energy from heat nonexistent. There would be loss of energy from age and the fact of getting out and jumping into another car, but with the cooler temperatures, exhaustion would not be a factor from the heat.
We did have to make 2 trips to get both cars to the track. Lloyd and I took the Mod over Friday night and then brought the Late Model the next morning.
We made 2 sets of hot laps in both cars and we were happy with the results.
My only complaint was the brakes on the Late Model, a low pedal, not very good compared to the Mod. I like a pedal this is firm and only moves an inch or less. That allows me to go in deeper knowing I can feather the brakes lightly. When the pedal travels too far, going in deep is tougher, the car doesn’t feel as competitive. A good brake pedal is a huge advantage even though I am not hard on brakes.
My complaint about the brakes was quickly cured when after bleeding Jack or Daryl noticed the left front rotor scored. Once the caliper was removed we discovered one of the pads was put in backwards. Not sure how that happened but it is embarrassing although I’m not the first to have done that, nor is it my first time. Perhaps during the hectic part of the season I messed up, not sure, but I will need a new rotor for 2016 and that’s okay because they should be replaced each year regardless.
Once that was done, we prepared for the first feature, the OMRS Modified. They are a good group, very fast cars, running on 8” recaps. I didn’t like the tires, but I must admit my car handled great, and the tires worked even when they appeared to be worn considerably. These recaps cost much less and last much longer than the OSCAAR 10” tires. I think the cars look meaner on the 10”, but my wallet is much fatter on the 8”.
David Gets Unlucky Crazy Injury Pre Race
While I was working on my car and getting ready for our features for both cars I went to see how David was making out. I had been too busy to talk to him and I know even though he had one car, he would be busy as well.
When I got to his car I asked where he was and Jim said in the trialer, "he cut his hand". I know there are many ways to get hurt working on a car, but when I got to David shocked me. Somehow, when he was checking his brakes, he spun the wheel and caught his thumb in the caliper, deeply cutting his thumb and crushing the nail. He was in tremendous pain. He was shaking a little and showed me his thumb, I couldn't believe it. He had a first aid kit that would help clean and wrap the wound, but the pain was not going to be something easy to deal with. Eddie and the rest of his crew got the car ready and David stayed in the trailer, almost in tears from the pain. He took Advil, but that would barely reduce the pain. Adrenalin might help it, but he would need to create that with some action and that would have to be done with the injury. He could barely squeeze his hand together. His hope was that it would subside before the features started, he had about an hour. I didn't know what to say or do, but I prayed for healing and the pain to go away. What I didn't know then, was the healing was going to be many weeks, it was a very bad injury.
Feature #1....OMRS 30 laps
We would start at the back of this OMRS feature, and that was understandable, it was our first time out this season and I wouldn’t expect to start anywhere else.
There were 14 cars out, not the best turnout but still good enough to put on a good show. The grandstands were sparse, probably because of the weather and time of year. It wasn’t really cold, but it wasn’t sit outside for 7 hours weather either.
This race went nonstop, making it tough to hope for a win. One of their top cars was on the pole, Rob Warnes, and he walked away with the race.
We had a good run, the car was awesome. I wasn’t sure how it would be after having such a terrible outing at Peterborough, but once the toe was set the car was fast.
We worked our way through the pack getting up to 6th and made 2 more passes to get into 4th. I was right on the tail of Donny Beatty #40 who was trying to get by #65 Chris Burrows, but Chris was too good off each corner and we stayed this way for the rest of the race.
I felt our car was faster than the other two, but I wasn’t going to get into bashing to get by. My crew were very happy after that run, but once in the pits I had to get out of my car and get right in the Late Model to start our 2nd feature of the night and the first of three in the Grisdale Triple Crown.
Here is the video of the race courtesy of Petalpower51
https://youtu.be/zZUCS6ja4_M
Feature #2 First of three....Grisdale Triple Crown...50 laps
Time trials would determine where we would start in the first 50 lap feature. We qualified 22 of 26 cars, but all cars made the race and that was awesome.
We had 2 new tires and 2 decent inside tires. The top cars all had 6 new tires.
The race was laden with caution laps and we were clean of all of them until I got hit from behind going into three by Chad Corcoran, who was driving his first Late Model race for his Dad.
Each of these races was 50 laps and we managed to stay on the lead lap in this one finishing 15th. Our car was handling very well. It was clear we were down on HP over the Pro Late Models, but it sure was fun to be racing back at Flamboro.
There was very little happen in this race, but the car was good for the next feature.
Feature #3
Because of our finish in the first feature we were scored 15th and on the lead lap, allowing us to start pole in the 2nd feature. I was reluctant to do that, but both Corey and Daryl said the car was good enough to take that spot. I really knew it was down on HP and starting in the front of 23 Pro Lates wasn't comforting.
I lost the lead on the start....surprise....but held onto 2nd for a while, but not long. Soon cars started passing one after the other on the outside. I knew that would happen, but that wasn't the issue. The real problem for me was taking the inside lane and faster cars getting on my bumper and pushing me out of the way.
Soon I got hit coming off turn 2, but didn't spin out, just got sideways enough for a pile of cars to pass and a bunch more to gain. There was no yellow, and I was lucky I didn't get hammered. I was disappointed, but not surprised because I knew we'd get eaten up.
I've ran many Late Model features at Flamboro, finishing in the top 3 a dozen or more times, winning 4 features. But the difference was the power, I was close to the rest if not par. Today I was miles off and getting pushed out of the way was something that I knew would happen. "You don't start up front if you can't keep up"...that's my quote....because all you're doing is forcing much faster cars to try to navigate around you. If there are many of them, even though they may not intend to hit you, they do so because of many reasons. One might be the hole closes up too fast with the slower cars, outright frustration because they get boxed behind the slower car and want no part of heading south in the field, or maybe they figure you shouldn't be there and let you have it. It's not the way to race, but it's a scenario that happens when very fast cars are all over a slower car.
All those reasons are valid at the beginning of a race when things jam up. It dosen't happen if the field of cars is fairly competitive, example, if from the front to the back the competition parity is close, or increases slowly, with the fastest cars at the back. In those cases, passing might not happen for a few laps, and by then cars are single file, especially at Flamboro. Then accidents are not as frequent because the fast cars can choose to go outside or under a slower car because they're not in a position where they feel pressured to knock someone out of the way. All my fans know when I'm in that position, I don't bang people out of the way, I usually go to the back with them until I can pass without bashing someone out of the way. Yes it's frustrating, but in todays instance, I was frustrated because I was the car that was holding everyone up. The 602 stock engine, is not capable of running with the 604 or built engines. That will change in 2016.
We finished this race in 12th spot, better than the first race, and on the lead lap. Only difference in this finish, I wouldn't be starting pole in the next race....no chance.
After the race was I was still in good shape physically and had to jump right away into the Modified......and that I was looking forward to. If they wanted me to start on the pole with that little rocket, I would have no response but smile.
Feature #4....Modified 30 Lap
By the time we got to the fourth feature of the night it was dark, and getting cold. Cold is great for race cars, and also for the driver because he is in a warm car and building up some body heat during the race.
The heat in the car is not near as much in the Mod as the Late Model. The headers on the LM go under the car, while the Mod headers go outside. The Mod is much more open as well and therefore not near as hot....but, the competition in these cars seems greater because of the maneuverability. I get very pumped racing the Mod tho I love racing both.
I started near the back again in this race, only we cars. The race was a record breaker for me, running my 4th feature in one night, never done that before. In 1969 at Pinecrest Speedway I ran 4 Demolition Derbys in one day, 3 qualifying heats and the big feature where all the money was.
This race was one of the best I've been in all year. Our car was very fast but so were a few other Mods, namely Chad Strawn. Our starting spot was okay with me, but I wasn't too happy to see the #99 of Rob Warnes up front, 3rd. He won the first race and it was supposed to be a reverse finish for the second, with the exception of new comers like me. At least that's what I thought.
On the green it only took Warnes a lap or so to get the lead. Meanwhile, one of my most exciting races ever was about to unfold over the next 30 laps. I started 8th just ahead of Chad and John Baker Jr. That was a good spot but heading down the front chute I got boxed in turn one and lost 3 spots, falling back to 11th, though I quickly got one spot back.
For the next two laps I followed Chad, who was closing in on #63 John Baker Jr. Chad got outside John and I stayed behind and on lap 7 made the passed John on the back chute and #40 Donny Beatty who was the points leader of OMRS and eventual Champion for 2015.
By lap 8 we were running 6th and 7th. We were in a tight pack single file from 2nd back to 9th as Rob Warnes grew smaller each lap. By lap 10 I tried twice to get under Chad but each time was when we were passing cars and he would check up. A few times he checked up and we lost about 4 car lengths, and allowed the cars behind to close the gap even tighter.
At the half way mark we both got by Ryan Dick, who was running decent, putting 4th and 5th. Next was Chris Borrows, who finished 2nd in the first feature. Chad was making the holes and I was following him. He got under Chris and I went with him putting us now 3rd and 4th with less than 5 laps to go.
Coming off two heading down the back chute Chad got beside the runner up and made the pass going into three. I was 2 car lengths behind, but drove in harder than I had most of the night and moved into 3rd. By then the leader was a full straightaway ahead and though we were turning faster times, there was no catching Rob without a caution.
With two laps to go I tried to get under Chad at the start finish line, it was close, we were passing a lapped car, but he made the pass and I checked up so I wouldn't hit the lapped car and followed him around. We would cross the line finishing 3rd but it sure was a great race for our team and my toughest feature competitive wise....and get this...it was my 4th feature, and 160th lap of the night. Awesome run for our team, and I was very happy with Lloyd, Daryl and Corey who worked hard on both cars.
Here is the link to the 2nd Mod race. Thanks to Petalpower51
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMPvA4fcVrI
Final Feature......Late Model 50 Lap...Record Breaking 5th Feature In One Night
I must admit, after that exciting Mod race I was ready to relax, but the 3rd Late Model feature, and my 5th for the night was already lined up, so there wasn't much time when I got back to the pits to get out of the Mod and into the Late Model.
I was tired but okay to do one more race, and break a personal record that was set with the race I just finished. I have raced 3 features in one night many times, but never 5. So far we had completed 160 lead laps with one more 50 lapper to go.
I want to talk about David in this race. We ran okay, we did finish 10th, our best of the night, and we finished on the lead lap completing 210 laps on the evening with little or no damage to both cars.
David, who raced with a badly cut thumb, had finished 6th and 4th in the first two races. He was in a lot of pain, but adrenalin and some Advil helped alleviate what he was going through. His biggest pain would come in the final feature, as a result of one of the worst Late Model crashes at Flamboro Speedway.
After this wreck Mark Watson walked to David's car and asked him why he drove hard going into three..."there was speedy dry on the track". Mark slid up and Daivd got under him. Right after that was the big wreck that started on the front chute.
Later that night others started claiming that the accident was totally David's fault. Scott Shaw posted on his page some terrible things about David, Britany Gresel said it was David's fault and Shawn Chenoweth wanted to know why the 37 car didn't go to the back after wrecking two cars (he later changed his post not accusing David of the accident), but the damage was done. Others bashed David and then Nick Goetz posted to David that he was a "no talent" and would be needing a new car in 2016.
Here is the link to see the wreck on lap two, watch it a few times to see what happened and how it could have been avoided....courtesy of Petalpower51 videos
https://youtu.be/x93DWz-9Utk
Here's my take:
On the frist lap of this race you see David get under the #3 of Mark Watson between turns 3 and 4. Mark did slide up but not because he was hit, but because of the speedy dry like he said. No racer is going to slow down when someone slides up the track, in fact they take advantage by moving into the hole that has been created.
They touch coming off 4, but not anything serious. Heading down the front chute Mark tries to get down in front of David before the start finish line. Either his spotter told Mark he was clear, and none of us have heard yet, or Mark decided on his own to cut in front of David on the straightaway at full speed. That is exactly where this disaster started. If the spotter calls "clear" the driver makes the move. If the spotter is wrong a wreck will happen. If the spotter doesn't say clear, the driver is on his own when making the move to cut in front of another car, and a wreck will happen then as well.
So the first part of this accident starts coming off four. Maybe Mark didn't want to give up the inside, he had it before he slid up between 3 and 4, but he lost it coming off 4. He was still ahead but not clear. The real problem starts when he decides or is told that it's okay to move to the inside lane. He crosses over David's nose, and gets turned slightly. That has happened to me before and I have ended up in the infield but not damaged. Anyone who cuts in front of another car and is not clear will end up in the grass if its Flamboro, or in the cement if it's the front chute at Delaware or Sunset Speedways.
The split second Mark knew he wasn't clear, he had two choices. Let the car spin to the grass, or fight it by keeping his foot in the gas. The problem with keeping his foot on the throttle is that he is out of control. So when he tries to power out of his mistake his car becomes chaotic. The problem is that he is out of track know, no more straightaway, he should be breaking because he is approaching the turn. If this incident was for the lead, Mark would have wrecked his own car, losing control and slamming the wall on his own. Unfortunately Nick was in front of him and as Nick slowed down going into turn one, the accelerating of Mark's car caught hit and body slammed both cars hard into the wall doing extensive damage. It's lucky that no one was hurt.
The reson David got blamed is politics. All the names I mentioned above are buddies and all running the same manufacture cars. The problem is, they are all wrong, totally wrong. Unfortunately the majority of those who seen it, the way it happened, said nothing or didn't know David was blamed.
David ended up finishing 3rd overall. Once the night was over he went to the hospital. On the following Monday morning his Doctor told him he could not go back to work for 2 weeks, then it was 2 months and finally he healed enough to be cleared to work on January 4th of this year.
David sent a message to Nick, well after the incident telling him he was sorry that he got wrecked, but that the accident was totally avoidable. Nicks response wasn't kind. Some friends of mine, who know all parties, one who is not only a racer but a promoter and saw it all happen says there is no way anyone should be blaming David for what happened. That's the same feeling I get from most I have talked to over the past few months.
Racers need to understand something. If you cut me off I will back out. Not very many racers will, including David, but then again why should they? Spotters are there for a reason, not to tell us how to drive the car but to tell us when it's safe and clear to move high or low. It's a very dangerous practice to cut in front of cars when not clear. Usually it wrecks your own car. In this incident it was an innocent car that got destroyed. I'm glad no one was hurt.
I understand that during the heat of the moment people don't always see what happened. That's why it is best to not attack someone until all the facts are out.
This is the first time I have posted about this, I have bit my tongue, and was heart broken reading some of the garbage written about David, but I must say that he handled it very professionally and is a true Champion.
David had a great season winning his 8th Champiosnhip, with a few more titles. He will be back in 2016 racing at Flamboro in the Late Model division.....I'll be racing with him. I can't wait to get back to Flamboro in the Late Model and looks like I wil be racing the Modified there a few times as well.
See my run down of 2015 in Diary of a Season 2016 Thanks for visiting our site and reading these letters of a Diary of a Season 2015.
maybe at darts 
....750 Consecutive 
All of the above and I love it, thank you Lord