I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel a little disrespect coming from down South towards us “Yankees.” They think they’re so wonderful? How come every time we match up on the racetrack (PASS South, North-South Shootout, etc.) we hand them their butts? And yet how often does a driver from up here get a REAL shot at driving a Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Craftsman Truck racecar?

Yes, I know about Joey Logano. But he might just be the exception that proves the rule. Did he head south to make his mark because he knew if he did it up here no one would give him the chance that he’s currently taking advantage of to prove he’s one of the best young drivers in the country? Is he really that much better than Bobby Santos, or Derek Ramstrom, or Randy Cabral, or a dozen other “Yankees?”

Do you think he is? Do you think those Sprint Cup kids who keep losing their rides are on a different level than the best young local talent? Or do you think ya gotta be a good ole’ boy to get a real shot at NASCAR stardom?

The latest edition of Shorttrack is in the mail to subscribers and will be on your favorite newsstand or at the track in the next couple of weeks (another reason YOU should subscribe).

You can read about two hot late model drivers, Thunder Road’s Joey Becker and Seekonk pro stocker Matt Hudon. RA Silva provides us with an opportunity to check out some four-door monsters that once roamed the shorttracks of New England, and Thompson racer Larry Barnett follows up on his advice for restart setups in our last issue with some tips on controlling race-starts from the driver’s seat.

I also share with you the experience of racing a midget on dirt, as Don Douville gave me a chance to race one of his quad-4 midgets at Whip City Speedway. It was a wild experience, to say the least. I have more to say in print.

But Don is going further than that. This longtime midget builder continually collects midget-components as he builds cars to race, rent and sell in this growing division. He’s offered Shorttrack the parts needed to put together our own midget. We’ll be sharing the process with you folks over the next few issues - from the first inventory of components to our education in racecar-setup on the dirt at Whip City. Read the story in this issue and you’ll see how far we have to go.

So you’ve just been left with a racetrack in your uncle’s will. Now is the chance to introduce that one perfect racing division you’ve always dreamed about.

What would it be? And don’t say “I’d have pro stocks.” Use a little imagination. What needs of racers - or fans - aren’t being met by any existing division?

Or tour. It can be a touring series if that’s what you have in mind.  Would it be a new low-buck series? Or something more exotic than has ever hit a shorttrack? Does it take advantage of some potent engine being used by an auto manufacturer - or in a motorcycle? Is it a “mini” version of some other series?

Give us your thoughts. Hey, it’s your racetrack now.

For example, I’ve pondered over the years a mini-late model-type division powered by Ford’s ubitquitous SOHC 4 in either 2.0 or 2.3 configuration. There are tons out there as well as various OEM street-performance components Ford has utilized over the years that could be built up into a decent racing engine, dropped in a Legacy-type custom-built car.

But that’s just an example. What’s your idea?

Yes, the May/June issue should be arriving at your door any time now.

Read about barnstormer Russ Hersey and his new perspective of racing, and Randy Potter, the overnight sensation of ACT who’s been at it for two decades. Or see the the summer project Derek Ramstrom and his dad put together for school.

Vintage fans enjoy the work of Steve Pellerin. The racing historian shares his memories of the amazing Homer Drew in his first contribution to our pages. Nice to have Steve aboard.

And Pete Zanardi shares a couple of his favorite stories about Bob Garbarino and the v-4 modified over the years.

And Larry Barnett is back to share more insight into racing, this time explaining that winning restarts starts in the shop.

If you don’t subscribe, look for this issue at your favorite track or selected newsstands in the next couple of weeks.

But why DON’T you subscribe?

I just heard that Ralph Nason has decided he will not operate Unity Raceway this year, reportedly due to the economy.

I won’t offer an opinion over what this might mean to the bigger picture of racing in New England, as I believe it’s not necessarily reflective over the overall scene for promoters, as dire as that might be. I also won’t speculate about how the pending lawsuit against the track by Johnny Crawford might have been a factor.

I WILL ask where teams planning to run there can go at this late date ( it would have been nice if the decision was made sooner; maybe Ralph was hanging on trying to make the season happen) without having to make wholesale changes their cars. That’s the important issue of the moment.

You might be aware of efforts down at Stafford Speedway to create a proprietory, custom-fabricated “metric chassis” in repsonse to the reported shortage of A-Body GM cars from which to salvage chassis for streeters and southern New England style limited late model sportsmen.

While this is a logical and proactive response to this issue, it further calls into question whether the days of building racecars from abandoned street-iron are coming to an end.

Is junkyard-engineering a dying art? Will all racecar components ultimately come from a catalog? Could a modified - a REAL modified - be built out of the pieces one might find in a salvage yard or on the backlot of a used-car dealer today?

That in and of itself has been an intriguing issue to ponder for some time.  Might you use a pickup frame (maybe a compact p/up), the sheet metal from a compact car (A Neon, for instance), a 9-inch Ford rear, V-8, etc., to build something that might actually go? 

This is the category to come to when you want to respond to anything you see in the pages of Shorttrack Magazine, be it the views of one of our columnists, information about someone discussed in one of our features, an item in our Loose Talk, even a photo or ad.

Just make clear to what you are replying and, please, keep it civil.  Name-calling makes clearer only that you have nothing to say.

Thanks.

Here is the NEMA release regarding the crash that took the life of midget-driver Shane Hammond April 7 at Thompson Speedway. We present it here without comment or speculation beyond stating that the Connecticut DMV will assuredly investigate this accident and that in the meantime pointing fingers can only be premature at best and obstructive at worse.

Feel free, however, to share your own thoughts about Shane, his life and career.

“NEMA’s Shane Hammond Succumbs at Thompson

“Shane Hammond, one of the Northeastern Midget Association young stalwarts, died Sunday from “traumatic injuries” sustained in a crash at Thompson International Speedway’s season-opening Icebreaker. The crash occurred on the fourth lap of the scheduled 25-lapper.

“The last fatality for NEMA was Ed Clothier at Westboro Speedway on June 19, 1965.”

Hello dear readers/bloggers/whatever:

We’ve just wrapped up the May/June issue of Shorttrack which should be in your hot little hands by the end of April. I won’t spill the bag about what’s in this issue yet, but I will share with you the issue’s issue for you to consider and comment on.

With the state of the art in road cars being so far removed from the racetrack, I’m wondering what influence the former should have on the latter.

Compact cars are set to re-emerge as the typical ride in America today. I’m talking four-cylinder, fuel injection, front-wheel-drive - and small. These cars weren’t exactly ignored at shorttracks. Many mini-stock-type roadrunner divisions utilized such cars as mini-beaters. But late models still are the headliner at most racetracks. These cars are based on technology that was stagnating 20 years ago.  Should the current high-end in the state of the stockcar art be based on essientially 1950s technology?

Is there a place for front-wheel-drive in stock car racing? How about four cylinders? Or independent suspension? Fuel injection?

Or should all that be ignored in favor of preserving the purity of racing traditions and sport itiself. After all, people didn’t start parking their racehorses after cars became the transportation norm. Well, some did. I guess that’s how auto racing got started.

 Anyway, the forum is yours. Let’s hear what you think.

Subscribers, just  letting you know the March/April issue is in the hands of our wonderful US Postal Service.

Look for Sheila Somers’s fine piece on the weekday professions of a few notable Connecticut racers, Todd Baptista’s take on Seekonk late model racer Gerry DeGasparre, and some tips for “squaring your rear” from many-time blogger and sportsman driver Larry Barnett.

For you mod fans we feature another vintage photo contribution from the RA Silvia Collection. And for open-wheel fans whether you’re into vintage or not you’ll love our centrerfold.