VMRA South Sound Speedway April 26, 2008

Written By Mike Clother

The sun was shinning and the birds were singing. It was the kind of spring day racers love to see. And, even better, no snow.

There were a few first night gremlins around. Chuck and Jeff Peterson both had problems with their cars during hot lapping. Both were repaired in time for time trials. Robert Rux pulled in late, just in time for the pit meeting and had to time in with no practice laps with his new set up.

Bob Fulmer showed his speed with the fast time, 15:33.

No trophy dashes were run of this night but there was still plenty of racing action. The B heat was lead off by Mel Smith and Robert Rux. Rux took the early lead until contact between Ike Hoskinson and Josh Wyne brought out the caution as both car crippled into the pits. Wyne’s car would be scratched for the night with a badly bent rear axle housing. Bobby Wheeler won the heat behind the wheel of Bob Stubbs’ car. John Mustered followed in second. Chuck Peterson, Mel Smith and Rux rounded out the finish.

The A heat had Kiel Hobbs on the pole with Mike Clother to his right. Kiel held off first lap pass attempts by Clother and Dave Trapp. Caution flags flew because of an expired motor in the new car of Jim Jones. Kiel still led on the restart but by the end of the race his car was belching water from a defective radiator cap and the crowd behind him was all jammed up trying to get by. It was a side-by-side finish for second with Clother edging out Trapp and a last minute dive by Jeff Peterson to take forth place from Fulmer. Erik McClain watched safely from behind.

Chuck Peterson sat on the pole for the 30 lap main event. He was flanked by Wheeler and followed by Mustered and Hoskinson. The first few laps saw bumper-to-bumper, side-by-side racing. Exciting stuff. Hobbs left the track with a broken camshaft. The field began to spread out and Clother began working to the lead. On lap 10 Chuck Peterson still held the lead until the right front tire of Clother contacted and rode up onto Chuck’s rear bumper. The added weight sent Peterson’s car spinning into the infield and resulted in Clother being sent the rear of the remaining cars. When the dust settled Jeff Peterson had move to the lead followed by Fulmer, Trapp, Hoskinson and Mustered. Raindrops seemed to be falling as Fulmer passed Pederson for the lead. The “rain” turned to water from Pederson’s loose radiator hose. When that loose hose let all the water out of the radiator Peterson went to the pits and the caution flag flew with one lap to go. Trapp’s car limped to the pits with a flat left front tire before the restart for one remaining crazy lap that ended in a win for Fulmer followed by Mustered, McClain, Hoskingson and Clother.

Next racing action for the Vintage Modifieds is at Port Angeles Speedway May 3rd.