Florida Speedweeks Modified Reunion 2013

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Vic Kangas was better known as a great Crew Chief. He was even featured on the old Collecter Card series. He was crew chief on this car, and I guess they did pretty well... won the Nascar Busch Series Championship with Joe Nemechek

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Geoff Yoder is another whose help has been invaluable over the years, and 1 of the guys that 'refused' to let the Reunion die off. If it wasn't for him... I was gonna be DONE.

First pic is his earliest car, at the famous Reading Fairgrounds alongside legendary Fuzzy Van Horn.

The second pic is Geoff in the Richie Evans car that paces the field for the Evans Memorial 100, along with who I believe to be Richie's kids, Tara and Richie Jr.

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Another guy that is helping out in a big way this year, is JT Dunn shown here in a cool Vega bodied mod. Wish I could've found a full-frame shot of this car. He also has a Cavalier bodied Mod, and not sure what he's bringing this year.

JT & wife Karen do a lot for the DAARA club, and are very nice people.

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Dennis Daley, although not a racer, brings an AMAZING collection of old programs, magazines and photo albums. You can name damn near any racer, or any car they ever drove, and chances are he can pull out a picture of it RIGHT NOW. Great guy, and his collection is always a big hit with the racers and fans.

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New Jersey great, Don Stives in the beautiful Norcia 81.

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Grand Island NY's Jim McGraw is coming. Here are both his Pinto Mod, and a Ford LM. Always loved the bright colors... which aren't as visible here. In person, you could TELL where Jim was on the track.

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Vintage racer Richard Pastor comes all the way in from Maryland.

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Also coming is the "tied-for King" of Florida racing history, Marty Little... (with Dave Westerman) who I have a ton of respect for. One of the coolest interviews I did, was asking Marty how he could write a play-by-play story, about a track he wasn't within 200 miles at the time... Takes talent & knowledge to make you feel like YOU were there, when even HE wasn't there...! Marty, you're one of the guys I really look up to.

Alongside him... another Hall of Famer, Joe Winchell. Joe had BETTER show up this time, or I'm gonna have to renege on a long-standing bet.... IF he comes to my reunions... I don't agree with ANYTHING that a certain person has to say... Joe, the balls in YOUR court....!!!!

Sorry to most.... an inside joke here........

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Dave Jarrett has both a Vintage Mod, and a Vintage Sprint. His son Kelly has won in both Mini-Stocks, and Modifieds, and now 3rd generation Matt Jarrett is wheeling a Mod & a Super Stock. Got his first Mod win at OSW a few months ago.

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Mark May in a very cool Dodge Challenger.

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Terry St. Amand, and brother Bob, were long time racers at Ransomville (NY) and Merritville (Ont) Speedways for several years. This is a cool shot of an old early 60's ("64?) Chevy Late Model that Terry drove

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Ronnie Dunstan has driven a bunch of different rides over the years. Mod's, Late Models, Legends, Sprints and USAC Silver Crown cars (and probably more).

Geoff Yoder even owns a Mod that Ronnie was SUPPOSED to drive, but some rules changed, the original owner parked it, and it has never run a competetive lap. It's a gorgeous Falcon bodied car.. Geoff owns it now, but Ronnie hasn't seen it in years. His name is on the roof, but never got to drive it.

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Dave Kelly, from Mackungie PA, was just getting REAL good at Mods, and won the final feature EVER at the famous reading Fairgrounds. When it closed, he went Sprint car racing with the URC club. He turned the record books upside down, and is still one of, if not THE leader in all-time wins.

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Dave Dion was never really a Modified racer, although I'm betting he has at least a few times... BUT, Dave is a Legend up North just the same. He's run Fords almost exclusively all his career, does it all with a low budget and several brothers making up the team, and Berlin City Ford who has been on the side of most of Dions cars, through several hundred wins. He's even been in a few Nascar races many years ago.

Dave is also on this years organizing commitee, though I still haven't met him personally.

For me, this is one I'm really looking forward to... there's been very few racers that are "bucket list" racers that I never got to see race. When Dave retired, I figured that chance wouldn't come. Little did I know that I now get to MEET him....!

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Ernie Saxton has been a loooooong time fixture in PA. He announces weekly at Grandview Speedway, writes a weekly column in Area Auto Racing News, and I believe helped organize the now legendary Freedom 76 at grandview. It's THE most prestigious race for 358 Modifieds in PA.