My report on NSS and the 2nd. annual modified reunion !

[carolwicks]

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! can hardly wait til next year !!! Thank you so much to ROBERT HART, KIM, Mark, and all the wonderful folks at New Smyrna Speedway for so many things.
What hospitality. I was treated in a way that I will never forget! NSS was so gracious in extending a warm welcome to the Stars of Yesterday, I will never forget Friday, February 13th, 2009 !
My first huge THANK YOU is to JERRY BINNER who made this dream come true for all of us! Jerry you know if i am alive the third reunion will be even bigger and better and I will be there for you!!!
Thank you to the STARS... there are so many to remember ! Bugsy Stevens, Leo "the Lion" Cleary, Jerry Dostie, Billy Harmon, Ronnie Bouchard, Bill Wimble, Will Cagle, Dutch Hoag, Bobby Pendergast, Marty and Janet Little, Tom Ormsby, and so many many more. As soon as Jerry and I get the list compiled, I will post all of them. My brain only retains minute amounts of information...lol Jerrys holds volumes.
A very special thank you to Jack Smith who has donated so much of his time and equipment to make the reunions such awesome memorable occasions thru his radio equipment and P.A. system. Its a 4 hour drive each way and he never complains. Jack has done more to promote Florida Short Track racing than any single person I know. THANK YOU JACK! Thank you to Bob Culbertson and Robert Howell for the videos you so tirelessly made possible. I can hardly wait to get mine!.. Thank you to Jerrys mom and sister for working so hard getting names and phone numbers. That wasnt easy... Especially when Bugsy and his cane are nearby! hahaha
Thank you to the man who walked to me and handed me a gorgeous TONY STEWART poster. What a nice surprise! I will frame that one for sure!
Thanks to Mark (announcer) for taking the pics for me on the track. There is no way I could have gotten up or down that high step.
Thank you to the man who sells the scanners in the pits. (Darned if i can think of the name). You set me up and I am very happy with the equipment. (as usual)..;-)
Thank you to George Pav...for taking care of the 2 helmets. I know Jerry was surprised and it will be short of a miracle if he doesnt sleep in it! you can never imagine how happy he is! He surely deserves it!
If i missed anyone it's because i just dont feel good and my brain is barely functioning. To everyone who helped in any way THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
ROBERT HART.... you da man! Luv ya...
carolwicks aka OZZIE

[carolwicks]

who they are...

The first is the cars of Yesterday.
Dutch Hoag
Smilin Jerry Binner
Left to right: Not sure who the first man is.. Someone help me out. Then , in straw hat with cane, is BUGSY STEVENS, a smiling happy GENE BERGEN, GENTLEMAN BILL WIMBLE, LEO "THE LION" CLEARY, and BILLY HARMON.
The last is JERRY DOSTIE !!!!!
For me, one of the highlights of this years reunion was seeing GENE BERGEN with that wonderful smile on his face. Gene lost his loving wife of many years and has had a difficult time being without her. Seeing his friends and being loved by fans he never knew, seemed to give him at least temporary happiness. that made me very happy. ;-)
have more pics and will post a few at a time.
carol

[carolwicks]

Now For The Races !!!

HOLY SMOKES !!! never have i sat so close to the edge of my seat in utter amazement!!!!!! The Richie Evans Memorial race was one i dont think any of us will ever forget. so much passing back and forth... it was just short of amazing! So clean!!!! I enjoyed all the racing but sadly missed the last late model race as i was very tired and starting to feel sick again. Had Bronchial Pneumonie a week ago. ;-) i could not miss this weekend at NSS...
I have to commend the maintenance and safety crews! WOW !!! everything went so darned smoothe! Another KUDO... the ladies room was IMMACULATE from start to finish! Even had a very fresh clean smell... Great job to whoever was responsible. Food DELICIOUS and lines moved nice and fast.
All in all it was worth the long exhausting trip. ;-)
Thank you again to all of you at NSS for your hospitality and a great fun day and night!
Carol Wicks aka OZZIE
P.S. Bobby LOVED it !!!

[Boneman]

Will Cagle and Jerry "Frasson" Binner
Jim "Freight Train" Fenton and family
Rhoda Blackie lines up on pit road at NSS

[carolwicks]

Richie Evans Memorial 100 Northern Modifieds

Pos Car # Driver
1 0 Ted Christopher
2 79 Ronnie Silk
3 9 Robert Grigas III
4 59 Matt Hirshman
5 50 Kevin Goodale
6 22 Charles Hossfeld
7 91 John Jensen
8 58 Eric Goodale
9 71 Andy Seuss
10 9NH Pete Jarvis
11 2 J.R. Bartuccio
12 76 Shelly Perry
13 96 Russell (Butch) Perry
14 14 Louie Mechalides
15 2X Ryan Preece
16 80 Vinnie Annarumo
17 12 Jimmy Blewett
18 73 Jonathan McKennedy
19 17 Robbie Fuller
20 70 Timothy Zacharias
21 72 D J Chasse
22 1 Darwin Green
23 65 Dan Marcello

[Jim Fenton]

My take on MR-II

First, in general, Kudos to Jerry, Carol, Jack and everyone else who (not sure who-all helps to make this happen behind the scenes) helps keep old racin memories alive with this event. I saw some big name open-wheel guys that before this event I had only read about plus had a chance to bat the breeze with some full-fendered guys I used to trade some paint with.

Unfortunately, I had to cut-out early to get to Daytona (as most of you already know, Ricky Carmichael is my Nephew and I was anxious to get to the pits at Daytona for his debut in the NCWTS for Harvick) so I didn’t get to see more of the guys I was hoping to see at the Reunion that might’ve shown up later nor did I get to see the Richie Evans Memorial race which obviously sounded like a great race!

Now for some individual “honorable mentions”;

Jerry Binner: It was great to finally put a face with the name. As I said above, your efforts with keeping these memories alive run way above the normal call of duty and I for one appreciate it. It was a pleasure to meet you and your family. Thanks for all that you do.

Carol: What can I say; it was great seeing you again. You remind me of the Energizer Bunny with your tireless efforts with our sport. Thanks also for your hard work.

Bob Culbertson: It was good to see you again Bob. Thanks for helping me identify some Karnicians, racers, etc. that I otherwise wouldn’t have known. As card-carrying members of the old-farts club, I still envy your energy man!

Jimmy McKinley: Again, great to put a face with the name. Thanks to you also for pointing out some Karnicians I otherwise would’ve missed. Too bad we didn’t have more time to shoot the bull a little. I think we have a common bond with our respective relationships with Bryan Wescott from back in the day. It was a pleasure to meet you as well as your significant other. Best of luck with you and your family’s efforts with the Late Model.

Rex Hollinger: Good to finally meet you man! (Sorry I had you confused with the other “Bone Guy” but I got it straight now.)

Marty & Mrs. Little: I’ve been reading your stuff for many years Marty and it was just too-kewl to finally meet you and Mrs. Little. Leave it to the all-time greatest racin History Guy to straighten me out on that little detail that I took up with Buddy Griffin Friday (pictured below) while you were standing there for certain events the took place in the Florida 200 at the Gate! Here I’ve been carrying that little grudge against the wrong South-Florida hot-shoe all this time! LOL

Again, thanks to all who contributed to this event. It was fantastic!

[georgep]

2010 will be BIGGER for sure.
Good job all!

[flvideo]

Hey Guys

I got home from Auburndale and got my belly full and thought I'd get on here a little. Yes the re-union was great. I was especially happy to meet the Bug man as I used to hear him called frequently, Bugs Stevens. As I shot the interviews, I saw Bugs goose Jerrys sister a half dozen times. I can imagine what he was like in his day! LOL! Gene Burgin, man was that cool to see all those old guys that I used to read about in 1 place. It was also nice to see all the fellow Karnacians, some I had never met others I hadn't see for a while. I got to see some of Jimmy Mckinlys work, Man can he draw. I can't remember all but to all I met thanks for coming. I'll have the video available as soon as I can. It should be good, I got some good interviews and good stills of the cars. I also shot the Richey EVANS Memorial which I want to put on the video. Thanks Bob,.....

[carolwicks]

hey Bob...

thank you so much! make sure you save a video for me. i will treasure these reunions thru your video! also thru the archived radio interviews provided by REAL RACIN USA.com !!!! this event is the culmination of wrok done by a great team....several people who love racing more than just about anything. we are addicts! we will never get enough!...
Carolwicks aka OZ

[sunshinestateracing1]

I had a Blast

It was my first time at the event and I had a great time, and learned a lot about the early days of racing from a lot of great people. To Carol, thanks for reminding me all year and making sure I made it to the event it was one I will allways remember. I can not wait untill next year.

To all the other karnacians there it was great to get to meet you guys, and now I have a face to put with boneman when we pick on him about his love for bando racing lol

Robert

Ps. If there is any thing I can do to help make next year bigger and better let me know.

[sunshinestateracing1]

Proof

Hey Carol here is a pic for you and proof that your Bobby beat Boneman in a race.

[carolwicks]

robert...

thank you. ;-) bobby had a blast racing those cars. it really kept him busy while i was busy.. lol i am really happy that you enjoyed yourself. i knew you would.. its kinda freaky for me. i watched those guys race about 40 years ago!!! they thrilled me like scofield, jefferson, winchell, choquette, russell, and so many many others do now. in 20 or 30 years maybe little bobby will put on a reunion show for these guys. ;-) i will only be an energized 90 year old bunny ! roflll love that!
carolwicks aka OZZIE

[Boneman]

Those punk kids, they handed me my stuff every time I raced them. I figured they must be cheating, but Palmbayer would not take my protest money, and since he owns the track I was out of luck.

I should have called a truant officer on them.

[carolwicks]

hmmmmmmmmm

Sore loser !!! or is it "Looser"? roflllllll
mess with my boy and life wont be the same for you! :-P
OZZIE

[Jimmy McKinley]

Hey Jerry Binner....get a hold of me through e-mail....JimmyMack12@aol.com....I have an AWESOME idea for next year's reunion, one I hope that we can work on!