Episode 209
April 29, 2018
Flying Seven Vintage Racer makes its debut
Marcia Buck Barker pictured here at South Mountain Raceway, Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania in 2017. Could this have been part of the reason she wanted to build her own vintage racer? Flying Seven photo
Flying Seven vintage racer owned by Marcia Barker, land speed racer at Loring. Marcia, retired from L.L. Bean living in Bucksport, built the vintage racer to fill in the time between the land speed races. Flying Seven photo
Ford Model A 32 B built by Frank Walka for the Flying Seven. Walka built the engine in his 1915 Roadster and Barker’s 1957 land speed racer. Flying Seven photo
Rear differential and mechanical brakes restored and ready for installation into the Flying Seven vintage racer. Flying Seven photo
1923 T body installed on the 28 AR frame of Marcia Barker’s vintage racer. Flying Seven photo
The race prepped vintage racer ready for weekend at BAPS Motor Speedway, Newberrytown and South Mountain Raceway, Boiling Springs. Both tracks are located in Pennsylvania. Flying Seven photo
In action at BAPS Motor Speedway, a 1/2 mile clay track in Newberrytown, Pennsylvania. Flying Seven photo
To see Barker in action at South Mountain Raceway dragstrip click here:
https://www.facebook.com/marcia.barker.90/videos/10215273217360700/
Marcia Barker prepares for a run at the 2015 Loring Timing Association’s speed trial with her 1957 Flying Seven which was a circle track racer which she converted to land speed racer with a GMC 302 straight six engine built by Frank Walka who is at her door. HTF Motorsports photo
USAC Silver Crown Champ shows prowess at Terre Haute Action Track
No one ever claimed that winning any racing championship is easy. Attempting to win four does not get easier. Three-time USAC Silver Crown champion, Kody Swanson will be the first to say “Amen” to that.
This evening’s USAC Silver Crown Sumar Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track in Terre Haute, Indiana is a testament to the tenacity and determination of not only driver Kody Swanson but to the whole crew of the #63 DePalma Motorsports team.
In practice the engine blew necessitating an engine swap. The team had to try to qualify for the Sumar Classic by placing in the top eight in the “Last Chance Qualifier”. From his last place number twelve starting position, Swanson raced to second in the 15 lap race behind winner David Byrne.
The 100 lap feature began with Swanson in the 18th starting position. From there, Swanson worked his way up to third place on lap 76 and passed second place Shane Cottle and leader Justin Grant both in turns three and four on lap 77 to take the lead.
Cottle attempted to try a similar move on Swanson on lap 83 causing both to spin with Cottle hitting the wall and Swanson pitting with a blown left rear tire.
Swanson came out of the pits with a new tire and began a “Swanson Classic” charge to the front, getting to the rear of winner Justin Grant but unable to pass due to the shortage of laps.
Dan Martin of Arlington, Virginia described it this way, “What a comeback from Kody Swanson after he blows an engine in practice.The crew changes engines and had a good finish in last chance qualifier. Contact with Cottle with 18 to go, then comes in changes tire and starts at tail and FLYS to a runner-up finish.He is a class act and GREAT DRIVER!”
USAC Silver Crown Sumar Classic podium finishers left to right, Kody Swanson second, winner Justin Grant, third place Tyler Courtney. Dan Martin photo
Swanson was awarded the KSE Racing Products “Hard Charger Award” for his 18th to 2nd place effort. With Justin Grant’s win he and Swanson are tied for first with 137 points. Their next race is on the pavement May 4 at Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Ohio.
WAR at Orange County Speedway, Rougemont, North Carolina
Wyatt Alexander Racing (WAR) made their initial foray to Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, North Carolina for the Puryear Tank Lines-Thrifty Tire Mid Atlantic Classic CARS Super Late Model Tour.
The team qualified 16th for the 150 lap feature in time trials. They attribute much of their success to chassis constructor Dean Clattenburg.
Team owner and father of driver Wyatt, Brett Alexander summed up the race saying, ” It was a lot of fun. The track was very fast . We were very pleased with our performance for our first time there.”
“I think we had a solid top 10 finish going, but we pitted too early under caution and that cost a few positions. Everyone involved with the CARS tour was great and seemed to genuinely appreciate us being there.”
Four year old Quinn Alexander meets Steve Wallace at Orange County Speedway . Steve started the conversation asking Quinn,“Hi there! Are you excited for the race tonight?”
Quinn: “Yes!”
Steven: “Who are you cheering for?” Quinn: (points to her brother’s car beside him)
Brett: “Her brother is Wyatt, the 96.”
Steven: “So I suppose you won’t be cheering for me then?”
Quinn: “ NOPE!” WAR photo
Hall of Fame member and crew chief, Bob Alexander flew to North Carolina earlier in the week to do final preparations to the #96. He gave his perspective on the weekend:
“We were very happy with the car on Saturday. Dean (Clattenburg) worked tirelessly on the setup trying to find a good race package that would also be fast for qualifying. We only had two practice sessions to fine tune things but when it came time to go, Wyatt laid down a 14.009 second lap which was 16th fastest out of the 27 Super Late Models present.”
WAR in the pits after finishing 13th and bringing the car home without damage at Orange County Speedway. WAR photo
Alexander added, “I Forgot to mention, we broke an axle in practice. We were able to change it and get back out in the same practice session.”
“We had used an axle from our other car which was longer in order to lock up the Winters locker differential to qualify for a 50 pound weight break. It looked like it had unnoticed fatigue cracks which weakened it in the splined outer end.”
Team JRT’s Damian Theriault pre-race at Route 106 Race Park, Pembroke, New Hampshire. Theriault, after placing 3rd in heat race one and a win in heat number two, placed second in his first feature race at the track. Team JRT photo
On their way home, Team JRT stopped at Maine Indoor Karting in Scarborough to get in some family racing at Maine’s only indoor racing facility. Team JRT photo
Harvey, New Brunswick’s Ryan Messer getting ready for season opener
RYAN Motorsports unveils its 2018 SLM RYAN Motorsports photo
click here for Ryan Messer interview:
Tom Patsis’ Cold Hard Art produced trophy awarded
After a two-year break, Denny Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown for Super Late Models roared into action at Langley Speedway, Hampton, Virginia. Denny invited team-mate Kyle Busch to the show at Hamlin’s home track. Proceeds from the packed house would go to the Denny Hamlin Foundation for cystic fibrosis research.
Hamlin won that evening closely followed by Busch and local racer C.E. Falk III in third. What folks may not have realized is that the trophy for the winner was constructed by Ellsworth, Maine’s Tom Patsis owner of Cold Hard Art in Brownsburg, Indiana.
Cold Hard Arts Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown trophy 2018. Photo courtesy Stock Car Steel and Aluminum
In Victory Circle at Langley Speedway with winner Denny Hamlin in the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown 2018. Cold Hard Art photo
Latest Photo out of Restoration Performance Motorcars (RPM)
RPM’s Ryan Eastman buffing the Cobra replicar featured in last week’s episode. Garrett Holler photo
You make recall from a previous episode, I lost a dear friend, Bill Craig to cancer in December 2017. He helped everyone in need. Neighbors First and Caribou Assembly of God Men’s Ministry combined forces and replaced his widow, Darlene’s roof Saturday. I am very pleased with these groups servant attitude. HTF Motorsports photo