Published: June 28, 2009 10:40 pm      

BONESKY: ‘The Bad Banana’ still going strong at the Big R

COMMENTARY

For nearly a year now people have been feeling the pinch of the slumping economy. The current recession has everyone trying to save a dollar anywhere they can. The local motorsports community is being hit just as hard as everyone else, maybe harder because of the sports direct connection to the current tumultuous state of this countries automotive industry.

The pioneers of motorsports built their own race cars and engines, and the words Speed Shop didn’t exist in their vocabulary. Needless to say it didn’t cost much to go racing then. Far and few between are those that still build their own car instead of purchasing a professionally built one. Cheektowaga’s Rick Hoctor is a throwback to the sports beginnings. “The Bad Banana” as he is known because of his yellow painted cars is a fixture in Ransomville Speedways Modified division.

“I guess I have been racing about 35 years maybe more. Way too long I guess” pondered the always approachable Hoctor with a modest smile. “I like building my own cars and it saves a lot of money. I still have to buy the material you know, but you save a lot on the labor costs.” It is doubtful if the likeable veteran would still be racing weekly if he did not do a lot of his own work.

“As far as building the engine for the car, Gorden Automotive does the machine work and I put it together” said Hoctor. It should be noted that one of things taken for granted in racing is the preparation work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for Friday nights. Hoctor’s pit crew of Matt and Ron Dawster added “We put in about seven hours a night getting things ready to come here.” How much longer will Hoctor continue to power slide around the highbanks of Ransomville Speedway? Not even Hoctor knows, “I’m still having fun, but probably not as much fun as when I first started. The racing just isn’t as competitive as it was back then.”

The on-track action at Ransomville Speedway had the fans on their feet roaring their approval Friday night. After a week’s hiatus the Modified division returned to action and they didn’t disappoint. Ransomville’s Dave Just jumped into the races early lead and quickly pulled away from rookie Justin Sharp of St. Catharines. Sharp didn’t give up and was able to close the margin to the leader as the race entered its middle stages. Sharp’s fine run came to an end when he made contact with the second turn wall putting an end to his night. This also brought a caution with six laps remaining the race. When the race resumed a four car battle ensued for the top spot, which saw Just leading, Sanborn’s Chad Brachman second, Niagara on the Lakes Stewart Friesen third, and St. Catharines Pete Bicknell forth. On the races final lap Just car went high into turn one allowing Brachman to slip by for the lead, but it was short lived, as Friesen saw an opening down low and in one swoop passed both Just then Brachman. At the checkers it was Friesen in for the win. “It’s always exciting when you win, but when you win like that it’s even better” said Friesen.

The final results of the Modified feature were, Stewart Friesen, Pete Bicknell, Chad Brachmann, Dave Just, Todd Burley, Scott Kerwin, Robbie Krull, Todd Gordon, Joe Kubiniec, Bob Broomfield, Tommy Flannigan, Ricky Richner, James Michael Friesen, Danny Obrien, Jeff McGinnis, Mat Williamson, Jeff Jepson, Boyd MacTavish, Travis Braun, Rick Hoctor, Bobby Davidson, Sam Crogan, Justin Sharp, Rich Vinson, and Jon Miller.

In Sportsman action Friday night it was Ransomville’s Don Spatarico claiming his fourth win of the season over a fast closing Ryan Susice also from Ransomville. The highlight of the race was a lap 12 caution for a crash that involved Niagara Falls John Panattoni, Niagara Falls John Smith, and Susice. Susice’s crew made quick repairs and he restarted the race from the rear of the field. With eight laps remaining in the race Susice charged from the rear of the field passing three to four cars at a time to claim second place at the checkers.

The complete results for the Sportsman finish were, Don Spatarico, Ryan Susice, Scott Just, Rick Newton, Stephen Miller, Tony Purgarich, Justin Wright, Steven Schumacher, Allan Wills, Sandy Pembleton, Nathan Reynolds, Derek Smith, Mike Williams, Mark Chiddy, John Smith, Brett Martin, Gordon Hermanson, John Panattoni, Jipp Ortiz, and Jesse Cotriss

The first of two Street Stock features Friday turned out to be one of their most exciting of the season as Niagara Falls Scott Krull picked up the win on the last lap of the race after a great move to pass Ransomville’s Ricky Washburn, who had led the majority of the race.

The first 15-lap Street Stock results were, Scott Krull, Roger Israel, Derrick Borkenhagen, Ricky Washburn, Kirk Sherwood, Stuart Kumm, Brian Lonneville, Dave Conant, Chris Dowling, Chris Burek, John Carlson, Jon Richael, Patrick Burek, Bob Urtel, Brandon Poole, and Kenny Washburn.

The second 15-lap Street Stock finish, Mike Childrose, Webb Nashwinter, Donald Rappleyea, Randy Zimmerman, Billy Coleman, Jaren Israel, Gerald Poole, Mike Greenawalt, Brandon Sherwood, Pat Dell, Andrew Steele, Scott McCeldowney, Tim Hall, Chris Burek, Tim Kott, and George Tester

Fire hall Enduro results, Mark Brown, Chris Lederhouse, Todd Bruning, Jamie O’Donnell, Hoyt Desso, Jim Harbison, James Pringle, Gerry Gipp, Erick Gunio, Gordon Dietz, Ryan Stephenson, Matt Wendler, Tyler Strassburg, Jamie McDonough, Stephen Baes, Jim Stone, Fred Baldwin, Lori Brown, Mark Morse, Andrew Steele, and Greg Robertson.

Contact contributor Michael Bonesky at mbonesky@roadrunner.com.