Just about the time you think you have me figured out, That's the time that I pull off one of my illogical trips. I was not able to travel to Vegas this year for the Duel in the Desert but I didn't want what was likely to be one of the last racing weekends of the year to go unfulfilled. So, after some digging, I discovered a race that perked my interest. It included Late Models and Modifieds and the chance to travel to a track I had never been to before.
Long story short, on Saturday, November 11, I made the trip to the Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside Kentucky for the Finn Watson Memorial Race for Late Models which was a part of the Schaeffer's Oil Iron Man Championship Series. The Brucebilt Performance Iron Man Modified Series was also racing as well as the KDRA Super Stocks and Stock Four Cylinders.
As it turns out, while this would be my first official race at Lake Cumberland, I had been to the track before although my memories of the visit are rather foggy. Many years ago, after a rain out at Brownstown Indiana Speedway, we made a banzai run to a race in Kentucky, only to get rained out for the second time on that date. Details of the trip are foggy, but I'm sure the track had a different name back them and looked somewhat different and I think we even took a different route last time, but I suspect many of the roads in the Somerset Kentucky area have been changed since that visit so many years ago.
The one thing that stuck out in my mind from that trip many years ago that tripped my memory immediately was when I saw the grandstand at Lake Cumberland. I have never in my life seen a set of grandstands that have as steep a pitch as the ones at Lake Cumberland. Seriously, they are almost straight up and down and a real challenge for anyone to scale. The top row sits in the lower stratosphere and the migrating geese were actually flying lower than I was seated! This might be just a slight exaggeration but as close as you sit to the track, I felt like I was watching a race from a hovering helicopter. It is remarkable and only if you get the chance to experience it can you fully relate to what I'm trying to impart.
The track is a D shaped oval with quite tight corners entering turn one and leaving turn four. The back straightaway is one sweeping corner and a wall surrounds the track with another wall on the inside of the track. There is pit space in the infield but not near enough to hold all the cars so many pit outside of turn one in a rather rolling field and on up the hill that leads toward the Hardgrove residence. The field was rather soft and several of the big rigs got stuck and had to have some help re positioning themselves. The red clay of the race track slicked off quite quickly, producing some dust but a smooth racing surface. Interestingly, the track was watered on this day by a fire truck provided by the Burnside Fire Department, which might have been another first.
Lake Cumberland Speedway has a rather unique back drop perhaps unlike that of any other track in America. Just outside the parking lot sits a monstrously high pile of sawdust. What produces all this sawdust is rather interesting. The Kingsford Charcoal Company has a huge plant in Burnside Kentucky, one of four that they operate in this country. For fifty years, Kingsford has operated this charcoal plant which currently employees one hundred twenty five people and operates twenty four seven and produces immense clouds of steam from stacks into the Kentucky air.
Lake Cumberland Speedway has had a rather checkered past with the track opening and closing several times with various names to address the track as. Brandon Hardgrove this Spring announced that the track would reopen this year with weekly racing being featured after the track has set vacant for a period of time. Harold Hardgrove was the original owner of the track and ran it on several occasions until his passing recently. In fact, the track is known as "Hardgrove's Hardcore House of Mayhem", a name they seem to relish.
Cars were called to the line right at the advertised time of 5 pm to start hot lapping. Unfortunately, all four classes would be time trialing on this night. So, even though the Modifieds group qualified during hot laps, the Late Models qualified two or three at a time while the Super Stocks and Four Cylinders also qualified two at a time, it was still nearly 6:30 pm before the first race hit the track. It just seems almost impossible to start a race program on time if time trials are involved. And just to please Jeff Broeg, even though he wasn't in attendance, all the races were started straight up off the times. To make matters worse, the pa system wasn't very effective so finding out who were the quick qualifiers were was a guessing game. However, I must say that once this task was completed, the program was run off in an efficient manner with the races hitting the track in quick fashion. The only thing that slowed them down was that they only had one wrecker who seemed to be MIA every time they needed him and he had to be tracked down.
Chris Tilley's Schaeffer Oil Series was the featured division on this night, as Late Models usually are at this track. Five grand was on the line for the forty lap feature winner with thirty four Late Models signing in to race. Most of the drivers were from the Kentucky and Tennessee area but there were also a few cars from Indiana, Dakota Knuckles from Virginia and Illinois' Bob Gardner. Victor Lee was quick qualifier and as a driver that I have enjoyed watching over the years, I was hoping for him to put on a show like he did in qualifying. However, he blew his motor four laps into the first heat and was done for the night. Four heats and two B features set the twenty three car starting field for the Late Model main.
Steve Smith missed his heat race and ended up taking a provisional, a decision he may have regretted later when he ended up on his lid four laps into the main event. The feature race itself had plenty of action with Kent Robinson and Jackie Boggs doing the battling in the early going. Robinson led the first few laps and then was passed by Boggs. A yellow saved Robinson but Boggs was later able to again make the pass.
When Boggs jumped the cushion in turn two, Robinson tried to pass him on the inside but a lapped car was in the way and then made contact. Robinson was turned and while he restarted the race, he soon pulled off with damage. Boggs then had to fend off challenges from Michael Chilton the rest of the race and while Chilton came close, it was Boggs taking the win.
Jeff Watson had his Late Model fitted with new tin that resembled one of his father Finn's most recognized cars as it looked in 1985. Finn started his racing career in 1963. The #P1 Paul's Pipeline special was a tremendously successful car in its time and while I don't think I ever saw Watson drive that car, I do remember the #P1 cars. Watson's tin didn't stay good looking for too long as he was involved in the same wreck as Smith and the sheet metal was badly damaged on the car.
Thirty three Modifieds were on hand for their grand to win event. After Shaun Flannary set fast time, the same qualifying method as for the Late Models was used. Tyler Nicely chased Timmy Payne for several laps until he took over the lead. Once in front, he was pressured heavily by Flannary but he never flinched as he drove on for the win.
KDRA Super Stocks produced two heat races and saw Robbin Perkins and Tyler Collis battle for several laps until Collis took over and drove on for the win.
Why they are called Stock Four Cylinders I will never know as they appeared to be anything but Stock. They had twenty seven of them with everything from rear wheel drive Mustangs to some front wheel drive cars too. I looked like about three different classes racing together as they had everything from stock appearing cars to some of the Mustangs that were slab-sided and sported huge spoilers. Pole sitter Tyler Hayes went on to take the win.
The races themselves were pretty good and it was certainly a chance to see a whole bunch of drivers that I would not have seen at any other time during the year. The track seemed to race fairly well but with the format that started the fast cars right in front, that almost always limits the passing that occurs. The crowd seemed pretty good for a cool November night and they pleased the majority of the spectators by running the Late Model feature first. This also alleviated any congestion leaving the grounds as most "bailed" after the Late Models and Mods were done.
Thanks to Brandon Hardgrove and Chris Tilley and their staffs for their help. Hardgrove announced that Lake Cumberland will run a full weekly schedule in 2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment