Members of the NEMA Dick Gallagher Memorial Hall of
Fame PDF HERE
FULL IMPORT & DOMESTIC
REPAIRS AND SERVICE Jeff
Horn 182 Pond St. Ashland, MA
01721
508-881-4540 Hitch & Trailer Specialists
www.a-1automotiveservice.com
SALES • SERVICE PERFORMANCE and SUSPENSION UPGRADES
Specializing in
Finer Imports
AUDI • BMW • JAGUAR • MERCEDES LANDROVERS • PORSCHE • SAAB
VOLVO • VW
(508) 697-5921
1460 Pleasant St. (Route 104) Bridgewater, MA 02234 www.motorcarsint.com
SERVING ALL MAKES of MIDGET & SPRINT CAR ENGINES Jon Andruk
ja@circleperformance.com 69 LOCUST STREET, BERKLEY, MA 02779 508-580-5844
NEMA LITES T-Shirts are
available for purchase. The LITES shirts are available in 3
colors - white, gray and royal blue. They come with either the
NEMA LITES logo only on the front or with 2 logos - NEMA LITES
on the front and regular NEMA logo on the back. The white shirts
are $10. The gray or blue are $12. The new LITES t-shirts can be
at The Race Depot/ Seymour Enterprises in Marlboro Mass or are
available from Cyndy Scrivani.
Brockton, MA -
NEMA President, Mike Scrivani, announced today that the
Northeastern Midget Association and Hoosier Tire East have
inked an exclusive, three year deal. Under the deal, NEMA
will have exclusive rights in the Northeast to the current
plated compounds (RR 7, 7.3, RF 5, LR, 5 and LF, 4, 5) and
will be the only series in the Northeast running these
particular tires.
Hoosier will also continue to be a
major contributor to the NEMA point fund, and in addition
have offered fixed pricing for the racer over the next three
years. “NEMA has enjoyed a long history with Hoosier.
This sport is about supporting those who take care of you,
and supporting each other. We feel that we have the best
product in Hoosier and look forward to a long relationship
with them,” said NEMA President, Mike Scrivani. “We have an
exciting schedule brewing for 2015 and expect great car
counts,” said Scrivani.
As part of the arrangement,
Hoosier tire has selected long time NEMA supporter Seymour
Enterprises to be the exclusive dealer and service provider
to the Northeastern Midget Association.
CHECK THE MEMBERS ALERTS PAGEFOR THE LATEST HANDICAPS,
COMPETITION ADDENDA, RACE PROCEDURES, & NEMA FORMS
David R. Humphrey "Dave",
age 95, died on December 7, 2020 at home with his daughter
MaryLee Humphrey by his side. He was the husband of the late
Lillian (Saleeba) Humphrey.
Born on July 24, 1925 he
was the son of the late Charles and Alice Humphrey of
Seekonk, brother to the late John, Charles and Alan Humphrey
and Jeanette (Humphrey) Boudreau.
Mr. Humphrey joined
the US Army at the age of 15 during World War II and served
in the European theatre with the 3rd Army Infantry Division.
He received a Purple Heart for wounds sustained on the
battlefield.
After he returned home Mr. Humphrey's
interest turned to auto racing in 1946. Calling Seekonk
Speedway his home track he then looked to stock car racing
and won championships at Norwood Arena, Waterford (New
London) Speedbowl and 3 at Seekonk Speedway. He began a long
career as a victorious Midget Driver at the age of 21. Mr.
Humphrey also drove sprint cars with the United Racing Club
winning countless times and finishing in the top ten
throughout the 4 years of competition. Shortly after joining
the Northeastern Midget Association (NEMA) the trophies kept
coming by way of multiple wins and 6 Championships. Mr.
Humphrey held the all-time feature win record of 72 with
NEMA. His record stood until 10 years after he retired in
1988. He drove for 11 different owners and was successful
with each one. At one point he had an invitation to go to
Indianapolis but decided to stay home, (his wife did not
want him to go). Home being Seekonk and home being New
England. It was fitting that his final win came at his home
track Seekonk Speedway in October 1986. Seekonk Speedway had
named the day "Dave Humphrey Day" and Mr. Humphrey was
presented with an award acknowledging his 30 years of
dedicated racing to NEMA. Dave Humphrey's name is synonymous
with auto racing clubs in the Northeast Region and yet he is
recognized nationally. He has been honored by the NE Auto
Racers Hall of Fame and the National Midget Racing Hall of
Fame. The car he drove famously called the Lindblad Badger
is now on display at the North East Motor Sports Museum in
Loudon, New Hampshire.
Mr. Humphrey is survived by
his children Steven Humphrey, his wife Maria of East
Providence, RI, Betty Schifino-Cotoia of Pawtucket, RI,
MaryLee Humphrey of Seekonk, MA with whom he lived and Susan
Young of van Nuys, CA. His grandchildren, David Schifino,
Kim Schifino, Heather Cotoia, Sheila Zuccarello and Jake
Young. He also had many nieces and nephews who loved him
dearly and will miss him always.
In lieu of flowers
please send donations in his name to Beacon Hospice Care, 1
Catamore Blvd, East Providence, RI 02914
Services
with military honors and burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
will be private.
NEMA's 25th Anniversary Boston Louie
Memorial Returns to Seekonk in
2021
11/29/20 -- The
Northeastern Midget Association has announced today
that the annual Boston Louie Memorial will return to
Seekonk Speedway on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The
International Supermodified Association will join
the NEMA midgets and NEMA Lites on the card in what
will be a spectacular Open Wheel Show. NASCAR star
Ken Schrader has also announced his return to the
racing card at Seekonk.
The race, one of the
most coveted of the NEMA season, is in memory of
legendary car owner Louie Seymour. Seymour, a
Marlboro, Mass., native, died in 1996. He began in
racing in the Midwestern-based USAC Silver Crown
division, earning the nickname "Boston Louie" from
fans and competitors who connected him with the
capital of his home state. As a car owner, Seymour
had more than 50 drivers in his equipment, including
NASCAR star, Ken Schrader. Known as the "man who
traveled a million miles," many legends of Silver
Crown racing drove for Seymour, including Rich
Volger, Gary Bettenhausen, Sheldon Kinser and Joe
Saldana.
"If you have any open cockpit
[racing] history, you understand just where 'Boston'
Louie Seymour stands," said six time champion Randy
Cabral. "To win a race with that name on it is very,
very special and to have won it multiple times is
even more special," said Cabral.
Making the
race even more special, is the continued tradition
and partnership with Seekonk Speedway. The first
officially sanctioned NEMA race took place at the
famed Seekonk, on May 30, 1953. Sixty eight years
later, the midgets now storm around the banked,
round oval in the low 11 second range.
"Seekonk Speedway is excited to continue the
tradition of the Boston Louie on a midweek race.
NEMA always brings great talent and puts on an
exciting race that brings out all the great aspects
of Midget racing. The Speedway has has a long
running great partnership with NEMA and looks
forward to being as part of their racing program for
years to come. The return of the ISMA Supermodifeds
on this new event just adds to the excitement," said
Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development at
Seekonk.
"We are very excited to continue
our partnership with Seekonk," said NEMA President,
Tim Bertrand. "Seekonk is and always has been the
ideal track for the midgets - fast, wide, and
combines handling with driver skill more than
anything else," said Bertrand. "We're excited to be
back, and thank Ed and the entire Seekonk family for
having us."
NEMA Returns to Star
Classic in 2021; Announces Return to Oswego Classic
10/28/20 -- The Northeastern
Midget Association released a sneak peek into its 2021
schedule, announcing the the first two races on the card
today.
The first event that the club announced is a
return to the 2021 Star Classic, also celebrating NEMA
Legend Butch Walsh that evening for the Butch Walsh
Memorial. NEMA has celebrated a long history with the Webber
family and Star Speedway, this past year marking the 60th
season of partnership between the two. Long viewed as one of
the premier short track races in the Country, the Star
Classic, this past season, became even more of a spectacle,
spanning three days including the Granite State Pro Stocks
and the Modified Racing Series. Alan Chambers took down his
first ever NEMA victory at this year's Star Classic. Among
the others to score their first win at Star were three-time
('89, '91, '93) champ Joey Coy, Hall of Famer Mike Favulli
and 1984 champ Billy Mann.
"NEMA did a great job for
us at last year's Classic, and we are excited to have them
back for 2021," said Star Speedway owner & GM, Bob Webber
Jr. "Starting with us dating back over 60 years, the midgets
are a great addition to the Supers and 350 Supers. This past
year's Classic Weekend was an incredible event for New
England short track racing," he said.
"We are proud
to announce the Star Classic a one of the pinnacle events
for our 2021 schedule," said club President, Tim Bertrand.
"This year's event was a huge success for all, and we look
forward to being part of it again in 2021."
NEMA is
also excited to announce that both divisions will return for
the first time in fifteen years to the Labor Day weekend
prestigious Oswego Classic, and the prestigious Marvin
Rifchin Memorial. The last time the midgets competed in the
Classic, ISMA regular Chris Perley defeated Lou Cicconi Jr.,
and Pete Pernesiglio Jr.
"We are so excited to be
hosting the NEMA and NEMA Lites midgets on Saturday Labor
day Classic weekend in 2021. Oswego is the open wheel
capital of the East and the place to race on Labor Day
weekend," said Race Director, Chuck Handley.
"When I
got the call from Chuck, I knew that returning to the
Classic was a no brainer. It's a tremendous race track and
always provides exciting racing. To kick off with the Oswego
Classic and head to Star the following weekend provides our
teams and open wheel fans something to look forward to for
2021!," said club President, Tim Bertrand.
The
midgets share the card with the Whelen Modified Tour on
Saturday of Classic weekend with a $10,000 purse up for
grabs, and it is rumored that Doug Coby will do double duty
for the event in both the midgets and modifieds. The
Super-Modified Oswego Classic will take place on Sunday. The
five-eighths-mile oval provides for some fast laps for NEMA.
The last time the midgets visited Oswego, lap times were in
the high 16 second range, with 3 time champion John Zych
turning a blistering lap in the 16.6 second range enroute to
victory the last time the midgets visited Oswego in 2016. In
the Lites, Scott Bigelow was the victor over Danny Cugini,
and Anthony Payne, son of Oswego legend, Joey Payne.
Many of the experienced drivers consider Oswego to be a
"rhythm track." If you can set a pace, get out of the groove
and do your passing on the outside, you can really gain some
ground. Among those that have followed that philosophy is
six-time champion Russ Stoehr of Bridgewater, now handing
the reins over to son, Avery who has followed in his
footsteps, driving for Bertrand Motorsports. Other drivers
that have run exceptionally well on the round, momentum
tracks are Zych, Paul "Dangerous" Scally, with a lot of
success at the fast, round Wiscassett Speedway, multi time
champion Randy Cabral. In the Lites, NY's Chris Vose will be
looking forward to this race closer to his home, and hungry
for a win will be NJ's Joe Bailey in the Scrivani 21, Jim
Santa Maria who came very close this year, and NJ's Richie
Coy.
The full 2021 NEMA schedule will be announced
in the coming weeks.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER
24th NEMA MIDGETS & NEMA LITES
2020 NEMA MIDGETS CHAMPIONS Todd Bertrand - #48 Driver Bertrand Motorsports - #48 Owner
Avery Stoehr and
Jake Trainor Take Speedbowl Finale Wins
Todd Bertrand and
PJ Stergios Crowned 2020 Champions
Avery Stoehr came from the sixth starting spot using
his father (Russ)'s patented outside moves and ran away from
the field to take down the NEMA victory as the Northeastern
Midget Association returned to the New London Waterford
Speedbowl this past Saturday evening. In the Lites, it was a
similar story as Jake Trainor dominated the feature in the
Seymour 29. Todd Bertrand finished one spot ahead of
teammate Randy Cabral taking down the 2020 NEMA
championship, and PJ Stergios was crowned the 2020 Lites
Champion.
Thirty midgets filled the pit area as NEMA
made its first visit to the Speedbowl after a three year
hiatus. In the NEMA feature, Paul Scally and Matt O'Brien
led the field to the green flag. O'Brien, a long time club
veteran blasted out into the lead and would lead the first
five circuits in his best ever NEMA outing. A lap five
caution for the stopped car of Lanson Fornoro which did not
clear pit road bunched up the field. On the restart, Avery
Stoehr, using the outside lane, blasted into the lead.
Stoehr began clicking off blistering fast laps, his quickest
a 12.975 coming on lap seven, one lap after he took the
lead.
Behind Stoehr, John Zych was moving to the
front of the field, moving by Randy Cabral, and then into
second past points leader Todd Bertrand on lap 23. Stoehr
would take down the victory and never be seriously
challenged, winning by 3 seconds, and was followed by Zych
who made a late season surge, Bertrand who would take down
the 2020 championship, Randy Cabral, Matt O'Brien in his
best ever NEMA finish, Jake Trainor, Paul Scally, Mike Horn,
Doug Cleveland and Andy Lunt.
"I knew that it would
be tough to pass running after the pro stocks on different
rubber," said Stoehr. "I figured I had to make quick work of
it if the car was good on the outside. Tim and Keith made
some solid changes before the feature, and the car was spot
on. It feels really good to close out the season with a
win," he said.
In the Lites race, pole sitter Jake
Trainor jumped out into the lead from his pole starting
position in the Seymour 29. Trainor quickly went to work on
the field pulling away handily, running laps in the high 13
second range. The field was caution flagged, and then
quickly red flagged on lap nine when it was learned that
starter, Craig Merriman, was hit by track debris in the foot
and went down on the flag stand. Merriman was transported by
ambulance to a local hospital and is recovering at home.
When the green flag flew, Trainor took off and set sail
again, and Kyle Valeri settled into second place in his best
run yet this year. As the race wound on, Trainor pulled
away, and behind him Richie Coy and Joe Bailey battled for
the third spot, with Bailey coming out on top. At the
checkers it was Trainor, followed by Valeri, Bailey, Coy,
Jim Santa Maria, PJ Sergios, Chase Locke, Ian Cumens, Ben
Mikitarian, and DJ Moniz. Stergios is the 2020 NEMA Lites
champion.
NEMA has concluded its season and will
announce its 2021 schedule shortly.
NEMA's 1000th Race - Star Speedway - 8/23/14
CARLSON - CABRAL - ZYCH
Recognizing
Some NEMA Milestones
Spring, 2016 -- The Northeastern Midget
Association will open the season at Star Speedway on May 21.
It will be the 1018th point-paying race in the club's
63-year history.
Passing unheralded was the club's
1,000th race at Star Speedway on August 23, 2014. Randy
Cabral was the winner, besting John Zych Jr. and Seth
Carlson.
New England's oldest and most enduring
touring division, NEMA was formed in the late spring of 1953
at the Thompson clubhouse. Fred Meeker was the first NEMA
winner at Seekonk Speedway on May 30, 1953. New England Auto
Racing Hall of Famer Bill Eldridge won the next afternoon at
Waterford.
The NEMA Lites open at Thompson Speedway's
Icebreaker on April 9. There have been 106 races for a
division that started with an exhibition run at New
London-Waterford in 2008. The 100th Lites race was won by
Danny Cugini at Lee on July 17 of last year.
With two
victories last year, Randy Cabral is now tied with Nokie
Fornoro in fourth place on NEMA's all-time win list with 47.
He has 16 seasons with a least one victory tying him with
Bobby Seymour on that list. They have come consecutively,
equaling a NEMA standard set by National Midget Hall of
Famer Dave Humphrey. Most of Cabral's wins have come in Tim
Bertrand's No. 47 but it all started when an upstart Cabral
captured the 2000 Boston Louie in a family car.
Star
Speedway, with 103 races going back to 1968, is the leader
among tracks hosting NEMA events. Randy Cabral tops active
NEMA competitors with four Star wins including three of the
last four. John Zych Jr. has also won at Star.
NEMA
is clearly one of the most competitive open cockpit
divisions in the country. Over the past six years, there
have been 23 different NEMA winners and in all but one of
those seasons, at least one "first-timer" appeared. Over
that span John Zych Jr., Todd Bertrand, Avery Stoehr and
Seth Carlson have become top contenders. Danny Cugini and
Jim Chambers were first time winners in 2015. Bertrand,
Stoehr and Cugini are all products of the NEMA Lites. The
Lites have had 20-different winners in the past three
seasons, champion Anthony Payne and Megan Cugini among the
2015 first timers. Designed with competiveness in the
forefront nine years ago, the Lites are a true success
story.
Nominations are now being accepted for the
New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame. The nomination form
and procedure are available on the New England Antique
Racers' website - www.near1.org. Please disregard the posted
deadlines.
Those with NEMA connections already
enshrined are Gene Angelillo, Chuck Arnold, Burt Brooks, Ray
Brown,Joe Csiki, Bill Eldridge, Frank Ferrara, Drew Fornoro,
Dave Humphrey, Johnny Kay, Wen Kelly, Rollie Lindblad, John
McCarthy, George Monsen, Al Pillion, Billy Randall, Marvin
Rifchin, Mike Scrivani Sr., Louie Seymour, Hank Stevens, Ed
Stone and Bentley Warren.
