In 2006, Dave Shore from Southbury, CT. started VMR to help keep
vintage midget racing alive. Anyone who has a caged vintage car,
and would like to run with us, please contact:
Dave Shore at 203-509-2835.
2018 VMR Dates at the VMR
website.
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
The Northeastern Midget
Association announces the release of NEMA Vintage photo's on
DVD. The presentation is from the
collection of one of the most respected journalist,
historians and statisticians in New England, Pete Zanardi.
The range of drivers, owners, tracks and race cars
depicted in the collection are the who's who in Northeastern
midget racing. The forefathers that laid the foundation for
present day racing are illustrated in color and black and
white photo's complete with captions. Bill Randall, Ray
Roberts, Ronnie Evans and Jerry Russo just to name a few
drivers from NEMA's infancy.
The early cage days
drivers are represented by Bill Roth, Lee Smith, Hank
Stevens and Len Thrall for example. And to finish out the
last couple of decades are the Fornoros, Stoehrs, Scrivanis,
Seymours and many many more. The cars are as big as
the drivers on this DVD that range from the Badgers to the
uprights, cage and cageless, even some Offy's.
The
DVD is 332 pictures strong and is a must for any early day
racing enthusiast.
The cost is $20 each with all
proceeds going directly to NEMA to help carry on the rich
traditions these early pioneers built.
Payment can be
made through PayPal
HERE to
rewindles@sbcglobal.net or by sending a check or money
order (payable to NEMA) as well as your name and address to
Bill Van Slyke, 23 Horsestable Cir., Shelton, Ct. 06484.
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
12/1/18
RULEBOOK UPDATE to LITES ENGINES 3.0, section a PAGE 41
3.0 NEMA Lite Allowable Engine Rule: The
following engines are eligible as described below:
a. Ford Focus Zetec Engine (only) at 122c.i.
based on the original SCREAM manufactured package. No SVT
or ST Heads allowed. No performance aftermarket heads
allowed.
The 66th Annual NEMA AWARDS BANQUET
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10,
2018
White's of
Westport 66 State Road, Westport, MA
Cocktails at 6:00 PM
Dinner & Awards at 7:00 PM DJ & Dancing around 9:30 PM
We opened our 66th year with an annual appearance at the
Thompson Icebreaker on a chilly April 7. The Lites were on hand
for this one and we saw Todd Bertrand got out to a four second
lead, only to have it erased by a late race caution. But Todd
proved his strength by jumping out to a sizeable lead on the
restart and winning his second Icebreaker in a row. Randy Cabral
and Jim Chambers had the other podium finishes.
It was
about a month before we were back in action at the New
London-Waterford Speedbowl and that is where Paul Scally proved
his 2017-two-win season was no fluke. After picking his way
through lapped traffic and while feeling the heat from Randy
Cabral, the dangerous one returned to victory lane in the first
race of the season for the NEMA cars. Randy finished second and
Todd Bertrand was third. In the Lites portion, Avery Stoehr
turned some of the fastest laps of the day on his way to victory
in the Scravani #21, followed by Danny and Meg Cugini rounding
out the top 3.
The Lites were rained out at Star on May
19, so it was again almost month before we were on the track.
This time it was a tow to the coast of Maine at Wiscassett
Speedway. John Zych continued his dominance at that track with
the NEMA win, followed by Randy Cabral and Jim Chambers. Zych
and Chambers would return to the podium in the Lites portion,
but that was a race that Jim Cataldo would like to do over. He
got an early lead and was headed to apparent victory until a
split-second decision in lapped traffic allowed Chambers to get
by. After post-race inspections it turned out that Paul Scally
finished second and Dan Cugini third.
Another long tow
just the next week was to Riverhead Long Island. Avery Stoehr
had left Wiscassett with a wrecked race car but switched over to
the team's #47 and proved he could drive that one too because he
roared to victory on that Saturday night that saw a Bertrand
team podium with Todd Bertrand second and Randy Cabral third.
Randy was right back in victory lane in the Lites race along
with Danny Cugini second and the guy who passed the most cars in
that race, Jim Chambers third.
Another Lites only race at
Thompson on a Wednesday in June and Danny Cugini was the class
of the field, with Seth Carlson taking an impressive second and
Randy in third.
The Butch Walsh memorial race was only a
few days later at Star. A couple of late race, single-file
restarts in the NEMA cars made for some drama, but no one was
getting around Randy Cabral. Jim Chambers finished second and
John Zych was third. In the Lites race, Ryan Locke had the
second big test of the day at his home track. He had started the
day with his high school finals and finished the day being
tested by another Star Speedway local, Jim Chambers. Ryan aced
this test by beating Chambers to the line and Richie Coy picked
up first podium finish of the year.
The Boston Louie at
Seekonk was next. Randy Cabral became the first four-time winner
of that prestigious event and lead another all Bertrand
Motorsports podium, with Todd second and Avery, back in the #39
finishing third. The Lites race went green to checker and Danny
Cugini dominated the race over modified driver Calvin Carroll
and Seth Carlson. Back to the place where NEMA has run more
races than anywhere else, Star Speedway for the Marvin Rifkin
memorial. This is where Jim Chambers showed his talent as he got
around leader Mike Horn in lapped traffic to take the win. Mike
had an impressive second place finish and John Zych was third.
In the Lites, Avery Stoehr won the second of the season in the
Scravani 21 over Dan Cugini in second and another podium finish
for Richie Coy.
A week later and we're back at Waterford
with the Lites for the 50 lap Jim O'Brien Memorial race. This is
where young Jake Trainor broke into victory lane for the first
time with NEMA. Avery Stoehr put him to the test late in the
race, but Jake showed confidence and talent beyond his years to
hold off Stoehr and take the historic win. Avery was second and
yet another podium finish for Richie Coy.
NEMA-only at
the next Thompson midweek race and Todd Bertrand got around
there the fastest with a multi-car length win over Jim Chambers
and visiting driver Cole Carter. Lites only at Star on Labor
Day weekend as Jim Chambers takes the win after post-race
inspections, Richie Coy inherited second and Ryan Locke third.
Back up the coast to Wiscassett the next week and another
long-distance race for the Lites and Ryan Locke showed how
experience is paying off by leading most of the event and going
on to an impressive win. His second of 2018. Podium regulars
Richie Coy was second and Danny Cugini third. Avery Stoehr won
the NEMA portion after posting some laps close to John Zych's
track record. Randy Cabral was second and John Zych third.
The next week saw a quick change in the schedule as
President Tim Bertrand worked into the night on Friday to find
us a place to race after Waterford was abruptly closed for the
weekend. We ended up at Monadnock and Jim Chambers ended up in
victory lane, followed by the same drivers that finished second
and third the week before, Randy and John Zych. In the Lites,
Seth Carlson passed Ben Mikitarian with just two laps to go to
take his first win in the Lites. Ben Mikitarian finished a
season high second and Dan Cugini third.
Right back to
Monadnock the next Saturday for the Iron Mike Scravani Memorial
race. Todd Bertrand aboard the team's #47 took down the win,
with Randy in second and Avery in third making it another all
Bertrand Motorsports podium after a hotly contested race right
through the field. In the Lites, Danny Cugini continued his
dominance with an impressive win over Kevin Iannarelli and
season best third for Jim Cataldo.
On to Waterford for
the Angelillo Memorial race and Randy Cabral had skill and luck
on his side that night as he won both the NEMA race in his
regular ride and the Lites race in the Frank Manafort #76. Avery
was second and John Zych third in NEMA. Pennsylvania's Matt
Janisch was second in the lites followed by "Mr. Podium" Richie
Coy.
Heavy hearts at Thompson for the next one as we
remembered Shane Hammond at his annual memorial race. For this
special 10th anniversary, Shane's brother Anthony and mom Deb
brought out Shane's original #37 to mark the event. John Zych
won the NEMA feature in dominate fashion, Randy was second and
Jim Chambers third. Chambers won the Lites portion of the
weekend in a back and forth battle with Avery Stoehr. At the
finish, Todd Bertrand got by Avery for second and Avery finished
third.
And we wrapped it up just a few weeks ago at
Waterford. Almost breaking the 13 second mark, John Zych won his
second in a row, Paul Scally was second and an impressive third
place run for NEMA newcomer Alby Ovitt. In the Lites it looked
like Jake Trainor might score his second of the season, but a
late race caution sealed his fate when the field was closed up
around him and Danny Cugini would put an exclamation point on
his championship season with the win, Avery Stoehr second and
early leader Jake Trainor third.
SAT., OCTOBER 20th THE FINALE
NEMA MIDGETS & NEMA LITES BOTH ON SATURDAY
NEMA MIDGETS
SCALLY - ZYCH - OVITT
2018 NEMA MIDGETS
CHAMPIONS #74 - RANDY CABRAL - BERTRAND
MOTORSPORTS
Photos by John DaDalt
NEMA MIDGETS - WATERFORD -
10/20/18
Pos.
#
Driver
Hometown
Owner
1
9
John Zych Jr.
Mendon, MA
John Zych Sr.
2
30
Paul Scally
Raynham, MA
Paul Scally
3
15
Alby Ovitt
Barrington, NH
Russ Stoehr
4
47
Todd Bertrand
Danielson, CT
Bertrand Motorsports
5
39
Avery Stoehr
Lakeville, MA
Bertrand Motorsports
6
1
Randy Cabral
Kingston, MA
Bertrand Motorsports
7
21
Jim Chambers
Atkinson, NH
Mike Chambers
8
A1
Mike Horn
Ashland, MA
Jeff Horn
9
66
Chris deRitis
Philadelphia, PA
Dan deRitis
10
74
Keith Rocco
Berlin, CT
Bertrand Motorsports
11
87
Doug Cleveland
Sudbury, MA
Doug Cleveland
12
18
Andy Lunt
- -
Christian Briggs
13
50
Lanson Fornoro
- -
Pete Pernisiglio Sr.
DNS
7
Alan Chambers
Atkinson, NH
Mike Chambers
HEAT 1:
A1, 47, 30, 39, 21, 1, 18
HEAT 2:
15a, 9, 74, 87, 66, 50, 7
NEMA LITES
D. CUGINI
2018 NEMA LITES CHAMPION #51 - DAN CUGINI
Photos by John DaDalt
NEMA LITES - WATERFORD -
10/20/18
Pos.
#
Driver
Hometown
Owner
1
51
Dan CuginI
Marshfield, MA
Dan Cugini
2
21
Avery Stoehr
Lakeville, MA
Mike
Scrivani
3
8t
Jake Trainor
Medway, MA
Mike Trainor
4
27
Kevin Ianarelli
Shirley, MA
Kevin Ianarelli
5
7
Jim Cataldo
Sterling, MA
Jim Cataldo
6
19
Richie Coy
Haskell, NJ
Richie Coy
7
17
Kyle Valeri
Monument Beach, MA
Peter
Valeri
8
38
Ryan Locke
Chester, NH
Ken Locke
9
9
Ben Mikitarian
Northborough, MA
John Mikitarian
10
35
Randy Cabral
Kingston, MA
Glen Cabral
11
41
Meg Cugini
Marshfield, MA
Glen
Cugini
12
30
Paul Scally
Raynham, MA
Paul Scally
13
48
Matt Janisch
Nazareth, PA
Mark
Janisch
14
3
Chris Vose
Gloversville, NY
Chris Vose
15
22
Anthony Payne
Hawthorne, NJ
Jim Susi
16
37
Anthony Marvuglio
Bridgewater, MA
Deb
Marvuglio
17
16
Dennis O'Brien
Deerfiled, NH
Chris O'Brien
18
88
Max Zachem
- - -
Ken Locke
19
99
Mike Horn
Ashland, MA
- - -
DNS
9m
DJ Muniz
New Bedford, MA
- - -
HEAT 1:
7, 21,8t, 35, 38, 51, 37, 3, 88, 16
HEAT 2:
30, 17, 19, 9, 27, 48, 41, 99, 22
Zych, Cugini Take NEMA
Wins at
Waterford Closer
John Zych drove from the tenth starting position
using the outside lane to take down his second win in a row,
as the three time champion bested a strong field this past
Saturday at the Speedbowl in Waterford, CT. In the Lites
race, 2018 champion Danny Cugini utilized a late race
restart to take down the win in the Lites portion of the
race. Very strong car counts, with thirty four midgets,
capped a successful 2018 season for the Northeastern Midget
Association.
In the NEMA feature, Mike Horn jumped
out into the lead from his front row starting position. Horn
looked very strong in the early stages of the race, as
behind him newcomer Alby Ovitt in the Stoehr 15a and Paul
Scally in the 30 were hounding him. Ovitt would look to the
outside of Horn on lap twelve, and Scally would peek under
Ovitt on lap thirteen. Behind them, John Zych had battled
his way up to the fourth position, advancing past Todd
Bertrand on lap fourteen - and Zych then set his sights on
the leaders. Ovitt would move past Horn for hte lead on lap
fourteen, and would lead until lap seventeen when Zych moved
past Scally for third on lap fifteen, and by Ovitt for the
lead on lap eighteen.
Zych would really pour it on
in the final seven laps, dropping his lap times from 13.7 to
13.1, the fastest laps of the feature, to take down his
second win in a row for the JZ Racing team, with his Dad,
John. Scally would finish the season strong with a runner up
finish, followed by Ovitt, Todd Bertrand, Avery Stoehr,
Randy Cabral, Jim Chambers, Mike Horn, Chris Deritis and
Keith Rocco.
In the Lites feature, youngster Jake
Trainor jumped out into the lead. Behind him, Jim Cataldo
was having a great run, staying within striking distance.
The Trainor/Cataldo duo were chased by Avery Stoehr in the
Scrivani 21 for a good portion of the first half of the
event. Trainor running a higher line, kept his composure,
and looked like the car to beat. Behind this trio, Danny
Cugini and Kevin Iannarelli were slicing their way through
the field.
A caution on lap seventeen would change
the game for Trainor. When the green flag dropped, Cugini
would bolt from his fourth spot around the outside of
Stoehr, and Cataldo, and a lap later would blast around the
outside of Trainor. Cugini would go on to dominate the
remainder of the feature event to cap off a 2018
championship season for his team. Stoehr would finish second
followed by Trainor, Iannarelli, Cataldo, Richie Coy, Kyle
Valeri, Ryan Locke, Ben Mikitarian, and Randy Cabral.
NEMA's season concludes with its annual awards banquet
at Whites of Westport on November 10th.
NEMA's 1000th Race - Star Speedway - 8/23/14
CARLSON - CABRAL - ZYCH
Recognizing
Some NEMA Milestones
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.
