RENO (March 22) – Each spring Al Lockett hosts a show that combines almost everything one that loves the outdoors could ask for. Everything from boats, landscaping, recreation and a whole lot more.
But part of the show is devoted to both off-road and motorsports, which was a bit light this time around. However one local track, Fernley 95A Speedway, had a booth and brought a brand new modified to display.
Fernley 95A Speedway track manager Matt Ramthun stands in his booth at Al Lockett’s Off-Road and Motorsports show.
“I think it’s going to be the best year we’ve had since Dan Simpson has had the track,” track manager Matt Ramthun said. “We’re getting a lot of good response, got a lot of new Modifieds coming out this year and I think we’re going to have the biggest modified class we’ve had so far.”
One featured race will be on April 25 when the Midgets from the BCRA series visit the track for the first time in year.
“They tell us we should have 25 to 30 midgets this year,” he said.
A beefed up Pro Stock program aimed at breathing life back into this class will also be part of the show. And, starting with the April 25th event the Pro Stocks will have five races offering $1,000 to win.
“A lot of guys are building new pro stocks and lot of guys from California are planning to come on over,” he said.
This season the Hobby Stocks will be called Street Stocks and there are several changes in that class. Now they’ll be allowed to use headers as well as Aluminium intakes plus other things.
After winning the Hobby Stock title at 95A Speedway, Carl “Fireball,” Barlow planned to retire from driving. However there was a change of plans and here’s the new IMCA Modified he’ll campaign this year.
And sitting close to 95A’s booth is a brand new IMCA Modified that will be campaigned by Carl “Fireball,” Barlow, who thought he was retiring last year.
Next booth over was local drag racer Ricky Ruiz, who has made some significant changes in his life this past year. He also brought his grandson’s Jr. Dragster, Sidewinder, and the Nevada Rattler, an AA Fuel Altered Ruiz has campaigned over the years.
Ricky Ruiz stands with his AA Fuel Altered and his grandson Tatum’s Jr. Dragster named Sidewinder. Ruiz had both cars on display at this weekends show.
“I’m now retired after 54 years and enjoying it,” he said. I drove this car right up until July 4th of 2014 after which I retired myself and the car. I got to retire on my terms, came back in one piece, the car’s in one piece and my pocket book’s intact and if you’ve got all three, you’re doing good.”
The Junior Dragster used to be driven by another son but now his grandson goes to events with Ruiz. While there he’ll race it although Tatum is not chasing points.
Regarding the Nevada Rattler, Ruiz said, “We’re not physically running it any more, we’re basically doing displays and we’re going to continue to do our fund raisers for the Special Olympics, Toys for Tots and stuff like that.”
He added two of his sons, Ryan and Ricky Jr., are working to build another AA Fuel Altered and will probably named it the Nevada Rattler Junior.
Although he’s retired Ruiz is still busy.
“I’ve been helping other people and I’m flying to England this summer as I’ve been contracted to go over there and tune a car. And there’s a possibility I may be going to Puerto Rico to an exhibition with mine,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve retired, I just retired out of the seat.”
He added that there has been a great response from those visiting the show and his objective now is to promote for his sponsors.
Not too far away was another race related booth for the Need2Speed indoor kart track. Shelby Pierce was busy telling people about it and handing out discount tickets.
Shelby Pierce watches of the Need2Speed booth. She as handing out discount tickets to the indoor karting track.
There was also another display only dragster honoring American Fallen Heroes. And the Rod Hall Off Road Hall of Fame was represented both with a booth and an off-road racing truck positioned by a trailer exhibit.
Fibercraft was also on hand it the shop supports both the off-road community as well as racers.
Off road racing supporter Fibercraft was also on hand as the staff answered question as to their products and services. And the Jeep Jamboree also had a booth promoting its events for off roaders.
Jeepers Jamboree also had a booth promoting their trips and other activities.
Another exhibit was by Reno 4X4.com.
“Basically it’s an online forum with free registration and we’re trying to connect the local 4X4 users, mostly Jeeps and Toyotas,” Dennis Volkov the site’s owner said. “There’s an active classified section, trail runs get posted and tech discussions, it’s user driven and there’s no agenda.”
He was surprised by the response as the site has tapped into the entire state as well as Northern California.
Three of the exhibitors are groups working to ensure access for recreation and racing on public lands.
One of them was Nevada 4-Wheel Drive Association and their president Larry Calkins was on hand.
Larry Calkins stands by the Nevada 4-Wheel Drive Association’s booth. The groups advocates for keeping public lands open for recreation.
“The association is a land use advocacy group, we have member clubs, member individuals and member businesses,” Calkins said. “Our job is to monitor agencies like the BLM, Forest Service and state OHV Commission on behalf of the 4-wheel drive community. And we consider ourselves to be the voice of the 4-Wheel Drive community in the state.
For those wishing further information the organization has a website, www.n4wda.org as well as a Face Book page, Facebook/n4wda.
Asked about the show, he said, “We’ve been selling memberships in our association and talked to a lot of people. We’ve got quads, side-by-sides, Jeeps, trucks and most people we talk to do use public lands and they are concerned about at being locked out.”
The next group is the Hills Angels and their president Craig McAllister said, “We’re just a 4-Wheel Drive club, we like to do ghost towns, some challenge routes and that sort of thing. But we also pay our dues by doing trail maintenance projects, clean up projects and we work the Forest Service, BLM, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful and all these different organizations.”
Craig McAllister, president of the Hills Angels, stands with a tricked up Toyota 4X4 and its owner Tim Alobiniano.
He said the response at the show was good and that a lot of people didn’t realize what they were doing.
And finally there was the Blue Ribbon Coalition with its president Del Albright.
“We’re a national trail based group out of Idaho but I actually live in California and we work nation wide to keep trails open. Both Nevada and California are under the gun right now as both the BLM and Forest service are managing the lands and they’re tightening up on some of the areas and in some cases we’re saying unnecessarily. Our land is supposed to be free, we take care of it and we deserve to go recreate, race, ride, enjoy the ghost towns and that’s what Blue Ribbon is about.”
He mentioned this is the fifth year they’ve come to the show.
“We support Al Lockett with his shows as he does a good job and he’s also a motorized recreationist. We’ve has several new members sign up this year, better than last year.”
He feels as the economy is improving people have more money and are joining the coalition or clubs like the Nevada 4-Wheel Drive Association that work to keep the trails open.
“Congress, politicians like numbers. The more members you have the more effective you are on getting their ear,” said.
One thing he mentioned is the BLM working a national plan for resource management and two areas, like recreation and travel, will have an impact on this region. Albright feels these plans were drawn up in Washington by people not familiar with off road and desert areas or travel.
One aspect will essentially forbid people from using or even crossing sand washes. Something virtually impossible to do when out on the desert.
He mentioned the BLM is taking comments but there is a deadline of April 9th to get those in.
Later in the afternoon there was an annual OHV Meeting where several items were discussed. One was AB217 that will eliminate registration of OHV vehicles but would essentially eliminate funding for the states OHV Committee.
The other would be AB227 where the state is working to acquire federal lands. Historically the state has a record of selling most federal lands it was given.
As an example when Nevada became a state it was given 2.7 million acres of land but now only 3,000 of those still are under state control. And the counties would take a huge hit when payments in lieu of taxes ended.
The discussions also covered Senator Heller’s Sportsman Bill and other topics.
OTHER RACING NEWS
• Local racer Reece Honea was badly hurt Sunday while racing in Idaho where he suffered a lacerated Kidney and had surgery at the main hospital to repair the damage. A fund has been set up to help him pay the medical costs and those wishing to donate should go to the following website, www.gofundme/pml5jc.
• Oval Track racing begins this Saturday as the Fernley 95A Speedway opens it’s 2015 season with a 2 p.m. starting time. Later that same evening at 5 p.m. the VCGP will host a number picking party at the Red Dog Saloon.
This weekend is the fourth annual Sandbox Grand Prix is on at the Fernley Lion’s Motocross Track, it’s a joint venture with MRANN and OTHG.
Saturday’s action begins at 12:30 p.m. with races for Pee Wees, the smaller classes and women. Their team race begins at 2:30 p.m.
Sunday is for the big bikes and racing begins at 8 a.m. when the first moto takes off and ends at 12:30 p.m. By then those only interested in the Grand Prix or team races will be showing up for their event that runs from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on a lengthened course.
The team races are a fun time and for bragging rights.
• NASCAR ended its western swing at the Fontana Speedway this weekend. In Saturday’s Xfinity event Las Vegas native Brendan Gaughan started eighth and finished second
On Sunday Kurt Busch started from the pole but finished third while Gaughan didn’t fare as well starting 38th and ending up 41st
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