After a decades long absence a popular event returned to our area.

CARSON CITY (Aug. 29) – Flat Track Racing returned to Northern Nevada this weekend thanks to the combined efforts of On Trak Promotions and the California Flat Track Association (CFTA). The result was a sell out crowd of 1,600 fans as well as over 150 entries and 27 pros from several disciplines arrived to race on the paper clip shaped track

The afternoon was a blizzard of heat races and amateur mains. In the evening the main show would end with the Open Pro racing for the money.

For one California rider it capped an almost perfect day. Especially since he had won the Dash for Cash a little while earlier.

“It was a really fun race, the track is shaping up to be a real racey track,” Mikey Rush said after winning the dash. “Had Michael Inderblitzen breathing down my neck, I heard him there for a while, I excited, should be a good main event and we’ll put on a good show for the fans.”

That victory almost doubled what he took home for the night.

Three rows of pros lined up for the final main and when the started flashed the green light Rush took off with Inderbitzen right behind him followed by JohnVanderlaan.

Lap after lap they tore around the short course, cornering with their left boot stuck out for balance. As the laps progressed Rush extended his lead and in the final laps would be getting around the lap traffic of slower riders.

After taking a victory lap, and doing donuts for the fans he pulled into the awards area.

“It felt really good, the bike came to me, made a little changes here and there all day,” Rush said. “Man the track was pretty treacherous, it was hard to hit your marks and keep a smooth pace going but I kept my head down and tried to be as smart as I could. These guys kept me honest and I heard them the whole time, and it was a good time and fun. It’s awesome, had a clean sweep and they put on a good show.”

Then he thanked Dave with Machete Industry, motor builder Ronnie Brown, Moto Station out of Salt Lake City and Jimmy Wood, who does his suspension work, Chism Racing and his wife for putting up with his racing especially since their daughter is only eight-months old.

Before the pro raced their mains there was a Hooligan main. These are Harley’s but more like track bikes and have motors of at least 750cc and all the riders were veterans.

First off the start was Rick Villanueva but soon Reno rider Mitch Gallagher put his sights on the leader and used an out side pass at the line to take the point. After that it was Gallagher’s race as he ripped around to the victory.

“The race was great, I broke my leg three months ago, this is my first race back and it’s awesome to win,” Gallagher said. “I was terrified, my leg, can’t break it again but it feels great.”

 

Then he thanked his father Tom, Moto Source and gave special thanks to the fans.

One of the loudest races came from the Bultaco class that had all veterans including Jimmy “The Flyin’ Flea,” who came out of retirement to ride in this event.

These bikes had a high pitched, crackling scream to their motors and in the hands of these veterans they didn’t waste any time getting around the track. And these men were racing for a purse of their own.

When the race began Filice, who lives in Dayton, jumped into the lead with Brad Spencer Sr. close behind him. Neither man was far apart but in the end Filice reached the checkered flag first.

“The race was pretty tough, I’ve got a couple of good veterans here so I knew I needed to get the start. Track is pretty rough so I had to keep it one line but everything went well,” Filice said. “Mr. Chuck Bullwinkle from Gardnerville, he worked on this thing all day long so he deserves the credit.”

On the front row of the Senior Heads Up main were two heat winners; Brad Spencer Sr. and 1985 World Supercross Champion Jim Holley.

On the green Jerry Willis was on point but not for long as Spencer soon took the lead. Holley then worked his way into second and the chase was on.

In the end Spencer won the race as Holley just could not close the gap and finished second head of Willis. Further back local veteran Al McElroy came out of retirement to run this class and ended up 7th.

“Just trying to get a good start, to get off and I knew Holley was going to be tough so everything worked out the way I wanted,” Spencer said. “I’d like to thank my wife, my son, who set me up, he’s great and my daughter for giving me a little help.”

Kevin Keeran and A.J. Kirkpatrick led the charge when the Vet Expert main began. Not to far behind was Drake McElroy.

Kirkpatrick did take the lead but soon was being challenged by McElroy, who ended his chances when he went down in Turn 3. After that it was Kirkpatrick’s race and he stormed off to the victory.

Asked if he knew when McElroy fell, Kirkpatrick said, “I heard him, he went down right there in Turn 3. He as giving me a good run, nice and clean that’s the way we like it. We all got to go to work the next day.”

Then he thanked his teammates Stevie and Austin, CFTA and everyone that put this night together.

Hunter Brooks from Escalon, Calif. won the 250 Expert race after getting past Nathan Agrifoglio at the start.

The Vintage Heavy Expert race kicked off the evening program but only six riders showed up. And Bradley Spencer Jr., won that with three Reno riders, Rick Reed, Greg Gilmore and Mitch Gallagher taking second through fourth.

Since this was an “outlaw,” event and not one sanctioned by the AMA, there were classes racing that don’t usually compete when the other flat track races in the series are running.

Unfortunately both Pee Wee riders did not start their main but the rest of the riders got their mains off.

Young Kage Tadman put on a show for the fans and won both the 65/110cc Amateur and Head’s Up main. The Female main, 150cc age 12+, featured a good battle between winner Brooke Lozano and Kenzie Rae as both just tore around the track,

Locals Wayne Appleton and Rich Thorwaldson both won their respective mains. Desert racer and former MRANN champion Austin Serpa also was a winner in the 250 Knobby class and local Dylan Thorwaldson was also a winner.

There was too much to cover in this report so tomorrow I’ll post a photo gallery of many of the winners and some of the action. However all the main event results are posted in this article.

It was a full plate of action that evening. And CFTA on their Face Book Page posted a thank you to Robert Hansen, the event’s sponsors and the hard working track crew that kept working almost right up to the final race.

Those wishing further information on the California Flat Track Association’s season should check their website at, www.californiaflattrack.com.

OTHER RACING NEWS:

• Local motorcycle racer Alan Cunningham is on the Isle of Man right now. He’s doing practice sessions and will race late this week in the ManxGP, which one has to do if a rider wants to ride in the Isle of Man TT.

That’s Cunningham’s goal and all goes well he’ll be back next year. I have a link for the radio broadcasts as well was times and will publish those in my Thursday preview article.

• Rattlesnake Raceway was in action Saturday evening and young Cody Morris won the 3rd annual Hobby Stock Challenge. Other winners were Jeff Olschowka in IMCA and Steven Crook topped the SS4 class.

• NASCAR visited the Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend and four Nevada natives were competing.

In Friday’s Xfinity race Brendan Gaughan started 14th and finished 5th while T.J. Bell started 37th and ended up 31st. In the rain delayed Sprint Cup race both Busch brothers had their day ended in wrecks to Kurt and Kyle were credited with 38th and 39th place.

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RESULTS:

• Evening Program:

+ Vintage Heavy Expert: 1. Bradley Spencer, Jr., 2. Rick Reed, 3. Greg Gilmore, 4. Mitch Gallagher, 5. Brad Raymond, 5. Perry Smith.

DNS: Jack Jones, Rob Lanoy, Julia Rankin, Curt Brooks.

+ 250 Expert: 1. Hunter Brooks, 2. Nathan Agrifoglio, 3. Branden Weller, 4. Michael Mannion, 5. Mike      lampe.

DNS: Bryan Holmes, Drake McElroy.

+ Vet Expert: 1. A.J. Kirkpatrick, 2. Dan Lowther, 3. Kevin Keeran, 4. Jimmy McAllister, 5. Drake McElroy, 6. Rick Goldrup.

DNS: Steve Hill.

+ Senior Heads Up: 1. Brad Spencer Sr., 2. Jim Holley, 3. Jerry Willis, 4. Jeff Spohr, 5. Brok McAllister, 6. Brad Raymond, 7. Albert McElroy, 8. Paul Tinoco, 9. Rich Holland, 10. Tony Witherspoon, 11. Gene Fitsimmons, 12. Jim Kirky.

DNS: Curt Brooks, Richard Dermody, Rob Lanoy.

+ Open Pro LCQ: 1. Chris McDougal, 2. Stephen Sikorski, 3. Hunter Graham, 4. Brad Miller

+Bultaco, 35+, Expert: 1. Jimmy Filice, 2. Brad      Spencer Jr., 3. Randy Bereman, 4. Greg Gilmore, 5. Tim Niles.

DNS: Mike Cmelik.

+ Hooligan 750cc+: 1. Mitch Gallagher, 2. Rick Villanueva, 3. Kristopher Villanueva, 4. Chad Valker.\

+ Open Pro Dash for Cash: 1. Mikey Rush, 2. Michael Inderbitzen, 3. Jon Nunes, 4. Josh Mott.

+ Open Pro: 1. Mikey Rush, 2. Michael Inderbitzen, 3. John Vanderlaan, 4. Hunter Brooks, 5. Josh Mott, 6. Jon Nunes, 7. Charlie Vanderlaan, 8.Michael Rodrigues, 9. Chris McDougal, 10. Casey Cahoon, 11. Dan Lowther, 12.      Stephen Sikorski, 13. Austin Helwig, 14. Damon Coca.

• Afternoon Program:

Pee Wee:

+ 7 to 8 years: 1. Jackson Paden, 2. Oliver McElroy

65c/110cc:

+ Amateur: 1. Kage Tadman, 2. Nathan Riippi, 3, Kylie Cullen.

+ Heads Up: 1. Kage Tadman.

85cc/150cc:

+ Amateur: 1. John Schaefer.

+ Expert: 1. Branden Weller.

+ Knobby: 1. Rich Thorwaldson, 2. Taren Trunage.

+ Head’s Up: 1. Branden Weller, 2. John Schaefer.

100cc to 230cc:

+ Begnner: 1. Jason Paden, 2. Wiles Stapp.

+ Amateur: 1. Rich Thorwaldson, 2. Setffan Nielsen, 3. Steve Erickson, 4. Wiles Stapp, 5. Jennifer Ehlers.

DNS: Tim Lampe

Female:

+ 150cc, 12+: Brooke Lozano, 2. Kenzie Rae, 3. Jennifer Ehlers, 4. Denise Berard, 5. Shelli Miller.

Run What Ya Brung: 1. Nathan Agrifoglio, 2. James Holley.

Vintage:

+ Light Heads Up: 1. Ricky Ziemer Jr., 2. Dave Keil, 3. Tom Niles, 4. Alan Johnson, 5. Jim Kirky.

+ Modern, 30+: 1. Jack Jones.

+ Heavy Amateur: 1. Steffan Nielsen, 2.Chris LaCruze, 3. Garrett Lafever.

DNS: Jay Gardner.

Super Senior 60+: 1.RickReed, 2. Dave Keil, 3. Tim Niles, 4. Eugene Hawkins, 5. Don Rasmussen, 6. Robert Stusavage, 7. Ron Kilby.

250cc:

+ Age 12+: 1. Austin Serpa, 2. Andrew Williams, 3. Gage Gunzburg, 4. Devin Valker, 5. C.J. LaCruze.

+ Amateur: 1. Eugene Hawkins.

+ Unlimited: 1. Wayne Appleton, 2. Ricky Ziemer Jr., 3. Brok McAllister, 4. Rick L. Ziemer, 5. Steve Erickson, 6.Michael Mannion.

DSQ: Tim Lampe

DNS: Justin Filice.

Expert:

+ Open: 1. Hunter Brooks, 2. Josh Mott, 3. Bobby Caldeira, 4. Perry Smith, 5. Michael Hill, 6. Rick Goldrup.

Open:

+ Amateur Knobby, 14+: 1. Zane Roberts, 2. Rich Thorwaldson, 3. A.J. Turnage, 4. Dylan Galliett, 5. Jacob H. Hofer, 6. Brendon Borrego, 7. Layne Kolbet, 8. Brody Massman, 9. Chris LaCruze, 10. Mike Cullen, 11. Sebastian      Ramirez, 12. Tony Witherspoon, 13. Dony Clinger, 15. Donnie Schmidt.

+ Expert Knobby, 14+: 1. Randy Bereman, 2. Justin Scullen, 3. Conor Odgen, 4. Sean Jones, 5. Rory Krein, 6. Ryan McElfish.

+ Amateur: 1. Nathan Agrifoglio, 2. Branden Weller, 3. Kenzie Rae, 4. Brooke Lozano, 5. Chris Larson, 6. Jared Holley, 7. Mike Lampe.

DNS: James Holley.

Vet:

+ Amateur: 1. Paul Tinoco, 2. Chris Larson.

• Rattlesnake Raceway – Aug. 20

SSR:

+ Heat Winners: #1 Steven Crook, #2. Steven Crook Sr.

+ Main Winner: Steven Crook.

Hobby Stocks:

+ Heat Winners: #1 Cody Morris, #2 David Ausano, #3 Rick Miller, #4 BobVaden.

+ Hobby Stock Challenger Winner: Cody Morris.

IMCA Modifieds:

+ Heat Winners: #1 Dave Sciarroni, #2 Cory Sample.

+ Main Winner: Jeff Olschowka.