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Lake Geneva Raceway presents
Round and Around by Fay Hendricks
Upcoming Events at Lake Geneva Raceway:

Coming up: Saturday, October 8, Midwest Enduro goblin 250.

Sunday, Oct. 15, District 16 Motocross final race of 2005.
Round and Around:  By Fay Hendricks
The following is a column written by Fay Hendricks for The Checkered Flag Racing News. This race publication began in 1968 and ceased operations as of July 13, 2005. The wife of 7-time sportsman and mini stock champion Jim Hendricks, Fay has been writing since 1981. As a way to allow readers to continue following the travels of Fay Hendricks around several venues, Lake Geneva Raceway owner-promoter Kevin Dawson has decided to offer the columns here. We hope you enjoy the reading.
October 2, 2005  -

Mother Nature smiled down on Lake Geneva Raceway for their Annual Fall Classic, and it's about time. The Small Car World Championships had been cancelled by rain for the past three years, and some of the young competitors have matured and moved on. Beginning as young as five years old in the Kid Karts, there are generations of racers in the Friday divisions. With about a dozen categories of small race vehicles, there were seven clean sweeps and one new track record set this year.

Several racers start their offspring In karting to learn the basics, veteran Tim Cox one of them. Cox values this year's record-setting run at Madison International Speedway right up there with his family, choosing coaching over traveling as son Jason enters the sport. Andy Jones nearly swept his Junior Sportsman class, but was beaten in a last-corner move by Sean Clavey. Jake Humphrey's grandparents always attend his races at Lake Geneva, and Friday they saw him sweep his kart class. Humphrey is normally seen in a late model here, as is Vincent Merry, who entered the 4-cylinder field on Friday.

Kyle LaPier has graduated from karts to Bandoleros and Legends, and would have swept both divisions if it weren't for the heat win of Bandolero champion, Kyle Palma. LaPier claimed, "It's been a while since I won here", after his Bandolero feature. When he ended up in victory lane again following the Legends main, LaPier declared, "It's my first feature ever in the Legends". His jubilant sister joined him for photos as LaPier thanked his supportive family who made it worth even more. Jake Jump led the Super Mini Cup field to the end, stating, "I like starting on the outside pole". Jump conceded, "Jeff Myers, I think, got the points championship. This is my first feature win of the year".

Kip Novotny swept the Rascal Outlaw division Friday, stating, "That was a tough one", after maneuvering his way from the back to the lead with a couple laps to spare. Earlier Novotny broke his own track record in qualifying. The Formula Indy field was swept by Michigan racer Paul Bosler, making his trip worthwhile. Mike Van Houten was the most excited winner of the night, sweeping the Mini Mod events to earn his first championship. Scaling the frontstretch fence, then dropping to his knees with emotion as his family joined him, Van Houten declared, "I always dreamed about it. It's the hardest I ever drove a car. We're going to party all night". Friday's final winner was B. J. Sparkman, sweeping the 4-cylinder class. After 27 years of racing, Sparkman concluded, "It's a great feeling. I had a great year". Shortly after 10:30, there was much time for celebration Friday. The chill in the air was remedied by campfires on the adjacent grounds, or by attendance at the bar next door to t

Saturday morning arrived sunny and warm, over 80 degrees when nine more fields of cars ran across the timing stripe. Over 200 new entries included more than 40 Basic International Cars (BIC) and 70 super late and limited late models. In the latter fields, father Jamie and son Josh Wallace posted quick times, capping off their perfect season. This is the first time I can recall a father and son each earning championships at Lake Geneva Raceway, or anywhere else, in the same year. Cars from several other tracks showed up for the weekend, as well as travelers from out of state. The onerous job of sorting out the entries gave a pause for supper before the evening's heats began.

Before 8:00 there were already 16 races complete, but Saturday’s smallest field brought things to a halt. The six modified mounts had one errant car swerve into another, forcing it against the front wall. Alarmingly, the mount then rode over the concrete, knocking out frontstretch fencing along with the handrail. Instantly, staff ran to the scene to check on spectators, and began emergency procedures. It's times like this that we know training pays off, and we learned five people had incurred non-critical injuries. The program was forced to cancel the handful of races remaining, and track crew began repairs. Helping out were several racers and crews, knowing much had to be done, and one racer‘s fencing company was there with replacement materials and crew the next morning. Bonfires began in the campground and folks gathered in the bar, and Saturday night turned into Sunday morning. The extended racing family seemed to appreciate what they had a bit more. To the outside world, this

Sunday’s repairs were still ongoing when news crews from four Milwaukee television station showed up like sharks at feeding time. Some stayed all day, probably hoping for footage that would resemble a Talladega wreck. Sorry, wrong place. We learned later that there was also a hostage situation near the track Saturday night, making Lake Geneva quite a popular place for reporters. The schedule was revised a bit as concrete was drying, and the shiny new fence was strung with the final cable. Five qualifying races were run, and the first feature field began only 20 minutes later than the original schedule. The number of laps were reduced in a few events due to a threat of rain entering the fray. Any time you think it’s great to own a race track, think of Kevin Dawson. Plagued by stupid questions from unthinking people, directing his staff, checking the weather, and fielding TV interviewers simultaneously, we can only marvel at his aplomb through it all.

The Wisconsin Sport Truck contest was only slowed by one caution flag as Jeff Van Handel made his way to the front to claim the win. It’s always a sight to see the small mounts with no suspension bouncing their way around the oval, one getting a particularly rough ride when running the rumble strip. The midwest modified field was next, joined by the stock car of Wally Morgan to make up a field of six. This event went caution-free, and Steven Schultz emerged the winner after starting in the second row.

The Big 8, or limited late model, feature was next. Two dozen started the 58 circuits, and three cautions later all but a pair finished. Rick Corso would be the only one of Sunday’s winners to do so from the pole position, even though Ricky Bilderback actually got past him for one circuit. This being Bilderback’s first visit to Lake Geneva’s oval, it was quite a run from the fifth row. Slowed by two spins and one smoking mount, the event was done in rapid order. Corso had to be even quicker, hurrying to the pits and transferring to his super late model for the next event.

The 75-lap super late model feature was run in two segments, for rain had come in a gully-washer just as they were nearing the 25-lap mark. The entire field exited to the pits, not allowed to change anything on their cars as a couple hours and another feature intervened.

The Street Stocks, with treaded tires, were important in the track’s drying after the rain departed. Their 30 circuits saw nine lead changes, with a last-lap pass made by Adam Regnier. This may not have been the most popular winner, for only six laps earlier Regnier and Ken Eisbrenner made contact while Eisbrenner was leading. The fourth race leader, Joe DeCubellis, then took charge until the final corners, making the finish one of the more exciting of the day.

The super late models then resumed their feature, with Eddie May still leading. Fran Prestay and Jeff Holmgren Jr. faded as Matt Kocourek’s mount gained strength to take charge after a dozen circuits. Followed by Landry Potter to the checkered flag, both drivers started back in the field. The random invert started the fast qualifier back a dozen cars, and restarts would be single-file instead of getting lane choice.

The Mid-American Stock Cars were next in the feature lineup. Three leaders and three cautions later, it was Johnny Senerchia getting his very first feature win after starting back in the fourth row. The enduro-type cars saw only one caution, with the last-row starter winning the race. Jim Robinson showed up late at Lake Geneva, so no one knew his name until he ended up in victory circle. The super street stock field was half the size of the previous contest, yet there was close racing to the end as Scott Lawver took the flag first.

The BIC field closed Sunday’s events with a couple lead changes, and a pair of cautions, with Steve Doherty the final victor of the weekend. There would be no powder puff or mechanic races this year, for enough had already transpired. Before 8:00 we were amazed to find temps in the 70’s as we wended our way back home. We arrived at Lake Geneva Raceway in September and left in October, and thank our host for the stay. This is the last time we’ll see our Saturday race family for a while.

Next up, another road trip to the Oktoberfest at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway for four final days of racing in Wisconsin’s north country.

 
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