By Jim Heiland

 I worked with Kate Ryan at Elko, Donny Reuvers and Mike Hellendrung at Raceway Park.  After many emails several phone calls, comparing schedules we settled on Memorial Day weekend.  Both tracks could fit us in.

Once the date was set, Darrell Bassuener, (Vintage racer) owner of Golden Sands Speedway in Wisconsin Rapids WI, invited us to his track on Monday Memorial Day.  They were having a Midwest Late Model Touring 100 lap race plus other classes too.  So it was Elko on May 23, Raceway on May 24, Golden Sands on May 25.  As in most events there were a few minor glitches, but nothing big.

Most of us got to the Elko track on Saturday afternoon.  We were met by Kate Ryan, Elko, and Steve Einhaus with ASA.  We were treated very well, signed in and directed to a parking spot.  I dare to say we did turn some heads in the pits.  There was a lot of interest in the vintage cars.  We had 10 cars on Saturday, enough for 2 heat races and a feature.  We lined up heat races so they were pretty even matches.  First heat was on by Mike Hed  67 Chevelle from  Manahga MN (That’s way up north), second heat won by Darrell Bassuener 57 Chev from Wisconsin Rapids WI.  For the feature we inverted the field and put the slower cars on the inside.

The feature was a tight race from start to finish.  Mark May from Marshfield WI in a 72 Dodge Challenger won the feature.  I want to say Thanks to the Elko Officials’ and the ASA Team for there help in making our event a success.

Four of us camped out in the parking lot over night.  In the morning we had our racers breakfast.  Mark and Rosemarie May made bacon, Chris and I did scrambled eggs, and Chris Loberg did pancakes..  Lobergs trailer was the serving table.  What a feast!.

At Raceway Sunday afternoon we had practice from noon to 2pm.  Everyone had a chance to burn up a lot of fuel.

Before the races we had all our cars on display behind the grandstand.  There were a lot of race fans that came to look over our cars.  Many of us let the kids sit inside our cars.  That’s always fun to watch their expressions.

Again we ran two heats and a feature, same sort of line up.  The first heat was won by Roger Meyer in his 53 Chev Sedan from Montgomery MN.  Second heat was taken by Raceways Tech Inspector, Bob Heine in his 69 Chevelle from New Prague MN. ( Gotta let the tech guy win).  The feature was a fun hard fought race.

Lynn Peterson Paces the feature with his 56 Ford Tow Truck.
Gordy Mason in his 65 Impala on pole, Jim Heiland Outside pole in his new 70 Chev Nova.  Then in was Mike Stein, Bob Heine, Skip Pollack, Gary Stein, Darrell Bassuener, Chris Loberg, Mike Hed, Roger Meyer and Greg Gernentz.  After the second lap Heiland took the led from Mason and never looked back.  May and Loberg were in hot pursuit for the hole face.  It was a tight race and the fans loved it.

Again a big thanks to the officials’ at Raceway for a fun night of vintage racing.

Monday it was a 31/2 hour tow to Golden Sands Speedway in Wisconsin Rapids WI.  Darrell Bassuener and his crew made us feel right at home.  We had plenty of practice time and ran a heat and feature.

We did loose some Minnesota cars but did pick up Steve and Will Frolech.

  The heat was won by Darrell Bassuener and the feature by Chris Loberg from Menomonie WI in his new 72 AMC, Hornet, Nash Rambler beep beep, Kelvinator, (really it’s a Javelin).

After there 100 lap late Model Feature, we packed up and headed for home.  I told my Chris that my Fun Meter for the weekend was at 10 and couldn’t go any higher.  I know we all had a good time and got to do plenty of racing.