Friday, October 24 - The Borger’s Speedway, a 1/7 mile clay oval, located near Saylorsburg, PA is the closest track to our house outside of Easton. We have not been there for several years and decided to take the 23 mile trip tonight as they were running an October Friday night series featuring the 270 cc micro sprints running wingless. We started out after 6 and I decided to treat Pat to dinner in Wind Gap near the track at Dietzi’s Tavern. I had not eaten there in years and when we arrived the parking lot was packed so I knew that they were doing good and the food was still good also. Pat had the Italian chicken sandwich while I went for the fried clam strips and fries. Along with the corn nuggets as an appetizer it was a very tasty meal and Pat came away impressed by her first visit to Dietzi’s Tavern.

Now it was time to head up the road to the Borger’s Speedway. When we arrived at 7:45 they were wrapping up the go kart and ATV portion of the program with the micro sprints and slingshots scheduled to kick off at 8:30. Well the starting time of 8:30 came and went before they finally started at 9:06 on the cold fall evening with temperatures dropping into the 40’s. It was good to have racing buddy, Dwight Bucks and his friend, Ron, in attendence to swap racing stories to help the delayed start not as hard to take. Since our last visit we believe that the lighting has been greatly improved and the surface was in good shape. There were 3 slingshots on hand along with 23 wingless 270 cc micro sprints. Two of the slingshots broke down in warmups so only Stan Friedman ran the heat race. Next up were three heats for the micros and without much delay the 15 lap slingshot feature was ready to go. Two cars made the feature call with Tiffany Wambold joining the fray. Friedman took the early lead but Wambold caught and passed him and went on to take the win at 9:57. The 20 lap 270 cc micro sprint feature was set to go at 10:10 and I wish I could tell you that it was a good one but it wasn’t. Eight caution flags slowed the event before Pat Bealer came home the victor over the past two week’s feature winner, Dave Dornblaser, who started 9th with Kenny Wismer Jr. claiming third from the 8th starting position. Rounding out the top five were Ed Kenderline, the 6th starter and Saturday night point champion, and Brandon Edgar, son of modified driver Don Edgar with the final checker waving at 10:43. The racing was nothing to write home about but it was a Friday night race in late October as the season winds down.

It would turn out to be our last race of the weekend as all day Saturday it rained at 50 Riverview Drive and Sunday was dedicated to taking Pat’s dad for his Christmas present (from 2007) which was a three lap ride in a Cup race car at the Pocono Raceway on a gorgeous October day and then to church on Sunday evening for a farewell get together for our departing pastor, Brian Cooper, who is moving back to New Jersey after 13 years of guiding the flock at the Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church in Bethlehem. He is moving closer to his and his wife’s parents to care for them in their elder years. He will be sorely missed but it is understandable why he is doing the move.

Hagerstown Speedway postponed their Octoberfest until November 7th and 8th so if anyone is looking for one last race to attend this might be your chance. Also Bridgeport Speedway is running their last race of the season on November 6th and 7th so you could make a big weekend of it.