surfnsprint

surfnsprint

Saturday, June 28, 2008

A few friends and me broke for Bakersfield. We ran a zipper line right up the belly of Central California. Chief Criminal and Screen Man fidgeted in the back. Kiwi drove and I slept. I had a strange dream where gas was twenty dollars a gallon and the freeways were all torn out and returned to dirt. We were racing sprint cars to Bakersfield on the wide dirt highways. One side of the track was lined with surfers and corporations. The other side was lined with farmers and families on horses. They were all waving flags and cheering us on up the road. Then I woke up as we pulled into Oildale and it was just a hot and listless Saturday. It was so still the beads of perspiration were exploding as they dropped off my forehead. There weren’t thousands of people; there were only maybe a hundred. But they were well chosen; the most skilled mechanics, top tier drivers, monkeys, knuckleheads and humble savants. We set up pop tents, rolled out cars and set to work. A storm was scheduled for later that evening…..

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Peter Murphy Gets In The Groove

I headed into Peter Murphy’s camp looking for the great Gary Costa. He wasn’t around but I did hook up with Peter for a picture and we chatted for a few minutes. We talked about the great car count (forty-one) and the quality of the competition. Peter alluded to the fact that he most enjoys racing when the competition is thick. Although Peter was enthusiastic giving credit to VRA drivers, it was funny because he refers to them by car numbers! “Oh yeah” he says, “now that 2 car (that would be Kierce), that’s a fast car..” And he named car number after car number! I suspect Peter likes most people, but when it comes to other drivers he is the ultimate competitor. I don’t think he sees them as people, I think he sees them as car numbers.

A Lot of People Want To Hang Their Names On This Car

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Bakersfield Green

I enjoy seeing Ivan the track steward each year and appreciate the safe and professional job he and the track crew put down. Their whole approach is based on respect and he did a pretty good job laying it out at the driver’s meeting. They were putting water on the track all day trying to stay ahead of the dust bowl heat and dryness. I do have to comment on their excellent announcer, Mike Moskier, doing his trademark “Holy Guacamole!” I didn’t get to meet the track management or ownership; I’m looking forward to doing that next year. They sure are gracious people who put on a hell of a show for us fans.

Preparing for the Main Event

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Jeff Gardner In His Heat Race

The Bandit VRA showdown gives me a chance to check out a bigger spread of drivers. Some of this years standouts included Albert Pombo (unflagging effort), Justyne Hamblin (watch out for this racer), Jonathan Henry (fast every race), Troy Rutherford (determined charge), Greg Taylor (on the pole), Davey Pombo (most passes official), Mike Spencer (most passes unofficial) and a brilliant charge from thirteenth to second by Danny Faria Jr. (outstanding drive). It was a big thrill to see so many gifted drivers in one place. The Grand Slam is the stuff daft fans like me live for. A special shout out for my Wakim friends, they finished top ten in a tough crowd.

Albert Pombo Ran Ferocious From Heat To Main

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Peaceful Easy Feeling

Despite management’s best effort, the hot and dry weather gave us a dusty track. As the late afternoon breeze finally kicked in, the pits stands became a brutal no man’s land. Heat race winners included Chris Wakim, Justyne Hamblin, Albert Pombo and Clark Templeman. I watched the huge Semi 1 throw down between Rick Hendrix and Glimmer Twin Mike Spencer. That was awesome including the back to front transfer effort by Brandon Thomson. Semi 2 had Greg Bragg going from sixth to first and featured a pitched battle between Richard McCormick and Bruce Douglas, which ended badly for both of them. Good to see Tom Stansberry on the track again. I always enjoy seeing Ray Stansberry in the pits. When I see Ray, I know I’m in the right place for a real race.

Incoming

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Fred Thompson, A Racing Life

Being Brandon Thomson. I never seen a guy try so hard yet eat so many s*&t sandwiches. Beautiful run in the semi put him in the main where he flipped on the first lap! Dang. Brandon’s grandfather Fred Thompson suited up and got on the track but elected not to run. It was significant in that Fred used to win at this track back in the sixties. He is Brandon’s main sponsor and thanks for allowing a big heart like Brandon to race. Will somebody please hook Brandon up and give Fred a rest. I must say, however, this is an incredible relationship. Remember, Brandon, the joy is in the journey. I’m still working on the definitive dual portrait. There are a million stories in the naked city.

Brandon Thompson Learns From His Elders

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Danny Faria Jr. and His Gang

Taylor from the pole blasts into the lead. Templeman and Albert Pombo in the chase. Instant carnage in turn three, Severson gone, Barnes and Spencer refire. Restart, Thomson flips and walks home. Another restart Albert passes Taylor in three but spins on the next lap and goes back. Peter Murphy is clearly on the gas and has moved from twelfth to sixth. Rutherford has also moved from fifth to third. Justyne Hamblin sits right behind leader Taylor. Green and Taylor is low, Rutherford passes Hamblin up high. Here comes Templeman. Rutherford passes Taylor and Templeman passes Hamblin. It’s Rutherford, Taylor. Templeman and Murphy. Murphy mows past Templeman and Faria is making a noise in fourth. Taylor succumbs to Murphy, then to Faria. The drivers are blisteringly fast on a dry track and it’s Rutherford, Murphy, Faria and Taylor. Jonathan Henry has fought from eleventh to the fifth spot. Yellow as Stansberry gets turned around and Kierce pulls off with fuel issues. So far Murphy has gone from twelfth to second and Faria fourteenth to fourth. Green and I’m not sure anyone can pass Rutherford. Taylor is back in third. Rutherford and Taylor are high, Murphy grinds the bottom. Now everyone is high except Faria. Murphy proves me wrong and passes Rutherford for the lead. Now Faria reclaims fourth from Taylor. Templeman breaks and pulls into the infield. We are yellow when Albert Pombo and Hamblin mix and Hamblin is done. Ten laps remain. The hugely talented Mike Spencer (USAC-CRA points leader) has campaigned from the back to sixth! Green and its Murphy, Rutherford and Faria. Faria gets past Rutherford for second and here comes Davey Pombo! Peter Murphy goes about his Bandit business in the most straightforward way, effortlessly (it almost seems) holding off Faria (what a drive!) and Davey Pombo. It finishes in a blur with Murphy, Faria, Pombo (“I just needed one more yellow!”), Rutherford and Taylor. Smoking!

Peter Murphy Takes Home The Real Gold

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Peter Murphy is so understated. Quiet, polite and funny with that charming Australian accent. Put him in a sprint car and he will whip your butt. I picture this legend up in Clovis with his beautiful family, venturing out on weekends to various tracks where he gently extracts their money. Everything’s cool, everybody gets to see some killer racing and at the end of the evening he vanishes with most of the loot in his pocket. He really is the best kind of Bandit.