Well the season is finally over… 2 weeks AFTER the Thompson World Series, which is kinda weird, but we finally made it to the end… at least I think it’s the end. I was to the back of the crowd on Saturday during the drivers meeting where I heard Terry ask if there was any interest amongst the teams to run another show a few weeks down the road… not sure if that will ever come about or if he heard the response he wanted to go ahead with the idea… guess we’ll have to see, but I was intrigued.
I’d say overall 2012 was a pretty sweet season at the ‘bowl. There’s been a positive swing at the ‘bowl ever since Terry came back to the day-to-day operations in 2009, and this season continues that trend IMO. Can’t say every Sat I left the track lovin’ the place, but in 2007-08 I left pissed off almost every night… this year, maybe twice. Most of the time my crew and I would be talking about all the great action we captured right before we left. Our videos are good because the action on the track at the ‘bowl is so good
I made another appearance on the Overdrive Show today. I was somewhat skeptical if that show was gonna take off when the Speedbowl brass asked me to be a contributor to it throughout the season, but I thought the crew did a great job and had some very entertaining interviews over the course of the season. And of course you can listen to all the shows archived on the overdrive site. It’s just another example of why the Speedbowl is far and away the leader in social networking among short tracks, not only in CT or the northeast, but I can’t imagine there’s a track much better at it across the whole country. The website was kick-a$$ at the beginning of the year, then they revamped it to kick our a$$ again with an upgrage mid-season. Facebook & Twitter pages active daily… they got that tool that does the videos on youtube then this year they started the Overdrive Show. Good stuff!
A couple times this past season, especially when there was controversy about something, I wondered how the week would have played out if the ol’ jp.com forum was still around. The chatter woulda been outta control. Webmasters on massive monitoring detail, emoticons all over the place ah, those were the days. But ya know, nowadays you can go on Twitter immediately from your phone while your sitting in the stands during the race and talk smack if ya want. It’s only been a few years, but I really think the cyber world is so different that the forum wouldn’t have the same vibe as it did back then if it was still around today. As ahead of it’s time as it was 8-9 years ago when it started, the forum wouldn’t hold up like it once did. Webmaster musta known sumptin’ we didn’t when he pulled the plug a couple years ago. Just goes to show how quickly this age of information keeps changing… Definitely a challenge to keep up, and the Speedbowl does a great job of staying ahead of the curve with the accessibility via the internet.
So whatever, back to the ol’ Pumpkin’ Drop! I have to say that the SK battle for the title somewhat fizzled. Early August it was a 4 man race: Tyler, JP, Rob & Keith. Then Rocco gets hurt, and then suspended and takes himself out of the race. BTW, how many people do you know that can get suspended for fighting while in a cast for a broken wrist… jury still out if that’s impressive or just stupid, but nonetheless, Rocco was out of the mix… he threw down some driver swaps with Frank the Tank & Hot Rod Todd to entertain us after the fact, but it was now down to 3 for the SK crown. Then the Godfather has serious wrecks with Gaydosh, then Todd in back-to-back weeks and it’s down to 2 – Tyler & Pearl. Then JP, seemingly checked out for the win the last time the SK raced a few weeks back, gets tangled with the lapped car of Adam Gada, and goes from potentially gaining the point lead, to 21 points behind Tyler. Two races left, that’s not much ground between them. Throw in some rain the next week to make it only 1 race left, and those 21 points are a lot harder to make up.
But ya never know, I thought prior to the last SK 50 race… I’ve seen Tyler’s whole SK career, and seen JP since he won it all in 1998 and I’ve seen them both get caught up in other people’s mess more than any other drivers over the years… who knew if this would be one of those nights for one of them… or both. There were a few close calls for both of them during the final race, JP did get caught up in a spin, then a wreck, but even if he didn’t he woulda had to have finished 11 spots in front of Tyler, and the way that race was going, I just don’t think that was happening. It was Tyler’s night.
Like I said, I’ve seen Tyler wheelin’ at the bowl from the start. I can’t believe it’s been 8 years since I wondered who that kid in the 27 car was starting on the pole and making me all kinds o’ nervous that he was gonna spin it around in front of the field. Fun to see a guy get better each year, from spinning like crazy, to keeping it in one piece, to staying competitive, to winning races, running the outside, passing on the outside, to a 5-win season and a track title. Congrats to Tyler, Big Jeff & the entire 27 team.
My man Zoom & I were allowed to go down onto the track and get the shot of the mods taking off from the frontstretch (a tradition we’ve done every year for the SK Finale since we first starting filming in 2008). As we were setting up, I saw Jeff Pearl walk over to Tyler and shake hands before the race. Classic JP right there, win or lose that dude’s just good people. No doubt Pearl wins races every year, but since his title back in the late 90’s, he never really was a title contender again until these last 2 years. He’ll never admit he chases those points, but it was fun to see him battle for another title right down to the wire for the last 2 years.
Bruce Thomas Jr looked like the dominate 35 from a couple years ago in the LM 50. Checked out at the start and never challenged. Was tempted to throw something on the track for a debris caution late, but I wussed out. Congrats to Dillon Moltz, Mark Cooper & the 28 LM team for the championship during their first season together as driver & owner.
And how ’bout Walt Hovey taking home the SS title with a win in their 50 lap event. 2 years ago Hovey lost a heartbreaker to Al Stone on the last point night of the season. It’s funny, when people asked me over the last couple weeks if I thought Tyler had it in the bag, I told them he was ‘in good shape, but ya never know’ followed by a ‘remember Hovey 2 years ago’. Walt’s a pretty laid back dude, and he seemed prepared for anything in the weeks before the race was actually run. But you could tell after it was all over that he wanted that title, and thanks to his boy Nick who, from what I heard told Walt to just win the show anyway, had the right advice for his dad on how to end the season. Congrats to Walt, Maggie & the entire 16 clan!
Then ya got Kenny Cassidy. What can ya say about the mighty 11 team. A record 4th MS title at the ‘bowl, a record 12 wins in a season, including a record 6 in-a-row, and the NASCAR Div IV Nat’l Championship. There aren’t too many seasons more impressive than that. I honestly thought Darnstaedt’s record of 11 MS wins in a season was one that I might never see broken. My bad Kenny! LOL!! Congrats to the whole 11 team.
Shout out to Paul French (SKL) and Paul Kusheba (LC) who were recognized for clinching their Sat titles during the original Finale Saturday 3 weeks ago.
RANDOM NUGGET AWARDS
Well, there are few things I do regularly on jp.com anymore, but we will keep the ol’ year-end awards around for at least one more year. Unlike previous years, if you don’t watch Sid’s View, then ya might not have a clue what I’m referencing in these awards, but hey… why aren’t ya watching Sid’s View?? You’re bad! Here’s this year list:
BEST IN SHOW
- Kenny Cassidy reelin’ in the 26 of Jeff Cembruch to take the win in an early season Mini Stock feature
- Moltz, Palmer & Big Country battling 3-wide for LM win
- Shawn Monahan holding off Keith Rocco, then Tyler Chadwick for the SK win
- Doug Coby’s non-relief-driving win from the back of the field in Rocco’s #88 car
- Todd Ceravolo’s rain-delayed, relief-driving, $5,000 win at the Bud Nats in that same #88 car
- Kid Roc’s NEMA light win his first time running in the division
- And just a shout to the Minis & Streets in general… more weeks than not, both those divisions have side-by-side battles, lap after lap… just great stuff to watch from the stands
BEST ON-TRACK RIVALRIES
- Corey vs Galvin in the streets was tremendous week after week
- Sign Wars
- Paul French vs everyone it seems in the SKL’s
- Puleo vs Brooks in the SK’s (actually hated this one, but it was on-going for a while there)
- J&J Racing cars vs non-J&J Racing cars in the Legends
DISAPPOINTING RIVALRIES
- Keith vs Tyler – would have been better if Keith was on the track the last 2 months
- Moltz vs Big Country – started off with a bang early in the year, then fizzled. Still waiting to see who’s gonna fill the rivalry void in the LM’s that’s been missing since the days of Timmy vs Bruce
- Hovey vs Galvin – Galvin had more fun banging doors with Corey this year, which I’m sure Walt had no problem with… but the Hovey-Galvin battles had an off year.
FEEL GOOD MOMENTS
- The NASCAR Mods returning to the ‘bowl
- Jeff Rocco’s first career SK win
- Charlie Beal & Greg Moran Jr’s first career SS wins
- Joey Walnuts scoring first career LC win
- Joey Mooch & Joe Arena finally getting their first wins at the ‘bowl
- Kenny Cassidy’s National Championship
WICKED WRECKS
- Ryan Morgan’s #3 LM getting demolished into the turn 3 wall in one of the first weeks of the season
- Josh Galvin’s flip onto his side under the scoreboard and then sliding against the wall all the way thru turn 3
- Harry Rheaume’s headstand against the wall coming out of Turn 3
- RCIII crashing into the turn 1 wall last time we saw the 93 MS at the ‘bowl
- Chris Meyer’s flip n’ slide down the frontstretch
- Janovic’s wreck with Gaydosh (the only time to-date that one of our in-cars shifted from it’s mount after the impact of a wreck)
- Diego… take your pick!
MELTDOWNS… LOVE THE MELTDOWNS
- Corey Hutchings entertaining us with an animated rant on the backstretch while his car’s getting the hook after one of those 36-18 battles
- Nicole Morgillo’s “3 weeks in a row” rant on Joe Gada in the pits
- Dave Garbo Jr slamming down his complimentary water from Webby in frustration after a 2nd place finish in the LC’s around mid-season
- Bill McNeil’s “save your money” rant to Walt Hovey in the pits
- Jeff Rocco finger pointing in his brother Keith’s face in the stands after a Rocco 1-2 SK finish earlier that night
- Corey Larson losing his noodle on Paul French’s #37 SKL under caution
- Travis Jurcik’s rant on Keator during SS Finale (psst… Travis… I think you were yelling at the wrong guy… but thanks for the footage!)
OFFICIAL-LY ANNOYED
- seeing multiple drivers who were suspended from the pits for the rest of the season… in the pits during the last few weeks of the season. that’s right, read that again and tell me how that makes sense??
- Mark Panaroni not winning the first NEMST race at the ‘bowl when footage we had clearly showed he crossed the stripe first
- NASCAR WMT officials and all there stupid rules about in-car cams and not allowing the WebbyCam either… BOOOOO! Have they seen the WebbyCam footage?
- Twice this season I got denied access to the track during VL interviews by track security. “Hello… it’s Sid… check me bro, I’m Vault… see the shirt… S-T-A-F-F… right in your face!” Still got the Yokasta laid the smackdown after the 2nd time but that was messed up yo!
DISAPPEARING ACTS
- Frank Mucciacciaro Jr
- Brian Andronaco Jr
- CJ Canfield
- Allison Legacy series (or whatever they were callin’ themselves in the begininning of the year)…
ENTERTAINING SOUND BITES
- Joey “Walnuts” Ternullo: “I was crappin’ my pants…”
- Shawn Monahan: “The car wasn’t perfect, but the driver sure was”
- Rob Janovic: “I almost threw up in my mouth…”
- Todd Ceravolo saying “family commodity” when I’m quite sure he meant “family camaraderie”
- Anytime Bandolero driver Derek Debbis got on the mic
MOST BORING TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
- driver-swap rules
- in-car camera jinxes
- copyright laws
- why the vault crew doesn’t shoot on Wed
BANQUET AWARD LOCK
this award discontinued after Pressel didn’t win Most Improved SK driver last year… No disrepect to Kyle James, but I mean, c’mon.. if Glenn wasn’t a lock, I don’t know what one is then, I guess – so I’ll leave it alone
VAULT CREW APPRECIATION SHOUT-OUTS!
- Ronnie Gray for all her hard work taking care of everything with the programs on race day. Without her, there wouldn’t be enough time to do the videos. And she actually gets mad when we don’t sell out the program. She’s the best!
- Jesse Gleason a.k.a. 2012 NASCAR Div III Nat’l Finalist a.k.a my man Zoom – this dude is extremely dedicated, always great to brainstorm new ideas with, has an amazing work ethic and a great eye for the action behind the camera. Like Ronnie, the videos would be impossible to do without Jesse!
- Brent Gleason – in-car camera specialist, the one who always stays calm no matter what the situation and quality back-up if Jess needs a break or we score extra cam for Turn 4 tower
- Ryan, Phil & Keith – in-car gurus and pit-cam runners helping catch the action behind the scenes. These guys hussle to make sure in-cars are turned on, then removed after each race… and get all the action in the pits during the SK races.
- Eric Webster – WebbyCam is just so freakin’ cool… but it should be known that this was all Webby’s idea. He came up with it, he captures the footage and just gives me the disc at the end of the night which more weeks than not captures action from a unique angle that makes our videos so original. Webby and Sid’s families have been connected since the 60’s when his dad Charlie drove my uncle Brooksie’s 651 coupe. Cool to keep the connection in a whole new way some 50 years later.
- All the teams who’ve lent us their own in-car footage during the season. Definitely makes the Sid’s View webisodes that much better!!
Speedbowl Brass for giving us the freedom to do what we do, embracing our vision and trusting our passion to preserve the track’s history both past & present - And all the race teams who support the Vault Crew – watching the vids, sharing our vids on FB or Tw, buying the program, or apparell or DVD’s, and giving us feedback both good & bad – all of which keeps us our no-budget productions going
- And of course my beautiful wife Tiesha for enjoying the ‘bowl as much as I do and supporting all the crazy ideas we come up with week after week. She coulda pulled the hook on my crazy dedication to the ‘bowl, but she loves the place like I do now and is a big help behind the scenes in keeping everything running smoothly with both the weekly vids & the nostalgic stuff too!!
So that’s a wrap on 2012… until the banquet of course. I’ve already started editing the banquet video (insert your video geek comment here) which is my favorite edit of each year. It will kick your a$$ once again come January!! And the documentary is moving along as well. Have more research to do before we start setting up more interviews for the documentary. I can’t say whether we’ll be doing Sid’s View on a weekly basis next year. For 2013, the documentary takes priority, we really want to be completed with that project in the next 14-15 months and we have a long way to go. If we have to take a Saturday off to get an interview with someone, we’ll be doing that instead. Trust me, no one will be more freaked that something outrageous will happen on a week we have to do that. How often that could potentially happen will depend on how much we get done this off-season… which usually goes by faster than we think!!
Somewhere in there, we’ll update the Vault website with all the 2012 statistics as well.
Either way, we’ll be pluggin’ along. Sid’s Vault FB page is the best way to stay on top of all our latest projects.
That’s a wrap
Peace Out Fools!
Sid