Mike Valentine wins at Ventura
On Saturday, March 29th, the California Lightning Sprints were hosted by the Ventura Fairgrounds Speedway and were treated to a wonderful night of racing at a beautiful facility with some very appreciative fans.
The track is about a stones throw away from the pacific coast and the cool ocean breeze was a nice
welcome to all the racers before the night chill set-in. It was something special to be able to look out over the ocean from the pit area and i’d imagine during those hot summer months, you might even be able to see some bikini clad race fans as they stroll the promenade.
Now that’s what I call software…and I’m not talking about computers!
With twenty-one mini-sprints arriving at the track, and two of those traveling from up-north (BCRA),it was looking like everyone was out to have some fun at this return to an old favorite racetrack. The very tacky track is a bullring, yet very wide in the turns, which funnel down to about two raceable
lanes in the straights.You really have to be on your game to get setup for the exits out of these turns.
It was said that this is a very technical track, where you have to learn on the fly, using the gas and the brake with constant finesse.
I absolutely love these types of “Drivers Tracks”, because they really expose the abilities,the strengths and the weaknesses of the different drivers.You could have guessed 100% correct on the set-up and still have great difficulties with these tracks. Ahhhh….racing…it ain’t always about horsepower,is it!
With the heat races cranking up to a beautiful spring-like day at the beach, it would only be a
pleasure to be at the track today for the local fans as they sat with anticipation for the exciting return
of the Lightnings to Ventura.
Heat race #1 had Stuart Hielscher sr. #6 lead his pack around the track for the win, with Shane Rosson #1,Jim Squire #54,Dale Gamer #17,David Bezio #2,and A.J.Bender #21 finishing in that order.
Jeff Oliver #37 failed to start the heat race after suffering a frightening on-board fuel fire while still
on the hot-ramp to enter the track. Thanks to the quick reactions and courage of Twink
Kramer, who reached into his cockpit, released Jeff’s belts and bear-hugged him out of the car, no one was hurt. I’d guess Jeff owes Twink a cold-one and a bear-hug!
Heat Race #2 had Derek Hyde get his first ever checkered flag in his new American Claims Experts
sponsored #7 car.Displaying his power and driving skills to his crew of his Dad Danny, Mom, Joyce (wife) and Rodney.Way to go Derek! Derek led Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14, Mike Valentine
#78,Paul Krueger #8r,Guy Maresch #50,Terry Nichols #3x (BCRA) and Seth Kramer #12 to the finish line. Heat race #3 was won by Brent (the Red-Headed Step-Child)Sexton #44,showing hopes that his previous motor issues had been resolved. Wink Schweitzer #41 (BCRA) took second place leading
Stuey Hielscher #9,John Bluntach #18r,Jason Bennett #4, Cody Brese #47r and Mike Kotlinski #88 to round out the field.
All of the mini-sprints were eligible to transfer to the A-Main event, though Jeff Oliver was unable to
answer the bell due to his unfortunate incident. Hope to see you next week at Bakersfield Jeff!
After all the cars made their changes to the gearing and set-ups,all the miscellaneous madness in the pitsand with the field and starting positions set for the CLS Main event, the boys were ready to Rock their World.
After a couple of warm-up laps, the Barona Band of Indians, Barona Resort & Casino,iTi Performance
Motorsports / Viper Chassis, D.K. Machining & Fabrication, Stover Racing, City Wide Electronics CLS
sponsored cars collected up for the charge to the 1st.turn and the fun began. This being such a tight track, it was all about getting to the turns first, setting up and charging out of the corners.
Stuart Hielscher #6 spun right off the get-go ,causing a re-start and sending Stuart to the back of
the field. On the re-start they had Stuey Hielscher #9 take the early lead, with Mike Valentine #78 tucked in behind him. Mike followed Stuey’s line weaving in and out with him til they came up on the rear of the pack. Stuey tried to make a move around Guy Maresch #50 and clipped his tire on the front of the #50 car, sending them into another caution, and sending Stuey into the
in-field, his day now over. Guy Maresch #50 was sent
to the rear of the pack now too.
On the re-start, Mike Valentine #78 now found himself
leading the field, with Brent Sexton #44 ready to
pounce on him at his slightest mistake.
Brent grabbed the lead with a smooth pass, only to
have his car revert back to the previous conditions he
had suffered at EL Centro, stuttering and stumbling
on the power side, dropping him back further with
every lap.
Mike Valentine #78 now regained the lead, never to
give it up again.
Driving his Santana Concrete Inc.,Inland Drug
Screening,Rosson Racing,Circle Track
Performance,Simpson Racing,Endess Powdercoating,Okie
Racecar Repair,Flow Exhaust,Early Racing sponsored #78
HenchCraft,in this pedal-fest with the brake &
throttle, was a very rewarding first win of the 2008
season for Mike.
This 3rd. year racer also wanted to thank his
sponsors, his wife and children and his mother for
their support.With Robert (the Wrench) Early, Rick
Hench, Brent Sexton and Shane Rosson for their sharing
of knowledge about everything in racing that has
helped him become a better competitor.
This extremely humble, young driver/owner has quickly
become a force to be reckoned with in the club,winning
the 2007 Most Improved Driver Award, and is very
popular amongst the CLS members and fans.
Job Well Done Mike! I remember telling you before the
season started…”It’s only a matter of time before
you start winning a lot of races”…It’s On Now!
David Bezio #2, our most consistent performer in the
club (for years) took the 2nd. place position on the
podium.
With this technical track putting everyone to the
test, David said that,he too, chased the set-up and
made 4 different changes to find it.
After being involved in a “not-typical of David” type
of entanglement in his heat race, David went back to
the drawing board, replaced a front-end, and came back
from a 13th. place starting position in the A-main to
secure a well deserved 2nd. place finish for the
night.
Driving his Rosson Racing, HenchCraft Racing Products
sponsored 2008 HenchCraft to another great finish,
keeps David a strong 50 points ahead of everyone in
our points race.
Without his father helping at this race(due to some
back ailments), he was still able to make it work
out,with Jeff Oliver and crew member, Chad, making the
changes possible.
Thanks go out to Inga & Illiana (wife &
daughter)from David, and David mentioned that they are
expecting another addition to the
family.Congratulations to you both…could that future
CLS Champion be on the way ?
Third place on the podium went to the 11 year
veteran of CLS, Wink Schweitzer (out of
Bakersfield),in his B.& L. Pump & Supply, MMI Oilfield
Services,Watkins Construction,Pappy’s
Restuarant,Dennis Holder Welding & Heritage Roofing
sponsored #41 E.M.C. car. He has spent many long hours
in the garage and on the road traveling to our club
races.
Wink is the owner/builder of E.M.C. race cars and has
had a couple of great finishes this season in his new
ride, so this should do some good things with sales
for his company.
Wink wanted to thank his wife and”Main Kingpin”
Shona,
and his brother Mike for their long-time support of
this crazy thing we do.
Rounding out the top 10 finishers at Ventura were:
Shane Rosson #1,AJ Bender #21r,Jason Bennett #4,Seth
Kramer #7,Paul Krueger #8r, Guy Maresch #50,and Dale
Gamer #17.
With Brent Sexton #44,Jim Squire #54,Mike Kotlinski
#88, Jarrett Kramer #14,Johnny Bluntach #18r,Cody
Brese #47r,Stuart Hielscher sr. #6,Derek Hyde #7,
Stuey Hielscher #9, and Terry Nichols rounding out the
finishing order for the night.
Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14 picks up the Left Turn
Racing sponsored “Lucky Dog Award” for his 14th.
place,with AJ Bender #21r(5th. place) and Dale Gamer
#17(10th.place)scoring the Racing Optics Awards for
their finishes.
On a couple of special notes…great job by rookie
AJ Bender #21,rookie Paul Krueger #8r, Jason Bennett
#4,Guy Maresch #50,and Dale Gamer #17 for their top 10
finishes.
And for Derek Hyde… ya got the first one !
Very impressive beginnings to the 2008 season for you
all…Top 10’s aint easy to maintain on this circuit,
especially by under powered motors.
An enourmously loud “shout-out” to Ryan Maresch (Team
#50) for taking the time to call me during the Heat
Races & Mains , so that I can ride along with the
BOYS, and get all the up-to-date-POOP !
Love ya for that Ryan..I owe ya a cold one!
Geez, with the 4th race of the 2008 season already
in the books and the guys heading up to Bakersfield
for the next race,April 5th,it seems like we’ve had a
great time, so far.
Let’s see…four races….four different winners.
Yikes,,,it sounds like the California Lightning
Sprint mayhem is about to take it up another notch.
I’ll bet that this weekend’s race up at Bakersfield
turns out to be another night of KAOS !
Welcome to our world !
That’s my story…and I’m sticking to it !
Charlie Johnson
Lug-Nut-Twister & Teller-of-Tall-Tales
Team #99
