Heading Further South. 10th February 2025 BLOG
My last Bog came to an end on Thursday the 6th of February , following my drive down to North Carolina from my home in Canada, to spend a few days at my daughter Carla’s place.
I left her place at 7-15 in the morning on Friday the 7th to head even further South. I was about to begin part two of my February racing trip.
My destination was the Red Roof Inn at Gainsville, Florida where I had reservations for two nights. It was the same place I stayed on last years trip.
Once again I would be attending the All Tech Raceway for the Short Track Super Series ‘Sunshine Swing’. It’s a 4 day event and I would be there for the final two nights.
I checked in at the Hotel at about 4-15 and after unloading my stuff , I was on the road again to the race track.
The first person I met on arrival, was Quentin Young (no relation) a ‘tog’ buddy from Syracuse , NY. We appeared to be the most northerly guys there taking pictures.
The Crown Vics were joining the STSS Modifieds and Sportsman , as the back up division.
On arrival the track crews were busy packing, and once that was done, Hot Laps and time trials took place.
There was a good turn out of cars from all divisions.
Heats and Consis then followed.
After a short intermission it was feature time.
After the Crown Vics feature ,the Modifieds were up for the main event.
There was a wreck during the opening laps that involved Stewart Friesen, who’d won the first two nights, (in my absence).
He had to start at the rear for the restart which ruined his chances of the hattrick.
He managed to work his way back through the pack , but the back of the grid restart , gave Matt Sheppard the chance to run away to the checkers
Top three were. Matt Sheppard , Larry Wight and Tim Fuller
Thanks to Richard Bourassa for sending me this pic
The Sportsman feature then concluded the night.
Quebec’s Donovan Lussier looked all set for the win in this one , until a late race caution closed the gap. He missed out on a good restart and ended up taking third.
The victory went to young Paulie Hartwig.
The racing was all over by 11-00 pm and I was back in Gainsville by 11-30pm.
While I was at the track , Quentin had told me of two other events in the area I may be interested in. One was a Saturday afternoon practice at the North Florida Speedway.
It’s only about ten minutes north from All Tech , so before going to the ‘final night’ I decided to pay a visit. It was a track I’d never been to before.
It’s a clay oval of about 5/8 of a mile, and when I arrived there were a few Late Models and Street Stocks doing some laps.
I got talking to a lady called ‘Seven’ who happened to be the flag mans wife.
She then introduced me to Missy Bell, who along with her husband Tom, are the track promoters.
She made me very welcome and invited me back anytime. Hopefully I will get there some day for a race day.
After spending about an hour there , I headed back to All Tech. Not before stopping off at a large Antique Mall , just down the road from the track.
I’ve mentioned before in my Blog , about my passion for 1/43 scale diecast cars. Well , I spotted a 60 year old Corgi Toy Bentley that I couldn’t resist.
I remember buying one from a toy store in Witney, Oxfordshire when I was an 8 year old kid, (same colour and the exact same model).
It was then time to head to the track.
Once again the program went along with the same format and divisions, as the night before, the only difference being, the Crown Vic feature would be last race of the night.
Once the preliminary races were over, the Modified feature was first of the night.
Stewart Friesen had better luck this time and once past , early leader Larry Wight there was no stopping him.
It was win number three in four nights of racing for Stew. This was good enough to clinch the Sunshine Swing Series.
Completing the podium it was Anthony Perrego in second and Erick Rudolph in third.
The Sportsman Feature then followed, and once again Dominic Lussier was out of luck. He had a run away lead, when on the last lap , a back marker hit the wall in front of him. He had no where to go, and ended up wrecked.
This gave Paulie Hartwig his second consecutive win.
Logan Watt took the Sunshine Swing Sportsman Series win.
This brought my All Tech visit to an end , I made my exit before the Crown Vics feature , and returned to my Gainsville Hotel.
Another show that Quentin had told me about was the nearby Ocala Speedway (Bubbas) that was having a Sunday practice for the USAC Sprint Cars. The USAC’s would be at the Volusia Speedway Park, on Monday and Tuesday .
I would passing that way on route to the next part of my Florida Tour, so dropped in for 30 minute visit.
It was here I met up with some UK friends, Tom and Mick Harris. Tom is the current BriSCA F1 World Champion.
Also helping them out on the pit crew, was Jason Holden , a former driver, and grandson of the late great Fred Mitchell.
I chatted with them for a while before heading off to Ormond Beach and the next part of my adventure.
I was basing myself at the Sun Deck Motel for a few days for the Volusia week.
