Story By: MOHAWK VALLEY VINTAGE DIRT MODIFIED SERIES – LAKE VIEW, SC – The first annual Vintage Super Bowl of North meets South “Vintage Royale” is officially in the record books.
With the playing field being held in the southern state of South Carolina at the Lake View Motor Speedway, It would be the Northern drivers that would claim victory and bring the hardware back North.
With excitement in the air with the Vintage World coming together at the 4/10th red clay facility, the fans were not disappointed. Thirty-five cars would sign in the Scott Tripp and Tim Clemons speedplant representing the many era’s of our racing’s past. Each Car would have their unique look with cars being represented from eight different states.
Thursday would see the cars hit the track for three sets of warmup sessions on a sunny beautiful day. Tim Clemons would have the track in great shape as would be the case for the entire event.
Unfortunately on Friday Mother Nature would get her victory win suspending all on track activities, but not our Vintage drivers meet drivers gathering, which was a great time!
“This was something special. It was great to hear something about each driver participating in this inaugural event.” As families grow, so did our racing family on this day. It was great sharing this experience with people that share the same passion in keeping our racing history alive.”
Saturdays forecast was calling for green flag weather. We were in for a busy day of vintage racing. It was finally time to go racing! Warmups, Heats and double features for each class were on tap due to Friday washout.
There would be four classes with three features X two to determine winners out of the Vintage Antiques, Modifieds, Sportsman. Vintage Late Models were added as a trophy classes as well.
With the use of Transponders heats were lined up according to time and first feature would be a heads up start. Second feature seen the top six finish inverted.
After a sunny but windy, cold day! and a very busy day for the drivers, they had clocked in many of laps on the 4/10th Speedway. After a great day of Cole Nelson working the flag stand throwing the Checkered Flag, we crowned the North meets South “Vintage Royale” winners.
Romulas, New York driver Brad Litzenberger would take his #36 machine not only once but twice to victory lane in the 15 lap Vintage Antique features. It was with ease as the competition was knocking on his door in both races at the checkers.
BJ Joly out of Oley, Pennsylvania would be behind the wheel of Wyatt Jacobus #7 and would give his car owner both 15 lap Sportsman features. Joly would pressured by George Palmer in the final stages of the race but, running a smooth line took him to the checkers.
Ravena, New York driver John Flach showed up for Thursdays practice sessions and Crew cheif Joe Firstiun would get the 77J dialed in for the Vintage Modified action. Their dedication paid of as “The Natural” would claim the 15 lap features over Long Wood, North Carolina Jerry Cumbee #36j.
Vintage Late Model Division would see two different drivers going to victory lane.
Elias Grant out of Wingate, NC would pick up his first ever victory in the division with his strong #27e.
Raymore, Missouri Youngster DJ Barnes would take the second go around 15 lap feature event.
Drivers that participated in the Super Bowl of Vintage Racing North meets South “Vintage Royale” event are:
- Fred Hildenbrand
- Steve Tanner
- George Palmer
- Joey Babson
- John Orlowski Jr
- Jim Wilmore,
- Pete Corey Jr
- Christy Jordan
- Ron Pope,
- Mark Brown
- BJ Joly
- Eric Rogers
- Josh Stegall
- Bladen Core
- Larry Lawler
- Lee Ward
- Michael Fulwood
- Elias Grant
- Jay Smith
- Bobby Kellam
- Brad Litzenberger,
- Allen Gauthrie,
- Mike Orlowski,
- Jamie Beal
- DJ Barnes
- Jeff Triggs
- Bryan Guererri
- John Flach,
- Nathan Swann,
- Jeremy Cumbee
- Wes Horrell
- Joe Jester
- Mark Holt
- Ben Holt
- Darrell Doerr
Thank you to Lake View Motor Speedway for making the Vintage World feel special! They even had cool Vintage shirts made up for this event.
Those involved should be proud that Vintage Dirt Racing is on the map and through different ways keeping the memories of our racing heroes and racing era’s ALIVE.
Let’s Go Racing! Vintage Style.