Fast Fridays Speedway
Gold Country Fairgrounds
Auburn, California

American Independence Day, 227 years and going strong...
July 10, 2003 - Fast Fridays, Auburn
By Gary Roberts

Another week or hot weather in the Sierra Foothills, plus the fact that racing started an hour earlier this week added to a challenge for track preparation. Generally most riders were pleased with the track, although a couple found a dry spot going into turn three. A better rider turn out than last week resulted in some good racing throughout the evening, although the track did not make overtaking easy at the end, so the high handicap riders struggled for places.

A very large crowd were treated to a July 4 firework display, after the races.

Scratch Main
1. Mike Faria
2. Bart Bast
3. Tommy Hedden
4. Bobby Hedden
Mike Faria made a fast gate and didn’t look back. Winner for the past 2 weeks, Bobby Hedden battled with Bart Bast for second for a lap, then gave up, to have fun in the loose dirt on the outside.

Handicap Main
1. Richard Christian (0)
2. Justin Boyle (10)
3. Mike Faria (50)
4. Chris Kerr (30)
5. Bart Bast (50)
6. Eric Carrillo (40)
It had to happen sooner or later. Richard Christian has made the main several times this season, and from the zero yard line he is fast, making him difficult to catch. But each week he has made a mistake, lost ground and given away his first place. Not this week, he rode a good race, followed by 16 year old Southern Californian Justin Boyle. Veteran Mike Faria did well to pass the rest of the field to take third.

Handicap Consolation
1. Devin Defreece (0)
2. Mark Carrillo (0)
3. Bryan Yarrow (40)
4. Bobby Hedden (50)
5. Bob Hicks (40)
6. Matt Browne (10)
Last week he rode his first Division 1 race and this week he won the Handicap Consi. Devin Defreece lead 16 year old Mark Carrillo for all 5 laps.

Division 2 Main
1. Dave Delbridge
2. Vince Bertolucci
3. Shawn Eldridge
4. Harlan Bast
5. Mike Achilles
6. Randy Martin

Division 2 Consolation
1. Mike Browne
2. Mark Thomas
3. Bill Hermant
4. Dean Blankenbiller
5. DeWayne Stark
6. Ed Martinez

Division 3 Main
1. Kelly McBain
2. Danny Poli
3. Guy Jessop
4. John Deatherage
5. Steve Lewotski
6. Rich Mignano
7. Dennis Chandler
8. Matt Pangburn

Division 3 Consolation
1. Derek Sheppard
2. Greg Lovlien
3. Kim Stevens
4. Clark Caravella
5. Robert Christian
6. Les Veale
7. Greg Howell
8. Greg Chacon

Youths Division 1
1. Alex Marcucci
2. TJ Fowler
3. Ricky Wells
4. JT Mabry
5. Paul Johnson

Youths Division 2
1. Krystal Crammer
2. Jason Ramirez
3. Mitchell Johnson
4. Jay Ricketts
5. Ronnie Woodsford
6. Dylan Stark

Youths Division 3
1. Dillon Peterson
2. Tori Hubbert
3. Trevor Searle
4. Bryce Olney
5. Mike Bray

Next week was to have been the North verses South team event, however that has been put back to July 18. This year there will be a Youth North verses South as part of the same event. Next week will now be a regular program week.

Gary Roberts - gary_rob@ix.netcom.com