January 3, 2005 Charlotte New Years Racing A Success By Claude Lewis Wayne Calkins won the New Years Day School Bus Figire Eight race Mike Gamache has short track racing figured out. Run low dollar, do it well, have fun, and win a lot more than you put in. Gamache did it again Saturday at Charlotte County Speedway, taking home $3,000 after taking the checkered flag in the Hangover Enduro 250. "This is my second New Year's win," said Gamache, who lives in Palm Harbor. "I've won a lot of Enduros on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Too many to count." While some racers spend big bucks on Late Models and Modifieds to get their kicks, Gamache is happy driving his old No. 85 Monte Carlo. Winning makes it twice as fun. "I'd say I win back twice as much as I spend on my cars," said Gamache, who had two other Tropical Tile teammates finish in the top five. Mason Love was second in the 05 car while Jay Coleman stepped out of his Modified to run Enduro for the first time, finishing fourth. "We're all pretty good drivers," Gamache said of his teammates. "It takes some luck, too. Last year, I was leading with 10 laps to go and my axle fell out. The old blue girl did me right this year." A total of 46 cars started the race, which is an annual New Year's day event at the Punta Gorda paved oval. A large crowd enjoyed balmy temperatures and the races on the first day of 2005. The other big race in Saturday's dual-headed card was a 25-lap race for the School Bus Figure 8s. Gamache brought down his No. 96 bus and battled hard for a second-place finish. Wayne Calkins of St. Petersburg was the winner in the No. 14 bus. It was the first win at Charlotte County Speedway for the 33-year-old. "I won five in a row at Sunshine Speedway at the end of 2003 and at the beginning of 2004," he said. "Since then, I've had seconds and thirds, but no wins." Calkins is also the 2004 Outlaw Figure 8 points champ at Sunshine. The School Bus race has its exciting moments. LeRoy Davidson supplied some in the early going as he challenged Gamache for third place. Davidson's No. 3 bus had pulled alongside Gamache and was set to pass, but his right front tire popped, taking him out. From there, it was Calkins leading Brian Hayn until Gamache pulled into the picture late. Gamache finally pulled around Hayn for second. Frank Hill almost caught Hayn too, but he ran out of laps. Calkins thanked Heritage Towing for bringing his bus to the show. Friday night saw another big crowd take in the fun Eve of Destruction races. It started off with 14-year-old Jennifer Green of Lakeland winning the Kid's 4-Cylinder race. Roger Blevins captured the 50-lap Adult 4-Cylinder Enduro. Jerome Watland was second, Sean Bates third, Walter Forbes fourth and Chris Powell fifth. The second place runner in Saturday's Hangover Enduro Mason Love also had a good Friday night. He won two races the 4-Car Elimination Drags and the Reverse race. Love was third in the Midnight Ride. Jeff Firestine was second in the 4-car Elimination Drags and third in the Reverse race. Linda Schmal was second in the Reverse race. The Midnight Ride involved cars racing 20 laps in the dark. The only light available was flashlights and the reflection from the fireworks exploding overhead. It was a stirring way to welcome the New Year. Doug Raastad won the Midnight Ride. Craig Amboyan took second. Watland captured the Blindfold Race. There were two other short Enduro races held Saturday night. Hope Summey dominated the Women's Enduro race. The Women's/Men's Switch-off Enduro was captured by Linda Schmal and Billy Hammond in the 93 car. Selina Kuykendall did well enough in her half of the race to allow partner Chris Huntoon to salvage a fourth. Jilly Gates provided thrills by allowing her car to toast her like a marshmallow. The Burnout competition was captured by Smokin' Ray Bisbee. Charlotte County Speedway will begin its 2005 Winter Racing Season this coming Sunday afternoon, Jan. 9, with eight divisions of racing. Racing will be held on Sundays throughout January into February. The Jan. 9 schedule is highlighted by Fastrucks. The Outlaw Figure 8s will also return for their second appearance ever at CCS. Other divisions include Super Stocks, Road Warriors, Thunder Trucks, 4-Cylinder Kids, 4-Cylinder Adults and Fastkids. The gates open at noon and racing begins at 2 p.m. 4 Cylinder Kids Legal 1. 40 Jessica Green 2. 97 unknown 3. 3 Sean Steen 4. 7 Cody Pitts 5. 23 Ronny Anderson DNS 33 Chris Loney Paul Revere's Midnight Ride 1. 09 Doug Raastad 2. 18 Craig Amboyan 3. 05 Mason Love Men's/Women's Switch Off Enduro 1. 93h Billy Hammond / Linda Schmal 2. 26 David Delman / Debbie Fulco 3. 36 Zane Reid / Susan Reid 4. 30 Chris Huntoon / Selina Kuykendall 5. 4 Larry Brannen / Jackie Ashley 6. 74 Doug Economy / Carol Khaleel 7. 09 Doug Raastad / Ann Marie Ricardi 8. 95 Jeff Bradley / Ashley Hall 9. 777 Craig Berntson / Rene Berntson 10. 18 Craig Amboyan / Hope Summey 11. m17 Billy Magill / Lori Cade 12. 95x John Hall / Andrea VanDine 13. 39 Lee Bresett / Jilli Gates 14. 92 Richard Dupont / Margie Rumbold 15. 99 unknown 16. 1 unknown 17. 7 Jody Butler / Sharon Gray 18. 911 Phil Peterson / Lisa Duncan 19. 178 unknown DNS 88 Larry Rudd / Cindy Hashem DNS 16 Aaron Reber / Cheryl Reber Blindfold Race 1. 31 Jerome Watland 2. 7 Jackie Ashley 3. 11 Robert Hendry 4. 16 Aaron Reber Women's Enduro 1. 18 Hope Summey 2. 93 Linda Schmal 3. 36 Susan Reid 4. 16 unknown 5. 4 Jackie Ashley DNS 23 Leanne Pollock 4 Cylinder Adult Enduro 1. 1x Roger Blevins 2. 31 Jerome Watland 3. 6 Sean Bates 4. 15 Walter Forbes 5. 2 Chris Powell 6. 8 Ray Lang 7. 7 Mike Pitts 8. 19 Brandon Anderson 9. 21 Randy Kyle 10. 29 Justin Girling 11. 93 Jeff Firestine 12. 95 John Hall 13. 8up Mike Bialecki 14. 49 John Prescott 15. 97 Timmy Hendry 16. 3 Bob Voeks 17. 11 Norman Dismuke 18. 22 Ruby Clay 19. 96 Thomas Cepeda 20. 98 Joey Suggs 21. 18 Travis Amboyan 4 Car Elimination Drags 1. 05 Mason Love 2. 93 Jeff Firestine 3. 12 Eddie Lawler 4. 11 Robert Hendry Reverse Race 1. 05 Mason Love 2. 0 Linda Schmal 3. 93 Jeff Firestine 4. 12 Eddie Lawler 5. 30 Chris Huntoon 6. 15x Clint Snyder 7. 19 Roger Pfau 8. 20 Dan Partelo 9. 311 Mike Crooks 10. 777 Craig Berntsen 11. 74 Tim Lookedoo 12. 91 Jacob Scott 13. 31 Jerome Watland 14. 15 Matt Brown 15. 4 Larry Brannen 16. 18 Craig Amboyan 17. 68 unknown School Bus Figure 8 1. 14 Wayne Calkins 2. 96 Mike Gamache 3. 04 Brian Hayn 4. 45 Frank Hill 5. 36 Al Fradette 6. 5 unknown 7. 3 Leapin LeRoy Davidson 8. 10 Robert Hendry 9. 05 Mason Love Hangover Enduro 250 1. 85 Mike Gamache 2. 05 Mason Love 3. 26 David Dielmann 4. 88 Jay Coleman 5. 5 Hugh Murphy 6. 20 Dan Partelo 7. 8 Todd Murphy 8. 63 Kathy Ray 9. 7 Russ Kompinski 10. 12 Eddie Lawler 11. 93 Billy Hammond 12. 74 Tim Lookedoo 13. 1 Steve Colon 14. 81 Ken Crews 15. 19 Roger Pfau 16. 96 Jay Seykora 17. 51 Clarence Smith 18. 36 G.L. Reid 19. 777 Craig Berntsen 20. 119 Joe Franssen 21. 31 Jerome Watland 22. 9 Robert Ray 23. 95x John Hall 24. 59 Jack Boswell 25. 96 George Morales 26. 151 Dale Shelton 27. 00 Danny Martin, Jr. 28. 16 Aaron Reber 29. 57 William Slack 30. 2 Keith Adams 31. 95 Jeff Bradly 32. 91 Jacob Scott 33. t9 T.C. McElyea 34. 0 Linda Schmal 35. 14t Randy Tyler 36. 30 Chris Huntoon 126 Steve Dielhamm - Disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!