A week off and I wasn't bored. I put Mrs Wags on a plane to Portland on a weekend trip to see two kids and 6 grandkids. Then grabbed up the oldest grandkid, Tory, and went first to Pomona for the nostalgia Good Guys meet, then to Ventura for the Vintage motorcycle event. I had a few other things to do, like rest, but the SCRA and VRA were dark.

The pics form Ventura Vintage bikes Click here.

Cory Kruseman jumped in the Keith Kunzmobile for one race and won at Bloomington, Indiana while J J Yeley was off to Richmond where he garnered a 6th on his quest to win the most USAC races in one year. Josh Wise, after beating the SCRA last week, went to Santa Maria and beat the Bandits. Boy I miss going to Santa Maria, can't somebody help me out for next year?

Everybody else is working on their car, and some had more than rebuilds to do. The 50 lapper, or the Firecracker 50, at the PAS should be a barnburner. The weather has turned from June gloom to the usual in Perris, and I guess you can leave the heavy coats home this week. A Friday race means you can either find another track for Saturday or maybe just be with the family on this holiday weekend.

Since I work for Kawasaki, you might figure I have seen lots of Motorcycle events over the years, but not many besides the Supercross events that I really like. So when Jim Naylor suggested I interrupt my time off to check out the vintage event at his place this past weekend, it sounded like it could be fun. Walking thru the Ventura pits without seeing any sprint cars was very strange, but I got into it as I toured the pit area and met a few people and asked a few questions.

I learned that most of the bikes were really vintage and some were from the 20's. There were about 14 classes mostly broken up by size of engine plus a pro class that I guess was unlimited that ran for the $3,000 purse for them. Over the evening they ran hot laps, heats, more heats and then the main events with the top 3 getting trophies in each class. They even had a "hooligan" race that consisted of anything anybody wanted to ride. Two full dresser Harley's were out there and John Parker, the color man of the announcing team, had lots to say about this race and it's predecessors.

I have no clue who the winners were, but one rider was 72 years old, and he got a trophy for that! It was a good experience and thanks to Jim and his staff for making my day a good one. I might have to put this one on my schedule for next year? The fast bikes ran high 15 second lap times and put on great entertainment for the packed, yes I said, packed house. Why can't we do that?

Buster Venard spent Sunday working on the # 47 car getting it ready for the motor install and was smiling and grimacing about his plans. When they broke the Mopar two weeks ago, they were all in the dumps. That motor did very well, lasting over two years, but like most, they all break. It is repairable, at a cost, but Buster has decided to order a new Chevy bullet from RC Performance. That is the smiling part. The cost is the grimacing part. No word on how soon the motor can be put together, but the car will be ready and so, said dad, will Brian.

Lealand McSpadden is still on our prayer list as he continues to move along in his recovery from cancer. Since he can no longer do the radiation, his body will be healing from that experience now. He feels good most of the time, but the aftereffects of the treatments makes him tire easily. He can use your energy right now, so send him and Janet a card of encouragement and pray for his full recovery. Send cards & letters to Lealand & Janet McSpadden, 16231 E. Via De Palmas, Gilbert, AZ 85297. This National Sprint Car Hall of Famer needs your thoughts and prayers.

Don't forget that Perris will need a little more time to get in to the racetrack this week as the lake traffic and the big race crowd will require a lot of space on the roads. Come early and you might even get a hot dog with our little wiener dogs in the camping area from noon on.

SCRA DRIVER Point Standings as of: 06/21/03 1. Richard Griffin 878 2. Troy Rutherford 841 3. Damion Gardner 799 4. Rip Williams 716 5 Steve Ostling 625 6. Mike Spencer 612 7. Rickie Gaunt 602 8. Mike English 548 9. Adam Mitchell 387 10. Tony Jones 376 11. Levi Jones 8 364 12. Josh Ford 356 13. Verne Sweeney 320 14. Bryan Stanfill 295 15 Cory Kruseman 285 16. Brian Venard 263 17. Alan Ballard (R) 255 18. Lance Gremett 248 19. Jimmy Crawford (244 20. Bobby Cody 244