Dion Team decides on Seekonk for this weekend's race!
10/03/07: A note from Dave...
After running just once a month for most of this season, we now have to choose between two races we would like to compete in. The "Pass" series is running at the All-Star Speedway on Saturday and the Seekonk Speedway is running the prestiges D.A. Venditti Classic on Sunday. I know, why not run both races? Due to the qualifying procedure at Seekonk that's not possible so we've chosen Seekonk over the "All-Star" race.
I cast my vote for Seekonk mainly because it's one of the first tracks we raced on when we started racing in the mid 60's and going back is always special to all of us. Many of the competitors, officials, media, and fans are no longer around but their families still support the track and still welcome us back. Maybe the sight of my brothers and I remind them of the "good old days" and we all get to go back if only for a few hours. Maybe the fact that the Dion family and team have remained loyal to Ford, New England, short tracks, and Seekonk in particular, is appreciated by the "real race fans".
Earlier this year when I told my daughter Michele that I wouldn't be running the Oxford 250 or the Milk Bowl due to the fact I had to drive a Chevy, she was confused. "Why are you so loyal to Ford when they have never done anything to deserve your loyalty?" she asked. I've never been able to give an intelligent answer to that question but not being loyal to the Ford fans that have supported me for so long has never been an option I could live with. I don't mean to offend the Chevy or Dodge fans or teams because I respect them for the same reason, their loyalty to what they believe in. I don't know why I always go on these rants when I get a keyboard under my hands but some of our fans seem to enjoy reading what's on my mind, for better or worse.
Getting back to the race this weekend, we look forward to being part of a great race that pays tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Venditti for all they have done for short track racing in New England. I know it sounds like "I'm sucking up to the boss" but I truly think the world of, in my mind, "New Englands First Family" of auto racing. We as competitors and fans should savour these days as it won't be long before it will all be a distant memory like the drive-in theaters of old. I guess you can tell I'm excited about "going home once again" and if it turns out not to be the right decision from a performance stand point, I can still live with it.
Oh, I don't know how anyone else voted this weekend but I have a hunch I'll find out if I don't do a better job than I did at the last race. Ha! Let's hope for good weather, great racing, and a large fan turn-out at both Seekonk and Star this weekend. Thanks for checking out our web site and see you at the races.
Yours truly,
Dave