We returned to Tommy Kosch’s VNR barn for the first time last Saturday, with some new amenities and the familiar old road course still in place, waiting for us to plow through for the first time this season. There were some soft plans to replace ol’ curvy with a new, polished Bowman road course at the end of last season. Those plans were not addressed however because of some timing issues and more likely due to what the kids these days call “the feels”.

The former Cedar Falls Speedway is one of the oldest regular use tracks in our arsenal. Certainly not older than Henry Harnish’s Aurora tub track, but just as old and familiar as the Lamarta family’s high-speed Franklin Motor Speedway; both NJHO pillars. Victory National road course was first owned by veteran slot racer Jeff Crosley, located in central New Jersey. Some time later it found its way further north, to Dominic Leone’s Cedar Grove, New Jersey home, where it grew roots, developed a few new curves and became the first official race course for the North Jersey H.O. Slot Car Racing family. CFS stood its post well for many years, hosting a hundred incredibly fun T-jet races along the way. When Dominic relocated to Arizona in 2018, Tommy Kosch adopted Cedar Falls Raceway and moved her to his own home, just two miles away. Today the track shares a modest space in Mot’s super-functional race garage with a newer high-banked oval that’s perched ten feet overhead. It’s named after what is now Orange County Fair Speedway, where we spent most, if not every one of, our summer weekends as kids. OCFS was named Victory Speedway when motor racing resumed in Middletown, NY, after the second world war ended. Many years later, Victory Speedway is still rocking and rolling on Saturdays, albeit in a smaller, air-conditioned, surround sound, multi-track mini church.

On that church-like note…

Class 1/4 - Trans-Am / Road Course

The flock returned to Little Falls, NJ last Saturday, motivated and ready to run after two very successful shows at Henry Harnish’s T-jet mecca in Randolph, NJ. Spirits were high still and the momentum carried over into our first class of the day, road course Trans-Am.

John Ciccone started fast in his biohazard green number 31, getting through all lanes first and setting the bar high with 47 total laps. Doc “feliz cumpleanos” Cosel hit the track running just as John C. completed his last heat and laid down another 47 in his Johnny Manziel inspired brown number 2 “turd-stang” (Dave Singer’s words, not mine). Doc finished with more track sections than JC, moving him into first for the time being. Mot and Dave K. hopped on last as Doc cleared his final heat, to close out the round. Dave was able to get his chin over the 47 lap bar, barely (+4 track sections), while Mot Verstappen somehow managed to get around VNR twice more than Dave, John C. and Doc’s Manziel-mobile. The final order was close as usual, with just 7 laps separating the top and bottom of the results, 49-42. Johnny O. bowled that impressive 42 in his first T/a run at VNR, almost catching and beating Dave Singer in a car he borrowed…from Dave Singer.

– Trans-Am Results / Road Course –

1. Mot Verstappen - 49

2. Doc Cosel - 47.35

3. John Ciccone - 47.34

4. Dave Kosch - 47.4

5. Robert LaMarta - 44.21

6. David Singer - 44.16

7. Charlie Clohessey - 44.3

8. Jeff Scott - 43.4

9. Vinny Guardino - 43.1

10. Johnny O. - 42

Class 2/4 - Sportsman / Road Course

Sportsman class cars hit the pavement next, this time Charlie Clohessey came out firing in his classic blue and yellow Fruit of the Loom #5. Charlie finished his rotation with a solid 56 laptop total. That high mark lasted only two rotations however, as Doc Cosel’s chauffeured his classy brown and orange Karmann Ghia right past Charlie, with 59 total laps. Mot finished a few rounds later one lap better than the Doctor, thanks to a plus one score (16 laps to Doc’s 15) in the blue candy lane, for a four round total of 60. Unfortunately for Tommy, Dave K. also one-upped the field in his last two segments, turning in 16’s in both the white and blue middle lanes, for a total of 61 and the class win.

We settled the race results quickly this time, thanks to the absence of any lap total ties. Best laps were recorded, pictures were taken and Tommy hustled out of his driveway, still in Sportsman mode, to grab two extremely unhealthy Sun-Ray Sicilian pies.

– Sportsman Results / Road Course –

1. Dave K. - 61

2. Mot Fitzcharles - 60

3. Doc Cosel - 59

4. Charlie Clohessey - 56

5. Bob Lamarta - 55

6. John Ciccone - 54.18

7. Vinny Guardino - 54.13

8. Johnny O. - 53

9. Dave Singer - 52

10. Jeff Scott - 51

Class 3/4 - 70’s DIRT Modifieds / Victory Speedway Oval

Everybody knows DIRT modifieds don’t have door handles. At Victory Speedway t-jet racing oval however, they do materialize in 64th scale when the green flag drops. Oval modified heats start and end with extremely close racing, probably because of the slightly slower speed (compared to our Outlaw rocket class) and often finds drivers door-handle to door-handle to door-handle to door-handle for long stretches at a time. I cannot overstate how much fun this class this. If the Sportsman cars on the road course is a technical chess match, then the Fairgrounds Modifieds on the oval is just a blatant hand grenade fight. If you can keep your cool and avoid the impact craters, you might find yourself close to the top.

Doc Cosel, again, put up the first high score after clearing the yellow gutter lane with 181 laps. The final minute of Doc’s yellow lane run was spent with Dave Singer in his hip pocket; in one of the more entertaining races of the day. The doctor won that battle with Mr. Singer but Dave would top Doc’s yellow lane total in the very next heat, bumping him down a podium step. Bob Lamarta, driving his swanky purple Rolls Royce sedan, leapfrogged both Doc and Dave next, completing a 186 lap run just two minutes later. The dominoes continued to fall as Mr. Fitzcharles jumped on and dialed up a 188 lap total next; spoiling Bob’s terrific run. Dave K. tried to continue the trend when his next heat started but came up just short (186), leaving Mot at the top of the heap, his second class win of the day. Kudos to Dave Singer and to Jeff Scott as well for their strong finishes.

– 70’s Modifieds Results / Oval –

1. Mot Pauch - 188

2. Bob Lamarta - 186.4

3. Dave K. - 186.3

4. Dave Singer - 181.15

5. Doc Cosel - 181.4

6. Jeff Scott - 173

7. Vinny Guardino - 171

8. Johnny O. - 168

9. John Ciccone - 167

10. Charlie Clohessey - 165

Class 4/4 - Outlaw Late Models / Victory Speedway Oval

The dangerously fast Outlaw Late Models class lined up next, in the same order as we had used for the three previous 2-minute rounds. Once again, Doc Cosel came out swinging for the fences. Mr. Karmann Ghia was able to steer through the wreckage and collect 209 total laps after 4 heats. Bob Lamarta, motivated after a close second place finish in the previous round, connected two rounds later and elbowed his way to the front, with a strong 210. That score would stand, usually, and earn a win for Bob most every other race day. Mot would have none of it. He began his OLM rotation racing alongside Mr. Rolls Royce, Mr. Karmann Ghia and the resurgent David Singer. The next four heats were lightning fast, super competitive gems that couldn’t have finished closer. Mr. Resurgent would finish with 200 laps even, good enough for fourth. Mr. Karmann Ghia’s 209 laps would bring him home third. Both Tommy and Bob Lamarta amassed 210 laps. Bob’s 15 track sections would be good enough for second only, two stupid track sections fewer than Tommy’s 17.

Also of note; Johnny O. again finished well, coming home 5th in his first OLM race, which is pretty impressive.

– Outlaw Late Model Results / Victory Speedway Oval –

1. Mot Fitzcharles - 210.17

2. Bob “Rolls Royce” Lamarta - 210.15

3. Doc “Karmann Ghia” Cosel - 209

4. David “drives a ‘68 Mustang in real life” Singer - 200

5. Johnny O. - 199

6. Dave K. - 197

7. John Ciccone - 188

8. Vinny Guardino - 180

9. Jeff Scott - 170

10. Charlie Clohessey - 148/DNF

Thank you, again, to Tommy Kosch for hosting such a great day. Congrats to all drivers for not getting murdered while marshalling the Outlaw Late Model division cars. We will be back in action NEXT SATURDAY at Jimmy Bee's Lafayette Speedway. Please check the NJHO Event schedule at the top of this page for more detail.