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By BRETT DEYO
MIDDLETOWN, NY - On Friday afternoon, some 15 inches of heavy snow blanketed southeastern New York, putting the Middletown Motorsports Race Car Show in jeopardy.
But the Stevens family, show coordinators, didn't give in.
They opened the gates on Friday night and continued a 16-year pre-season tradition in the Orange County area, with over 75 race vehicles filling the Orange County Fairgrounds Arena, located in the shadows of the historic Orange County Fair Speedway.
"The weather was just brutal," said Ed Stevens, who founded the show in 1991 and continues to operate the three-day kick-off with his family. "But we did the best we could."
Impassable roads hit Friday night's attendance. However, strong turnouts on Saturday and Sunday buoyed the total weekend count.
The 11th Annual Ralph Corwin Photography-sponsored Ms. Middletown Motorsports Competition, scheduled for Friday night, was bumped back to Saturday.
A wait of 24 hours didn't dim the enthusiasm of 19-year-old Loralyn Brinster of Sussex, N.J., who earned the Ms. Middletown Motorsports crown for 2007.
Loralyn, a smiling, outgoing personality, was truly "overwhelmed" by her new role, but gained popularity as she strolled the show aisles for the remainder of the weekend. Loralyn said she'll be plenty visible at area speedways this summer.
Loralyn's smile also led to her selection as Ms. Photogenic.
Taking first runner-up honors and Ms. Congeniality was Amanda Knapp, while Tina Sier was second runner-up.
Sunday afternoon's awards ceremony commenced on a somber note. Ed Stevens Jr. spoke of some special people the racing community lost over the off-season.
He presented a "gone, but not forgotten" photo/poster to Jim Sr. and Anne Secor, parents of rising DIRT big-block Modified star Jim Secor Jr., who lost his life on Dec. 13, 2006 in a motor vehicle accident. He was just 28 years old.
Showing strength and pride in their son's legacy, the teary-eyed Secors attended the show on Sunday.
Mike McCollum of Lake Ariel, Pa., took $300 and a large trophy, topping the Best of Show category with his No. 2 358-Modified sporting sail panels. McCollum is a regular at Afton (N.Y.) Speedway.
Jeremy Quick's No. 29J CRSA 305 Sprint Car was second in the Best of Show category ($200) and teenager Danny Tyler's No. 97T Accord (N.Y.) Speedway Sportsman was third ($100).
Divisional award winners were: Mike Kolka Jr. (big-block Modified), Mike McCollum (358-Modified), Danny Tyler (Sportsman), Doug Dunlenvy (Asphalt), Jeremy Quick (Open Wheel), Pat Zimmer (Pro Stock/Late Model), Kevin Coleman
(Pure Stock), Glen Zariskie (Go-Kart), Jesse Smykla (Small Car), Eugene Erickson (Antique) and Noel Hedges (Special Interest).
For the second time, the staff of the Middletown Motorsports show handed out a Lifetime Achievement Award for a Woman in Motorsports. That award was given to Tammy Osterhout, the "better half" of veteran big-block Modified, 358-Modified and Sportsman driver Rick Mill.
Longtime Orange County Fair Speedway official Joel Murns was recognized with the Dedication to Racing Award.
The Mechanic of the Year Award, in memory of 'Daddy-O Irwin' went to Bob Kuiken.
Burt Irwin Jr. received the first-ever Danny Mitchell Memorial Award from Ralph Corwin.
Well-liked DIRT big-block Modified driver/owner Steve Dodd was recognized with the JCT Motorsports Owner of the Year Award, presented by Phil Cancel.
Other special award recipients were the Kuiken crew (Best Dressed Crew), Pat Zimmer (Sportsmanship Award), Kevin George (Longest Distance Towed), Brett Graham (Best Paint and Best Display), Eric Palmer (Best Use of Lettering and
Graphics) and Ralph Corwin, Orange County Fair Speedway, Accord Speedway and Pools Plus (Sincere Appreciation Awards).
Contest winners were Andy Crane and Pat Hedges (Tire Change Awards) and Ida Myers (Women's), Walt Hentzy (Men's) and Tony Garaguso (Kid's) in the Spark-Plug Changing Contest.
Around the Aisles: On Saturday night, racing legends Frankie Schneider and Russ Meyers were among those who took part in a busy autograph session.
It was especially nice to see Meyers, the 1976 Orange County Sportsman champion, at the show. He's spent the winter months battling health issues....
Accord and Orange County Fair speedways had booths at the show handing out schedules and info; a number of vendors kept busy on Saturday and Sunday....
The show featured a wide variety of unique race cars and vehicles....
DIRT Modified superstar Brett Hearn attended the show on Saturday night. All the inclement weather of late has allowed Hearn to relish his March 4 big-block win at Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway....
Eric Palmer of Cresco, Pa., the 2005 Sportsman champion at Five Mile Point (N.Y.) Speedway, will move into the Modified division this season, thanks to a new partnership with Grant Hilfiger, the 24-year-old proprietor of Walker Plumbing in Mountainhome, Pa.
Hilfiger, who will race himself in a No. 78 Sportsman at FMP, has supplied Palmer with a big-block engine built by Wally Fiehl.
Palmer is also putting together a spec-head small-block and plans an ambitious schedule that includes RoC Dirt Mod Tour South events and T3 All-Star Series races....
Palmer will be joined in Five Mile Point's Mod ranks by his buddy, second-generation racer Jesse Kline, 24, of Bangor, Pa. Kline's No. 59J was on display at the show.
Kline, whose father Bruce will return to the OCFS big-block ranks at this season after being sidelined in '06 by a non-racing incident, is prepared with an 358 engine and a Teo-Pro car purchased from David Van Horn....
Clinton Mills is set for his rookie season in the DIRT big-block Modified division at OCFS in a car owned by Gary Edwards Sr. The Middletown, N.Y., former Sportsman racer will be part of a tough rookie group that includes Joe Morel, Brian Krummel and Danny Creeden....
Doug Borger manned a busy, expansive display for his XCel 600 Modifieds. Borger, of Kunkletown, Pa., said he's trying to gain exposure in the New York market for his scaled-down dirt Modifieds....
Jackie Brown Jr. has set plans for two nights of weekly racing in '07: Friday nights in the 358 ranks at Accord and Sundays at Glen Ridge (N.Y.) Motorsports Park. Brown's new ride, a 2007 Troyer 'Max-Flex' car was at the show. He'll race the newer piece at Accord, with a 2003 Troyer at the ready for Glen Ridge.
Brown also picked up some added sponsorship support through Awesco Welding Supplies, Tri-State Hardwood and Ironclad....
John Cote was presented with the championship trophy he deserved during Sunday's awards ceremony. Cote was leading the IMCA-style Mod points at Catskill Mountain (N.Y.) Speedway when the track closed in 2006. A handful of the paved oval's employees got together to honor Cote and the other
high-points racers....
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