Ace’s Space  by Greg Ventura

It took two weekends but we got the final two races of the 2008 season completed. I would like to thank JE Pistons and B&B Electric for sponsoring race #9 as well as Silvia Construction for sponsoring race#10. It is much appreciated what you folks have done for us to show your support for Southern California Pro–Gas. What can we say about Mr. Pete Bothe, this guy has single handedly wiped out the Pro–Gas checking account year–in & year–out. This guy can just flat drive that Porsche. A very deserving championship to a hell of a driver.

Congratulations to everyone in the top ten! This is not easy to do with all of the skilled drivers in this association.

Along those lines, congratulations to my good friend Randy Balough for winning the Carb Shop / Vrbancic Bros. Racing Pro–Gas Shoot–Out. Randy is a very tough racer, a many time national event winner, and a perennial top 10 player in the Lucas Oil standings. Way to go bro! Also congratulations to Rick Gunther for his runner–up efforts in the Carb Shop / Vrbancic Bros. Racing Shoot–Out as well.

Although Mr. Bothe took home a major share of the hardware and cash on our last two races, he was not the only one to win during the weekend. Congratulations to Paul Wiechmann for winning race #10 in his Oldsmobile, and promptly dispatching me and my hope for a 2nd Pro–Gas championship in the semi–final round.

I would like to thank the following people for making my job easier at the track for the last two races. Kitty Cordeiro for taking care of the books for our association and making sure our finances are in order. I would like to thank board member Jimmy Galante for helping me in between rounds as I was fighting an electrical gremlin on my car, as well as my good friend Darryl Mitchell for helping with the run sheets, the ladder, and even helping me with my gremlins on my car. Thank you all!

I have verbal commitments for sponsorship for 7 of the 8 races next year, so we are in good shape in that aspect.

Congratulations to Brad Pierce for his win at the Las Vegas Nationals! Congratulations to Ryan Herem for his win at the LODRS event in Vegas as well. Congratulations to Dave Coapstick for winning the Auto Club Finals at Pomona. Val Torres Jr. had a remarkable season, winning two Lucas Oil divisional events in Super Gas and also finishing as the runner–up in two nationals. He finished the season third in national points! Awesome job guys! It goes to show just how tough our association is.

As far as the banquet goes. It will be the evening of January 24th (after our first race of 2009) at the California Speedway. The cost will be $10.00. Please RSVP to Kitty Cordeiro Grammy.Kitty@verizon.net before January 3rd via e–mail so we can get a head count. Our own Mr. Larry Scarth is generous enough to supply the tri–tip, and King’s Hawaiian Bread will be catering some of it as well. It is also a potluck, so members of Pro–Gas are encouraged to bring a dish that will serve 8–10 people. So any of you that have any connections for door prizes to raffle off, now is the time to gather them up. If any of you folks have anything, just drop me an e–mail and we will get you squared away.

I would like to thank everybody who participated in 2008, and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2009.
Have a safe Holiday Season!

Greg

Need a racing fix before the January 24–25, 2009 Pro–Gas opener?? Auto Club Dragway will host a "New Years Bracket Bash” on January 3–4, 2009 $3000 to win in Electronics and $1000 to win in Non–Electronics. Saturday will be a time run and "run for the money” day, with race eliminations set for Sunday.