Sixteen Antique modifies and crews, some as far away as New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, made their way towards White Lake, New York, (Kauneonga Speedway), some leaving their homes as early as 8AM or earlier for the 4PM sign-in.

Kauneonga Speedway is located off route 17B in White Lake NY, just below the Catskill Mountains. It is a 1/4-mile paved track with attendance of about eight hundred, a family owned and operated track with five division of racing. The setting reminds you of the late 50's, early 60's, with cars being flat towed to and from the track.

NEAR took to the track for warm-ups around 5PM, their two heat events followed around 7PM. A 15 lap feature was held after intermission. Dick Durocher’s #999 was used as the pace car leading the pack of NEAR Antique Racers around the 1/4 mile. When the 999 pulled away from the track the feature began with the fans on their feet applauding as the event went on. The #12 driven by Tom Lanza pick up the checkered flag followed by (not in order) #39 Guy Vogt, #cent Bob Seymour, XX Ken Bardsley, #85 Ken Brown, # 43 Joe Berthiaume, #0 Crist Langer, #04 Jim Torok, #318 Don Murphy, #49 Robert Seller, $60 Pete Bonzana, #69 Pete Newsham, #36 Randy Hall, #83 Rick Bennett Jr. and, on display next to the grandstands, the NEAR Hall of Fame Trailer.

The event turned out to be better then expected, with everyone having a great time, and some of the members spending the night bedded down in the race track parking lot.

The fans and track official were overwhelmed by the exhibition that NEAR demonstrated and asked for us to come back. NEAR coordinator Randy Hall was still signing the event date for next year when NEAR members were leaving for their journey home.

Thanks Randy. It was sure a good show.

Remember, if you ever want to turn back the time to some of those memory days of the 50's / 60's, all you have to do is visit the Kaunoenga Speedway…

See you there next July…