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Why racing the wind beats TV

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer



WESTFIELD It is warm and in the background the gradually increasing humming of engines can be heard. A scene from the movie, "Days of Thunder" seems to be waiting around the corner.

The dirt blows up on the walk towards the racetrack and quick flashes of brightly painted mini-race cars can be seen upon entering the Whip City Speedway.

Preconceived notions of racing are left behind as one becomes temporarily seized by the exhilaration of adrenaline surging through the body as the laws of gravity are flirted with and a mortal is able to play in the same league as the speed of light.

"I enjoy it or I wouldn't be doing it. We have a tremendous amount of real good people here," Dave Pighetti, one of the owners of the Whip City Speedway said to Reminder Publications.

Every Saturday from May through October the Whip City Speedway comes alive. The doors to the dirt racetrack open at 1 p.m. with go-cart racing and don't close until 10 p.m. At 5 p.m. the go-carts exit the track as it is taken over by mini-sprints, modified lites, Quad-Fours and Four Cylinder Street Stocks

Frank Ferrara, an owner of Whip City Speedway, said on a Saturday there are about 420 people that come up from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York State and Massachusetts to race.

Kids and dogs are allowed in the pits. (dogs are not allowed in the grandstand area) "We have been doing this ever seen we were kids, ever since we were 16-17 years old," Pighetti said. "There use to be 10-12 race tracks. Now we are the only dirt track left. There are two tracks in Massachusetts. Dirt is much more forgiving. Young people that can drive on dirt can drive anywhere."

Three friends Ferrara, Pighetti and Bill Guertin Sr. got together to build the track.The late Guertin Sr. came up with the idea. The wives are involved in the venture.

Pighetti attributes the lack of tracks in the state to the cost of running it financially with a low return and the amount of land area that is needed.

"Our younger generation is always being maligned. They are hanging around the streets and everything else. Here it gives the youngsters something to do," Pighetti said.

Ryan Charland from Somers, Conn. has been racing for ten years. He drives a Bandit DXS that he has owned for five years.

"I started with go-carts, then went to modified lites," Charland said.

He spoke about the attraction for him.

"The thrill of it. It's fun to travel to different tracks and meet new people," he said.

He offered advice to new drivers.

"Don't drive over your head," Charland said.

"Keep your head on straight," another driver offered.

Racers are divided into different divisions and earn points for every race. Points are tallied at the end of the season. High point earners are acknowledged at the end of the season at a banquet at the Best Western in West Springfield.

A used mini-sprint, that is made of a motorcycle motor and is chain driven, can cost $4-5,000 while a brand new one can run $15-17,000. Go-carts are the cheaper way to go.

According to Ferrara, the next level of racing for young challengers is "The World of Outlaws" racing, the premier winged sprint car series in the world that features world-class drivers and travels around the country. For those that do not own either a go-cart or a mini-sprint car Dave Haskell of Haskell Motor sports is available with rentals.

"I started racing when the track was opened. Then the kids went to college and I had race cars with no drivers," Haskell said in explaining his current business.

Haskell rents 750cc mini-sprints and he works with the renters personally through the night. The cost is $350 per night.

More information about Haskell's rentals can be found at www.haskellracing.com. His recent glory is his extended sprint car that was offered to this reporter to try driving.

More information about Whip City Speedway can be found at www.whipcityspeedway.com or by calling #562-8092.

Admission: Adult Grandstand $12; children under$3 and Pit Gate all ages $22.00.

The entry fee for Karts is $10.00 and Open Wheel Sprint cars $15.00.