All About Racing

Keith Flach, Lebanon Valley racer and his main crewman, Ben, greeted a steady crowd of fans and inquisitive onlookers, this weekend at the Lebanon Valley car show at Colonie Center Mall. Biittig photo

By Ed & Betty Biittig

A car show at Colonie Center this past weekend kicked off the 2024 racing season for Lebanon Valley Speedway.

Organized by Jill and Lance Sharpe, the show was very well received by a steady crowd of people for all three days.

Nearly 30 race cars were on display including Slingshots and Karts. Keith Flach was just one of the Lebanon Valley drivers participating in the show and said he was very pleased with the outstanding crowd that came to the show on Saturday, many being folks that were not familiar with racing. They showed great interest in the cars and asked where they could see them race. Keith said it was an outstanding effort by the Sharpes with all the work that went into putting on a show of this size. The Flach family has a rich history at the high banks, Keith’s grandfather, and father were both champions and Keith now races there regularly on Saturday nights and is a great spokesman for racing.

What would the Lebanon Valley car show be without a visit from Howard Commander, owner and promoter of the track for much of his life. Howard will turn 80 years-old this July and says he is planning a race paying $8000 to win to celebrate the occasion.

We also came across one of Lebanon Valley’s veteran racers with many years behind the wheel at the track. Thinking back, this driver was one of the Valley’s characters of the high banks and started his career under the name, Black Bart. As time went on, he raced under his name, Denny Soltis. Here he is with Howard Commander and still staying true to that character image, he said to Commander, “If it’s your 80th birthday you should pay, $80,000.

Lebanon Valley will open for the season on April 20th scheduled for open warmups from 3-8 pm for all cars. Then on April 27th Sayer’s Auto and L & M Motors sponsor the opening night for Big Block Mods, Sportsman, Pro Stocks and Street Stocks.

Next on the car show schedule locally is the Fonda Speedway car show March 22-24 at the Via Port in Rotterdam. Move in will be Thursday, March 21 and cars leave the mall, close of business on March 24. Space is limited. Email Jamie Page at jpage15@stny.rr.com to register your car if you’re interested in being a part of this very popular event.

Fonda opens for the season on April 13th with an open practice for all cars and April 20th is opening night when the Jack Johnson Memorial event will open the 73rd season of racing at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds oval.

This weekend BD Motorsports will take the STSS on the road to Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania, for the Speed Show Case paying $50,000 to win for the STSS Modifieds running 75-laps. The STSS Crate 602 Sportsman go for 50-laps and a $4,000 winner’s share, the New York based Pro Stocks are on hand for 25-laps and $1,250.

Stewart Friesen of Sprakers had Lady Luck riding with him until the checkered flag fell this past Saturday at Georgetown Speedway in Delaware during the STSS Modified feature. A few feet after Friesen ran under the checkered flag his right rear tire blew just like so many of his fellow competitors during the event.

Until next week please send all news and/or comments to ebiittig1@nycap.rr.com.