All About Racing

MVVDMS 2025 champions were honored at their annual banquet on Saturday at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant in Fonda. LtoR are Scot Straight, Don Briggs, Jack Miller, Will Reed, and Jim Fugel. Biittig photo

By Ed & Betty Biittig

Although the racing season has ended, as usual, there's always another banquet. The banquet we attended on Saturday held special significance for us. The Mohawk Vintage Dirt Modified Series (MVVDMS) brings together individuals who share Ed's strong appreciation for the sport's rich history that we follow so closely. It began with a small group of former racers eager to relive the thrill of putting on their helmets and returning to the track, an experience they deeply missed after leaving the sport. For many, this meant retrieving their old cars from barns or garages and getting them back into racing shape. Each year, the organization recognizes those who consistently support the series at every event. Currently, the MVVDMS features nearly 50 competitors across five divisions: Modifieds, Sportsman, Late Models, Antiques, and Mystiques. Led by former racer Laurie Fallis and her dedicated team, the events are known for running smoothly. When speaking with many of the drivers, all agreed that the group is exceptionally well managed.

Champions for the 2025 season in their respective divisions were, Late Model, Will Reed of Stamford; Sportsman, Don Briggs, Cobleskill; Antique, Jim Fugel, Olive Bridge; Mistique, Scott Straight, Altamont; Modified, Jack Miller, Schoharie. The five champions were awarded special plaques and jackets.

The Super Iron Man award recognizes MVVDMS members who attended every event during the 2025 season. This year's recipients are Don Briggs, Joann Flansberg, Tom LaBarr, Jack Miller, and Tim Blake.

Attendance on Saturday nearly reached 150 attendees, and the promoter, Laurie Fallis, dedicated significant effort and time to expressing gratitude and recognition to the supporters of the MVVDMS. During the acknowledgments, numerous raffle and door prizes, generously donated by participants and sponsors, were distributed.

Please note that June 13, 2026, is an important date for the upcoming Fonda racing season, as it marks the 75th anniversary of the Fonda Speedway. Eric Mack of DKM Fabrication is organizing a special Nostalgia Night to commemorate this milestone at the Track of Champions.

The third annual Lebanon Valley Car Show, presented by Lance and Jill Sharpe, will take place on March 13–14 at Colonie Center. This year’s event is larger, featuring cars from Albany-Saratoga, Lebanon Valley Dragway, Vintage Cars, and the Lebanon Valley Go-Kart track.

The show is dedicated to the memory of the Flyin’ Farmer, Jason Herrington. Proceeds from the Brown Bag Auction will support the To Life Breast Cancer Group. For more information, please contact Lance and Jill Sharpe at sharpelancel@gmail.com.

Modifieds and Sportsman are heading to All-Tech Raceway in Florida in February for the first ever DTD TV Showdown in the Sunshine State. Big-Block Modifieds and Sportsman running under the DIRTcar rules package, which includes Hoosier tires. Modified teams heading south can do the entire Modified swing while utilizing the same engine and rules package the following week for the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

Sportsman teams running the DIRTcar rules package will be making their first ever trip to All-Tech Raceway as part of this four-night affair.

Practice begins Wednesday, February 4th before three big nights of racing on Thursday, February 5th through Saturday, February 7th. The Modifieds are slated to race 40-laps each night with a $5,000 winner’s check on the line while Sportsman teams compete for 25-laps and a $2,000 payday each night. Full event schedules with times and prices will be released in the coming weeks. For more information visit the website at www.dtdshowdown.com.

With racing over for the 2025 season, many of us won't see each other until the spring shows or next season’s races. Last Saturday, we learned that John Chris Grady had passed away after a long battle with cancer. We have known the Grady family for years, including Chris and his parents, John and Sondra. Chris fought bravely despite the odds and surprised us all by persevering for two more years. It was touching to witness his relationship with his girlfriend Lisa and her family, and we were honored to attend their wedding in June. Ed shared a special bond with both Chris and his father.

Until next time please send all news and/or comments to biittig@yahoo.com