We are going to be having our first test & tune of the year on March 24th at Dan Fowler’s house. This is a BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) event. Be prepared for a little racing, a little bonfire and a little camping!
18661 Wakefield Rd
Courtland, VA 23837
Contact Dan Fowler for directions or questions. (757) 335-0198
I wanted to give everyone a quick update on the tentative race dates for April and May 2012. These dates are for the Slades Park races.
April 15th
May 20th
These dates are subject to change. Once the full schedule has been confirmed and posted I will have it available here.
I want to start off this month by thanking all of the guys that made the trip down from Pennsylvania for this race. What I have found about all of the racers that we have been competing against for years is that, while they are all competitors, they are all supportive of each other. When a bike brakes, everyone works hard to get them back on the track before the next round. They celebrate each other’s successes while at the same time they are upset that they have lost. At the end of the day, everyone gets a good laugh and a congratulations.
For the last officially scheduled race of the year at Slades I was expecting a slightly bigger turnout. Unfortunately while we had a larger turnout for the for 351 – 500 and the 251 – 350 class, the numbers for the other classes were much lower than our typical races. There was a total of 11 bikes in the 50/60 mini bike class and 4 bikes in the 70 – 90 class. For Top Fuel there was only 2 bikes in the Top Fuel A and Top Fuel B class. Several of the regular competitors in the Top Fuel class were absent as there was a race in Rockingham, NC. The pushrod had 8 total competitors. The open class was down on registration with a total number of competitors at 4.
With the arrival of the racers from Pennsylvania, Danny opted to compete in the 351 – 500 class with his KX500 leaving 8 racers in the 501 – 600 class. Danny included, the 500 class started with 12 racers for the day and 17 racers in the 250 – 350 class. Finishing out the 100 – 150 class, there were 11 racers competing. The total number of racers competing in the Slades October races was 79.
I’d like to start this month with the 50/60 class. Bringing home 1st place this month was an extremely excited Trinity Williams riding the 522 King Cobra. Cameron Fowler brought home 2nd place on his KTM 394 bike. Bringing home 3rd place this week was the rider of the KX60 bike 721.
We also want to take a quick minute to Congratulate racer Riley McGee from Pennsylvania on his 1st place win in the 70/90CC 4 wheeler class
I want to take a quick moment this time and talk a little bit about a couple conversations I had regarding the races in the 50/60 class. All of the kids in the 50/60 class should be extremely proud of the fact that they get out there and head down the track each round. One comment that was made to me sticks out in my mind. I was told that one of the mini racers gives up each time he comes up against one of the faster bikes. One of the most important lessons that can be learned at the track is that you should never give up before you make it down the track. Unfortunately, this race saw the second month in a row that junior racer Hunter Kessler on the Cobra 393 bike had mechanical problems. All of the mini bike racers have someone that they believe will beat them. We tell each of our racers, every time they are at the line, that they should always give it their best because they never know what could happen. This month was proof. While the 393 bike is normally competitive, this month the bike experienced mechanical problems and was barely able to finish the race. This is a lesson that can be learned for all racers! You never know when the guy you are racing against could red light, brake a chain or experience a mechanical problem. Never give up before you hit that starting line. Start each race believing that you are going to win!
It was hard day for another one of the Fowler racers, Austyn Williams on the #20 80cc bike. After two hard starts in the 70 – 90 class, Austyn was eliminated after the second round.
In the Top Fuel A class, Dan Fowler competed against Jesse Smallwood on the #919 bike. Each racer won one round and after a very close race, Dan Fowler brought home 1st place in that class. Notably missing when we arrived on Sunday morning were the Plummer Racing teams. Hoping that they are able to make it back to Slades for the October 30th rescheduled race.
Competitors in the Open class included Roma Fowler on the 395 Kawasaki, Chris Sulkowski of Flatout Racing on the number 09 bike, John Hudson on his 11 Hyabusa and Mr. G on the #707 bike. First to be eliminated in the class was Chris Sulkowski. Roma Fowler went into the finals against John Hudson and took his first loss. After the final race, in an extremely close race, Roma brought home the 1st place trophy in the Open Class.
The 600 class included a number of competitive races and exciting results. The guys from Flatout Racing gave a good competition to racer Charlie Keeter on the #77 Suzuki. Going into the final races, Evan Sulkowski brought home 2nd place to Charlie.
The 351 – 500 class brought fierce competition from a team of racers traveling down from Pennsylvania. We want to welcome racers Jason Mock (#91), Todd Stock (#39) and Rick Reasy (#38) to the Slades Track. After a day of great competition, everyone had fun and they promised to make it back to another race! After the first round, Danny Fowler #396 brought his KX500 back to the tent with engine problems. Danny was able to compete for the rest of the race ending the day by blowing his engine in the final race. Danny brought home 1st place in the 500 class while rider Jay Mock on bike 91 from Pennsylvania brought home 2nd place. Along with his 2nd place win in the 500 class, Jay is also congratulated on his 1st place win in the 250 class.
In the 350 class, #91 Jason Mock brought home 1st place while #39 Todd Stock brought home 3rd place.
After an extremely rainy race season this year, there will be one last race on the 30th of October. This race will be weather permitting and will not be rescheduled should the race get rained out.
Part of the Fowler Racing crew will be attending the October 21st – 23rd races at Busco Beach in Goldsboro, NC.
As always photos from this race can be viewed at Fowler Racing Photos.
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I have to say I can’t remember the last time it rained this much in September. As everyone already knows, the original date for the Slades races in Surry was canceled and we were scheduled to race this coming Sunday, the 25th. Unfortunately due to the forecasted rain and the rain that has been here all week, there will be no September race at Slades.
In addition, I have been informed that the ECMX track will be rescheduling their race that was originally scheduled for Sunday until the 2nd of October.
Racers still looking to compete this weekend are invited down to Busco Beach in North Carolina as that race is still on schedule to happen beginning with test and tune tonight.
Track mangement for Slades is considering a reschedule date of October 30th for the September race giving racers the ability to still compete 2 more times. It will be important for all racers and spectators to think about this date BEFORE the October 9th race at Slades as a vote will be taken track side to see how many racers are willing to compete on that date.
Hope everyone has a good weekend, despite the rain. For everyone traveling down to Busco Beach, good luck with the races this weekend!
The threat of rain loomed over the races on Sunday, August 22nd, at Slades Park in Surry, VA. There was a thin crowd that showed up to participate and watch the races on the scheduled rain date for August. This can be blamed partly on the large race in PA or the fact that other plans were made as people did not expect to have to race on a rain date.
The Top Fuel A class had 3 participants; #1499 Dan Fowler, #41 Larry Hogge and Dean Keeter riding John Hudson’s #11 Busa. Notably missing were Plummer Racing and Jesse Smallwood all participating in the PA race scheduled for the same day. The Top Fuel B class had 1 participant, #40 Daniel Cowling. After several good runs, 1st place in the Top Fuel A class was taken by Dan Fowler giving Fowler Racing their first 1st place trophy of the day.
Our thoughts go out to Plummer Racing this week as well. Jason Plummer did experience a wreck at the Pennsylvania track on Sunday as did Paul Plummer Sr. After speaking with both Paul and Jason, both racers are ok. Jason’s Top Fuel bike did receive extensive damage although they are hopeful that the bike will be back in racing condition before the next Slades race on September 18th. We would also like to congratulate Jason on his 4th place win out of 15 bikes.
Larry Hogge was participating in the Pushrod class on the Plummer Racing bike. After a good competitive race, Larry did take 2nd place to Jesse Rannings. There were 4 competitors in the Pushrod class.
The Open Class had 7 registered racers participating that day. Competitors in the class included #395 Roma Fowler, #77 Charlie “Mule Dog” Keeter and #11 John Hudson among others. After a good showing by all competitors, Roma Fowler brought home the 1st place trophy in the open class. Trophy #2 for Fowler Racing.
The 501 – 600 class also had a much smaller registration with only 6 bikes in the class. The first race of the day was #396 Danny Fowler against #66 Michael Gray. Other competitors in the class included #13 Jason Harkness. Danny Fowler pulled out two very close races against Jason giving Danny 1st place in the class and Charlie 2nd place. Trophy #3 for Fowler Racing.
I would like to take this opportunity to give everyone an update on KennyBo Barnes, #399. After his tragic accident last race he was unable to race this month. KennyBo is recovering from his accident although it is unsure when he will be medically released and able to race again. In his place, Roma Fowler rode the #399 KX500 in the 351-500 class. Roma competed against regulars Keith Bryant #B1 and Jeremy Rannings #V6. Roma was defeated twice by Keith giving him 3rd place in the class.
The 50-60 mini class had one of it’s smallest showings of the year with only 6 riders. A deal was made before the start of the races giving the two training wheel racers, #392 Blake Fowler and #1 Kaitlyn Snow the opportunity to compete against each other rather than against the faster bikes. Blake was defeated twice by Kaitlyn, allowing her to move on in the races. In a 3rd round race team mates Hunter Kessler #393 and Cameron Fowler #394 competed against each other. In what was probably the closest race of the year between the two, Cameron Fowler pulled out a win in the last 5 feet of the race. We would like to give everyone an update on Hunter’s #393 bike. In the 4th round race the bike would not start and Hunter was pulled out of the race. It has been determined that the bike will require a new stator and will be ready before the next race. Cameron brings home 1st place giving Fowler Racing their 4th 1st place trophy for the day.
For all photos taken the day of the race, please visit our Shutterfly Share site. As allows photos are available for download or printing from this site.
