Vintage TQ Midgets and
Former Driving Greats Set for Atlantic City
Twelve TQ (three quarter) midget cars of
the past and many of the same drivers who raced them decades ago
are eager to get their wheels turning once again in Atlantic
City’s Boardwalk Hall. The 10th edition of the event under the
direction of Len Sammons and staff is planned for Friday and
Saturday nights Feb. 3-4, 2012.
The dozen cars include the former John
Wehrle no. 02, to be driven by Johnny Coy Jr.; Jimmy English’s
no. 4, to be driven by Jim Maguire; the former Howard Boyd no.
43 to be driven by Hank Rogers Jr.; and Mike Osite’s no. 81 to
be driven by Bobby Cicconi.
The Vintage TQ Midgets join four classes
of race cars, the powerful TQ (three quarter) Midgets, wild dirt
600cc Micro-Sprints, rugged Slingshots and bullet-like Champ
Karts will be in competition.
Other Vintage TQ entries are the John
Fick no. 11 with Dick Peterman driving; Gary Mondschein’s no.
10X with its former driver and owner Bruce Kindberg behind the
wheel; the former Charlie Smith no. 5 driven by 1960s Midwest
favorite Bobby Hamilton; and Art Lawshe, original and current
owner and driver of his no. 22.
The driver roster for the four
competition classes stands at sixty-eight TQ teams, forty-five
Champ kart teams, close to twenty-three dirt 600cc Micro Sprint
cars and drivers, and twenty-six Slingshots are pre-entered to
date.
That number is expected to grow steadily
with three weeks remaining prior to race time. Upward of 200
teams are expected to be vying for starting berths in the four
feature races.
Rounding out the Vintage TQ Midget teams
are the former Tom DeMasco no. 18 to be driven by Drew Fornoro;
the former Fred Brink no. 54 with Paul Weisel driving; the
former Bud Piersig no.10 to be driven by Wayne Laucious; and
Bill Force’s no. 26 that he will drive.
The Vintage TQ midgets will be displayed
on Friday, Feb. 3 throughout Boardwalk’s Hall spectator
concourse with many of their drivers and owners on hand to sign
autographs.
A warm-up session is scheduled for
Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4. Cars will then be displayed and
drivers will be available for autographs and photos during the
interactive evening Fanfest session prior to the beginning of
racing program.
Drivers will hand out full-size souvenir pennants to the first
five hundred youngsters during Fanfest as well.
The Vintage TQ program has been
assembled by noted racing engineer Gary Mondschein, who himself
was a TQ Midget and full size Midget driver for many years.
Racers wishing to enter any of the
divisions competing in Atlantic City may find entry and rule
information available at aarn.com.
Tickets for the Atlantic City event are
on sale now at Ticketmaster outlets online at
www.ticketmaster.com and at the Boardwalk Hall box office.
Ticket prices remain the same as the past event. Premium seats
sell out quickly.
Additional information can also be obtained by calling the show
office (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at 609-888-3618.
TQ Midget entries are also pouring in
for “The Coffee Cup”, the indoor race scheduled for Providence,
R.I. on March 10-11, 2012 at Dunkin Donuts Center. Previous
winner Ted Christopher, Billy Pauch Sr., Steve Craig, Frank
Fischer, BJ MacDonald and Jonathan Reid are among those who have
joined Paul Lotier Jr., who was the first entrant for the March
event.
Racers wishing to join in the TQ Midget
action at Dunkin Donuts Center may find entry and rule
information available at aarn.com.
Tickets for the Dunkin Donuts Center
Indoor Race event are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets online at
www.ticketmaster.com.
Source:
Ernie Saxton/AARN PR
Posted: January 14, 2012
