Wi Dirt Racin

St. Croix Falls, WI, October 1, 2011

by Terry Lehnertz

St. Croix Valley Raceway wrapped up it first season of operation on late Saturday afternoon with the first annual “Trick or Treat Enduro”. In addition to racing, the event also included professional wrestling featuring the American Wrestling Federation, on-track trick or treating for the kids, as well as stunts performed by Clay “Wildman” Gallagher.

The season’s final event commenced with the stars of the American Wrestling Federation, whose opening bell sounded at 3:00 p.m. After Mikey Wipeout won the opening match over Udo Manglesdorf, both the wrestlers and the fans became more vocal and boisterous during the second match-up between John Johnson and Corporal Julio. Johnson scored an unpopular victory, starting a string of boo-bird accompanied wins. After insulting the crowd, Black Stallion was the winner in the third match over New Yorker Ryan Cruz, and Wildcat was the fourth match winner over Rob James. Wrestling wrapped up with a Battle Royale, which included all the day’s wrestlers in the ring at the same time, plus late entrant Johnny Parks. Gaining redemption for his earlier defeat, Cruz hoisted Black Stallion over the top rope and out of the ring to claim the $5000 Royale crown.

At the conclusion of the wrestling, fans migrated from the wrestling ring to the main grandstands for the rest of the program. Wildman got things rolling, literally, on the track by performing two roll-overs in the track’s infield. Then it was the kids’ turn on the track. After the enduro cars were lined up on the front stretch, the safety gate was opened and the costumed youngsters descended onto the track for trick or treating amongst the drivers. Once the juvenile ghosts and goblins had fleeced the drivers of all their candy, it was back up into the grandstands to watch the 150 lap enduro.

Track regular Kevin Bradwell, driving a Ricky Bobby inspired #26 Wonder car, and Brian Mustonen sat on the front row for race starter Shaun Cimfl’s green flag, but Proctor, Minnesota, driver Shawn Ziells quickly vaulted to the front of the pack. Ziells looked dominant in his #3z ride, quickly opening up a full straightaway advantage over the rest of the field. While Ziells was running away up front, Waseca, Minnesota’s Jared Boumeester was carving up the competition like a jack-o-lantern. Boumeester started in the eleventh row and was flirting with the top five inside a dozen laps. Boumeester continued to slice his way towards the front, while Ziells continued to dominate in the lead. With the enduro’s length working in his favor, Boumeester methodically reeled in Ziells and took over the lead at the race’s midway point.

Once out front, Boumeester appeared to get even stronger, lapping the second place car before the lap counter hit the century mark. With the entire field at least one lap down; Boumeester cruised to an impressive victory in a race that saw only two safety stops – one for debris early in the race, and another stoppage late due to a blocked track. The only driver to complete all 150 laps, Boumeester celebrated his victory over a top ten that included Brad York, Scott Meeds, Doug Kruse, Brian Furbur, Derek Silbernagel, Kris Kaphing, Jake Cormican, Derrick Johnson and – despite a late race pit stop – Shawn Ziells in tenth.

With the 150 lapper in the books, the action still wasn’t over at the Raceway. Wildman Gallagher, after racing in the enduro, remained suited up and strapped into a minivan for one final stunt – through the fire box. A box nearly 30 feet long and about 12 feet wide was doused in gasoline and set ablaze. With flames lashing twenty feet into the sky, Wildman charged through the fire box in a custom painted minivan, reducing it to flaming rubble. With the crowd cheering on in approval, Wildman made a second pass through the still flaming lumber to put an ending exclamation point on the 2011season at St. Croix Valley Raceway.

Even though racing has concluded for 2011, activity at the facility hasn’t ceased. Track co-owner and UMSS president Ron Bernhagen declared, “We still have a lot of work to do. The track isn’t up to our standards yet, and we know it. We’re not straying from our long-term goal of making this a top tier racing and entertainment destination in the coming years.” Short term improvement plans include upgrading he track grooming equipment, allowing the quarter-mile bull ring to showcase an even racier surface.

Race teams are also invited to an organizational meeting on Saturday, October 29, at Loggers Bar and Grill in St. Croix Falls. The meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. and scheduled topics of conversation include sanctioning, classes of competition, and track rules and procedures. Tentative plans are for a late April opening in 2012; fans can stay up to date with Raceway events on the track’s website, www.scvraceway.com or by following the track on facebook.