9/5/2016
Louie Vermeil Classic
Well Moose Fans, sure not the weekend at Calistoga that the Moose Herd was hoping for. With incredible qualifying efforts bpth night, Jake showed that his Triple XXX chassis were plenty fast. Saturday night P5 and Sunday night P2. He also claimed the $100.00 Fast Time Award for the midget division , the Mitch & Walt
Johnson's 68w Midget.
Sundays Main event for $7500.00 to win saw the Moosemobile line up outside row 3. Hanging right there with the lead pack in 5th.. holding off some hard charges from 6 & 7. Probably about 1/2 way, a one of the cars behind decided if you can't pass cleanly, you stuff it in there and use the car on your outside as a type of spring board, bending the front tie rod. Still hanging in there all of sudden you see Jake coming heading for the work area on about lap 18 -- yikes.... feeling a vibration, the crew scopes out the tires and opts to change both rears. With the help of Ronnie Gardner and the 68 midget crew they made it just in time to push off and rejoin the field before the restart. Back to the back of the pack and we'll see -- carefully looking at the wear on the tires, Tom realized that with 11 laps to go, that surely there were others that would soon develop tire problems. Toms prediction proved to be oh so true, as one by one you saw several of the front runners head for the work area. An open red flag gave the Moose Crew the opportunity to change out that damaged tie rod and with the fresher tires everyone knew Jake could make up some lost spots. Crash on the front straightaway involved Brady Bacon and Ryan Bernal, inched the Moosemobile up a few more spots. Another yellow for yet another tire gone done and Jake was back up to 8th. Red flag flies with 4 laps to go and it's for Jake who just took a hard ride in turn 3. Apparently when tightening the bolt for the tie rod that was replaced during that 1 red flag, the guys felt that it "didn't feel quite right " and are sure that bolt broke causing Jake to the ride. Jake climbed out under his own power, sure to be sore today.. but will be ready for action tonight in Petaluma in the back up car. The race was called due to curfew with actually 1 lap to go
Won by Thomas Meresaul -- Jake scored in 14th
Submitted By: Laurie Sertich