Remember When by Don Gamble  

TOM COLELLA PHOTO  

Pages from the past 1971  

Pitt Thriller to Tom Colella  

Carnegie, Pa. - In what has to be described as the most exciting event ever staged on the half mile paved Heidelberg Raceway; Tom Colella, raced to his second win of the season in Saturday evening’s 100 lap late model sportsman feature event.

Ralph Gallagher was the initial leader in the contest, giving way to Don Dibert on the fifth lap. Dibert hold the lead until the 11th go around when Bill Konczos assumed the lead in his 1969 Ford. Colella, who started 15th in the 24 car field moved through the pack rapidly, and took over the second position on lap 11. Colella proceeded to dog the rapid running Konczos, and several times pulled even with the Parma Heights ace.

Konczos held off the charging Colella, and maintained the lead until the 98th lap, when a strange series of developments changed the entire complexion of the race.  Bob Senneker who had been running second pulled even with Konczos and got around coming down the front stretch, however the pair tangled briefly going into the first corner, allowing Colella running third at the time to dive underneath and grab the victory.

Jim Bickerstaff last weeks winner finished second followed by Senneker, Konczos, Joe Mihalic, Gus DeLong, Tony Diano, Gary Balough, Ed Mitchell , and Bill McCracken. Heat wins went to Senneker, Carl Smith and Bud Middaugh. Pursuit races were won by Bob James and Tony Diano.  

Tom Colella Registers Third Heidelberg Win  

Carnegie Pa. - Tom Colella picked up his third checkered flag of the season Saturday evening at the Heidelberg Raceway, copping the 35 lap late model sportsman feature.

The feature started with seven cars tangling going in the first corner, after Butch D’Antonio lost control momentarily. On the restart, veteran Bob James took the lead, but quickly gave way to Tony Diano and Colella on the fourth lap.

Diano and Colella battled for the remainder of the distance, with Colella pulling even with Diano on several occasions. Colella got around Diano briefly going into the third turn on the 17th lap but lost control allowing Diano to regain the lead. Colella’s persistence paid off, however, as he finally shot by Diano going down the backstretch on lap 25. Diano, in his best finish of the season, wound up second, followed by James, Bill Konczos, and Bud Middaugh. Gary Balough, Don Dibert, Ed Mitchell, Joe Mihalic and Norm Benning.

T. J. Brown won the claiming feature, followed by Rich Grygo, Ben Miley and Ken Crow. Late model heats were won by Diano, Mihalic and D’Antonio, while D’Antonio and Balough captured the pursuit events.

Tom Colella Pads PRA Point Lead

Carnegie Pa. - Pittsburgh Racing Association point leader Tom Colella took another giant step toward his first PRA Late Model Division Season point champion ship when he gunned his blue and white 1964 Chevelle to victory in the 35 lap feature at the Heidelberg Raceway on Saturday evening.

Colella, who holds a comfortable lead over second place Bob Senneker in the point chase, assumed the lead Saturday on the 18^th lap when Gary Balough, making his best showing of the season In the Bob May Chevelle, suddenly went sour after leading the race for eight laps.  

At this point Colella appeared to be on his way to an easy victory; however a caution flag on the 30th lap changed the entire picture. Senneker, driving with a full cast on his arm following a recent spill from a motorcycle, was on Colella’s bumper on the restart, and applied the pressure for the five remaining laps. On the white flag Senneker pulled even, however, Colella managed to hang on at the wire to win by a car length.

Veteran Bob James finished third, trailed by Kenny Hemphill, who led for the first ten laps, Bill McCracken, Bill Konczos, Ed Mitchell, Tony DeLillo, Don Dibert and Bucky Johnson.

Frank Gebert won the 15 lap claiming feature, followed by Rich Grygo, Rich Dewey, Jim Mackowich, and Ben Miley. In the figure eight competition. Tom Bowers was again the winner, with Milt Berkey finishing a close second.

Late model heats were won by Colella, Senneker and Hemphill. Pursuit wins were taken by Senneker and Colella.

Gulf Oil Backs PRA, Bolsters Point Fund

Pittsburgh Pa. - The Gulf Oil Corp. has entered the local auto racing picture as a major participant in the Pittsburgh Racing Association Championship Point Fund. John Googer, advertising coordinator for Gulf, announced this week that the company will add $5,000 in cash prizes to the championship fund which is awarded to top PRA drivers at the end of the season.

“We certainly are happy to have Gull support auto racing locally,” said Ed Witzberger, president of the PRA. ‘Gulfs efforts in racing nationally have been noteworthy and I feel that its participation locally will be just as beneficial.”

The Gulf contribution swells the Championship Point Fund to a record high. The total will be in excess of $15,000, the exact amount depending on the number of races which will be run this season at the PRA’s two major tracks Heidelberg Raceway and Sharon Speedway.

The growing champion ship fund adds prestige to the PRA awards program which already includes more than $200,000 in purses alone, to be distributed among drivers who compete at Heidelberg and Sharon this season.

Gulf Oil Corp. supports entries In Canadian-American Challenge Cup, grand prix and endurance sports car racing In addition to the Indianapolis 500. This season it is backing the famed McLaren Racing Team and the John Wyer Gulf Porches.

Nostalgia Night at Lernerville Speedway

Lernerville Speedway will host Nostalgia Night on Friday July 13^th. The following former competitors are expected to be in attendance.  Dick Bailey, Banker Beach, Neil Florentine, Fran Gower, Harry Hein, Dave Hoffman, Gus Linder, Bob Lucci, Don Luffy, Andy Lutz, Ed Lynch Sr., Jim Magill, Hoot Martin, Jerry Matus, Bill McCracken, Dave Meloy, Dave Pegher, Don Pegher, Ralph Quarterson, Dave Rupp, Herb Scott, Smokey Schempp, Gus Sholich, Bob Stanford, Darwin Stivenson, Dick Swartzlander, Blackie Watt, Bob Wearing Sr., Bill Wheeling, and Walt Wimer.

If you were a former competitor and would like to participate please e-mail me at speedwayproductions@comcast.net or call 412-999-6625.