NEAR Mitchell-Ratta Media Award to Veteran Reporters Danko, Herzig

Article by Justin St. Louis                                                                                 

The New England Auto Racers (NEAR) Hall of Fame has named two longtime stock car racing journalists, Brian Danko , left, and Tom Herzig, right, to receive the 2017 Mitchell-Ratta Media Award.

Bearing the names of respected motorsports writers Charlie Mitchell of the Norwalk (Conn.) Hour and Jack Ratta of the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader, the annual award recognizes reporters dedicated to racing in the region.  Past recipients include writers Chris Economaki and Mark “Bones” Bourcier, and radio host Dave Moody.

Danko and Herzig will be honored at the NEAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sunday, November 12, at Maneely’s Banquet Hall in South Windsor, Connecticut.  For more information including placing a ticket order, visit the official NEAR website at www.NEAR1.org.

Southington, Conn., native Danko is an open-wheel asphalt Modified racing authority, having covered the ground-pounders for over 40 years. Disappointed by a lack of coverage in his local newspaper, Danko took it upon himself to begin documenting the races at Plainville Stadium in the late 1970s for the New Britain (Conn.) Herald.  He soon branched out to Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson Speedway, and Riverside Park, and eventually covered races from Maine to Florida to Indianapolis.

Danko has spent the last 30 years covering the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for Area Auto Racing News, and has also worked at the last 20 Daytona 500s.  He recently recalled a colorful experience sitting between Charlie Mitchell and Jack Ratta in the press box at Daytona International Speedway years ago: “Ithink they believed I needed some looking after,” he fondly remembered.  “They were both great writers and personalities.”

Herzig, a native of Charlestown, N.H., has been a respected racing journalist and publicist for 20 years with prolific contributions to some of New England’s most recognizable daily newspapers, including the Manchester Union Leader and the Barre-Montpelier (Vt.) Times Argus.

While writing columns and covering races for print, Herzig also served in public relations for promoter Tom Curley in 1997-2004, working the busy American-Canadian Tour circuit, Vermont’s Thunder Road Speedbowl, and New York’s Airborne Park Speedway.  He gave 10 more seasons at Airborne under promoter Mike Perrotte, and then spent one year as the DIRTcar Northeast Communications Director in 2015.

The well-traveled Granite Stater first cheered on his father, driver Ken Herzig, as he raced against NEAR Hall of Famers Sonny Rabideau and Roy Forsythe at the Cheshire Fairgrounds and at Claremont Speedway in the mid-1950s.  Herzig pitched to future Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk in high school, is an accomplished blues musician, and has also covered horse racing and high school and college sports for many years.

NEAR has already named eight new members for its Hall of Fame: Drivers Russ Wood, Bobby Gahan, Gardiner Leavitt, and brothers Jeff and Rick Fuller, crew chief Steve Bird, car owner Tom Dunn, and promoter and media man Ben Dodge Jr.; still to come are selections from the Veterans Committee.  For more information, visit www.NEAR1.org.

 

 

NEAR HOF Truck and Cars at BIG E Sunday, October 1st

 Article by Al Fini

 

We are looking for up to 15 antique race cars to set up along the Avenue of States during the Big E Fair on the 1st  Sunday of November this year. The Big E has also agreed  to have the NEAR Mobile Museum on display.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to display your race car in front of a minimum of 50,000 fair goers. Everyone coming in with the car on display will receive free admission and free parking. You must be on the Big E grounds before 8 AM and will be allowed to leave at 4 PM as a group,  escorted off the Fairgrounds by security.

If we get a minimum of 6 cars the NEAR Board of Directors has agreed to consider making the event a points show. If this event is a success I think it could probably be a regular event on the Big E calendar as there was a lot of interest in last year’s racing events at The Big E.

This has the potential to be a great event,  exposing our Club to a lot of potential new members throughout all of New England. We won’t be allowed to sell merchandise,  but we can recruit new members.  Please notify me at finiplants@aol.com. Or 413-896-4764 If you plan to attend.

See you there!

 

NEAR Prize Drawing Results From Meeting 9/20/17

NEAR will be in contact with all winners to deliver their prizes. Thank all who participated in order to help our HOF Truck Fund!

Grand Prize of $1000    Phyllis Wolstenhulme

Second Prize of $250   Cheryl Reilly

Third Prize  $125    John Rodolewicz

Fourth Prize    2 tickets 2017 HOF Banquet   Norman Cyr

Fifth prize        2 tickets 2017 HOF Banquet   Lou Kelley

Sixth Prize       2 tickets 2017 HOF banquet   Barbara Teal

Seventh Prize  2 tickets 2017 HOF banquet   Paul Jacques

Eight Prize         1 2017 HOF t shirt   Sydney Sullivan

Ninth Prize         1 2017 HOF t shirt   Bruce Mackinnon

Tenth Prize         1 2017 HOF T shirt   Cliff Polacek

Eleventh Prize    1 2017 HOF T shirt   Dave Beribeoulk

Twelve Prize        1 2017 HOF T shirt   Marion  Gararneau

Thirteenth Prize  1 2017 HOF T Shirt   Bill Seward

Fourteenth Prize 1 2017 HOF T shirt   Ted Palmer

Fifteenth Prize     1 2017 HOF T shirt   Jojo Farone

Ted “TC” Christopher Tribute/ Services


Tribute from Bailey Funeral Home Website

 

“First tap is telling you I’m here. Second tap is telling you to pick a lane. Third tap, I’m picking the lane for you.”

Ted “TC” “The King” Christopher #13

NASCAR driver, business owner and beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, Theodore “Ted” “TC” Christopher, died following a tragic airplane crash in Guilford Saturday.

The celebrated 59-year-old driver, a Plainville native who recently moved to Southington, left behind both a legend and a legacy. His life was full of energy, swagger, intelligence, generosity and kindness that together contributed to the essence of a man whose greatness went far beyond the race track.

In 2001 Christopher won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national title and in 2008 the NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour Crown. With 13 combined championships, he was the winningest driver at both Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Christopher, whose “Three Tap” rule reflected his aggressive, signature racing style, was named one of the top 25 drivers in NASCAR’s weekly series in 2006, when the series celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 2008, Stafford named a section of its grandstand in his honor. Despite his age, Christopher had not lost any of his edge. So far this season he had racked up six wins at Stafford with his most recent just two weeks ago.

A fan favorite whose ability was respected by his racing peers, Christopher won hundreds of awards and accolades throughout his racing career. And while most knew him because of his racing celebrity, his biggest successes in life went far beyond the tracks he raced on.

A well-regarded and hard-working businessman who owned M & T Enterprises in Plainville, Christopher’s roots in his community ran deep. A 1976 graduate of Plainville High School, he was a sports enthusiast who was captain of his high school wrestling team. In 2013 he was inducted into the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame. He rooted for any football team that was winning, especially if the team was beating his wife’s Dallas Cowboys, but could care less about the Red Sox or the Yankees. He was an avid reader, loved rock and roll music, was a classic car collector and a guy who couldn’t imagine life without his German shepherds, including puppy Maverick.  His friendships with his gang of longtime friends were precious, respected and far reaching. An accomplished cook, he never missed the Wednesday night Outback dinners “with the boys”  followed by Pralines ice cream on his way home. Morning oatmeal from scratch with a side of “Let’s Make A Deal” was a must. 

He was generous to his community, sponsoring many children’s recreational activities and quietly contributing to non-profit efforts because he wanted to help. As a son and sibling, he was devoted. As an uncle, he loved knowing that the party never really began for delighted nieces and nephews until a boisterous, grinning and mischief-making “Uncle Teddy” arrived.

Nothing in his life however, was more important than his wife, Quinn Wazorko Christopher, and the treasured life and home they had built together.  It reflected an unshakeable bond of love and trust and teamwork that he valued much more than his rooms full of trophies.

Christopher was a true man of merit, one who lived every day of his life to the fullest and whose life ended too soon.  He will be missed more than words can explain.

Besides his wife he leaves  his mother Lucy (Graziano) Christopher; his twin brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Jen Christopher of Wolcott; his sister and brother-in-law Joe and  Judy Christopher Mannix of Longmeadow; his mother-in-law MaryEllen Fillo Wazorko of Southington and Delray Beach, Fl ; his brothers-and sisters-in-law, Christopher and Raegan Wazorko and Justin and Tabitha Manafort, all of Plainville;  his nephews and nieces, Michael and Nicole Christopher, George and Jacob  Mannix, Olivia, Lillian and Amelia Wazorko , and Samantha, Justin, and Tommi Manafort. He also leaves many aunts, uncles, cousins and treasured friends who shared his love of life both on and off the racetrack and dearly treasured him. He was pre-deceased by his beloved father, William Christopher.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew Church, 120 Church St., Forestville. Friends are asked to meet directly at church. Calling hours will be held Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. at Bailey’s Funeral Home, 48 Broad St Plainville .There will also be a race program memorial at Stafford Speedway in Stafford Springs on Oct. 1 where his #13 car number will be retired.

It is said “The choices we make about the lives we live determine the kinds of legacies we leave.” His life was one of love, sass, compassion, honesty and adventure. His legacy is all that and much more.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ted Christopher Memorial Fund, care of Farmington Bank, 117 East Street Plainville Ct 06062 Attn. Bree Pirog. To leave a condolence go to www.bailey-funeralhome.com

 

 

 


Charitable donations may be made to:

Ted Christopher Memorial Fund
117 East Street, Plainville CT 06062


 

 

Loss of a Legend

All of us at NEAR  wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and fans of Modified legend Ted Christopher. The racing community has lost it’s most vibrant personality, and mentor to many.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Quinn, Michael, and the family. 
Rest In Peace Ted , you were the one everyone wanted to beat, because you were the best. Godspeed.

 

Cards Requested/Needed

One of our own NEAR members from our northern contingent has a birthday on September 18th! He’s having a bit of a rough time lately, so it would be nice if folks could send him a birthday card to cheer him up. Please send them to:

                 Lloyd Hutchins

                 P.O . Box 752

                 Barre, VT. 05641

Thank you all in advance for your kindmess!