Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, ovember I3, 1967 21
VFW remembrance sparks tears and smiles
by Andy Holtmann
PVG Staff
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh
month in 1918, World War I ended. 116,000 American
soldiers lost their lives. On
the eleventh hour of the elev-
enth day of the eleventh
month in 1997, a room full of
Pahrump veterans remem-
bered them and others who
fought for their county at the
VFW (Veterans of Foreign
Wars) post on Homestead
Road.
During the hour long pre-
sentation, several inspira-
tional speeches, poems and
songs were heard as a re-
minder of those who dedi-
cated their lives to protecting
America's boundaries and
interests. The ceremony was
originally intended to be held
outside by the flagpole, but
was moved indoors due to
weather conditions.
The remembrance hit home with a lot of people as both
tears and smiles were evident throughout the room. Town
Manager Mike Cosgrove wept as he gave a speech telling
veterans how much they meant to both Pahrump and
America.
"This is a special day for me because I have a family
history that revolves around the military," he said. "I applaud
you. I respect you."
Cosgrove said that there are
plans in the works to dedicate
the cemetery to what he called another hero and soldier, Chief
Tecopa on Memorial Day..The cemetery would be re-named
the Pahrump-Tecopa Memorial Cemetery.
"Our veterans didn't disappoint our nation in time of
service," said Pahrump resident and veteran ArtJones."There-
fore, we shouldn't disappoint them in their time of need."
Jones said that while we recognize our veterans, there
are many times when they are ignored or forgotten. He
said that freedom was a God given right to every citizen
of the world and that veter-
ans of every war have done
their job to protect that free-
dom. Jones felt veterans de-
served more credit.
"The ones who fought
for freedom for this country
often times come back mis-
used or abused," Jones said.
"If the politicians in our
capital took the time to re-
flect, they would realize that
if it weren't for them, they
wouldn't have the freedom
to sit where they are today."
VFW Commander
Chuck Isenhower led the
ceremony and urged all in attendance to remember those
who are deceased and pray for those who are still missing.
After the presentation, the audience was invited to stay for
a free luncheon.
"To me, Veterans Day means a time to remember the
friends I lost in Vietnam," said Town Board Member Gary
Hollis. ''These are friends that I'll never see again. It's a
day to say hi."
PV Speedway says goodbye to great season in style
by Geoff Kreis and Andy Holtmann
PVG Staff
The Pahrump Valley Speedway packed in the fans on
Sunday, November 9 all watching with anticipation to see
who would write the final chapter in the last race of this
season.
Originally scheduled to take place on October 25, the
race was postponed and rescheduled for an afternoon start-
ing time due to
weather condi-
tions. There was
the usual action of
the Street Stock
and IMCA divi-
sions as well as .....
mechanic's races
in each class.The
third annual Turtle
Clash also added
to the excitement.
Engine.s revved
and the racingbe-
gan as the IMCA' s
rumbled onto the
track to compete in
their final heat
races. Number 25,
Steve Giannini he-
gan the race in the lead and held back strong competition
from Michael Berger (number 77) to take the checkered
flag. Berger, who came on strong after moving into second
place, finished second and John Jewell (number 66) came
in third.
In the second heat, Dan Fitzgerald (number 87) made
his presence known after a short break from the speedway
by winning big. Behind him, number 17, Levi Kiefer
finished in second and number 82, Bradley Hopper settled
for third.
The Street Stock cars tore onto the track next for their
first heat of the day. The race started out with Harley Cook,
number 72 in the lead and maintaining it for the win. Cook
cleverly held offnumber 89x, Larry Hilbig by weaving in
front of him on the turns. Hilbig came in second and Dale
Daffern, number 49 finished in third.
The second Street Stock heat was dominated by number
99, Robert Taylor. Taylor passed Steve Scholten (number
60) early in the race on a tricky number thim turn. Dannie
Holding (number 78}also passed Scholtcn, but Holding's
car began smoking heavily and the flagman disqualified
him. Scbolten moved back into second but found that
Taylor had gained ground. Car number 46, Homer Rush
took advantage of an inside position and passed Scholten on
the last lap. Taylor took the checkered flag, Rush placed
second, and Scholten settled for a hard fought third.
Keith Gott's ''Triple Nickel" (number 555) began the third
heat in first place, but was bumped on the first lap by number
3, Wyatt Ehrp. Both Gott and Ehrp had to pull out. The cars
were lined back up and the race restarted. Gott and Ehrp made
their way back onto the track, but it was Alan Levinson
(number 13)
who found
himself in the
lead. Milos
Petaros gave
Levinson a
run for his
money, but
Levinson
held on for
the win.
Petaros fin-
ished second
and Ehrp
moved up
from dead
last to finish
third.
Michael
Hildebrand
won the last Street Stock heat after passing both Evert Jones
(number 9) and Clay Woods (number 27) to take the lead.
Woods spun out allowing Bob Taylor (number 156) to move
DOWN TO THE WIRE-- Drivers of these IMCA cars never let up as they
round the f'mal turn heading toward the finish line.
into second place. Jones fin-
ished third.
The trophy dashes were
next in line. In the Street Stock
dash, Levinson placed first,
Hildebrand took second, and
Cook grabbed third. In the
IMCA dash, Fitzgerald
grabbed the checkered flag
with Giannini in second and
Mike Berger in third.
A seven lap ''Turtle Race"
was held next as six Street
Stock racers competed for
money and prizes. The race
started off Gott ahead of the
pack but was passed by num-
ber 52, Anthony De Biase
who held his lead to take the
checkered flag. Levinson
held on to take second place and Kimball raced in at third.
A semi-main Street Stock 10 lap race hit the track next
with Danny Southwell (number 86) starting out in the lead.
Southwell maintained that lead to win the heat with number
22, Sam Owens placing in second and Steve Gertson,
(number 51) passing under the flag in third.
The IMCA division hit the dirt for their main 25 lap heat.
Number 23, Jason Pike started the race with a strong lead
and took the 25 laps in stride to the finish line adding
another winning trophy to his mantle. Donald Berger,
(number 67) came in behind Pike at second, and Kiefer
placed in third.
In the main Street Stock heat, Woods jumped in the lead
early in the race but was overtaken by car number 9, Evert
Jones. Homer Rush, (number 46) sped through the racers to
take the lead and kept it for the win, Kimball took second,
and Levinson Grabbed third.
The last two races of the night were the "Mechanics"
races, one featuring IMCA cars and the other involving the
Street Stock division. The first race was the IMCA heat
which was won by Kiefer's number 17 car driven by Rich
Henderson. The Street Stock heat was won by Jason l.e,
who was driving Owens number 22 car.
The final champions of the Pahrump Valley Speedway
for the 1997 season was Michael Hildebrand for the Street
Stock, and Jim Perkins for the IMCA division. And so the
final chapter was written as the sun went down on this
"afternoon delight." All eyes are on next year to see who
can come out ahead and grab that much desired checkered
flag.
PIKE'S PEAK-- Jason Pike grabbed the checkered flag in the last IMCA main
event of the season at the Pahrump Valley Speedway. Jim Perkins won the IMCA
title this year while Michael Hildebrand took home the Street Stock title.
I
