Tim Newey, Author at NorCal Car Culture

Northern California Car Shows & Swap Meets: May 7 – 8, 2011

We have such a giant list of car shows & swap meets taking place this weekend that I figured I better list them by City.

Clovis

The Clovis Motorsports Jamboree is Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7th. The Friday Cruise Night is from 6pm to 9pm in Downtown Clovis. The Saturday Car Show is from 9am to 4pm in Sierra Bicentennial Park.

Hayward

43rd Annual Automotive Swap Meet sponsored by the Golden Gate Chapter of the Early Ford V8 Club of America. Gates open at 6am Saturday, May 7th at 1164 W. A Street, near the Hayward Airport.

Ione

The Clark’s Corner Classic Car Show is Saturday, May 7th in Downtown Ione from 8am to 4pm.

Lemoore

2nd Annual Central Valley Truck Show & Equipment Operators Competition at the Lemoore Raceway on Saturday, May 7th.

Loomis

The Sacramento Classic Chevy Club’s 4th Annual Benefit Car Show is Saturday, May 7th from 10:30am to 4:30pm at 3636 Taylor Road in Loomis.

Oroville

Oro Dam Cruisers present the 2011 Author Tim NeweyPosted on May 6, 2011Categories Car Show Announcements & Reviews, Swap MeetsLeave a comment on Northern California Car Shows & Swap Meets: May 7 – 8, 2011

Jared Williams and Delta Speedway Set to Begin the 2011 Season

Jared Williams of Herald, CA on the track at Delta Speedway in Stockton.

Nineteen year old Jared Williams from Herald, CA is ready to begin his 2nd season in the 600cc Multi Class of Micro Sprint Car racing at Delta Speedway in Stockton. He will be joined this year by his younger sister, Rachel who will be competing in the 600cc 3/4 Restricted class. Jared is coming off an outstanding rookie season in which he won, Rookie of the Year, the “Class Act” award, and finished in 3rd place in the points standings. He ended the year strong, winning heat races and finishing 3rd and then 2nd in the Main event on the last two weeks of racing. For the year, Jared had 5 heat race wins and 8 Top 5’s in Main events.

Jared Williams - 2010 Rookie of the Year - Delta Speedway

Jared started racing when he was 12 years old in quarter midgets in the AQMA at Prairie City Off Highway Vehicle State Park. He raced quarter midgets for 5 years, winning several series championships and setting numerous track records. Later, he was joined by his sisters Rachel and Kaylee, and for a time, little brothers Levi and Nick. Jared’s parents, Larry and Judy Williams have really made this a family affair, which is one of the cool things about racing. Almost every famous race car driver talks about how great it was racing with their fathers or brothers or sisters when they started out. Most talk about the sacrifices and support of their mothers in allowing them to progress in a very expensive sport.

Nick, Kaylee, Jared, Rachel & Levi Williams racing Quarter Midgets.

I recently had a chance to ask Jared some questions about his racing career thus far.

Q: Do you remember your first win?
JW: Sure, it was my 3rd race ever, when I was 12. We got to the track and I kept spinning out. We were new to the sport and didn’t really know how to set up the cars yet. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. Then a more experienced driver took my car out and spun out as well, so it wasn’t just me. They helped my Dad make some adjustments on the car and we went out and won the race. I have been hooked on racing ever since.

Q: What do you like about racing?
JW: The competitiveness of all the drivers and the skill it takes to drive race cars. Also, the road trips and being with so many friends that are like you and understand what it takes to drive race cars.

Q: What don’t you like?
JW: That’s a tough one, but probably just wrecking and getting hurt.

Q: Where will you race this year?
JW: At Delta Speedway in Stockton, and then some races in Visalia, Lemoore and Dixon.

Q: Why is your car number 36? any special reason?
JW: Actually, no special reason, like most drivers I just liked the number and not too many other drivers have that one so I picked it.

A young Jared Williams in a flamed Quarter Midget race car.

Q: What is your favorite kind of racing?
JW: World of Outlaws sprint cars, but I like all racing, each has its own type of skill.

Q: What is your favorite cars to drive?
JW: I’ve liked every car I’ve driven, but my favorite was the asphalt 360 sprint car.

Q: Are you a race fan?
JW: I’m a big race fan of all kinds of racing, there’s no racing that I don’t like.

Q: Who is your favorite driver or drivers?
JW: Jimmie Johnson is the man!

Q: Would you want to race other kinds of cars?
JW: Yes, I would race anything and everything, if I could.

Q: How far do you want to go in racing? How long do you want to race?
JW: I want to race as long as I can, if I can race till I die, I will be. I would like to make it to the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series or NASCAR.

Jared Williams from Herald, CA at Delta Speedway's Play Day in April 2011

On April 16th, Delta Speedway held a “Play Day” which is like a test session. It allows teams to bring their out their cars, run some laps and prepare for the upcoming season. According to Jared, it went well, the car was fast and he can’t wait to go racing.

The season begins Saturday night at Delta Speedway. Hot laps are at 5:00pm and racing starts at 6:00pm. Delta Speedway is located on the San Joaquin County fairgrounds on the corner of Charter Way and S. Airport Way in Stockton.

My thanks to Jared Williams for allowing me to get to know a little more about him and teaching me about Micro Sprint Car racing at Delta Speedway.

To follow Jared’s progress this year, please visit his website: www.jaredwilliamsracing.com or the Jared Williams Racing facebook fan page.

For sponsorship inquiries: info@jaredwilliamsracing.com

Jared Williams with his family at the track.

NorCal Drivers Racing Highlights: April 28 to May 1, 2011

There was lots of racing this past weekend. The Indy Cars Series was in Brazil, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and the K&N Pro Series East were in Richmond, Virginia. The World of Outlaws were in Indiana and the NHRA drag races were in Houston, Texas. The K&N Pro Series West raced on the road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

A.J. Allmendinger from Los Gatos, CA "NorCal Driver of the Week"

Our “NorCal Driver of the Week” is A.J. Allmendinger from Los Gatos who survived another tough race in Richmond. After a late charge, he finished in 7th place, his best finish of the year in the Sprint Cup Series. A.J. also moved up 4 spots in the standings and is in 11th place, only 12 points out of the important top ten. He had a new sponsor for this race, Nautica Apparel Company.

Nautica was the new sponsor on A.J.'s #43 Ford this week.

J.R. Hildebrand from Sausalito was one of the “Hardest Chargers” in the IndyCar race is Sao Paulo, Brazil. The race was halted on Sunday because of rain. They finished up on Monday, J.R. who qualified 22nd rallied for a 10th place finish. It was his first Top 10 in the IZOD IndyCar Series. J.R. is now in 15th place in the points standings and still the leader in the Rookie of the Year race.

Brian Thiel from Pleasant Grove had a great start to the weekend in the NHRA Funny Car division by making it through 4 rounds of qualifying. He was awarded the privilege of facing the legendary John Force in round 1 of eliminations on Sunday morning. This is where things went bad. The roof hatch on Brian’s car came open while he was staging and he timed out while trying to get it fixed. What unfortunate timing for a problem like that. He is consistently showing progress and I expect to see him competing in the final rounds by the end of the year.

Karen Stoffer from Minden, Nevada racing Pro Stock Motorcycles in Texas qualified in the 2nd spot for Sunday’s elimination rounds. She then lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Andrew Hines.

Katie Sullivan from Corning ran a 7.088 at 186.90 mph on Friday for 20th best and then had some trouble on Saturday and did not qualify for Sunday’s O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals.

Matt DiBenedetto: I recently learned of a NorCal race car driver competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He is 19 year old Matt DiBenedetto from Grass Valley, CA. Matt ran a limited schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing in Nationwide last year but has joined a new team X-Racing for the entire season. He finished in 10th spot in the race at Richmond last Thursday for his 3rd Top 10 finish in 3 races this year. Matt is now in 5th place in the points standings.

Paul McMahan from Elk Grove finished in second position in the World of Outlaws race in Indiana, his best finish of the year. He qualified 3rd and won the Dash. Paul is now 7th in the series points standings.

Jason Meyers from Clovis ended up with a 12th place finish and retains his 3rd place standing in the points.

Brad Sweet from Grass Valley on a break from the NASCAR Truck Series, got to return to racing with the World of Outlaws. He qualified 6th and came in with a 14th place finish.

Jim Inglebright from Fairfield finished 3rd in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Toole, Utah on Saturday. David Mayhew from Atascadero came in 5th and is now in 4th place in the points standings. 83 year old Hershel McGriff from Bridal Veil, OR raced to a 16th place finish on the lead lap in a field of 34 cars. (Amazing!)

Marysville Raceway Park Highlights from Golden State King of the West on Vimeo.

Willie Croft of Citrus Heights won the King of the West Series race in Marysville on Saturday night after setting a new track record in qualifying earlier in the day. Tim Kaeding from San Jose is the points leader and finished in second place.

Bryan Clauson from Carmichael finished 3rd in the feature event of the USAC Sprint Car Series in Gas City, Indiana. He maintained his lead in the points standings. Kyle Larson from Elk Grove won his heat race but struggled to a 17th place finish in the Main.

Peter Murphy from Clovis won the USAC West Coast 360 race at the Thunderbowl in Tulare. He came in 2nd place in the ASCS main event as well. Jace VanderWeerd from Visalia is the early points leader in this regional series.

Tommy Tarlton of Fresno is now 2 for 2 in the new ASCS Southern California Regional Series. He won Saturday night at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare and now has a 30 point lead in the point standings over 19 year old Cory Eliason of Visalia who finished in 3rd place.