By Robin Smith Miller

Stock car racing fans bundled up against the cold rain on December 31 to sit in the grandstands at Charlotte County Speedway to watch the annual New Year's Eve of Destruction. All of the special races were in Enduro-type cars that resemble cars used in demolition derbies.

In the Men's/Women's Switch-off Enduro, Fort Myers Beach resident and pure stock driver, Mark Ludvigsen, won the men's segment, while Lynda Schmal won the women's segment. Schmal also won the women's 50-lap Enduro, while FASTRUCK series regular, Kim Scheffler of Auburndale had to settle for second place.

Lee County's Robert Hendry won the Blindfold race with the assistance of his co-pilot, road warrior driver, "Terrible" Terry Price of Punta Gorda. Robert Ray won the Reverse race. The three-car team headed by Mason Love, won the Train race where three cars are chained together with the lead car steering, the middle car motoring and the caboose car being the brakes. Matt Scheffler won the Four Car Elimination Drags. Roger Bohannon saw victory in the 4X4 race during which the drivers drove four laps forward and four lap backwards around the 3/8's banked track. Bohannon closed out the evening by winning Paul Revere's Midnight Ride as the Speedway fell to darkness while the drivers made their way around the track guided only by a flashlight mounted to the hood of their vehicles.

Under a beautiful blue sky, over sixty cars started in the New Year's Hangover Enduro on January 1. The 250-lap race had its usual harrowing incidents but the yellow flag never flew. In Enduro racing, the only time the race stops is when driver safety is at stake. By the end of the race, abandoned racecars litter the track, some in very precarious angles, which only adds to the fun as the competitors find ways to get around them.

Victor Leo led the first laps but was overtaken by Mike Gamache early on. On Lap 19, a frightening wreck on the front stretch between Billy Hammond and Richard Woodford brought out the red flag for the first time as one of the cars caught fire. Enduro racing legend, Danny Chance, hit the outside wall hard on Lap 24, ending any possibility of victory for him. Race leader Gamache, spun out on Lap 126 but kept going enabling him to retain the lead.

At Lap 165, the remaining cars were turned around on the racing surface to add a little variety to the race. On Lap 210, the winner of the best looking car contest, Terry Gay and Robert Ray went flying through the back pit entrance, taking down part of the retaining wall with them. Gay was disqualified following the incident for unsportsmanlike conduct, along with Tim Steddum who was also involved in the episode. Two laps later, Ray ended up taking down part of the backstretch fence in yet another wreck. A decision was then made by track officials to turn the cars back around to race in the usual direction. In all, the red flag flew seven times for safety reasons.

Gamache held on to take the win in the race. Hammond, who was able to continue after his earlier wreck finished second but was disqualified due to too much compression. This moved Matt Scheffler up to second and Mark Ludvigsen to third.

The Speedway will resume regular racing on February 23 but several special events are being planned between now and then. For more information, call 941/575-2422.

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