By Ralph Smith
WHITE LAKE — August 26, 2003 – Kauneonga Speedway held the first ever Kauneonga Kustom Klassic and Race Car Show on Sunday, August 17 at the speedway grounds.
A total of 25 custom show cars and several Kauneonga Speedway race cars were registered for judging. All proceeds from the event were donated to Alzheimer’s Research.
The big winner was Jeff Ratliff of Chester. His immaculately prepared yellow 1966 Ford Mustang won not only the Best of Show award from the judges, but also grabbed top honors from his peers as the recipient of the Participant’s Choice Award.
The spectators at the event voted Richard Marsiglia’s 1969 Oldsmobile Convertible as the winner of the Spectator’s Choice Award. Marsiglia is a resident of Warwick.
The Kauneonga Speedway drivers picked a black 1967 Chevelle as the Race Car Driver’s Choice Award winner. The Chevelle is owned by Ed Card of Warwick.
In the race car division, the Race Car Choice Award was given to Paul Martin of Beach Lake, Pa. Martin races his #13 IMCA Modified weekly at Kauneonga Speedway and is the 2002 IMCA Asphalt Modified Champion.
The Kauneonga Speedway Choice Award was presented to Joe Wolf of Freeport, who brought a custom yellow 2002 Ford Boss Pickup Truck. Wolf is a race driver in the Legend Car division at the speedway.
Rain showers plagued the event in the afternoon, but overall the feedback was positive. Kauneonga Speedway Promoters David and Joanne Rocket felt that this year’s show set a cornerstone to build upon for the future and plan to put the show on their 2004 calendar of events.