Lucas Oil Semo Raceway Special Event
- Updated: October 18, 2010
South Dakota’s Michael Coburn dons the Lucas Oil cap and braves the Speed Channel microphone after holding off Goodman and Cooke in the 20 lap Pro main. Any slight mistake by Coburn, who took the holeshot, would have cost him the spotlight due to the fact that Michigan’s Harold Goodman was practically stuffed up his silencer for the entire race.
When Mark Wells put out the word that TV’s Speed Channel was coming to Semo Raceway in Blodgett, Missouri to shoot a television program for the Lucas Oil “On The Edge” series, ears perked up and plans were made by the dirt track faithful to make the trip to Missouri to put on one hell-of-a-show. And, that they did. From youth racers to amateurs, to the Pro elite, the “Go Fast” crowd descended on Semo Raceway with one thing and one thing only in mind…stealing the spotlight in front of the cameras so that they could have a chance at the possibility of TV coverage during the 2011 season.
With a test and tune practice on Friday, Oct. 16th, the dirt track troopers’ numbers grew overnight and by Saturday morning, race day, the numbers had grown to 300 plus entries. One could feel the anticipation during the rider’s meeting that soon, real soon, the TV crew would be on site setting up their equipment for the historical taping. As the qualifiers squealed around the Semo short track and TT layouts, people were constantly asking “When are they going to be here?”
A little after two in the afternoon, the TV rig rolled up and, while the qualifiers continued on the track, the production company set up their HD cameras around the facility. When the mains started later on in the afternoon, the cameras started rolling and so did the action. As dusk rolled over into nightfall and the lights came on, the intensity among the racers reached a fevered pitch and each racer knew that if they got out front they would be filmed and that they could possibly do an interview with the Speed Channel producer after the race.
Michael Coburn leads Harold Goodman and Kirby Cooke during Pro main
Many a track grit smudged, first place finishing face found itself asked to wear a Lucas Oil cap and in the glare of the camera’s lights many a dirt track racer experienced their first encounter with TV land. “That’s cool, just down right cool.” an amateur racer stated, elated at the fact that he just might have made his TV debut. After filming for close to five hours, the Pros hit the track at mid-night and Michael Coburn, Harold Goodman and Kirby Cooke put on a bump and grind, high speed finale for the cameras during the Pro main. Coburn came out the victor with Goodman pulling down second and Cooke finishing third.
When all was said and done and the Speed Channel Production crew had packed it up and headed off into the wee hours of Sunday morning, the buzz was still evident in the pits and winding down from the excitement took some time with people gathering in groups to relive their first ever exposure to big time television.
Note: Broadcast dates for the show have yet to be determined but we will keep you posted as things progress.
The veteran of dirt track veterans, #33, sixty year old Ken Marcou of Millston, Wisconsin leads #44 Bryan Robertson of North Carolina and #44x James Perry of Adolphus, Kentucky in the Senior 40 Plus Main. Marcou competed in five, yes, five separate classes, winning the Senior 40 Plus class and finishing in the top five in the Vet 30 Plus and Amateur ST classes.
Hetrick Racing sponsored Jared Kline of Pennsylvania put it on the troops of the 50 Production class with both the heat and main wins. In the photo, #33, Joseph Boyd of Tennessee gives chase.
Anonymous
October 19, 2010 at 9:02 am
Man I was proud of the races and the show that everyone put on for Lucas/Speed. Everyone stepped up with incredible professionalism. The pits and teams put on their best faces, hats and banners. Everyone shined! Way to go. Now get everyone you know to vote!!! :bigsmile: