FORESTVILLE - Even one of the best needs some practice.
Hamburg's Scott Haus has won more than 200 features in more than three decades of racing, but Haus was one of the drivers who took advantage of Big Diamond Speedway's four-hour open practice Sunday afternoon to get back behind the wheel.
Most of the time, Haus drove by himself while other late models were running elsewhere on the 3/8-mile oval, which hosts its season-opening program of 358 modifieds, sportsmen and roadrunners at 3 p.m. next Sunday.
"Because I'm 58. I've got to get myself in gear, too," Haus said. "This is my first race of the year."
Actually, Haus said he is quite familiar with Big Diamond. He was winning races there before teens practicing in their own cars Sunday were born.
"Back in '80 and '82 here, we won 21 times," he said. "Back then, they had the small track. Then, when I drove a modified, I drove the modified from about '88 to '94. That's when they closed the track and made it bigger.
"But I really truthfully always liked this place."
The track has given that division a reason to return
in 2014. Big Diamond will field 358 late models on a regular basis, a schedule which fits into Haus' plans.
"Number one, it's 25 miles from home and most of the late model races are out in western PA, obviously," he said. "(Promoter) Jake (Smulley) and Big Diamond have put together a pretty nice purse. Being that it's a nice purse with a lot less expensive motor, we're going to patronize them and we hope he gets enough cars and things work out."
Six late models appeared for Sunday's practice, though one was driven by a rookie, 16-year-old Cory Merkel, of Gilbertsville, who plans to race this season instead at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville.
Merkel was making the switch from a quarter-midget, so he showed up for much-needed track time and, as part of his learning curve, once slid his No. 16 lightly into the third-turn fence to bring out a caution flag that ended one of his division's track sessions.
In total, eight different types of cars, including late models, 358 modifieds, sportsmen, roadrunners, extreme stocks and enduro stocks, took turns on the track. However, none was more numerous than the 600cc modifieds, a division founded by Kunkletown's Doug Borger and which numbered 18 cars Sunday. That division, which features 600cc motorcycle engines mounted on chassis with modified-style bodies, will appear one night per month of Big Diamond's season.
"The guys who are serious about it came to practice," Borger said, noting the division has a 72-race schedule in 2014, including a program at Lincoln Speedway, Hanover, which will pay $4,000 to the feature winner. "I actually thought we'd have a couple more (at Sunday's practice). Trust me, they've been ready for a month already. They're calling me up. Next week, I have a track (Linda's Speedway in Jonestown) rented myself for practice."
Meanwhile, one driver showed up for practice after racing the previous night.
Llewellyn's Kevin Beach brought out his sportsman hours after he placed second to Joe Funk in a sportsman feature Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey. The reason was his car now sports sail panels, vertical wings that extend above each rear wheel. The new feature, plus the required use of Hoosier tires, affects the car's handling, he said.
"The biggest problem is just getting into the corner. The sail panels are so high that it just holds the car up," Beach said, adding, "It's new tires, new everything. It will take getting some used to."
Such an adjustment also is the reason Haus, who has been a standout at Port Royal Speedway in recent years, came to Big Diamond.
"The biggest thing I'm going to have to adapt to is I'm used to running the half-mile tracks," he said. "Here, you're going to be in traffic all night."
Was that a reason Haus drove to the very top of the racing surface in some of his practice sessions Sunday?
"We're probably going to have to because we're going to be running after the modifieds," Haus said about the season's late model features, "so we're probably going to have to run up there where there is more traction, I would think. It will be slippery down low."Season Opener
When: Sunday, March 30
Schedule: Gates open at 1 p.m.; warm-up laps at 2:30 p.m.; program begins at 3 p.m.
Divisions: 358 modifieds (30 laps for $3,000 to win, $300 to take the green), sportsmen (20 laps for $1,000 to win) and roadrunners (20 laps for $300 to win.)
Admission: Grandstand admission - $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, active military and students ages 13 to 17 (all with ID)., and free for childrean 12 and under. Pit fees - $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Fans who bring their wrist bands from the last race of the 2013 season will receive $2 off grandstand admission.