The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 40

Pantagraph C-6 Bloomington-Normal, III. Aug. 22, 1976 1' 3 Pit crew members for Ken Rowlty of International Speedway at Brooklyn, with Rowley and gas fill-up, center ninth in this race, currently stands sixth GettinO im QOinO 111 tlUrrV photo, then helps him on his way back as he pulls into pit area at Michigan through quick tire change, a short chat Local drivers seek fame, fun to the track at right. Rowley, who was mgs. on USAC trai By Jeff Fritzen Pantagraph sports writer Ken Rowley, Steve Drake, Jim Tobin.

Gary Wroan, Cleve Smith, Jim Hurlburt, Wayne Fisher Do anything for you? First, forget that Tobin brings to mind pizza or that Hurlburt is big in aluminum siding or that Wroan makes you think of buildings. Forget any connection those seven men might have with the business community. Think cf them only as names, names you might have heard on the radio or read in the newspaper the day after a major stock car race. Do anything for you now? Unless you're a racing fan of extraordinary dimension, a close friend or a relative, chances are they don't. In a world dominated by Butch Hartmans, Roger McCluskeys, A.J.

1 V- Tf-fc 0 ill I I A JJ toM Mich, in July Norton 200. Crew goes and money money, the root of all evil. But you can't do anything without it." Rowley's car is owned by his brother, Ernie, and Bill Hendren, a Gridley farmer. And he's making a run at the best finish ever by a local driver, sitting sixth in the point standings entering today's Illinois State Fair race. He's running the USAC circuit, which he describes as "big time, part time," to get to the National Assn.

of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the "big time, full time" tour. "NASCAR is where the money's at in stock cars," Rowley said of the organization that runs the major races in the South at places like Daytona and Talladega. To get there he'll need the backing of a sponsor willing to spend money and lots of it. For that opportunity, Rowley needs to be impressive now and he feels he's capable. "We all feel we haven't done what we're capable of doing yet," he said.

And that, perhaps, answers the question why so many continue to pay their dues in a world dominated by those who have paid in full. I lOn I i I liQQCtinCI If! 1 Vc jy'jn tjTiiii in USAC stock car division point stand- Bill Hendren, co-owner of Ken Rowley car with Ernie Rowley, discusses happenings on the track from the sidelines at Michigan race. Hendren is a Gridley farmer. done. The 28-year-old Normal native, who was USAC rookie of the year in 1974, finished ninth.

port, la. speed by. Ryan won Norton 200 last year but finished third this year behind A.J. Foyt and Butch Hart man. Normal spring into action, in left photo, Photos by Marc Featherly budgets close to $30,000.

A lot of money to support a hobby, isn't it? It seems an even larger amount when you consider that a successful season which three of the local drivers have experienced barely produces enough in winnings to cover the travel costs to anywhere from a dozen to 20 races. Drake, for instance, finished ninth in the final point standings in 1974 and brought home just $8,318. He had to run in 17 races that year and finish in the top 10 five times, with a best of sixth, to do that well. Rowley, probably the most ambitious of the group, was rookie of the year that same season, based on his 11th place standing. He also participated 17 times, finishing in the top 10 five times with a best of fifth.

Still, he won just $7,622. Tobin, who tried to get out of racing last year but is back this summer, placed 10th in the final listing in 1973 and won $10,819. But even that amount failed to cover half his yearly budget, even though he was in the top 10 in seven of his 17 outings six of those in a span of seven races with a best finish of fourth. One must ask, "Why do they keep doing it?" It obviously can't be for the money or the fame, because there isn't that much of either to go around. "It beats me why I'm in it," the 28-year-old Drake admitted.

"I don't know what it is about. "Everybody I've ever known and I've know many, many people that are in it who does it, doesn't know why. It's just something they do that's hard not to do. "If you looked at the realistic side of it, you wouldn't be in racing." Practicality has little to do with it. More often than not, the desire to race with the best at the highest speeds and the possibility no matter how remote of becoming a big name in the big money wins out.

"Guys that have been at it a long time, that have won a lot, prove there's a lot of money to be made," Drake said. "I don't know if I can stand it that long." He fell to 21st in the point standings last year and this year has sponsored other drivers as often as he has driven himself, including Arlene Hiss the woman who caused a stir in an Indianapolis car race at Phoenix in February at Texas World Speedway in June. Tobin wasn't sure he could stand it last year. He became disillusioned by favoritism shown the top drivers by track officials and by rising costs. "I think the glamour wore he offered.

"I just wanted to prove to myself that I could drive a stock car. I didn't have any desire to be a champion. "It's just a hobBy, like owning a boat." But it became too much like a business, not like it was when he was running strong. "When "we had fun with it, it really was fun," Tobin said. "It was a family Tobin not only took his family along on race weekends, he spent his own money to cover the expenses.

The top drivers are well sponsored. They don't have to tap the family till to support their habit. Not so with the local drivers. Some of them have sponsors, but it's still necessary to put up their own money and cut corners wherever possible. For example, it's not, unusual to go through $1,000 of tires in a weekend of practice, qualifying and racing.

Sometimes you run a little longer than you 'should on a set of tires when operating on a tight budget. Sponsors are hard to come by because there is "no exposure," Drake noted. And, according to Rowley, "without sponsors, it's kind of hard to get good equipment." Those odds force most drivers to make racing a part-time proposition. "Easily, 96 per cent of these people have other jobs," said Jim Ford, public relations director for the USAC stock car division. "There are just a few who try to go into this thing full time." Rowley is one of those few.

"I would like to go all the way to Daytona," he replied when asked of his ambitions. "It takes time, experience Jim Hurlburt, left, Jim Tobin, center, and Steve Drake entertain themselves Pit CnClttGr during break in the action at Brooklyn, i Mich. Tobin is from Hudson, while the other two are from Bloomington. Ebach eyes title in state tourney Foyts et. it's guys like Rowley, Drake and company who are forced to toil in obscurity, trying to fulfill a dream or satisfy a need.

They are unknown to those who don't put down two bucks for a program. Some of them don't mind that, others would like nothing better than to change it. Whatever the reason, they keep running every weekend from May through September, from Brooklyn, Mich, to Odessa, Tex. on the United States Auto Club (USAC) sponsored grand national stock car circuit. Their presence makes Bloomington-Normal one of, if not the, No.

1 producer of competitors on the USAC trail. Most call their participation merely a hobby but it's more accurately an obsession. It calls for an original investment of better than $100,000 and yearly last year and also won the state championship in 1966. The manager of Beer Nuts, C. J.

Stolfa, has high'hopes for his squad. "If we play good ball, we should do all right," said Stolfa. "We've got a pretty good draw in our bracket although Maroa and Jake's of Murphysboro could be tough. "But I think Ebach really has to be considered the favorite." The tournament will consist of nine sessions with admission for adults being $1.50 and for youths under 18 being 75 cents. Children under five are admitted free.

Tournament passes for adults ($12.00) and youths ($6.00) can be purchased at the Parks and Recreation Office in Bloomington City Hall Annex. The tournament is sponsored by the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. GAMES TUESDAY Game 1 7:30 p.m. Ebach Realty (Bloomington) vs. Paul's Circle Tap (Peoria).

Game 2 9: p.m. Springfield Duffy's vs. Brown's (Peoria). GAMES WEDNESDAY Game 3 7:30 p.m. Beer Nuts (Bloomington) vs.

Jacksonville. Game 4 9:00 p.m. J.H. Electric (Peoria) vs. Winner Game 1.

GAMES THURSDAY Game 5 7:30 p.m. Maroa vs. Winner Game 3. Game 6 9:00 p.m. Jake's (Murphysboro) vs.

Quincy Cannery and Antiques. GAMES FRIDAY Game 7 7:15 p.m. Alton vs. Winner Game 2 Game 8 8:45 p.m. Winner Game 6 vs.

Winner Game 5. Game 9 10:15 p.m. Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 1. GAMES SATURDAY Game 10 1:00 p.m.

Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 2 Game 11 2:30 p.m. Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 7. Game 12 4:00 p.m.

Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 Game 13 6:30 p.m. Winner Game 11 vs. Loser Game 4. Game 14 8:00 p.m.

Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 7. Game 15 9:30 p.m. Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 14.

GAMES SUNDAY Game 16 1:00 p.m. Winner Game 13 vs. Loser Game S. Game 17 p.m. Winner Game 15 vs.

Winner Game 16. Game 18 7:30 p.m. Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 14. Game 19 9:00 p.m.

Winner Game 17 vs. Loser Game 18 GAMES MONDAY Game 20 7:15 p.m. Winner Game 18 vs. Winner Game 19 (Championship). Game 21 8:45 p.m.

(If necessary) Winner Game 20 vs. Loser Game 20. Race folk Ken Rowley, second from right, walks chalk board in pit area which earlier had assured him of a job well Normal Gary Wroan moves into pits and away from the track as Hudson's Jim Tobin and Terry Ryan of Oaven- Ebach Realty of Bloomington has its sights set on a second straight state championship this week this time under its new name as the Men's Class AA State Fast Pitch Softball Tournament gets underway Tuesday night as O'Neil Park. The 11-team tournament will run through Aug. 30.

The winner of the tournament advances to the 10-team West Central Regional in Decatur Sept. 3-6. Ebach, which won the state title last year as CMC Trucks, will take the role of the favorite as it has rolled to a 70-13 record this season. Ebach Realty will open the tournament Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Paul's Circle Tap of Peoria.

Another Bloomington team, Beer Nuts, is the host team for the tournament and will meet Jacksonville at 7:30 Wednesday night. Beer Nuts has a 34-23 record. Ebach Realty made itself the favorite for the tournament with a pair of impressive showings in the past week. First, Ebach defeated Aurora Home Savings, which finished second in the national tournament last year, in a doubleheader, and then Friday night Ebach swept a pair from Springfield, which was sixth in the national tourney last year. "Those two doubleheaders sure helped our confidence," said Ebach Realty's player-manager Darrell Kehl.

"But this is an experienced group of guys that knows what they're supposed to do. "We're not going to look past a single game," said KehJ. "But I think we're the best team in the state and if we play like we're capable, we should win the state." The GMC Trucks team won the title Robinson leads bowling TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Jay Robinson averaged 241 for six games to take the first-round lead in the $65,000 Trenton Open bowling tournament Saturday. 1 rnff av mniiii 1 i I rjtr JL'Bl I.