Echoes-Sentinel from Warren Township, New Jersey • Page 22

E-22 ECHOES-SEN nNEL, THURSDAY, SEPT. 27,1984 Wa ByTONILUSK Contributing Writer friend, Kenny Brenn, had bought an old Formula Junior rebuilt il into a midget. His mechanics installed a 110-cubic-inch Offy, shortened the wheelbase by 18 inches, and mounted little 12-inch tires on eight-inch-wide rims. So it became a mid-engine USAC midget- possibly the very first one. Bill kept bugging me to call When I called Ken he asked me to come over and have a look at his car.

He ran a construction business and had a lot of heavy equipment for building roads and highways. In their off hours he and his mechanic? built and raced USAC dirt-track cars. He was a huge guy and I was kind of nervous. When I walked up he said, "Who are you?" I told him I was Mark Donahue, and he said, You don't look much like a race driver." I was Intimidated Jut by the way he looked at Unfair Advantage" by Mark Donohue with Paul Van Valkenburgh) WARREN -Mark Donahue went on to win the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and finally to be killed in a racing accident. In the excrpt above, he told of his first meeting in 1963 with township builder and racing enthusiast Ken Brenn, Sr.

Brenn is still inspiring, and, with his intense, direct manner, intimidating young drivers today. In 1954 Brenn bought his first race car, bringing it home in bushel baskets in the back of his pick-up truck. "It looked like an erector set," Brenn recalled, "but it was the only one I could afford." Brenn continued to acquire cars and experience. Within a few years he had accumulated a fleet of five midget and sprint race cars, entering each in races all over the country. In addition to Donahue, who won his first professional race while driving for Brenn, other well-knowns such as Roger Ward, Bobby Unser, Larry Dixon and Bob Harkey also drove at one time or another for the local builder.

By the late sixties his suture in the racing community had climbed to such a point that he was elected for four consecutive terms as president of the American Racing Driver's Club. As such he was in full charge of booking all races and looking after the welfare of the organization. Brenn did so well on the midget and sprint car circuits that in litw Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company approached him as a sponsor on the Indianapolis circuit. They supplied the car and paid the bills. The only condition was that he would run on Goodyear tires.

While continuing to keep up his Second Generation Racers The Brenn brothers, Jimmy and Ken at the Flemington raceway. Hills Soccer Teams Start Season The season started Saturday for the Hills Soccer Association. In Division IN. Chanticler Chateau lied Majesty Ham 4-4. Scott Drugs posted a 6-1 win over Rittenhouse Design.

In Division IV, Bergman Hardware aiui Weldon Construction played to a 2-2 tie The two goals for Bergman were scored by Eddie Oels and Robert Han- leldt and assisted by Jeremy Goldstein. The score was held to a 2-2 tie due to oustandmg defense by Eric Luell, Keith Bishop. Malthew Ponicall and Brian Moreland. Michael Cop scored the first goal for Weldon with a breakaway. The second goal was scored by Danny Kapsack with a crossing pass from Chris Kapsack.

Good defense was played by David Doering in goal and Mark Krystofiak and Ricky Pillard. Hardy Farms Shell shut out Ingrassia Construction 4-0 in its season opener. More than 20 shots on goal were tried with two goals made by Dave Lobo and one by Craig Castiglione and Joe Siragu- The constant pressure placed by Shell's forwards was created by the consistently effective fullback Rob McGreevy and halfback Theodore Shpunder. During his three periods of play as goalie for Ingrassia, Chris Frycke allowed only one goal and had 10 saves. Glenn Hoffman contributed with a lot of aggressive play as an offensive player.

In Division Edgewood Pharmacy edged out Stevenson Insurance for the 21 win. Kevin Poltney and Andrea Bier scored one goal each for Edgewood. Ryan Linthicum, Mike Molyneux and Dave Parchuko played well on defense. Stevenson's goal was scored by Chris Bobal. Playing well on defense were Greg Bondner, Jennifer Cohen and John Hilke.

Warrenville Hardware was the winner in a 2-1 game over Braunschweiger Jewelers. Bob Lipyanek scored the first goal Tor Warrenville. with Ed Mateo scoring the second on a penalty. The goalie was Kimon Keramidas, and Chris Conway, Ted Cwynar and Rod Mcllwain contributed outstanding defense. The single Braunschweiger goal was scored by Dan Ponicall.

Debra Schlosser played outstanding offense while Jonathan Dworkin was in goal. Wins By Travel Teams Open Hills Soccer Season As the travel teams of the Wtchung Hills Soccer Association opened their season, the Wildcats started off with a 3-0 win over Parsippany. At first the game looked like it would be a diffhangcr, as both teams played cautiously and missed chances to score, but then the Wildcats broke loose. The first goal was scored by Louis Dixon. a newcomer to the team, with Chris ratt scoring the other goals.

Assisting on the goals were Doug Jamieson. Adam Riess and Dixon. The team well and was supported by great goaltcnding by Robbie Oppenheim. In the Division 3 National Group, the Warriors lost their opener to the Bridgewater Olympians 5-1. The Amcrcian 3 Diplomats beat Mountain Lakes United 4-3.

Matt Lippit scored frist on a pass from Greg Vitali, and then Vitali set up Lippitt for goal number two. Brian Mehl scored with the inadvertent help of the opposing team and Greg Carroll got the final goal with David Weusteassitmg. The Division 4N Cosmos, coached by Maria Maslo, opened the season by overwhelming the North Hunterdon Mustangs with a 10-3 victory. North Hunterdon scored the first goal early, catching the defense olT guard, but the Cosmos retaliated by adding four goals by halftime. The win was never threatened as the Cosmos continued to score six more goals in the second half.

Frank Criscola and Kenny Knevals both had hat tricks with three goals each, and one score each was tallied by Brian Oels, Jayson Sorrentino, Todd Smedley and Jeremy Goldstein. NEED A WAY TO GET AWAY? OUR RATES ARE THE LOWESTI DOLLAR RENTACAR RT.22. NORTH PLAINFIELD CALL (201) 755-1500 SUNDAY SPEED SPECIAL SUNDAY, SEPT. STARTS 2 P.M. 3RD ANNUAL MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 100 100 11 CARS START FEATURE 11.700 1 CONTINGENCIES TO WIN (EVERT TOP NAMED MIDGET RACER IN THESE PANTS WILL BE HERE FOR THIS ONE OF A KIND SPECTACULAR) NOTE ALL CARS MUST MEET ESMRA SPECS PLUS PLUS PLUS PLUS NATION'S FINEST MODIFIED STOCK CARS A DRIVERS 30 LAP FEATURE RAIN DATE SUNDAY.

OCT. RT 31 FLEMINGTON ph.201 7822413 construction business at home, Brenn traveled the circuit and did well. He took his car to the Indianapolis 500 qualifications in 1968 and 1969. Both years he qualified 34th in a field of 33. After two years of traveling the country to races every week-end, Brenn decided to give up the Indianapolis circuit racing in order to spend more time with his business and his six growing children.

However, while he was out of that particular field, he was never completely out of racing. New En Midway through the 1972 racing season Brenn bought a modified stock car. By the end of that season it had won every race in which it had been entered. Brenn Racing was in a new era. In 1973 Brenn sold all his open-wheel cars (midgets, sprints, and Indianapolis- type racers) and went entirely to stock cars.

At this time his son, Ken, began driving for him. Another son, Jimmy, who drove in the sportsman (smaller engine) stock car class, began racing in 1981. In 1982 he won more races than any other driver has ever won in one year at the highly-regarded race track in Flemington. Although Jimmy left racing after two years to pursue other interests, his brother, Ken has continued to race the larger-engined modified stock cars with great success. Fans wearing "Ken Brenn, Jr." T- sl.irts abound at the Flemington track on race nights.

Track champion there in 1982 and 1983, Ken Jr. has been written up in national racing magazines and is thought by many to have the special talent needed to go on to "bigger league" racing. The younger Brenn, however, is not willing to make the sacrifices of time away from his wife and two young sons which would be necessary in order to pursue racing as a full-time career. Brenn Racing Today While the work on their present three race cars continues to go in the large garage behind their home, Ken Sr. is no longer running things alone.

"Ken Jr. is in total charge of the car now," he said. In commenting on his son's success as a driver he continued, Semifinalist PASSAIC. TWP. Benjamin L.

Morris of Millington, a student at the Delbarton School in Morristown. has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist. KEN BRENN SR. "he has learned his trade well. He knows what makes the car handle well and why it performs.

He's really smart when it comes to handling." With the Flemington season drawing to a close, the Brenn family in turning its attention now to Syracuse, N.Y. With a purse of $230,000, the race to be held there on Oct. 3-7 is the biggest dirt track race in the world. As he unpacks 11 pairs of bright red pants with yellow stripes, the crew's pants for Syracuse, Brenn muses about "the big race." "I think the happiest moment of racing for me was (in 1979) when Kenny sat on the pole He had the fastest qualifying time out of 220 drivers. That brought tears to my eyes." Buy Direct OVERHEAD GARAGE DOORS The Brenn car finished fifth in the 1980 race and was running seventh last yefrr until a broken water pump shaft put them out of the race.

They're definitely going this year for a win. Until Syracuse, though, Ken and Dottie Brenn will be found every Saturday night, with their daughter-in-law Dewie, parked in their orange motor home at the side of the Flemington track. And, like pilgrims, the young men will continue to come, seeking advice and encouragement. "We think he has great potential," said Brenn of a young protege, Dirk Adriaanse of Warren. "He just needs to work into his speed slower.

He needs to slow down in order to eventually go very fast." His eyes light up as he talks, and it's obvious that after 30 years the passion for racing is still there, as strong as ever. "It just takes patience," he continued. "Smoothness will eventually lead to speed. Never vice-versa. Every good race driver is before he's fast." kfil Vtf VW Wf VM MM Vtf WW Vtf EASY TO INSTALL Painted'Unpamted Aluminum Fiberglass Wood-Solid No Finger Joints Plywood Panels Raited ft Carved Par Steel Spr.ngs Elec.

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