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My First Main Event Win Manzy 9/9/2006
DOWTY BREAKS DROUGHT IN WILD DWARF CAR FINISH
From Manzy's Web Site
Denny Dowty, a seasoned veteran, may have thought that the day would never come that he would be parking his '34 Ford dwarf car in the winner's circle but a wild finish allowed him to take advantage of the situation and finally get that elusive first win.
Dowty had the power and after starting the 15 lapper on the outside of the second row he was never worse than fifth but even then only a couple of car lengths behind the leader.
Randy Haugen led the first lap and then gave it up to Ryan Henesey who started 12th. The points leader stayed in front until Kelly Jenkins found an opening and had the lead on the 11th lap. That is when it got a little crazy. The track was crowded as the fight for the lead between Jenkins, Henesey and Dowty was also mixed with lapped traffic. Henesey got hit and knocked off the track in the first turn while working the 13th lap. Jenkins went high, Dowty took the low side and had a lead he would protect in the final three laps. He may have had to ask directions to victory lane but his crew assisted him and they were still there greeting the fans an hour after the races were over.
Henesey recovered to finish second and expand on his points lead and Jenkins was the third car under the checkered flag. Brian Stehr took fourth ahead of Paul Taylor who started alongside Henesey. Rounding out the top ten were Rick Kochanowski, Greg Loper, Kevin Stalbaum, Sean Kreuziger and Chris Snyder.
Heat races went to Jenkins, Kreuziger, Henesey and Kochanowski. Randy Johnson beat the field in the trophy dash.
The Dwarf Car Story
(From the Desert Dwarf Car Club web site)
Dwarf cars are 5/8 scale replica models of vintage 1928-1948 American made automobiles. They have full steel roll cages; sheet metal bodies, and powered by 4 cylinder motorcycle engines up to 1220cc. They have full racing suspension and are capable of speeds over 100 mph on the straight-aways. With their size and quickness, they are perfectly suited to dirt track oval racing.
Dwarf cars started as a hobby during the 1980's in Phoenix, with the original idea of providing economical racing to people who were just starting out or who could no longer afford to keep up with the escalating costs of full size classes. The hobby has grown quickly to become the hottest class in auto racing today.
The reasons are simple:
Dwarf cars have a look that appeals to a wide variety of fans. Their "antique" look brings back the glory days when open wheel hotrods were the stars of the show on Friday and Saturday nights. For the younger fans, their size and shape makes them interesting to watch and cheer for.
Dwarf cars use motorcycle engines as power plants, bringing interest from outside the normal "auto" racing crowd. Not just Fords and Chevy's fighting it out, but Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Honda as well. The sound of 4 cylinders at 11,000 rpm has quite an appeal! The weight to horsepower ratio is even greater than a full size late model stock car.
Dwarf cars are "real" racecars, not family go-karts. With modern design suspension, Dwarf cars are achieving speeds similar to the fastest full size cars.
Dwarf cars are inexpensive to buy. A brand new roller car, complete less engine, drive shaft, and headers is $6,995. Most engines are supplied through the salvage pool and typically cost between $1,500 and $2,500. Sometimes you can find a used dwarf car ready to race for under $3500.
Dwarf cars are economical to operate too. The costs to race a competitive full size car range from $200 for a sportsman type late model to $1000 in a sprint car per race and that's if nothing gets torn up! Dwarf cars, on the other hand, cost less than $25 per race, for fuel and an oil change. The cost-per-racing lap is the lowest in Motorsports today.
Desert Dwarf Car Club members are "everyday people" that love to race dwarf cars who understand NASCAR or CART probably isn't in their future. However, we'll race wheel to wheel even rub some paint too and then afterwards laugh about the racing while enjoying a cool refreshment
THE FUN HAS BEGUN! IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN IN…