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The
7/2 Thompson NEMA Event
HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO RAIN |
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Tribute To
A Legend
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Marvin Rifchin
at "We Did It for
Love"
The
Worlds
Largest
Drag
Racing
Photo
&
History
Website |
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NEMA Heads To
Thompson on 7/2;
Rifchin Trophy The Spoils |
Brockton, MA -
The Northeastern Midget Association returns to Thompson Speedway
Thursday night, July 2 with some added incentive. The winner
will go home with the Marvin Rifchin Trophy.
Rifchin, owner of M&H Tire, died on June 3 at age 94.
“Considering how many lives Marvin touched,” said NEMA President
Mike Scrivani Jr., “everybody wants this trophy. It is a
beautiful piece of hardware.”
Defending champions Randy Cabral (driver) and Tim Bertrand
(owner), undefeated in two races this year, head NEMA’s
strongest field in recent memory. Cabral’s seven career wins,
including the last four in Bertrand’s #47, tops NEMA’s Thompson
win list.
“You can’t take anything for granted, especially at Thompson,”
says Cabral, coming off a win last Friday night at Lee USA
Speedway. “Usually, the track favors the veterans but nothing is
guaranteed. Everybody goes to Thompson prepared.”
Cabral will have a teammate at Thompson once again, in the wily
veteran Jeff Horn. Horn will be running a new Bertrand
Motorsports/Drinan chassis that is in the process of being final
assembly this week so that Horn may run the race in honor of his
close friend, Rifchin.
The five-eights Thompson is the fastest stop for NEMA. “You come
prepared to go fast,” says four-time Thompson winner Nokie
Fornoro (Jarret 4). “You don’t ever forget winning one at
Thompson.”
It will mark the first time since 1993 that the Stoehr brothers
will be running against each other at Thompson. Greg, now
driving the Mazda-powered 26b, beat brother Russ by inches back
then. Russ, coming off a strong third at Lee in the Angelillo
45, has three Thompson wins.
Another set of brothers – William and Aaron Wall – are definite
threats to collect their first-ever Thompson win, if the elder
Wall (Aaron) is able to make repairs after a hard crash at Lee
Speedway. Mike Keeler and Adam Cantor are strong possibilities
as well. Both have been very impressive so far, Keeler in TSR
#63 and Cantor in the family-owned 7ny.
Among the other crowd favorites are Erica Santos in the Ed
Breault 44, Jim Miller in the 3M and Doug Cleveland in the
familiar #87.
Thompson’s Midget history is without parallel in the northeast.
It is the perfect place to honor Rifchin whose M&H Tires
contributed immensely to Midget racing’s development and safety
over five decades.
“We want to thank Thompson promoter Don Hoenig for his
participation in honoring Marvin,” said NEMA president Mike
Scrivani Jr. “Marvin’s generosity not only with his product but
with his time and expertise has made NEMA a better
organization.”
NEMA Winners at
Thompson
First – Dutch Schaefer, 1960
Last – Randy Cabral, 2008
No. Driver First Last
7 Randy Cabral 2001 2008
6 Johnny Mann 1972 1978
5 Drew Fornoro 1985 2003
4 Johnny Coy Sr. 1969 1981
4 Nokie Fornoro 1982 2005
4 Armond Holley 1976 1977
3 Bob Cicconi 1978 1987
3 Ben Seitz 2005 2007
3 Russ Stoehr 1994 2002
2 Mark Buonomo 2001 2004
2 Dave Humphrey 1970 1971
2 Russ Klar 1969 1972
2 Hank Rogers 1980 1980
2 Bobby White 1979 1979
One-time Thompson winners: Gene
Bergin (1969), Lennie Boyd (1979), Kyle Carpenter (2002), Joey
Coy (1992), Johnny Coy Jr. (1981), Ryan Dolan (2002), Leigh
Earnshaw (1979), Ronnie Evans (1970), Mike Favulli (1989),
George Ferguson Jr. (1978), Walt Gale (1968), George Monsen
(1978), Joey Payne Jr. (2000), Bobby Santos III (2003), Dutch
Schaefer (1960), Greg Stoehr (1993), Butch Walsh (1986), Hank
Williams (1960). |
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Marvin Rifchin |
Marvin
Rifchin, Founder of the M&H Tire Company, passed away
June 3 at the Maristhill Nursing Home in Watertown Mass.
There will be a Graveside Service at the Sharon Memorial Park
Cemetery on Friday June 5th, at 12:45 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice
may be made in Marvin's memory.
(NEAR Hall of Fame Page
HERE) |
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Tribute to Marvin at Thompson in July of 2006 |
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Rifchin Trophy
Awaits
NEMA Thompson Winner |
Brockton, MA -
The 25-lap Northeastern Midget Association feature at Thompson
Speedway on Thursday night July 2 will be the “Marvin Rifchin
Race” and the winner will take home the “Marvin Rifchin Trophy.”
Rifchin, owner of M&H Tire, died on June 3 at age 94. He was an
integral part of NEMA from its inception in 1953. “The number of
people he touched directly; the influence he had on our club is
immense,” says long-time NEMA competitor and official Bruce
Beane.
NEMA president Mike
Scrivani Jr. pointed out the M&H logo was part of NEMA’s image for
many years. He said plans are for the “Rifchin Trophy” race to
become a yearly event.
Although his auto racing association started with open cockpit
cars, Rifchin’s influence stretched over the entire spectrum of
the sport. His association with Don Garlits is part of drag
racing folklore. He played a key role in Modified racing’s glory
days of the 1960s and 70s.
Rifchin’s influence is evidenced by his membership in several
halls of fame including NEMA’s. He’s in the National Hot Rod
Association, New England Auto Racers and Specialty Equipment
Manufactures Association (SEMA) halls as well.
Rifchin was involved with his father Harry in the recapping
business. M&H (the H stands for Harry) was one of the first
companies to make tires specifically for racecars. Over some
five decades his influence grew to enormous proportions.
“Over the years a lot of guys raced because of Marvin’s
generosity,” said 11-time owner champion Gene Angelillo. “He
really had a special place in his heart for the competitor. Near
the end of his life he was at a lot of our races and that was
really good for NEMA. The guy loved the Midgets.” |
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