by BIG E » Thu Feb 16, 2017 2:22 pm
My man Derek. He was just a little guy runnin' around (on the floor outside of the track) my 8 lane Pocono tri-oval when we had Islip Miniature Speedway back around 1990. Alway's tellin' me, "Ernie, ya just gotta run a midget class!" And eventually, we did! He was an absolute bundle of energy back then, as most young kids are. Wish he was a little older then, I could have put him to work! I gotta smile every time I catch him on TV doing the pit reporting at a short track race. I know he's doing something that he truly loves, and isn't that anyone's dream job? Very cool look at the Patchogue track, which is co-owned by Derek's older brother Pete, a good slot car racer himself, and Mike, the guy who's got the track in his garage. It may be 100% Mike's now, I'm not quite sure. I have had the pleasure of running some events there, both local and "tour" races. It's a real short track, and as you can see by the video, the corners come up VERY quickly!
Great job, Derek! -- Your old pal, Ernie :>)