Thompson Recalls Woodstock Fair Experience
Imagine your favorite place in this world. Imagine a tradition you couldn’t picture your life without. Imagine a family, people that raised you, something that turned you into the person you are today. For me, all these things raise a single answer; the Tri-State Kart Club go-karts at the Woodstock Fair.
My first time racing at Woodstock left me in awe. I was seven years old. I had never raced in front of a crowd bigger than maybe 40 people, and here was a whole grandstand-full, cheering over their popcorn and fresh fried dough. I had never raced at night before, but here we were with my then-bleach blonde hair glimmering in the powerful lights set up around the track. While my bedtime was quickly coming up, we were firing engines to go racing. It was my first taste of what big-time racing was all about, and I was immediately hooked.
Things only got cooler the more time I spent around that tiny oval. After I got my first win, I got to carry the checkered flag all the way around the track in celebration. The flag was almost bigger than me at the time. Once I moved up out of the rookie class and got a win, I got to give my first ever live interview. They stuck a microphone in my face for the first time and I had no idea what to say. Luckily the announcer helped coach me through that one. But over time I won more and more there, and the interviews got easier and easier. I can attribute my skill behind a mic to being started that early at the Woodstock Fair.
I can honestly say Woodstock is my favorite track. I won there. A lot. My first came in just my third start at the track, on the Sunday night rookie class show in 2003. In 2005, I almost swept the weekend, if it weren’t for a motor problem before Monday’s event got started. We won three nights again in 2007, one in 2008, and won the only one we started in 2009. The track is fast and tight, and requires a lot of skill to get around well. Races go by quickly, so you have to make your moves early and fight hard for every position. It’s an excellent arena to not only hone your craft, but to show off your skill at the same time.
Racing at the Woodstock Fair led me down a path I couldn’t have even begun to imagine when I first started out there. It cemented the idea that I wanted to be a racecar driver. The crowd, the flashing lights of cameras, the interviews, and driver introductions; I loved all of it. I moved on from the Fair to race in the US Legends Cars division all over New England where I again found success, winning more races and championships. I also competed in a USAC Midget, and currently travel the country as a front-end mechanic for Graham Rahal on the Verizon IndyCar Series circuit.
In closing, I just want to say the Woodstock Fair is one of the best things in New England go-kart racing, and it would be a real shame to see it go away. It gives everyone that once a year big event to race in front of the big crowd. It’s a motivator and a crown jewel. I really hope that after all the public outcry, the Fair committee will take a second thought in removing such a beloved venue.
Sources: TJ Thompson