NEMA’s Birthday Party Motivates Mike Horn
Brockton, MA – Mike Horn will come to the Northeastern Midget Association’s 60th birthday celebration at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday, May 12 with plenty of motivation. The second-generation racer hopes to get away with his second straight Marvin Rifchin Trophy.
The Rifchin Trophy, a coveted prize, is just part of the excitement as NEMA marks its Diamond Anniversary with 60 feature laps, 30 each for NEMA and the NEMA Lites. Tire maker (M&H) Marvin Rifchin was a major contributor to NEMA and, Horn reports, “winning a trophy that honors him was very special.”
Last year’s win at Thompson was emotional. No word comes to Horn to describe a repeat win. Rifchin and the Horn family, like many in NEMA, were very close.
NEMA President Mike Scrivani Jr. is putting together an impressive “guest list.” Already confirmed are past champions Dave Humphrey, Johnny Mann and Butch Walsh. “We expect to announce others soon,” says Scrivani.
History is not lost on Horn, the son of open cockpit veteran Jeff Horn. He, of course, treasures the memories of his dad’s success driving for Bay Hayes and the continuing friendships with folks like Humphrey. One of his dad’s wins came at the ‘Bowl.
“I’m fascinated by what happened in the past,” he says. “I’m really interested in what makes people successful. Having those people around in addition to honoring Marvin makes you want to step it up a notch.”
The Speedbowl has not been kind to Horn. “I haven’t had the best luck there,” he reports, claiming “some of that is due to my own decisions and some of it due to the mistakes of others.” He’ll come with a fresh motor (Esslinger) determined to “do better.”
Blast Off winner John Zych Jr. is one of a number of active drivers that have won at the Speedbowl. In addition to defending champion Randy Cabral (eight wins) and Russ Stoehr (7), Joey Payne, Todd Bertrand, Barry Kittredge, Chris Leonard, Jim Miller and Greg Stoehr will be looking to return to the ‘Bowl’s victory Lane. Anthony Marvuglio and Paul Scally have had strong runs there as well.
Anthony Nocella and Ian Cumens hope to put Team Seymour back in the ‘Bowl’s Lites Victory lane. Blast off winner Ryan Bigelow will be looking to make it two in a row. Other Lites hopefuls are Kenny Johnson, Christian Briggs, Bethany Stoehr, Carl Medeiros Jr. and Brandon Igo.
NEMA NUGGETS – Mike Horn has great admiration for the teams “that just keep working on what they have. They just keep making little changes here and there rather than running out and buying new stuff all the time”…Horn is part of the Bertrand Motorsports “family” that also includes Zych.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEMA PR