Armageddon comes to speedway on Eve of Destruction II
By Jon Brown
MERIDIAN, Idaho — Don’t let the size of the ¾ scale jet Funny Car known as Armageddon fool you.
The miniature Mustang appearing at ASA-sanctioned Meridian Speedway as part of Saturday’s Eve of Destruction II packs quite a wallop.
Still skeptical? Just wait until you watch “Mad” Mike Flambet fire up the car’s General Electric T58-3 turbine jet engine and aim it directly at … a station wagon.
Molten metal will be on the Mustang’s menu, and fans are guaranteed to see a glowing heap of steel by the time Flambet finishes his flambe’.
That’s only one part of the Eve of Destruction, though, as Saturday marks the return of the World Famous Boat Races, the Tates Rents Hornets will run the Gauntlet and there will be an appearance by the Dominoes of Destruction jumping car as well as fireworks and other explosive developments throughout the night.
Wedged into all that will be races for the ESI Express ASA Modifieds, the Domino’s Pizza Legends and the Thunder Dogs.
And at 6 p.m., there will be Westby’s Bike Races for Kids.
The gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $9.50 for senior citizens and military personnel with ID, $8 for ages 7-11, free for 6 and younger. Avoid the long lines anticipated at the front gate by buying tickets in advance at any one of 17 Treasure Valley NAPA Auto Parts locations. Ask for Speedway tickets at the counter.
The World Famous Boat Races bring Thunder Dogs out on a wet track for some wacky demolition derby fun with fiberglass. Each car must have at least part of the boat it started towing at the start of the race intact in order to continue on the track. The obstacles will come natural as drivers lose their boats all over the racing surface.
According to his biography on www.armageddonjetcar.com, Mike Flambet has been a risk-taker since an early age.
His biggest risk, apparently, was telling his wife, Marlene, that he was going to buy a “little” jet car built by Tim Arfons, the son of land speed record-holder Art Arfons.
That little jet car can now be seen all over the country. This year’s schedule has taken Armageddon to Arizona, Ohio, Canada, Oregon, California and — most recently — Magic Valley Speedway.
The other action Saturday will see defending series champion Tom Hill of Eagle, Idaho, hold off his brother Jeff (from Meridian, Idaho) and Nampa, Idaho’s Shelby Stroebel in the ESI Express ASA Modifieds. Jeff Hill and Stroebel are tied for second in the standings, 42 points behind Tom Hill.
In the Legends, Camron Madsen of Boise, Idaho, owns a hefty lead over 2009 track champion Travis Anderson.
The Hornets could provide some of the most interesting racing as Art Heath runs the Gauntlet while clinging to a one-point lead over Boise’s Larry Hull. David Tankersley of Nampa lurks in third, just 82 points behind the leader.
Meridian Speedway
2010 points standings
After Aug. 7 races
ESI Express ASA Modifieds — 1. Tom Hill, Eagle, Idaho, 793 points; 2. (tie) Jeff Hill, Meridian, Idaho, 751; Shelby Stroebel, Nampa, Idaho, 751; 4. Charlie Ham Jr., Kuna, Idaho, 673; 5. Chris Fenton, Meridian, 614; 6. Jentry Pisca, Nampa, 468; 7. Darrel Dolling, Boise, 423; 8. Kevin Zimmer, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, 288; 9. Mike Winchel, Kuna, 225; 10. Alex Smith, Kuna, 244
Pepsi Sprintcars — 1. Johnny Giesler, Meridian, 843 points; 2. Joe Ransom, Boise, 706; 3. Carl Marcum, Meridian, 626; 4. Wyatt King, Meridian, 618; 5. Kelly Newman, Boise, 483; 6. Eric Ransom, Boise, 414; 7. Aly Clark, Meridian, 337; 8. Josh Allen, Meridian, 331; 9. Erik Miller, Caldwell, Idaho, 288; 10. Tyler Barrow, Boise, 204
Mtn. Dew Winged Sprints — 1. Mike Murgoitio, Meridian, 710 points; 2. Chris Ratterree, Nampa, 695; 3. Sierra Jackson, Middleton, Idaho, 443; 4. Kirk Wartman, Boise, 420; 5. Don Kithcart, Eagle, 393; 6. Darren Spiers, Adrian, Ore., 335; 7. Dave Parrie, Boise, 277; 8. Chris Adams, Nampa, 257; 9. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 161; 10. Matt Elliott, Nampa, 158
NAPA Late Model Sportsman — 1. Dan Buckley, Emmett, Idaho, 523 points; 2. Jaramie Fuss, Kuna, 335; 3. John Nesmith, Meridian, 311; 4. Dennis Brodigan, Nampa, 296; 5. Dylan Caldwell, Nampa, 288; 6. Josh Jackson, Ontario, Ore., 252; 7. Tyler Monroe, Star, Idaho, 248; 8. Jeff Wilson, Mountain Home, Idaho, 187; 9. Dan Lowther, Boise, 184; 10. Richard Urrutia, Caldwell, 156 Project Filter Pro-4s — 1. Kenny Chandler, Boise, 767 points; 2. Casey Tillman, Kuna, 485; 3. Tyler Bailey, Middleton, 450; 4. Jim Bailey, Middleton, 447; 5. Kale Freedman, Meridian, 435; 6. David Short, Meridian, 310; 7. Rob Powers, Meridian, 292; 8. John Peterson, Boise, 278; 9. Kyle Latham, Boise, 246; 10. Dan Smith, Emmett, 198
CWI PTDS Street Stocks — 1. Melissa Scott, Nampa, 822 points; 2. Marv Weaver, Nampa, 724; 3. Chad Bess, Nampa, 638; 4. Jeffrey Meads, Nampa, 516; 5. Jim Anderson, Meridian, 457; 6. Pat Young, Kuna, 419; 7. Shawn Hansen, Boise, 367; 8. Nick Lane, Caldwell, 317; 9. Tim Elam, Boise, 300; 10. Micky Lawson, Caldwell, 258
Mini Stocks — 1. Ray Bolinger, Meridian, 695 points; 2. Dell Scott, Nampa, 633; 3. Eddie Ables, Middleton, 621; 4. Tyler Burlingame, Meridian, 586; 5. Jason Sanders, Caldwell, 528; 6. Jason Lampman, Middleton, 453; 7. Scott Shoecraft, Boise, 362; 8. Vern Bolinger, Emmett, 249; 9. Quentin Ward, Meridian, 248; 10. Kirk Sanders, Nampa, 236
Domino’s Pizza Legends — 1. Camron Madsen, Boise, 783 points; 2. Travis Anderson, Boise, 638; 3. Sara Henry, Nampa, 590; 4. Austin Hager, Meridian, 586; 5. Cameron Cotta, Meridian, 463; 6. Darin Turpen, Nampa, 365; 7. Ron Hayes, Boise, 324; 8. Brent Collins, McCall, Idaho, 317; 9. Rod Stiller, Meridian, 310; 10. Randy Keckley, Boise, 228
Tates Rents Hornets — 1. Art Heath, Nampa, 432 points; 2. Larry Hull, Boise, 431; 3. David Tankersley, Nampa, 350; 4. Danielle Summers, Nampa, 322; 5. Mary Johnson, Meridian, 296; 6. Catilin Stroebel, Nampa, 281; 7. Mike Fortin, Durkee, Ore., 277; 8. Fred Nagele, Boise, 266; 9. Stacy Heath, Nampa, 259; 10. Marshall Burnham, Nampa, 230
Jr. Stingers — 1. Colton Nelson, Meridian, 223 points; 2. Chance Davis, Emmett, 220; 3. Jonathan Hull, Boise, 170; 4. Matthew Burger, Meridian, 167; 5. Hunter Gates, Boise, 162; 6. Tyson Fuss, Kuna, 142; 7. Zach Blume, Eagle, 141; 8. Nick Isaacson, 124; 9. Cody Garrett, 57; 10. Charlie Fiscus, 95
Thunder Dogs — 1. Fare Lady (Kennan Irons, Boise), 273; 2. Winged Snot Rod (Chris Carlson, Boise), 238; 3. Hot Wheels (Brett Sullivan and Martin Anderson, Boise), 232; 4. Old Skool (Dakota Allen, Kuna), 209; 5. Bumble Bee (David Romero, Boise), 186; 6. The Cougar, 185; 7. Sledge Hammer (David Jolley, Nampa), 175; 8. Red Neck Rampage, 148; 9. Soccer Mom Too (John Pinkston, Meridian), 139; 10. Greased Lightning (Trenton Barrington, Boise), 125
