November 7 we remember the Fig “and the “Preacher”
Michael Figliomeni
Garry Patterson
On opposite sides of the World Speedway pays tributes to two great Champions .In Perth the ninth running of Magic Man 34 pays tribute to 4 times Australian Speedcar Champion Michael Figliomeni and 14,836 km away the Stockton Dirt Track California will for the 32nd year run the Garry Patterson Tribute race as the final meet in the King of the West Sprintcar Championship.
Figliomeni and Patterson both very different racecar drivers but both had that something special that set them apart from others. Both left us way too early but both left that special legacy that sees their fame continue long after their death.
I had the privilege of seeing both race, Patterson when I was only a youngster and the “Fig” as an as I grew into adulthood.
Each year when these special events come around I don’t need any video to recall the excitement and rush I felt back then, the human video my memory rewinds and images come thundering back .Both super wheelmen, different as chalk and cheese but both winners and Champions .
In Perth on Saturday night the Magic Man 34 field is amazing a real tribute .The race will be the first in the inaugural Pro Speedcar Week and features 5 Americans including four times Magic Man 34 winner Davey Ray, 2013 winner Alex Bright, Tyler Thomas, Austin Brown and 2012 USAC Midget Champ Daren Hagan.37 cars have been entered in what represents the strongest Magic Man 34 field for some time and in its own way a very special tribute to Michael Figliomeni .Revered on both sides of the Tasman and tracks in the US.
Magic Man 34 nominations
V2 Paul Farrell
W2 Ross Heywood USA3 Darren Hagen
W3 Scott Glazebrook
USA4 Alex Bright
Alex Bright
USA6 Austin Brown
W7 Todd Waddell
Q9 Nathan Smee
W9 Paul Robinson
S10 Brad Warwick
W10 Dave Perry
S11 Graham Knuckey
W14 Neville Lance
S17 Todd Bennett
W19 Steven Henderson
W21 Kaiden Manders -Defending Champion
Kaiden Manders
V22 Joe Lostitch
W22 Chris Telenta
W23 Glen Mears
W24 Dayne Kingshott
USA26 Tyler Thomas
W28 Ryan Condren
W35 Jack Alfirevich
W38 Travis White
W40 Chris Griffiths
W41 Jason Tremeer
W42 Phil Tremeer
W52 Lee Redmond
Q67 Grant Draney
Q69 Brett Thomas
Q71 Troy Ware
S71 Ben Hall
USA71 Davey Ray
Davey Ray
V71 Domain Ramsay
Q82 Jason Bell W97 Nicholas Rowe
Q98 Matt Greenwood
.Past Champions of the Magic Man 34 since 2007/8,
2014/2015 Kaiden Manders
2013/2014 Alex Bright
2012/2013 Davey Ray
2011/2012 Davey Ray
2010/2011 Davey Ray
2009/2010 Davey Ray
2008/2009 Dene McAllan
2007/2008 Mark Brown
16 hours after the cheakered flag drops in Perth the Garry Patterson Tribute will be staging at the Stockton Dirt Track California
Garry Patterson”The Preacher “
.
The Garry Patterson Tribute will be the final event for the King of the West Sprintcar Championship. Leading the charge to the Title is 19 year old Carson Macedo with Bud Kaeding just 3 points away in second . There will be strong competition for the win at Stockton and while Macedo and Kaeding will be watching each other Tyler Walker,Kyle Hirst and Jonanthan Allard will be ready to pounce .
Former winners of the “Tribute to Gary Patterson”
1984- Chuck Gurney
1985- Brent Kaeding
1986- Tim Green
1987- Jimmy Sills
1988- Jeff Swindell
1989- Jason Mcmillen
1990- Jimmy Sills
1991- Tim Green
1992- Tim Green
1993- Randy Tiner
1994- Brent Kaeding
1995- Paul Mcmahan
1996- Steve Kent
1997- Randy Tiner
1998- Randy Hannagan
1999- Brent Kaeding
2000- Steve Kent
2001- Brent Kaeding
2002- Jason Meyers
2003- Dennis Moore Jr.
2004- Sparky Howard
2005- Steve Kent
2006- Steve Kent
2007- Jonathan Allard
2008- Tim Kaeding
2009- Kyle Hirst
2010- Zach Zimmerly
2011- Peter Murphy
2012- Rico Abreu
2013- Rico Abreu
2014- Shane Golobic
The “Preacher”, Garry Patterson one of the original Outlaws running the cushion and leaving his signature on the sport, a signature that will never fade
Garry Patterson the early days
