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Senior Moment From Russ Dodge:
Most Tracks Have A Meatball!
When I went to the races at Vineland Speedway
as a teenager there were sportsman/modifieds and hobby stocks. I remember
the announcer giving the hobby line-up with "Meatball" driving the 95 jr.
Then he would add, that's the only name I have written here. It wasn't until
several years later that I had a chance to meet "Meatball" when I was
visiting Bob and Shirley Schwegel (who fielded the 77 sportsman at Vineland
and later East Windsor) bench racing over coffee, when Meatball stopped in.
That's about the time these reflections on "Meatball" begin.
First of all I found out that "Meatball's" real name was Leonard Mazzola and
that he was from "down below". Now don't think I'm talking "Satanic" here,
it is merely a regional location in South Jersey. I'll explain it this way.
If you have been on Rt.55 (maybe going to the Millville Motorsport Complex)
and exited onto Rt.47 Delsea Drive, that's is where "down below" begins!
Down below then encompasses all the land area South of that spot to Cape
May, N.J. point! Now, anyplace in New Jersey North of that point is referred
to as "up above". Now you'll understand why I may be a little off since my
mother's side is from "down below" and my father's from "up above"! Just say
from Port Norris, and locals will automatically think "down below"!
I found Meatball to be a heck of a nice guy, with a quick smile and story.
His 95Jr. pictured in the fence was painted and numbered like the 95
sportsman from East Broad Street Garage in Millville and driven by mainly by
Bill Wilson and Larry Voss at the Vineland Speedway. After Meatball left, I
really got some insight into some of his antics. "He's really something
else!"Bob said with a smile. He drives truck for a living and you think he
would be a natural on the speedway but so far that hasn't come about. He is
a little wild behind the wheel of his truck. I remember him coming down the
pike when it was snowing and icy, with his trailer brakes lock causing the
trailer to slide sideways on the shoulder of the road, just to scare people!
One time we were working on the car and ran out of pipe. Meatball said I'll
go pick up some lengths for you. Off he went, with us wondering how he was
going to do it since he was driving and old Buick. Guess what? He came back
with the full lengths uncut. He had slid them under his car and held them up
off the road by tying them to the front and rear bumpers. He drove through
Millville that way on his way back!
I'm sure you have met people with that special trait in their personality.
Everyone knows them and they know everyone. As time flies bye, I guess it's
been about 10 years since I ran into him in the pits at Grandview, for a
Thunder On The Hill show. The smile was still there as we did a brief
catch-up before the races began.
In typical Meatball fashion, the large photo above has the name Carlos
painted on the car. I wonder what story that holds? Notice on the 95 Jr.
there is even a painting of a Meatball. Too bad it was never made into a
patch! LOL
Thanks for listening to this reflection on one of the grass roots member of
our sport who will appear in the record books.
How about sharing a reflection on any of the "Meatballs" you have known in
racing.
Senior Moment By Russ Dodge |