Full Speed Ahead: Kyle Taraska’s Journey to the Finish Line

Article courtesy of Berkeley College

When it comes to being an athlete, a full-time student, and an employee, Kyle Taraska finds that his success has come from his drive. The upcoming senior and race car driver has shown just how far he can go, as he pushes new limits and finds himself passing the finish line.

Kyle first discovered his love for motor sports at the age of 6. He grew up watching NASCAR with his father and enjoyed the thrill of fast cars. One day, when Kyle was a teenager, he discovered a contest that was sponsored by a racing school. The grand prize was private driving lessons on the school’s track. With no experience as a racer, Kyle took his chances and won the grand prize.

Today, Kyle drives the #16 TQ Midget for the Spitfire Racing team in the ATQMRA series. He has traveled around the country taking his racing to the next level.

The racer and Business major discovered Berkeley College after seeing a banner advertisement in the Menlo Park Mall. Feeling inspired, Kyle called the Woodbridge campus and decided to schedule a meeting. After sitting with advisors, Kyle knew transferring to Berkeley College was the right move for him.

“Everyone treated me like a person at Berkeley College. I am on a first name basis with all of my professors,” shared Kyle.

He credits the staff members who have supported him as a student, employee, and athlete. “Michael Russo, Campus Operating Officer, is always the guy who has his door open and is available to all students,” noted Kyle.

See Kyle go at his next race on Saturday, September 22, at 7 PM located at Wall Stadium Speedway.

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Wall Stadium Racers Guide

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Wall Stadium’s Pack the Track and Carnival Night
Saturday August 25th, 2018

Track Address
1803 NJ-34, Wall Township, NJ 07719

Schedule
1:00 PM Pit Gates Open
3:00 PM- 5:00 PM Practice
5:15 PM ATQMRA Drivers Meeting
5:45 PM ATQMRA Heat Races - 8 Laps Each
7:00 PM Opening Ceremony
7:10 PM ATQMRA 25 Lap Feature

Admission
$35 ATQMRA Pit Pass
$10 Adult Grandstand
$5 Youth Grandstand (Ages 6-16)
FREE Youth (5 and Under)

Preparation Underway for Pocono

Long Pond, PA - Full preparation is underway for all of the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel teams as they are set to compete at Pocono Raceway for the second time in series history this Saturday. 

The event will take place on a temporary 1/5th mile oval located at the exit of the raceway’s pit road. The event will be sanctioned by Gary Mondschein’s Classic Racing Times and supported by the ATQMRA. The Modern TQ feature race will run in conjecture with the Classic Racing Times vintage race car exhibition events, and as well as the Verizon INDYCAR Series. 

The following rule changes are in effect for this event:

1. 100 points will be issued to every ATQMRA team that attempts to qualify, regardless of finishing position.

2. The indoor rules package will be in effect for all competing cars:

2017 Indoor Engine rules, weights, and widths will be used for this wingless show.  It will be required that all cars run an outdoor RR tire. (LC5 10 inch, USAC 13 inch)

For more information regarding this weekend’s race, please visit www.theclassicracingtimes.com. 

Waterford Wings N Wheels Rescheduled for Saturday, October 6th, 2018

Waterford, CT – In collaboration with Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA club members, and as well as New London-Waterford Speedbowl officials, the recent August 11th, 2018 event which was postponed due to inclement weather has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 6th, 2018.  This date will replace the previously scheduled date for the ATQMRA on October, 20th.  In the case of inclement weather on 10/6, October 20th, 2018 will act as the official rain date.

Both the IMSA Supermodifieds and NEMA Midgets will take part and support the recently schedule event on October 6th, 2018, guaranteeing race fans a full days schedule of non-stop racing. For more information, please visit www.speedbowlct.com. 

Waterford Racers Guide

Waterford Speedbowl Wings and Wheels

Track Address
1080 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford, CT 06385

Schedule
Friday August 10th, 2018
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ATQMRA Paid Practice 

Saturday August 11th, 2018
11:00 AM Pits Open (ATQMRA North Pit)
12:30 PM - 12:50 PM ATQMRA Practice
1:00 PM General Admission Grandstand Opens
2:10 PM - 2:25 PM ATQMRA Final Practice
4:45 PM Heat Races (ATQMRA 5th Group)
6:30 PM Feature Races (ATQMRA 5th Group)

Admission 
$50 Pits
$40 Adult Grandstand
$37 Senior Grandstand
$35 Military Grandstand
$12 Youth Grandstand
FREE 12U Grandstand

Bethel Motor Speedway July 21st Racer’s Guide

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Track Address

361 Horseshoe Lake Road
Bethel, NY 12783 United States

Schedule for Saturday, July 21st, 2018

2:30 PM Pit Gates Open
4:00 PM Practice Rotation Begins
6:00 PM (approximate time) ATQMRA Heat Races – 8 Laps each
7:00 PM (approximate time) ATQMRA Feature Race – 25 Laps

Admission

Pit Passes:
$25 - VIP
$35 – Non VIP

Grandstands:

$14 - Adults
$9 – Senior 65+
$6 – Student (ages 12 – 16)
FREE – Kids ages 11 and younger

Wall Stadium Speedway “First Responder’s Night” Racer’s Guide

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Track Address

1803 NJ-34, Wall Township, NJ 07719
 

Schedule for Saturday, July 7th, 2018

1:00 PM Pit Gates Open

3:00 PM Practice Rotation Begins

5:00 PM Grandstand Gates Open

5:15 PM ATQMRA Drivers Meeting

5:45 PM ATQMRA Heat Races – 8 Laps each

7:00 PM Opening Ceremony 

7:10 PM ATQMRA Feature Race – 25 Laps

*Schedule Subject to Change
 

Admission

$35 – ATQMRA Pit Gate Admission 

$20 – Grandstand Adult

$18 – Grandstand Senior (62+)

$8 – Grandstand Student (7-17)

FREE – Kids (6 and Under)

FREE – First Responders (With ID)

Mahoning Valley Speedway Bill Teel Memorial Racer’s Guide

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Track Address

2522 Blakeslee Blvd Dr E, Lehighton, PA 18235
 

Schedule of Events 

Saturday, June 30th, 2018

11:30 AM Pit Gates Open

12:30 PM – 3:30 PM Early Paid Practice ($25 per car)

4:30 PM Event Practice Begins 

5:30 PM (approximate time) ATQMRA Driver’s Meeting

6:00 PM (approximate time) Heat Races 

7:00 PM (approximate time) Feature – 25 laps
 

Admission

$16 Adult Grandstand

$10 Active Military (with ID)

$10 Active Student (with ID)

FREE Kids 10 and Under

$25 Mahoning Valley Members Pit Pass

$35 Non-Mahoning Valley Members Pit Pass

Bethel Motor Speedway “Pinebrook Speedway Reunion” Racer’s Guide

Track Address

361 Horseshoe Lake Road
Bethel, NY 12783 United States

Schedule for Saturday, May 19th, 2018

2:30 PM Pit Gates Open
4:00 PM Practice Rotation Begins
6:00 PM (approximate time) ATQMRA Heat Races – 8 Laps each
7:00 PM (approximate time) ATQMRA Feature Race – 30 Laps

Admission

Pit Passes:
$25 - VIP
$35 – Non VIP

Grandstands:

$14 - Adults
$9 – Senior 65+
$6 – Student (ages 12 – 16)
FREE – Kids ages 11 and younger

Hard Work and Determination Leads Tim Proctor to Victory

Tim Proctor’s win Memorial Day weekend was a feel-good story for many within the ATQMRA.  Not only was this Tim’s first career Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel feature victory, but it occurred at his home track.  Wall Stadium Speedway is located approximately 40 miles northeast of his hometown of Columbus, NJ. However, what is most remarkable about his victory was not the fact that he led wire-to-wire in the 25 lap event, but rather the adversity he faced in order to make it back to the track this past winter. 

Ask any driver who competed in the 44thrunning of the Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium this past November, and chances are they will tell you it was one of the toughest races they were ever a part of. As the event was plagued by on-track incidents in the early running, it was Tim Proctor who earned the most gasps during the third caution of the race.

“Turkey Derby was such a hard race to get started,” Proctor explained. ”With so many yellows, and myself constantly restarting on the bottom, it was really hard to get going and get into a rhythm.” Proctor certainly had a hard time finding his rhythm as contact with another car on the speedway’s back-straightway sent his #98 Drinan Chassis tumbling end over end resulting in one of the hardest wrecks of his racing career. 

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Photo Courtesy of Jim Smith, Area Auto Racing News

Although his spirits were hurt, physically Proctor was fine and walked away from the incident on his own two feet.  After taking time to calm down and let cooler heads prevail, Proctor accessed the damage of his car a few days after the on-track incident.

“I called Danny (Drinan) after sending him some pictures of the car. I asked him if he could fix it. He told me it wouldn’t be a problem but I would have to deliver the car to his shop.” 

Tim Proctor would sit and ponder trying to put a game plan together on how he will deliver his car to Danny Drinan, in Indianapolis, IN. 

Tim struck gold when long-time friend Gary Mondschein gave him a call later that week letting Tim know he was already heading out to Indianapolis to pick up a classic IndyCar. Mondschein, owner of the Classic Racing Times, is a motorsports enthusiast and does great work to help preserve racing history hosting many events across the United States.  After two days of thrashing, Proctor was able to take his car apart and drove it over the Mondschein’s shop.  Within days, Mondschein hand-delivered Proctor’s car to Drinan’s shop.

Drinan repaired the car in a month.  However, adversity struck Proctor again as he had to put an action plan together to get the car back home to New Jersey from Indiana.

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Photo Courtesy of Tim Proctor

“My friend Brian and I strapped a cargo carrier to the back of my wife Christine’s Nissan Rogue and we hauled out to Indianapolis.” Proctor would make the overnight trip on a cold February night in just under 12 hours as they drove straight though. “We left right after work on Friday, got to Indy on Saturday, and was back home on Sunday.” A trailer wasn’t needed for this racer, and the Nissan Rogue made it home in one piece with a newly repaired chassis attached. 

The car would sit bare in the garage of his new house for an extended period of time, as both Tim and his wife Christine were in the midst of moving between his trips to Indiana.

“Once we got settled in and I had time to work on the car again, my mind was set on returning to my favorite track Bethel (scheduled for May 19th).I worked on the car for weeks only to have Bethel rain out on us.”

The extra week off set the stage for Proctor to make his ATQMRA return at his home track one week later at Wall Stadium. “I went to Wall with the mentality to just shake the car down. After everything we have been through, I just wanted to make sure everything was running as it should and just bring it home in one piece.”

Proctor, without the assistance of a pit crew, went on to finish forth in the second heat race of the evening.  From there, he drew the pole position for the feature and went on to lead the whole race to claim his first ATQMRA victory. 

“This was for sure the oddest win of my career but also one of the most satisfying.  I cannot thank my wife Christine, my friend Brian, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Ray and my co-owner Paul Binz for all of their support to help me get back on the track.  Of course I wouldn’t be here without the help of Gary or Danny either.”

Tim Proctor is a true racer.  After fighting months of adversity, Proctor proved that with the proper work ethic and determination to succeed, anyone can accomplish their goals.  Proctor is just one of many racers who understand that racing is a full-time job outside of just driving the car, and his victory at Wall Stadium earned him the satisfaction he has been seeking for some time.  When asked if he would do it all over again in order to earn a victory - “absolutely.”

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Photo Courtesy of Sean Case Graphics

Wall Stadium Speedway I Racer’s Guide

Track Address

1803 NJ-34, Wall Township, NJ 07719
 

Schedule for Saturday, May 26th, 2018

1:00 PM Pit Gates Open

3:00 PM Practice Rotation Begins

5:00 PM Grandstand Gates Open

5:15 PM ATQMRA Drivers Meeting

5:45 PM ATQMRA Heat Races – 8 Laps each

7:00 PM Opening Ceremony 

7:10 PM ATQMRA Feature Race – 25 Laps

*Schedule Subject to Change

Admission

$35 – ATQMRA Pit Gate Admission 

$20 – Grandstand Adult

$18 – Grandstand Senior (62+)

$8 – Grandstand Student (7-17)

FREE – Kids (6 and Under)

FREE – All Veterans and Active Military (with ID)