The days are dwindling to a precious few in this racing season, but there are some blue-chip events still on the calendar.
This weekend marks the 46th running of the National Open at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway. It starts on Friday and wraps up Saturday night. This is one time when the Outlaws don’t necessarily have an edge. The Open dates back to 1963 when a fellow named Gordon Johncock won it.  My first Open was 20 years ago, and it was a classic with Kenny Jacobs winning in Bob Weikert’s No. 29.
Try to schedule time to visit the Eastern Museum of Auto Racing, located 20 minutes south of the speedway on U.S. 15. Both the Eastern Old Timers and the Sprint Car Hall of Fame will hold a joint auction in the infield of the Grove on Saturday.
There will be a benefit pig roast for injured driver John Westbrook, which will be held at the backstretch entrance on Saturday. I also wish a fast recovery for Jeff Shepard, who was injured at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in August. Jeff is the first driver I have sent two cards to. Keep it between the fences, please Jeff!
Also on the 27th, the Auburn Historical Society will hold a Circle M Speedway reunion. More than 130 custom and vintage cars will be on display. It is on Route 895 west, just three miles from Route 61 near Reading, Pa. It starts at 9 a.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, Marty Himes’s L.I. reunion will be held for the second- straight year at the Changing Times Pub, 1247 Meville Road (off route 110), in Farmingdale. Last year’s still show was a big success. It starts around 10 a.m., with a police-escorted parade starting at the college across the street. It will be nice to be following the cops for a change.
This is a nice social event with plenty of antique cars and good friends. For info, call Marty at (631) 666-4912. The rain date is Oct. 25.
• Well, the NASCAR TV announcers are still gushing over the start of another Chase. This year only four car owners will be welcome at the banquet. Teams like Penske, Evernham Gillett, DEI and Ganassi are certainly viable, but have no chance to break into the top 12. This is due to this format, which somebody from Nextel, who had probably never seen a race before, thought up.
Mark my words, when NASCAR dumps this dopey idea, all the spineless yes-men who have publicly slurped over The Chase will praise NASCAR for getting rid of it.
• Jeff Gordon has to be tired of running mid pack. I’m speculating that his next crew chief will be Chad Knaus. Poor Jeff can’t even say “awesome” anymore.
• Among my favorite e-mails is Phil Smith’s “Looking Back” column. He makes 40 years ago seem like yesterday. Thanks, Phil!
• Roadsters at Indianapolis...a fantasy? Well, yes. Greg Littleton has written a new book about the tribulations of the return of those mighty brutes. He can be reached at Roadsters@comcast.net or 3304 Woodland Parkway, Columbus, Ind., 47203. Hope his tale comes true.
Hiring the Lehman Bros. to mow my lawn at 25 Emerson Place, Valley Stream, N.Y., 11580. E-mail to Racewri771@AOL.com.