Eight more cars were recorded during 1995, and Frank Doll Jr. would get the Brewerton title.  The meetings would take place in Binghamton, but 80% of the cars were from Central New York.
            The following year, Troy Van Allen was crowned, the club tried Cortland for a midway meeting place, but the car counts started to grow in Central New York.  A new meeting  place “closer to home” the members wanted as well as voting a new name, something more universal, hence the new name, Empire State Dwarf Car Association was registered in 1997 as the cars swelled to a record 20.  The cars were early 1950 vintage Phoenix coupes and sedans, but a new design from Pro-Chassis, out of Delaware produced a ’32 sedan resembling the mid 60’s and 1970 era.  These slanted roof racers were greatly preferred as the new car owners bought them as the class was now in its booming year.
            The names Jim Gray, Toy Van Allen, Pat Pontello, Frank Doll Jr., Nick DiOrio, and Bill Teliska were familiar until newcomers like Carl Crawford, Barry Virts and others were sharing attention and limelight.

ESDCA was boating over 35 cars in 1998, had satellite tracks in the state struggling for recognition and car counts.
            Now the later vintage sedans were showing controlling numbers, something like two to one and the new Pro-Chassis were showing up in just about every winner’s circle, when the “new kid” on the block showed ready for a show-down, its name….Predator.
            This creation is by ProMotion Motorsports, out of Fayetteville, New York.  With Van Allen aboard, this duo claimed some 26 features in Central New York and went undefeated at Cayuga County Fairgrounds the first season.
            By this time Van Allen had over 100 feature wins followed by Pat Pontello, Gordy Isham, Frank Doll Jr., and Jim Gray.  Also Teliska, Crawford, Weiland, DiOrio and others recorded victories over the years but their pleasing personalities superseded and caught the eyes the eye of fans.  This was giving the spectators a family atmosphere and fun sensation into an auto sport.  The ‘ole coupes and early 50’s sedans are noticeably becoming scarce.

            The camaraderie, congratulations to the winners from fellow competitors and the desire to help one another overflowed throughout the pit areas            

By 1999, dwarf cars were a racing household name and now have come into their own, with now a couple nights a week to race and over 50 cars registered in the ESDCA stables.  This activity has brought out new talent both veterans and rookies alike.
            Heading the onslaught of new talent was veteran Sportsman driver, Tony Buffa.  Buffa, now at the controls of the popular Lenny Gardner’s new Predator won his share of features and laid claim to the Brewerton Championship that Van Allen had a grip on for the last three years.
            The ‘ole Phoenix 32’s, 37’s and 38’s are now classed as “good starter cars” although elsewhere the Phoenix cars are still enjoying the checkers and gold.  Gordy Isham is still winning with his ’37 coupe and recorded dozens of feature wins in the past season.  Since inception, Predator has recorded 42 feature victories out of 45 events, probably the best kept secret in dwarf car racing.  The price tag?, just about $9,000.00 for a rolling chassis (less engine).

ProMotion, out of Fayetteville, New York, and Pro-Chassis, built in Tennessee, now dominate over 76% of the dwarf car field and both styled as ’32 Ford “box” sedans doesn’t leave much for the imagination.  Of course, both companies have built their machines with safety in mind and that factor alone dictates somewhat to the design.
            We can’t forget in this past year, Eric Crawford and Ken Gamlen coming out in their semi-rookie year as they nailed down and earned the reposted sports of third and fourth at Brewerton.  Darren Forbes inched Pat Pontello, Barry Virts, and Scotty Nash for fifth.  David Orr was ninth as Dan Boyce and Kevin Donhauser tied for tenth.
            Scotty was ESDCA overall champion, and we were impressed with Kevin Donhauser in his rookie season copping tenth.
            ESDCA has grown with leaps and bounds since its inception, a few low points, a few rough spots, but always the group comes back on a more positive note.
            The final year of the millennium also saw a new idea that enhanced the division to just about everyone’s delight, the “All Stars” series of champions.  This 3 race series as a trial basis resulted in its innovator generating funds from race-interested sponsors and divided it amongst the competitors, not in the usual fashion, not all the money went to the top, and it was distributed throughout the competition.  Last place was paid the expenses, something unheard of until now.
            With this new concept, the producer found the dwarf car field grew in numbers, anywhere from 20% to 50%.  The series drew several drivers from adjoining states, along with 98% of ESDCA cars.
            All in all, the Empire group has grown to be known as the country’s biggest gathering, the most active and most competitive….and still the most admired.
            The end of the Y2K will see an all-new era of dwarf cars, the “Modified Lite”: designed after today’s IMCA or dirt modified knocking at our door.  This new design has forgotten the ‘ole vintage body lines of the old stock cars, and like the history of their full-sized big brothers will fade into our memories.  Clubs like ESDCA can keep them out if they desire, but neighboring tracks will undoubtedly go with the new design.
            Dwarf cars are here to stay, and with this new design era will come a “new breed” of champions, only the names will change.

           

Like in our racing stock car pioneer past, names like Dutch Hoag, Jim Shampine, Nolan “Swifty” Swift, “Irish” Jack Murphy, Sam Reakes, their names have been replaced by many over the years, just as their coupes and sedans have done, the names will change…names like Skinner, Donhauser, Garafolo, McAvoy, Barker, Reid, Phelps, Miller, Crawford, Keller and a host of other new talent will show on the horizon.  They will be molded…and become a proud part of the Empire State Dwarf Car Association.

More To Come (contributing authors needed!!)