Fast Fridays honors speedway motorcycle legend Nutter

Hard to believe, but it's already week five of the Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway season. And what an exciting night June 6 was. The Fast Fridays track at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn was the backdrop for a movie being filmed in and around Auburn; it was also Legends and Vintage Night. Motorcycle racing legend Sonny Nutter was honored for his incredible career, which began in the 1960s and included flat track, TT and speedway racing with too many championships to mention. Working in a motorcycle repair shop at 13 years old, Nutter was surrounded by Southern California racetracks. Racing speedway bikes in the 1970s, Nutter could be found tearing up the local tracks sometimes five nights a week. "Mr. Charisma," as he is lovingly referred to, is a joy to meet and is always eager to share stories of his long and exciting career. Nutter was on hand to autograph photos, shake hands and even hand out trophies to the winners at the end of the evening. Always with a smile on his face, Nutter is a true racing champion. Broc Nicol, on fire at Fast Fridays and Southern California speedway tracks, picked up his third scratch main event checkered flag of the season and was crowned the "Fastest man of the Night." Nicol, the reigning AMA National Speedway Champion, was unbeatable in the scratch program, winning his heat and semifinal before the main event. So far this season, Nicol has the three scratch main events, including two in a row, and Billy Janniro has two. They are the only two riders to win scratch mains. Nicol drew the inside lane in the final race, with Janniro in lane two, Charlie Trana was in lane three and Wilbur Hancock outside in lane four. Nicol got the hole shot in turn one and held the lead for the entire race. Young Trana, having a great night, was on his tail but the champ kept him at bay, leading by a bike length to the finish tapes. Trana was second, Hancock was third and Janniro fourth. Trana climbed onto the podium for the first time this season with a win in the handicap main event. He took the hard way to the main, finishing fourth in his heat and second in his semifinal that was restarted because of a crash. Off the 20 yard-line, Trana put it together in the main, but not without a serious challenge by Gregory Moore for the six-lap race. Moore was second and Daniel Faria third. Antonio Coffman earned his first main event win of the season in the Support Class. Coffman also won both of his heats for a perfect night. Catherine Moore, one-half of the brother-sister Moore racing family at Fast Fridays, placed second, earlier winning both her heat races. Mike Newnham was third. Jameson Hutchinson continued his winning ways in the Youth 250cc main event. Hutchinson has won four of five features, losing only in week one to Brady Landon. Wesley Rearick finished second and younger brother Riley Rearick finished third in his 250cc. In Youth 150cc, Zander Schroeder won the D1 division main event, Liam Falcon was second and Brady Wills was third. Mason Howell topped the D2 main event with Leeann Emerson second and Gavin Evans-Seeley third. Hank Hanaway won the D3 main event, followed by William Bruce and Zeva Schroeder. In a tribute to the early days of speedway racing, Fast Fridays took a look back, running a vintage class. Three riders climbed on older upright engine bikes with pogo stick forks for a trip to yesteryear on these early racing machines. Janniro won the exhibition, followed by Rees Todd and Jim Mason. Get ready for the second round of the Extreme Sidecar Series this week. The Extreme Sidecars make five appearances this season, including the AMA National Extreme Sidecar Championships on Aug. 30. These crazy racers on three-wheeled 1000cc motorcycles thrill Fast Fridays fans each time they show up.