AAs you may or may not know, a fellow puller and friend is in need of our help.

Gerry Schwartz is current at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY in need of a heart transplant. As you can imagine, the medical bills are phenomenal and continue to increase.

A collection was started at the Marilla pull and will be continued during both days of Alexander’s pulls (July 11 and 12). There will be a container at the registration trailer for donations.

ALSO, anyone wanting to send Gerry a note wishing him the best, may send an e-mail to him through the University of Rochester Medical Center, which Strong Memorial Hospital is a part of.

          Go to stronghealth.com

          Click on Patients and Visitors tab

          Under Email a Patient, click on the words “send them an email”

          Fill out the form on that screen and Click on Submit when finished.

So, please open up your hearts as well as your wallets to help friend and his family in need. Keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as well.

For those who have already donated and for those who will be donating – THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I’m sure that Gerry and his family will be most grateful.

Tina Folts

(one of the ESP secretary’s assistants)

CANANDAIGUA ACTION

Canandaigua, NY...Truck and tractor pulling returned to Canandaigua with an exciting show held on Father's Day. A huge crowd greeted the pullers for the first of two events held in the Finger Lakes Region for 2008. In the 9300 Super Farm class, Henry Everman's Mr Determination ripped off a 316.12 pass  in a pull-off with Rob Zorn in Snoopy II. Scott Christ was third at 302.15.

The father and son team of Mark and Ben Cook continued their perfect season with a win in the 2WD Truck class. Erv Clark and Dan MacDonald rounded out the top three.

Rich Rockefeller rattled the grandstand area with 318.35 blast to win the 7500 Modified class. Unfortunately, clutch problems kept Sharon Everman's Wild Hare from having a chance at Rockefeller's distance. Bob Fintak was third with the North American.

The final class of the afternoon was the Heavy Super Stock class. Dave Everman made it two in a row with his Lightning machine. Both Everman and Ross Castner made full pulls, but Castner was too hot to return. Its Only Money of Lloyd Christ filled out the third spot. 

ESP CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN ALEXANDER

Alexander, NY...The final ESP event of 2007 was held at the Alexander Steam Grounds last Friday evening. Champions in four classes were crowned. The opening class of the show was the 9300 Super Farm. The Zorn Brothers with Tom driving, overcame problems on the NYS Thruway, to win the class over Randy Geiger's Green Blooded and John Raymond's Agriv8tor. Henry Everman with a 7th place finish, clinched his second straight point title in Super Farm.

Mark Hootman capped off a fine season , with another win in the LSS class. Charlie Hirsch's Tuff E Nuff, had another great run with a 2nd. Charlie Haier rounded out the top 3, with Half Cocked. Jason Hootman just had to bump the sled to defend his championship of 2006. Unfortunately that's all Jason could manage as turbocharger problems arose on his Six Shooter.

The 7500 Modified class came down to the wire. The 2nd place man, Tom Durfee did what he had to do, as he won the class. Sharon Everman just needed to stay close to Durfee to win the title. Mechanical problems cut Sharon's run short, which was just enough to win her the points championship by 1 point. Bob Fintak's North American and Dana Freeman's Hammer Time were 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The final class of the evening was the HSS. Making the only full pull of the class, was Ross Castnor and his beautiful, Real Deal JD. Runner-up went to Justin Weaver and the Super Farmer. Third went to Mark Hootman. The points title went to Jason Hootman over Henry Everman by another one point margin.

NOTES...The 2WD title was decided last weekend in Pike, as Ray Fintak claimed his 3rd championship in a row.....It has been quite some time since a JD has won in the HSS class, Ross Castnor and Greg Conley can't wait for 2008.....John Raymond has his Agriv8tor SF up for sale.....Tough luck of the event had to go to Dave Everman. Dave was one of the contenders for the HSS points title. Extensive motor damage ended Dave's night at around 175'.