By Bill Center
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Ed Hale hadn't raced on the dirt in 32 years before he headed to
Barona Speedway last Saturday night.

But the 67-year-old Cajon Speedway veteran said he "had a blast"
driving his pony stock to a third-place finish on the quarter-mile
Barona bullring.

"My arms and wrists feel it and the whole car was jumping off the
ground over some of the ruts," said Hale. "But I had a grin on my
face. I had fun. It's a strange age to be going back and playing in
the sandbox.

"Overall, I'd say Barona is a workable alternative if they get more
cars. I'd like to see them adjust the time when they drag the track
to give us a better racing surface. But I'm sure it's something
they'll work out. It seemed like they wanted to make it work."

Hale hadn't campaigned on a dirt track since Cajon Speedway held its

1972-73 seasons at South Bay Park Speedway because of a lease dispute
with the county. With Cajon again closed, Hale has returned to the
dirt.

Barona last Saturday hosted pony, bomber and street stocks from Cajon
Speedway during its season opener. Factory stocks and modifieds will
be added to the mix the next time the track runs on May 14
(alternating Saturdays at the moment with the adjacent drag strip).

Cajon cars accounted for 38 of Barona's record count of 132 cars
plus many of the record house of almost 2,000 spectators.

"It was a real good track for the small cars," said Hale. "They
dragged the surface before the dwarf cars and midgets and they had a
nice track. The bomber stocks ahead of us made it real rutty at the
end. But it's a fair-sized track. To me, it was surprisingly good.

"My only suggestions would be to run the smaller stocks before the
heavier stock cars and maybe drag the track at a different time."