By Ron P. Coderre 

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Putnam resident Victor Kratz.  A U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, Kratz remains active by walking and exercising.  He’s looking to polish off his golf clubs and get out on the links again next spring.

Thompson Speedway is known throughout the Northeast for its 5/8 mile high-banked oval, which is the oldest paved oval track in the country.  In existence since 1938 the track was the brainchild of the late John Hoenig.

A visit to the Thompson facility at this time of year reveals an entertainment giant lying dormant awaiting the warm weather to return to New England.  Although the facility appears dormant on the surface, there’s a plethora of activity being worked on in preparation for the many activities that will take place there in 2015 thanks to Jonathan Hoenig.

Jonathan is the great grandson of John Hoenig, the grandson of the well known Donald Hoenig and the son of DR Hoenig.  Much like his great grandfather, John, the 33-year-old Jonathan is an entrepreneur, the moving force behind the facility’s latest addition, the 1.7 mile Road Course. 

A graduate of Tourtellotte Memorial High School and UConn, Hoenig is the owner of a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from Pepperdine University in California.  The Road Course, which he’s steered from conception to operation is a venue planned to host a variety of grassroots racing and high-performance driving events for sports cars, open-wheel race cars and motorcycles.

Opened in 2014 Hoenig notes the Road Course events will include SCCA Regional and Pro Racing, Formula Car Racing, Vintage Motorsports Festival, Motorcycle Racing Schools, 24 Hours of Lemans and BMW, Porche, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari Clubs.  Across New England and the Mid-Atlantic area the course will provide thrill seekers the opportunity to test drive and experience an adrenaline-boosting time behind the wheel of an exotic automobile.

The Road Course, which saw plenty of activity during its brief existence in 2014, is expecting an increase in interest and activity this coming year.  However, if participants aren’t fulfilled, the complex offers a variety of other things to do.  The grounds of the sprawling facility include the Little T Speedway, a 1/10 mile Quarter Midget Track, the popular Raceway Restaurant and Banquet Hall, Bogey’s Ice Cream Stand, an 18-hole championship golf course and driving range and an annual Automotive Flea Market and Swap Meet.

A chip off the old block, Jonathan Hoenig would certainly make his great grandfather proud with his pioneering spirit.  Through the support of his father and grandfather, the newest addition to the Thompson Speedway complex should get the checkered flag.

Go Pats Long Distance

The New England Patriots recently spent two weeks away from home on a road trip that took them to Green Bay, Wisc., and San Diego, Calif.  According to all reports, the Pats had a large contingent of fans at the San Diego victory.  But if you had your choice wouldn’t you go to San Diego rather than the frozen tundra of Green Bay anyway?

Putnam resident Norman “Barney” Seney made the prudent decision and was in attendance at the New England victory over the Chargers.  “It was great to watch the game in t-shirt and shorts.  There were so many Pats fans it’s almost seemed like we overwhelmed the stadium,” said Seney of his experience.

Seney met his nephew Mike Palmer and Mike’s girlfriend Laurie Sampson at the game where they enjoyed the win from their club seats.

Hall of Fame Inductee

The Bartlett High School Athletic Hall of Fame held its 7th Induction Dinner on Saturday, November 1 at the Raceway Restaurant in Thompson.  Among the inductees was noted local golfer Jim Kroll, a 1960 grad of the Webster school.

During his high school years Kroll starred in basketball and baseball.  He was the “sixth man” for a team that went 17-2 in basketball in his senior year. On the diamond he was the team’s ace on the mound while also wielding a hot bat.  In his junior season he batted a lofty .447 and followed that with a. 431 average as a senior.  As a pitcher for legendary coach Ziggy Strzelecki, Kroll posted a perfect record of 12-0, at one point winning three consecutive games in one week.  

Kroll played his college baseball at Southern Connecticut State University, where he competed against Division I schools such as St. John’s University and the Delaware Blue Hens.  He also played in the prestigious Cape Cod Amateur Baseball League for Falmouth and was selected a league all star.

At age 22 he was appointed varsity baseball coach at Quinnipiac University before moving on to become athletic director at American School in the Dominican Republic and later at Southbridge High School.  He concluded his career in education as the principal of his alma mater from 1977 to 1988.

Today Kroll spends his time on the links, primarily at Quinnatisset Country Club.  He was a finalist in the US Senior Amateur Golf Championships in 2012.  His greatest achievement as a golfer was recording two successive holes-in-one in the same round.  He and his wife Paula spend their winters in Tequesta, Fla.

Honors Roll In

Emily Becher, the Eastern Connecticut State University freshman soccer standout from Brooklyn, continues to collect the accolades for her outstanding play this past season.  She was recently named to the NCAA Region III All New England fourth team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  

This past fall Becher, who played her high school soccer at Woodstock Academy, led the Little East Conference in game-winning goals with seven.  She was second in the conference in goals scored with 18 and points with 37.

Academic Honors

Putnam Science Academy conducted its initial National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Thursday, November 11 in the school’s auditorium.  The ceremony, which conferred 29 PSA students into the Society, was conducted by a team of students from Ledyard High School.

The school’s athletic director and basketball coach Thomas Espinosa was selected to give the keynote address.  Espinosa is the longest serving member of the faculty and is credited with the development of the basketball program as a National power.  In stressing the four pillars of the National Honor Society, Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character, Espinosa told the inductees to “Always have strong family ties, enjoy and cherish your friendships, work hard at your job and hang with positive people.”

Three members of the Mustangs basketball team, Burak Eraslan, Hacibey Catalbasoglu and Mamadou Diarra, were among the 29 students inducted.  Eraslan is the NHS President.  Among the invited guests was Putnam Mayor Tony Falzarano, who coincidentally coached Espinosa when he was a student at Putnam High School.

College Hoop Update

Former local high school and prep school players continue to make their mark on the college level.  Ex-Putnam Science Academy big man Paul Brooks has been outstanding for Worcester State University.  In a victory over the Coast Guard Academy, Brooks poured in 17 points and corralled 11 rebounds in leading the Lancers to a 58-51 win.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 6-1 with its recent 75-61 victory over Fitchburg State.  Former Woodstock Academy standout Ian Converse continues to see more playing time for the Engineers.  He had five points in the win over Fitchburg.

Jemal Mosley, a sophomore at the University of New Haven, broke out with a career performance, scoring 28 points in the UNH 70-60 win over Post University.  Mosley, the former PSA Mustang, has led New Haven to an early 5-2 record.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Never cut what can be untied.

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