Its something that’s become part of the fabric of racing at the Waterford Speedbowl.
Sid’s View “Webisodes” on YouTube have become the go-to place for fans to relive all the action at the track weekly.
But after four and half seasons growing their product into a highly professionally produced weekly video recap, unlike anything seen at any other short track in the US, the team behind the productions has decided it’s time to walk away, at least temporarily.
Tom “Sid” DiMaggio confirmed that the production team will be taking, at a minimum, a hiatus from producing their Sid’s View videos from the Speedbowl. DiMaggio said he’s not sure the group will ever return to producing videos at the track again.
“It is with sincere disappointment that we announce we have temporarily ceased production of Sid’s View at the Waterford Speedbowl effective immediately,” DiMaggio posted on the Sid’s Vault Productions Facebook page Saturday evening. “We want to thank all of our viewers, dedicated sponsors and race teams that have shown their continued appreciation for our efforts capturing the action on video over the last 4 1/2 seasons.”
After taking very rare a week off from the track for the June 28 event at the Speedbowl, the Sid’s View production team returned to the track Saturday. But, DiMaggio and his crew made the decision to leave the track before the start of feature racing Saturday night after a heated verbal confrontation between DiMaggio and track official Bob Gilot in the pits during time trial qualifying.
DiMaggio was leaning into a car speaking with Mini Stock driver Nick Pappacoda while Pappacoda was waiting to go onto the track for time trials. The track rules are that nobody can touch a car waiting in line to time trial after that car has crossed the tech inspection pad, which Pappacoda had done.
The confrontation between Gilot and DiMaggio started from a distance before Gilot approached DiMaggio and the two exchanged words face-to-face.
“We feel the Speedbowl has shown us what they believe is an acceptable way to treat us and we disagree with that,” DiMaggio said Sunday. “We feel we should be treated in a different manner. Until we can work that out, we have no plans to come back to the track.”
Said track owner Terry Eames: “It’s too early for me to comment on the events of last night. I’m hoping to have a conversation with Tom DiMaggio soon.”
DiMaggio’s production team will continue to produce video for events through the remainder of the 2014 season at Thompson Speedway.
DiMaggio confirmed that his group will also continue their work in producing a feature length documentary on the history of the Waterford Speedbowl. DiMaggio said he will also continue to oversee the reworking of the Speedbowl history website he created.
