Coming out ahead of the competition

As an 18-year-old right out of high school in 1978, Gary Koehring was just crazy enough to race his car around Sycamore Speedway in the Spectator Class, which is as famous for its crashes and mishaps as it is for any racing skill.

Nearly 30 years later, Koehring sits on top of the heap at the speedway as the 2007 champion of the Super Late Model division, a crown he locked down last weekend by nearly 50 points ahead of his nearest competitor. It finished off a season that consisted of 22 nights of racing and 1,200 laps around the track.

And what was Koehring most pleased about in driving the built-up Chevy owned by Ken Laurie of Country Automotive in Elburn?

"We finished every race," said Koehring, who lives in Kaneville. "We made it through the whole season without breaking down or crashing, and that was the key."

It marked the third time Koehring has won a title at Sycamore, capturing the Late Model crown in 1986 and the Super Late in 1992.

"I credit my crew and Ken (Laurie)," Koehring said. "He's the best mechanic and he and the guys at his shop put their heart and soul into the car."

Koehring said he'll spend the winter months waiting for the next racing season, while working on the car.

"But we didn't wreck anything this year," he said.

For the family

Koehring is impressed with how the Sycamore Speedway has evolved in recent years.

When Koehring was learning the racing trade from speedway standouts like Bob Kelly, Mike Gardner and Tom Markham in the early 1980s, the track atmosphere had a rougher edge to it.

That's not the case now, he believes.

"The track is really nice now," he said. "It is more of a family atmosphere and they are drawing about 3,000 people out there on some nights."

A quick comeback?

The First Street reconstruction project probably didn't help Erik and Me in St. Charles, but it wasn't the only factor at work in it suddenly closing its doors. Downtown and city officials have been buzzing about the current owners having problems before the First Street project even started to unfold.

There is also word circulating that former owner Anders Jensen may be coming back to reopen Erik and Me. Those who missed Anders, and that great salad bar, will find this to be pleasant news.

Another sudden closing

Those who work along Third Street in Geneva have known this for a few weeks, but it did catch me by surprise during the Festival of the Vine that the building at 207 S. Third St. that houses Bar Italiana (formerly Ristorante Chianti) was dark and closed.

It marks another restaurant closing, and it will be interesting to see what Shodeen Management does next with the building.

The restaurant business is tough to begin with, but it is especially tough when consumers are spending so much on gasoline and daily staples like milk and groceries. This leaves less disposable income for dining out.

Weary bones held up

St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte figured he better set the record straight, or at least provide some insight.

He was one of those politicians who competed in the punt, pass and kick event that I reported last week was won by Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns at a recent Kane County Eagles game.

DeWitte pleaded his case by noting that he gave up 10 years to the 43-year-old Burns, and 13 years to Batavia Alderman Alan Wolff, yet was only 6 yards behind Burns' total of 109.

"I considered it a moral victory for my weary bones just to keep them (Burns and Wolff) honest," joked DeWitte, who was pleased that the football exploits benefited TriCity Family Services.