Debacle over Amateur Driver rep to Italy

Back on March 20, 2022, the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) featured a special two-day driving competition at Pompano Park that was open to all Amateur Clubs in the United States.

The prize to the winning driver was a trip to Italy to represent the USA in the World Amateur Driver Competition. Not too shabby!

The prior month, the FADC hosted a two-day driving competition with the top amateur drivers from Italy. All seemed to be in order for the big competition in March.

Then the proverbial shit hit the fan.

After the first night of the competition in Florida on March 20, Tony Verruso, the USHWA Dan Patch Amateur Driver of the Year in 2021, did not fare well at all in the competition.

He not only wrote a scathing email to the FADC that he would not be attending the second night of the competition but said “I can’t believe I am having to compete again to win an honor I believe I already won.  Had I the time to give your invitation more thought, I would have declined.”

Verruso then went on to say, “I will not further legitimize your sham contest whose sole purpose is clearly premeditated and solely intended to deny me the chance to represent the US at the World Championships, an honor I sincerely believe I earned and deserve.”

Dein Spriggs of the FADC responded to Verruso, denying any wrongdoing and explaining what went on with some of the races. None of the other Club’s represented in the competition saw any problems with the first night of racing.

Spriggs, of course, also took extreme regard in answering Verruso saying, “Your allegations of fixing a competition are OFFENSIVE.”

Everyone but Verruso returned the following Sunday for the second leg of the competition and Ohioan, Larry Ferrari of the Great Lakes Amateur Driver Association, won the event and was looking forward to representing the USA in Italy.

Now, Joe Faraldo, long time participant in amateur racing, especially with the CKG Billings Amateur Series and the North American Amateur Drivers Association, stated that the prior year’s USHWA Dan Patch Amateur Driver of the Year, was the official representative for the competition, meaning Tony Verruso, and that this was the way it has been decided for years.

Arguments took place between the two groups and finally the decision now lies with the United States Trotting Association (USTA).

At first the decision was brought to the attention of USTA’s executive vice-president, Mike Tanner. It seemed to be too much of a hot potato for Mr. Tanner to handle so now the executive board of the USTA will or may not decide.

Here is the notice that went out:

Please be advised that a meeting of the Association’s executive committee will take place this Wednesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.  The purpose of the meeting is to examine a dispute concerning who should represent the United States at the 2022 Amateur Driver World Championship, which will take place in Italy during the latter part of September, whether the USTA should be the deciding body in this matter, and, if so, how such opportunities should be allocated, both now and in the future.   FEGAT, the European amateur driving federation which sponsors and oversees the competition, has made it clear that it will not intervene in this matter and has stated that all sending countries (of which the United States is one) must determine their representatives.

Growing up in the sport there was the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Club that traveled around the nation from track to track. Something special to look forward to.

Then in later years, along came the NAADA, FADC, AHDC, GLADA, MADC and more. Each with their own set of rules, do’s and don’t’s, yada, yada, and yet no one central voice for amateur racing, except the USTA, who makes the rules for the sport in the US.

Whichever way this debacle ends up, feelings have been hurt, reputations have been besmirched, accusations have been made. It is hopeful this can all be remedied one day, but it won’t be by this Wednesday afternoon.

Stay tuned for results.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink