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Tonawanda resident leaves mark on local racing world by Timothy Chipp / Ken-Ton Bee Tonawanda resident and business owner Mike Ticco is not only a father and grandfather — though he prides himself on that. He is also an innovator on the racetrack.
In 2007, Ticco joined a few other
racers from Holland Speedway to form their own division, which they called the
Late Models of Tomorrow — or LAMOT for short. Members set their own rules and
regulations, financed a championship and points pay-out system, and pitched the
idea to Holland executives.
The division was granted a three-year contract and has just completed the second year of the agreement. But the future of Late Model stock car racing — one of the most popular divisions among racing enthusiasts in Western New York — was in serious doubt after both Holland Speedway and the then-Lancaster Speedway decided to eliminate competitions due to a decrease in participation. LAMOT stepped in and is working to change that situation, Ticco said. “We implemented some very strict rules with these (cars),” he said. “We took the package to Holland , and they said yes.” Not only did Late Model racing return to Holland in 2008, but the division showed immediate signs of growth. With the restrictions on some of the most basic items inside the cars, costs were kept to a minimum. In forming the new division, the members restricted the motor, the shocks and several other items drivers could put in the vehicle. Tires, one of the most expensive pieces in any racer’s puzzle, were limited to a certain type. In other words, the goal was to keep things cheap. And entering season two, which was just completed this past Saturday, the number of cars in the division increased from seven to 10. Next year, Ticco said he expects to see even more. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we had 13 or 14 cars next year,” he said. “And I think Holland sees this and they like what we’re doing.” Ticco’s career began in 1974 when he started driving stock cars at Holland . After two years, he switched to Lancaster Speedway, now called Dunn Tire Raceway. He raced there until 1993. But the one thing that always eluded him was a points championship. He said he just couldn’t get over the hump. “It eluded us for a good 10 years,” he said. “We certainly had a lot of seconds and thirds, more than I care to think about.” One season early on in his career, Ticco said, he was neck-and-neck with perennial powerhouse Gene Schulz in points. They entered the final race separated by two points, and unfortunately for Ticco, that’s how it remained. “I couldn’t get by him,” he said. “If I would have gotten by him, I think I would have won by two points. But I would have needed to take him out to get by him. And that’s not who I am. It came down to the last lap, and he won.” But in 1985, after 10 years of trying, he finally broke through for a championship at Lancaster . That moment, he said, ranked among the most important moments in his career. That is, until the 2003 racing season came along. To understand this date, Ticco says the 1993 season is really where the story starts. That year, Ticco was involved in a serious accident that left his pocketbook empty and his racing spirit broken. “I got in a really bad wreck,” he said. “I had lost my career and didn’t have the money to fix the car. So I walked away.”
While he was away, he never stopped
following the races. Though he hardly ever attended, Ticco served as race
director at Lancaster Speedway in 2002. Then in 2003 he was able to finally get
behind the wheel again.
Ticco needed to shake off some rust when he came back. His prime was past, and he found himself racing against the children of the men he was competing against when he started. But that just fueled his desire to compete. “I like to think I can still hold my own,” he said. “I’m 56 now, and I’m racing against guys 30 years or more younger than me. I used to race against their dads, who are now the owners or the crew chiefs.” As for crew chiefs, he believes his, Tim Harper, is among the best in the area. He credits Harper with complementing his style. “I’m more of the competitor; he’s the technician,” he said. “Especially now that everything has gotten so technical. He’s the one with a handle on it. I just drive.” Ticco’s son, Andy, is also a valuable member of his crew.
Source:
Timothy Chipp/Ken-Ton Bee
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