JEFF MANNERS RESUMES CAREER IN THUNDERCARS
by Brian Spaid

July 12, 2003

                Although the Thundercars at Tri-City Speedway are billed as a beginner class for the novice racer, they also provide a way for veteran drivers to continue to race in a less expensive division. In fact, the Thundercars revitalized the racing career of current point leader Jeff Manners.

                The Cherrytree man first raced at Tri-City when the oval reopened in 1996 following nine years of dormancy. Competing in the Pro Stock class, which at that time was called Pure Stocks, Manners drove for three seasons with little success.

                “I got out because I couldn’t afford it” said Manners, who is the property manager at the Oil City YMCA. “I used to spend at least $100 a week without breaking something. All racers know the racing costs money, but I just couldn’t do it anymore as a low buck team. When Tri-City started the Thundercars, I knew I could get back into racing because it is affordable.”

                Manners, 43, got the new rulebook in January and fabricated a car. He was one of three drivers to debut on opening night. Now, only nine races into the season, there are 13 Thundercars registered to race at Tri-City.

                “I expected the division would grow,” added Manners, “and it will continue to grow because it is affordable.”

                After racing for three years in the Pro Stocks, he now runs solely for the winner’s trophy in the Thundercars. No purse money is paid to the drivers and teams in the new class in order to keep costs down. The lack of money failed to deter Manners.

                “The whole idea of the class is to keep money out of it. I’ve got about a $1,000 total in my car. There are some Pro Stock guys with over $20,000 in their cars. I’m actually further ahead than I used to be racing these cars.”

                Manners believes that racing under rules that place restrictions on tires and engines actually will encourage more drivers to come back to the track that used to race.

                “This is a great class for a driver that got out of racing. You can come back and simply have a lot of fun. It is also a good class for a driver to start out. Guys like Robby Switzer, Curt Bish Jr., Kevin Cooper and Joe Blake are learning every lap they make.”

                While those young guns start to make their mark at the Venango County half-mile oval, experience still means everything in a race car. To date, Manners has eight top five finishes in nine events with two victories. Granted, it helped to have a head start on the rest of the competition, but his success means a lot after five years off.

                “The first win was fun. When I won the second race (on June 29), there was a strong field of cars at the track. I battled with Blake and Cooper for that one. It was real special. The guys are starting to get tougher to beat.”

                The victory was also a major accomplishment after a wild wreck on May 25 while Manners raced Robby Torrens for the lead in the feature event.

                “The throttle stuck when I went into turn two. I flew off the corner and the front end landed on top of the guardrail. It totally destroyed the car. I had to put a new frame on it. I’ve got to thank (Pro Stock racer) Jerry Huff for helping me out with a new frame.”

                To thank Huff for his support, Manners added Jerry’s Auto Service in Oil City as the sponsor of his car.

For the most part, Manners does his own maintenance on his blue Oldsmobile Cutlass No. 16. His chief mechanic is his 13-year-old son, Cody, who is already eager to go racing.

                “I think I’m going to have trouble keeping him out of the car,” said Manners.

                And the Thundercars are exactly the type of race cars in which he’d like to see his son learn to compete.

                “It’d be fun to see Cody start out in the Thundercars. I stay away from rulemaking, but I hope this division is around for a long time.”

                With the season half over, Manners is now focused on remaining consistent to become the first Thundercars champion at Tri-City.

                “To win the first title would be real neat,” said Manners.

                And it appears more victories are on the horizon too for the rejuvenated racer.