By Lee Booze: From North Coast Notebook

Picture four guys sitting around talking on a Monday night, bench racing, reliving the past weekend's action. I'm sure it happens all the time across northern Ohio throughout the summer months. Now add a microphone and a couple of racers and you've got the "Last Lap" on WFRO. Scott and Andrew Barman, Brian Liskai and Mike Linder have just about as much fun on the radio as anyone can, they do simply because they love the sport.

The idea of a radio show about Fremont and other area speedways came about as soon as the Ford's reopened the track in 2000. As Scott Barman explained, "Jim and Doug Ford talked together, but Andrew and I were doing "Racing World" at that time. Jim said something about starting our own show. Fremont Speedway should have its own show. I said I'd like to be included in that." Both Scott and his son Andrew were commuting to Findlay each Saturday morning to do a show. However, trying to fit it in between Friday and Saturday night's racing was tough. "Saturday's driving to Findlay shot the whole day. Jim and Doug talked to WFRO and they were willing to try it. On May 7, 2001 we started our own show. He talked about it right from the start, but it took a year or so get it going." Liskai explained why the show didn't start earlier on. "To be honest there wasn't a lot of effort put forth that first year. There were just too many things to worry about the first year with the race track. After the track got settled down and things got running we had time to go down and talk to the people at WFRO."

But would two shows about auto racing work in the same region? Wouldn't there be conflict between the two shows? Brian explained, "I don't think so, because Dwight (Allen) does NASCAR, IRL, CART. From the get-go we were going to exclude that. This show was going to be for the local guys. Let's face it, he's in Findlay and we're in Fremont--Fremont, Ohio--the capital of racing in Ohio. There are just more race fans around here than other parts of the state. Plus we were on a different time slot." 

Barman added, "There's really no competition at all. We're on Monday nights and he's Saturdays. Add with that the totally different formats. We even cooperate helping out with Dwight's show." 

Liskai further explained the difference between the two radio shows. "Dwight's busy. He doesn't get around to a lot of races because of other sports commitments. We're able to get out and come to other racing events and to talk to people. During the racing season I call in to Dwight's show every Saturday to give the Fremont report. It works out real well. 

From the beginning the show was hit. Listeners picked up right away and have remained faithful to the weekly gab-session. As Scott said, "People started coming up right away saying that they enjoyed listening to the show. They told us it sounded like we had a lot of fun doing the show. There were a lot of positive comments all the way around." The show spread by word of mouth. Plus a few plugs from the track announcer did hurt either. "Once we started announcing at the racetrack, tune into the 'Last Lap', I think that helped tremendously," said Liskai.

Its hard to gauge the impact of the "Last Lap" on the Fremont area public, but both Liskai and Barman are optimistic about the show's ability to attract new fans. "I think the show does both (help regular fans and draw new ones to the track). Especially early on when we were on in the drive time. A lot of people were coming home from work and heard that and they were encouraged to come out and see what was going on at the track," noted Liskai. 

The format really hasn't changed since the beginning. Brian, Scott and Andrew briefly report the weekend's racing and interview guests. One guest however, became a permanent part of the crew. When Mike Linder joined in the fun full time, the show rounded out its knowledge base with a full time racer in its midst. Mike explained how he ended up on the show..."People tell me I can talk. I came on as a guest, and I enjoyed doing it. I had been on Dwight's show a couple of times as a guest and had fun doing it. I have fun doing the show period. I don't know why there's an attraction to radio, I never wanted to do that in the past but these guys are fun to do it with and we have a great time. It's only an hour out of my week and there's not much prep time. Scott does all of the worrying."

Barman indicated why Linder was a natural choice for the spot. "I was always impressed with Mike, cause he could talk from a different perspective. I thought it would be nice to have a driver. I am a fan. Before I started doing this I was up in the stands watching. Mike can explain things. Especially after he ran the non-wing show to compare the two." Barman noted, "If Mike does have a tough weekend we do rub it in on the show a little bit."

Linder replied, "Trust me its better than what I get back in the garage."

With the four of them yak-ing away each week, you would think eventually they'd run out of things to talk about, or worse yet, run out of people to interview. They keep things going however, without spiraling into a pit of negativity. Brian smiled and said, "The show is very upbeat. You find it very hard to get guests to come on if you start bashing people." Barman also said, "We try not to say bad things about any racetrack. People who understand the sport and attend know the work that goes into it. We really want to stay positive."

Looking back over the short time the "Last Lap" has been on the air one show stands out. "The night we had Johnny Auxter, Darl Harrison, Davie White and Jim Linder. It was a great show," said Barman. "We didn't have to do anything. We'd announce we're going to a break and they were still talking. We'd come back from a break and they were still talking! It was their show. I loved it." 

Liskai added, "Rick Ferkel and his boy were great. Paul Kistler did an outstanding job. Chad and Brian Kemenah, Greg Wilson. We've had some fun guys and there's still some fun guys we'd like to get on the show."

Linder jumped in with a list. "The old timers I'd like to see are guys like Rollie Beale, The McCunes. These would be the perfect guests. More of the deep history of the speedway is what I'd like to see. The past champions and the like. The coupe era or when they were just switching over to sprint cars. With Jim Ford running the place right now is verging on being as good as that time period. It could be that good again."

Liskai threw in his two cents. "Boy, I'd love to have Harold McGilton and Gug Keegan. Just to talk about the old days." Then he added, "The ultimate guest? AJ Foyt."

With all the great conversations on the show, does it ever get tough to fill an hour? Barman laughed and responded, "Sometimes when we're short, Brian can clear his throat for half an hour. But, really we've been fortunate that we've never really been short." 

"Guys ask to come on the show," said Linder. "There are so many racers in the area." Liskai furthered the thought. "Think of all the racers that live in a half-hour or 45 minute drive from here. The best part is just about every person we've had on the show when they get done they say 'that was fun'."

Luckily the "Last Lap" features a wide audience. "I know WFRO goes past Toledo," said Liskai. "I have friends that live around the Mansfield area that can pick it up." Barman added, "I know the racing Lime's from North Olmsted can get it in, and the Kemenah's can here us in Findlay." 

"We really appreciate the drivers coming over on a Monday night after a long weekend of racing," all three agreed. The "Last Lap" is now found in its 7pm permanent time slot on 99.1. Sure its just four guys sitting around talking. But, it is informative, thoughtful and most importantly fun. That's what they set out to do, and without a doubt, they've exceeded their own expectations. 

(Author's note: The fourth member of the group Andrew Barman was absent the evening of the interview. I would not want to minimize the importance his input to the show.)