After Fast Start, Cromsigt Now a Downhill Racer

Gerrit Cromsigt spends long evenings in his two-car garage in Palmdale, a wrench in one hand, a book in the other.

Cromsigt works on his 1970 Chevelle one week, his 1975 Nova the next. He is trying desperately to halt a horrendous skid that has begun to threaten his once-promising bid to become the first driver in the 54-year history of Saugus Speedway to win two track championships in one season.

“It’s slipping,” Cromsigt said. “Slipping away. Things are not so great.”

What happened?

Slightly more than a month ago, Cromsigt, a seven-year track veteran at Saugus, was the points leader in the Pro Stock and Street Stock divisions--no small feat in what probably are Saugus’ most competitive classes.

Competitors and officials raised eyebrows as Cromsigt took checkered flags with ease--including the first two main events in each class. He has won three of 10 Pro Stock main events and five of nine Street Stock mains.

His legion of fans grew, as if Cromsigt (pronounced KROM-site), 32, a native of the Netherlands who moved to the Santa Clarita Valley when he was 13, hadn’t already established himself as one of the track’s most popular drivers.

Cromsigt was so dominating that questions immediately were raised about the legality of his vehicles. Fellow drivers lodged protests, and post-race inspections by track officials became as common to Cromsigt as a checkered flag.

He has, in fact, been assessed minor penalties for technical violations but has not been stripped of any victories.

“I’ve had the engine apart twice and they’ve torn me down nearly every night,” Cromsigt said. (A track official) said it is because of the pressure that is being put on him by other drivers. They think I’m winning all these races because the car’s illegal.”

Inspections have stopped, thanks to accidents, mechanical failures and a recent string of rotten luck. Cromsigt, forced to repair his battered vehicles after virtually every race, has not won a main event since May 8 and has slipped to third in both divisions.

Slip-sliding away?

“The other guys are probably feeling they don’t have to race me now,” Cromsigt said. “The last few weeks they haven’t had to race me, but I’m going to be racing next to them the rest of the season. I’m certainly not giving up.”

Hold the phone. Cromsigt, who works as a service technician for Pacific Bell, is calling on all his resources to re-establish himself as a threat. And, despite what he might think, competitors remain concerned.

“Anything can happen and he’s a good competitor,” said Ed Horst of Reseda, points leader and defending champion of the Pro Stock class. “If he keeps his car together, he’ll be wicked.”

Cromsigt is a bookworm when it comes to stock cars. Automotive publications are stacked bedside and he spews forth an array of mechanical jargon while talking about the innards of his cars.

“I have an inside job with a lot of time, so I’m reading a lot,” Cromsigt said. “Circle Track magazine, Stock Car magazine, a lot of technical articles, how to build a car. . . . I’m reading constantly.”

How much it will help stem his skid remains to be seen. But it has helped at least one competitor.

On May 8, Cromsigt’s troubles began when he was black-flagged from a Pro Stock heat race because of a mysterious oil leak that his pit crew was unable to stop.

Rick Hopkins of Simi Valley offered his car to Cromsigt for the evening’s main event. Cromsigt accepted and drove to a 10th-place finish in the oval main but was involved in an accident in the figure-eight main and finished dead last.

“He made some adjustments and the car went faster than it ever went before,” Hopkins said.

Cromsigt offered more suggestions the following week while helping Hopkins put his vehicle back together.

“That was part of the deal,” Hopkins said. “He made changes and adjustments in the distribution of the weight, the tire pressure. . . . I went out and drove faster than I ever have before.”

Said Cromsigt: “I like when people come up and ask me things about my car and then I can show them what to do. I could go up to almost any car . . . and I can improve it.”

Yet Cromsigt’s troubles continued. The oil leak prevented him from putting his Chevelle on the track for the next scheduled Pro Stock main event. He since has been forced to replace the engine and has fallen 31 points behind Horst, who has 117 points. Scott Dinger of Simi Valley is second with 105.

Under Saugus’ scoring system, 13 points are awarded to the winner of an oval or figure-eight main event. Twelve points are awarded for second place, 11 for third and so on.

In Street Stocks, Cromsigt has battled a variety of mechanical misfortune that culminated May 29 when he finished dead last in the figure-eight main event and 13th in the oval main.

His frustration hit rock bottom in the oval main. Cromsigt was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a violent accident occurred in his path. Cromsigt slammed into the car driven by Bart Bartholomew of Canyon Country, but neither driver was seriously hurt.

Cromsigt’s car, however, sustained significant body damage.

Back to the drawing board.

“I should start with a clean slate this week with the new motor,” Cromsigt said. “This engine should be good the rest of the season.”

Few drivers have even attempted to drive in two divisions at Saugus. And no one has made a serious challenge to win both. Last season, Gary Sigman of Carson competed in both Sportsman and Grand American Modified. Sigman won the Sportsman title in a tight battle with Lance Hooper of Palmdale but finished a distant third to Grand Am champion Dave Phipps of Simi Valley.

Cromsigt, whose goal is to move on to Grand Am next season and Sportsman the next, is undaunted.

“It’s an incredible amount of time and money,” he said. “I knew it would be difficult, but it was just a sacrifice this year that I had to make if I wanted to continue racing.”