Less than one turn remained in a Waterford Speedbowl Super X Wild ‘N’ Wacky Wednesday race in early July, and Preston’s Greg Moran Jr. held a slim lead over his father.
Heading into the final left turn of the 20-lap event, Greg Jr., 19, accelerated too quickly at around 70 miles an hour and momentarily lost control of his ’86 Monte Carlo. The wobbling distracted his father, driving the No. 63 Monte Carlo, and allowed Tolland’s John Yagmin to sneak in with a victory, leaving the Morans in second and third.
Greg Sr., 41, has won eight races this season and is ranked No. 2 in Super X, a division for low-budget, eight-cylinder cars. The lost point may cost him while he trails division leader Greg Correia of East Hartford by just two points as of Aug. 13.
He had words for his son after the race, but not discouraging words.
“I had words of wisdom,” Moran said. “If you have the lead in the last lap, I told him he has to concentrate on going to the final turn slower to protect his alignment and prevent a spinout.”
It was a lesson learned. About three weeks later on July 30, Moran Jr. won the Super X race.
“I remembered what my father told me after the last time I spun out with the lead,” Moran Jr., said. “This is only my second year racing, so it was a learning experience.”
The owner of Moran’s Service Center in Preston, a family-run garage and gas station on Route 2 since 1976, Moran is not the stereotypical sports dad who demands the best out of his children at all costs.
“I’m not into confrontation,” said Moran. “I don’t believe you have to be an aggressive, careless driver. I just try to stay calm and look to pass the other cars that are not handling well. I was taught never to retaliate. If you put someone into the wall, the next week they will get you.”
Moran passes on the values and the auto racing love he drew from his dad, Art Moran Sr. of Preston.
“He won a few races, but I respect him more for building everything in the car by himself,” Greg Sr. said. “He was known as a clean driver. I try to be as well, although sometimes it gets tough out there.”
Racing is in the Morans’ blood. Greg’s brother, Art Jr., won the Speedbowl’s Late Model division in 1983, a title notable by the fact he never won a race but accumulated enough seconds and thirds to account for the season’s most points. Today, Art Jr., and his son, Art III, compete in the Speedbowl’s Legends division, ranked 10th and 18th respectively, on the more competitive Saturday action.
Auto racing has captivated Greg’s entire family in a sport that Greg Jr. calls “very addicting.” In addition to father and son, daughter Taylor Marie, 18, competes in her first season in Super X, and mom, Tracy, also races her husband’s car after the Super X race is over. She is ranked second in Wednesday’s WOW (Women on Wheels) bracket. On Saturday races, Greg Sr., and Tracy drive the wrecker to clean up debris and tow disabled cars.
“The kids wanted to see me out there racing,” Tracy said. “I think it’s a great family bonding experience. We do everything together. Sometimes when kids get older and graduate high school, they leave and you don’t see them.
We’re always doing things as a family. The son’s and daughter’s friends come over to work on their cars during the week and we race Wednesday.
It’s great.”
Super X race cars are typically ’80-’89 makes, built more for safety standards than speed in what the Speedbowl Web site terms as “financially-feasible racing.”
That’s a reassuring thought for the parents.
“They have to have the best of everything—the safest firesuits, the sturdiest rear hoop [fenders],” Tracy said. “Being a typical mother, I’m a nervous son-of-a-gun during a race. Sometimes I wish they weren’t all in the same division, because it’s tough to watch all of them.”
While Greg Sr. and his son race toward the front for the lead, Taylor Marie hangs out in back, learning to safely navigate the Speedbowl’s 3/8-mile track craft during her first year. Taylor Marie’s car stands out as one of the more distinctive vehicles, painted pink.
As is the case with most of the Morans’ decisions, the color choice was centered around family history.
Greg’s mother, Joan, passed away in October. Pink was her favorite color. The male Morans’ Monte Carlo race cars have pink lettering. “All of their wins are dedicated to their grandmother,” Tracy said.
The Morans, as is the case with any auto racer without a massive bankroll, rely on sponsorship to purchase tires and fuel.
Leffingwell Pools, Sheds Or Us, Paddock, Inc., and Muscle Cars of Orlando, Fla., are the main contributors. Because Moran, a Norwich Tech grad, does all of his welding, he estimates the investment for each car to be around $4,000 apiece.
“It’s a hard economy to be asking people to sponsor you, but my father has a good reputation,” Greg Sr. said. “Everyone knows him.”
The Morans also give back a portion of their winning prize money to charitable causes.
“Our cars race for Victory Junction Gang, a racing camp in North Carolina that Kyle Petty founded,” Tracy said. “Children with serious illnesses go to the camp for a week of racing fun.”
Family continues to cross the checkered flag first for the Morans. Greg Sr. was a top racer in the Strictly Stock division in the ’80s when he gave up his passion for 15 years to focus on raising his young family.
“We did camping, boating, a lot of family activities,” Greg Sr. said. “I had gotten out of racing and didn’t regret it. But once the kids got old enough, I made the decision to get back to the track.”
Greg Sr. won nine Super X races in 2006 and finished second in the point standings to Correia. He has won eight races this year, trailing Correia by just two points. He plans to upgrade to Saturday’s faster Mini Stock division next year.
No matter what happens, you can bet the Morans will win, either on the track or off.