A dedicated Fan Turns Videographer
Steve Bennett is a firefighter and owner/operator of Prime Trax Video in western Michigan. Like many in America he spends his Saturday nights at the race track. His weekly passion for speed is fulfilled at Berlin Speedway. Steve’s passion has provided a tool for some to improve their Saturday night skills. Dave Cutler who drives the Sportsman class #40 is an example:
“I have been racing out there since 1969, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn something new,” said Cutler, of Hopkins. “You can always learn something from the races you don’t do well in. “If I’m in an accident, I want to see if it was my fault, or if it was someone else’s. I want to see what happened.
Bennett has up to five cameras placed around Berlin’s half-mile oval on race night, including two stationed atop the tower situated above the frontstretch grandstand. Sue Meissner, the wife of driver Kirk Meissner, films from the top row of the grandstand in turn one. Plus, Bennett often has a driver or two racing around with an in-car camera. He also receives help from his girlfriend, Jen Ruple, and Helen Colt. Bennett said his parents have given their support as well.
“I have a cousin, Jeff Terrell, who has raced out there, and my friend Paul Namey, raced enduros,” Bennett said. “I started following Paul around the state with my camera, trying to catch the ultimate crash. I went to all these tracks and only couple of them offered videos.“When I started going to Berlin in 1991, I put two-and-two together. This could be something that people could really want. I started filming in 1993 on opening night.”
Bennett’s work has even appeared on Speed Vision. And ESPN aired his footage of the time Mel Kenyon flipped his Midget car over the third turn wall and rolled into the woods in a Berlin race in 1998.
Side Notes: Berlin Raceway officials announced today that Grand Rapids native Johnny Benson Jr. and Coopersville’s [MI.] Tim Steele will be returning for Saturday night’s 100-lap Late Model feature race in Marne.
Benson split with NASCAR Busch Grand National car owner James Finch this week, and he will be returning to his home track for this weekend’s action. Steele, a three-time ARCA champion, tested his Late Model Wednesday afternoon.
Track officials report that Steele plans to race this season for points, considering he has missed just one race.
