News from the 28th annual Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Racing
Legends Reunion & Car Show
Media Contact: Brett Deyo - Deyo99H@aol.comor 845.728.2781
For Immediate Release/Feb. 28, 2013
Late Model, Sportsman
& Street Stock Racers Recognized Wednesday at Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat
Association Racing Legends Reunion; Modified Madness Set for Thursday at
Fairgrounds Square Mall
READING, PA - Late Model, Sportsman Modified and
Street Stock stars took the stage Wednesday evening as the 28th annual
Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show
rolls on at the Fairgrounds Square Mall.
Jeff Ahlum worked the
microphone to outline the 2013 season with the drivers representing the three
divisions highlighted during the evening on stage in Center
Court.
The Late Model division
was represented by Grandview (Pa.) Speedway NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Late Model six-time champion Chuck Schutz, who talked about his plans to chase a
seventh title at the Berks County one-third-mile clay oval. Schutz loves racing
a Late Model at Grandview and is pleased to see some new blood entering the
division.
Rookie driver Dan Green
told the crowd of his plans to race for the NASCAR Late Model Rookie of the Year
Award at Grandview in 2013 driving for AMB Motorsports. The '12 Rookie of the
Year, Steve Nederostek, looks to improve upon his freshman effort on the Hill in
Bechtelsville, Pa.
From the Super Late Model
ranks, second-generation driver Andy Haus (son of racing veteran Scott Haus) and
Sammy Schaeffer - both with cars on display at the mall - sketched out their
schedules for the '13 campaign.
Standout racer Craig
Whitmoyer talked about his Sportsman racing plans for the approaching season as
he chases a title in the division's second season as a weekly Grandview
division. Whitmoyer will also participate in a number of special events during
the year with both his No. 99 Sportsman and a Modified as
well.
Reading, Pa., driver Paul
Kline reflected on his long career that has included competition in a number of
different divisions. Kline, now a Sportsman regular at Grandview, has competed
in ARDC Midgets, Micro-Sprints, Mini-Sprints, big-block Modifieds, 358-Modifieds
and more. Kline now enjoys competing close to home at Grandview in the Sportsman
ranks.
Chris Jenkins, a relative
newcomer to the Sportsman ranks, also spent time on
stage.
From the Susquehanna
(Pa.) Speedway Park Street Stock division, Kevin Heckman discussed full-fender
racing, his return to the sport after a long absence and his love for Street
Stock racing and its nature as a 'homebuilt' division.
The show continues today
(Thursday) with 'Modified Madness' - an invite extended to competitors in the
area's big- and small-block Modified divisions. A long list of drivers will take
the stage and management teams from local speedways will be out to promote their
upcoming seasons. Activities begin in Center Court at 7 p.m. Following
interviews at the mall, Ryan Godown, Doug Manmiller, Neal Williams and Kyle
Weiss will serve as guest bartenders at the Applebee's in the shopping center
parking lot.
A wide cross-section of
race cars, nearly 100 strong, have filled the aisles of the Fairgrounds Square
Mall for the event, which honors the past, present and future of auto racing.
The show, with primary backing from Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association with
Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. and VP Racing Fuels offering associate support, runs
through Saturday (March 2) with a busy schedule of events. The Racing Legends
Reunion is free-to-the-public during mall hours.
Vehicles of all shapes
and sizes are on display at show, including big- and small-block Modifieds,
Sprint Cars, Micro-Sprints, SpeedSTRs, ARDC Midgets, Late Models, Sportsman,
Street Stocks, Slingshots, Quarter Midgets, XCel 600 Modifieds and
more.
Fans of racing’s past
enjoy an expansive display of vintage and restored cars assembled by the Reading
Fairgrounds Speedway Racing Historical Society. A room full of memorabilia
allows attendees to take a step back in time to the famed ‘Home of Champions’
which hosted its final event in June 1979.
Vintage Cars from the
Penn-Mar group and Blast from the Past Vintage Club are also on display.
Many of the area’s top
speedways and sanctioning bodies are on hand to distribute information and meet
fans and racers during the weeklong show. For the first time, both New Jersey
dirt tracks – New Egypt Speedway and Bridgeport Speedway – have displays at the
show. The new JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA of Kutztown, Pa., now led
by Rich Tobias and Doug Rose, has assembled an expansive setup highlighting each
of the speedway's weekly divisions.
Others participating at
the show include Grandview (Pa.) Speedway/Thunder on the Hill Racing Series,
URC, ARDC, LANCO’s Clyde Martin (Pa.) Memorial Speedway, BD Motorsports Media
LLC/Friesen-Deyo Promotions and the Montgomery County Quarter Midget Racing Club
(Pa.’s Phoenixville Raceway).
The Checkered Flag Fan
Club is at the show actively recruiting new members and publicizing their
organization. The Reading Eagle newspaper – an avid supporter of local racing -
also has plans to participate in the show. The Eastern Museum of Motor Racing
(EMMR) also put together a popular display.
A number of vendors are
on hand selling memorabilia, photos and other novelties. Gary Silverman of Gary
Silverman Productions has DVDs on sale from the 2012 Pennsylvania 358-Modified
Dual-Track circuit and other special events, while events of yesteryear recorded
on film are sold by Snyder Video Productions.
Fast Action Motorsports
Entertainment has set up their R/C track at the show all week. Up to 10 drivers
can participate at one time. All those who race leave with a checkered flag. Big
winners take home a trophy.
Mike Feltenberger hosts
his popular Alley Racing nightly through the show.
The annual Legends
Night/Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reunion is set for Friday (March 1) beginning
at 6:30 p.m.
There will be driver
bartending at the Applebee’s adjacent to the mall (in the shopping center
parking lot) on Thursday night beginning at 9 p.m.
The BASH Awards Party is
a show highlight. This year's edition is set for Friday, March 1 at 9 p.m.
(after the show closes) at the Temple Fire Company of Temple, Pa. (4963 Kutztown
Road Temple, PA 19560).
The BASH is a fun night
out for fans of auto racing: get out and party with the racing community! Gary
Silverman shows highlights from past and present, including memorable moments
from the most recent Pennsylvania 358-Modified season.
Show awards are
distributed, including the prestigious Don Marks Memorial Contribution to
Motorsports Award.
The Don Marks Memorial
Contribution to Motorsports Award was first handed out in 2010 to honor the
memory of late Grandview Speedway and Area Auto Racing News photographer Marks,
who passed away in 2008. Previous award recipients include Bob Greene of Pioneer
Pole Buildings (2012), car owner, fabricator and former racer Dennis ‘Chico’
Bailey (2011) and Area Auto Racing News publisher/promoter Len Sammons (2010).
The overall 'Best of
Show' recognition for vehicles on display at the mall will be decided by a fan
vote for the third consecutive year. The ballot can be found in the official
Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show program book on sale at the
show.
A number of divisional
awards will be distributed as well, including Best Modified, Best Sportsman,
Best Open Wheel, Best Late Model, Best Micro-Sprint, Best Restored Car, Best
Quarter Midget and Best Go-Kart. Media members visiting the show vote on the
divisional awards. The Sportsman classification is new for ’13.
The entertaining T.J.
Fitzpatrick, known as 'TJ the DJ' has come on board to provide music for dancing
at the BASH.
Snacks are provided,
along with soda, at the BASH. There will be a cash bar. BASH tickets are just
$10 and can be purchased at the door or at the apparel/program stand each night
of the show.
This year’s pays tribute
to a pair of prominent members of the local racing community lost recently. 2013
Racing Legends Reunion & Car Show apparel, designed by Bob Hilbert
Sportswear, is a 'must-have' for fans of the sport. The shirt honors the racing
career of dirt and pavement driver Doug Hoffman, who passed away unexpectedly on
Christmas Eve 2012. Not only was Hoffman one of the Northeast's greatest drivers
of all time, he also proved his meddle as a promoter at Mahoning Valley (Pa.)
Speedway and Bridgeport Speedway.
The shirt features 10 of
Hoffman's most memorable cars from his career ranging from his very first
pavement Late Model for Dorney Park (Pa.) Speedway to the car he drove to his
final victory: Sal DeBruno’s South Jersey Overhead Door No. 0.
Shirt pricing is set at
$20 (tee shirts), $22 (long-sleeve) and $30 (hoodies/sweatshirts). Sizes 3XL and
up add $3 extra for tee shirts, long-sleeve shirts and
hoodies/sweatshirts.
Another area hero who
passed away, the great 'Kutztown Komet' Freddy Adam, has been remembered with a
photo spread in the event program and a tribute car displayed in Center Court at
the mall.
Thursday,
February 28 - Modified Madness Night
7
p.m. -
Drivers representing the area's big- and small-block Modified divisions and
recognition of Pennsylvania and New Jersey Modified racing at Grandview,
Bridgeport and New Egypt speedways featuring Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, Neal
Williams, Ryan Godown, Doug Manmiller, John Willman, Andy Burkhart, Ryan Watt,
Brad Arnold, Nate Christman, Ryan Grim, Jordan Umbenhauer, Kyle Weiss, Barry
White and more; Meet the new Bridgeport (Keith Hoffman, Danny Serrano and Dave
Adams) and New Egypt (Allyse Wolfinger and Mike Mehedin) management teams
9
p.m. -
Driver Bartending at Applebee's 5th Street Highway (adjacent to the mall): Ryan
Godown, Kyle Weiss, Neal Williams & Doug Manmiller
Friday,
March 1 - Salute to the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway & Past and Current Car
Owners
6:30
p.m. -
Meet drivers from the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway which hosted its final event
in 1979 and celebrate car owners of the past and present who keep our favorite
drivers on the track
9
p.m. -
BASH Racing Party - Temple Fire Company-Tickets are $10 (purchased at the door
or at the show apparel table) - Show awards presented including fan vote Best of
Show, divisional awards and Don Marks Memorial Contribution to Motorsports
Award. Racing films by Gary Silverman of GSP Video and music provided by 'TJ the
DJ' T.J. Fitzpatrick
Saturday,
March 2 – Show Finale
All
Day -
28th annual Curtain Closer - Let's Go
Racing!
Alley
Model Racing organized by Mike Feltenberger runs throughout the
week
R/C
Racing by Fast Action Motorsports Entertainment will run throughout the
week
-
Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.-
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