Dirt Track Heroes Car Show‏

RELEASE PREPARED BY:  STEVE PADOS

 

Show Opens Sunday, March 1 and continues through Saturday, March 7 

Smith Fabrications/Stage One Modifieds  Back On Board For 8th Annual Dirt Track Heroes Show

 

The defining details and preparations for the upcoming Eighth Annual Dirt Track Heroes Car Show continues at a swift pace as the energetic management staff has been working diligently to add their magic and put the many pieces in place for what is expected to be another highly successful gathering of the past, present and future of auto racing coming together under one roof in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.  The show will begin on March 1st and run through March 7th with a full itinerary of interview and demonstrations set to take place.

 

The eighth edition of the show will see some wrinkles added to the schedule for 2015 and will showcase some additional luster to the very successful event.  The upcoming show is signing on sponsors to help showcase another great run at the Phillipsburg Mall. The Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22 East in Phillipsburg, NJ, has proven to be an ideal setting for this special annual event. The show will once again feature a multitude of race cars, racing memorabilia, collectibles and photos on display throughout the course of the week long event. The always free of charge to the public racing event has continued to be the trend setter of the many shows that are scheduled throughout the year and gives the loyal racing fans a chance to see their favorite driving legends or one of the new upstarts talents chat about their racing careers and sign autographs for them.  With an exciting and diverse schedule of events to whet the appetite of any true race fan, large crowds are expected to fill the wide walkways of the Phillipsburg Mall.  This event has been a traditional Mall favorite and one of the leading attractions for the local racing fans.

 

Once again Smith Fabrications, the home of the Stage One Modifieds, will play an important and additional role in this year's edition of the show.  The Smith name has remained synonymous to the local racing scene for the past six decades as father Roy Smith was a pioneer in the golden era of racing with his signature numbered 555 race cars that had many top drivers wheeling the equipment such as Freddy Adam, Bobby Bottcher, Billy Tanzosh and Richie Smith among them.  "Rapid Rich", while leaving the driver's seat in the mid-90's, has utilized his years of knowledge while steering a race car to come up with a scaled version of the full sized Modified cars he drove to many wins in his driving career.  The cutting edge, sleek looking Stage One Modified is the finished product from Smith Fabrications and the cars are eye-catchers when on display or at speed. Incorporating his solid background in racing and the technical know how to improve upon the finished product, the Stage One Modified is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship from the master fabricator Richie Smith.  The Stage One race car is beautiful to look at and the performance of the car on the race track is a thrill a second for those who have tried the equipment on for size. 

 

Touting affordability and safety as the race car's primary selling points, a ready to race unit is priced in the neighborhood of $12,000.00. A conversation with Richie today added an additional bonus for the next four customers placing an order for one of the hot rods. Richie stated, "The next four customers who order a new car or roller will receive a one thousand dollar discount off of the list price."  The division became a regular attraction in 2012 at the always exciting Hamlin Speedway and will once again be headlined for the upcoming 2015 racing season.  "The Nickel Man" Joel Smith claimed the 2012 driving title for the Stage One group and "The Dirt Diva" Shannon Smith captured the title with solid performances in 2013 and Joel regained the title in 2014 and will be the man to beat when the new season begins at Hamlin.

 

Additional driving talent in the division include the runner-up finisher "The Jeff-ah" Jeff Hineline, "Thrillin" Dylan Martin, Collin Dubois, "The Branchburg Bandit" John Comandini, Bobby Smith Jr, 67 year old Connecticut invader Will Casazza, John Lakatos and "The Sandman" Troy Langendoerfer. Many new drivers are expected to be in the starting line-up when the 2015 Hamlin Speedway season goes green.  In discussing the Stage One race car with Richie Smith, he stated, "Our goal was to build a sharp-looking and safe race car for those who desire to leave the quarter midget, go kart and slingshot ranks.  We have come up a great product that accomplishes our mission as the Stage One car basically has the same characteristics as a full size Modified with all of the thrill and the need for speed but a more affordable way to go racing."

 

Smith further noted he will be making some stops along the way this season to various speedways to showcase his Stage One Modified Series.  Smith Fabrications and the Stage One Modifieds return for their fifth season as a nightly sponsor for the event and have participated in all of the Mall events to date.  Richie and Joel Smith will be offering a free seminar and demonstration on the workings of a Stage One Modified car on the opening day of the Dirt Track Heroes Show.  For additional information regarding the Stage One Modifieds, log-on to their website at: www.smithfabrications.com or contact Richie by phone at: 610 462 4302

 

The "Golden Era" of auto racing from the late fifties through the early eighties was an era that saw many changes take place in the way the race cars were constructed. The word "stock" gave way to ingenuity at first and followed closely by technology as the race cars became less stock appearing and relied more heavily on the latest speed part that would make the race car go faster.  While the years have changed the look and the cost of racing, the spirit of the competition remains much as it was when racing in the local area was launched.  The great fan base of racing can come out to this grand Mall event and be transported back to a time when they could hop into their family jitney and travel less than a half hour to witness the excitement of a night at the races.  All historical racing groups including Reading, Flemington, Harmony, Dorney Park and Nazareth will have their memorabilia on display and their many scrapbooks open for the fans to take another long look at the glory years of racing and possibly find a picture or two they want to purchase as a keepsake from past glory or racing exploits.

 

Entries are being accepted to display at the IRCO Dirt Track Heroes Show.  More information is available by calling: 443-513-4456. The email address is: TOTH98@aol.com and entry forms are available on the home page of www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com.

 

In the previous Mall events, cars on display included big and small block Modifieds, Sportsman, Micro-Sprints,  ARDC Midgets, 358 and 360 Sprints, Late Models, go-karts, quarter midgets and a broad variety of vintage and restored race cars.  New Egypt, Grandview, Big Diamond, Bridgeport, Hamlin, Action Track USA, Borger's and Snydersville will again be among the many speedways involved with the 2015 show.  The week-long event will set aside one evening to salute the "Stars of Tomorrow" with a special night for the budding young racing talents competing with the many quarter midget clubs in the local area and this night has proven to be one of the highlights of the week as many will be giving their first ever interviews to a sizable crowd.

 

For the eighth consecutive year, former Gasoline Alley show hosts Ed and Steve Pados will host the nightly events and interviews along with guest announcers. Long-time announcer Bobby Stull and former Lake Mocatek co-announcer Justin Beltrame have signed on to play a major part with the show. Sunday, March 1st will kick-off the festivities for the week long event with the Stage One Modified seminar at 11:30 followed by the interview and autograph session at 1 PM.

 

 

Vince Valeriano from VRP Shocks will complete the first day with a Shock seminar for his VRP Shock line immediately following the interview session.

 

The Dirt Track Heroes Car Show will again offer a great keepsake event souvenir program book and shirt. The Phillipsburg Mall is open Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM; Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM. For Dirt Track Heroes information, contact show organizers Bob and Donna Miller by phone at: 443 513 4456.

 

Eighth Annual Dirt Track Heroes Car Show  

 

2015 Schedule of Event

Sunday- March 1- 11:30 to 12:30- Demonstration and Seminar with Richie and Joel Smith of Smith Fabrications and the Stage One Modifieds

 

Sunday- March 1 - (Starting at 1:00) - Dirt Track Heroes Car Show Opening Ceremony with Driver Interviews and Autograph Session: Highlighting Nazareth and Nazareth National Speedways and all tracks in the Tri State area

 

Second Show- (Immediately following Interviews)- VRP Shock Seminar and Demonstration with Vince Valeriano.

Monday- March 2 – (6:30 PM) – Saluting Action Track USA, Borger’s Speedway, Snydersville Raceway, X-Cel 600 Modifieds, Oreville Karts

 

Tuesday- March 3 – (6:30 PM)- Saluting the “Stars of Tomorrow” featuring all Quarter Midget Clubs: Blue Mountain, Lehigh Valley, West End Raceway, Keystone, Oaklane, Phoenixville, South Jersey and Garden State Quarter Midget Clubs

 

Wednesday- March 4 – (6:30 PM) – Saluting Hamlin Speedway all divisions, Accord Speedway, Orange County Fair Speedway, Mahoning Speedway

 

Thursday- March 5- (6:30) Saluting New Egypt, Bridgeport Speedway, Grandview Speedway, Big Diamond Raceway

 

Friday - March 6 – (1^st Show (4 p.m.) – Special Edition “The Legends of Racing” with many Legendary stars from Reading, Nazareth, Harmony and Flemington expected to participate and saluting the Reading Fairgrounds Historical Racing Society

 

Second Show- (6:30 PM) Salute to Open Wheel Racing Divisions-Thunder on the Hill Racing Series, ATQMRA, ARDC Midgets, TSRS and CRSA Sprint Cars, 358 and 360 Sprint Car Divisions

 

Saturday - March 7 - (1:00) –-Special Tribute to Gerald Chamberlain-Flemington Speedway & Flemington Speedway Historical Society. Harmony Speedway and Nazareth Speedways

 

Mall Hours: Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. -

*Schedule subject to change
END