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FW: 2010 MMSHoF inductees announced-----Original Message----- From: Allan Brown <speedways@comcast.net> Sent: Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:44:34 Pacific Daylight T... READMORE |
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Auto City postpones due to Cold Although the weather was picture-perfect for testing on Thursday afternoon, Mother Nature brought us cold and windy condition... READMORE |
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For many years, there have been some "favorite" racing trips and events for me.
As I have mentioned in columns past, travelling to Mansfield, Ohio and covering the NASCAR Truck Races held there from 2004 - 2008 was a big thrill.
Another event that quickly comes to mind is the annual meeting in southwest Michigan of the best super late model drivers in the Midwest at Kalamazoo Speedway's "Klash." The racing action at that event is legendary and it has hosted a veritable "who's who" in stock car racing. Names like Petty, Schrader, Blount, Anderson and even VanDoorn quickly come to mind.
I've also been a frequent attendee of the old "Harvest 200" hosted every Labor Day weekend at Spartan Speedway. All of Spartan's regular series "stars" put on tremendous shows during this traditional end of season spectacular. While bittersweet - it "unofficially" marked the end of the short track racing season in mid-Michigan - it too was something for which all true race fans could look forward.
Add a new event to my list of favorites - even though it is yet to be run!
Announced last week is the newly scheduled running on July 25 of the "Ray Prieur Memorial" at Owosso Speedway. Highlighted by a 44-lap feature of the track's Drive Train Specialists Pro Late Models, the event honors track announcer Matt Prieur's father. A former tech official at Owosso, Ray was also a crew member for several race teams in the 80s and 90s, and he considered himself a "professional race fan."
I can relate.
Mr. Prieur passed away on October 9, 2006.
"I've always wanted to do something special to honor my Dad. This is a great way to honor him. He's the one responsible for everything I do in the auto racing industry," Matt Prieur explained.
"He instilled the love I have for this sport and I'll always be grateful to him. We're (the Prieur Family) only doing this once, so we want to make this a very special event and one that will be remembered for years to come," he added.
As a special bonus with the event the Prieur Family and Owosso Speedway are offering an opportunity for fans to become a part of the action by sponsoring individual laps during the 44-lap Pro Late Model feature. At $10 a lap it's a great chance to support this great event and it even offers a chance to honor someone special in your own life.
I personally have dedicated laps to two special sports fans in my life - lap No. 3 will be run in honor of my Grandfather, the late William Sheaffer, Sr., and lap No. 14 will be completed in honor of my wife's father (and A.J. Foyt's biggest fan), the late Ken Ruff.
Please consider making your own dedication, and let's all create a great "remember when" at the Ray Prieur Memorial.
