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View Full Version : 01/10/11 - Silver Spring Speedway memories will be plentiful at Motorsports 2011



RGeeProductions
01-10-2011, 02:59 PM
SILVER SPRING SPEEDWAY MEMORIES WILL BE PLENTIFUL AT MOTORSPORTS 2011 RACE CAR AND TRADE SHOW

Fifty-three years of auto racing excitement will be on display at the Motorsports 2011 presented by SEF Small Engine Fuel Race Car and Trade show, which takes place January 21-23 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.

Former track promoter Alan Kreitzer and his staff has been diligently working to produce a diverse group of race cars, a great cast of drivers to sign autographs and memorabilia from the storied history of the speedway.

“We are proud of the history that was produced at Silver Spring Speedway since it opened in 1953,” said Kreitzer. “Our exhibit with race cars that made the track a success for competitors and fans will bring back a lot of memories.”

Race cars and memorabilia will add to the long list of drivers who plan to sign autographs during designated times throughout the weekend.

Fans will be able to get autographs from the following drivers:

· Jim Bernheisel, 1987 and ’91 Late Model champion
· Carl Billet, 1990, ’93, ’94, 2003, ’04 and ’05 Late Model champion
· Mark Billet, 1995, ’96 and ’98 champion
· Don Comerer, 1976, ’77, ’78, ’79, and ’81 Late Model champion
· John Ebersole, 1973 and ’74 Late Model champion
· Bob Fannasy, 27 time Super Sportsman feature winner
· Elvin Felty, 1973 Super Sportsman champion
· Smokey Frye, 1992 Late Model champion
· Danny Hager, 1995 Super Sportsman champion
· Frankie Herr, 2002, ’03 and ’04 Super Sportsman champion
· Sterling Kinard, final Late Model feature winner
· Howie Locke, 1985, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’97 and ’98 Super Sportsman champion
· John Murphy, 1977, ’77, ’81, ’82 and ’86 Super Sportsman champion
· John Stoner, 1996 Super Sportsman champion
· Kramer Williamson, 1969 Super Sportsman champion
· Gary Wolford, all-time Super Sportsman feature win leader with 86
· Jerry Wolfe, 1975 Super Sportsman champion

In addition, several cars including the Neiswender No. 31 (1970 Late Model champion), Class A Sportsman No. 17 (1961 Super Sportsman champion), Nick Lorenzo No. 71 (entered first ever Silver Spring race), Fred Putney No. 9 (1976 Super Sportsman champion), Lynn Paxton No. 1 (won first ever Sprint Car race at Silver Spring Speedway), Paul Orendo No. 3 (Late Model) and Gary Wolford No. 3 (Super Sportsman) will be on display throughout the weekend.

Fans of Silver Spring Speedway and those who want to learn more about the speedway are encouraged to attend and stop by the large 50’x60’ display over the three days.

“We want to share the great memories of our speedway,” Kreitzer said. “We have always viewed Silver Spring Speedway as a great race track for friends and family to meet ever Saturday night, and we hope to have the same happen at Motorsports 2011.”

The track, which opened in the fall of 1953, transgressed the boundaries of dirt track racing, offering thousands of fans a weekly gathering point that featured many different classes albeit the more commonly known Super Sportsman being the most popular.

Ground was broken on Silver Spring Speedway in the fall of 1953, a 3/8 mile semi-banked clay oval after the Penn-Mar Racing Club approached Cumberland County businessman Ray Garver Sr. about building an auto track for the club.

By the following summer, the new speedway was ready for action. The club intended to offer a regular schedule of Wednesday night races. But, that strategy was changed after just one event, with the action moving to Saturdays. A few shows later, feeling it had a less than spectacular debut, the club abandoned Silver Spring Speedway.

After the 1954 season Ray Garver, a successful market operator, hired W.A. Kreitzer Jr. as speedway manager.

The jalopies that were raced in the early days gave way to the stock car in 1962 and evolved into the Sportsman cars. The Sportsman were allowed to have overhead cam engines starting in 1969, and in 1978 saw the introduction of torsion bar suspensions to the division, the cars of today feature an open cockpit like the sprinters, but have less power. They use carburetors, clutches, and starters unlike the sprinters.

The division during their running at track was the most competitive of any, with an average of 50 cars vying for the 26 spots in a regular 25-lap feature. The Sportsman became so popular that a touring division was formed in 1986, giving the teams the chance to race at other local tracks. Also, in 1962, a new class, the Hobby Division, was formed. A car could be claimed for $129. The Hobby cars were renamed Early Modifieds in 1973 and progressed into the Limited Late Models. 1982 saw the start of the Street Stock division.

The track also would hold other types of racing (Go-Karts, 410/358 Sprint Cars, Midge Carts, Micro Sprint Cars, 4-Cyl. Cars and others).

Many drivers raced at Silver Spring Speedway, with some families having brothers, cousins, uncles, nephews, dads, sons and even daughters racing over the years.
Exhibit space for the Motorsports 2011 Presented by SEF Small Engine Fuel Race Car and Trade show continues to fill at a record pace and everyone is reminded to be in touch with Tim Hogue to make their show space reservations before the show has all 250,000 square feet spoken for.

Also race teams are reminded that if they are planning to have their race cars on display and gain some excellent exposure for their sponsors in front of the thousands of show attendees they should be in touch with Hogue to make arrangements. Hogue can be reached at 609-888-3618 or tim@aarn.com.

The official show website located at www.aarn.com (http://www.aarn.com) offers up-to-date information on the show. Additional information is available at 609-888-3618.

Jerry Reigle