RGeeProductions
02-08-2015, 07:59 PM
Who needs a groundhog to say if spring is on its way? Rather one just has to step inside the Laurel Mall in West Hazleton and check out the impressive array of motor racing vehicles on display and realize that in just over a month’s time most all of them will be on track. For race fans, you couldn't ask for a better indicator of what’s on the horizon.
The 2nd Annual NEPA Race Car Show presented by B. Swartz Transport of Lehighton officially got underway on Sunday, February 8, a day earlier than anticipated in order to beat some impending winter weather.
None-the-less the show got off to a rousing start as race cars of all sorts filled up the aisle ways of the popular Hazleton area shopping center giving mall-goers and race fans of Northeastern Pennsylvania a preview of the upcoming racing season which will begin in earnest by mid-March.
Everything from drag cars, road racers, hillclimbers, short oval, both dirt and asphalt, quarter midgets and karts are proudly exhibited.
The No. 30 PRS vintage Formula Ford driven by Greg Kokolus of Mertztown and prepared by noted SCCA road racer Sam Ryan of White Haven, was the first car to roll in.
That same car will be heading out to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take part in the SVRA vintage event in June.
“We had a great time at the show last year. A lot of people stopped by to look at the cars,” said Ryan, who also has his Formula Mazda on display. “I love letting the kids sit in the car, they get so excited.”
By the time the mall opened at noon there had already begun a steady stream of people who continually stopped and gazed at the sharp, eye-catching cars. Picture snapping was going on all day and will no doubt continue over the week-long showing of the impressive group of vehicles.
The drivers who showcased their equipment did so in a very detailed way that their teams, sponsors, tracks and fans can be very proud of.
The NEPA Race Car Show will run through Sunday, February 15.
Local Hazleton area news personalities Jeannine Lesante-Mazurkiwecz and Ken Kara of SSPTV-13 will serve as judges for the SSPTV-13 Best Appearing Car Award.
Also throughout the week Kara, who is the SSPTV-13 news anchor, will be doing driver interviews that will be aired on the show’s sports broadcast.
One of the highlights of the event takes place on Friday, February 13, at 7:00 pm, where everyone is invited to a “Racers Night Out” which will be held at Lobitz Catering Hall in Hazle Township. Lobitz Catering Hall is just a short drive from the Laurel Mall and located directly behind Fairway Chevrolet off PA Route 309. There is a $10 fee payable at the door and includes plenty of great food.
Motorsports videographer Mike O’Brien of MoTorsport Video Production will be providing an array of racing videos to be shown throughout the night and have DVDs for sale.
Bob Hatcher, who maintains the popular Evergreen/Mahoning/Dorney Facebook page with loads of racing pictures of those tracks and many others across Pennsylvania, will be running a pictorial slide show of great memories. Driver interviews, both past and present, will also take place.
The Laurel Mall is located on PA Route 93 just off I-81 in West Hazleton and is open daily, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm.
Dino Oberto
The 2nd Annual NEPA Race Car Show presented by B. Swartz Transport of Lehighton officially got underway on Sunday, February 8, a day earlier than anticipated in order to beat some impending winter weather.
None-the-less the show got off to a rousing start as race cars of all sorts filled up the aisle ways of the popular Hazleton area shopping center giving mall-goers and race fans of Northeastern Pennsylvania a preview of the upcoming racing season which will begin in earnest by mid-March.
Everything from drag cars, road racers, hillclimbers, short oval, both dirt and asphalt, quarter midgets and karts are proudly exhibited.
The No. 30 PRS vintage Formula Ford driven by Greg Kokolus of Mertztown and prepared by noted SCCA road racer Sam Ryan of White Haven, was the first car to roll in.
That same car will be heading out to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take part in the SVRA vintage event in June.
“We had a great time at the show last year. A lot of people stopped by to look at the cars,” said Ryan, who also has his Formula Mazda on display. “I love letting the kids sit in the car, they get so excited.”
By the time the mall opened at noon there had already begun a steady stream of people who continually stopped and gazed at the sharp, eye-catching cars. Picture snapping was going on all day and will no doubt continue over the week-long showing of the impressive group of vehicles.
The drivers who showcased their equipment did so in a very detailed way that their teams, sponsors, tracks and fans can be very proud of.
The NEPA Race Car Show will run through Sunday, February 15.
Local Hazleton area news personalities Jeannine Lesante-Mazurkiwecz and Ken Kara of SSPTV-13 will serve as judges for the SSPTV-13 Best Appearing Car Award.
Also throughout the week Kara, who is the SSPTV-13 news anchor, will be doing driver interviews that will be aired on the show’s sports broadcast.
One of the highlights of the event takes place on Friday, February 13, at 7:00 pm, where everyone is invited to a “Racers Night Out” which will be held at Lobitz Catering Hall in Hazle Township. Lobitz Catering Hall is just a short drive from the Laurel Mall and located directly behind Fairway Chevrolet off PA Route 309. There is a $10 fee payable at the door and includes plenty of great food.
Motorsports videographer Mike O’Brien of MoTorsport Video Production will be providing an array of racing videos to be shown throughout the night and have DVDs for sale.
Bob Hatcher, who maintains the popular Evergreen/Mahoning/Dorney Facebook page with loads of racing pictures of those tracks and many others across Pennsylvania, will be running a pictorial slide show of great memories. Driver interviews, both past and present, will also take place.
The Laurel Mall is located on PA Route 93 just off I-81 in West Hazleton and is open daily, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm.
Dino Oberto