30th Annual BSOHA Reading Racing Reunion Underway Despite Snowy Start
30th Annual BSOHA Reading Racing Reunion Underway Despite Snowy Start
Reading, PA – The 30th Annual Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Reading Racing Reunion & Car Show, presented by Weichert Realtors Neighborhood One Action Track USA, began on February 22nd at the Fairgrounds Square Mall, despite a snowstorm on Saturday the 21st that impacted the move-in. Approximately three-quarters of the racecars now on display made the somewhat treacherous trip to Muhlenberg Township and rolled in after the mall closed at 9 p.m.
“We are extremely grateful to the mall management for allowing us to move in additional cars on Sunday morning and again on Sunday evening. They understood the difficulty of towing trailers in that weather and permitted us to give race teams the option to move in on Sunday, when the conditions were better. And we thank the racers who did brave the elements and brought their cars on Saturday night,” said show director Brad Reinert.
With the assistance of some of the staff and management team from Action Track USA, Reinert has worked extremely hard to assemble a large fleet of race cars, local speedways, and nightly activities for the week-long show that will run from February 22 – 28. When the show officially opened at noon on Sunday, there were 75 shiny racing machines of several varieties sitting proudly on display. With more due to arrive on Sunday evening, the total was expected to approach 100 as the show entered its busy week-long schedule of events.
Race cars of every shape and size fill the mall, with the area’s dirt Modifieds, Late Models, Sprint Cars, Midgets, and SpeedSTR’s among the mix, along with racers from the various small car divisions such as Micro-Sprints, Slingshots, Xcel Modifieds, and Quarter-Midgets.
A pair of very special awards will be handed out on Monday and Tuesday, February 23rd and 24th, at the show. Both awards are going to Berks County natives who began their careers at the Reading Fairgrounds, then went on to have continued success while making an impact at the national level of short track racing. Area political leaders will be on hand with special proclamations for these two deserving racers.
The nightly schedule is as follows:
Monday, February 23 – Open Wheel Night with interviews of drivers in the Micro-Sprint, Midget, and Sprint Car divisions. Also: a “must see” award presentation to a very accomplished local driver who began his career at the Reading Fairgrounds.
Tuesday, February 24 – Weichert Realtor Neighborhood One Action Track USA Night, featuring interviews with drivers from the track’s weekly divisions and its promotional team. Another “can’t miss” award presentation to a local driver who attained much success during and after his Reading Fairgrounds career.
Wednesday, February 25 – Modified Madness and Late Model/ Street Stock/ Road Runner Night highlighted by driver interviews from each of these divisions.
Thursday, February 26 – Local track and Race Club Night…updates on the upcoming season and area clubs’ young, up-and-coming drivers will be in the spotlight.
Friday, February 27 – NAPA Old Timers Reunion – interviews with the Legends of the Reading Fairgrounds. BASH begins at 9 p.m. at Jimbo’s Steaks & Sandwich Shop…Best of Show Awards, Driver Appearances, Music until ???
Saturday, February 28 at 3 p.m. – Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, NAPA and Yuasa Batteries present Tire Changing Competition for Modified, Small Car, and Vintage Car divisions. NOTE: Vintage Car tires will be changed with an old style, manual four-way lug wrench. Also: Old Timers Autograph Session & Reunion Encore at 3 p.m.
Show ends when mall closes at 9 p.m. Cars will be moved out when mall is closed.
The Bash will commence at the conclusion of Friday night’s activities at the mall. The annual “after party” gets underway at Jimbo’s Steaks and Sandwich Shop, 3400 Plaza Drive, Suite 3, just off of Bellevue Avenue (across the street from Unique Pretzels about two blocks from the Fairgrounds Square Mall). Tickets are already on sale for the Bash, and the $20 ticket price is good for food, beer, soda, and music. There will also be a cash bar, and the Best of Show Awards will be presented during the Bash as well.
“All monies collected – the $25 to enter cars in the show and the $20 ticket price for the Bash – will be used to offset the cost of the show itself and for the Bash,” stated Reinert. “Everything money-wise goes back into the show.”
Tickets for the Bash are currently available at Jimbo’s, at Business Link in Kutztown, or by contacting Brad Reinert. The tickets can also be purchased during the show at the Bob Hilbert Sportswear booth, which will be open for business each day of the Reading Racing Reunion & Car Show.
Other news released by Reinert included a new sponsor for the Tire Changing Competition that will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 28. Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic joins NAPA Auto Parts and Yuasa in presenting the contest pitting two-person teams against each other and the clock. There will be three divisions of tire changing involving a Modified, a Micro Sprint, and a Vintage Car. The Tire Changing Awards presentation will immediately follow the competition.
“We’re still signing up teams for the tire changing competition,” said Reinert. “And we’re looking for more teams to take part in this contest. It would be pretty cool to see race tracks challenge one another, or maybe a Modified duo versus a Sprint Car team, or something like that.” Potential contestants can sign up by contacting Reinert prior to or during the week of the show.
Also on Saturday, the 28th at 3 p.m., there will be an Old Timers Autograph Session, as a Legends Reunion Encore takes place for those former drivers who are not able to attend Friday night’s Old Timers Reunion.
In addition to the display by the Reading Fairgrounds Historical Society, the group dedicated to keeping alive the memories of Nazareth and Harmony Speedways have a display of memorabilia and vintage racecars at the mall, along with the Blast From the Past Vintage Racecar organization.
Local race tracks that are handing out 2015 schedules at their display include Grandview Speedway, the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA in Kutztown, Linda’s Speedway, and Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear has designed and produced very attractive 2015 Reading Racing Reunion commemorative tee-shirts and sweatshirts that will be sold at the show.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****THANK YOU.
30th Annual Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Reading Race Reunion & Car Show
Presented by Weichert Realtors Neighborhood One Action Track USA.
Contact: Brad Reinert, Show Director/Coordinator
Ph: 610-401-3348/ Email: breinert40@comcast.net
Media Contact: Barry Angstadt
Ph: 610-781-0408/ Email: bwa39@comcast.net
