31st Annual Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Reading Fairgrounds Motorsports Show Wraps Up Successful Three-Day Run Award Winners Chosen On Saturday; Many Area Racers & Speedways In Attendance
Muhlenberg Township, PA – The 31st Annual Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association Reading Fairgrounds Motorsports Show presented by the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA wrapped up a successful three-days of activity on Saturday, February 6.
Supported by Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic and EnerSys of Reading, the show also boasted associate sponsorship from OMS Racing, Slinger Warehouse, and Kim’s Kreations. This was the first time in its 31-year history that the show was condensed from a week-long run to a Thursday, Friday, Saturday format.
Show organizer Brad Reinert was pleased with the initial three-day outing. “We’re learning as we go, but this (the shortened version of the show) looks like it was a good decision. The attendance was better and people told us they would rather attend on a weekend.”
“Based on this year’s success,” continued Reinert, “we are looking at a tentative date during the third week in February for the 2017 Reading Fairgrounds Motorsports Show. It will be a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday format with the Racing Legends Reunion held on Saturday afternoon.”
The final day of this year’s event, Saturday, was marked by the annual Awards Presentation, during which a total of nine trophies were handed out to the following recipients:
Best of Show: Brad Arnold’s WEEU No. 830 Sportsman Modified.
Best Small Car: Joey Vaccaro’s No. 53 Junior Slingshot.
Best Big Car: Daryl Dissinger’s dirt Modified.
Best Open Wheel Car: Jon Haegele’s No. 61 Sprint Car.
Best Racecar Display: Dakota Kohler’s No. 59k Xcel Modified.
People’s Choice Award: Dennis Bailey’s No. 81 to be driven by John Willman in Grandview’s 358 Modified division.
Best Racing Club Display: Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.
Best Vintage Car: Bruce Young’s No. 37 Modified.
Best Restored Car: Neiman No. 17 that was driven to victory by Dave Kelly in the last race ever run at the Reading Fairgrounds on June 29, 1979.
On Thursday night, February 4th, the first night of the show was highlighted by representatives of local speedways and clubs discussing their plans for the upcoming season.
Brett Deyo talked about his initial season at the helm of the Georgetown, DE race track, along with his ultra-successful North and South Regions of the Short Track Super Series. Deyo, who also had a very nice display at the show that featured Ryan Watt’s No. 14 Modified, informed the attendees about the growth of the STSS and how it is still a “working man’s series.”
Chad Neiman explained what the Penn-Mar Vintage Club is all about and revealed the organization’s 2016 racing schedule.
Michael Batz of Linda’s Speedway discussed the many different divisions that will compete on the quarter-mile in Jonestown, PA this season. He also noted that the track’s well-known and prestigious National Open for Micro-Sprints will shrink from a three-day event to its former two-day format in October of this year. Batz is also excited about the five-race mini series for the USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs as well as many other special events that mark the 2016 slate at Linda’s Speedway.
Bonnie Goshert and the show’s M.C. Barry Angstadt talked about a huge event that was just recently announced for Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway in Newmanstown, PA. On Tuesday, August 16, the USAC National Midget Series will visit the Clyde for the very first time and all signs are pointing to participation by a current Indianapolis 500 driver that night. He will be joined by the very best non-wing, open wheel racers that USAC has to offer when they visit Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway as part of USAC’s Pennsylvania Midget Week. The Clyde will also host its typical menu of Micro-Sprint competition when the season gets underway on April 2nd. The ARDC Midgets will visit Clyde Martin twice this year (April 2nd and June 2nd) before joining the USAC Midgets in a combined-sanction event on August 16.
Doug Rose of the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA informed the crowd of his speedway’s plans for the 2016 campaign. Rose and co-promoter Rich Tobias are not resting on the success of their first three seasons; they continue to work on upgrading their events and overall fan experience for competitors and spectators alike. One of the highlights of this season’s schedule is a first-of-its-kind event…the $4,000 to win Slinger Warehouse Super Slingshot National, a two-day event for the All Star Slingshots on August 15 & 16. The track will once again host the USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs, Pioneer Pole Building Wingless 600cc Sprints, and NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshots on a weekly basis beginning Wednesday night, May 11.
Friday night’s activities included a live broadcast of the Racers Roundtable Show, along with autograph sessions and interviews with the Racing Legends who used to compete at the Reading Fairgrounds.
Among the racing legends who took part in the interviews were Gerald Chamberlain, Kenny Brightbill, Meme DeSantis, Glenn Fitzcharles, Gary Gollub, Junior Mikosz, Russ Smith, and several others who logged laps at the Home of Champions. Rich and Diane Tobias also shared memories of Rich’s dad, the late Dick “Toby” Tobias and Diane’s husband, the late Ronnie Tobias, and their exploits at the Fairgrounds.
Saturday was also filled with autograph sessions, interviews with drivers of the past and present, a concert by rising country music performer and Berks County resident TJ Bebb, the presentation of awards, and a drawing for several raffle prizes. The prizes were donated by many area businesses and organizations and were valued from $80 to $550.
Hugely popular Alley Racing events were contested throughout the three-day show, with entrants showcasing their beautiful creations in two divisions: pre-1980 and post-1980 scale replicas of past and present racecars.
The South Mountain YMCA Summer Camps and One Wish Foundation were present throughout the show and were recipients of the proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets and other items.
Current day drivers Craig Von Dohren, Duane Howard, Ryan Watt, Ryan Smith, Joe Mooney, John Willman, Mike Bednar, and many more attended Saturday’s gathering as the 31st annual BSOHA Reading Fairgrounds Motorsports Show concluded another successful run.
JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA at the Kutztown Fairgrounds
Co-Promoters: Rich Tobias & Doug Rose
Media Contact: Barry Angstadt, Media Information Director/Announcer
610-781-0408 or Email: bwa39@comcast.net
by BARRY ANGSTADT
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