2013 Race-a-Mania - The Grand Arena - City of Industry
April 7, 2013
Practice, sound tests, lunch, points payout and a awards ceremony was the plan. Industry Racings first Speedway event of the new year had a lot of moving pieces. Staff had worked for months putting it all together. Now it was crunch time Sunday April 7, 2013.
Officially slated to open at 8am many arrived early and others including Billy Hamill and family had brought their motor homes in the day before and stayed in them overnight. Coffee, hot chocolate and about a million doughnuts that filled two large tables greeted all. The pits littered with pickups, pop-ups and people was in full motion. All preparing for the magic 8:45 time when motors could be started.
Jose Salazar and crew put the finishing touches on the racing surface as motors began to wail. Two wheels or three, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 and Juniors all took turns on the track. There was no shortage of laps. If you wanted slide time you were in the right place. Everyone got more than their share.
- Troy McConnell doing laps -
Coast Fabrication, Yoshimura, Power Pros and Scotts Headers brought their new generation mufflers for testing. Pre selected D1 riders evaluated the mufflers on track performance and DB output was measured in several locations on and off the track and property. Results will be the cornerstone of a new Speedway and Sidecar noise standard that will be implemented later this year.
Sun shinning large, practice concluded by 1pm. Food and drink, everyone moseyed to the outside court area in front of the Grand Arena’s main entrance. Erected just for this event a large tent housed tables and chairs for 200. A stage was in place for the afternoons ceremony. The area was soon filled by the Speedway faithful. Kids playing, mmm, maybe us grown-ups to. Smiles were everywhere. Love when stories are told and memories get awakened.
Food and drink flowed. Beautiful Cory Moss tended bar and even though a free lunch was only for those that rode the mornings practice and their guest it seemed to me that Industry Hills Expo Center Operations Manager Carol Perez was giving away a free lunch coupon to everyone who asked.
So show me the money! Point Payout for the 2012 season was the next agenda item. The top ten Division 1, top three Division 2 and Division 3 all went home with more money than they came with. Billy ‘The Bullet” Hamill showed why he’s won so many titles with a whopping 467.5 points, Tyson Burmeister with 363.0 was second and Charlie “The Edge” Venegas third with 353.5. Aaron Fox, Buck Blair, Shawn McConnell, Austin Novratil, John Marquez, Gino Manzares and “The Fast One” Eddie Castro bought in tenth place.
2nd Division Points Leaders were Eloy Medellin, Mike Salyer, Danny Baker and in 3rd Division Rick Howard lead the way with Craig Sprecher and Rick Huspek in the second and third position. Along with a check all Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 high point winners received a really nice plaque with their name and the Industry Racing Mascot logo on it. Congratulations to you all and Thanks for racing here at Industry on Wednesday nights.
- Division 2 High Point Rider Eloy Medellin -
Continuing, Industry Race Director Kelly Inman presented awards to Pit Steward Kenneth Hicks, Starter Mike Reed, Mr. Everything Tom Fox, Mr. I can fix anything Joe Jones, “Clipboard’ Ryan Evans, Infield Coordinator Scott Eberhart, Scoring and more Trish Wells, the guy we love to hate referee Brian Galvin and his lovely wife Dannell. Ladies and gentleman your hard work and devotion is acknowledged and appreciated. Industry Racing looks forward to working with you all again when the season starts here on May 29th.
- Kelly Inman and the Industry Racing Crew -
Carol Perez with Special Awards came next. Announcer Bruce Flanders, Expo Technical Service Manager Horacio Colmenares, Track Guru Jose Salazar, Expo girl Friday Maria Valles, Kelly and Lisa Inman and Howie Zechner all received plaques and recognition.
- Industry Hills Expo Center Operations Manager Carol Perez -
Next Northern California promoters Steve Stasiefski and Steve Elstins talked about Big Time Speedway’s 2013 season and their plans regarding Round One of the National Qualifiers on May 16th. More Big Time information is available at BigTimeSpeedway.com
- Big Time Speedway Promoters Steve Stasiefski and Steve Elstins -
International Speedway promoter Brad Oxley was the next and last speaker. Complimenting Industry, Pirate and Big Time for working together on a new muffler DB standard and for their involvement in the Qualifiers his enthusiasm was contagious. Costa Mesa’s 45th Speedway season starts April 27 and they will host Round Two of the Qualifiers on June 8th. Look them up at CostaMesaSpeedway.net.
- International Speedway Promoter Brad Oxley and Industry Racing Director Kelly Inman -
Official duties completed meant in no way that the day was done. Bench racing reached a new high as talk of death defying stunts, how to save Speedway and who the best rider is or was continued for several more hours.
Speedway’s 10th season here at the Industry Hills Expo Center starts on Wednesday May 29th. Last years 13 week schedule has been expanded to include a United States National Championship Qualifier on Saturday August 3rd and the Junior Speedway Silver Trophy Saturday August 17th (tentative). Last years Monster Energy World Speedway Invitational will return on December 28th.
United States National Qualifier Promoters (R to L) Roger Hyden, Pirate Speedway - Steve Elstins, Big Time Speedway - Carol Perez, Industry Racing - Jaleen Oxley, International Speedway - Steve Stasiefski, Big Time Speedway - Shawn McConnell, Pirate Speedway – Brad Oxley, International Speedway - Howie Zechner, Industry Racing.
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Howie Zechner
Press Officer
Industry Racing
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