Start Your Engines: Orange Show set to go green

Opening night will feature ‘full contact’ Figure 8 racing

By Jim Short, OSS PR

SAN BERNARDINO – Saturday night, when Orange Show Speedway opens its 60th Anniversary season, contact won’t be encouraged, but it will be inevitable.

“Figure 8 racing is definitely a contact sport,” said Rod Proctor, of Riverside, who drove to a ninth place finish in last year’s Figure 8 World Championships at Indianapolis. “There’s bumping and grinding going on through the corners and out of the corners and in the intersection. But it’s really fast racing, and there’s room for a lot of side by side competition.

“The best thing about Orange Show Speedway is the high banked cornering, so you can run two cars deep into the corner and down the straightaway. It’s a two-groove track so we’ll have some of the best Figure 8 racing that’s been around in a long time.”

Proctor, who has worked with speedway Director of Motorsports Joe Ganino Jr. to bring the popular form of competition back to the track at the National Orange Show Events Center, said he has assurances from Figure 8 regulars that there will be a minimum of 14 cars on the grid Saturday night, when the Outlaw Figure 8’s are joined by the more familiar ASA Late Models, ASA Stock Ponys, Legends Cars and a Demolition Derby.

Proctor will not be among Saturday’s Figure 8 entries, however. He said he is putting the finishing touches on a new, Chevrolet-powered race car and will make his debut at round two of the series, March 17. But he’ll be an interested observer at the Orange Show Speedway return of a form of racing he said requires “speed, good judgment calls and a lot of guts.

“When you have two cars going 65 miles an hour aiming at each other (heading for the Figure 8 crossover), you have to have good calls and a lot of guts. You’re looking ahead to see if you can make it. But if you’re committed there’s no stopping and you’re hoping the other guy slows his car. If he doesn’t, that’s when parts fly everywhere.”

Jim Conklin of Big Bear is Orange Show Speedway’s defending champion in the Late Model class, which averaged 15 cars per race and had seven different winners in 13 events. Jim Mardis of Riverside is the reigning Stock Pony champion.

Spectator gates will open and qualifying will begin at 5 p.m. with the first race at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and over), military personnel and juniors (13-16), and $2 for children (6-12). Parking is $4, with entry through Gate 3 off Mill Street.

The opening night program also will include the debut of the “Orange Show Speedway Live” broadcast from 8 to 9 p.m. on radio station KTDD (1350 AM). The radio program, hosted by speedway announcer Greg Cozzo, will air on each of the 30 nights of stock car racing on this year’s schedule. Saturday’s show also will be simulcast on the Internet at http://www.nixacountry.net/.

Independent country music artist Becca (Hennesy) will sing the National Anthem and sign autographs, everyone in attendance will receive an Orange Show Speedway schedule poster, there will be a bounce house for the younger children, and the speedway gift shop and museum will be open.

In addition, drivers from the Drift Buffet will put on a demonstration of drifting during intermission, and members of the Orange Show Quarter Midget Racing Association will have their cars on display and be available to answer questions about their series.

Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas Oil,  Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, KTDD AM radio 1350, Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank’s Radio Service, Parker Pumper/BSR West, JP Striping, Center Chevrolet, Pepsi, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Matich Corporation, La Salle Medical Associates, Extreme Exhibits & Logistics and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper.

For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649 or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call 909-888-6788, X438, or visit the web site at http://www.nosevents.com/.