FROM THE DESK OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
THIS IS ANOTHER RIVERSIDE RUMBLINGS
3.26.08
Welcome to another edition of Riverside Rumblings with yours truly, Dick Therrien. The snow is starting to melt up at Riverside Speedway in Grovetona, New Hampshire, and hopefully by April 1, 2008, we’ll start moving stuff back in and start to prepare for the Eastman Trophy / NAPA All-Star Car show on Saturday, May 3rd. Our biggest fear right now is that of flooding. That is a major concern for everybody from the Mid-West to the Northeast. Hopefully things will warm up gradually and not get tons of rain along with the warmth. A nice gradual plan would be awesome. I was at the track today and the snow is melting pretty well.
LICENSE APPLICATIONS GO UP APRIL 1, 2008
If you have not purchased your license (driver or crewmember) for 2008, here is a reminder that the prices go up on Tuesday, April 1, 2008. This is no April Fool’s trick, so get your forms in today. Don’t go painting your car and putting a number on it if you have not reserved a number by paying for your license. No numbers are being held without payment, and if someone else has taken you’re your number, this is your own fault, and you will be asked to change it. Numbers are assigned by me and just because no one has a number when you call, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been given to someone else now.
EARLY ENTRIES LIST HUGE AT RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY
The number of driver registrations for 2008 is closing in on the century mark, as nearly one hundred drivers have registered to race at Riverside in 2008. The biggest division thus far is the North Country Ford Late Models. As of right now, 94 drivers have officially registered compared to 63 on this date last year. That is close to 33% increase over last season. Twenty-Two Late Models have registered and I am waiting on five more forms that people called in on this past week. Looks like we could see close to thirty LMS cars racing for 24 spots at our ten LMS races. Also getting a ton of interest from teams inquiring about our three, $1,000 to win, Bond Auto Parts Triple Crown Series races. I will be posting rosters on the website on Monday, April 7, 2008.
I STILL HAVE A FEW SLABS LEFT
Slabs are once again going fast this year. Right now I have several teams from last year that haven’t reserved a slab. Everyone that has requested one now has been assigned a slab for 2008. At this point I may not need to add the extra slabs if numbers don’t increase. You had until March 1st to reserve your slab, and until April 20th to pay for it. Speak now or forever hold your peace if you are going to want one. The money it will cost to put in the rest of the slabs can easily be used somewhere else for other improvements.
LICENSES
Licenses will be mailed out around the 15th of April. I mail them out at this time so that there is less chance of them being lost. Any lost license requires a $15 fee for replacement.
CHANGES IN STORE FOR 2008 FROSTBITE IN OCTOBER
There are several changes coming to the 3rd Annual Frostbite 250 this year. First off, it will now become a 250 lap event. Many complaints from fans stating that the event was too long and gets boring with only a few cars remaining at the end, have led to the event being shortened for 2008. On an exciting note, the P.A.S.S. Sportsman will have their championship event on that date. The event will be a 75 lap run, which will feature some of the top P.A.S.S. Sportsman cars from throughout the Northeast. A good field of cars is expected to be on hand for the championship event including some local teams. This should certainly make the event much more exciting.
HELP WANTED. SOME POSITIONS VACANT
I am still looking for a track photographer for the 2008 racing season. This is a paid position, and requires being at the track every race day event. The responsibilities include selling pictures in the pit area prior to the races each week, plus coordinating sales of pictures each week. There is also a few other positions open that I will post on our website in the near future. If interested, contact me at 603-636-2005, 802-626-9617, or e-mail me at dprdick@charter.net.
TENTATIVE TIRE DAY IS SCHEDULED
The first tire day sale for Late Models, Outlaws, Dwarf Cars and Super Stocks is tentatively set for Saturday, April 26, 2008. The sale will start at 10am and run until 3pm. There will be a limited number of tires available, and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. There will be a maximum of 8 tires to be sold to each Late Model and Outlaw Sportsman team. Super Stock and Dwarf cars have no limits. Super Stocks may grandfather three tires from last year, but must be stamped for 08 at $10 each. All Dwarf cars must be on the same tire this season, and must be purchased through the track. If you had these tires or got from other source, must be stamped, and there is a $10 fee to stamp each one. Tires needing to be stamped can be done tire sale day!!!
TIRE & FUEL COSTS FOR 2008
Late Model and Outlaw Sportsman tires are $116.00 each, Super Stocks are $108.00 and Dwarf Car tires are $94.00 each. Racing fuel is $7.95 per gallon. Race fuel will be cheaper if bought by the drum. A drum of fuel is going to cost $420.75, $7.65 per gallon, plus a refundable $25 drum charge, which will be refunded when returned to me. All drums need to be pre-ordered in advanced, and be prepaid. You may start ordering now for April 26, 2008 delivery. Deadline for ordering drums of fuel is April 18th.
MAKE-A-WISH TO REPLACE DAVID’S HOUSE THIS YEAR
As you all know, we do fundraising each year to help a worthy charity and to boost our point fund here at the Speedway. The past couple of years we have honored David’s House with our fundraising. This year I am pleased to announce that we will be supporting the Vermont and New Hampshire branches of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We will be raising funds during the season and our major funding event will take place on Saturday night, August 23rd, and Sunday, August 24th will feature our 3rd Annual Walkathon and Human Enduro.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR OWN MAKE-A-WISH CANDIDATE
Riverside Speedway is looking for our own Make-A-Wish candidate for 2008. We are looking for a youngster that fits the criteria for the program, and grant them a special Riverside wish. Contact the track if you know of some special youngster that would qualify.
NEW POINT FUND $$$$ RAISER
During the Kiwanis Auction in St. Johnsbury last week, Riverside Speedway gave away two special prizes. The prize included 2 pit passes for the night, a pit tour, a ride in the pacecar, pacing the field for a feature event, and being an honorary starter for a feature event. This package has a value of $250. It was highly successful as the first package went for $275, $25 more than value. The second one went for $175, thus raising $425 for this great organization. I am now thinking that this would be a great way to boost the Riverside Speedway point fund throughout the season. I am going to offer this to anyone, driver or fan, for a price of $250. There will be one deal sold for each week. All monies earned will be deposited directly into the Riverside Speedway Point Fund Account, and will be distributed at the season ending awards banquet. You can start reserving your date today. What a great gift for a family member or friend, and best of all, all of the money goes back to the race teams through the point fund. Call the track at 603-636-2005 or e-mail me at dprdick@charter.net.
ICE CREAM INVADES RIVERSIDE SPEEDWAY IN 2008
I am pleased to announce that I have reached an agreement with The Vermont Milk Company in Hardwick, Vermont to supply ice cream to sell at Riverside Speedway. Thanks to their generosity, we will have a machine set-up for people in the pit area and the grandstand section as well. This is some of the best ice cream that I have ever tasted and I am sure that you will love this treat all season long. It will be affordably priced and can be eaten in a cone, or a dish. We will also sell hot fudge sundaes as well. I know this will be a big hit!!
That’s going to do it for this edition. Keep checking out our website for new information. Talk to you soon. Hopefully I will be opening the track office on April 1st, with limited hours until snow goes away and then we will be open full time.
Dick Therrien
General Manager
Riverside Speedway