07/31/2003

L.I. RACING REUNION AND HOT ROD SHOW SET FOR RIVERHEAD AUGUST 24.

    Mark Sunday August 24th down on your calendar if you love the glory days and machines from Long Island's rich auto racing history.  Hot Rods of the era will be included in 2003 as well. It all happens in the pit area of Riverhead Raceway during the annual Freeport Stadium, Islip Speedway and Riverhead Raceway reunion starting at 10:00 am.
    Not only will the vintage racecars be on hand for viewing but also during the Eastern Kart Racing Association program slated for the afternoon, these classic machines will actually see track time! As always Marty Himes of the Himes Museum of Auto Racing Nostalgia will be on hand.  Through his Bay Shore museum Marty single-handedly keeps racing history alive. Himes will have his 1956 Crown Victoria dubbed the Liberty Special on hand.
    Among the many vintage race cars from bygone era of stock car and midget racing expected are the famed X-3 Vega of Jim Hendrickson, both the "Chargin" Charlie Jarzombek Coupe and Vega, the 3K Coach of Mousey Kempster along with the 590 of Axel Anderson with son Wayne at the wheel. Over the past years cars like the J6 Coupe of Jackie Reinhardt, the 15x Sedan of Billy Spade, Geoff Bodine's #1 Pinto and the Ambrose #7-11 of Joe Krukowski have been on hand and are expected on August 24th. Many of the driving stars from Freeport, Islip and Riverhead will gather to do some bench racing and relive the glory days of racing on the Island while sifting through the photo books many bring with them.
    Bill Denniston and Wayne Shortmeyer of Riverhead Raceway also announced the a Custom Car and Hot Rod Show will join the festivities for 2003 and hopefully for years to come. Cash Prizes and Trophies will be awarded to many different categories. Among them will be Best Hot Rod, Best Overall, Best Paint and Best Engine are just a small sampling of the money and hardware to be given out. Both Denniston and Shortmeyer have hit the Tuesday night Bald Hill Car Show in Selden in an effort to promote the August 24th event.
    There will be a $10 entry fee for Hot Rods with Spectator admission just $5. Anyone who has a classic stock car that ran on Long Island or in the Northeast that would like to be part of the L.I. Racing Reunion can come out.  You don't need an invitation! To pre-register for the Hot Rod portion of the afternoon please call Wayne Shortmeyer at 631-727-5085 for more information and entry blank.
    The show will run from 10:00 am until approximately 6:00 pm on Sunday August 24th. So come on out and "show us your flathead!"

Sources:  Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 31, 2003