02/29/2004

NEETS TURNS KEY AND REVS UP FOR 2004 SEASON

  North East Enduro Tour Series promoter, Billy B, kicked off the 2004 season with a large display at the World of Racing Motorsports car show in Kingston,Pa. this past weekend. The NEETS officials were on hand to answer any questions interested drivers had on this unique touring series. The 2004 rulebooks for both the 6/8 cyl touring cars and the 4cyl mini series cars were available as well as the new schedule cards. Billy has exclaimed he talked to more than a few new drivers that will be racing on the tour this year.

  After surpassing the goals he had for surviving the toils of any "first year" touring series, Billy has made many changes to his successful tour to improve some different areas he thought needed a little help. He re-vamped the rulebook to make it more affordable than it already was. The rules are now geared toward a one division basic bonestock car for the 6/8 cyl tour division. The 4cyl mini series class will now be running for championship points and will also recieve trophies and a basic point fund until sponsorship is aquired for them which is hopeful for this season. The 6/8 cyl division 2003 top ten recieved their beautiful championship trophies in November at Genetti's/Best Western, Hazleton,Pa. where they shared in a first year points fund equal to that, or more than some top divisions at many area speedways.

  The big tour news of the season was a "one way" radio system implemented for the upcoming season. Billy feels that this will help very much in the safety areas as well as saving time and making calls while the racers are on the track. "I have been using this system at my speedway for 3 years now and I couldn't imagine going without it". "When in the hands of the right official, the system saves time, saves injury, saves equipment and keeps the drivers informed on what is going on at all times making the show look more professional to the fans" says Billy. " I think all the tracks in the North east will be using this affordable system in the next few years". The idea was offered to the tour members and voted unanimous to use the scanner system. The cost to the driver is under $100 for a programmable scanner and earpiece that can be purchased at the store of choice.

  The 2004 tour schedule is 99% complete and released, with all tracks secured but only waiting on dates for a few speedways that will coincide with all concerned parties open dates. The tour will be holding events in Pa. NY and NJ. The 3 most important races on the tour, the season opener, the mid-season championship, and the fall season BRE 250 championship will be held at Mountain speedway because of the NASCAR transponder scoring and is considered to be NEETS hometrack. Tioga Motorsports Park, Kauneonga Speedway, Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway have also been placed on the schedule for the second year. Moc-A-Tek Speedway has been added as a new track and should prove to be very exciting racing 100 laps on a 1/4 mile dirt track with no yellows. The last suprise was when Billy added the 1.35 mile roadcourse of "Raceway Park" Englishtown, NJ. The date is tentative, because the track is not completed as of this printing but in talking to the owners they feel that they will be open by late summer, hence a September race date was added. Two other tracks (Wall Township and Bridgeport) are contemplating dates and will be added as soon as agreed.

   There are 2 dates on the tour that will be non-point events. After the suprisingly successful mid-winter January 3rd junk car race appropriately called the "Beater with Heaters" race which attracted over 140 cars from 8 states, plus packed the stands at Mountain Speedway, Billy has again scheduled the "2nd annual "Beaters" race for Jan 1st 2005. A second junk car race is now in the making and scheduled for July 4th at Mountain which he said he is already getting calls from as far away as Florida for entries. This will be called the "FIRECRACKER SMACKER" on the 4th of "JUNKLY". He also added he will put together no more than these two junk car races per year as he does not want to "overkill" this as most promoters do when they find a good thing and ruin it.

   The North East Enduro Tour Series has in one short season risen above the critics early words to be one of the most unique and affordable ways to go racing there is today. Where else can you win in one or two races what you have invested in your race car, let alone a nice point fund.  It offers family oriented fun for all, travel, driver recognition, press exposure, experience at different tracks and surfaces, and most of all a management team that cares about its members.

For more information on the NEETS tour go to www.neetstour.net or contact the tour promoter at billy@neetstour.net

Sources:  Dale Wolbrink/North vs. South Shootout PR
Posted:  March 3, 2004