$3000 to win; $10,000 will go to season ending champion
by Bill Sullivan, Handy Racing Promotions Media Relations
PLACERVILLE – Race fans from El Dorado County and the surrounding communities are gearing up for one of the biggest night of open wheel racing in the sierra foothills as Placerville Speedway pays homage to a legacy in local racing. This Saturday, it's time for the 8th Annual Tribute to Al Hinds at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
This event will feature the fire-breathing sprint cars of the Civil War Sprint Car Series in their highest paying regular event of the season with a $3000 to win event sponsored by Thompson's Auto and Truck Centers of Placerville. Eight years ago this event was born after the passing of the well known early track promoter and mentor, Al Hinds when the now defunct Family Chevrolet collaborated with Placerville Speedway to produce what has become one of the most recognized annual tribute races in the region.
When the economic downtown forced the closure of Family Chevrolet last fall, there was concern this great race was in jeopardy but thanks to the generous forthcoming of longtime area auto dealer Ron Thompson the legacy of Al Hinds continues in grand fashion this Saturday night. Not only will Saturday's winner pick up the $3000 victory that includes a $1000 bonus sponsored by Thompson, the evening will conclude with the crowning of the richest Civil War Series Champion in the history of the campaign.
Al Hinds was the second promoter of Placerville Speedway. He took operation of the track from its founder, Bruno Romani, in 1968, three years after it first opened when the facility was built around an existing community football field. Since that time, Placerville Speedway has become one of the top auto racing venues in Northern California, much due to the efforts of Hinds, who brought the community together with what was known as a rough and tumble facet of the sport back in the day.
From the day he set foot on the red clay at Placerville Speedway to the very last race he attended, Hinds continued to display his true love for auto racing and the community in which he brought it to. Even in his final years he continued to help young drivers, entertain fans and most importantly he spent a great deal of time talking to and mentoring many of those who are involved with the operations of the facility today, from officials, announcers and even the track promoter himself. When Hinds spoke, anyone who cared remotely about the future of the sport would sit down and listen.
When Hinds managed Placerville Speedway, the cars in competition were nothing like they were today. In Hinds' later days of life, Cast iron transitioned into aluminum. Titanium began to replace just about anything that could break and aerodynamics became a factor on cars that now carry computerized scoring equipment that records speeds nearing 100 mph. However, none of that changed Hinds' classic theory in the business of racing promotions; if you build it they will come.
"I miss that old guy, it didn't matter that the cars have changed and are going twice as fast they were back then, he knew how to promote racing and he still knew how to prep a track, " recalled Alan Handy, promoter of Placerville Speedway and the Civil War Series. "He would come out here during the week and sit for hours and watch the grader. If he saw me doing something wrong, he told me his opinion. He was almost always right."
The operator of a local machine shop by trade, Hinds loved the community where he lived. In his final years of life he enjoyed sitting with some of his best friends every night in the grandstands at Placerville Speedway and loved watching young talent make a name for themselves in the sport. This Saturday, such talent is sure to fill the field more than Hinds would ever imagine.
For the first time since the birth of the Civil War Sprint Car Series, the championship will payout more than double it's original amount thanks to additional funds granted by Hoosier Racing Tires in an agreement with Handy Racing Promotions before the beginning of the year. This Saturday night, one race team will not only earn the coveted title as the 2011 California Sprint Car Civil War Series Champion, they will also earn an impressive $10,000 prize.
"This definitely has changed the level of competition in this series this year," said current point leader Andy Forsberg of Auburn. "This championship is far from over, I think the real battle is ahead this weekend."
This year Forsberg has become the driver that race fans love to hate, the driver known as Mr. Excitement has already claimed the Placerville Speedway weekly championship with more wins than anyone else. Now, Forsberg is in the position to claim a record breaking sixth Civil War Series title on Saturday night. However, that coveted title will likely not be determined until the final checkered flag waves at the conclusion of the $3000 to win feature event.
"When this much money is on the line we tend to take a lot more chances if we have a shot at winning it," said Forsberg a five time winner in the series in 2011. "By no means is my point lead safe going into this weekend. You have the championship paying more than ever and you have a race that pays $3000 to win that will attract a lot of top drivers. Everyone will be going for it and I have to make sure I have something to offer in the end if we want this title."
This weekend features a Civil War double header with competitors racing at Ocean Speedway on Friday night prior to Placerville's swan song event. Entering the weekend, Forsberg holds a mere 22-point lead in the standings. In one event a driver can earn as many as 80 points. It's simple, do the math and its obvious that Mr. Excitement and his F&F Team will need to live up to his name this weekend.
Presently, Forsberg's biggest threat is Sacramento's Kyle Hirst. Hirst is a one time feature event winner and four time heat race winner which has kept him in close striking distance of Forsberg for the lead. Steven Tiner, who won the last Civil War event at Placerville, is third in standings and well in striking distance as well. Tiner is 26-points out of the lead and is the third and final driver in the hunt for the title. Former two time champion Sean Becker of Roseville is fourth in the standings, 86-points out of the lead.
Rounding out the top five in the ranks is Penngrove's Alissa Geving. Geving continues to hold the record as the youngest female sprint car champion in the world after winning the Petaluma Speedway title at just 16 years of age. Now at 19, Geving is a three time Petaluma champion and a former Civil War Rookie of the year and is looking to end her season with a top five in the ranks.
Jeremy Burt of Grass Valley is one notch out of the top five over Herman Klein of Sacramento, Mike Henry of Citrus Heights, Nicole Miller of Elk Grove and Chase Johnson of Penngrove. In addition to the 30 or more Civil War Series regulars, additional entrants expected Saturday night include Placerville's own Jimmy Trulli, Scott Russell, CJ Humphreys, Matt Barber and more. It is also rumored that a handful of drivers that normally race in the 410 sprint car ranks may take to the red clay. Among those possible entries would be Grass Valley's Jason Statler and the always exciting Tim Kaeding of San Jose.
Saturday's event is expected to become standing room only due to the caliber of competition and the expected winnings along with the following the Tribute to Al Hinds continues to have with the local business community. An early arrival to the speedway is suggested to insure ideal seating. In addition to the championship, the Tribute to Al Hinds will also host the return of the third annual "Hug Your Flagman" night with details to be released.
Tickets will go on sale at the speedway starting at 5 p.m. Qualifying will begin at 6:30. Saturday's program will consist of heat races, preliminary events all leading up to the final 30-lap feature event containing 22 firebreathing sprint cars. Adult tickets will be $16, seniors $14 juniors $12 and children $6. Those under six will be admitted for free.
- Bill Sullivan on Sep 20, 2011
- Article Date: 9/20/2011 by Bill Sullivan/ Handy Racing Promotions Media