News
Posted 03/03/2009 - 00:35 by admin
Check back frequently to find out the latest news about Racing For Kids!
The Race For Sponsors is going on now!
Auto Racers for Kids Charities would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers, drivers, and event attendees for another great year of raising funds for children's charities.
Rain caused many problems for the 2009 schedule. The 08/20/09 Golf Classic had beautiful sunny weather, then we went to Lake Erie Speedway for the Dirt vs. Pavement Shootout. Heavy rains cancelled the event at 8:00 p.m. after only two races. The 08/28/09 race at Eriez Speedway was run with intermittent rain showers and threatening skies all day.
Even with all of the bad weather, ARK was able to distribute $34,000 to local children's charities.
Please look at the 2010 Event page and see the great program we have for 2010. Though plans are not complete, it will be a great event!
Press Release: December 2009
2010 EVENT DATES:
"THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN GOLF CLASSIC"
- Thursday, June 24, 2010
- Lakeview Country Club
- Tee-Off at 10:00 a.m.
- Party and auction at Lake Erie Speedway following golf
- $150/player or $500/foursome
- For additional information, contact Dave Stewart at Dave.stewart@surferie.net
Press Releases: June 2009
2009 EVENT DATES:
07/06/09: Car show at Liberty Park
August 2, 2009
Auto Racers for Kids Night at Eriez Speedway
August 20, 2009
“Thunder on the Mountain” Golf Classic at Lake View Country Club in North East, PA
August 20, 2009
“Lake/Eriez Shootout” Part I at Lake Erie Speedway
August 28, 2009
“Lake/Eriez Shootout” Part II at Eriez Speedway
2009 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
07/06/09: Car Show – Cruisin the Bay Car Show at Liberty Park
- Look for Auto Racers for Kids near the Lake Erie Speedway location.
- Come and see the L.E.S. race cars and the A.R.K. classics.
- Make a donation for the kids of Erie County who need our help.
08/02/09: Auto Racers for Kids Night at Eriez Speedway
- Come out to the area’s most exciting dirt track to see a great night of dirt racing, including a big pay-out E Mod race.
- Many give-aways from Auto Racers for Kids.
- Support A.R.K. by attending this big night of racing, as part of the gate proceeds are being donated to Auto Racers for Kids Charities, Inc.
- **A big thanks to Eriez Speedway and owners Bob and Kathy Rohrer.
08/20/09: “Thunder on the Mountain” Golf Classic to support Auto Racers for Kids
- Held at Lake View Country Club in North East, PA
- 8:30 a.m. Registration
- 10:00 a.m. Shotgun start
- Event is a scramble
- Skill shot prizes
- Lunch at turn
- On-course refreshments
- Dinner, sports auction, awards and night of great racing at VIP Suite at Lake Erie Speedway at 4:00 p.m.
- $150 per golfer
- $500 for prepaid foursome registering together
- Golf with a great dirt or pavement racing star!
08/20/09: “Lake/Eriez Shootout” Part I at Lake Erie Speedway starting at 5:00 p.m.
- This show will provide some of the most interesting and exciting racing Erie has even seen!
- See Scott Bonnell and the 360 and 410 winged dirt sprint cars race on the fast 3/8 mile pavement of L.E.S. Scott set a track record at 13.47 seconds in last year’s event. That record will surely fall this year. See some of the biggest names in dirt sprint racing in northwest PA.
- Also appearing that night will be Frank Guidace and some of northwest PA’s best 358 dirt modified drivers. See these 800 horsepower monsters tackle the L.E.S. pavement. Those at L.E.S. on 5/23/09 saw Frank put down 50 very fast laps in his modified doing some tire test hot laps.
- We also have the Stewart Financial Service Modified Invitational. It will be a 35 lap invitational for the L.E.S. modifieds. First place money will be the biggest pay out of the year.
- Our featured race will be the Lake/Eriez Shoot Out, featuring the dirt late model stars vs. the L.E.S. pavement stars. This will be Round 1 of the 2 round invitational to crown the best late model driver in this region. Last year saw only the dirt stars with David (Slow Ride) Scott taking the title of “Best Dirt Star on Pavement,” even though Dick Barton stated David cheated. This will be a race to remember. They all will be driving L.E.S. modifieds.
STARS LIST:
|
DIRT Dick Barton |
PAVEMENT Will Thomas |
This will be a night to remember—bring your camera!
Ticket prices:
$5.00 per adult; or
$8.00 per adult for 2 event ticket
*under 12 free.
08/28/09: “Lake/Eriez Shootout” Part II at the dirt track of Eriez Speedway.
- The Best of the Best Champion will be crowned this night. The dirt stars will square off vs. the pavement stars in Eriez street stock race cars.
- Also on the program, we will be featuring a 100 lap Enduro Race paying $1,000 to win with a $500 bonus to any driver who finishes in the top 20 at the Mercer Raceway Park Enduro in July. This will be a wild one; 100 laps – no yellow flags.
- We will also feature a jet-powered car program that will excite everyone.
- We will also have the finals of the Auto Racers for Kids Charities Bike Race. Qualifiers will be held at Mercer Raceway Park, Lernerville, and Eriez Speedway. Each winner in finals will receive a new bike.
This will be a great racing and family entertainment night – Don’t Miss It!
Ticket prices:
$5.00 per adult; or
$8.00 per adult for 2 event ticket
*under 12 free.
2009 Corporate Sponsors (at press time)
Plyler Overhead Door, Bonnell Collision, Harley Davidson of Erie, Northwest Savings Bank, Jay’s Auto Wrecking, Marquette Savings Bank, Bonded Services, Steward Financial Services, Rohrer Trucking, Eriez Speedway, The Prischak Family, Lake Erie Speedway, Attorney Thomas Talarico, Marsh Spaeder Baur Spaeder & Schaaf LLC Attorneys at Law, Doug Cornielus-State Farm, Lake Shore Industrial Services, Dr. Mark Baker, Guzik Racing.
Press Releases: September 2008
Racing For Kids Charities announces the addition of Carl Bowser and Terry Bowser
Erie, PA (September 8, 2008) - Racing For Kids Charities announces the addition of Carl Bowser and Terry Bowser with Scott Bonnell in the “Down And Dirty” dirt drivers invade Lake Erie Speedway on 9/17/08, in the Bonnell Collision Dirt Sprint Car Exhibition. Other well known sprint car drivers are possible additions.
- #9 Will Thomas 2008 Champion
- #91 Greg Hoover 2002 Champion
- #32 Glen Gault Jr. Past Champion
- #86 John Gallagher
- #99 Tim Card
- #69 Josh John
- #45 Rick Boyer
- #4 Bret Guzik
- #52 Joe Bizzaro
- #18 Bill Catania
- #17 Chris Bailey Jr.
- #19 Chris Bathman
Also the dirt stars field is set with the following group racing Lake Erie Speedway Sportmods and many showing off their dirt super late models on the pavement. The field is:
- Ron Davies (on the flag stand)
- Dutch Davies
- Dave Hess Jr.
- Rich Gardner
- David Scott
- Boom Briggs
- Dick Barton
- Bob Close
- Chris Hacket
- Todd Andrews
- Chub Frank
- Rob Blair
- Chad Ruhlman
Press Releases: August 2008
Racing for Kids Announces Purse and Format for Sept. 17.
Erie, PA (August 16, 2008) - The purse and format have been released for the Plyler Overhead Door/ Racing For Kids late model invitational at Lake Erie speedway on 9/17/08. The purse for the 13 starters will be $3,950 with $1,000 to the winner and $200.00 guaranteed for all starters.
The format will be pill draw for starting position. 1st segment will be 15 laps then a caution to invert the field. Then segment 2 will be 20 laps.
The full schedule for “ The Thunder On The Mountain Golf Classic” and “Down And Dirty” Dirt Stars invade Lake Erie Speedway is as follows.
8:30 AM Golf registration at upper course of Peek-N-Peak
9:30 AM Race car parade at upper course of Peek-N-Peak
10:00 AM Shot gun start of golf tournament
3:00 PM Pit gates open
4:00 PM-5:30 PM Open practice by division
4:00 PM Spectator gates open
4:00 PM VIP suite gates opens (VIP ticket only)
4:45 PM Down & Dirty Drivers Meet & Greet in VIP suite (VIP ticketholders Only)
5:30-6:30 PM Down & Dirty Drivers autograph session (At main grandstand)
6:30 PM Sportmods heat #1
7:00 PM Down & Dirty Drivers sportmods heat 1&2 (5 laps each)
Bonnell Collison Dirt Sprint Car Exhibition
Down & Dirty Drivers With Super Late Models on track for exhibition
Nascar Late Model Stars Introduction
Plyler Overhead Door Late Model Invitational (35 laps)
Rand Machine Products “Down & Dirty” Feature (10 laps)
Bonnell Collision Dirt Sprint Car Exhibition
Lake Erie Speedway Sportmod Feature (10 laps)
Pit gates open to all spectators at conclusion of racing
Race memorabilia auction in front of grandstands during event
“Down & Dirty” drivers autograph session will be first come first serve. Autographs will only be done on “Down & Dirty” posters available at: Eriez Speedway (8/17), Stateline Speedway (8/23), TriCity Speedway (8/30), Little Valley Speedway (9/6), Lake Erie Speedway (9/6) and the night of the event (9/17) for a $3.00 donation.
Boom Briggs Added to the Down and Dirty Line-Up
Erie, PA (August 5, 2008) - Racing for Kids Charities announced today the addition of Boom Briggs to the star-studded dirt super late model line-up for Down and Dirty dirt starts invade Lake Erie Speedway on 9/17/08. Ron Davies will be unable to drive in the Rand Machine Down and Dirty event. Ron’s spot will be filled by Boom Briggs and Ron will be in the Flagman’s Tower flagging the big event. Boom Briggs will join Chub Frank, Dick Barton, Chad Ruhlman, David Scott, Dutch Davies, Bob Close, Todd Andrews, Rob Blair, Dave Hess Jr., Rich Gardner, and Chris Hackett wheeling Lake Erie Speedway sportmods in the Down and Dirty event on 9/17/08. This group has in the area of 1000 super late model wins, 100 track championships and wins in some of the largest races in America. Several have beaten the World of Outlaw touring stars in the World of Outlaw events.
You will also see many of these stars wheeling their dirt super late models on the Lake Erie Speedway pavement.
Scott Bonnell is currently talking to as many as ten 410 winged dirt sprint car drivers about joining him for exhibition racing on the pavement at Lake Erie Speedway. Names of these sprint car stars will be released at a later date.
Also on this tremendous card at Lake Erie Speedway will be the Nascar Plyer Overhead Door late model invitational for pavement stars. The tentative line-up for this race includes Will Thomas, Joe Bizzaro, Glenn Gault, Jimmy Wheeler, Norm Taylor, John Gallagher, Tim Card, Josh John, Rick Boyer, Bret Guzik, David Rigan, Matt Barndt & Greg Hoover.
The last Group on the schedule will be the Lake Erie Speedway Sportmods running a charity feature. Names of the sportmod star will be released at a later date.
This event shapes up to be one of the biggest racing events in Northwest Pennsylvania racing history.
Stop by the Racing For Kids Charities blue tent to get your dirt super late model stars poster for $3.00, free tickets to the 9/17/08 event and also the tickets for the autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Helmet for $5.00.
Track Schedule for posters, tickets and autographs:
Press Releases: July 2008
Win an Autographed Dale Earnhardt Jr. Race Helmet
Erie, PA (July 14, 2008) - Racing For Kids Charities is raffling a Dale Earnhardt Jr. race helmet, autographed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. The helmet is a full face red Budweiser helmet. Tickets are $5.00 per ticket or 3 tickets for $10.00. The helmet will be raffled off at the 9/17/08 “Down And Dirty” racing event at Lake Erie Speedway, featuring 12 dirt super late model stars, David Scott, Chad Ruhlman, Todd Andrews, Bob Close, Ron Davies, Dutch Davies, Rich Gardner, Dave Hess, Chris Hackett, Rob Blair, Dick Barton and Chub Frank. Also appearing will be Scott Bonnell and friends with their 410 winged dirt sprint cars. A Nascar Late Model Invitational will also be on the program. Tickets can be purchased at Sharon Speedway 7/26/08, Eriez Speedway 7/27/08, McKean County raceway 7/31/08, Tri City Speedway 8/30/08, Little Valley Speedway 9/6/08 and Lake Erie Speedway on 7/19/08 and 8/9/08. Tickets are also available at Stewart Financial Services at 1946 West 26th Street Erie PA or call 814-454-2472. You need not be present to win, but if you are present at the 9/17/08 “Down And Dirty” event and you are the winner you can pick the dirt star of your choice to take you on several hot laps in the Lake Erie Speedway Nascar late model, a great chance to break in your Dale Earnhardt Jr. helmet.
Join Racing for Kids Charities for "Thunder On The Mountain" Golf Classic
Erie, PA (July 14, 2008) - Racing For Kids Charities will be presenting the “Thunder On The Mountain” Golf Classic on 9/17/08 at the upper course at Peak-N-Peak Resort. The event will start at 9:30 am with the “Parade Of Race Cars” to the upper course club house. The golf event will be started by the sound of race car engines thundering across the mountain. They have several openings to play 18 holes with one of the regions great dirt super late model stars. At the conclusion of the golf event all players are invited back to the VIP suite at Lake Erie Speedway for the “Down And Dirty Dirt Invades Lake Erie Speedway.” That event consists of the Rand Machine Products “Down And Dirty” super late model dirt race, The Bonnell Collision Winged Dirt Sprint Car Exhibition and Plyer Overhead Door Nascar Late Model Invitational. You will also have the opportunity to meet all the dirt stars up close and a live auction of many great items. A catered buffet dinner will also be served. Cost is $150.00 per person or $500.00 per foursome. Reservations can be made by calling Stewart Financial Services at 814-454-2472 or visit us at Racing For Kids Erie.com.
Bonnell’s Collision “Wings On The Pavement” Dirt Sprint Car Exhibition at Lake Erie Speedway
Erie, PA (July 14, 2008) - 410 Winged Dirt Sprint Car Driver Scott Bonnell will be appearing at Racing For Kids Charities “Down And Dirty” Dirt Invades Lake Erie Speedway on 9/17/08. Scott has been talking to some of the regions best dirt sprint car drivers about testing the pavement at Lake Erie Speedway with their 410 winged dirt sprint cars. They will be running with Scott in the Bonnell’s Collision “Wings On The Pavement” dirt sprint car exhibition on 9/17/08 at Lake Erie Speedway. If you have never seen the sprint cars run in person, this is an event you won’t want to miss: dirt winged sprint cars on pavement. Scott and his friends will round out the event which consists of the 12 dirt super late model stars racing pavement Sport-Mods in the Rand Machine Products “Down And Dirty” Dirt invades Lake Erie Speedway. Also with 12 of the best pavement late models running in a 30 lap invitational race in the Plyer Overhead Door Nascar Late Model Invitational. You can log on to Racingforkidserie.com for more information.
Press Release: June 2008
Top Dirt Late Model Drivers to race at Lake Erie Speedway for "Racing for Kids" charities!!!
Erie, PA (June 4, 2008) - Twelve of this area's top dirt Late Model drivers have agreed to compete in a special event to be held at Lake Erie Speedway in September of this year. The extravaganza, set to happen Wednesday, September 17, brings together the best dirt-track talent ever assembled on pavement for a race in locally-owned Lake Erie Speedway Sport-Mods, a new division competing on the oval at Northeast, PA. The Sport-Mods, very similar to dirt E-Mods, will be utilized by the twelve for a race to benefit the charities supported by "Racing for Kids", a local group of businessmen who have taken it upon themselves to help out local children in need.
Drivers who will appear at the FREE event include Dick Barton, Chub Frank, Dutch Davies, Ron Davies, Bob Close, Todd Andrews, David Scott, Rob Blair, Rich Gardner, Chad Ruhlman, Chris Hackett, and Dave Hess Jr. Many of these drivers have decided to bring their regular dirt mounts to the track for some exhibition driving. Remember, these drivers have very limited experience on paved race tracks, most with none at all! Hess and Ruhlman both brought their dirt E-Mods to Lake Erie Speedway and experienced limited success running against pavement E-Mods in a special event in 2006. Barton spent a night testing at the speedway with his FASTRAK Late Model, lifting the left front at every turn.
The drivers include many, many track championships as well as champions from ULMS and the STARS Renegade Tour, the 2007 winner of the Dirt Track World Championship and the 2004 World 100, both marquee events in the world of dirt track racing. The special event for the Dirt Late Model drivers is titled the "Rand Machine Products Down & Dirty", for event sponsor Rand Machine Products.
Along with the racing for the Dirt Track Late Model Drivers, a special Pavement Late Model feature will be held with 16 of the area's best pavement Late Models competing in the Plyler Overhead Door Late Model Invitational. A full list of the pavement Late Models will be released at a later date.
That's not all! Erie driver Scott Bonnell will have his Dirt Sprint car on hand as well as several other top area Sprinters. Several of the drivers will put on an exhibition race for the fans sponsored by Bonnell Collision of Erie.
All the racing action will follow an afternoon golf outing for the drivers and interested public at the Peek 'n' Peak "Upper Course at Findley Lake, NY, a profession-level course, used in the past by the PGA for tournaments. The event starts at 9:30 AM with the "Thunder on the Mountain" parade of race cars to the course. At 10:00 AM the "Shotgun" start will happen to the tune of 700-horsepower racecar engines being stared. After the rumbling has settled, the tournament will begin. At 4:00 PM the golfers will all start out for the VIP Dinner and Party, including a driver 'meet and greet' at the VIP Suite at Lake Erie Speedway.
All proceeds from the events of September 17th will go to the "Racing for Kids" Charities, including pre-event sales of posters, and raffle of a helmet worn and autographed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Auctions will also be held to raise money.
© 2008 Auto Racers for Kids Charities, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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