This message was edited on
August 28, 2009 at
09:15:50 PM by RACERX3C
$800 has been donated for the sprint car heat race winners at next week's Louie Vermeil Classic. Each of the heat winners will be paid $100 cash over the two night event. It's just another way that the fan support has made a difference in this special event.
Many members of the Sereni family will be in attendance just as Mario Sereni was last year. Known for his ability to fabricate anything under the sun, Mario was also an avid outdoorsman, family man, and a good friend to all. Heat Race #1 will Honor long time Calistoga resident and race fan, Mario Sereni.
Another family that has been coming to the races for decades are the Blakeley's. Les Blakeley raced at Calistoga when racing was dangerous (real dangerous) and Les had blood filled eyes more than once to prove it. He gave this driver his first fire suit and his son gave my son his first sprint car. Heat Race #2 will Honor Calistoga racer, Les Blakeley.
Don Meyer raced against Les during those same dangerous times. Don's dad, Elmer helped his son race motorcycles, midgets and then sprint cars. Elmer Meyer owned the local auto-parts store for many years just across a parking lot from Louie's Owl Garage. Don and his dad were the typical all American father/son race team. Don told me "I couldn't have done it without Dad". Heat Race #3 will Honor Don's dad, Elmer Meyer.
Dave Heath could always be found at the race track. Either working on a pit crew, pushing off race cars, or pacing the field in his beautiful street legal sprinter. Dave and Clovis were always the nicest people at the track, and I'm sure Clovis will get a lot of votes again this year. While the drivers lined the front chute, Dave drove the lap in memory of Louie Vermeil at Calistoga after his passing. The Truex family would like to Honor Dave Heath in Heat Race #4.
$800 is not a lot of money in the racing world, but I hope that it means something to the drivers when they pull off a heat race win next weekend at Calistoga.
Thank you to ALL the contributors of this year's Louie Vermeil Classic. We hope everyone will come and enjoy the show.
Chad Hawkins
|
