Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
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PRESS RELEASE, PLACERVILLE SPEEDWAY, PLACERVILLE, CA
FROM THE OFFICE OF JOHN PADJEN MOTORSPORTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: BILL SULLIVAN: [email protected]
Placerville Speedway pays $5000 to win Saturday for 3rd Annual Mark Forni Classic
Promoters, fans and drivers pay tribute to the man who said what he would do and did what he said when it came to supporting the community, the county fair and local auto racing.

PLACERVILLE, CA - This Saturday night will be a special night at Placerville Speedway as the evening will pay tribute to the late Mark Forni. At the end of the night a member of the Pacific Sprint division will take home the richest victory of the year as the business community has come together once again to bring the win to an impressive $5000.
The Forni family has a great history in El Dorado County and deep ties to the ElDorado County Fairground and much of the land on which it sits. Much like his forefathers, Mark Forni had a great passion for the county fair and its attributes, especially the race track. From the time he was a young child and the days when Placerville Speedway was known as “Old Hangtown Speedway,” Mark was actively involved with the weekly auto races, always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need involved with the sport he loved.
Later in life, Mark continued his contributions to local auto racing, sponsoring many race teams with his business, Forni’s Trucking. He later became a member of the El Dorado County Fair Board and focused on the issues regarding the future of the fair and the speedway. Mark Forni believed in working relationships. He understood the importance of race promoters, sponsorships and the one key element for every event to be successful, the spectator. “Mark Forni was a guy that just got things done for anyone,” said Placerville Speedway promoter, Alan Padjen. “He would often come to me if we had a problem or an issue and would simply ask me what it would take to get it resolved or repaired. Every time he got involved it got done, even if he did it himself.”
In November of 2004, Mark was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. During his final months, Mark had the opportunity to say goodbye to friends and family and spend some special moments with his wife and children, a bittersweet time for those who knew and loved him so much. In the summer of 2005, Mark passed away at the early age of 45 and it was friends and
family that put together a memorial service that was a great tribute to Mark and met his wishes.
Combined efforts of the El Dorado County Fair, Placerville Speedway and On Stage Productions enabled the Forni family and the community to bid farewell to Mark at the one place that meant so much to him, Placerville Speedway. With more than 500 people in the grandstands that afternoon for Mark’s “Celebration of Life,” the community said farewell to Mark in a fashion best suited for him, surrounded by his friends in the community, his very first dump truck that was fully restored prior to the ceremony and with two sprint cars that he supported for so many years.
For Mark Forni, sprint car racing and his local racetrack were a very special part of his life. Therefore, it is only appropriate for Placerville Speedway and the community to proudly present the annual “Mark Forni Classic” race this Saturday night. Forni was a man who didn’t like a great deal of attention and fanfare. This race, in his honor, is designed in the style Mark Forni would request. Its not about drawing extra car counts with the lucrative bounty. It’s not about packing the stands to increase revenue. Its about paying tribute to a man who always said what he was going to do in the community and then did what he said.
“Mark was a quiet individual and behind that quiet personality was a man that was always thinking of how he could help his community, especially when it came to racing,” commented Bill Sullivan, Director of Communications for Placerville Speedway. “I grew up in this town and everyone who was raised here knew of the Forni family and their legacy in this county. Mark was undoubtedly a great part of that legacy. He was always their to listen to us as race promoters, members of the community and most importantly, as friends. I didn’t work as closely with him as Alan Padjen did but I think I speak for everyone that who him that he is truly missed at this place and this Saturday, the community has clearly spoken just how much he is missed.”
Saturday’s sprint car feature event will pay $5000 to the winner and additional monies may be announced in the week to come. The fast qualifier for the night will pick up an extra $100, courtesy of Dan Ramey of DSR Graphics and Signs.
The community sponsorship is a collaboration of area businesses that knew Mark Forni personally and family friend Chuck Sept, a heavy equipment operator in El Dorado County who is very passionate and dedicated to paying tribute to his friend who passed away far to young.
“With the current economy, we weren’t really sure where this race was headed in 2008,” explained Sullivan. “And here we are again, with $5,000 to win and extra money for our stock cars too. This is something I cannot take the credit for, this race is the work of Chuck Sept and both Alan Padjen and I commend him for his efforts. We know how much he misses Mark, he grew up with him and to go out there in the community and put these investors together is a tribute that is second to none.”
Contributors to Saturday’s 3rd Annual Mark Forni Classic include Doug Veerkamp Engineering Incorporated, Hunt and Sons, C&H Auto Parts, MRO Industrial, Les Schwab Tires of Placerville, Pape’ Machinery, Armonds Giant Tire Service, Sunrise Automotive Paint and Supplies and the Supply Broker. In addition to the title sponsors, the Cold Springs Community Church has stepped in to sponsor the Pro Stock and Pure Stock divisions for the night, awarding each winner an additional $200.
Saturday’s race will feature sprint cars, pro stocks, pure stocks and wingless sprints cars. The grandstands open at 5 p.m. with qualifying starting at 6:30 followed by heat races. For further information log on to www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com