Orange Show Speedway racers and sponsors
make Saturday a treat for wildfire evacuees
SAN BERNARDINO (Oct. 28, 2007) –
Kim Marzullo spent most of last week wondering if the home in Crestline
she’d had to evacuate because of a wildfire still would be there
when she was able to return. She spent Saturday morning cleaning up
the debris around the home the Grass Valley fire had left undamaged.
Saturday afternoon, the San Bernardino High School
teacher joined two dozen more drivers, teams and officials and a half-dozen
sponsors from Orange Show Speedway for a Halloween “trick-or-treat”
party at the National Orange Show Events Center for about 700 children
and adults who had been forced from their homes by the fires in the
San Bernardino Mountains .
They all left event organizers Joe Ganino Jr. and
Greg Cozzo speechless with their generosity.
“There’s no way to express our
gratitude to everyone who took part on such short notice,” said
Ganino, the speedway Director of Racing. “We only announced this
Thursday, and to have this kind of turnout is overwhelming. To have
so many people willingly disrupt their own lives and spent their own
time and money to do something for people they’ve never met says
an awful lot about them.
“I’ve never been prouder of the
Orange Show Speedway family than I am right now. We have some of the
best racers and sponsors in the sport.”
Driver Bobby Dezarov and his wife towed their race
car in from Palm Desert . Martin Huizenga came from Hemet with one of
his race cars and his family. Sam Newcomer and David Gibson and their
families brought their cars down from Apple Valley . Tim Doyle brought
his race truck from Temecula and Ryan Bragdon made the trip from Beaumont
.
Mark Shackleford, Charles Price, Rod Proctor, Spencer
Samaro, Devon Hays, Jerome Gipson, Brian Malone, Gary Clifford, Braden
Gobrick, Brian Jackson, C.J. Evans and Darrell Kelsoe all brought their
cars. Lou Gamache couldn’t make it because of an Eagle Scout function,
but his car and his crew were there, and Jim Mardis brought Chuck Becker
II’s car from Cabazon.
The drivers and teams arrived singly or in pairs,
lining their cars and trucks up side by side and at least for this afternoon
putting aside any personal or competitive differences to be part of
an event designed to bring some happiness to families who had had little
to enjoy in the past few days.
The legendary Bigfoot monster truck was on hand,
courtesy of sponsor Firestone, with die cast models and candy to distribute.
Del Taco set up a prize wheel offering everything from tacos to t-shirts.
Fiesta Village contributed certificates for free games of miniature
golf and Laser tag. Lucas Oil, KCAL-FM 96.7 and “The Bob Show,”
and www.Nixacountry.com were on hand, and candy and bags had been donated
by various Stater Brothers markets and individuals.
The drivers and teams brought candy and other items,
too. Highland ’s Glen Cummings had several boxes of pumpkins,
which proved extremely popular with those who made their way through
the lines of race vehicles and various displays, and Huizenga’s
car was draped with masks.
California Speedway was on hand as well, with games
and a giant-screen television set up in an adjacent area where movies
were shown Saturday evening.
Ganino said racing at Orange Show Speedway will resume
Nov. 3, with the season finales for the Hype Manufacturing Super Late
Models, ASA Pro 4s, Street Stocks, Aflac Factory Fours and Mini StocKars.
The Toys for Tots 100, an open competition Late Model
race that was postponed due to the use of the Events Center as an evacuation
site, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17.
Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. and racing gets under
way at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and
over), handicapped and juniors (13-16) and $2 for children (6-12). Active
military personnel and veterans with valid military identification are
admitted free of charge. Parking is $4 per car with entry through Gate
3 off Mill Street .
Those unable to make it to the speedway still can
follow the action with “Orange Show Speedway Live,” the
radio broadcast on KTTD (AM 1350) that begins at 8 p.m. and is simulcast
on the Internet at www.nixacountry.com.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas
Oil, Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, Del Taco, Aflac Insurance,
KTTD radio (AM 1350), Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser,
Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank’s Radio Service, Torco Racing Fuels,
Parker Pumper/BSR West, Eibach Springs, JP Striping, Star Auto Parts,
Pepsi, Matich Corporation, L. Curti Truck and Equipment, One Stop Landscape
Supply, Extreme Exhibits & Logistics, Little Green Onions and the
San Bernardino County Sun.
For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649
or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call Orange Show Speedway at 909-888-6788,
X438, or visit the web site at www.nosevents.com.
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