Legends to Return Sept 9 - LGR Announces Final Events! By Mike Babicz

(Lake Geneva, Wis.,  September 4, 2006)-  Homecomings are filled with mixed emotions. Such will be the case on Saturday, Sept. 9 when Lake Geneva Raceway calls back all its past fans, competitors, owners/promoters, sponsors, pit crew members, track personnel, concession and staff members for one huge celebration.

“This might be our final season, but the memories and friendships that have been built over the past 44 years is something that will not be destroyed when the bulldozers come in,” said Promoter/Owner Kevin Dawson, referring to the facility’s planned future as a housing development at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

“It was amazing the phone calls and emails we started receiving as soon as the official announcement was made at our banquet back in January,” Dawson revealed. “It wasn’t former drivers or car owners calling to see if they could come back to race one more time, although there has been quite a few of those.”

“A majority of the calls were from people who used to be part of the track staff, selling tickets, working the pit shack, manning the pit gate,” explained Dawson, who has had the track for 22 seasons, half of its lifetime. “The biggest group worked in the concession stands, flipping burgers, serving beer and those kinds of things.”

“They asked, can we come back and make burgers or serve beer, one more time,” Dawson said. “So we decided, lets have everyone come back on one big night and we’ll reminisce and bring back the old days.”

One of the longtime mainstays at Lake Geneva Raceway, as an announcer and public relations director, 82-year-old “Jack at Trackside” Biddison is going to make his second appearance of the season at the historic one-third mile asphalt oval.
“I’m really looking forward to it, to seeing many old friends and making new ones, just as I did at the Aug. 3 Ultimate Racing Spectacular show,” said Biddison from his home in Peoria where he resides with his wife, Nadine, and continues to work as a representative for Royal Publishing. “This is going to be great.”

In addition to Biddison, every owner in the history of the facility has been contacted and invited to attend. Several restored race cars including the famed A3 modified driven to the first track record on the old quarter mile oval back in 1966 by Johnny Reimer will not only be at the track, but 70-something Reimer is expected to make a lap or two in the car.
Quality Tire Service of Spring Grove sponsors the evening’s race program. A special reception is planned for the public beginning at 5 p.m. in an area right next to the track’s pavilion. The reception and homecoming celebration is scheduled to go on rain or shine thanks to Lakes Area Rental of Elkhorn which is assisting with the event including providing a tent.
On the track activities include a special pre-race event highlighted by a representative of The White House staff, Mark Biddison, singing the National Anthem.

Super late models, McHenry Limousine Super Stocks, Performance Unlimited Sportsman and 4-cylinder Basic International Cars (BIC) are scheduled for the on track program; including some exhibition events for some of the over 30 restored racing machines. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. for the reception with time trials at 5:45, pre-race ceremonies at 6:45 and racing at 7 p.m.

A special post race homecoming gathering on the track will be held following the final race with fans invited to come down and visit with drivers as well as get a close look at the racecars on the track and in the infield area, outside of the haulers in many cases.

“We’re doing it like we used to do it,” Dawson said of the post race gathering. “We’ll keep the concession and souvenir stands open for a while afterwards and people will be encouraged to continuing reminiscing about the past years as well as talking about the evening’s races with drivers and the many legends of Lake Geneva Raceway we’ll have in attendance.”
A reminder to competitors and fans alike, oval track racing has been added to Friday, Sept. 8 due to the number of rainouts this season. The Millennium Late Model season championship headlines the evening of action. Race time is 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, Sept. 15 the final Lake Geneva Raceway Tournament of Destruction is planned. The final trailer race, a monster truck demonstration and a first time appearance by The Transinator, the world known Dragonator’s “little brother,” are among the many events planned for the evening. Longtime Great Lakes Dragaway and motorsports promoter Broadway Bob Metzler of Union Grove is scheduled to visit the Raceway.

Fans are reminded the Ultimate and Final Checkered Flag Season continues for Lake Geneva Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 16 with Quality Auto Repair of Kenosha Night featuring the season championship events for the Performance Unlimited Sportsman and the McHenry Limousine Super Stocks, along with super late models.

On Sept. 23, focus shifts to the super late models season championship with Performance Unlimited Sportsman and INEX legends and Bandoleros on the card.

The Victor Ford Final Fall Classic takes the green flag with a new and unique event on Thursday, Sept. 28 as the Ultimate Fan Appreciation Night featuring race car rides for youngsters, timed runs for fans in their street legal and non-trailered vehicles, powder puff races, mechanics races and various “fun” races for competitors and fans a like, such as Big Wheel races. Jelly Belly of Pleasant Prairie and North Chicago is providing free samples for Sept. 28 attendees. Various track and driver sponsors have been invited to participate in the evening as well.

On Friday, Sept. 29 will be the final Bilderback Auto Parts & Speedway Auto Mall Small Car Championships.
Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, will be time trials for the various classes participating in the weekend including super late models, The BOSS winged outlaw sprint cars, Big 8 Series Late Models, Mid-American Stock Cars, sportsman, super stocks. IMCA-type dirt modifieds, Herm Schultz & Sons Transport weapons/enduro full size stock cars.

On Saturday after the heat races, which begin at 6 p.m., will be a racers/fans party at Low Places on the track grounds sponsored by Margie’s Go Fast Club.

On Sunday, Oct. 1 will be the final regular stock car oval track program for Lake Geneva Raceway. Special pre-event ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m. including a wedding by track announcer Mike Babicz and Cathy Landgren, track National Anthem vocalist and souvenir stand worker.

Semi-feature and feature events begin at 1 p.m. to be concluded by the final super late model feature ever at Lake Geneva Raceway.

Following the day’s on track events, a post race “official” party will be held at Low Places sponsored by Image 1 Sportswear of Beach Park.

Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday of the Classic weekend, Midwest Helicopter of Kenosha will offer aerial views of the closing facility and surrounding Lake Geneva area for a fee.

The 2006 Checkered Flag Season does not stop there. The Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series final ever event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 featuring The Goblin along with a children’s costume contest. A final demolition derby is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14. Due to the popular demand of the drivers, a final “Run What Ya Brung” show is planned for Saturday, Oct. 21.

The Nielsen Enterprises of Lake Villa sponsored Stadium Motocross Series has events scheduled on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 17; Friday, Sept. 22; and Sunday, Oct. 15 with the traditional Rock River Power Sports Free Chili Showdown. The “End of an Era” Season for the MotoPromo promoted facility located on the east end of the grounds has scene a weekly average of over 250 riders competing.

Although on track spectator events conclude Oct. 21, several private rentals of the facility will continue into November including some road course and off road runs.

“The old place just doesn’t want to die,” Dawson said with a smile. “It’s kind of neat in a way to see the many hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators coming by during our final season as they create memories that will last a lifetime.”
One final salute to Lake Geneva Raceway will come on Feb. 1, 2007 when the track hosts its final banquet. More details will be forthcoming.

For all Lake Geneva Raceway events, special discount prices on hotel rooms are available at Best Western Harbor Shores in Lake Geneva and Best Western Regency Inn in Antioch. Mention Lake Geneva Raceway for the discount, subject to room availability.

A racers’ swap meet and trade show is tentatively planned for Saturday, Oct. 28. Details will be announced soon.
For the latest information and details on any of the Lake Geneva Raceway events, go to www.lakegenevaraceway.com or phone 262-248-8566 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.