Racin and Rockin

Racin and Rockin is an annual motorsports and music festival held at Springport Motor Speedway, located in Springport, Michigan each summer in celebration of true Americana; Short Track Motor Racing, Rock-n-Roll and A Pig Roast.

The first Racin and Rockin was held in 2005 and is held annually. Racin & Rockin IV will be held this year on July 26th, 2008. The Auto Racing portion of the festival will feature racing in the following classes: [http://www.spartanspeedway.com/Info/rules2008/2008Rules20.php, Modifieds] , [http://www.spartanspeedway.com/Info/rules2008/2008Rules15.php, Sportsman] , [http://www.spartanspeedway.com/Info/rules2008/2008Rules19.php, Ponies] and [http://www.spartanspeedway.com/Info/rules2008/2008Rules17.php, Pures] . The Music portion of the event will feature [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=161110675, The Basement Dawgs] .

History

Racin and Rockin was first held in 2005 [ [http://www.mstrc.com/index.php?showtopic=5710&view=findpost&p=43826 Unofficial Tailgate party for MSTRC at Calhoun July 2nd - Michigan Short Track Racing Club ] ] as the highlight event of Calhoun County Speedway return to life after 3 years dormant. The brainchild of [http://www.spartanspeedway.com/drivers/mattschindewolf/index.html, Matt Schindewolf] ; who is affectionally known as the Racing Hippie [ [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080517/SPORTS03/805170342/&imw=Y Drivers, fans put brakes on race time] ] ; was attending the [http://www.mstrc.com, Michigan Short Track Racing Club] [http://www.frontstretch.com/otherpr/6367, annual charity bowl-a-thon] and was impressed with the support and genorisity the racing fans were giving local [http://www.mmaracing.com, Michigan Modified Racing Association] racer Buck Harsen who had lost everything in a home fire that winter [ [http://www.spinoutzone.com/id31.htm Inside the Spin Out Zone - Michigan Edition ] ] . Matt who is the Director of Public Service [ [http://www.brightoncity.org/ReferenceDesk/ContactInfo.htm Contact Information, City of Brighton, Michigan (MI) ] ] for the City of Brighton, Mi decided that local short track racing needed to give back to the fans who supported the sport he loved so much.

From the mouth of Mr. Schindewolf,

"I know when we are gigging and the crowd is enjoying us and the music is sounding sweet, I'm in seventh heaven.

I get off on the people enjoying the music and having a good time. The money invested is secondary to me, and getting paid for doing it is one of those, "You mean I get paid to have this much fun?" types of things. I get off on fronting the band and working to make sure everyone has fun.

I also enjoy (usually) doing what I do with Racin' and Rockin'. Similar to putting on a good show, I want and hope, that Racin' and Rockin' is indeed taken for what it is intended to be, nothing more than a fan appreciation night, and a driver/crew appreciation/mid summer night's worth of racing and fun and food. If it is enjoyed by everyone, then I am more than satisified. As are those who help me put this event on, from those on the front line preparing the things for the event, from food to trophies, to contingency awards, to helping with the logisitics and set up and event day organization, to keeping track of the award money and making sure it gets to the right person, we are all working to make this one great night of fans, crews, drivers, track workers, promoters, and everyone else involved having fun and a good memory to recall when we are all too old to do this anymore.

Remember the genesis of R&R. I was complaining to Big Ed and the Governor about missing racing because of band practice. Big Ed told me I ought to hold band practice at the track, the Governor thought so too.

Next thing you know, R&R was born. [ [http://spartanspeedway.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10222#10222 :: View topic - Racin' and Rockin' Purse Information/Announcement ] ] "

2005 : Racin and Rockin I

Racin and Rockin was held on July 9, 2005. The inaugural event drew a strong contingent of racers from all over Mid-Michigan each of whom were striving to become the first ever Racin and Rockin champion. [http://springportmotorspeedway.com/newsms/results/archives/2004/recap0710.php Springport Motor Speedway Recap July 10, 2006 ] ] On the track, the race winners were; in the Modified race [http://www.marfc.org/awards/2002_awards.htm, Bill Luckhurst] of Ovid, Mi; in the Pony Stock race [http://spartanspeedway.com/drivers/brentmccort/index.html, Kenny Clark] ] of Grand Ledge, Mi; and in the [http://www.michiganlegends.com, Michigan Legends] race [http://www.michiganlegends.com/articles/060501.htm, Levi Rouster] won the feature. [ [http://www.mstrc.com/index.php?showtopic=19093&view=findpost&p=128582 Racin & Rockin ONE - Michigan Short Track Racing Club ] ] Off the track and after the race, the [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=161110675, Basement Dawgs] took to the stage to provide the live music while track owner Paul Zimmerman manned the BBQ.

2006 : Racin and Rockin II

Racin and Rockin II was held on July 8, 2006. The largest crowd of the season turned out in force to participate in the event. On the track, the race winners were; in the Modified race [http://spartanspeedway.com/drivers/dicklapratt/index.html, Dick Mauer] of Owosso, Mi; in the Sportsman race [http://spartanspeedway.com/drivers/waltobrinske/index.html, Walt Obrinski] of Duck Lake, Mi; in the [http://www.purestock.tv Pure Stock] race [http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=183338127, Aaron Spearling] of Otisville, Mi and in the Pony Stock race [http://spartanspeedway.com/drivers/brentmccort/index.html, Brent McCort] ] of Onondaga, Mi [ [http://www.michracingscene.com Michigan Racing Scene » Home Page ] ] Off the track and after the race, the [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=161110675, Basement Dawgs] took to the stage to provide the live music while track owner Paul Zimmerman manned the BBQ. Nearly 1000 fans joined the racers in the pits after the race to partake in the food, music and festivities. Most drivers stayed well into the night, showing off their cars and signing autographs. Many camped overnight, which started a tradition.

2007 : Racin and Rockin III

Racin and Rockin III was held on June 16, 2007. The track operating under new promotor [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=JCPB&p_theme=jcpb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring="maurice%20randall"&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=("maurice%20randall")] and former NASCAR driver [http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/mrandall00/cup/index.html, Maurice Randall] saw Racin and Rockin moved up into June. The cooler temperatures made for a more enjoyable evening of racing, music, food and fun [ [http://vintagemich.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi?board=race&action=display&num=1181052270 WaterWinterWonderland - Big Upcoming Events @ Springport Motor Speedway ] ] . A record crowd [ [http://springportmotorspeedway.com/newsms/results/archives/2007/recap0616.php June 16, 2007 Springport Motor Speedway ] ] was on hand to witness the event.

Top 5 Finishers

References

External links