Mother’s Day weekend brings a once
in a lifetime gift for the whole family with dedication and grand opening
of new facility on May 10th
SAN BERNARDINO (May 7, 2008) –
As the OSQMRA prepares for the unveiling and ribbon cutting of its new
state-of-the-art track, it was just over one year ago, the former Pomona
Valley Club was evicted for ‘fiscal prosperity’ after 50+
years and wondered if the historic club would get the chance to continue.
After other tracks and facilities declined, Club representatives made
their way to San Bernardino, home of Orange Show Speedway. The Speedway
had recently paved the infield of the high-bank quarter mile and so
the story began. Joe Ganino, Director of Motorsports at Orange Show
Speedway didn’t see a lost club, but a group of families that
needed a place to spend time, as families, and enjoy the great sport
of racing. The former Pomona club had found a new home.
See
photos of the tracks construction
The club renamed themselves the Orange Show Quarter Midget Racing Association,
paying tribute to the club that had existed on the fairgrounds of the
NOS Events Center many years ago. They then bought water baracades and
commenced preperations for the 2008 Season. Yet, many club members yearned
for the chance to once again race on a banked oval,like in their days
at Pomona, was known as the fastest in the country and drew racers from
all over.
Quarter Midget Racing has produced both open-wheel and stock car racers
over the years that have included Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, David Gililland,
Reed Sorenson, and even present day Oragne Show Speedway Super Late
Model driver Frankie Gould remembers racing side by side with Indy driver
Suede Savage with the former Orange Show Quarter Midget Club back so
many years ago.
It is one thing to juggle a family life, work, and providing your family
the opportunity to race. It is another to maintain all that and begin
a campaign to build their own track. Kandice Attridge, a architect by
trait began work on not only designing their club’s new facility,
but process of securing the support needed to bring this goal to life.
The club approached NOS Events Center President Dan Jimenez about their
dream. Mr. Jimenez worked with the National Orange Show Board of Directors
and a long-term agreement was reached giving the club the much needed
starting point – land. Side by side the club members worked with
companies across the region and across the country in securing financial,
product and services that have made the May 10th Ribbon cutting a reality.
The new track, has been blessed in the creation of this miracle with
the generous help of the following individuals. NOS Events Center and
Board of Directors, Blackhawk Security, Rialto Concrete and Pipe, Johnson
CAT, Cornell Custom Homes, Allstate Materials, Foddrill Construction,
Alexis Oil, The Haas Foundation, All Cities Fence Co., Lucas Oil, Ortega
Construction, Superior Concrete & Masonry, Forkert Engineering &
Surveying, J-Cal Trucking Co., Ken Thompson, Inc. Over & Over Ready
Mix, Mission Ready Mix, Champions Electric, Petra Geotechnical, Inc.,
Penhall Co., Neff Rental, Inc., Sudhakar Co., Carlson Masonry, Jim Reed,
Darrol Johnson, Shafer Family, Wright Family, AC Byers Trucking, Inc.,
Frank O’Brien & Jim Morris, Rob Kimble, Unlimited Landscaping.
Please join in the celebration on Saturday, May 10th. Lunch will be
provided from 11:30-12:30 courtesy of Felipes Famous Burritos and Pat
& Oscars Pizza. Ceremonies will begin promptly at 12:30, including
Contractor and Donation Recognition, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and the
first Quarter Midget on the track. Entrance will be Gate 11, which is
the Pit Gate Entrance to Orange Show Speedway on E Street, just South
of the grandstands.
For information contact Kandice Attridge, OSQMRA at 909-980-8683 or
gazza2@charter.net
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