St. Louis, MO – Jack Biddison, of Peoria, IL, a former “Big Car” (USAC Silver Crown or "Champ car") and sprint car driver-turned promoter/announcer has organized a “southern swing” of vintage race cars from the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club (MOVRCC). The tour begins on Saturday afternoon, August 18 at the Springfield (IL) State Fair and then travels to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, MO on Saturday, September 1 and the DuQuoin (IL) State Fair on Sunday, September 2 for Labor Day weekend.
These vintage racers represent a by-gone era of unbelievable bravado when drivers raced in their shirtsleeves, with virtually none of the safety gear that is the hallmark of the modern racing driver. The cars were hand-crafted by their owners, not bought. The drivers used little more than Cromwell-style helmets, aviator goggles, and a kerchief to keep the dirt out of their mouth. Cars on hand will include everything from three-quarter (sized) midgets to the big champ cars and even a few jalopies (or coupes, which were the forerunners of today's stock cars).
These mechanical wonders are as fascinating to race fans today as they were in their heyday. They help educate the current racing enthusiast on how far the technology has come and provide a trip down memory lane for those who saw these cars compete in their day.
Biddison and the MOVRCC have visited the Springfield Mile track at the State Fair for several years as part of the traditional final weekend of the IL State Fair USAC Silver Crown and ARCA Stock Car races. The MOVRCC sets up an at-track display, answers questions, and, when time permits (and they are allowed) take their cars out on a track for a few more laps around a dirt oval. Their efforts provide fans a unique opportunity to see and hear a part of racing history that is mostly viewed only in old photographs and movie clips.
Bob Sargent, of Track Enterprises, the promoter of the annual fair dates at both Springfield and DuQuoin, was happy to add a date for the cars during the traditional Labor Day weekend of speed at “The Magic Mile” in DuQuoin. David Kovac of St. Louis helped to coordinate the stop at Ken Schrader’s and Ray Marler’s I-55 Raceway in Pevely.
The vintage race displays at the IL State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair will take place on the same day the USAC Silver Crown series will be in action. The vintage cars will add flavor to I-55 Raceway's usual Saturday night fare of United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Late Models, UMP Modifieds, and Allied Auto Racing Association (AARA) Street Stocks and Pro-4 classes.
While the shows are not MOVRCC-sanctioned, the cars and the owners need to be MOVRCC members. If anyone would like to participate in these shows they will need to contact Jack Biddison at 309-682-7550 or via email at jbidd15522@aol.com. If you are interested in becoming a member of the MOVRCC, contact Mike Anderson at 317-729-2418 or via email at fleagle14@earthlink.net.
These vintage racers represent a by-gone era of unbelievable bravado when drivers raced in their shirtsleeves, with virtually none of the safety gear that is the hallmark of the modern racing driver. The cars were hand-crafted by their owners, not bought. The drivers used little more than Cromwell-style helmets, aviator goggles, and a kerchief to keep the dirt out of their mouth. Cars on hand will include everything from three-quarter (sized) midgets to the big champ cars and even a few jalopies (or coupes, which were the forerunners of today's stock cars).
These mechanical wonders are as fascinating to race fans today as they were in their heyday. They help educate the current racing enthusiast on how far the technology has come and provide a trip down memory lane for those who saw these cars compete in their day.
Biddison and the MOVRCC have visited the Springfield Mile track at the State Fair for several years as part of the traditional final weekend of the IL State Fair USAC Silver Crown and ARCA Stock Car races. The MOVRCC sets up an at-track display, answers questions, and, when time permits (and they are allowed) take their cars out on a track for a few more laps around a dirt oval. Their efforts provide fans a unique opportunity to see and hear a part of racing history that is mostly viewed only in old photographs and movie clips.
Bob Sargent, of Track Enterprises, the promoter of the annual fair dates at both Springfield and DuQuoin, was happy to add a date for the cars during the traditional Labor Day weekend of speed at “The Magic Mile” in DuQuoin. David Kovac of St. Louis helped to coordinate the stop at Ken Schrader’s and Ray Marler’s I-55 Raceway in Pevely.
The vintage race displays at the IL State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair will take place on the same day the USAC Silver Crown series will be in action. The vintage cars will add flavor to I-55 Raceway's usual Saturday night fare of United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Late Models, UMP Modifieds, and Allied Auto Racing Association (AARA) Street Stocks and Pro-4 classes.
While the shows are not MOVRCC-sanctioned, the cars and the owners need to be MOVRCC members. If anyone would like to participate in these shows they will need to contact Jack Biddison at 309-682-7550 or via email at jbidd15522@aol.com. If you are interested in becoming a member of the MOVRCC, contact Mike Anderson at 317-729-2418 or via email at fleagle14@earthlink.net.
