This message was edited on
April 01, 2008 at
03:23:03 PM by ScottDaloisio
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY...
18700 Lake Perris Drive...
Perris, CA 92571
(951) 940-0134
www.perrisautospeedway.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY SCHEDULES BOAT RACE IN AUGUST!
(APRIL 1, 2008, PERRIS, CALIFORNIA) Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian made an extraordinary announcement on Tuesday morning. On August 2nd, the track will host it's first ever boat race. The popular Formula 29 Boats from Europe will head the show that will also include one or two other classes.
"I have thought about a way to do this for years," the promoter beamed from behind his desk. "Whenever I mentioned it to anyone they told me I was out of my mind, so I kept it pretty much to myself the past year and a half and made the right contacts to make it happen. We had an open date on our schedule on August 2nd and my dream is going to become a reality."
The race will be held inside the crash walls of Kazarian's famous Riverside County clay oval. The easiest part of the puzzle is getting the water to fill the track. "We are going to pump the water in from the lake, which for those who are unfamiliar with our facility, is just behind the back straightaway. The tough part will be prepping the facility and getting it ready in just six days (there is a Stock Car show at The PAS the week before and a Sprint Car race the week after). When we are done, we will simply pump the water back into the lake," Kazarian said.
The promoter searched high and low before he found material to cover the complete inside of the track from crash wall to crash wall. "That was the part that was stopping me at every turn in the road," he said with a grin. "Then I stumbled across B.S. Plastics in Hamtramck, Michigan. They are trucking out a giant piece of heavy gage plastic that we are going to fold out and cover the whole infield with (including the concession stand) to protect it from the water. The only cuts we will have to make will be for the light poles."
Kazarian also wanted a hook to get local auto racing fans to show up. To do that he is going to get some of his regular auto racers entered to help sell tickets for the show. The first one to sign up is Norco, California's Tony Jones, the 2007 USAC/CRA champion. "I was skeptical at first because I don't know how to swim," Jones said by telephone on Tuesday morning. "But Donnie assured me I would be safe as boat racers have to wear life preservers. It will feel like wearing a Hans Device. Now I can't wait and Donnie says it will pay a lot to win. If it is $30,000.00 like the Oval Nationals, I am in it to win it."
Kazarian expects 30-35 boats in the Formula 29 class and believes most of the drivers will be from the United States, but the first non-American entry is the famous Jose Aquanaticos from Tijuana, Mexico.
Kazarian said that the format would be roughly the same as the USAC/CRA Sprint Car shows with qualifying heats and probably a 22 boat, 30-lap main event. "These boats are about the same size and speed as our Sprint Cars so I think we can produce the same show. It will be run in the daytime, though as we do not want to turn on the lights and risk electrocuting someone."
Even longtime PAS trackman Ray Sheetz likes the idea of the project. "Heck, I think Don is crazy to start with, but boats on a small track like this sounds exciting to me," he said while shaking his head and laughing. "And, if we get any seeping through the plastic, we may not have to water the track for a month."
Kazarian closed the press conference by saying, "Details for ordering tickets to this history making race will be released within the next two weeks." He went on to say, "Tell everyone you know about this big event and let them know I wish all of them a very HAPPY April Fool's Day."
Anyone wishing more information can contact Perris Auto Speedway at (951) 940-0134.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of the Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway and go two miles east to the fairgrounds.
Video and DVD productions for all Boat Racing events at Perris Auto Speedway will be available from Pasadena, California's RAZ Video and North Hollywood's Raceway Video.
[email protected] is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment
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