POSTED February 03, 2002

A record 32 picture plaques will be presented Saturday, February 9, 2026 at the Mottville Speedway 11th annual awards banquet! Last year we presented 22 plaques! Social time starts at 6 with dinner at around 6:30. We will again have our annual photo sale and a big 50-50 drawing! Copies of the 2002 racing schedule will be available along with rules and registration forms. Numbers for 2002 can be reserved at the banquet. As of right now we have 50 people attending the banquet! Tickets can still be purchased through Tuesday, February 5 from our office in Nappanee or from Tom Pearson on Indian-Prairie Road just south of White Pigeon. Tickets are $25 each. It is now too late to get a plaque unless you have paid for a ticket! Plaques have been ordered and we are cutting the checks for those who raced at least 80% of the nights during the 2001 season. A 12th member of the Mottville Speedway Hall of Fame will be inducted! Only 3 people on earth know who this is! I want to again thank our plaque sponsors which include Judith Grace Swihart Holden, Goshen Collision Center, Connor's Auto Salvage and Towing, Jim Moore Motors, Hunley's Service and Repair, Jenkins NAPA Auto Parts Stores, Hair Dimensions, CD's Party Store and Rebel Rebuilding. A record number of sponsors and we certainly thank them for their generosity.

I am making my list of all the things I need to bring to Dal-Mar Catering Hall Saturday night! For those who have been to Dal-Mar Catering Hall it is on Lincoln St. in Nappanee, take SR 19 and cross US 6 one block and go east. It is at the end of the first block. You can park in the bank parking lot to the north of the hall. It is just south of the railroad tracks. They have the very best Swiss steak I have ever had an outstanding chicken also! Plus baked potato, vegetable, salad bar and rolls, coffee, soft drinks and great pie! A fine meal! 

Had someone ask me about tires and we have Good Year tires in stock and the price is the same as last season! $90 each which includes the tax! Right now we have both 15" and 13" sizes in stock! But early in the year we can run out so if you need tires best to buy them early! Call our office at 574-773-4288 to schedule and appointment to pick them up! Then exactly 4 weeks from the banquet we start racing with our 52nd Opening Night schedule for Saturday, March 3, 2002! Gates will open at 5 and racing starts at 6 during March while Indiana and Michigan are on the same time! During March Sunday is the rain-extreme cold date for any Saturday show that is postponed! Then in April we go to open at 6 and race at 7 Michigan time for Saturdays and Sundays get added with opening at 5 and race at 6 Michigan time! By November 23 we hope to have raced 76 nights!

We plan on giving a trophy to all dash and heat winners every night and are looking for sponsors for the trophies at a bargain price of only $10 per trophy! The sponsors name goes on the trophy! The first full trophy night is Monday, Memorial Day, May 27! We are going to run 4 nights in a row starting Thursday, July 4 with a trophy night! Friday, July 5 the TC and MTC will run 50 lap features for the first time ever! Mid-Season championship trophy nights will be two Sundays-July 14 and 21. Labor Day, Monday, September 2 will be another trophy night! 
The 17th Annual Indiana-Michigan Challenge Cup will be Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27! On Mother's Day, May 12, we are giving all mothers who buy a ticket or pit pass a free hot dog and Pepsi and on Father's Day, June 16, will do the same for the fathers! Veterans get the same on November 10!

Sue Beers called me this week and asked about Raymond's plaque for finishing 3rd in Bomber points last season and we will have his plaque engraved and present it to her at the start of the season! She also wants all pictures we have of Raymond! We are still hoping to run a Raymond Beers Memorial Night this season but as of today we do not yet have a firm sponsor! If you are interested please call me at 574-773-4288!  
It sure will seem strange not having Raymond around Mottville this season! But I am sure his spirit will be there always!

This will be my 12th Opening Night as owner of the Mottville Speedway! I consider it a privilege to have owned the Mottville Speedway longer than any other person in the soon to be 52 year history of the track! When you "own" a speedway I consider it having "temporary custody" of the track! You hope you will pass it on to the next owner on at least as solid a footing as when you took it over! 
Considering the times we live in and have lived through the past 11 years that is always a challenge! But we have survived where others have failed and are most grateful!

Well my least favorite month of the year is now over and next week this column will be written on Sunday, after the banquet and I will give you the complete details of the banquet including at least one surprise! Till then stay warm and I hope you have power in your home and work! Racing action is now only 5 week away!