1976 WINNER ED COOPER TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF GLASS CITY 200
1976 WINNER ED COOPER TO SERVE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF GLASS CITY 200
Toledo, Ohio—September 10, 2015: 1976 race winner Ed Cooper will be the Grand Marshal of the 27th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Saturday, September 19 at Toledo Speedway. Cooper, who resides in Clark Lake (Jackson), MI, will take part in the festivities of the event at the ½ mile paved oval.
Cooper competed at many tracks during his career, most notably in his #16 machine and later became the driver for John Ramus and the powerful #24 Camaro. Ed recorded the biggest win of his career in the 1976 edition of the Glass City 200. The race at that time was divided into 2-100 lap segments. Cooper pushed Joy Fair across the finish line in the first 100, but it was all Cooper in the second leg as he sailed to the win and the over-all title of Glass City 200 king.
Cooper came back in 1977 to defend his victory, but finished second to Bob Senneker. Ed captured the first 100 lap leg and was fifth in the second 100, giving him second over-all, coming up just short of a second Glass City 200 win.
Among his many other accomplishments, Cooper was the 1977 ARCA Toledo Speedway champion and had 4 career wins at Toledo and 5 at Flat Rock, MI Speedway. Ed teamed with his son, Brent as the driver in the early 2000’s to field a Late Model team at Toledo.
Cooper won numerous other races in the area in his career and also competed on the former ASA Late Model tour throughout the Midwest after his Glass City win.
All former Glass City 200 winners have been invited back for this year’s edition of the season-ending classic. They will all be introduced to the crowd in pre-race festivities.
Race fans can save $5 on advance ticket purchases by calling the track at 419-727-1100. The advance sale will end at 5 p.m. Friday, September 18. Both reserved and general admission tickets are being sold in this advance sale. The ticket order form may also be downloaded from the track’s web page. The order form may be emailed, but there are no online sales for this race.
Lap money is now being taken for the 200 lap event at $10 per lap. The sponsor’s name will be listed in the souvenir program insert sheet and will also include several public address mentions. Support the Glass City 200 by becoming a lap sponsor! Call the track office to add your name to the list today!
The Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club (MARFC) will conduct a fund-raising auction at 4:30 p.m. on race day. A total of 3 items will be up for bid---autographed body panel from the late Joy Fair’s #1 Late Model; autographed NASCAR great Ricky Rudd Havoline racing jacket and a surprise item yet to be named!
Friday, September 18 the pit gates will open at 2 p.m. An optional practice session will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Rig parking, pit pass sales, limited tech and tire sales will take place on Friday. All pit pass purchasers on Friday will receive a complimentary dinner after practice, courtesy of La Chalupa/El Camino restaurants of Toledo.
A last-chance race and B Main are also on the schedule for September 19, should enough cars be entered for the 200. A 20 minute break will take place at lap 101. For the first time in many years, the 200 will be a stand-alone event. The time schedule for race day has the pit gates opening at 9 a.m., practice begins at 11 a.m. and the run for the PASSTIME $500 pole award goes at 2. New to this year’s 200 is an on-track autograph session at 3:45 p.m., with pre-race festivities to begin at 4:30. Race time is 5 p.m.