Toledo Speedway

Attendance throughout the day exceeded 150 for activities associated with the 17^th annual Racer Reunion Saturday April 9 at the Toledo Speedway Bar & Grill. In addition to the Racer Reunion, the Michigan Auto Race Fan Club held its final monthly meeting of the offseason.

            The Racer Reunion had been cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 healthcare protocols. An enthusiastic crowd showed up on a cool and damp outdoor early spring day, many staying for the duration of the 12-4pm activity. Several displays of photos, scrapbook clippings, yearbooks, diecasts, rulebooks, trophies and racing memorabilia of all sorts were available for viewing, in addition to videos of races from the 1960s through the 2000s.

The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club held its monthly meeting after the Racer Reunion activities. MARFC members received updates on Flat Rock Speedway, Toledo Speedway and ARCA from Scott Schultz and Ron Drager. Outgoing MARFC President Bill Barnhart and incoming President John Jackson also addressed the attendees. Those in attendance at the meeting also enjoyed hearing from longtime ARCA Menards Series driver Brad Smith, a lifetime Michigan resident who teamed for several years with the legendary James Hylton and stated he will run a total of 24 races this season in the ARCA Menards and ARCA East Series. Smith has already driven in races at New Smyrna, Daytona and Five Flags Speedway in Florida, as well as Phoenix.

Next activity for Racer Reunion participants is Saturday July 9 at Flat Rock Speedway as part of the Royal Truck & Trailer 70^th anniversary & fireworks presented by Monroe Superstore. Then on Aug. 6 at Toledo is the annual Hemelgarn Racing-SuperFitness USAC Silver Crown Series race and will feature the open-wheel Racer Reunion and vintage restored race cars on display plus laps on the track. Each race date will feature on-track recognition of all former racers in attendance.