Marky Traverse Memorial Street Stock Feature Highlights Full-Fender Nostalgia Night At OCFS Saturday
Story By: JOHN SNYDER / ORANGE COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY – MIDDLETOWN, NY – Beginning in 1950, Orange County Fair Speedway has been most noted for its dirt track Modified racing. But late model full-fender American stock cars have long been a part of the weekly racing action.
On Saturday, August 7, this heritage will be honored on Full-Fender Nostalgia Night, featuring the NAPA Northeast Parts Group Street Stocks, the return of unpredictable Enduro racing, and the annual visit of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers and their historic racing cars.
While the first Late Model, or “New Car” race, won by Frankie Schneider, at Orange County was held in 1950, it wasn’t until 1968 that weekly races under this classification were scheduled. Over the years the full-body, full-fender stock cars have been classified as Late Model, Street Stock, Pro Stock, and Pure Stock depending on the amount of modifications and engines permitted in competition. Currently, the competitors race under the Street Stock designation. At times in the past, there were three classes of Street Stocks—Expert, Novice, and Rookie.
Honoring the memory of a late racing fan, this week’s Street Stock Feature has been designated the Marky Traverse Memorial Race.
Enduro racing, which essentially are cars with no modifications except safety items, will keep fans glued to their seats, as these escapees from junkyards try to negotiate the five-eights-mile clay-surface speedway, usually all in the same direction.
The Midway area behind the main grandstand will be filled with surviving Street Stocks from years back as well as the historic race cars of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers organization. Many retired full-fender division drivers have indicated they’ll be on hand to greet the fans, sign autographs, and relive and retell racing stories from the past.
The Orange County Fair Speedway stands and Drive-In are fully open. General admission either for the stands or the Drive-In is $20 adult, $16 seniors, and free for children 12 and under. As a convenience for fans, guaranteed parking spaces in Rows D, E, and F of the Drive-In may be reserved for $15. Unsold spaces in these rows will be available at the gate on race day. The Party Deck is available at $35 per person, minimum two, maximum four per table. In the Drive-In, announcements and race calls are heard over FM 107.7. Fans may purchase tickets by calling the Speedway Office at 845-342-2573. The stands and Drive-In will open at 4:00 pm. Prepaid 2020 Season Tickets will be honored. Hot Laps at 6:00 pm, racing at 7:00 pm. The 31st Lap Tavern is open for adult beverages.
