Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame Class of 2008 Announced
Auburn, Maine – Two legendary drivers, a track owner/promoter, a carowner/track official, a track builder/general manager and a long time track announcer will be inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in the spring of 2008.
The six members of the Class of 2008 were announced on Sunday, November11th, at the General Meeting of the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Bruce Elder, vice-president of the MVRCA and co-chairman of the Hall of FameSelection Committee, had the honor of announcing the names of the sixinductees.
The Class of 2008 is comprised of: Dick Bahre, general manager of Oxford Plains Speedway for over 20 years; Tony Dipompo, championship car owner and track official; Bob Knowles, owner/promoter of Unity Raceway; Russ Nutting,fifty-year racing veteran; Otis Perry, legendary driver of the 940’s and 1950’s; and Bob Walker, Oxford Plains Speedway announcer for over thirtyyears.
The Class of 2008 will be honored at the Maine Motorsports Hall of Famedinner and induction ceremonies, presented by the Maine Vintage Race Car Association, at the Augusta (Maine) Civic Center on Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 and presently has 34members.
The six members of the Class of 2008, with a brief summary of their contributions to motorsports in Maine, are:
– DICK BAHRE – worked side by side with brother Bob Bahre at Oxford PlainsSpeedway for over 25 years and in building New Hampshire International Speedway; entered cars in NASCAR Cup Series and Late Model Sportsman division for about 20 years; brother Bob was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.
– TONY DIPOMPO – owned cars driven by brother Bobby in the 1960’s and AlHammond in the 1970’s at Oxford Plains Speedway; won championships with Al Hammond 1973 and 1974; director, board chairman and technical director atOxford.
– BOB KNOWLES – owner and promoter of Unity Raceway in the 1960’s, 1970’sand 1980’s; also promoted Speedway 95; father Ed Knowles was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.
– RUSS NUTTING – driver and builder; began racing in the 1950’s; raced manytracks around New England – LMS, coupes, cutdowns, supers, modifieds -winner in all divisions; 5-time Getty Open winner at OPS; ’58 OPS champ, ’66 Arundel champion; has won races in six different decades; track official at Oxford and Star Speedway.
– OTIS PERRY – raced in the 1940’s and 1950’s at Beech Ridge and Oxford Plains, many time winner; important and respected charter member of the Maine State Stock Car Racing Association (MSSCRA) at Beech Ridge to help launchracing in Maine.
– BOB WALKER – Oxford Plains Speedway announcer for over three decades,also served as director of media relations, marketing and public relations at Oxford; held positions at Star Speedway, Hickory Motor Speedway in NorthCarolina, Coos Bay Raceway in Oregon and with Joie Chitwood Thrill Show and NASCAR; author of new book – “I COULDN’T DRIVE, BUT I COULD TALK”.
For more information about the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame dinner andinduction ceremonies, visit the Maine Vintage Race Car Association web site at mainevintageracecars.com. Tickets for the dinner and induction ceremonies are $35.oo each and must be purchased and ordered by March 15, 2008. Torequest a “Ticket Order Form”, contact the MVRCA at 51 Heath Lane – Auburn,Maine 04210; by FAX at (207)782-3937; by e-mail at mvrca@mainevintageracecars.com or visit the web site.
Sources: Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame PR