NEAR Honors Tri-Track Series Duo
Dick Williams and Jim Schaefer, principals behind the successful Tri-Track Series, will share the 2015 New England Antique Racers’ Frank Maratta Award. The presentations, giving in recognition of their outstanding contribution and support of auto racing, will be part of the agenda at the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame 18th induction banquet Sunday, Nov. 8 at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, CT.
Over the past two seasons, the Tri-Track Series has paid out over $400,000. The eight races have attracted an average car count of 40, including the top Modified teams from New England and New York. Lee, Star, Seekonk, Monadnock and Waterford have hosted Tri-Track events.
Ticket information for the banquet will soon be available on the New England Antique Racers website (NEAR1.org).
Drivers Sam Posey, Greg Sacks, Joey Laquerre, Stan Gregor, the late Jim McCallum and the late Ronnie Marvin, car owner the late Paul Dunigan, publishers Lew Boyd and the late Jim Moffat, engine-builder Joe Fontana and promoter Red McDonald will be inducted in the NEAR Hall of Fame. Vermont’s Justin St. Louis will receive the Mitchell/Ratta Media Award.
Williams, from Stonington, CT and Schaefer, from Riverhead, NY, are the leaders of a group that has made the Tri-Track Series a reality. According to Williams, a familiar face in New England racing for decades, the impetus was a conversation among a group of old timers. “They were saying how much they missed the old open competition events,” recalled Williams. “We thought with a little common sense it could happen again and we got four or five guys together and made it happen.”
This year’s payout will be $287,000 distributed in a number of ways including lap money and last-chance races. There were six different winners in the first seven races.
Sources: Pete Zanardi/NEAR PR