RENO, NV (April 13) – This Monday’s article is going to be a very different one. This is due to the shut down we are enduring due to this virus that thankfully seems to have or will round a corner.
Hopefully we’ll see racing starting in the next few weeks.
• Oval Tracks:
+ First I’ll look at the two tracks that are in Northeast California. One I’ve been covering for a long time while the other I hope to visit a couple of times this year.
Both tracks are fairground facilities as American Valley Speedway as well as Diamond Mountain Speedway are waiting to hear if they can start this season, hopefully in early May.
So far Diamond Mountain Speedway has lost a pair of test and tune sessions and I imaging their opener on April 24/25 will also be lost. Hopefully the can get going on May 9th. American Valley is waiting to hear from the fair board in Quincy.
+ Closest oval track to the Reno/Sparks area is the newly renamed 95 Motor Sports Complex. So far the track has lost its test and tune session as well as its first race with the new owners.
Hopefully they too can start this season on May 2nd but that has yet to be determined.
+ Moving east the next track is Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon. They usually begin at the end of March and so far have lost the annual car show as well as the first and second race dates.
In addition to the cars being in mothballs so is the Outlaw Kart track. If all goes well they’ll begin racing on Friday, May 8th but again have to see if that holds or not.
+ Right now Lovelock Speedway has suspended its schedule for the year. Ed Macedo is waiting until things open back up before he confirms any dates. So for now this bullring is dark.
+ Further east Winnemucca Regional Raceway is also on hold. So far it’s lost two dates but if all goes well racing will resume on May 10th. Further to the east is Battle Mountain Raceway and like the others, its schedule is on hold for now. However if things get sorted out racing will resume in May.
+ Moving even further east Summit Raceway in Elko has only lost their test and tune session. Once again, if all goes well their first race is a two-day show on May 1-2. The track usually has two-day events.
+ To the south Tonopah Speedway has not released a schedule as of yet. Hopefully they too can get going sometime in May.
• Go Karts:
+ The Northern Nevada Kart Club (NNKC) lost it’s first race of the season but the second is slated for Sunday, May 10 at their home track Desert Park Raceway. I imagine everyone is ready to get going again.
• Drag Racing/Off Road:
+ So far Wild West Motorsports Park, located off I-80 east of Sparks has only one event postponed. This was supposed to happen on May 2-3 but the IRC Endurofest is looking for another date.
Next after that is the Norcal Rock Racing event on the weekend of May 20-30. Hopefully that can get in.
VORRA was hoping for an event there but right not that’s listed as TBA on their schedule. Last year they ran on Memorial Day weekend so will have to see what happens.
+ South of Fallon Top Gun Dragstrip has lost a pair of test and tune dates as well as two other racing dates. Junior Dragsters are included as they’ve also lost two races from their schedule.
Next up for the straight-line racers is on the weekend of May 15-16 when hopefully they can get the event in.
• Motorcycles:
+ Although the desert racers in the MRANN series did get their first two races in they’ve run into a wall since then. Currently two events have been postponed so they’ll probably happen during the fall series.
Up for grabs is the May 16/17 weekend at a race the Cheaters Motorcycle Club will host. Have to see if that one will happen.
+ Another hard hit series is the BBMX one. Even though they got both the Sandbox GP and their first spring race they’ve lost two events, one slated for Winnemucca while the other was supposed to be on Easter weekend out in Carlin.
Looking ahead there are two May events scheduled with the OTHG Nationals slotted in between them. That means three weekends of motocross. Here again that is up in the air until we get to the end of April.
+ Sadly restrictions othe size of groups has hit the new motocross track at the 95 Motorsport Complex. Due to this restriction, although social distancing would be easy to accomplish, the track has been closed so locals have to drive over to Northern California to get their practice sessions in.
Those three motocross tracks are requiring social distancing and discouraging spectators.
Once again, hopefully restrictions will ease at the end of April and racing as well as practice sessions can resume.
That’s the look ahead and while it appears dark right now there might be light at the end of the tunnel. Especially with the falling rates of infections and recovery now being reported. May might not only bring spring flowers but waving green flags and dropping of starting gates as well.
Boy would that be a treat for the racing community.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Once again Teresa’s Garage Radio Show will be on from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. And like last week we’ll be doing this remotely so we can cover the automotive world with news and others things.
I have a preview section at 2:15 covering what may be happening. In the Reno/Sparks area we can be heard on 1180 AM or on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm and you can see us live on Fact Book.
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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue.
During this time of shutdown and social distancing please patronize our sponsors. It helps them survive this period our uncertainty and in the case of PJ&Co, when they finally open back up please have some meals there. Food is good and you’ll be very appreciated.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base it has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now they have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Last year fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker joined the family of sponsors. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book of from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop, and our newest sponsor is Moto Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again there is a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&Company for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Please note that PJ&CO is closed during the restricted time, hopefully they’ll be able to open again in May.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
