Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – WEST NYACK, NY – After a successful fundraiser in 2022, Orange County Fair Speedway Director of Marketing, Peter Reynolds wanted to do better for the organizers of the Penguin Plunge in 2023.
With the cooperation of the management of the Autobahn Indoor Speedway in West Nyack, NY, local racers, Autobahn league racers, fans and others helped reach the goal of $10,000.
With the 2nd running of the ‘Racing For A Cause’, Reynolds raised his target for the 2023 event up to $12,000.
It was with great pride that at the conclusion of the event, Reynolds was able to present a big check to the officials of the Penguin Plunge in the amount of $13,378, well over the target number.
“It’s the racing off season, so it’s a great time to have this type of event. It’s obviously for a good cause. It’s all for the children that benefit from the Penguin Plunge’, Reynolds said. “I really have to thank Palisades Autobahn for donating the facility, the venue and supporting the racing, donating their karts, their staff, they are tremendous.”
“I am so excited that the Orange County Fair Speedway has done this for the Penguin Plunge”, said Barbara Noyes, one of the directors of the Plunge. “We will do anything for the kids. It’s very special when another group of people cares and takes on our children too. It meant a lot to the families that we are helping to see this event tonight. I have so much respect for the people who came out tonight, and my heart is overflowing.”
Much thanks goes out to the main sponsor of the event, Orange and Rockland Utilities.
The action on the track was quite intense. With 45 racers and only 10 feature spots available, racers had to be at their best to make the feature. While the Autobahn had the advantage of being on their home track, the local racers were able to hold their own against the tough competition.
Of the 10 racers in the feature, 5 were from the local world of dirt racing. The G.O.A.T. Brett Hearn won his semi final to make the race. OCFS Street Stock competitor Tyler Romer, 358 driver Pat Reiser, Sportsman racer R.J. Sherman and Modified/358 driver Daniel Morgiewicz Jr all made the final cut.
In the feature event, it was Autobahn regular T.J. Gillen taking the win. Romer became the first local driver to make the podium in the 2 year history of the race with a 2nd place finish. Autobahn regular Danny Lohrey was 3rd.
“It was a good race”, said Romer. “The track got really wide there at the end, it was 8 lanes wide. But it was cool.”
Of the other local racers, Reiser placed 5th, Hearn 6th, Sherman 7th and Morgiewicz Jr. 9th. Well done by the local racers.
Jeff Lewis, morning host at radio station WCCR 1700 was the winner of the celebrity match race which pitted the county executives and sheriffs of Orange and Rockland counties and other local celebrities.
Bill Rumsey and WLR Construction donated $500 and had a match race of Hearn against Anthony Perrego.
“If you can give, especially to a family with children in need, you should”. Rumsey said. “I like to give back when I can.”
Well done Bill.
And really, it’s well done by everyone who came out to Autobahn Speedway on Thursday night.
