News Director 
Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – As we have moved into spring here in the northeast, racing fans are getting the urge to get out of the house and perhaps do something racing-related.
Maybe you want to hang out with friends and racers and see some of the new equipment that will be seen on the local tracks this season.
The perfect opportunity for that occurs this weekend at the Orange County Fairgrounds Arena in Middletown, NY.
The doors to the arena will swing open at 11AM on both Saturday, March 25th and Sunday, March 26th as the OCFS Motorsports Show returns for it’s weekend run. Cars from the three local stock car tracks of Orange County Fair Speedway, Accord Speedway and Bethel Motor Speedway along with other area tracks will be on display.
There will be a top prize of $1,000 for Best Of Show 1st place courtesy of FDI/Salon Bleu. FDI of Newton, NJ and Salon Bleu of Augusta, NJ, have a longtime involvement in motorsports in both the show and for many years, the Marky Traverse Memorial Race.
Best Of Show 2nd place carries a $400 prize and is courtesy of Rapid Tire of Montgomery, NY, also a previous participant in the motorsport shows.
Best Of Show 3rd place $200 prize is courtesy of Crackers Motorsports Marketing, OCFS’s own Peter Reynolds.
Thank you to these companies for their involvement in the 2023 show.
There are many different divisions that will be receiving awards and local speedways and other racing related groups are sponsoring those awards.
- Modified/358’s/IMCA – Accord Speedway
- Sportsman – 18W Racing
- Sprints/Open Wheel – HIC Racing
- Full Fender – Bethel Motor Speedway
- Small Car (Slingshot/Go Karts) – Bethel Motor Speedway
- Antique/Vintage – Accord Speedway
- Special Interest – HIC Racing
- Best Display – Northeast Offroad Center
- Pit Crew Challenge – Hig Fab
Also happening during the weekend will be the crowning of the young ladies who will represent the speedway in 2023 in Victory Lane and other activities. In a change from previous years, there is a new division added. Joining the Ms. OCFS and the Little Miss OCFS will be a Junior Miss OCFS pageant which will include those ages 11-17.
Awards are posted for the pageants as well.
- Ms. OCFS Pageant – Superior Remodeling
- Ms. Congeniality – BDR Speed
- Ms. Photogenic – Short Track Super Series
- Junior Miss OCFS – Steve’s Toy Box
- Little Miss OCFS – Plum Sweet Creations
Special thanks goes out to Texas Roadhouse, Escape Powersports Plus and ESJ Graphics.
Many thanks goes out to those businesses and individuals involved with the show. Good luck to all the entrants in both the car displays and pageants.
There are also returning some of the activities that many enjoy such as the Pit Crew Challenge, a Charity Auction and a Cornhole Tournament.
If you are attending the show, please consider stopping by the “No Kid Goes Hungry Backpack Program” fundraising booth. Take a spin of the wheel and win some type of donated prize. It’s for a great cause. It is organized by the Middletown Lions Club. All prizes are donated so every dollar collected goes to the No Kid Goes Hungry Program.
One of the people at the booth will be OCFS’s own Pamela Van Dunk. She is one of the nicest people that one could meet.
The schedule for the show is as follows.
Friday, March 24
- 11AM to 8PM: Set up for the show
Saturday, March 25th
- 11AM: Show opens
- 3:30PM: Pit Crew Challenge
- 5PM: Charity Auction*
- 6PM: Cornhole Tournament
- 7PM: Ms. OCFS Pageant
*Please bring any articles that you wish to donate for the Charity Auction on Saturday. Thank you.
Sunday March 26th
- 11AM: Show opens
- 12PM: Little Miss/Junior Miss Pageant
- 3PM: Best of Show Awards Ceremony
Admission is $12 daily, $20 for a weekend pass. Children 10 & under are free.
Thank you to all those who are participating in this year’s show. Good luck to all the entrants in both the car displays and pageants.
Everything is set up for a great weekend at the OCFS Arena. Hope to see many of you there!!
