[51fan]

Inquiring minds want to know!
Where's the website w/ rules and schedule promised on the 14th, then 22nd, then ....???
It's the end of November.
April will be here before you know it.
Hope this is not a sign of things to come.
Drivers are preparing cars and are making decisions as to where they will (or will not) race in 2009.
This delay will not cement a good relationship with those who were planning to race at "Springport", as other tracks have had schedules and rules posted for almost a month.
Any more delays and drivers will almost certainly be headed for other tracks.
Not the best way to start out a "new era" for the big 3/8-mile.

[coachraber3]

Here is a link of what Jerry Rabber's had to say about "Mid Michigan Speedway"


New owner plans racing, concerts for Springport

Jerry Rabbers has big plans for Mid-Michigan Speedway. Rabbers, 56, has purchased the former Springport Motor Speedway from longtime racing promoter and owner Paul Zimmerman, and Rabbers plans on turning the facility into a hub for racing and family entertainment.

``When I was looking at facilities, I knew I needed at least 50 acres,'' Rabbers said. ``Besides racing, I wanted to be able to host truck pulls, tractor pulls, and I'm going to bring in four to six outdoor concerts next year.''

Mid-Michigan Speedway is a 70-acre facility that can hold 7,000 people, and the 3/8-mile track is the quickest such facility in the state, according to Rabbers.

Rabbers' purchase comes after he spent the last few years trying to build a race track in the Battle Creek-Marshall area.

``I was approached about the Springport facility, and I wouldn't have been interested if I didn't think I could make it work,'' Rabbers said. ``I don't think the track ever got promoted correctly, but 8-10 years ago they used to pack the place.''

Rabbers lists himself as president and owner of the track. He lives in Kalamazoo, where he owns a trucking company. He's assembled a management team for the speedway that includes Marcus Anthonsen of Kalamazoo and Bob Hancock of Battle Creek.

Anthonsen is slated to be the speedway's general manager, while Hancock will be vice president of marketing and operations.

``We've all driven or owned cars,'' Hancock said. ``We know what the people want. We want this to be the fastest family track in the business.

``Racing is number one, but we want it to become a family entertainment venue.''

Hancock said the group plans to unveil a Web site in the coming days. The site will contain a retooled, 46-page racing rulebook for the facility.

Opening day is scheduled for April 18. Racing will take place on Saturday nights, with special racing programs planned for select Friday nights.

The group plans to offer larger purses -- as much as $2,500 for Late Model feature wins -- as a way to bring up the car counts.

Rabbers hopes the first concert at the track will take place Memorial Day weekend. He's hoping the track's proximity to Jackson, Lansing, Battle Creek, Marshall and Albion will make it an attractive concert venue.

``On Dec. 3, I'm bringing up agents out of Nashville,'' Rabbers said. ``These guys wouldn't think twice about coming up here if they didn't think it could draw. They're making a special trip up here to get a bird's-eye view of the facility.

``We want this place to be about more than just racing on the weekends.''

[51fan]

We've already seen this "story" posted on racing websites.
How about some info straight from the horse's mouth!!!
There's a lot of "I heard this" and "I heard that" and "I spoke with Jerry" swirling around.
A lot of excitement was generated when track was sold, giving the track a spark of hope. I just hope that spark isn't dying.
Just my two cents.