Officials gear up for Super Nationals

By D.A. Wilkinson

Events brought an estimated $250,000 to the city last year.

SALEM — Men, women and children of all ages, start your idea of fun.

The Steel Valley Super Nationals will run Friday through Sunday at the Quaker City Dragway.

Events in Salem will run Thursday through Sunday, with an “End-O-The-Nats Cruise-In” in North Georgetown on June 23 for good measure.

People can race, cruise and even drive small remote-controlled vehicles.

And if they get tired of driving, plans are under way to show the classic cruising movie “American Graffiti” at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

“We’re looking for some sort of large screen,” said Mike Grimstadt, one of the organizers in Salem.

Grimstadt said that events in the city are under the umbrella of Salem Renaissance Inc., a nonprofit organization.

Corey Ward, the promoter of the Super Nationals, said that events last year brought 32,173 people to the track.

Grimstadt estimated that about 20,000 people made it to the city during the weekend.

“The event is big, it helps bring people downtown, and it helps the economy grow,” he said.

The low-end estimate of the money spent in the city by visitors during the 2007 Super Nationals was $250,000.

Ward said the city is likely to benefit even more from the car and motorcycle racing this year.

He plans to wrap events up an hour earlier at 9 p.m. One reason is “the staff has a long day,” he said.

But that means it’s likely that people will head into the city earlier for food and drink, he said.

The city will also have another chance in July to draw more visitors. Ward is promoting a ribs and rock fest at the drag strip July 11-13. The headliner July 11 will be Candlebox, and on July 12, Michael Stanley and the Resonators will perform. Ward is promoting a discount pass for a motorcycle rider and passenger for $10 that is available online.

“That’s the cost of a movie ticket,” he said.

Dan Swindell, who owns the raceway and has been trying to sell it, said he is working to get ready for the Super Nats.

Those who are too young and even too old to have a driver’s license can also compete in racing — at church.

First Friends Church, 1028 Jennings Ave., will have Miniature Race Vehicle Association competitions. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, and races are Friday and Saturday.

Richard Theiss said that the radio-controlled car races are growing in popularity, and “it’s all very inexpensive.”

Instead of the big money that can go into racing or preserving a classic vehicle, competitors pay $11 for a vehicle and a few dollars more for batteries.

“A grandparent and a granddaughter can battle it out,” he said.

XFor more information, visit www.steelvalleysupernationals.com.