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Salem gearing up for Steel Valley Super Nats
2008 Steel Valley Super Nationals
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2008 Steel Valley Super Nationals
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SALEM — Every year, Salem’s quiet Quaker roots take a back seat to drivers with really loud engines.
The Steel Valley Super Nationals After Party kicks off Thursday evening and ends Monday.
The Steel Valley Super Nationals will run at the Quaker City Raceway from Friday through Sunday.
Corey Ward, the promoter of the Super Nats, said Monday that, so far, 1,000 people have registered to take part in the racing during the weekend.
The racers and spectators are likely to go into Salem after the show for dinner and entertainment.
Mike Grimstad, one of the coordinators of the after party, said the bad national economy does not dampen attendance figures at the after party.
Grimstad said that last year, attendance in Salem was good.
“We were at 20,000 or a little better,” he said.
And he doesn’t expect any shortage of visitors this year.
Thursday night alone will allow owners of older cars to come out and enjoy food and music.
Events Thursday include a 6-9 p.m. Dunkin’ Donuts kickoff cruise between the two franchises on the east and west ends of State Street.
The main sponsors of the event are Terry’s Tire Town and The Stadium GM Super Store. Raffle tickets are being sold at B.B. Rooners and other locations to pay for the police overtime.
Police Chief Robert Floor said that East Pershing Street will be closed from South Lincoln Avenue for participating vehicles. Penn Avenue will be closed from East State Street to Peach Alley. South Lundy also will be closed from South Alley to Peach Alley. Through-traffic should avoid those streets.
To finance the overall event, organizers will sell a $5 poster. The photos on the poster were taken by local photographer Eska Paumier and resulted in a new feature, the Salem Super Hot Rod Girls.
The SSHRGs, Paumier said, are three professional area models that were chosen from more than 100 models living within a 50-mile radius of Salem.
After searching for and interviewing about 20 models, three were picked: Christina Wash, Alexa Grey and Krysta Sylvester.
“We needed girls who were local, who had professional modeling experience, and, most of all, had the kind of background and personality that we would be proud to have representing our community and event,” Paumier said. They will be greeting people and signing posters.
Abby Road, Salem’s longtime Beatles tribute band, will be the main performer from 9 to 11 p.m. outside city hall.
wilkinson@vindy.com