Mission Valley Speedway Retrospective and Schedule

Mission Valley Speedway marking the start of its 30th Season!
By: Stefanie Nordberg
MVAR Head Judge/Reporter

I find it hard to believe that after 30 years of having a Speedway in the Mission Valley, I still have people tell me that they had no idea it was there! You see, I had been around the track from its birth, granted I was only 3 years old, however due to my fathers continued involvement over the years I was always aware of its presence.

I became reacquainted with the Mission Valley Auto Racers in the winter of 1996 when the Speedway was enlarged and resurfaced. The old 1/4 mile oval asphalt track was torn up and replaced by the current day 3/8 mile, 14 degree high-banked, tri-oval asphalt track located at 1113 North Reservoir Road, south of Polson.

Let me back track and give you a small bit of history on the origins of this Community asset! The Mission Valley Auto Racers were organized in 1970 as a revenue generating enterprise for and on the premises of the old Pony Palace in Pablo. (The present day site of the Peoples Center).

The next year in 1971 the MVAR became an incorporated, non-profit organization.

With the incorporation of the Auto Racers, officers were elected. Duane Olsen was president, Frank Arlint was Vice President, Bill K. Jones was Secretary and Doug Smith was Treasurer. Bob Lulow was the flagman. At this time, in 1971, the women were not able to join the organization, so they organized their own called the Mission Valley Auto Racers Ladies Auxiliary. At its inception, Janice Olsen was president, Janet Arlint was Vice President, Janet Lafrinire was Secretary and Jan Smith was Treasurer.

The Speedway was a short 1/4 mile dirt track that ran North and South with spectator bleachers on the East side. Unfortunately, due to the bleachers location, fans had to contend with the setting sun and the west wind blowing dirt in their faces! Due to this the bleachers were moved to the west side in 1971.

Regular MVAR classes that ran were 6 cylinder "C" Stocks and 8 cylinder Super Stocks. The cars had to be at least 10 years old or later. In the track's second season, 1971, the car count increased considerably. The Modifieds traveled up from the Missoula track several times that season. The Mission Valley Speedway continued in its original location through the 1973 season.

In the fall of 1973, a new facility was started in its present day location on North Reservoir road. The Job Corps under the direction of Wayne Hamel did the track work, with the MVAR members under the direction of then president Bob Dailey working on the concession stands.

The speedway remained dirt for 2 or 3 years until approximately 1977 when the Job Corps laid a 2" asphalt lift on the track.

This asphalt track endured 20 years of life, during which it was sub-leased to individuals a handful of times, closed for approximately 2 years, and ran the rest of the time by the Mission Valley Auto Racers.

Then in the fall of 1996, with the help of the S&K College Heavy Equipment class under direction of Art Trahan and Dave Bick the life of that first asphalt track came to an end. The old asphalt was torn up, and the site was readied throughout the winter for the arrival of the new asphalt in the spring of 1997!

The complete transformation of the Speedway would never have been possible with out the many, many local valley businesses, volunteers, and MVAR members that made it happen!

Now it has been three years of racing, with the start of our fourth on the new 3/8 mile track. Our name is becoming wider and better known through out the Northwest. We have seven regular local classes of cars that race from May through September. As well as four out of town traveling classes scheduled to appear regularly during this 2000, 30th year season!

Also new this year is a Mission Valley Speedway website that you can access to keep track of your favorite racer, the 2000 schedule, news articles or ticket prices. Locate us at www.pitstop.com/mvs/index.htm

Another first for this Season will mark the arrival of the North West Winged Sprint Cars on Saturday, July 8th! This is also the first time they have ever ran in Western Montana, possibly in the entire state! Advance tickets will be available after June 1st. Contact Bob Lulow at 675-2277.

So I encourage each one of you, whether this is the first you've ever heard of the Mission Valley Speedway, or whether you're an avid racing fan, come check us out, you'll be glad you did!

MISSION VALLEY SPEEDWAY 2000 SCHEDULE

Saturday Night Racing, Time trials at 6:00 PM, Racing at 7:00 PM(except championships)

Sunday Afternoon Racing, Time trials at 1:00 PM, Racing at 2:00 PM

May 6 Jamboree-All classes: Super Stock, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Budweiser Compacts, Bombers, Krusers, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's, and Kids Rides!

May 13 Season Opener-All classes, Dbl pts: Super Stocks, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Budweiser Compacts, Bombers, Krusers, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's

May 20 Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Bombers, Kids Rides, Pitman & Sponsors Race

May 27 Super Stock, Budweiser Compacts, Bombers, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's

June 3 Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Bombers, Rollover Contest ($200 to win)

June 10 Northwest Late Model Fours, Budweiser Compacts, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's, Pitman & Sponsors Race

June 17 Sat Mission Mountain Tire/Les Schwab Northwest Modified's, Law Enforcement Race, MGD Light Hobbys, Bombers, Baseball Kids Night (Kids wear your team shirt/uniform and get in free!)

June 18 Sun Mission Mountain Tire/Les Schwab Northwest Modified's, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, Budweiser Compacts, Krusers

June 24 Compact 75 DBL points, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Bombers

July 1 Canadian Old Timers, Mission Valley Speedway's Memorial Hobby Stock 125-Dbl points, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock,=20

July 8 Winged Sprints (N.S.R.A. Northwest Sprint Car Racing Association), Super Stocks, Krusers=20

(Advanced Winged Sprint tickets available after 6/1, contact Bob Lulow at 675-2277)

July 15 Mission Valley Auto Ladies Night Out Race, Budweiser Compacts, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Bombers, $1,000 Dollar Cash Blow Away!

July 22 Can-Am Super Stock Twin 50-Dbl points, MGD Light Hobby Stock, Budweiser Compacts, Media Race, and Kids Rides!

July 29 Northwest Late Model Fours, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, Bombers, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's

Aug 5 Pioneer Days Demolition Derby, Bomber Twin 25-Dbl points, Krusers

Aug 12 Can-Am Super Stock, Tuff Trucks, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stock, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's

Aug 19 Dare Street Stock 150-Dbl points, Kids Moto-cross, Budweiser Compacts

Aug 26 Trailer House Demolition, MGD Light Hobby Stocks, Bombers, Krusers, Firemans Race, Kids Rides

Sept 2 No racing, (Sanders County Fair..Plains)

Sept 9 Super Stocks, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stocks, Budweiser Compacts, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's

Sept 16 Grand Finale Championships-All Classes: Super Stocks, Pepsi/Pizza Hut Street Stocks, MGD Light Hobby Stocks, Budweiser Compacts, Bombers, Krusers, Alamon/Telco Formula Indy's (No time trials.racing begins at 6:00 PM)

Season Passes are not honored on the Pioneer Days Demo Weekend.

24 Hour Information Line: 1-406-675-RACE

www.pitstop.com/mvs/index.htm

For more information call: 675-2277, 676-8111, 676-4485 or 883-5369