RENO, NV (April 1) – Due to the current situation this week’s Racing Preview will be a bit short. Hopefully this might be over by May and green flags will wave again.
CAR MEETS:
• Since it’s the first weekend of the month Reno Cars and Coffee will have a meet, well sort of. It starts Sunday at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the Kietzke Starbucks but this time everyone is asked to stay in their cars.
At around 10:15 everyone heads out for a cruise into the Sierras. At Truckee the cruise splits in two parts so everyone can have an enjoyable day with the necessary social distancing.
• That same day, starting at 11:00 by Scheels the Fallon/Fernley Cars & Coffee is also holding a meet of their own. After everyone gets together at 11:30 the group leaves and starts a cruise that takes them through Virginia City then to the Lahoton Boat Ramp.
RACING (REGIONAL):
• As of now all the oval tracks as well as Top Gun Drag Strip are closed until this shutdown ends.
• Another postponement is the scheduled MRANN race at Dry Valley. That will probably be moved to the fall. The IRC Endurofest, scheduled for May 1-3 has been postponed while they are looking for another date at Wild West Motorsports Park.
Nice thing is that at these events social distancing is easy as the riders on the track usually aren’t close to each other. In the pits it’s a matter of just not parking close together.
• Last weekend the four Northern California motocross tracks all had practice sessions. Unfortunately 95 Motor Sport Complex didn’t but hopefully that will change. If one is hoping to go to the tracks listed remember weather is coming in so be sure to call their hotline before loading up and heading out.
Their practice schedules for the four Northern California are:
+ MMX Racing: Friday from noon until 5 p.m. big bikes only on the sand course. On Saturday practice from 9 until 2 p.m. on the Main, Sand and Kid’s track. Then from 9 until 3 p.m. Sunday on the Main, Sand and Vintage tracks. MMX hotline is: 530-419-5200.
+ REP Racing has not announced for this weekend as weather is expected so the second round of this year’s Amateur MX Shootout at Riverfront is up in the air right now. REP Racing MX hot line is: 775-265-7223.
+ E Street MX Park: Friday from 2 until 7 p.m. will be for Big Bikes only.
+ Riverfront: Open practice from 2 until 7 p.m. Thursday. Friday for minis only from 2 until 7 p.m. Practices will be split between slower to the faster classes.
+ No word on Prairie City so do check the hotline.
RACING (NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL):
• Many international events are either postponed or canceled. In fact Formula 1 has either canceled or postponed the first eight events on its schedule including canceling the Monaco Grand Prix that happens in May.
Also feeing the effects are the World Endurance Championship, Formula E and in the two-wheeled world Moto GP. Another canceled event is this year’s International 6-Day Enduro slated for Italy in May.
Back here in America the Indy 500 has been postponed until August 23. Right now they are looking if the five to six week set up time for Detroit will mean that race will open the Indy Car Season or postpone it until maybe September.
This year the final race of the season might not be at Laguna Seca but another venue. Depends how the schedule works out but there might be some combined NASCAR Cup/Indy Car weekends at certain venues.
• With this all in mind NASCAR is having an invitational series on iRACING.
The interesting thing is that some of the racers are very skilled at SimRacing but many of the Cup regulars aren’t. Racing a simulator in your home is a very different experience.
This Sunday at 10 a.m. Fox will air the virtual NASCAR Cup race from bullring at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is a shorter broadcast but can be interesting and the regular announcers are calling the race.
Now if iRACING can have a flyover during the opening ceremonies. I’d like to see a formation of B-17’s escorted by P-40’s from the Flying Tiger group. Well it is virtual.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Once again Terresa’s Garage Radio Show will be on the air from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. With the virus scare we’re doing it remote so only the host is in the studio.
I have a preview section at 2:15 and we can be heard, in the Reno/Sparks area on 1180 AM. We can be heard on a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or see us live on Face Book with a repeat on Sunday.
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We now have seven very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they not only support your sport but they help nvracingnews continue.
Our newest sponsor is G.I.S.L Land Services that, while having a global client base has a Western U.S.A. Focus. Owner Greg Ekins is a long time off road motorcycle racer competing in the MRANN Series as well as the AMA National Hare and Hound series.
Among the services offers are Surface and Mineral Title Reviews and Cartographic Services. The website is www.gislandservices.com.
Another great sponsor is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
Former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian is the owner and they not only service older and newer transmission but now have a section dealing with high performance units including those used for towing.
The phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Last year fantastic race photographer Melissa Coker joined the family of sponsors. If you have raced at Summit in Elko, Battle Mountain, Lovelock, Rattlesnake or Diamond Mountain Speedway she probably has a photograph of your car on the track.
She’s also been at the IMCA Duel in the Desert was well as the Wild West Tour and IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Melissa not only has photos of the cars, and many times drivers, but she can produce hero cards and even a book of from your season.
To see her collections or to place an order please check her website at www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
The next shop is Moto Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again there is a full service shop plus about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
The next sponsor is an excellent place if you need collision repair on your car or truck. It’s Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno and has a long history of first class repairs.
Brian Saul is the owner, a car enthusiast himself and he’s committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&Company for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. If you’re a rider, well Wednesday evening is Bike Night, always a great time to see some great looking bikes and meet like-minded people.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net. With the current shutdown one might want to call them and see if they have a take out service. Ordering a meal would be a good way of supporting them in this difficult time.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or an off road demographic? We are always looking for more sponsors and will expose your business to the racing and off road community in this area.
You can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
