By Bob Baker
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 2, 2011) – Add the name of Sam Hafertepe, Jr., to the list of autograph signers at the year’s “Sixty Minutes in the Trostle Garage with…“ sessions in the National Sprint Car Museum. And add the names of Natalie Sather, Greg Hodnett, Daryn Pittman, Justin Henderson, Brian Montieth, Kenny Jacobs and car owner Michael Heffner to the list of panelists in this year’s sixth annual Knoxville Nationals Fan Fair forums. Sather, the former sprint car racer who is now second in South Boston (Va.) Speedway asphalt late model points, will join host Stacy Ervin in the “Women in Racing” forum, while the others will participate in Bruce Ellis’ “Meet the Posse” forum.
Museum curator Tom Schmeh said today, “It is definitely getting fun as we schedule appearances in the museum for sprint car racing industry insiders. Fan favorite Sam Hafertepe, Jr., has been winning on both sides of the USA/Canada border lately and he will be a popular draw at our autograph table in the Trostle Garage. Natalie Sather will have a unique perspective as she successfully makes the transition from dirt-track open-wheel racing to asphalt stock car racing. And Bruce Ellis has done an outstanding job of lining up Posse members, including many who have migrated to Central Pennsylvania from other parts of the country in the great tradition of Kenny Weld, Jan Opperman, Bobby Allen and many, many others. I am also personally excited to hear from Pennsylvanian Michael Heffner, who owns Daryn Pittman’s winning sprint cars. I expect we will have several Standing-Room-Only forums again this year!”
The current schedule for the sixth annual Knoxville Nationals Fan Fair, to be held in the first floor, east wing, of the Donald Lamberti National Sprint Car Museum is as follows:
Wednesday, August 10:
11 a.m. – “West Coast Sprint Car Racing” with host Dean Mills & special guests Jonathan Allard and others
1 p.m. – “World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Racing” with host Johnny Gibson (World Racing Group) & special guests
3 p.m. – “Sprint Car Racing: State of the Union” with host Larry Boos (Eldora Speedway) & Rex LeJeune (Attica Raceway Park), Jean Lynch (1987 North American Sprint Car Poll “Outstanding Contribution to the Sport Award” recipient), Steve Sinclair (Interstate Racing Association), Bill Wright (Knoxville Raceway), Allan Holland (www.hoseheads.com) and others
Thursday, August 11:
11 a.m. – “International Sprint Car Racing” with host David Mills (Premier Speedway) & special guests
1 p.m. – “Meet the Knoxville Regulars” with host Bill Wright (Knoxville Raceway) & special guests: 1-1:30 p.m. – Danny Lasoski, Kevin Swindell, Robby Wolfgang; 1:30-2 p.m. – Davey Heskin, Terry McCarl, Austin McCarl; 2-2:30 p.m. – Mark Dobmeier, Josh Schneiderman, Don Droud Jr.
3 p.m. – “Women in Sprint Car Racing” with host Stacy Ervin (Knoxville Raceway) & special guests Janet Holbrook (C&H Motorsports), Misha Geisert (True Speed Communication), Kendra Jacobs (PRN “Winged Nation”), Haley Arnold (driver), Miranda Arnold (driver), Natalie Sather (former sprint car driver) and others
Friday, August 12:
11 a.m. – “Sprint Car Driver Safety Improvements: Past, Present & Future” with host Greg Nicol (Speedway Motors) & special guests Brian Butler (ButlerBuilt Seats), Jack Elam (J&J Chassis), and Jay Braxton (HANS)
1 p.m. – “Sprint Car Racing: An Historical Perspective” with host Gary Guehler (Texas Motor Speedway) & special guests
3 p.m. – “Meet the Posse” with host Bruce Ellis (Williams Grove Speedway) & special guests Greg Hodnett, Daryn Pittman, Justin Henderson, Brian Montieth, Kenny Jacobs and Michael Heffner (car owner); presented by www.hoseheads.com
Saturday, August 13:
11 a.m. – “San Jose Speedway & the Hardtop Era” with host Les Randall
1 p.m. – “A.D. & ‘Jiggs’ Trowell Racing Memories/Devil’s Bowl Speedway History” with host Teresa Adrian
3 p.m. – “Lucky Louis LeCocq, 1892-1919” by Bruce Boertje
The schedule for the “Sixty Minutes in the Trostle Garage with…” autograph sessions will be released early next week. Fans are encouraged to visit the non-profit museum’s web site at www.sprintcarhof.com.