By Shawn Brouse
Port Royal – When fans turn out to honor late Port Royal Speedway champion Smokey Snellbaker at the Smokey Snellbaker Classic Keystone Cup sprint race on May 24, they’ll get to relive and see a piece of the past.
On display for the inaugural event will be a pair of restored Snellbaker mounts.
From 1977 through the 1982 season, Snellbaker was teamed with south-central Pennsylvania car owner Charlie Lloyd, his son Mike and their No. 56 sprint car.
And it was in that car that Snellbaker garnered what was some of his greatest successes while making the car famous nation wide.
At Port Royal alone, Snellbaker knocked off 23 wins in the car including the 1979 Tuscarora 50.
And it is that 1979 car that will be one of the restored mounts on display.
The car will leave the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing for the night and trek northward to honor its former pilot at Port Royal.
Also in the very same car, Snellbaker won the prestigious Williams Grove Speedway National Open in 1979 as well as the 1979 Syracuse Super Nationals where he set a one-mile world speed record on dirt.
He also beat the World of Outlaws, All Stars and USAC in the Lloyd car.
Mike Lloyd himself will have another restored Lloyd/Snellbaker car on display for the Keystone Cup Snellbaker Classic.
In 1979, Snellbaker drove a specially designed No. 54 USAC Silver Crown Champ Car for the Lloyd stables.
Though not driven much during the season, the car did compete at Nazareth where Snellbaker had a chance at the victory.
Gates for the May 24 Smokey Snellbaker Classic 6th annual Keystone Cup event will open at 5 pm with time trials slated for 7 pm.
The 30-lap feature will pay $5,000 to win and the super sportsman are also on the racing card for their only appearance of the 2012 season at the track.
Adult General Admission for the Snellbaker Classic is set at $20 with students ages 12 – 18 admitted for just $5.
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