By Shawn Brouse
Port Royal – No less than eight historic restored sprint cars either owned by honoree Al Hamilton or driven by honoree Lynn Paxton will be on hand for the upcoming Living Legends Dream Race at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, August 4.
The race with its innovative format and more than $50,000 purse is being run this season in honor of Hamilton and Paxton as the pair gets recognized as Port Royal Speedway Living Legends in 2012.
And as part of the show, one of Paxton’s earlier race cars, an Emrich Chevrolet No. 1 will be on display along with at least two restored versions of Paxton’s famed Boop’s Aluminum Special No. 1 machines run during the late 1970’s into the early 1980’s.
Also on hand in honor of both driver Paxton and owner Hamilton will be a rarely seen red, white and blue Hamilton No. 77 sprinter that was campaigned by the duo near the end of Paxton’s career, which came in 1983. The car will be removed from storage in Maryland for the showing.
In addition, another rare outing for the event will be made by Hamilton’s famed No. 77 from 1975 as driven by the immortalized Jan Opperman. This car will be brought out of storage in western Pennsylvania for the prestigious event.
Other Hamilton cars that will be on display include a version driven by Fred Rahmer in the 1990’s and another as driven by Billy Cassella , Roger Larson, Ray Lee Goodwin and others in the early 1970’s.
Plus, current sprint car driver Aaron Ott will have his Hamilton Motorsports-sponsored No. 77 on display prior to the races as well.
A pre race autograph session will be held as well with details forthcoming.
The 2012 Living Legends Dream Race will feature not only a more than $50,000 total purse payout but it will also distribute thousands in contingency cash and prizes to the sprint car drivers in attendance.
For fans, a treat in itself will be the chance to essentially see four main events in one night including the Dream A, a pair of semi features and a B Main as well.
The format will see the odd and even finishers in time trials be split apart into respective 16-lap semis.
From there, every position gained during each semi by a driver will serve to advance that driver into their Dream A starting spot for those who finish inside the top 10.
The balance of the semi fields finishing outside of the top 10 will fall back to the B Main with Dream starting positions 21 – 24 to be determined by its finish.
Plus, a fan voted 25th starter will be put into the Dream based on which non-qualifying driver in the B garners the most raucous response from the crowd.
Go to the speedway website at portroyalspeedway.com to see the most up to date list of contingency cash and prizes slated to be given away to racers.
PRS 2012 – Racing into a new decade with a new attitude!
Port Royal Speedway
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