From Port Royal Speedway
Port Royal, PA — (August 14, 2013) — Two of the most iconic voices in the history of Port Royal Speedway will join in the celebration of Keith Kauffman’s career for Keith Kauffman Farewell Tribute Night at the oval this Saturday at 7 pm.
Former announcers Don Lorenz and Tom Baker will be in attendance at the event, offering their comments and remarks on the career of the retiring veteran driver and his years spent racing at Port Royal and around the globe.
Now 81-years old, Mr. Don Lorenz manned the microphone at Port Royal from the late 1960’s through the 1970’s while also becoming the first announcer at Pocono International Raceway and during that time he witnessed the birth of Kauffman’s now storied career while calling his first attempts at racing as well as his first victory at the oval where he now has amassed 128 wins.
And then Tom Baker, now age 69, took over the Port Royal microphone to witness and commentate on the famous Kauffman/Hamilton No. 77 years at the track during the 1980s.
Both veterans of the Port Royal mic will make a return to the track for this special evening of racing.
Kauffman declared this season his farewell tour and as such the track that he made his name at and called home on Saturday’s for nearly his entire career when racing in the area will honor the legend with a pair of special races for both the Aumiller’s Insurance 410 Sprints and the Gray’s Auto and Towing Late Models.
Sprints will vie in a 33-lap main, honoring one of Kauffman’s most memorable early-career mounts the K33,that pays $5,000 to win.
Kauffman’s pair of career Port Royal late model wins came at the wheel of the No. 21 stock car thus the late models will race for $2,100 to win in a 21-lap feature.
Hamilton Management, John Groninger Inc., Weikert’s Livestock and Trackside Bar and Grille sponsor the event.
Time trials well set the heat and feature starting grids for both the events. Late models will time trial using a group format.
Also attending the event and making remarks will be Kauffman’s sprint car sponsors and/or owners through the years: John Groninger, Al Hamilton and Wade Cleck along with a representative of the Bob Weikert family.
Other special remarks from special guests will be made live via telephone during the presentation.
Kauffman’s very first racecar, the Clyde’s Gulf No. 2 will be on display throughout the night for the special farewell event.
All fans are asked to attend the event in a Keith Kauffman racing shirt or jacket.
Prizes will be given for those who are wearing what can be determined as the oldest Kauffman apparel.
A Juniata Tire Sales enduro dash will close out the night’s racing.
Adult general admission prices for the special Kauffman Port Royal event will remain at the low regular price of $15 for the show with students staying at the usual rate of $5 for ages 12 – 18.
General admission gates will open at 4:30 pm.