By Bryan Gapinski
Three-days of racing on the Belleville High Banks for the The 37th annual Belleville Midget Nationals on July 31-Aug. 2 begins tomorrow.
The High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum will also be the center of many events during the three days. Including:
—Thursday, July 31 – Race museum open 9 – 5
Induction meal and ceremony doors open 11:00 – 2:30 2405 P Street
Race museum open 2 – 5
Photo shoot/christening of new addition at the race museum 2:30
—Friday, August 1 – Race museum open 9 – 5
Pinewood derby at Entertainment Center, Fairgrounds 1:30
—Saturday, August 2 – Race museum open 9 – 5
HBHoF Race Memorabilia Auction at Entertainment Center, Fairgrounds 11:30
Drawing for Gravely lawnmower at the Midget Nationals Finals
“Adding to the Arches”! The Museum has recently moved forward with the beginning of a new addition. Construction will double the current space to allow for more displays of historic racing artifacts relating to auto racing and the world-famous “Belleville High Banks”.
The motion to approve the addition was moved and accepted by the volunteers of the HBHoF on May 18th of this year. Dirt work began on July 7th for the $200,000 project, which will be funded solely by donations, and the concrete pad was poured on July 22nd. There will be a christening of the pad following the 2014 High Banks Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday July 31..
Fundraising for the building fund has been ongoing. At this time, with the generous support of Spike Chassis and other racing manufacturers, the Museum will raffle off a brand new 2014 rolling chassis at the 2015 Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
With a suggested donation of $20, or $100 for six chances, your name will go into the tumbler for a chance to win this car, approximately valued at over $14,000. The winner will have the option to decline the car and accept a $2,800 cash payout.
Chances have been accumulating since early summer of ’14, but the odds are WAY better than those of winning the lottery! Again, all proceeds benefit the High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum. For more information, call the Museum Office at 785-527-2526 or e-mail highbanksmuseum@nckcn.com.