17th Annual Mel Hall Memorial Set for Saturday Night at Marysville
May 25, 2016 (Marysville, CA) …For the 17th time, Marysville Raceway will host the annual tribute to Mel Hall scheduled for this Saturday night, May 28th. A surplus of top winged 360 sprint car drivers are scheduled to attend as the best of the best in the California Civil War Sprint Car Series will battle it out on the lightening quick quarter-mile oval dirt track. Around 32 winged sprint cars are expected to vie for the $3,000 to win 30-lap main event. Added to the show are the economy winged sprints.
Pit gate for the competitors will open at 3 PM. Front grandstand gate is set to open at 5 PM. Qualifying for the winged sprint cars is scheduled for 6:30 PM. General grandstand admission is $18.00 for adults. Junior, Seniors and Military with proper I.D. is $13.00. Kids, ages 6 – 11, are $6.00. Children ages five and under are free.
Mel Hall was a visionary. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on October 31, 1937, Hall was always fascinated with cars that went fast. By the late fifties he began tinkering with hot rods that led him into drag racing his own powerful 1955 Chevrolet. In 1960 Hall moved to Grass Valley, California and later that year married the love of his life, Marlyn.
Throughout the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s Hall was involved in some form of racing at Auburn Speedway, Ernie Purssell Speedway in Grass Valley, Placerville Speedway and Twin Cities Speedway, which is now known as Marysville Raceway. His driving career concluded in the early 80’s, but his love and passion for the sport carried him into the promoting side of the business. In 1995, he became the promoter of Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville. Once on the job, Hall made numerous improvements including new restrooms, a revamped concession building and in 1999 he was so proud to remove the worn out grandstand bench style seats and replace it with aluminum seating with a back rest. Hall battled an illness during the final few months of his life that ultimately took him from us on May 22, 1999. At his funeral, there was an overflow of people wanting to pay their final respect to a man who not only entertained fans with his driving style but made sure he helped preserve the sport he loved for generations to come.
As with any special race, the Hall family will be in attendance during this event. The family would like to thank all of the people and sponsors who help facilitate this race. They are listed as follows in no particular order; Mel’s Transmission, Dennis Gage at Marysville Raceway, Kevin Sharrah Designs, Riebes Auto Parts, ART Speed Equipment, Christine and Randy Zaveson, Seaman Family, Performance Auto Supply, Bella and Carson Hall, Marlena Hall, Nevada City Auto Service, Sellers Race Wings, Rose and Bud Boyer, Chris and Ted Shelton.
Defending Mel Hall Memorial winner Andy Forsberg of Auburn will lead a long list of top drivers this Saturday night. Chico’s Jonathan Allard, Roseville’s Sean Becker and Fremont’s Shane Golobic are all front runners who are hoping to cash in on the big pay day. Six-time Mel Hall Memorial champion Colby Wiesz of Colfax is also a hug favorite. The 2014 winner DJ Netto and 2013 winner Justyn Cox could also make some noise. During the night, special cash awards will be divided up and given to the fast time qualifier and heat race winners.
For more information please visit www.marysvilleraceway.com
Mel Hall Memorial Previous Winners List
2000 Colby Wiesz
2001 Korey Lovell
2002 Willie Croft
2003 Colby Wiesz
2004 Colby Wiesz
2005 Jeff Haleib
2006 Colby Wiesz
2007 Colby Wiesz
2008 Billy Wallace
2009 Colby Wiesz (6)
2010 Stephen Allard
2011 Kyle Hirst
2012 Kyle Hirst (2)
2013 Justyn Cox
2014 DJ Netto
2015 Andy Forsberg
