Auto racers ready for Anderson Explodes!

BURNIN’ RUBBER:
The Shasta Raceway Auto Races will preclude the fireworks show at Anderson Explodes! on Labor Day weekend.

The traditional Anderson Explodes! event fizzled out over the Fourth of July because of fires blazing across the North State, and the transformation of the Shasta District Fairgrounds into a firefighter base camp.

But the show will go on. Anderson Explodes! will be back for Labor Day weekend, and the folks at Shasta Raceway are ready to be part of the action.

The raceway will feature the first annual California Vintage Nationals over Labor Day Weekend, coinciding with the Anderson Explodes! fireworks show and other featured events.

Shasta Raceway promoter Rick Faeth is excited for the vintage car showcase, featuring cars from the 1930s through 1970s.

“This will give me an opportunity for my California Vintage Nationals to be put on in front of a full grandstand,” he said. “It’s like a step back in time. It kind of takes me back to my childhood.”

Faeth said the Anderson Explodes! Labor Day event gives race fans the chance to share their passion for the sport with a new audience.

“I think that auto racing is something you have to experience first hand. It’s not something you can get the full experience on television,” he said. “Auto racing has a certain smell to it. There’s a sound. There’s a feel. You have to be there live in the arena to really grasp what’s taking place — the energy level.”

Faeth’s first year as promoter has been an adventure and a challenge for him.

“Racing season has been for a first year promoter has been tremendously successful on the track,” Faeth said.

“There’s always challenges for a first year business,” he said. “Racing is a very emotional sport on the track and in the pit area, and there have been some challenging moments. You never know what each week is going to bring.”

With race season more than two-thirds of the way through, Shasta racers and race fans have witnessed a lot of highlights as well as low-lights.

Faeth said one of his favorite moments was watching Bobby Hirschbock from Klamath Falls win a memorial stock race two weeks ago.

“He is a very accomplished racer, but he does it on a budget. I think everyone was really proud of him,” Faeth said.

Up-and-coming racers have also stood out as they’ve made a name for themselves in the sport.

Kyle Borden in the Modified Division, Brian King in Late Model division and Nancy Wright in the Mini Stocks have really come into their own this year, Faeth said, “Borden and King just joined those particular divisions, and Nancy Wright won her first event this year.”

“Those are highlights that any promoter would look at and take pride in,” he said.