TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

June 11-12 is the 50th anniversary event at Thunder Valley Dragway in Marion, S.D. The list of notable competitors that have raced here over the years is pretty impressive, to say the least.

Midwest Class Racers is hosting it's largest paying Stock/Super Stock combo event that weekend, thanks to our marketing partners and sponsors. You can click on the Midwest Class Racers section here under 'Stock/Super Stock Associations' for event details, payout, etc. You can also check out MCR's Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544371742488480/

One of the best parts of the weekend will be the Friday night Racers Reunion! This is being held at Ron Roddel and Jim Christensen's 'Wheelz' hot rod shop in Brandon, S.D. Brandon is just 10 minutes East of Sioux Falls. The address for Wheelz is 109 N. Heritage, Brandon, S.D. 57005. I've included a link to MapQuest here for directions:
http://classic.mapquest.com/#ca8c67952b222775ee364659

The reunion will start at 5:00 and run until 10:00. Ron and Chris are graciously providing a meal and refreshments for everyone. There will be a good number of restored race cars from Thunder Valleys past on display, along with some great hot rods and muscle cars. Several area photographers will have many, many photos from the tracks history on display.

ZZ Top hits the stage at 7 pm, followed by AC/DC at 8 and The Rolling Stones will finish the evening off beginning at 9.*

For further info about the Friday night reunion at Wheelz, contact Ron Roddel at 605-941-2380.

Should be a lot of fun!

*Just kidding.....;) :)

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

For all racers that would like to park there rigs on Friday before the gates open Please call Glen or Cherrie at (605)-648-3605 to make arrangements to get parked before the gates open.

Dan Wiese

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

To sweeten the pot, several Thunder Valley alumni have stepped up with additional cash bonuses for Saturday's race:

- From Chuck and Barb Koppien: $100 to the 50th qualifier.
- From Jackie Koppien Gorman: $100 to the first driver winning any round with a perfect light or a perfect dial in.
- From Don Breen: $100 to the first round winner with the best light.
- A&A Cycle from Watertown, S.D.: $200 for anyone that wins with a station wagon. There are several good racers with 'wagons at the MCR races, so this could be fun.

Thanks to all of you! :)

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Ok guys & girls this is the weekend we have all been waiting for!!!
Midwest Class Racers Celebrates 50 years of Stock/Super Stock at Thunder Valley Marion South Dakota!! Lots of $$$ up for grabs, some special & surprise guests & racers from all 50 years will be attending!! Let's break the MCR car count BIG TIME!!! I'd like to see at least 75 Stock & Super Stock cars show up!! I talked to Dwayne Scheitlin he's bringing his car from Denver to participate!!! Would love to see some cars from Kansas come!! This race will be talked about for years to come so dont miss it!!! Anybody wins a race wearing a "Bobby D" shirt will get contingency (Beer) from me!!! Beeeee Thereeeee!!!!

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Al Nyhus, could you please call Ron Derochie, @ 712-251-1639,

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Will do, Neal. Hope you and Ron can come up...be great to see you both. :)

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

come on all you old tvd people charlie and i challenge you ! Guys like- nagel, gaddis, ploeg,reid,stapleton, downs,wachendorf,rezac,witkop,spomer, lovro etc etc you know who you are.

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Long time TVD racer Ron Derochie from Sioux City, Iowa has put up $100 for a Long Distance Award.

Ron's hard running '67 Camaro SS/GA 396/325 is in the final stages of an extensive redo and he's looking forward to rejoining us soon.

Thanks, Ron! :)

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

CJ motorsports of Mitchell will be giving a 100.00 gift cert to the winner both days. This Race weekend is going to pay out over 20000.00. This has to be one of the biggest payout ever in this area

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Anybody still on the fence about racing The 50 Years of Class Race this weekend ?

MCR largest payout ever ($20'000 purse)
Stock/Super Stock will be the top billing (Sat we start at 10 in the morning with 3 qual passes - bracket program starts at 5)
Rare former race cars on display
Event shirts avalible
Potluck supper sat evening in the MCR hospitality tent
Air Conditioned VIP tower open to all race alumni
Sundays race has the same huge payout (2 great races 1 tow)

Don't miss out on this great Stock / Superstock race

Midwest Class Racers
Midwest Factory Finishes
Iverson Chrysler
Watertown Ford Chyrsler

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Sounds Like a great time wish I could be there. Maybe I can make the 51st. Might try to see if I can at least make the trip to spectate for a day. Good luck to every one it should be a heck of a good time.

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Karen And Me will be giving away 3 5gal pails of C12 each day. One for each semifinalists winner exempted they get the big check. Hope to see all of you there. Tom

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

When I left at 1:30 after 3 time shots 78 cars had showed up. Tom

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

At the end of a full day filled with lots of stock/super stock action and a few test and tunes it came down to Jason Deforrest in his GT Camaro and David Picht in his D/S Mustang with Jason taking home the trophy.

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Wow what a great weekend! MCR has been planning this race for a full year and it lived up to our expectations. First thanks to Ron Roddel and Jim Christensen for hosting the reunion at Wheelz in Brandon SD there was about 200 of the best class racers of the last 50 years of TVD attending. Next thanks to the racers and alumni who attended our 50 years of class race ( from past world champions to div champs to indy champs and a few teenage new comers) the heat was intense but the racing was even hotter. And how about the winners Jason Deforest over Dave Pitcht (sat) and Kelly Peterson over Rachele Tebeirt sharing in the richest payout in MCR history. Next Thanks to Charlie from Midwest Factory Finishes and John from Iverson Chrysler for helping to make this payout possible. Last thanks To the TVD starting line crew for working there tails off to keep a race track under us all weekend in the blistering heat. Well time to get to work on our next huge race The Make A Wish race in sept - stay tuned this one will blow you away!

Dan Wiese

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

78 cars and as Al Corda would say in the middle of nowhere. Who would have ever imagined Marion SD would have 7 more cars then the s/ss at the div 4 pts meet combined. Thanks to all the Racers that made this such a special Race. Thanks again John Mcleod

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

A Big Thank You to everyone who made our trip back to TVD for the 50th Anniv. race a lot of joy and fun.

MCR you guys put on a great show, 78 cars Saturday & 70 cars Sunday and 7 rounds of fantastic racing each day in some super HOT & HUMID weather.

A Special Congrats to Kelly Petterson for winning Sunday, good job Kelly!!

It was nice to see many of our old friends and racers from many years ago, a memory we will cherish for years to come. Again thanks to all of you.

Chuck & Barb Koppien

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Thanks Chuck. It was a very fun weekend and really great to see you, Barb, Jackie and Mike. I spent alot of time in the stands in the 80's watching you guys race so it was extra special to be lucky enough to pull out a win with so many racers I grew up watching in attendance. I don't know what it is, but whenever you and Don Breen show up in the Dakota Territory, good things happen...

Re: TVD/MCR 50th Anniv. race and reunion
 

Congrats again Kelly, to see your car and the 71 Firebird (Axemaker & Reuland ) that I built back in the 70s still racing and still winning is incredible. Keep it up there are a lot more wins in that car. Don Breen p.s. had a great time being back for 6 days.