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Gold Cup 101; a step by step guide to the big one

CHICO, CA (8-30-10) - It's the biggest little sprint car race in the world, the annual Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. The 57th annual fall classic is just a number of days ahead and brings four exciting days of racing to the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds September 8, 9, 10 and 11.

While it's a no brainer that this event will bring the best drivers in the sport to the banks of Silver Dollar Speedway for the richest race in California, it too will bring with it a number of additional activities throughout the week. Welcome to the first edition of "Gold Cup 101" as you will now go through orientation of what to expect in the weeks to come at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico.

THE INCREDIBLE RACING TO COME.

The Gold Cup Race of Champions features four big nights of open wheel competition and a variety of exciting divisions this year. It all starts on Wednesday, September 8, with three different divisions taking to the Silver Dollar Speedway quarter mile. The opening night of racing features 360 cubic inch powered sprint cars in the annual "Pacific Sprint Cup" Invitational event, the crown jewel of California's premier traveling series for winged 360 sprint cars, the Civil War Sprint Car Series. The winged sprint cars will be joined in 2010 by two additional open wheel classes for an incredible kick off to the week of racing.

This year the top 30 drivers in the championship point standings of the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Car Shootout will join the winged sprint cars of the Civil War Series. This event will pay $1000 to the winner and will also recognize the recently crowned champion of the Hunt Magnetos Wingless Shootout Series.

The action doesn't stop there on Wednesday night as the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets return to the annual Gold Cup opener in the Bay Cities Racing Association Western Midget Spectacular. This event will feature the top contenders from the BCRA and a number of top sprint car drivers are expected to join the roster in the seats of available rides.

The Wednesday night event is general admission with no reserved seating. Adult tickets on Wednesday night only will be available at the gate starting at 5 p.m. for $25. Seniors are $20, Juniors are $12 and Children will be $5 for Wednesday night only.

EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE RACING.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the nations best drivers come together with the best of California as the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Tour concludes its annual Gold Rush Tour on the banks of Silver Dollar Speedway. This year the new Gold Cup format designed for fan appeal brings all of the competitors to the track on all three nights for the very first time.

The Gold Cup purse has been increased by Handy Racing Promotions for the 2010 event, adding an additional $16,000 to the pot of gold over last year's event alone. On Thursday and Friday nights all drivers will qualify, compete in heat racings, preliminary events and a 30-lap feature event that will pay $8000 to win each night. Accumulative points will be awarded during both preliminary events to determine the line ups for Saturday all feature event race that pays $50,000 to win the 40-lap A-feature.

THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERT PRESENTED BY KRONIK ENERGY

Along with the racing the Gold Cup brings with it a great deal of extra curricular events to the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, some organized by the race promoters and others that just seem to come about as the week goes on.

On Thursday night after the races Kronik Energy Drink presents the electrifying band "Double Funk Crunch" in the Silver Dollar Pavilion after the races. This event will be free admission and will feature discount tacos, beer and beverages as well as video footage on the big screen of Gold Cup's most fantastic moments. Much like Friday night, this event is not to be missed as on of the nation's newest energy drinks that have a passion for motorsports comes together with one of the most energetic bands in California.

Thursday's event brings together family fun and a happy hour environment and will surely set the tone for the week to come on the fairgrounds that becomes a virtual city of recreational vehicles during the week. Don't miss the biggest party of the week in Chico and best of all.it's free!

CLYDE LAMAR'S GOLD CUP GOLF CLASSIC IS BACK!

On Thursday, September 9th Clyde Lamar's Golf Classic returns to Chico. This annual affair has long been a delight for racers and fans through the decades as many of them come together for a fun filled morning on the fairway all for charity.

This year the Gold Cup Golf Classic returns to Bidwell Golf Course at 3199 Gold Course Road in Chico. The format will be a four player scramble. Sign ups begin at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:30. Entry fee is $75 per person which includes car, green fees, bbq lunch and prizes. The tournament is limited to just the first 144 players, which is a total of 36 teams. Singles or less that full teams are welcomed but will be combined.

The post tournament lunch will consist of a catered BBQ at the Garden Way Court at Silver Dollar Speedway. Extra lunches will be available for non players for $16 each. For further information on the golf tournament contact Clyde Lamar at (916) 371-8090.

HUNT MAGNETOS CHILI FEED AND BIKINI CONTEST FRIDAY.

Friday night marks the return of the famed Hunt Magnetos Chili Feed and Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest in the Silver Dollar Pavilion. This event has been a key fixture with the Gold Cup Race of Champions for decades.

On Friday night after the races hundreds of race fans, teams and campers will gather for great food and spirits featuring discount chili, salad and cornbread along with Coors Light on tap. The social affair will culminate with the crowning of the Miss Gold Cup 2010 that awards $1000 to the winner of this famed bikini contest.

This year, Chico's flammable rock and roll band "Hot Flash!" will perform during the Chili Feed and following the Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest.

Limited entries are now available for the Miss Gold Cup Bikini Contest and may be obtained from the Silver Dollar Speedway website, Silver Dollar Speedway or by calling the track office at (916) 969-7474 or by emailing them at info@silverdollarspeedway.com. Sign ups will also be accepted at Silver Dollar Speedway in the days prior to the event.

Tickets for the Chili Feed and Bikini Contest $7 and are available for purchase at the Silver Dollar Speedway Souvenir booth beginning on Friday, September 10th.

SPEAKING OF SOUVENIERS.

As usual, the Gold Cup Race of Champions will offer a wide variety of souvenir items throughout the four days of competition. Limited edition souvenir programs will be on sale beginning on Wednesday. This magazine style publication created by the Media Relations staff of Handy Racing Promotions and the Image Factory is a keepsake for years to come as it is packed with great statistical information about the Gold Cup Race of Champions and action photography by the talented Steve Cox, Steve Lamothe, Donna Peter, Art Spaulding, Steve Lafond and Matt and Mark Sublett.

Several varieties of apparel items will be available for purchase throughout the week including the 2010 Gold Cup T-shirt that features the "Tribute to Champions" on the back as well as the always popular Chili Feed T-shirt and several additional designs to fit many different tastes. Regular tee shirts, muscle tees and hooded sweatshirts will be available in a number of varieties. Thursday, Friday and Saturday the World of Outlaws souvenir trailer will be open for business.

CAMPING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

The Silver Dollar Fair offers camping at the Gold Cup Race of Champions. With the exception of those who maintained their present spaces with early reservations during the 2009 Gold Cup, all camping is first come-first serve for $30 per day. The Silver Dollar Fairgrounds will officially open the campground at 9 a.m. on Monday, September 6. At that time the camping staff will direct all campers and vehicles when, where and how to get to their preferred spaces. In previous years, the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds has been home to more than 500 campsites during the four day Gold Cup Race of Champions.

FREE CAMPERS BBQ ON SATURDAY

As the lunch hour nears on Saturday afternoon the long line of Gold Cup Campers will begin to form on the lawn area east of the Silver Dollar Pavilion. This annual event is the "Gold Cup BBQ" presented by Handy Racing Promotions and the large group known as "The Placerville Speedway gang." It's free to campers and all of those involved donate their time and efforts to making it a great success with bbq ribs, salad, corn and more to fill the heartiest of appetites prior to the biggest and final night of open wheel racing.

TICKETS, MEDIA AND MORE.

Three day and single day tickets for the upcoming Gold Cup Race of Champions are on sale at the track business office for $130 per person for all three nights. Fans may purchase single day tickets as well. Tickets for Thursday night and Friday night are $40 each, tickets for Saturday are $50 and can be obtained by calling (916) 969-7484.

During the four day Gold Cup Race of Champions thousands of race fans will travel through the gates of Silver Dollar Speedway. During this time, questions will arise, an added friend may need a ticket and surely more unpredicted circumstances will come about. In the event that you have a question, the staff of Silver Dollar Speedway will be happy to point you in the right direction. The main ticket office will be open every day from 9.a.m until 5 p.m. where tickets can be purchased, questions answered and media credentials issued. Note; all media representatives must already be pre-registered with Silver Dollar Speedway for the 2010 Gold Cup Race of Champions as credentials will not be issued on site to anyone who did not make previous arrangements and provide the necessary

It's all happening at the one and only Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California September 8, 9, 10 and 11th. Don't be left out of the action, tickets are being sold to all areas of the world each and every day so order your tickets today and plan to join thousands of race fans at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. It's the Gold Cup Race of Champions, "the biggest little sprint car race in the world." For further information visit www.handyracingpromotions.com or www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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