F.A.S.T. Coming in 2009

Contact Brian Liskai
liskai2x@cros.net

The connection between the automobile and rock-n-roll music was immediate in the 1950’s. And ever since that era, whether it is an afternoon cruise or a night at the local race track, rock and racing are still locked together as part of American culture.

That connection between loud cars and loud amplifiers takes another step forward on the night of November 15th when three local bands take to the stage at the Fremont Eagles (2570 W. State Street, Fremont, OH) to help raise money for two local racing charities.

F.A.S.T., short for “Fremont/Attica Sprint Title” was formed to provide a combined points championship between Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park for the first time in history beginning in 2009. This additional point fund will benefit drivers in the winged 410 Sprint Car division. “F.A.S.T. Fest” was conceived to not only help raise funds and awareness of the concept, but also to aid two local charity efforts with deep ties to the racing community.

Local racer, Keith Whaley, makes an effort each holiday season to feed a couple of area families who have fallen on hard times. Keith always manages to do a great job picking out local families in need of assistance this time of year. This year, F.A.S.T. Fest is hoping to increase the number of good deeds Mr. Whaley will be able to perform by accepting donations of non-perishable food items or unopened toys in exchange for $2 off the ticket price at the door. All items will be donated to Mr. Whaley’s “Checkered Flag Christmas”.

In addition, a monetary donation will be given to “Racers Racing for a Cure” – a charity organization started by the Burkett family this past summer after Alex Burkett passed away as the result of pancreatic cancer. They will be selling t-shirts at this event with proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. Alex was a long time supporter of local racing and F.A.S.T. will show support for this cause in his honor.

The benefit concert will take place at the Eagles in Fremont November 15th. Doors open at 7pm with the first of three local rock bands taking the stage at 8pm. Admission at the door is $10…or $8 with a new toy or non-perishable food donation.

Newly formed Fremont band “Down Under Thunder”, featuring the sounds of AC/DC, will headline the event. Local rockers Mr. Bone, along with Mourning Wood, will also be rocking the stage.

Mourning Wood, a favorite of the club/festival set, will open the show. A sampling of some of the more eclectic Classic Rock songs, not often tackled by cover bands, will be featured along with some of the more popular favorites from the likes of the Eagles, Neil Young and the Little River Band.
Outstanding vocal harmonies help to set this band apart. Bandmates Daryl Katz (guitar/bass), Dave Decker (guitar), Joe Smith (lead guitar), Mike “Woody” Widman (bass) and Jeff Briedenbach (drums) take turns handling lead vocals and harmonies. They even manage to swap instruments at times during the show displaying a diversity of musicianship that’s hard to find on the local scene.

Mr. Bone, another group that is often found working the club and festival circuit throughout Northwest Ohio, will be the second group on stage. With a set list that ranges from Ted Nugent, to Guns and Roses…up to modern tunes from bands like Weezer and Velvet Revolver.

Mr. Bone features two Clyde natives, Ben Archer on vocals, and Neal Barrett on guitar…the first band either of them have played for. Matt Miller, also from Clyde, has played drums for several different bands over the course of two decades.

Bass player Randy “R.C.” Cress, is a veteran of the local and regional rock scene. R.C. was a founding member of the Wuzz Band back in the 70s, opening for such national acts as Brownville Station, REO Speedwagon and Cheap Trick. The journeyman player has also been a part of other local bands including the likes of the Noize Monkeys and Geezer Rampage.

The night’s headliner, “Down Under Thunder”, combines an interesting mix of veteran and upstart musicians, all carrying the hard rock torch lit by Aussie rockers AC/DC.

The project was the brainchild of guitar player John Shetzer. Shetzer is a founding member of Fremont based blues rockers “Rude Mood”. He also played with the Wuzz Band among others in the 70s and 80s. A big fan of the blues sounds of S.R.V. and Tommy Castro among others, Shetzer and some of his fellow Rude Mood band mates were looking for an outlet for their hard-rock sides. They found it with Thunder.

The rhythm section from the Rude Mood band was on-board for the effort. Drummer Shane McConnell, a former metal band skin-pounder from Fremont, along with versatile bass player Gary Keaton, provides the backbone for Thunder.

Aaron Klos, local rock guitar phenom from the “Big Dead Toe” band, and singer Tim “Damien” Twiss from the hard rocking band “Dirty Polly” round out the lineup. Fans of AC/DC will be taken on a journey through rock history.

The bands set list focuses on the hard rock faves from AC/DC’s Bon Scott years…but also mixes in some of their later tunes…making for a high-powered, Marshall amplifier soaked show. A few surprise tunes are mixed in to keep toes tapping and heads banging.

With an affordable admission price…some hard rocking bands…and the ability to help some worthy charities…F.A.S.T. Fest promises to be a way to bring together area race fans with the local community to benefit a good cause and to increase awareness that there is some great weekly entertainment on tap for the 2009 racing season at both Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway. For more information, visit the F.A.S.T. web site at www.FastOnDirt.com or visit www.atticaracewaypark.com and www.fremontohspeedway.com for additional information on these two great local facilities