By Bill Hennecy
Myrtle Beach Speedway is premiering its biggest, full summer season, spectacular! Bob Lutz, owner of the speedway, has added a complete auto thrill show for the 2012 season. The show will be unlike any other auto thrill show in the nation. “After 40 years in the business I have seen them all. I have always wanted to produce my own show. Now that I have the Myrtle Beach Speedway, producing a show at the track became my goal at the area’s arena of speed,“ said Lutz.
Chris Morena is an all around stunt performer who worked for 10 years on the Charlie Belknap's Hollywood Stunt Show. Chris attempted his biggest crash of his career on October 13th at the Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina during the pre-race show, jumping a sedan automobile 150 feet thru the air while towing a trailer. Numerous explosions were seen during this jump which was set-up by the one and only Brian Carson. Chris made the jump and it was shown on the Speed Channel that night. He jumped 160 plus feet driving a 1979 Buick painted Orange, while towing a 2-axle camper trailer. As his car end-overed, the trailer broke loose and disintergrated on impact with the ground. Chris landed in the landing area of red painted autos. During his flight there were numerous explosions.
The show will bear the title “Wheels of Destruction Thrill Show” and run each Wednesday from June 6 until August 29. This is the first time that a full season of a show like this has been tried on the Grand Strand.
The variety of acts and stunts will be assembled from around the United States. From Disney’s MGM Studio the producer of the event, Chris Morena – a veteran of thrill shows – will headline the show with car jumps, rollovers and skill driving. He has appeared in movies, television shows, and tracks around the world. Freestyle Motocross rider Clint Esposito is set to do stunts much like those seen in the X Games. Local stunt motorcycle riders Glen Milbert of Armadillo Stunt Riders will be performing along with Jon Martin of Team Myrtle West. These two will bring along additional motorcycle riders who will perform on the tracks asphalt front straight stretch.
Jeff Kipe and Marshall Eggerling, who founded the Myrtle Beach Drifting six years ago will bring along local drifters Jason Richards, Joe Gorseski, Nate Roberts to power slide and billow smoke from their rear tires. Drifting started on the streets of Japan and was featured in the movie “Fast and Furious”. The first major exposure for Drifting, in the United States, came at Irwindale Speedway in Los Angeles, California.
Tim Chitwood carries on the family tradition and name by putting this truck up on two wheels for the slow roll in an amazing
Skid Plate Racing, which was introduced at the May 10th race and featured on the “Camping World” race on Speed Channel from Iowa Speedway, will be a featured each Wednesday night. The big yellow behemoths of the road, School Buses, will be racing on the big oval.
A thrill show would not be complete without fireworks. The element of explosions and pyrotechnics will be handled by the world renown, Zambelli Fireworks International of New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Tim Chitwood.
Joining the entourage during the season will be other acts, including the man who helped his family become the most well-known auto thrill show in the nation: Tim Chitwood of the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show family, who were featured on “ABC Wide World of Sports” and were known for doing Hollywood television shows like “CHIPS”and others. Monster Trucks will be a part of the action, crushing cars and jumping barriers and roaring over obstacles. Wednesday June 20th the jet car “Green Mamba” will be featured during the “Wheels of Destruction”.
The week of July 4th will see a five day run of action under the lights. Starting July 3rd with NASCAR Stock Car Racing, July 4th “Wheels of Destruction”, July 5th and 6th Monster Trucks “Beach Bash” and July 7th NASCAR Stock Car Racing. Each night will feature a fireworks spectacular.
Gates for the Wednesday night events will be open at 5 p.m. with the “Wheels of Destruction” Thrill Show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission prices will be $15 for adults; ages thirteen and under will be $6.
Myrtle Beach Speedway is located at 455 Hospitality Lane, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; on Hwy. 501 adjacent to Tanger Outlet to the west and at the intersection of Hwy. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to the east.
For more information contact Bill Hennecy, Monday - Friday, 8 .m. – 5 p.m., at 843-236-0500 or bhennecy@myrtlebeachspeedway.com or visit the website www.myrtlebeachspeedway.com