RacersReunion.com Reaches Important Milestone



Online community, RacersReunion.com, realizes the fruits of a labor-of-love after its launch only eight months ago.

 

    The creator of this “social-network-with-a-twist,” Jeff Gilder, set out to provide a place for race fans and drivers from the past to share memories of the history of stock car racing. Gilder, an ex-racer, received mentoring from veteran Grand National (now Cup series) and Sportsman (now Nationwide series) driver, Paul Lewis.  Lewis helped Gilder turn his racing efforts into wins and produce a championship. “I wanted to do something for Paul and to give back to a sport that means a lot to me,” said Gilder. “Paul’s passion is to recognize the contributions of the veterans of racing and to help those drivers who are in need.”

 

    After attending an event to assist veteran driver Sam Aard in Mooresville, NC, in January 2008, Gilder realized the need for a central location to share the history of the sport. “People lined up for hours to meet and get autographs from over 70 veteran drivers who were there to help Sam Aard,” said Gilder. “Some of them carried pieces of memorabilia they had been saving for over 40 years. Many were seeking the “lesser-known” drivers from racing’s past simply because they had not seen or heard from them in a long time.”

 

    RacersReunion.com has grown to include an online radio station (RacersReunion Radio), a Blip-TV station (RacersReunion TV), as well as the rapidly growing (free) membership-based social network. The video staff travels from event to event, wherever the veterans of racing can be found, to record the history of racing from the driver’s perspective. The radio station employs veteran broadcast journalist Jim Seay to conduct radio interviews with the legends of the sport. Many racing veterans have become members of RacersReunion.com, and the ones with computer skills often communicate with the fans online. Photographers from racing’s past including Ray Lamm and the late T. Taylor Warren joined the network adding several thousand vintage photos, many that cannot be found anywhere else.

 

    “I feel like we are on the right track,” said Gilder. “The younger fans can learn about the history of the sport with this platform, and the older ones can take a stroll down memory lane. The ultimate goal is to use the recognition we obtain to raise money to assist the drivers from the past who need financial or medical help. Let’s face it, these guys are the foundation of the sport.  They didn’t make much money then, and many of them need our help.”

 

    To join in the celebration of racing history and to take advantage of the free membership, log on to www.racersreunion.com.

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