REYNOLDSVILLE – Hummingbird Speedway announcer and public relations director Todd Orsich and his wife, Brenda, have decided to take a weekend walk Aug. 17 and 18 from their home in Clearfield to the speedway located in Falls Creek (around 27 miles) in memory of their father/father-in-law, Mick.
The walk is to raise funds for the Hahne Cancer Center located in DuBois.
“We had to come up with a way to raise money for the center this year, and I thought this would be a great way to do it,” Orsich said.
“The Hahne Cancer Center took care of dad while he fought this disease, and this is the way we try to give back for all of their hard work,” Orsich continued.
Mick Orsich was the speedway manager and flagman until his passing on Sept. 21, 2004. The speedway will hold the third annual Mick Orsich memorial races on Sept. 1 and 2.
Sept. 1 racing will see the limited late models, pure stocks, and front wheel drive four-cylinders in action. Also, a Chinese auction will be held to benefit the cancer center this evening.
“Brenda put together a pair of auctions last year with many great items to bid on, and she is looking forward to another successful one this year,” Orsich stated.
Sept. 2’s racing will see the street stocks, four-cylinders and 358 small block modifieds in action.
The Orsichs walk will start in the morning of Aug. 17 from their home to Turnpike Avenue then to state Route 153 and up Rockton Mountain.
“The walk up the mountain will be the hardest part of the trip,” Orsich stated. When they reach the top of the mountain, they will continue on U.S. Route 322 to Rockton and then on to DuBois. “I don’t know where we want to stop, but I’m hoping to make it into DuBois sometime Friday evening,” Orsich said. The Orsich’s will pick up Saturday where they left off, and continue through DuBois on U.S. Route 219 to Falls Creek. Once in Falls Creek they will walk on state Route 950 to Gospel Center Road and then to the track.
“We’ve raised around $6,300 in the first two years of this memorial, and I’d like to see us get to the $10,000 level this year” Orsich said.
“We will gladly accept any kind of monetary donation that people would like to give, and maybe we can pick some up along the way,” Orsich stated.
Also, donations of items for the Chinese auction can be dropped off at the track on any race night, or can be picked up within the DuBois/Clearfield area.
If anyone is interested in donating in any way, checks can be sent to Orsichs’ home, and donors are asked to make them out to The Hahne Cancer Center. The Orsichs’ address is 1 Southwest Fourth Ave., Clearfield, PA 16830.
For more information, Orsich can be reached at 765-2840 or via e-mail at toddbren97@verizon.net. Other inquiries can be made by calling the track office at 653-8400 or by e-mail at dave@hummingbirdspeedway.com.