Had I not known Bobby Sellers when he was just a kid, the events happening at Columbia Speedway now might not have ever taken place.

I had always wanted to see a revival of the great old track which had grown over with trees (even one having grown to decent height ih the third turn). but, that seemed to be a distant dream.

After visiting Dawsonville, GA's Mountain Moonshine Festival in 2008 I suggested to Racers Reunion creator Jeff Gilder that "We could do the same thing here."

Jeff wasn't aware the track still existed...it had closed tomotorsports activity of any kind in 1978. He asked if I knew of anyone connected to the dormant facility andif I could contact him. So,I called Bobby - he and his co-owner brother Wade also would have to give the OK - and he said "Let's talk aboiut it."

The next day Jeff drove from Myrtle Beach, we met with Bobby at the track and Jeff said he had chills when he stepped on the surface for the first time. "You can just feel the history of this place, it's like hallowed grouind."

Bobby and Jeff hit it off immediately.

Next was a phone call to Scott Powers, CEO of the Sports Council for Richland and Lexington counties in December...and he arranged a meeting place withBobby, Jeff and I to set the process in moion.

With nearly immediate support, Love Chevrolet Executive Manager John Wise signed that company on as the title sponsor. That was followed by afew more such as Maurice's Piggie Park Barbeque, Lexingotn Medical Center, Lizard's Thicket restaurants, Scott's Auto Repair, Bob Andrews Motorsand others...and we were on the way with a press conference announcement in late February, great media supportacross at least 20 states and our first Love Chevrolet Columbia Speedway Racers Reunion Spring Festival was slated. for April 25, 2009...exactlly 61 years after the track hosted its first race...a 100 lap contest won by "Bob Flock with Ed Samples secondand Joe Eubanks in third in the more than 20 car field. Later star Cotton Owens finished sixth.

We had a throng of more than 35,000 from 17 states who made the trip to this fabulous show.

This year's will be a four-day extravaganza running from April 14-17 with that Saturday being the main event.

I've never seen any presentation fall into place so quickly...thanks to the foresight of the
Sellers, the vision of Gilder and the hardwork fo a hundred volunteers who put the track in "show" condition.

Knowing the right and good people surely helped this project literally reaken one of the iconic sports locations in America's racng history.